1985 Chrysler Laser XE from North America - Comments

Needed some wear and tear items replaced in the last 3 years including:

tires

Front brakes and rotors

rear axle seals

head gasket

valve cover gasket

rear shocks- replaced

radiator flush

timing belt.

This is a rare car that was truely underappreciated in its day. If you can find a Laser in good condition, especially a turbo XE, XT or the original 1984 turbo (non XE/XT), you will have a collectors car on your hands. It is a kick to drive and quite quick, the turbo 2.2 is a bulletproof engine- simple to work on and pretty easy for shops to fix since lots of Chrysler cars have the same engine.

You won't find any more comfortable seats than those in the mid 80s vintage performance Chrysler and Dodge vehicles, i.e., LeBaron coupe, Daytona, Laser, Lancer and LeBaron GTS. This thing is incredibly comfortable and a great cruiser.

Mine has the digital dash cluster which works reasonably well although the odo doesnt work. You can find spares for the cluster as well as trip computer and message center on eBay pretty easily if you find that yours doesnt work.

You will get double takes in this car, if you find one, buy it!

I too must agree with your thoughts on the laser. I have an all original 1984 Chrysler Laser XE with the 2.2 turbo. The car treated me well for 4 years and I do not have a complaint. This summer I decided to go ahead and store it in a warehouse until I, but a house with a garage I can keep it in. I too think this will be a great collector's car.

I completly agree. I have a Laser XE 2.2L Turbo and the only problem me and my dad have ever had was in the winter. The car would go POWER LIMITED and it was the hardest to drive. With a little love, these cars are a deffinint keeper!!

I have an 85 Laser XE with the 2.2 turbo. My parents bought it brand new so we have been the only owners. I recently took over this car and it needs major cosmetic TLC. I have had some engine work done - new head gasket, computer, starter. The problems I am having now are that the car runs out of gas at 1/4 tank - there is gas in there, I just can't get to it! We've tried some things to fix it - well my dad has and I can't remember what, but it didn't work. I also have problems with hard acceleration and going up hills. The engine cuts out and we're not sure what the problems is with that. We've speculated it being the speedometer sensor, a coil, or some shabby looking wiring. My tachometer doesn't work unless you push on the digital thing, but it goes away after a second. I want to get this car mechanically sound before I start with paint and interior stuff. Has anyone else had these problems and know what the problem may be. My email is karen_80_2000@hotmail.com. Any suggestions would be great!

I was given a mint 1984 Lazer xe turbo for grad (92) and it was a GREAT car! We bought it for 4500 cdn at a repo lot. The only problems I had was over reving it and blowing a head gasket. Sad to say I was a little gassed and showing it off to a buddy with a huge system blarring when the computer said "coolant level low" and I was like uh oh. I pulled into my driveway, opened the hood and a stream of coolant was shooting out. I re&re'd the head with the exhaust manifold and turbo still attached (heavy) and changed the gasket. Other than regular oil changes, brakes, and a drivers side CV joint the car never gave me any problems for the 3 years I had it. I had it repainted due to vandals and after that everyone was surprised it was a 1984 not a 1994. The reason I sold it was cause I started having electrical problems. The headlight switch started to smoke and the wires melted a little. I replace the switch and it was fine for a couple months, but then it started smoking again. I replaced the switch for the third time and sold her. It was a very nice car, fully loaded, greyish blue in color with black interior. The seats had black and white checkers in the middle and an air pump for lumbar support! I miss that car still to this day. I remember xmas eve with a buddy driving down a long straight hwy at 3:00am we took her to 200 kph and hit the metric conversion button and took her up to 143 mph! Keep in mind we were teenagers and we've learned not to do that, but that car was pretty quick for it's time. That was my first decent car and I'll always notice other lazers on the street.

When I purchased my first new car - a Gunmetal Blue 1986 Chrysler Laser XE 2.2 turbo back in 9/86, I was only 22. I've kept the car and still enjoy it 100%. 289k miles! Original clutch, alternator, new a/c system & radiator only. The beauty still looks sharp, moves well, has a bit of rattle here and there, but is unstoppable. The digital dash has an odometer problem - it won't count correctly. A speed sensor is hopefully going to solve it. The trip computer (they don't offer anything like this today - what gives!) is just about inoperable due to the button contacts - same with the trip button. Original velour interior - checkered and a bit faded - but in great condition. Dash looks like new. Always covered in the apartment days - garaged since '92. Guys and gals out there - truly a keeper - an 80's era gem! The last "American" Laser! I remember the newness and miss it. Good memories. A time capsule I won't part with. I even 'pet' it when taking the Durango.... A guy thing?

I have a 1986 chrysler laser NON turbo and I was woundering if you guys can give any hints or anything to get more horse power out of it I've done minor things like making the airbox bigger and remodeling the air intake, but I would like to know how much horse power there is to gain from cutting out the catalytic converter and doing a steright back pipe how much if any horse do I get.

I agree with what you've said. I have a 1985 non-turbo Laser, and it is my baby. It's my first car, so theres that special bond to it. It is the gold-tan color, has some rust below the windows, where the water always hits it. Right now my dad and I are fixing it up. At first it needed a new fuel pump, for then that's all we knew =). Then, we had to get a new fuel sending unit, new gas tank, new fuel pump. Once we got it all in, we tried to start it. The car was sitting in a field for 12 years, no joke. But the first time we tried to start it, it coughed a lil bit, but came to life! It is a work in progress, finishing the brakes (replacing brake lines), the car just needs a tune up. The Laser is a beautiful, eye-catching, rare car. I've never seen another Laser on the road in my life.

I bought a black XE Turbo for $1000.00 and put well over 25,000 miles on it. Definately gotten good use out of it, and I had to put a new fuel pump and filter in it. She needs a new paint job and some body work due to rust, but its been a very reliable car, and I love the looks, the comments when I goto the autoparts store and the employees are like can I come out and see it, that they don`t believe it still lives. It definately ROCKS...