The lesser of 3 evils? Please help with car choice!!! (Car arrived, photos post #72!)

[Duke]

...it'll only come with a 175HP 3.3L V6. Ugh!
How is it possible to extract so little power from such a huge lump!
The same company makes a 2.4L I4 that makes 173HP!!!

The older Neon's DOHC 2.0l I4 made around 150hp and 125ft-lbs of torque. The identical engine stroked out by an inch for 2.4l made 150hp and about 170 ft-lbs, and about 1000 rpm lower in the powerband.

 

[Azuremen]

Also consider refinement...I'll bet the 3.3 is hooked up to one of Chrysler's lackluster early '90s 4-speed overdrive transmissions...I cannot tell you how often those give us trouble. It also shifts poorly.

and the Sebring doesn't look that bad. No, it's not pretty, but it's no Aztek. or a recent Citroen/Renault/Peugeot.

(Prepares to be chastised.)

EDIT: TheCracker makes a good point, though. You may want to try that.

Wasn't that transmission made my Mitsubishi anyhow? My parents' Town and Country's Transmission failed them at one point.

Small, driving a mini van isn't that horrible. If you can get over that you'd be a guy driving a mini van. They have lots of room so you can stick crap in there, and enough torque to tow stuff as well. It was actually nice to have it to drive at times, because doing stuff with more than 2 people becomes far more comfortable for everyone.

But yeah, at the same time its a mini van Handles bleh, and just isn't as responsive as a normal car. On the flip side, the torque they have from that ancient V6 gets them off the line decent quick. My brother use to waste ricers with the Town and Country

 

[Smallhorses]

Oops. Kind of neglected to update this.
Anyway, had a few issues workwise regarding car choice and got in a little trouble for helping our fleet manager understand differences in 2008 vs. 2007 model Caravans.
After pointing out differences between Sebring base model (fleet lease special) and Sebring Touring, it appears the Touring package is now the favourable model, and we're now allowed that plus more paid options.

Have placed an order for Sebring Touring, with 8-way power drivers seat, Leather interior and daytime running lamps as extras. 👍 Test drove one the other day, smaller than my current Intepid (yes, I know the R is missing!! ) but has the same 200HP 2.7L V6, so feels more pokey. Still uglier than bulldog sucking a wasp that's been fighting with Freddy Kreuger, but at least it's not a minivan or an SUV!!!

Thanks for your help and suggestions!

 

[Sage]

Congratulations…?

 

[Smallhorses]

Thanks...?
To be honest I'm more excited about the TMBG tickets that arrived through the post today! 30th Sept at the Fillmore in SF! Woohoo! Will be the first time I've seen them in 17 years! Way to make me feel old.

 

[Sage]

I really want to see them in SD on October 4th, but I have nobody to go with me.

 

[Duke]

I really want to see them in SD on October 4th, but I have nobody to go with me.

Go by yourself and MEET SOMEBODY THERE! At least you're guaranteed they have good taste in music. Or take your roomie just to expose him to it. Or somebody else... but don't miss an opportunity to see them!

 

[Roo]

I really want to see them in SD on October 4th, but I have nobody to go with me.

That is so not a good excuse not to go see one of your favourite bands. In any case, having no-one else with you means no-one else to worry about

Well done on the car Nick, even though I have no idea what it is.

 

[Slicks]

Thanks...?
To be honest I'm more excited about the TMBG tickets that arrived through the post today! 30th Sept at the Fillmore in SF! Woohoo! Will be the first time I've seen them in 17 years! Way to make me feel old.

It's probably incredibly obvious, but TMBG? I can't think of anyone who that would be.

 

[ferrari_chris]

It's probably incredibly obvious, but TMBG? I can't think of anyone who that would be.

They Might Be Giants

 

[BayConRong]

i'd say the saibring there is this jerk that lives down the street from us that owns a pacifica but when it snowed last time the idiot managed to crash it trying to rocket up our hill. it's about a 15% grade for about 50yards.

 

[Smallhorses]

Well it's a couple of months on now, but I collected this yesterday, with 5 miles on the odometer. 2008 Chrysler Sebring Touring Sedan.

Still hate the fact that it looks as though someone attacked the hood with a lawn rake! Ugly. And it's not green. All of my company cars have been green so far. No green option to have on this one though.

Not too bad from the back, but could they have made the rear lights any bigger?!!! Alloys are Ok.

Two-tone leather interior is quite nice, and it has satellite radio as standard, along with an iPod input on the CD/Radio.

Sounds nicer than the Intepid did, and is a lot more responsive than that old "Boat Of Car"!!! Smaller dimensions = easier parking! 👍 All in all not bad for a freebie.

 

[TopHat]

Dare I say that.... it doesn't look all that bad in silver?

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> Although those three sucks, I'd pick the Caravan for work-duty. But be sure to get the SXT w/ the Stow 'n Go. It meets cargo-passenger-MPG criteria, so the Dodge is the best buy of the bunch.

=Sorry I'm Late=

 

[Sakiale]

Ok, so my company car is up for renewal.

It's a 2004 Dodge Intrepid SE, which has 57000 miles on in 4 years.
All in all not been a bad car, but has started to have little niggles over the past 12 months, which is ironic since it should really have been replaced at 3 years old.

Anyway.....

I was looking forward to swapping it for a 2008 Dodge Charger, which is nicer looking, would have the 3.5L V6 instead of the Intrepid's puny 2.7L V6.
However, though I work in California, I work for a Massachussetts based company, and have just heard that the Charger, being RWD is "dangerous because people have accidents in the snow."
Snow? In the Bay Area? Last time it snowed here Brontasauri(?), Brontasauruses(?), well, you get the picture, were grazing here!!!
I own an FR Mazda Miata, and an RR Porsche 911, as personal cars, and I'm pretty adept at handling them.

Are you a 60 year old trucker who recently sold his house? Cause if so, I bought it.

 

[YSSMAN]

Wow, thats actually a pretty nice-looking Sebring! I mean, that isn't saying much, but I guess its the crap that I've seen around here that makes my stomach turn... The two-tone interior looks great, actually somewhat classy, although they didn't do a good job of hiding the cheap.

Enjoy the car. At the very least you get the "lifetime warranty"...

 

[Smallhorses]

Are you a 60 year old trucker who recently sold his house? Cause if so, I bought it.

Err, no. 33 year old Scientist, (it's in my profile ) who owns a house, 2 personal cars and has just acquired a new company vehicle.

Why would I be a 60 year old trucker?

I hope you didn't just buy a 2004 Intepid from a trucker!!! Or a house for that matter!!!
My old one was left at the dealer's and will go off to auction somewhere in CA soon. It should make a good deal for someone, (except for the fact it's an Intepid!) 58000 miles in 4 years is below average and it has a full service history with it.

(Oh, and you need to put the / in the

at the end of your post to make the quote work!)

 

[Sakiale]

Cause I bought a house from a trucker. But he had 2 911s, one of which was actually a 912, and his wife's miata was blue.. I didn't notice your avatar before.

 

[Joey D]

Wow that interior looks cheaper then cheap...but hey a new car is a new car right? Enjoy it.

 

[Smallhorses]

Cause I bought a house from a trucker.

A Doll's house?

Your "life" story says you're 13. 13 year olds don't buy houses!

 

[Thirdeye]

If the gauges were in the middle of the dash, it would look almost exactly like my dad's Saturn Ion's interior

 

[Sakiale]

Okay, my parents.

 

[Omnis]

All I know is Sebring = suck. I'd go for the Caravan. You already have two cars and the Pacifica is, well, a crusty Pacifica.

God, I hate Chrysler.

 

[Sakiale]

Caravan has that table in the middle!

 

[TopHat]

He already picked up the car.

 

[Smallhorses]

Caravan has that table in the middle!

Only if you fork out an extra $1500 for the Swivel-n-go package, which isn't worth it to me!

All I know is Sebring = suck. I'd go for the Caravan. You already have two cars and the Pacifica is, well, a crusty Pacifica.

God, I hate Chrysler.

I'm not keen on either Chrysler or Dodge, but those were the 3 choices.
Couldn't choose a Caravan, since they wanted me to place an order before there was even a 2008 Caravan on any dealer lots to test drive.
I simply refuse point-blank to order a vehicle that I haven't test driven, it's pure common sense, and the reason I got in trouble for trying to explain this to some people in my company. 👎

He already picked up the car.

! Updated title to reflect that now!

 

[JCE]

[another mindless rant against Chrysler]

That has got to be the worst looking interior next to the Ion/Cobalt. I've seen 5 yearold Kia's with better interiors. There is so much grey I thought I was looking at a black & white photo. I hate to say it but...I wish your company gave you the Charger with the crappiest engine--it would of been lightyears better that this. I'll be praying for you.

God, I hate Chrysler.

+1 The cheap version of the Charger/Magnum would of been perfect here, but I guess he didn't have any say into the decision.

My sister-in-law bought a PT Loser...errrr...PT Cruiser almost a year ago and its already been to the shop 3 times (that I know of) and 2 weeks ago I noticed that its leaking powersteering fluid. What are Chrysler's made of anyway, straw?

[/another mindless rant against Chrysler]

 

[TopHat]

Its not really that bad looking. Really. I don't see what you guys are seeing. It may have cheap materials, but atleast it looks good, and its functional, and comes with quite a few goodies when equipped properly.

 

[Azuremen]

I think its the endless ocean of the shade Grey perhaps? Just looks boring and bland and uncreative.

Other than that, I actually like how the Sebring looks, don't ask me why.

 

[Omnis]

I'm not keen on either Chrysler or Dodge, but those were the 3 choices.
Couldn't choose a Caravan, since they wanted me to place an order before there was even a 2008 Caravan on any dealer lots to test drive.
I simply refuse point-blank to order a vehicle that I haven't test driven, it's pure common sense, and the reason I got in trouble for trying to explain this to some people in my company. 👎

Oh, word. I didn't know that. Good choice then. Pacifica = Barfifica.

I cannot stand the current Caravans, anyway. I only chose it on the assumption that the new one would be better.