The Dodge Stratus RT is a pretty quick vehicle, but not fast enough! In Dallas, Texas on May 14, 2009 the police were recently chasing a Dodge Stratus RT from an exit ramp and back onto the interstate! This driver was pretty good overall at drive but dumber than a box of rocks when it comes to common sense. The police already have his license plate number but yet he still runs. That's a gutsy yet stupendously illogical move. Obviously a stock RT can not out run police due to top speed restriction programmed by factory, not to mention the traffic found on the interstate.
The odds are stacked against the Stratus to evade police on an interstate; let alone during rush hour in a long vehicle like the Stratus RT! The engine is made by Mitsubishi and features a flat dyno curve which yields good torque and power through out the entire RPM band. However, it is the same engine used in the Chrysler Sebring which is not a fast car by any means. Even though the Dodge Stratus RT is a faster version of the Stratus, it is still no race car in stock form and is very long and heavy for it's power. The chase goes pretty good until the RT tries to go off road resulting in... well you'll see!
2002 Dodge Stratus RT specifications:
- 3.0 liter V6
- 5 speed manual or slush-o-matic
- 200 horsepower @ 5500 RPM
- 205 torque @ 4500 RPM
- 3279 lb curb weight
- 0-60 mph 7.9 seconds
- 16.120 second quarter mile @ 86.410
- 130 mph stock top speed
After looking at the specifications, it's pretty obvious this guy is getting caught! If you plan on eluding police, make sure you have a higher hp per lb ratio than .06 hp per pound! I don't know what this guy was thinking, but there is no way to tell if it's been modified. If it was modified I can understand his rationale behind trying to race the police vehicle. Sixteen second quarter mile times will only elude the likes of 1990's minivans. Bad choice in escape vehicle! For example, the 1993 Geo Storm ran a 16.7 second quarter mile time.
Chances are that any vehicle using forced induction is faster than those using natural aspiration. On the outside, the vehicle appears stock. It is possible to gain more power out of this vehicle, but even with a turbo this motor takes a really long time to rev out. Classic example of a bad choice in a stock performance vehicle to elude police! If you like watching police chase videos, check out the following series!
Police VS ??? series!
- Police chase Scion
- Police vs street racer
- Police vs the real Ghost Rider
- Police vs Lotus Omega
- Police vs Smokey Nagata
- Police chase ZR1 @ 160 mph & crash
- Mitsubishi Lancer EVO evades police
Video content: Police chase Dodge Stratus
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Comments
I sped by cops once on the highway only at 120 km/hr and being half asleep I didn't pull over until they came alongside me wtih sirens blaring. I went to court, had 6 points for failing to follow instructions of officer, won, reduced to 3 points as I pleaded unsafe to pull over on highway at that time
I updated the article after some research thanks to a special reader named "Ron". As it turns out the engine was bigger than stated, but the overall speed was slower. I've updated the article appropriately. Thank you Ron for catching my error! -Michael
I do not know what you are talking about in this article. My R/T tops out at 139MPH with just a CAI and cat back exhaust. When the standard police cruiser tops out at 110-115, the only police car that could keep up on a straight would be a Charger or Magnum, and this video is neither. And a 16 second 1/4 mile? HAH! I would like to know who is launching that car because they are not doing a very good job.
mine would out run da cop
cop needs to lose ibs -weight- and when he runs out of the car -2nd cop- he falls over nothing -embarrising
Oh crap! its fast car!! Just because the tire went bad!!
well if the origonal stop is a intrepid and the roll is not appearing to be a stratus the rear quater is wrong whoops cat and mouse game with a roll over on what? stratus still an intrepid that was origonally stopped wrong guy? the cop does'nt appear to have his lights on early enough! also the right seems to take place early look for a left to right at car shop dodge intrepid? dunno? maybe just a glich or two to work out? why cop looses sight
About the Street Fire chase video-
That's not a Stratus R/T but a SXT with a 4 cylinder.
The R/Ts have a chrome exhaust tip-note the roll over shot in the video.
Anyway, the tire blew, that's why the cops caught him...so you need to be more observant, Michael.
It's a fast car (I have two).
Those Stratus RT's are slow! That's definitely the v6. The 4 banger is a pig and wouldn't accelerate like that.
The 5-speed does 0-60 in 7.4s and the 1/4 mile in 15.7 at 90mph and does not have an electronic speed limiter.
Not sure if this one is a 5-speed or the 4 automatic.
Anyways same logic applies it is quick but not fast.
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