1989 Dodge Shadow review from North America
"The little things break a lot; it runs though"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The A/C didn't work when I bought it.. I replaced a really leaky A/C hose, charged it with R134A.
The belt slips because the tensioner is misaligned.. it can't be aligned because the alternator tensioner sticks out farther than it should. It really looks like a pain to fix properly..
Poor gas mileage. Previously, I got 24 city, 17 interstate (~21MPG average.) Now that the weather has heated up to the 80s, I get 15-16MPG average. The rattles and clunks increase daily (from the body; the engine sounds normal.)
The back ~1/2 of the exhaust system fell off while the car was parked in a parking lot about a month after I bought the car; the muffler had already been replaced by the previous owner though so it was possibly lousy work on their part.. whatever, stuff rusts in Iowa.
General comments?
It hasn't stranded me, but I *have* had to repair it in odd places with a tool kit I keep in the trunk. Rattly!
It's slower than my previous cars (a 1972 Fleetwood w/ 472cu V8, and a Plymouth Acclaim w/ 3.0l V6), especially at interstate speeds, but if the gas mileage stayed sane (i.e. not 17MPG or 15..) the acceleration would be acceptable.
Recommended Reviews:
  | A bargain- fast and fun! |
| 1989 - Shadow Base Sedan Hatchback 2.2 4 cylinder I only paid 500$ for it - so for me, it was worth it! |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| First year of ownership | 1999 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2000 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.5L Automatic |
| Performance marks | 6/10 |
| Reliability marks | 4/10 |
| Comfort marks | 7/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 60000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 75000 miles |
| Previous car | Plymouth Acclaim V6 |
| Date of Entry | 10th August, 2000 |