2001 Intrepid ES

Test drove this car and would like to actually buy it

It has just over 40k miles and the dealer is including a two year 25k
mile warranty

Money aside, in your esteemed opinions is this a smart purchase?

 

What engine? 2.7L, 3.2L, or 3.5L? How much $ and what condition?

I recently purchased a 3-year old Intrepid SE with 35.3K miles and asked
basically the same question of this group. You can probably find the thread
(about 5-6 weeks back) if you do a Google search.

I paid $7,800 for an SE with the (not so good 2.7L). The car was in very
good condition and had been well maintained based on the records. Given
that the original sticker price was just over $24K, I felt I got a good deal
and will gamble on the engine's longevity since my intention is to keep it
for about 3-5 years and another 50-60K miles.

Bob

 

if it is the 2.7 engine it needs to be carefully checked since they get
sludge damaged if the oil is not changed on time.

 

I'm biased, I have a 1998 ES, and I like it. So much for full
disclosure.

That said, the 3.2L/3.5L engine family, if this one is so equipped (and
being an ES it likely is) is well regarded. Anecdotally, the LH
platform seems reliable, and reasonably long-lived. Styling is a matter
of taste, however the size of the car you get for the price you pay is a
great value, and IMO, it beats the snot out of the rival offerings
from Ford and GM.

It's hard to put 'money aside' when talking about a used car purchase,
however. What is the asking price, and where are you? I also wonder
about the 2-year/25K-Mile warranty...how much of a premium for this is
baked in the price?

Mine has had two 'major' (read: more than a hundred bucks) problems: the
automatic temp control head unit fritzed out, and the steering rack
needed replacement. My aftermarket warranty covered both repairs. I
attribute the rack and pinion problems to bad Michigan roads, and the
ATC problem to bad luck. YMMV. I've had one case of engine misfiring
which was attributable to bad gas, and one noisy idler pulley in the
accessory drivetrain. I also had an output speed sensor go bad on the
transmission. The cost to repair all three of these (including a new
set of sparkplugs during the bad gas episode) was less than $100 total.
I've done brakes on the car a few times in the nearly 70K miles I've
driven it. Expect bad results from cheap, Asian-made brake rotors, but
outside of that I've had normal wear and tear for big-city driving.

Mine was involved in a significant rear-end collision in November of
'02. Rear decklid, bumper, taillamp, tail panel, trim, paint, etc.,
needed repair. Cost to repair this damage was about $3500 (not counting
incidentals like rental, etc.) The car protected my wife well, the
doors were all operable after the crash, and the price to repair the
damage was not out of line with other cars. It could have easily
been driven home after the accident, but I won't drive a car with
smashed-up taillamps. It's a big, solid car.


In short, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend an Intrepid.

--Geoff

 

It's the 3.2, so no sludge issue

 

At the right price a great car. Who backs the warranty? If it isn't the
factory it may not be any good?

 

I think the 2001 "ES" came only with the 3.2L. They didn't switch to the
3.5L until 2002 according to what I read on them.

==========

 

I have a 1998 ES with 161K on it on the 3.5. Love the car and it runs like a
top.

Dan

 

Tops go round and round in circles. Whats so good about running like a top?

 

I think you mean the 3.2L engine. Two engines were available for Intrepids for
MY 1998, with displacements of 2.7 liters and 3.2 liters. The ES model came with
the 3.2 liter.

 

I think a 3.5 was available for the previous body style. When they switched
to the new (current) body style, they dropped the 3.5 and went with a 3.2
then in 2002 they dropped the 3.2 and went back to a 3.5. Which I think was
just a "de-tuned" version of the 3.5 offered in the 300M.

My 2002 Intrepid ES has the 3.5 and what I read about it, was the first year
for the new body style to offer it (again) instead of the 3.2. Friend has a
2001 ES and it has the 3.2.

 

Yes, but the '98 wasn't the previous body style.