1997 Dodge Stratus Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Having owned numerous Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Mazda6, Mercedes C and several other midsize sedans since new, getting a used 1997 Dodge Stratus ES as a “gift” I wasn’t expecting much. At 25 years old I thought, “Well it’s free and use it till it drops dead”. This was my wife’s Grannies car and knowing her it’d be in okay shape. Having just over 130k it was like brand new. Perfect paint, perfect interior. Very gently used and well maintained. She kept EVERY service record. I was very pleasantly surprised. Drives very well in the mountains where we live and gives great gas mileage. (30+). At $4.99 a gallon that’s important. It’s comfortable on long drives and as a daily driver, I drive 60 miles every day, so comfort is important. This one is. Wow!! For a Dodge, I’m impressed! Yes this is an old American car and it is a Dodge, but my only 2 complaints are a Cassette Stereo and rather dim headlights. Changed the headlight bulbs to super bright ones and polished the lenses. I can see everything on the road at night. The stereo issue? Eh? I use my Hands Free phone on business calls most days or just roll down the windows and enjoy the mountain roads. I change all the fluids and put on new tyres and a new battery. This car is not “bad” and I don’t feel in driving a plenty box. Being 25 years old you rarely see Cars like this on the roads any more and it’s styling has not really gotten long in the tooth. Because it’s such a rare old bird and in such remarkable shape, people think it’s a new car. )the badges and name plate were removed by a car detailing service when the buffed out the paint a few years ago. Don’t mind as no one knows really what this car is. Everyone is surprised when they find out it’s a Dodge. Most think of Dodge as Aries K cars. This one surprises everyone. At most new cars with similar content now costing upwards of $35k. This free gift is truly a gift thanks worth keeping. I know this car is an exception and I don’t know very many Dodge owners who’d brag about owning one. This car is a pleasant eye opening surprise. Too bad Dodge didn’t continue to make descent cars like this. Feb 19, 2022

My Stratus was a former rental car, which I bought at 55,000 miles in 2002. I had some transmission work done in the first year, but I could afford it then. It was a great, dependable car for eight years, until the starter and distributor went in the last two months. I replaced the starter, but I'm drawing the line. (If I was a car, I'd blow my parts after 126,000 miles of driving, too.) If I'd kept up the suggested maintenance, it would have been an EXCELLENT car. I'm passing it on to my son, since he needs a car and doesn't mind replacing the distributor and valve cover gasket.Apr 03, 2010