Dodge what a joke!!!!Dodge magnum

[moparnut]

I know this has probably been posted before but i just was trying to check the trans fluid in my Magnum and there is no dipstick,dealer says they need to check it!!What a crock O Krap,i have to take it into the dealer to check the trans fluid?Plus having to buy hood struts on a magnum bacause it only came with hood props???Dodge is looking more and more less attractive to me(new stuff that is)I will think twice about ever buying a new one again,even though i love the cars,its the little things that piss me off  

[Moparal]

The car manufactures are trying to make vehicles maintenance free for 100k plus. They want you to bring it in for your regular scheduled maintenance.  Cars are extremely more difficult today then just a few years ago with the way or technology has soared. It takes special tools and meters to check, test and repair them today. Fluid leaks are covered in warranties for the most part. It isnt just dodge.   Sorry about your troubles.  Transmissions have come a long ways and minor things like dust or wrong fluid can hurt them. Everything is computor and sensor now adays.

[Bullitt-]

Not to rail against Chrysler products specifically but I was with my Dad in his S500 the other day & I commented on a few things I especially like about the car & we agreed that the American manufacturers just don't have a clue. Cheep & glitz is about all they seem to know how to build. I have no real experience with the Asian models but my aggravation with certain shortcomings of autos I own & have looked at has me not wanting anything the big 3 currently offer....save maybe a new Mustang. Of all things the seats in our Lincoln Aviator are built for midgets as well as the newer Jeeps & the Pacifica.

[Stacked440]

It sure doesn't seem like dodge is anything like it used to be.

[528 Hemi Cuda]

It is not just the American cars.  We have a friend that had a Lexus.  They wanted her to bring it back to the dealer just to have the oil changed.  They wanted over $200 just to change the oil.   Her Lexus was nice but she decided to go with a Commander and she is very happy with it. 
Pink Ice

[tactransman]

Some new cars don't even have a filler tube!

[Super Blue 72]

I sorta see what Moparal is saying.  I think by having the cars come back to the dealership, they hope to fully service the vehicle and thus hopefully keep it running better and longer and then building up the car manufacturers name.  I think that's why some cars (BMW?) come with services included free with the purchase price.  Not all companies do this but some do.  It may seem like a trick to get you in to the dealership so you can spend more $$$ but in the long run you're car will run longer and better.  Hopefully, minus $$$$. 

[jeryst]

I sorta see what Moparal is saying.  I think by having the cars come back to the dealership, they hope to fully service the vehicle and thus hopefully keep it running better and longer and then building up the car manufacturers name.  I think that's why some cars (BMW?) come with services included free with the purchase price.  Not all companies do this but some do.  It may seem like a trick to get you in to the dealership so you can spend more $$$ but in the long run you're car will run longer and better.  Hopefully, minus $$$$. 

I don't agree. For almost a century, owners have been able to service their own vehicles if they wanted to. If they didon't want to, they could take it to the dealer. Owners choice. But now, they are depriving us of that choice. Why? Because instead of paying their $60-$100 an hour rates, people were doing the simple things themselves, or taking their cars to places like Jiffy Lube. The car dealers are hurting, so the manufacturers are responding by forcing people back to the dealerships for even the most minor of things. Soon, you will have to take your car back to the dealer to get air in the tires. It's all just to make money, to pay for CEO bonuses and unionized non-productivity.

[tactransman]

You should be able to check your own fluids in your own driveway! It has been going on for sometime now,check out this link:
http://www.righttorepair.org/

[Super Blue 72]

I don't agree. For almost a century, owners have been able to service their own vehicles if they wanted to. If they didon't want to, they could take it to the dealer. Owners choice. But now, they are depriving us of that choice. Why? Because instead of paying their $60-$100 an hour rates, people were doing the simple things themselves, or taking their cars to places like Jiffy Lube. The car dealers are hurting, so the manufacturers are responding by forcing people back to the dealerships for even the most minor of things. Soon, you will have to take your car back to the dealer to get air in the tires. It's all just to make money, to pay for CEO bonuses and unionized non-productivity.

   Very true what you said!  Makes sense.

[BIGSHCLUNK]

  IMO it's Bullsh!t. Rmember the "maintance free" battery?  Or the commercials that used to say "it dosen't need a tune up for a hundred thousand miles?? Then people would try to get the plugs out of aluminum heads that have been in them forever!  Yaaaaa rrrriiiggghhhttt. We sold alot heads in those days just for that reason. 

[mopar_guy]

this topic is very interesting..thanks for that link Tactransman.and i agree.i understand that some people take their cars to the dealership anyway.but alot of people are do it yourselves.i dont think it is right to not be able to do YOUR cars maintanence! if you cant handle it then you have the option of taking it in.but to NOT have an option in my opinion is bogus.all about the Cha-Ching

[js27]

I have to agree with you also. My wife's 98 Jeep Cherokee is costing  us alot of money to keep it going. Just spent in the two years we had it $ 2000.00 on a new air conditioning system --$ 200.00 on a new power steering pump--$ 450.00 on new rear brakes and wheel cylinders--$ 150.00 on a new starter--$ 400.00 on steering lingage leaks and the list goes on and on. No the Jeep was not abused in any way either. We inherited it from her brother when he passed away.
We went looking at some new Saturn Vue's and Dodge Calibers and Advengers. I have to be honest the American cars can't hold a candle to the Jap's. Before I bought my Subaru I test drove a bunch of Dodges an not a one could stand up next to the Subaru. We will be out again looking this weekend but it won't be at americans SUV's. Honda-Toyota-Kia-Hyundai. Sorry but that is the way I feel but don't worry I will keep my 67 GTX and 70 Cahllenger R/T Vert.
JS27

[tactransman]

American car manufacturers better change their ways,so more people don't feel that way too.

[70_challenger]

To address the concerns expressed by moparnut:

1)  Trans dipsticks.  If you have a Hemi, the transmission is a Mercedes design.  (I am not sure about the trans for the V6).  Most modern Mercedes do not have a transmission dipstick, and some don't have oil dipsticks.  For those that think this is limited to American or European designs, you will also find that many new Hondas don't have transmission dipsticks.  I don't like it either, and that is one cost reduction that I think makes NO sense.

2)  The hood prop rod.  I have a 300C, which has gas hood struts, not a prop rod.  I am not sure about the Magnums, but maybe it depends on the trim level?  Again, I agree that struts are much nicer, and just give that feeling of quality.  But I would not base any buying decisions on that...I have had plenty of cars with prop rods, and I see them on lots of new cars.

I'm afraid that your concerns with new Dodges will carry over to many brands you look at, wherever they originate.  Enjoy that new Magnum -  I can tell you firsthand that the LX's are GREAT cars.

-Tom