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Thinking about buying an Intrepid, should I?

3K views 57 replies 20 participants last post by  Badasstrep 
#1 ·
Well, I'm 16 and I get my license in 23 days (give or take, depending on when the driving school makes my road test appointment).

I have roughly 7 grand saved up from working my ass off for the past 2 years, and I need a car

I'd like an Intrepid because I love Dodge and Chrysler

Preferably a 2nd gen, like a 98, 99 or 00 with 65-80K miles on it

However, I've heard some bad reviews, mostly of the Intrepids with the 2.7 liter engine (I'd rather have a bit more HP anyway)

I've heard some stories of engine and transmission problems as well as general problems with the interior (door seals, window motors, etc.)

I want a car that is going to last me roughly 4-8 years with not too many problems.

Should I go for an Intrepid?
and if so, does the engine size really matter?
also, what exactly is the difference in models? (SE, ES, R/T)

Thanks a lot!

For now, im off to test drive a burgundy Intrepid at the local car dealership.
 
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#2 ·
chrysler / GM and how their letters function

se = 2.7 / (base)
es = 3.2 or 3.5 /(se)
r/t = 3.5 /(gt)

If you can find a r/t for what money you have go with that. If you cant get an es with the 3.5 or 3.2.

The 2.7 get only if it has low miles and or you want to swap a motor your not 16 so you dont want to do that.

3.2 and 3.5 motors are reliable but they stopped making 3.2 in 01 or 02 cant remember.

The trannys on all the cars are the same the only diffrence is the 2.7 has lower gearing for the lack of HP and ES' and some r/ts have the autostick which is a false manual tranny shift.

It owuld be a wise envestment since most have had their cars from day one at the dealer since 95 onward. and the cars are still going.
 
#3 · (Edited)
I'm biased.. ;-) If you can get an R/T go for it. I've had mine for 2 years and have put 40,000 miles on it. Driving from SD to MA twice a year, and to other places have racked up my miles. I've only had on problem, a ball joint go bad. $120 fix. I've never owned a 2.7 intrepid, I've heard the stories, but to be safe try for an ES if you can't get the R/T. ES's tend to have much nicer interiers.
Door seals are easy and cheap to change. As for the window motors I have no clue.

Here's some more info on the differences

http://www.dodgeintrepid.net/forums/faq.php?faq=new_faq_item_2ndgen#faq_2gmodel
 
#5 ·
Well, you're gonna get nothing but biased opinions posting here ;)

R/T's are DIFFICULT to find (rare). Would recommend a 3.2L or 3.5L (same engine design, basically bulletproof as far as we know). Tranny sensors sometimes go on 2g's.....a cheap fix. The 2g trannys themselves don't tend to crap out. A used Intrepid is one of the best value's in a used car.......you could also look at 300M's, HUGE depreciation on a great car.
 
#7 ·
Avenger said:
Well, you're gonna get nothing but biased opinions posting here ;)
yeah, but i think i want biased opinions ;)

thanks for the help guys, and i'm definitely getting one

dunno what model though, i'd love an R/T

probably an ES though

definitely with a sunroof and either black, red, or silver

the burgundy one i looked at today is a 2002 SE

i only got to look at it though cuz the dealer wasnt there

the fact that you can do as much to an Intrepid as you can do to a Dodge Ram (wanted one since i was 6, but trucks are too expensive to take care of) really sold me on them
 
#10 ·
intrepids are definatly a good car to invest in, i dunno if you have to worry about snow, but if you do then this is a good car to choose, it gets through snow pretty well if you drive it like it should be. its comfortible for long drives, its low enough so most other teens wont think its a granny car, and for those that do, its got enough pick up to show them its not. though if your looking for something to play around with the engine and such, you may wanna look else where, thats whats making me save up for a new car.
 
#13 ·
Every make and model of any automobile manufacturer is going to have some kind of problem in it's life. It's your money which I'm sure you worked very hard for, so it is important that you like everything about the car, and, as you are doing, do your homework about the car. The Intrepids are a wonderful road car with lots of room and for the most part very good dependability. I would be concerned about the 2.7 engine due to it's track record, especially considering there are class action lawsuits trying to be developed against them, or so I've heard. Of course some members here will insist that they are good engines, but personally I would stay away from them. (Anybody realize how hard it is to type when there is a naked ass walking right above where I'm trying to type??)

The point I'm making is that you need to be absolutely sure just what exactly you want out of a car, and how does it feel to you while driving. Best of luck with your decision and we hope it is an Intrepid and that we will see you around in these forums...
 
#14 ·
Take your time in looking for the car you want, don't just buy the first one you see. Take a look at a few so you can have some sort of comparison to go by. For that sort of money you should be able to pick up a loaded ES. Don't even bother with a SE.
 
#15 ·
Well i had a 2.7 and the only reason it got messed up was my sisters that dont know anything about a car except put it in drive and press the gas. I, myself never had a problem out of it. Thats even very spirited driveing almost day to day. (I.E. Raceing the crap out of it.) BUt untill my sisters were running to get my sisters new car in SC was the only time I have had a major problem out of it.

What Im trying to say is if you know how to keep a car up (oil changes, plugs, air filter,) then a 2.7 is not a bad car. But in my opinion, if you want horsepower get a 3.5 and a flowmaster exhaust. Sweet.
 
#16 ·
I think you'll like the Intrepid. I have 2, a '96 base model and an '01 ES. The '96 has 183K miles and has been about as trouble free as a car can get. The '01 only has 45K, but there have been no problems with it.
I'd say go for a 3.2 or 3.5 if you can find one at the right price. I've never driven a 2.7, but I can't imagine it having enough oomph to satisfy a young guy. I wouldn't necessarily pass one up if it's an outstanding deal, but I'd concentrate on finding an ES or RT, and if you stumble on an outstanding SE in the process, maybe go ahead on it. First thing to do--change tranny fluid & filter (use the right stuff, very important). Second thing--if the hoses and accessory belts have never been changed, get it done, and it will be fairly expensive if you change heater hoses too, as you should on any car with 80K. I think if you take care of those two items, you'll be good to go until you hit 105K, at which time the timing belt and coolant should be changed.
 
#18 ·
lol, i noticed that too

its quite captivating ;)

well, i live in Mass, so the winters are not so great, usually some pretty slippery roads in my town
should be ok though, my parents have Tauruses and they drive well in the snow

and im definitely going for a 3.2 or 3.5 liter

maybe the 2.7 is a good engine, but i wanna be able to smoke my friends cars with it

whichever engine i get, i'll be doing some upgrading to it
im basically planning:
cold air intake
mayybe flowmasters
whatever other performance mods there are

I plan on driving a bunch of different Intrepids to figure out what i like and exactly what i want

right now though it looks like a loaded ES, cuz i cant seem to find any R/Ts around here :(
long as its got a sunroof though, im set

off to explore the site somemore...
 
#19 ·
sneke_eyez said:
lol, i noticed that too

its quite captivating ;)

well, i live in Mass, so the winters are not so great, usually some pretty slippery roads in my town
should be ok though, my parents have Tauruses and they drive well in the snow

and im definitely going for a 3.2 or 3.5 liter

maybe the 2.7 is a good engine, but i wanna be able to smoke my friends cars with it

whichever engine i get, i'll be doing some upgrading to it
im basically planning:
cold air intake
mayybe flowmasters
whatever other performance mods there are

I plan on driving a bunch of different Intrepids to figure out what i like and exactly what i want

right now though it looks like a loaded ES, cuz i cant seem to find any R/Ts around here :(
long as its got a sunroof though, im set

off to explore the site somemore...
Dont worry about the slippery roads. And dont worry about tearing your friends up. I do that with my 3.3L 175 horse (for the most part), even the 2.7L has 200 horse...


-Brandon
 
#20 ·
sneke_eyez said:
lol, i noticed that too

its quite captivating ;)

well, i live in Mass, so the winters are not so great, usually some pretty slippery roads in my town
should be ok though, my parents have Tauruses and they drive well in the snow

and im definitely going for a 3.2 or 3.5 liter

maybe the 2.7 is a good engine, but i wanna be able to smoke my friends cars with it

whichever engine i get, i'll be doing some upgrading to it
im basically planning:
cold air intake
mayybe flowmasters
whatever other performance mods there are

I plan on driving a bunch of different Intrepids to figure out what i like and exactly what i want

right now though it looks like a loaded ES, cuz i cant seem to find any R/Ts around here :(
long as its got a sunroof though, im set

off to explore the site somemore...
I don't know what part of Mass your in, but if your close enough, head up to N.H. Lots of nice people with too much money on their hands and always buying newer cars. Go around the back roads close to the state borders and you'll find cars sitting infront of nice houses all for sale. Mostly in "Like new" condition.
 
#21 ·
hey dudes, decided to call my mom's cousin who owns a 97 3.3L with 168,800 miles

he says he loves the car, but it gets only so-so gas mileage during in-town driving

now, i don't want an economy car, but i did want good gas mileage esp in-town, cuz thats where i'll be driving

do the 2nd gens have so-so gas mileage too, or did it improve?
and if you don't mind, can somebody tell me what they get for MPG?

thanks
 
#24 ·
lol, well, thanks for the advice, but im sticking with an Intrepid

Chargers are cool, but too new and therefore too expensive
plus i only make 7 an hour

thanks for the MPG numbers DCell

they sound good to me, i dunno what my mom's cousin meant, but those are good enough

and i live in central Mass, out near Worcester

a trip up to NH wouldnt be out of the question, esp because its getting to the point where the internet turns up nothing in Mass for Intrepids but lots in CT and NH.
 
#25 ·
Try to find an '02+ ES if you're going that route.......3.5L engine is the only engine available in those year/model cars, 234HP.
 
#26 ·
Go for some thing 2000 or newer. The early ones had some early production problems. Like window seals, peeling chrome lettering, power window motor, warping rotors ect... By mid 2000 most are taken care of.
 
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