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I chuckle when I see car reviews with lines like this: "The Nomad is a nice
vehicle, but for this kind of money, you should at least get a sun roof." As if
beyond a certain price threshhold, a sun roof represented some sort of minimal
standard. Come on, Mr. Reviewer. Either you think the car is a good value, or
you don't.
I think the 1996 Dodge Stratus ES is an excellent value. It's a case study in
the sort of decisions modern car companies must face, to make their products
competitive. Like these:
Q: How can we make the car appeal to a broad range of buyers, from singles to
families?
A: Make it look sporty, but give it all tons of interior space, plus a huge
trunk.
Q: How can we cut costs of highly desired extras, like power locks?
A: The driver's door key doesn't have to operate all four door locks. We'll
install a switch on driver's arm rest for that.
Q: Any other cost-cutting ideas?
A: A folding rear seat is important for skis, but forget the split-folding idea.
It's cheaper to make the whole backrest fold as a unit. As a nice inexpensive
bonus, however, we'll make the folding backrest lockable.
Q: What about the most important seat, the driver's?
A: A power seat would be too costly. We'll use manual adjustments, but not just
fore and aft. We'll include our own clever seat-height adjuster, plus a simple,
mechanical lumbar support.
Extras aside, the Stratus comes through on the essentials as well. My test car
included the 2.5 liter V6 engine ($1,250), and a four-speed automatic ($825)
with Chrysler's snazzy AutoStick. The V6 got about 25 miles per gallon in a mix
of city and highway driving, yet it felt every bit a V6.
The AutoStick is one of the best gearbox innovations ever to come out of
Detroit. Use it like a plain old automatic when you like. But pull the shift
lever fully rearward, and you're into a whole different mode. The Stick mode
lets you go from first to second to third to fourth and back again with slight
sideward taps of the shifter. It's fun; much like manual shifting, but without a
clutch pedal. It's also a big help in the mountains, where rapidly varying
grades play hell with conventional automatics.
Rear-seat heat ducts and a rear-window defogger are also standard on the ES
model, as are dual air bags and air conditioning. The Stratus ES is a nice
vehicle, and a fine value. For this kind of money, you should NOT expect a sun
roof. That's another $580.
1996 Dodge Stratus ES
Engines: 2.0 liter 4-cyl., 2.5 liter V6.
Transmission: 5-speed stick, 4-speed auto
Drive System: FWD
Wheelbase: 108.0 inches
Weight: 2,899 pounds
EPA economy: 19 MPG city, 27 highway
(with V6 and auto)
Price: $16,110 (Stratus ES)
$14,235 (Stratus base model)
Copyright © 1996 Snow Country Magazine. All rights reserved.
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