Faults:

The carburetor is getting weak.

The inside driver's side door handle broke.

The differential had to be rebuilt.

The front end alignment is really messed up.

One of the back up lights won't work, even with a new bulb.

Starting to rust around the rear wells.

The power steering pump had to be replaced.

Other than that just average stuff (spark plugs, oil, tires, etc).

General Comments:

I bought this car from the grandson of the original owner, in good condition with low miles, with some cosmetic issues (the paint was faded, some of the interior trim was sun baked, and the headliner was sagging so badly I had to take it off).

This car has been very dependable through the years, and a lot of fun to drive; the crushed velour seats are like couches, and the whole interior is really beautiful and high grade; nothing like the uncomfortable and cheap plastic interiors on modern cars. Even the color (red) is so much nicer than the black or grey you'd find nowadays.

Cruising on the highway is the best with the great ride and 2.26 rear, and gas mileage is much better than you may think; I've gotten over 30 MPG. Mileage around town is another story though; one big issue is the fuel tank is too small, so the cruising range is limited.

Visibility is great with large windows all around, and these cars are great in the snow; I've been though several snow storms and icy roads and always made it home.

What can I say about the 318? Probably the most reliable engine ever made, however the carburetor was built to run with the lean burn computer, and as a result is very complex, though mine worked well until about a year ago (needs to be rebuilt).

For the first four years, I lived an area where roads had tons of pot holes, so the alignment quickly had issues and now the front tires don't last long... also in those years rust started in the rear wheel wells (every car in the area rusts quickly with all the road salt...).

This car was built pretty stripped down (no A/C, no cassette deck, no power anything etc). Things can always be added from other Chrysler M-bodies easily, for example: I added a power split bench seat from a Dodge Diplomat, and shag carpet from a Chrysler Fifth Avenue. I also installed a factory cassette and CD player from a late '90s Dodge Caravan (the plugs are the same from '84-'02). I can't say enough good things about this car, and I'd never even think about driving anything different.

Faults:

Minor inconveniences throughout ownership (i.e. knobs and emblems falling off, lights going out, etc.)

Transmission went out at 185000.

General Comments:

My 1985 Plymouth Gran Fury was the best car I ever owned. Bought it in September 2007, ran amazing, got 24 mpg highway, 20 mpg in town with the 2 barrel carb.

My only mistake with that car was putting the 4 barrel manifold and carb on it, broke a tooth off the distributor in the process and it never was the same again.

I had 2 choices as far as timing, either decent gas mileage and crap for power, or the balls off a bucking rodeo bull and terrible mileage. I was 17 at the time so I decided power was the way to go. Once that 4 barrel went in I was racing EVERYBODY. The carb I got for it was a little screwed up, I got about 6 mpg in town, but once it was out on the open highway I was getting 45-50 mpg.

Once the tranny went however, I couldn't afford to replace it due to the fact that I was a poor high school student. So instead of keeping it until I could save enough money, I decided to scrap it so I could buy a commuter car for school (1996 Oldsmobile Achieva, not a bad car but that's what this is about anyway).

The biggest mistake of my life was swapping out the 2 barrel for the 4 barrel. I miss that car, but I've found an '89 that I'm going to buy and restore to the beauty that was my first and favorite car of all time.