Anyone else like Dodge Intrepids?

[SteveSS]

I think the design is cool. They're cheap. If I found one with low miles and on the cheap, I'd get it. Anyone have any experience with these cars???

 

[chargervert]

If I remember correctly they are known for having transmission issues.

 

[lemondana]

I got 190.000 miles out of a 94 Concorde and an uninsured girl just totaled my nice 96 LHS. They're nice big cars, can see out of them good, but they can have transmission issues. I'm looking for another on also. Recently there was a 1997 LHS with something like 15,000 miles for sale locally. It was like new. Sold before I needed it.

 

[451Mopar]

Has a 1997 Concord LX 3.5L I think by 1996/1997 they figured out the main transmission assembly issue.
Had over 215,000 miles on mine when the transmission started leaking, but still shifted fine.
Only issues was the multi-speed fan controller for the a/c heater went out, but was replaced under warranty, and then around 120,000 miles the intake manifold gaskets need replacing because of vacuum leaks. I did do the timing belt replacement and the normal fluid/filter/spark plug changes as scheduled.
I don't recall any other issues, never has any suspension parts replaced, but at 200,000 miles many of the bushings looked like they need to be replaced.
The headlights were likely the worst part of the car, always had to keep them clean or they would be too dim to see anything.
In 1998 they went to the re-designed version

 

[dsd1967]

It seems the first generation Intrepid was a fairly quality vehicle other than the transmission. We bought a second generation version (I believe 2000) and it was ok but the lock solinoids failed frequently and we had ac issues

 

[Hey-O]

I bought a new 2000 ES with a 3.2-liter V6. I used it for work, going to the lake and a spare backup for the family. It was a great car with a ton of room. I had a factory spoiler installed to overcome visibility problems when backing up. I sold it with 68,000 miles on it and never had a problem.

 

[gtx6970]

1st gens were ok, Some trans issues, LOTS of ac evaporator issues

I made a lot of money on them back in the day

 

[DeltaV]

My parents had one. No transmission issues, but it had expensive air conditioning failures.

 

[Photon440]

Up here in Canada, we had Chrysler Intrepids. Dodge sold trucks. (We also had Chrysler Daytonas back then.)

 

[Sixpactogo]

I had a 94 Intrepid. It was one of the best cars I have owned. I drove it to something over 240K miles. It did have the transmission issue though. Something about a seal that would bypass when you slowed down after a highway trip. It would do a little surge or something when you get down to about 20 mph and would go into limp mode. I learned to put the shifter in neutral. Do a shut off and restart and it would clear the limp mode. It didn't do it all the time but enough that I got good at doing it on the fly. Never did fix it and when I sold it to a bartender I knew, I told her about the problem and how to deal with it and she drove it for a year or so till her boyfriend crashed it. She called me and asked if I had another car she could buy from me because she thought it was the best car she ever had. I don't recall any other problems with it outside of regular maintenance like brake pads and a timing belt replacement. My 99 Chrysler LHS was about the same. It had over 300 K miles when I traded it for my 05 300C which I still have.

 

[440 PHIXX]

No. I hate them. Lee Iacocca’s last gasp, “cab forward”. I’d sooner buy a Ford or GM V8 rear drive from a similar year.

 

[wahya]

I seriously looked at buying a new one back in 1993. Wound up buying a Ford T bird instead. Put a lot of miles on that car and no problems.

 

[Runcharger]

I had a 99 with a 3.2, It was a good car. traded it on an 02 300M, That was a great car.

 

[J5 GTX]

I had a 2003 SXT Intrepid. 264k miles until it was t-boned and totaled. I bought a 2003 ES Intrepid , red, just like the SXT for a parts car. 61k miles on it. The day after I bought it was when the SXT was totaled.

They ride nice. The SXT had the dual action intake. I forget what Dodge called it. At lower rpms it would run the long runners and at high rpms ,switch to short runners. Or maybe I got that backwards. Anyway, at 70 mph it would pull strong when passing. The ES doesn't have that feature but still has really decent power. Both are 3.5L cars. I avoided the 2.7 'time bomb' motor. Both cars had the trans. shift solenoid go bad early their life. Both were replaced with the updated version. Edit: 2nd Gen. a very reliable cars with the 3.5.

I bought the ES from a scammer in Virginia. Really interesting story. Think: the Andy Griffith show, Barney's First Car. The parallels are astounding. She even had a guy that ran a wrecker to pick up disabled cars.

 

[davek]

Loved my 2005 se no problems and was a great highway car. I liked it so much I wanted an RT version.

 

[Photon440]

AUTOMOBILE liked it...

 

[Cranky]

Had a 95 ES....wasn't bad but wasn't all that great either. The power was good for the times and it rode and drove good for a FWD and that's saying a lot since I hate FWD. With the traction control on, it would drive straight under acceleration but wasn't bad with it off. Hated the sloped A pillar and had to be careful getting in or I'd bang my head getting in. Dang 22 Colorado isn't much different and have to lower and put the seat back after my wife was driving it. Didn't like the rear 'heads up' steering system on the Dodge either. Water pump....well, most know where that bastid was. I'll take a 95 Dakota over the Intrepid and still have a 95 Dakota.

The style of the car was ok except for the A pillar and liked the spoiler on it. Will I have another? Maybe if it was really nice and under 2k. It was quiet at high speed and it did that pretty good.

 

[WileE]

For the money, it's a good buy. Of course, the comments regarding the trans are valid.

 

[RemCharger]

Agree with all the above. I've put the mrs's in plenty of them .. great design, great engine great car. I was a mechanic at Chrysler when the 2.7 came out and no one was excited.
Although I have some custs to this day driving taken care of examples

 

[6PKRTSE]

I was just behind a white Intrepid earlier this week on my way home from work and thought man, I haven't seen one of those in years. It was in really nice shape as well.
My buddy has a Concorde that he converted to RWD with an 8-3/4 and a 440 with EFI. It still looks 100% factory other than when you look inside and see the custom made factory color carpet and trans and driveshaft tunnel.