Dodge Intrepid - First car, what do you think?

[clemsonfor]

UPDATE:

Got a second quote on the trans leak from the local Dodge dealer. It was higher (not by much), so we bit the bullet and had the work done for the original quoted price...

I hate telling folks what to do, but seriously you cant be afraid of this stuff and need to learn to fix things yourself. An older vehicle will nickle and dime you to death. I learned on my first car as i could not stand to pay all the money for repairs. WE can help here and pretty much anything you want to know is on youtube.

To give you an idea i have a 1997 saturn, 210,000miles. In the last 16 months i have done complete front brake job, new pads/rotors. Cooling fan (its electric), water pump, new plugs, wires, O2 sensor, EGR valve, waterpump, valve cover gasket. new AC compressor, exhaust manifold gasket, and plug wires. I think this is all, but i forget some stuff. And this is only on one vehicle. I have 2 other older ones but one is a tow vehicle and gets only a few thousand miles a year, the other is my every day truck when i need it, its a reager with 289K it gets about as many repairs.

But you see where im going from here, all of these things would be several hunded dollars each to fix with the part, except the plugs and wires as there easy. I buy my parts online using coupon codes at advance to get 30-40% off price or buy from rockauto.com.

Seriously you will need to learn. It will save you thousands in your life esp as you gain confidence and tackle larger more high dollar jobs in your future. Im only 30 yrs old but have been working on my own stuff since i guess 16, so i have a few years of it. Im not the best but im way better than most, pretty much anybody unless they are into cars to or are a pro. I did have a benefit as my fater in law owned a shop and i spent some time there learing diagnostic tricks and ways to do things.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Thought I'd update this thread with some more pics of the car:

 

[k0ua]

Kyle it looks to be in better shape than our "corporate beaters" of that vintage... Looks good:thumbsup:

James K0UA

 

[clemsonfor]

Way nicer than the car im driving now!! Im 30 years old and make 60K a year. BUT i dont care what i drive as long as it gets good MPG.

 

[timswi]

Except for one very important fact. People can associate a Charger with a hemi. They would not suspect a thing when you blew their doors off with an Intrepid that was hemied. I gotta look this up. Some motor enthusiast may have done this.. but it would probably cost more than a new Charger to fabricate as not a thing would bolt up. I doubt anyone would take on this challenge unless it was a company like West Coast Customs.

I saw a Hemi K-Car once....I just wondered, why? I guess it was because he could.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Kyle it looks to be in better shape than our "corporate beaters" of that vintage... Looks good:thumbsup:

James K0UA

Way nicer than the car im driving now!! Im 30 years old and make 60K a year. BUT i dont care what i drive as long as it gets good MPG.

Thanks guys! :thumbsup:

 

[clemsonfor]

Oh and my car has 210K miles on it, my ranger truck 291k, so you got a bit to catch up.

Cooler than my first car as well. I had a 1985 ford tempo. BUt that was in like 1997 so at that time it was only like 12 years old!

 

[Johnp33]

The 2.7 is a terible motor, the intrepid is in the top ten list of the worst vehicles.
After saying that, I have a customer that has one, It has been great, I needed to do a timing chain, water pump kit. after having it apart, the oil is changed at about 300 miles, and about 1/2 an hour, driving time, add 1/2 a quart of ATF. It is the very best engine flush.
Get the transmission, in pan filter changed, at least ever two years. There is a diff, in that car, right side, awkward plug placement.
Never put in a lower temp thermostat, the engine is made to run with a 195 thermostat, that is were parts fit properly.
It is an engine with a lot of aluminum. flush the cooling system I use Arm and Hammer washing soda and a little Dawn dish soap. mixed in a pail and do it untill it drains clean, after running for at least an hour. I use Dex-cool it is the best with aluminum.

 

[Dmace]

The 2.7 is a terible motor, the intrepid is in the top ten list of the worst vehicles.

So where exactly is this "list"...?


Car looks great Kyle!
I remember how I used to wash, wax, and vacuum my first car every weekend. I don't remember the last time I had time for that...

 

[ljohnson778]

The 2.7 is a terible motor, the intrepid is in the top ten list of the worst vehicles.
After saying that, I have a customer that has one, It has been great, I needed to do a timing chain, water pump kit. after having it apart, the oil is changed at about 300 miles, and about 1/2 an hour, driving time, add 1/2 a quart of ATF. It is the very best engine flush.
Get the transmission, in pan filter changed, at least ever two years. There is a diff, in that car, right side, awkward plug placement.
Never put in a lower temp thermostat, the engine is made to run with a 195 thermostat, that is were parts fit properly.
It is an engine with a lot of aluminum. flush the cooling system I use Arm and Hammer washing soda and a little Dawn dish soap. mixed in a pail and do it untill it drains clean, after running for at least an hour. I use Dex-cool it is the best with aluminum.

Your tips might have been helpful, except for the whole 'raining on parade' thing...

Again, nice wheels, Kyle.