Test Drive Dodge Stratus 2001 - 2005 Sedan

Space Baran

In an automotive environment, there is a sustainable opinion that the pleasure of managing American machines, with the exception of several sports models, there is no. The guilty of this is considered an automatic transmission, a cotton power steering and soft suspension. Say, all this is more needed for a leisurely intersection of the country from the ocean to the ocean in a straight line, like an arrow, road.
The fact that such an opinion has long been outdated, convincingly proves in our Dodge Stratus test in the ES modification. He became one of the first mass cars of Chrysler, designed according to the CAB-FORWARD scheme, i.e. with the salon, strongly shifted forward. And was represented by buyers in May 1995.
When looking at the car in the profile, it can be seen how the hood almost smoothly goes into the windshield. It seems that there is still a little bit - and the sedan will turn into a mini-Ven, similar to Chevrolet Lumina APV. Something reminds a ram that dropped his head before rushing into the attack, - of the one that is depicted on his emblem. And the fronton of the car crosses the window binding of the radiator cladding, as if he had moved here with a full-sized dodge ram pickup. The exterior of the car does not amaze any architectural delights and, rather, closer to the European School of Design. Negromatic appearance has its advantages - drive around all the days that the car was on our test, in Moscow on a new foreign car, obviously not from cheap, and even without license plates, we did not feel close attention from the traffic police. But there are also disadvantages - in the left row you do not respect the road respectfully, and many steep foreign cars, without recognizing our own, then it's a matter of trimmed. Dodge showed itself as dirty as Samara, - in rainy weather, the car splashes itself along the ears.
Inside the layout of Cab-Forward gives a feeling of the humpback Zaporozhets - the elongated legs of the driver are at the level of the front wheels. In general, the car's interior is not too spacious. Of course, this is not the closest cockpit of the racing car, but not the American sofa space. Most of the plastic finishes and looks cheap. In addition, the sheathing of the doors is quite tough. What is the evidence of the bruise on the left knee from those of us who sat behind the wheel of Stratus: the supports for the left leg of the driver are practically no - one visibility.
At the same time, the car's leather interior. It is made in the total colors. True, this finish is registered and manufactured not at Chrysler factories. The seats themselves are not too comfortable - after a long trip, everything that is lower than the lower back, has a long time and strong enough. Most of all announced the lumbar support of the driver's seat, which was sticking out of the back of the hump. In addition to her, the seats have only three adjustments, including height. Moreover, the latter is clearly designed for the fact that a miniature girl will be driving. Otherwise, when trying to rise higher to see at least a piece of the slope of the hood, the top will keep up in the ceiling (by the way, with the average height of the average), and a salon mirror turns out right in front of the nose.
The windshield although it actually has a large area (no less than that of Rafik!), But at the expense of a large angle of installation, the sector remains for the review, approximately like victory. In addition, in the field of view, the strongly inclined front racks are wicked, so massive that at the entrance to the intersection you have to ride back and forth to consider whether anyone is riding you. And when the sun shines brightly, the top of the instrument panel is reflected in the high-tilt windshield.
Overview Back disgusting, and according to this indicator, the Dodge Stratus strongly resembles Opel Omega (Motor 13) - the same outer mirrors in which you can watch only along the sides of the machine, and the rear window that collects all the road dust. Therefore, when maneuvers, reverse the most, it is necessary to count on their own intuition. In addition, even not very high passengers sitting from behind, almost touch the back of the rear window, and they risk a bump on the bumps. In order for the rear passengers in hot weather, the tempeccho, the upper part of the glass has a sunscreen.
The instrument panel is quite simple - only four analog instruments. All control light bulbs are hidden under black matte glass and ignite only when the engine is started or when the corresponding sensor is triggered. It caused a loss of the inscription at the bottom of the tachometer scale, which reminds the driver that the car should only be charged, and at the same time it shows that the filling neck is located on the left side of the car. The tip was very useful when I had to go to the gas station for the first time.
And I had to travel often - even with a relaxed ride in the city, the car consumed about 15 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers of the way. Well, if the car is so and the point is to have it, then its appetite increases sharply.
The Mitsubishi engine stood on the car, and its work with an automatic transmission deserves the highest rating. Transmissions, both up and down, switch without the slightest delays and very smoothly.
The machine does not seem too rear, but the dynamics of acceleration is quite sufficient. It seems to be quietly touched from the traffic light and discover that Dodge broke away from the flow of meters by fifty. The car does not provoke the driver on aggressive ride. But if the owner wants, he will be able to get a big dose of Fun-to-Drive - it is under this advertising slogan that a car is sold in the United States.
Dodge is very twice, and first have to ensure that when turning does not drive the rear wheel on the pavement. The power steering has a progressive characteristic, i.e., with an increase in speed increases the force on the steering wheel. This hydraulicel is the standard ES modification equipment, as well as the full electric car, the central castle, ABS, fog and a special suspension.
She is hard to rigid, however, during a regular ride in the city does not cause inconvenience. The car is completely deprived of a sofa filling inherent in many Americans. Muscular suspension adds confidence in Moscow roads, with the quality of which you probably are familiar. Suspension Although it works out all the irregularities of the roadway, but it has never reached breakdown. Thanks to her in turns, the car holds the road as the bull terrier for the sacrifice. Not the last role in this is played by the wonderful Michelin MXV4 tires in size 195/65hr15. The machine breaking into the skid occurs, as in other front-wheel drive cars, but the process itself is surprisingly predicting and is very easy to control. You can break into the skid of only the wheels of the front axle, you can - all four, well, and if it is tired or suddenly scary, everything is quickly stopped by a slight movement of the right leg.
The design miscalculation is the operation of the brake system. The pedal has an overly big move - you give, you give, you have already managed to get frightened, and finally the car begins to slow down. Moreover, the slowdown process occurs avalanche-like, and the car is hardly barely falls on the nose. True, almost never affects the inclusion of the ABS. During these days, it worked only once - when braking in a turn, covered with brick crumb. And the ABS works softly, without a strong drum fraction on brake pedals.
Another disadvantage is the work of head lighting. There are no problems with the near light, and turning on the far, you start clearly see the road signs somewhere in a kilometer from ourselves, but everything that is going on right in front of the car is covered with a darkness. In addition, it took a lot of time to understand how the fog is included. It turns out that it is necessary to keep the cap from the left steering wheel switch.
A separate story deserves an automatic box equipped with the AutoStick system - chrysler highlight. According to the algorithm of its work, it resembles similar AUDI and BMW systems, that is, the box remains still a 4-speed hydromechanical, but the driver can forcibly limit the number of working steps - from one to four. Thus, it comes down on no one of the main disadvantages of the automatic transmission - the inability of braking by the engine. The control is made by swaying the lever to the left-right, and how the stage works at the moment, the driver informs the scoreboard at the bottom of the speedometer scale. By the way, when the overall lighting is turned on, the brightness of this indicator is automatically reduced two times. In the quasir-free mode from automatic, you can go straight while driving. It must be said that the car slows down very significantly, especially when adjusting the first stage - the engine brings, it presses to the road to the road. Risk to twist the engine no, since the electronic limiter triggers at 5500 rpm., Although the red zone on the tachometer begins after 6500 rpm.
This double-bitness of the box is very suitable, for example, for a family, where the wife knows how to ride only with a carton, and the husband is a fan of a more active ride style. Yes, and in urban traffic jams more pleasant to change in fully automatic mode, and breaking out on nature, give will to his emotions. During the passage of the winding track, pleasure is even more than on the car with a purely manual box. Leg - on gas pedals, one hand - on the steering wheel, and the other - on the joystick of the gearbox. Extremely by the way there is a soft lid of the glove box between the front seats. When manipulating the lever of the box on it very comfortable to lay the elbow. The steering wheel is spinning with one finger, it is not necessary to apply effort, and you can enjoy the absolute submission of the car of your will.
Bliss! You can also use some funny melody from the stereo system, which is also standard, but sounds very thorough.
In general, if the sake of pleasure from driving car you are ready to sacrifice some amenities, then Dodge Stratus ES is a car for you.
And at the same time you will put in the amount of incomprehensible with the price of some BMW. The car in that configuration that visited us on the test, cost $ 34 thousand.
Alexey Kresin
 

A source: Motor magazine