1982 Dodge Aries 2.2L from North America

Summary:

Please don't buy these K cars, they are a waste of money

Faults:

Where do I start? I was replacing part after part until the head gasket blew.

General Comments:

This car would break down constantly. It never ran right, was hard to start, hard to keep running until warmed up, even after fresh tune up and timing. The head is extremely crappy aluminum that warps very easily. It leaked from every where that held fluids; brake, power steering, coolant, oil, tranny.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 26th March, 2011

27th Mar 2011, 16:24

You bought it with 165,000 miles on it what did you expect? It isn't new anymore!

My friends mom had one of these back in '83. We cruised everywhere in it, going 85 on the highway and flooring it off the line, and it would just run and run. I have never seen a car take the kind of abuse we gave that one, and still run as good as it did.

25th Apr 2011, 12:49

Earlier 2.2s would have gasket trouble, otherwise your car sounds like it wasn't maintained so well.

160,xxx mileage is nothing for 2.2s if they're in decent mechanical shape.

25th Apr 2011, 14:41

Sometimes in life... you have to lick your wounds... try to get some type of money for the car... and move on to the next one... hopefully with better eye for the next car/truck/SUV...

Please get the Consumer Reports Annual Auto Guide that comes out once a year in April... it has a section there for reliable cars to fit your budget... also you can thank your lucky stars that you are in one piece and the car didn't cause any accidents/injuries for you and the car... here in LA, there doesn't seem to be a week go by without somebody getting killed in a car or by a car... and I believe some of those are not always driver's error... I believe some of these older and some newer cars are not always safe to drive on the street...

1982 Dodge Aries SE 2.6L 4 cylinder from North America

Summary:

A hamster-powered shoe box on wheels

Faults:

It started leaking engine oil at 35000km.

It started leaking radiator fluid at 35000km.

It started leaking power steering fluid at 35000km.

It also started leaking transmission fluid at 35000km.

A hole on the driver's side front wheel well rusted through, so I could see the yellow lines on the road.

The engine started making a tapping sound at 28000km.

...and many more.

General Comments:

This car is a real piece of crap. It was my first car, and it did bring me from point A to point B, but it took a long time to get me there and it leaked more fluid than it burned gas.

The 2.6L engine is good for one thing; burning gas. It got no better than 18 MPG. I drag-raced my buddy with a 2.2L engine and he beat me (not by much)! It probably took him less gas too.

The car corners on a dime. For some good reason, it likes to have a good grip on the road. In the winter, don't buy a snowmobile, just slap some four season tires on it and it will bring you from A to B, no matter how much snow is in the middle.

The interior is not the most comfortable place on the world, but it gives you a place to sit while you are going somewhere. The cabin is designed in such a way as to give perfect resonance for a big stereo system. I put two 12" subs, a 600 watt amp and a compact disk deck in there and it sounded pretty nice. But it loosened every screw and bolt holding the car together, and rattles could be heard from everywhere.

Overall, it is the most inefficient car I have ever seen. If you're bored, I'll sell you mine for $300 CAD. If not, don't buy it!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 25th October, 2001

9th Apr 2004, 02:28

Ya the 2.6 mitsubishi engine was a big heap. The chrysler 2.2 or 2.5 would have been better (they do like to go through head gaskets though)

26th Apr 2008, 10:48

Bearing in mind the mileage when you bought the car at 13 years old, it's either been clocked or never been warmed up properly.