1989 Plymouth Reliant LE from North America - Comments

Climate controls do not light up.

Hubcaps are long gone.

Paint on hood starting to peel.

Mechanically, I've never known a simpler and more reliable car for the times it was built in. In pouring rain, she starts every time, first try, which is nice in a place where we get a lot of rain. You can steer with two fingers if you want to, or you can pay attention, but either way the car just seems to find it's path. At 120km/h, driving down a rain soaked highway, she never once hydroplaned. And while you're enjoying all this, the gas mileage is excellent.

Now for the interior. If you're not a fan of the old style American sedan, you're not going to make friends with the Reliant. Bench seats are in place, front and back. The shift lever is mounted on the steering column. The seats are soft, and for short people it's a long way down to get your feet on the pedals. This is all countered, however, by the simplicity of it all. The AM/FM radio doesn't skip a beat and keeps perfect time. The climate controls are easy to find and use (except in the dark... mine have stopped lighting up), and the dashboard display is the epitome of simple. Speedometer, fuel, battery, oil and odometer gages, and dummy lights for things like the emergency brake, high beams, and turn signals.

You will (trust me) want to remove the buzzer relay for the parking brake. It can, and will, drive you crazy.

The exterior of these cars, at best, is benign. Simple, square three box sedans. Everything is where it should be, and the cars are by no stretch imaginative. They are, however, very pleasing from the right angles. The image of the car changes much for the better if you install hubcaps; it just seems to make it sparkle. The paint doesn't last as long as the car, however, so invest in some touch up paint, some wax, some sandpaper, or a new paint job and keep your car looking nice.

Overall, these cars are excellent. They were never meant to last as long as they do (5 digit odometers?), but with proper oil changes and maintenance every once in a while, they'll run almost forever. Just don't let them go completely... things will deteriorate and you'll be sorry.

"buzzer relay for the parking brake"? My '88 Reliant did not have a buzzer on the parking brake, only a warning light. Why would it "drive you crazy" unless you drive around with the brake on?

Are you sure you are not talking about the seat belt buzzer?

The K-car may have been many things, but a "cult car"? lol.

Hi..

I have a question that maybe you could answer. I have a reliant 89. I need to put brake fluid in it, but I don't know where it goes. if you know could you please write me back.

Thanks

klc7404@yahoo.com.

If the writer of the previous comment hasn't already crashed into something, he/she needs to take a look in the owners manual (or get one if they don't have one).

You put brake fluid in the master cylinder, after you unscrew the cap off the top. Of the master cylinder.

And the can of brake fluid.

You should really get someone to show you how to perform at least the basics of automotive maintenance. Or else take it somewhere that will do it.

Hopefully she hasn't crashed. I emailed her back about it, and yes, it is extremely simple to find it. More difficult can be finding the leak. I'll bet it was a wheel cylinder. Cheap and easy to replace if you have mechanical aptitude.

Don't take it to a shop. They'll want to replace your entire brake system.

"The K-car may have been many things, but a 'cult car'? lol."

The guy isn't kidding, go look up "K-car" or something and you'll find quite a number of K-car clubs and stuff like that.

I totally agree with the "cult car" comment.

Perusing the internet I have found car clubs for Yugos, Ford Festivas (American version), AMC Pacers, and the like. Just because "society" thinks a car is awful doesn't mean everyone does.

As for the K car, although I never owned one I will never forget being with my friend and his father. He purchased one of the first ever made and we drove to some county fair with it. The Reliant honestly was such a radical design at the time that we got looks from everyone, endless stares, and people asking questions. You felt like a celebrity. True story.

Of course, you look a the design today and could never fathom how anyone could consider it radical in any way.

Oh, excuse me. I did not realize that just because a particular model has a website created by enthusiasts, that makes it a "cult car". That definition would make every model ever made a "cult car" because you can always find a website somewhere devoted to it. The 2007 Dodge Caliber, which has only been out a few months, already has at least one website devoted to it. Guess that means it's a "cult car" too, eh?

K-mart cars.

How much oil do I put in this thing? 2 quarts right?

4.5 quarts with filter change.

They're not glamorous, but they get the job done. And yes, there are K car cults. Many people have been convinced of the sheer indestructiblility (is that a word??) of these things. They go and go and go. Sure, you don't look as cool as the guy in the lowered, tuned Integra, but at the end of the day, you've got more cash than that guy has brains.

And if your girlfriend (or date) doesn't want to be seen in it, then get another one. (The girl, not the car.)