Sexy
The thing constantly needs fixing, but worth it.
Very awesome car! With a few minor upgrads it can be seriously fast!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 1st April, 2006
An 80's time capsule slated for collector car status
At 49k miles, the cam seal blew out - repaired under new car warranty.
Head gasket blew somewhere around 90k.
A/C system re-done at about 200k.
Navigation computer buttons inoperable before 100k miles.
Digital dash odometer will not advance past 276k miles. Re-sets to 268k when ignition shut off. Been this way since 1/05.
I purchased this car new from a California dealer in September '86. Gunmetal Blue 5 speed with power everything and all options except leather and t-roof. At 23 yrs old this was the best it could get! Raced Z28's at toll booths and left 'Vettes behind in the mountain turns. Absolutely love this car - original clutch still. Alternator replaced only this year! It was mainly used for freeway commute with several long distance trips. What a cruiser - easy to squeal and smoke that front end 1st through 3rd! Quiet and smooth runner - great dash lights at night.
The car has style that represents the 80's well. Keeps me feeling young. My only regret is not testing the top speed when it was still young. Brought it to 124 mph once and could have kept going, but it's aged a bit too much to try again. Grocery store jaunts out here at Lake Powell AZ mean an easy 100 mph dash through the desert when the cops are sleeping. Interior faded, but in excellent shape, dash looks like new, paint is starting to fade but has been protected with car covers and garages it's entire life. Looking forward to restoration one fine day. Until then, I really do pet it while it "rests" in the garage next to my 1998 Dodge Durango (boat hauler - no comparison to an 80's time capsule!!!).
All you other original or otherwise owners out there that like these beauty's know what I'm talking about. We're lucky people. I'm still enjoying good times with my 1986 Laser XE at 42 yrs old. Many happy memories with a sexy car.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 13th March, 2006
Actually not - if you disassembled the dash, as I had to to fix lots of other stuff, you'd find accessible on the back of the cluster, a switch that limited the speedo. Once switched, it would register up to I don't know how high, because I topped it out wide open for more than a mile at 136 once.
175kph not even tapped out, now that's sweet
When electrical stuff goes wrong just take it to a mechanic. If you don't there will be some major problems. I found out the hard way.
This car is a rocket.
I couldn't believe the handling.
This only thing is it's a bit shaky.
I have had problems with the top end.
I love it for road trips.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 28th November, 2005
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
The rack and pinion is going bad. When the car hasn't been run for a while it becomes very hard to turn right.
The regulator tape in the passenger window broke. I have a stick holding the window up until I find a new one.
The seats have worn a little.
This is the most fun Iv'e ever had. When I rev up the engine and shift into another gear, I hear the turbo blow off, and it just puts a big smile on my face. This has been one hell of a great first car for me. I will never get rid of it.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 26th August, 2005
I know it will be a classic!
Timing belt replaced at 140,000.
Cam/ crank seal.
Valve cover gasket.
Freeze plug replaced.
Front struts.
Rear shocks.
Front brake rotors.
Radiator replaced at 110,000.
Right front axle seal,
The Laser is going to be a classic, if not just because there aren't many out there that aren't junked, but because it only lived for 3 model years and only in the US.
It is really fun to drive and you should be able to find parts fairly easily, but perhaps less so as the years go by. My local Chrysler dealer doesn't like to work on it, they say its "too old", nice eh? I have been able to get stuff at salvage yards as well as on eBay. I got new front seats on eBay, I coudln't find those anywhere.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 2nd June, 2005
Sixteen years later and it's still not a classic. They are neat cars for hardcore 80s Mopar enthusiasts, but it just doesn't have enough going for it for the average car enthusiast to become a classic collectible car. Part of the issue is that they were made in the 80s, which was has generally not been a particularly collectible era for cars overall (comparative to other eras). In addition, the Laser (and Dodge Daytona) was made in the 80s and early 90s (in the case of the Daytona), which generally wasn't seen as a very good era for Chrysler quality, so these cars tend to be looked down upon by the public and are generally remembered with a sense of negativity, and are seen as disposable cars (which is why you eluded to the fact that most of them have been junked). Unfortunately, the mindset that exists about that era has plagued these cars since then and has kept them from elevating to any kind of collector status, let alone a car that is even on anyone's radar. I personally like them, and they are a neat niche car from the 80s era of Chrysler, but they just don't stir enough emotion, nostalgia or passion from the collector market or the overall car community to ever become a classic.
13th Mar 2006, 14:24
You were close. Top speed was 127 acccording to the digital speedo. Confirmed several times.