Faults:
Power windows are a perpetual problem in Mopars of this vintage - as are weatherstripping and wind leaks around the windows. Passenger-side window motor died for the second time in 20K miles.
Headliner has started to sag badly.
Windshield wipers sometimes slow down for no apparent reason.
Rust has claimed functionality of courtesy-light switch on driver's door.
Radiator (made of frozen snot) gave up the ghost @ 75K.
General Comments:
What a dream to drive this car! The 2.2 Turbo, given regular use and regular oil changes, is a wonderful engine that packs a lot of giddyap for a Four. Great passing and acceleration power.
The price you pay for the horsepower, though, is you have to use PREMIUM gas - and you've only got about a 12. gal tank and about 22 mpg. So you'll be filling up your Frequent Buyer Card at your local gas'n'go pretty fast.
Interior holds up well. All the options work - except you may have to replace the tinny six-way speakers, especially those under the front dash cowl.
With a decent set of radial tires these K wagons stick to the road quite nicely, without a lot of body roll. I can drive all day at 75-80 and the car hardly breaks a sweat.
Space in these K-wagons is about right - their cu. volume is the same as a Subaru Outback or a VW Passat for thousands of dollars less.
These old Mopar K, E, etc. bodies may not be glamorous, but they're well engineered and a helluva bargain - IF you can find one that hasn't been savaged by Old Man Rust - their biggest enemy.
21st Jun 2005, 21:24
Great review! I own a 1984 LeBaron Town & Country wagon and love it. All the minor problems you cited are very accurate.