Faults:

When I first purchased the car, it used to hesitate badly. It would often "attempt suicide" by stalling when pulling into traffic. Had carb replaced and intake manifold exhaust passages cleaned out, and this fixed hesitation problems.

Poor fuel economy has always been a problem. Currently I am getting no more than about 340 KM out of 55 L of fuel, all highway granny driving.

I used to get marginally better economy before I replaced my "Lean Burn" computer (on the air cleaner) due to overall weird operation of the engine. (Chugging accompanied by clicking of firewall solenoids.)

Factory lubed rear u-joint began to squeak. (I would squeak too after 200,000 KM)

Replaced sagging and clunking rear leaf springs, new ones are sagging a little already, as I should have got H.D. six leafers.

Replaced pads and rotors at about 190,000 KM, and replaced shoes, drums, and seized e-brake cable at about 200,000 KM.

Did all shocks and swaybar bushings to try to fix above spring clunk.

Four new tires around 195,000 km.

Replaced voltage regulator after I fried it by killing the battery and using the alternator to recharge it.

Power antenna just quit working.

General Comments:

Even though I have spent quite a lot of money on this car, it has still been a great reliable first car. I have done most of the work myself (except carb) and this has saved me a lot of money.

A comfortable car with OK performance. Handles very well for a big car. Very comfortable on the highway.

If I could have asked for anything else, I would have asked the Dodge Boys why the @#$% they didn't put throttle body injection on the cars like they did the trucks from 1987-up. Also why couldn't they galvanize the top half of the car too. It is solid as a rock on the greasy side, but the shiny side is rusting badly.

I would buy rear wheel drive Detroit iron again in a heartbeat for my next car. Preferably one with fuel injection, and a little more performance.

I wish I could continue driving it, but it is due for an emissions test in June and will not pass without more work. I am done working on it! Also insurance on this car is expensive. I am 20 years old with no tickets or accidents and I'm paying $260 a month! And they say their not making any money. BULL!

Faults:

Power steering pump started leaking fluid.

Shocks wore out.

Mysterious clunking noise from the passenger side of the rear axle.

Fan blower speed lever came loose.

Driver side seat broke - had to get it welded in an upright position to be able to drive.

General Comments:

I really liked driving this car. Big, comfortable. It didn't have to work to accelerate, but I wish it accelerated faster. But this is more of a cruiser and not a race car anyway.

I wish I had owned this car when it were newer. The things that went wrong are surely from age. Older cars show their age much easier than newer cars.

My Fifth Avenue actually got decent gas mileage. One time I got 19 miles per gallon on all highway driving.

All gauges and controls are well within reach.

The cabin is very roomy and comfortable.

They don't make cars this way anymore. If you can find a low mileage Fifth Avenue in great shape, it's a pleasure to drive, as long as you're not in a big hurry, and as long as you like really big cars.