Chrysler recalls almost 600k vehicles....

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: Vizzy
One of the biggest problems in the USA is finding cars that set a balance between great driving dynamics, affordability, and reasonable reliability...

Most affordable Chrysler cars for decades now have been absolute bores to drive not only that they simply haven't been that reliable either. The ONE exception was the MKI Neon and now that is long gone...


I guess none of my Chrysler cars were "affordable".

I've owned a 3rd gen Firebird (1984 LG4), Fox body Mustang (1985 LX 5.0) and an '86 Daytona TurboZ CS (turbo1) . If I could choose from all 3 in good condition, I would choose the Daytona every time. In spite of the fact that it made the least horsepower. It was just so much fun to make the boost needle wiggle around in the red and when it spooled up, it honestly felt faster than the other two. Plus, it was the only one that was competent in inclement weather.

My Sebring Convertible was suprisingly fun to drive (Mitsubishi 6G73) and I cannot express how much women loved that car. It was a great date car.

The PT Cruiser....I affectionately refer to it as the "Turbo Clown Hearse." and it's a premium gas pig, but I like the [darn] thing. It's delightfully unrefined. It growls and occasionally pops like it's Neon SRT/4 little brother. When you push the accelerator, it goes like no PT Cruiser should. Handling?

meh....it's better than your garden variety PT or HHR LS. Not great, but better than a lot of small crossovers I've driven. Front brakes lasted 68,000 miles. Rack and Pinion was replaced under warranty for a "leak" that I never saw and never left anything on the garage floor. Affordable? we got it with 4000 miles on it for $15,995 at CarMax (wife's choice). That's four thousand miles....not forty thousand.

My mother-in-law had a 2.2 Sundance. It was a pretty boring car to drive but compared to a similar year model Tempo or Cavalier, it was good. Plus, when you needed to carry something big, it was a hatchback. The Cavalier had a big trunk but compared to the opening of the Sundance, it falls short.

The Daytona was the only one that had mechanical problems. Given the way I drove it, I'm suprised it made it past 100,000 miles before it had any problems. Most hard driven turbocharged cars in the '80s did not.

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog

The Daytona was the only one that had mechanical problems. Given the way I drove it, I'm suprised it made it past 100,000 miles before it had any problems. Most hard driven turbocharged cars in the '80s did not.

Depends on the maker of the car.
The SAAB and Volvo 1980s turbo cars were extremely tough.
The Nissan Z cars got plenty of engine life, but quality everywhere else was hit or miss.

However, I do agree with your point.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
...
Depends on the maker of the car.
The SAAB and Volvo 1980s turbo cars were extremely tough.
The Nissan Z cars got plenty of engine life, but quality everywhere else was hit or miss.

Agreed.

I was thinking more along the lines of the Sunbird GT Turbo, Mitsubishi Starion, Isuzu Impulse, etc... especially the Starion. Go fast, destroy cylinder head, replace head, repeat until you get a non-JET valve head or a different car.

Thunderbird Turbo Coupes did pretty well for longevity too for the most part

 

[rslifkin]

The big issue with Chrysler and transmissions is people wanting them to shift soft and comfy, which compromises longevity, especially when people don't change the fluid. Theirs just seem a bit more sensitive to it than some.

My Jeep has been pretty much rock solid. Original transmission (46RE, pretty much a TF727 with electronic governor and an OD unit bolted to the back) shifts beautifully, engine runs well (although it's not perfect, pushes a hair of air into the cooling system, doesn't lose coolant).

EDIT: And FWIW, I don't baby the Jeep at all. It's well maintained, but gets run pretty hard.

 

[meep]

I think chrysler has had good, and bad products, like everyone else, but they have had, IMO more problems across their models than others. Family has had a

01 T&C- loved that van and was actually nicely reliable, towed with it and all

96 LHS- tie rode end fails - normal for that car every 40k, and 2 A/Cs, zero trans, electrical or engine problems but the tie rods would LOSE IT when the bushings would crack and fall out on the hwy. limping along at 200k

later model LHS- zero problems, 100k+ miles

93 Jeep GC. Bought used. reliable drivetrain but windows, A/C, etc a lost cause. sold with 250k on it. LOVED that car

08 Jeep GC. problems with switchgear and cheap plastics but reliable so far.

The early Ram trucks DID have REAL AT problems, many failing 6 days off the lot. the earlier poster was right-on about that and I was disappointed to see his statement ridiculed.

we've owned honda, toyota, subaru, vw, and ford. honda/toyota were neck and neck. THE most reliable we had were 2 subarus... a '90 loyale (GL) and a 97 legacy which was BULLETPROOF.

late model escape hybrid has been on par with hondas we've owned. maybe one unexpected repair in 60k. $1000.

'86 escort was a heeeeaaaap.

VW-- my folks loved their style. they did best when parked and the keys were sitting on the kitchen counter. Dang they looked good. you could sit in them too and they were well-thought-out and comfortable. The problems started if you actually got into it with your keys. IF one of them ran, didn't have 9 quarts of rain in the floorplan with straw from the seat cushions, or wasn't 3 qts low since you didn't top off weekly, they were Fuu-un to drive. All of our VWs, at some point, got towed. One of them, regularly. We gave up on VW in the late '80's.

I've never had a chrysler that was as poor as a vw.

But I must agree with a statement above, I think the ATs in chryslers must be maintained ahead of the book schedule. They have very optimistic intervals, or "lifetime" b.s. in the book. I've always changed the fluids... many folks don't, and they break. there's something to that...

M

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
the Starion. Go fast, destroy cylinder head, replace head, repeat until you get a non-JET valve head or a different car.


Been there, owned that. Spot on!