The pickings are getting slim for buyers looking for a sporty, all- American mid-sized coupe. By my count, you have only four from which to choose: Pontiac Grand Am, Chrysler Sebring, Chevrolet Monte Carlo and the subject of this week's Wallet Watcher, the 2004 Dodge Stratus Coupe.

2003 Dodge Stratus Coupe SXT. Click photo for larger image.

Dodge's popular model ranges from $20,535 for the SXT version to $23,030 for the even sportier R/T, and standard equipment is plentiful -- a 2.4-liter, 140-horsepower four-cylinder and five-speed manual transmission, air conditioning, power door locks, power windows, trunk release, AM/FM stereo with CD changer and six speakers, and courtesy and map lamps.

A four-speed automatic is optional as are supplemental side airbags and six-way power driver's seat. Also with the R/T, you'll get a 200-horsepower, 3-liter V-6, a sports suspension, a higher-grade sound system, larger wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel and fog lights. Mileage on the standard model is 22 city and 29 highway.

Just because the Stratus shares bodies with the Chrysler Sebring Coupe, don't assume they look and handle alike. In the Sebring, the emphasis is clearly on luxury and comfort, and that message shows in the more formal grille and back end and the level of appointments inside.

The Stratus, on the other hand, is clearly the sportier of the two cars. It handles just a bit more crisply and has a very aggressive, racy looking front end and aluminum road wheels to convey the performance message. For this model year, there's a new satin silver finish on parts of the instrument panel and doors, along with a new "BeltAlert" system to remind people periodically to buckle up if they have not done so.

The Stratus coupe's ace in the hole is its roominess, particularly in the back seat. There's plenty of space for kids and even adequate room for moderate trips for adults. In fact, if space is a big thing for you, either this or the Chrysler Sebring will be your best bets among American coupes.

The other nice thing about the Stratus, believe it or not, is quality control. Dodge has done much better on this score than you might think, and none of the Stratus models I've driven, coupe or sedan, has ever had quality-control issues. That's not something I can say about some of its competitors.

It also handles well. Even the sedan corners flat and the brakes are more than adequate to the task. The folks at Edmunds.com tested a 2002 Stratus R/T coupe -- it was almost identical to the 2004 on sale now -- and it ran through the slalom test at an average speed of 67.6 miles per hour, beating every other sports coupe, including the Toyota Celica GT-S and BMW M3.

The Edmunds.com folks did say, however, that straight-line highway driving was a bit less satisfactory because the car felt "unsettled." They also were critical of the amount of plastic in the interior and said Dodge should have an interior that is more uniquely its own instead of sharing so much with Chrysler and its Mitsubishi Eclipse cousin. I agree.

Here's what owners say: "Embarrassed a Mustang, when he caught up I was surprised to see the GT on the rear end ... Not the best at any one thing, but the best combination of features, comfort and performance ... 50,000 miles and no squeaks, rattles or any other problems ... Flat torque curve, wonderful fun to pass slower cars ... Sporty look, powerful little thing."

What would the owners change? "Driver's seat is too hard to adjust ... Make it easier for backseat passengers to get in and out of the vehicle from driver's side ... The turning radius is terrible ... It looks identical to the Eclipse inside, so you should change the interior ... Better clutch take off in first gear is needed. Needs too much throttle to take off without stalling in first gear."