2000 Plymouth Breeze sedan -
Despite the current environment of red hot automotive sales, concern is still being raised about the affordability of new cars, trucks, and minivans. With the average sticker price now north of $20,000, many believe owning a new family sized sedan is out of the question. The good news is that this is not true! The answer is the 2000 Plymouth Breeze sedan.
The Plymouth Breeze is a midsize sedan with a base sticker price of less than $17,000, that can carry up to five passengers. Introduced as a 1996 model, the Breeze sedan is a youthful, stylish car offering tremendous value and personality for young couples and families.
Built at the automaker's Sterling Heights, Mich., assembly plant as the low price variant of the JA platform shared with Dodge Stratus and Chrysler Cirrus, the Breeze has been continuously improved and upgraded.
Consumers can choose between the base 2.0L 16-valve SOHC or 2.4L 16-valve DOHC four-cylinder engine. A five-speed manual comes standard while a four-speed automatic electronic transmission with cruise control is a $1,050 option. On the road, the 2.4L four-cylinder/four-speed automatic powertrain is responsive and smooth. Honestly, this car flies!
Improvements made by Plymouth engineers to the suspension to increase ride comfort result in a driving experience that is a vast improvement over the original model. Efforts to reduce interior noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) bore fruit as well.
Inside the cabin, the driver is treated to world class visibility. Displays and controls are easy to read and use. Steering wheel-mounted switches for the cruise control are a nice touch. The overall interior is finished in tasteful fabrics and materials.
Rear seat passengers also receive the royal treatment, with plenty of leg room to stretch out on long trips. Two adults will find this Plymouth's rear seating area a very hospitable place. This car does not skimp on the good stuff. A lockable fold down rear seat, power steering and brakes, AM/FM Stereo, rear window defroster and air conditioning are all standard.
The Plymouth Breeze is shod with 195/70R14 tires -- a rarity that consumers will quickly come to appreciate when the time comes to replace them. Most manufactures today have largely gone to the more expensive 15-, 16-, and even 17-inch tires in a quest for better handling and performance.
By the numbers
Engine performance numbers are as follow: 2.0L -- 132 hp at 6,000 rpm and 129 lb/ft of torque at 5,000 rpm; 2.4L -- 150 hp at 5,200 rpm and 167 lb/ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. EPA fuel economy ranges from 26 city/36 highway for the 2.0L/five-speed manual to 21 city/30 highway with the 2.4L/four-speed automatic. Both engines use regular unleaded gasoline. Underhood fluids are easy to reach and clearly marked.
Standard safety/secuirty equipment includes dual front airbag and dynamic side impact protection. Four-wheel anti-lock brakes are $565 additional and traction control is not available.
The base Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the Plymouth Breeze sedan starts at $16,080, with destination charge $575 additional. Plymouth is offering $1,250 in customer cash that ends July 5th.
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