1986 Dodge Diplomat SE review from North America

Headlight went out.

Battery died.

Starter works intermittently, hasn't stranded me yet.

I am very impressed all told with the Dip. Decent gas economy for a larger car, 15-20MPG around town, and absolutely nothing in the way of major items has broken in the year I have had the car. Most interesting is that being an SE it has most all the neat luxury features, like power door locks, power seats, power antenna, and tilt wheel. I am a bit baffled that this, the most expensive Dodge you could get then, doesn't have a power trunk lid release or telescoping wheel. The 318 runs great, doesn't leak or burn ANY oil. It is just gutless. All in all, though, this has been a VERY reliable car and I would definitely recommend one in this shape for a teenager's first car. It's reliable as they get, and it's not fast enough for a 16-17 year old to get badly injured in. Only reason I am looking at something newer is they are talking about smog inspections here, and you can't find smog parts for cars that old. Everything's there, but that's no guarantee that it all works.