1989 Chrysler LeBaron review from North America

Radiator needed replacement, approx. 98,000 miles.

Head gasket needed replacement, approx. 150,000 miles.

I have owned 2 LeBarons. A 1986 Mark Cross Convertible with 2.2 turbo and currently, a 1989 coupe 2.5 turbo. Both have been very enjoyable cars with really comfortable interiors and wonderful seats.

Power is more than adequate (remember, these are not high-performance turbos). Ride quality is very good, the ’86 had a feel like a larger American luxury car. The ’89 drives a bit tighter, more responsive, but still solid, and heavy (in a good way).

The small 4 cyl. Chrysler products from the '80s were, overall, very good cars. Please note - many of the earliest LeBarons came with 2.6L 4 cylinder Mitsubishi engines, and from 1990 - 1995 with 3.0L 6 cyl. Mitsubishis. Those engines were low power / performance, and a little costly to repair (ie: 3.0L water pump).

The Chrysler 4 cyl. engines, on the other hand, were well engineered and offered increased horsepower through the years. Yes, as most engines, they have their weaknesses (don't let them overheat - the aluminum head can warp). Generally, they were well-built and long-lived if maintained correctly.

The reader who posted on 29th Dec 2007 and said these cars were problematic was not well informed. The trannies were more than adequate - these were not high-performance cars even with the turbo, except the Turbo IV engine - only available with 5 speed.

There were occasional turbo problems, as almost all turbo-ed cars of the era had. This was because owners were never told to cool down the turbo before shutting off the engine!

I bought my '89 coupe 2.5 turbo at 97,000 miles. It drove so well, it felt like a car with no more than 40K miles - tight, solid, well-built, and no squeaks or rattles.

Sadly, Chrysler did cheapen the car in 1990 with a minor make-over, and went with the 3.0L Mits. engine I mentioned above. The car had more plastic content. For instance, although having an appealing dashboard design, it felt and looked cheap. They also didn’t stay tight and squeak-free into high mileage.

The ‘80s Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth with Chrysler 4 bangers, were economical, reliable, and comfortable.