Automotive Trends

Not Worthy Of The R/T Moniker But Competent Nonetheless

    Maybe I’m just an over-demanding automotive enthusiast but when I am scheduled to drive a vehicle, which has the R/T moniker in the name, I anticipate a vehicle that, as the name implies, can hold its own on the Road as well as the Track. Accordingly, you will understand my disappointment when I discovered a 3.0-liter V6 under the hood of my Indy Red Status rated at 200 just-adequate horses. Perhaps my disappointment does not lie with the Stratus but with Chrysler marketers misusing a storied name. It’s the same case at General Motors where Chevrolet offers an Impala SS with a Un-Super-Sport-like 240hp. But I digress. With that off my chest it’s time to focus on the Stratus Coupe.
     Focusing on the Stratus is a painless affair thanks to its designers who blessed the car with good proportions and handsome, uncluttered flanks. We think the car is successful from all angles but particularly like the R/T specific hood and chrome 5-spoke wheels. The familiar crosshair Dodge grille is accounted for but the top two honeycomb-pattern inlets are actually solid and look a bit funny once you notice them since the purpose of a grille is to let air through. The tail end works well thanks to separate back-up lights that help breakup what would otherwise be a massive rear bumper area. We also lauded the scalloped taillights and the spoiler that stays just this side of boy racer. Integrating the antenna into the glass would be a positive addition to a generally successful look.
     Slipping inside the Stratus reveals more of a mixed bag. Whiteface gauges and a piece of plastic painted silver do their best to dress up an otherwise black plastic haven. There are some ergonomic issues that probably stem from this platform being adapted to fit several different Mitsubishi and Chrysler products. For instance, the steering wheel is not square with the driver and while that irks the over-demanding auto enthusiast serving as your humble author, everyday drivers might not find it bothersome or even notice it. A couple of driver’s also noted that the dash seems a bit further away then would be ideal. On the positive side the Infinity stereo sounds good and the 4-disc in-dash CD player is standard equipment with the R/T package—as is most everything else. Our car did have the optional $750 sunroof and $390 side air bags though. The seats were covered in leather for $1310 and quite aggressively bolstered; a fact that earned praise in the logbook from those on the staff who are self-diagnosed over-demanding auto enthusiasts (i.e. all of us).
     And it is no doubt due to our heavily biased staff that we came down pretty hard on the Stratus’ dynamics. The Mitsubishi sourced 3.0-liter isn’t the most refined unit in the world but the 5-speed manual does make the car feel peppier than its 200hp and 205 lb-ft of torque would suggest. Yet, the tranny itself came up for some criticism due to a notchy shift linkage and an especially lumpy 2-3 upshift. The unwilling shifter was further multiplied by odd clutch take-up. The clutch engaged and disengaged at the very top of the clutch pedal’s travel instead of nearer the bottom like God intended. In addition to being just plain difficult to get used to, the pedal has to be almost fully let out to engage the drivetrain, which makes for frustratingly slow shifts. Thankfully, the brakes were fine but we would like to mention to Chrysler that this is a 2005 model and they are still charging $565 for 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes. Let’s get with the times guys; anti-lock brakes should be standard equipment on every vehicle. The steering was actually pretty responsive with quick turn-in partially thanks to the 215/50R 17” tires. Beyond sharp turn-in there isn’t much positive to say in the area of handling. Dodge engineers need to dramatically reduce body roll to limit that disconnected feeling you get when cornering which seems to suggest the body is connected to the chassis via rubber bands. We realize not every vehicle needs to carve corners like a Porsche, but in a sporty coupe—especially an R/T model—the dynamics need to be a step above not two steps behind.
     It’s our job to tell you how good or bad a vehicle is by itself and when compared to its competitors since very few people have the opportunity to sample every vehicle on the market. When taken alone the Stratus is a competent car with handsome styling, a bit of flair, and all the proper components to get you from here to there with minimal effort on your part. But in the big picture the Stratus is clearly behind the times. Optioned as our test car was, the R/T Coupe stickers at $27,370. Thanks to rebates you’ll pay several thousand dollars less than that but the same money puts some strong competition in the game—and the competition puts the Stratus on the bench.