Are they reliable/good cars? My friend is thinking about buying a Stratus. Budget around ~$5000, what would be the best purchase? And don't just answer Bonneville!

I'm with Don... Getting the 2.7 is just asking for trouble; the four-banger is the better bet.

The 2.5L (Mitsubishi?) V6 in the older models isn't any better, I gather?

Joel, Slayer636 has owned his since...2004? I think...it wont die!
4 Clyinder model.

With the 2.7, the grim reaper is not on the tail it is driving it!!! Besides the engine going, they have tons of problems. Trust me I would also know.

my friend has a nitrous injected 2.7v6 sebring touring, has been sludge free since the day he bought it new

When my dad passed away back in April '07, his '01 stratus 2.7 had 70k mi on it. His wife, my step mother, now has over 100,000k mi on it, with NO engine problems. The car rolled three times and landed upside down in a muddy ditch, and was REPAIRED . He felt the need to floor it with one arm in a sling. Major torque steer, bounced from each side of the road getting one tire stuck in the ditch each time, until both tires got stuck in the ditch and she flipped. He had to cut his seatbelt off and climb out the rear window. So the only issues he'* had were electrical. Given that he was upside down in a muddy ditch, that'* expected.

The 2.7 on his car seems to be insane I've driven other 2.7s, and they don't match it. If you hop on it from a dead stop, or 20 MPH, you fly into your seat. I'm pretty sure it would take the Bonne (after my mods) in a 0-60 any day. The vehicle was a re-po, so it'* possible a previous owner may have beefed it up, hence the longer life.

One problem he did have he never knew about. While I was in MI for his funeral, I took a look at his car that my step mother continues to drive, and it looked like there was a 2000 lb weight in the trunk. The camber was WAY out. It wasn't fixed until after I left, I believe my uncle said it was a rear control arm. He said she'* lucky it didn't just fall off and die on her, as it was only being held together by a small piece of rubber. Not sure what part he'* talking about as he didn't make much sense, but with the way MI roads are... I'd probably point it at the roads.

All in all, it'* been a great car for having been rolled three times and landing inside of a ditch.

My brother bought one for his family and has had nothing but problems with it.

Why wouldn't your friend be interested in a Bonneville? $5000 will buy a pretty nice one.

My aunt'* '02 Sebring LXi had the 2.7. F**ker died at 60k miles. Sludged up and locked solid. And mind ya, she had oil changes every 3k miles with good oil and filters. The 2.7 is simply junk, and super slow. For 200hp, it took hers nearly 9.5-10 secs to get to 60. I would take a 2.4 Sebring over the 2.7 anyday.