1983 Dodge Daytona Turbo review from North America

A lot of things over the years (it IS 22 years old) but personally I don't think it's anything terribly out of the ordinary for daily driving and age. Here's a brief and incomplete list of the work I've done (including restoration).

Head gasket

Radiator (new)

Water pump

Alternator brushes

Some interior pieces (cracked plastic)

Paint

Fuel lines

Exhaust manifold leaks

Condenser bad

Front axles (my neglect--don't ignore noises)

Brakes.

Previously owner seized the original engine--didn't keep track of the oil.

This was my first car and I spent three and a half years restoring it. It's still got problems and it needs a lot of work again (Michigan weather is rough on cars--not to mention the roads). I still love this car though. It is incredibly fun to drive and looks very unique--it's not like anything else on the road, literally.

It's reliable as long as you keep up on the maintenance and don't let things go. One downside--parts are starting to get hard to find for this model year, but that's to be expected considering it's now 22 years old. I still drive the car every day though and I am reluctant to stop.

Many people complain about the flaws in this model year (it was the first) and they certainly can be annoying, but a lot of them are cosmetic and can be

fairly easily corrected.

The car is very comfortable to drive even for short people (which I am!). The steering wheel is set a bit close to the driver though. All gages are easy to read and all controls are easy to reach.

There are some really quirky features in the car such as the "pump-up" thigh and lumbar support in the driver's seat and the very practical cargo netting between the back seats.

There is a surprising amount of cargo room, especially when the back seats are folded down. I can fit my bike back there!

All in all the Daytona is a great car and a ton of fun. It needs a lot of care--especially as it ages--but I have no plans to stop driving it any time soon!