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Dodge Intrepid

3457 messages,  Last post on Oct 08, 2012 at 5:35 PM

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What is this discussion about? Dodge Intrepid, Sedan

Messages Page 173 of 346

#1719 of 3457 Shall I buy a 2002 Dodge Intrepid ES???? by apasionato

May 25, 2003 (12:31 am)

Hi, everyone!
 
I need some help: I have been wanting to buy an Intrepid for two years now after seeing/driving one. I love how they look and how they drive.
 
However, after doing research online I am reading many complaints about the Intrepid, many model years....are these complaints mainly of the models up to 2000, and, has the car, especially the 2002, gained better quality and reliability? I am aware of the problems with the 2.7 engine and I now will only buy a model with the 3.5 engine.
 
I am wondering if the postings I am reading is mainly because the ones who are having problems with their Intrepids are more likely to make posts? Or, are the Intrepids mainly lemon cars, mechanically? Are the complaints I am reading just a small % of the overall experiences with these cars?
 
Are there any out there who have owned a 2002 Dodge Intrepid ES (or SE) for awhile and have had very few problems with them?
 
Do you love your 2002 Dodge Intrepid ES?
 
I'd really appreciate your help.
 
Thank you!
 
Aimee

#1720 of 3457 by ottowrkr

May 25, 2003 (8:16 am)

emale- i hope you are right about the trans . But from what I have been told all 2.7 and 3.5 cars will use a corporate trans only the 5.7 will get the MB design (U.S built) trans.
 
 mike372- the a/c will cycle to allow the oil in the system to circulate and keep all the parts like seals lubricated

#1721 of 3457 by emale

May 25, 2003 (8:51 am)

otto,
 
i guess we'll see...but it seems to me that it'd be more expensive to have two different rwd trannies in the same car, in spite of which engines are put in the cars.
 
btw, what tranny did the airflight concept car have in it? it had the 3.5l engine. that may indicate what tranny they plan to use for the production LX cars that have the v6 engines...

#1722 of 3457 Aimee....(apasionato).. by Jason5

May 26, 2003 (7:20 am)

Good morning... I hope you're enjoying the holiday weekend. Based on your profile and questions--I'm not certain what you're seeking. If your goal is to buy the single MOST reliable used car---then you'd probably want to buy a previous generation Camry or Accord. If, however, other factors consider into your purchase, then I would certainly recommend an Intrepid.
    I suggest you check your sources for the "problems" you've heard about the 2.7 in particular and the Intrepid in general. The VAST majority of us--with ownership experience and without some other agenda--have found them to be well-designed, competent, reliable vehicles that have the added benefit of low maintenance costs. My car is a 2000 ES and my only expenses to date (at 61,000 miles) aside from normal maintenance were tires and brakes. Happy hunting...!

#1723 of 3457 My understanding... by andre1969

May 26, 2003 (7:56 am)

is that Chrysler got most of the kinks out of the automatic tranny around 1996 or '97, although they've made running improvements to it year after year, since then. So basically, the newer the Intrepid, the better the tranny should be.
 
The 2.7 is a decent engine, although it does have to work harder than a 3.2 or 3.5 to move a 3400-3500 lb car around. It's fine if you take care of it, but with being smaller and more complex (DOHC versus SOHC), it's not going to be as tolerant of neglect and abuse.
 
One minor advantage of the 2.7, over the 3.2/3.5, is that the 2.7 uses timing chains, where the larger engines use belts. The interval nowadays on the belts is something like 105K miles though, so don't let that be the determining factor!
 
I have an '00 base model (they call it SE nowadays) with the 2.7. I'm pushing 80,000 miles, and no engine/tranny problems yet!

#1724 of 3457 Apasionato.... by mike372

May 26, 2003 (1:12 pm)

I appreciate your concerns regarding the Intrepid and the 2.7L engine. I recently purchased a new
2002 SE w/ the 2.7L engine. The only problem so far has been a bad ABS controller which was replaced under warranty. Admittedly, it has only 2600 miles but no other problems. Its hard to say whether the 2.7L engine is inferior, but if I had to do it over again, I too would have selected an ES or probably an SXT with the 3.5L engine. The 2.7L engine has OK power but the car could certainly use a little more H.P. and torque. Maybe you should consider a Honda Accord with a V-6. Its probably going to cost more as the incentives are less (I'm not exactly sure what they are) but its an awesome car with high reliability. Chryslers reliability is still questionable.

#1725 of 3457 by andre1969

May 29, 2003 (7:52 am)

Well, I dropped my Intrepid off last nite to have the recall done. It's a fairly minor thing; they just have to replace two bolts in the seat. The current ones could break, causing the backrest to suddenly recline fully.
 
The recall notice says it should take about 1/2 hour to do, but the dealer still wanted to keep the thing for a day. They told me it takes 2 1/2 hours to do. I said something in shock, like "you mean it takes that long to change two bolts?!" The tech replied that they have to actually remove the seat from the car.
 
Still, what's that? Maybe 5 minutes, with the right tools? I guess they just write the hours a little high, so they can bill Chrysler for it?

#1726 of 3457 by emale

May 29, 2003 (1:03 pm)

andre,
 
warranty/recall stuff doesn't quite work that way. before the recall even was sent out...dc would have already notified dealers how much time they have to do the recall and how much money they'll get. and if the dealership goes over that alotted time...it comes out of their pocket!

#1727 of 3457 by ottowrkr

May 30, 2003 (1:54 pm)

andre1969, crazy eh. It takes us 48 secongs to put that seat in ,but takes all day to change the bolts . HHMMMM.
 
 Also if any of you Trep owners are in the Brampton, Ontario , Canada area this Sunday June 1st, there is a Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep/Mopar car show that is held at the plant . It is open to all years of vehicles as long as the are DaimlerChrysler built.

#1728 of 3457 Well. Andre... by mike372

May 31, 2003 (3:57 pm)

you dont understand. It takes 1 hour to find the replacement bolts, another hour for break, and one half hour to remove and replace the bolts. By the way, anyone need mint condition parts for a 91 Celica GTS Liftback. My mom hit a curb while trying to avoid a deer and really did a job on the undercarriage of the car. The insurance company totaled it out. They want $250 to buy it back which I think is illegal. I am going to try to get it back for less but may have to pay the $250. But there's no way it going to the junkyard so they can make a few thousand off the parts. I dont care if I have to store them in my basement and never sell them. It was a real nice car, one of the best remaining 91 GTS's on the road, easily. Any ideas on the best way to market these parts? I dont think they changed the body design for the nest four years.

Messages Page 173 of 346

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