20th Nov 2017, 19:46
Do in other words, somebody has to have ownership experience, or have ridden in a certain vehicle in order to point out a possible error on a Carsurvey.org review?
20th Nov 2017, 21:47
Oh. This is now apparently a carsurvey rule. You can't comment on a review unless you have "drove, ridden in, or owned" the subject car of the review.
Because if you haven't, then you are utterly unqualified to even comment. But if you have at least "ridden in" one, even just once, that automatically makes one an expert on that particular model.
20th Nov 2017, 23:23
Anybody can pull up stats. It’s just that it’s often used as a one upmanship on normal reviewers' first hand experience or observation. Or an opportunity to pounce on someone. It may be the guy's first car or just some time first hand behind the wheel. Personally I find that far more interesting than reading a wiki lookup. We can all do that. You can’t discredit experience. Drive what you like and enjoy an opinion. I like to read reviews. Handling characteristics, layout of controls and instrumentation, throttle response compared to other cars in that segment or price range. Would you buy again etc. That’s what I find interesting. Didn’t say you to buy anything. But if you had from my perspective, I am listening. That’s my interest. You may have your own likes.
21st Nov 2017, 13:23
Yeah. I like to read "reviews" too. This was not a review. "Fresh enthusiasm" is no substitute for experience or "time behind the wheel". (Seriously, how do you rate reliability 10/10 on a car you just bought and haven't even driven yet?).
This "review" should have been posted as a comment to an existing Aries review: "Hey I just got an '88 Aries for $500. I just put a stop sign over the rust hole in the driver's floorboard. Will post a review here after I (or my stepson, or whoever) has driven it for six months."
If it lasts that long ;)
21st Nov 2017, 19:08
Rather than be so negative on responses, try enjoying them. I tried to find where someone made the 3 statements 21:47 saw. Car Survey new rule, utterly unqualified and expert. Are these your imagination? I know those over exaggerated statements were not coming from myself. You can take a couple real world experiences and add together from multiple individuals. Here’s an example. It’s not the car under review. I test drove a new Traverse for consideration for new work vehicles. The entry, and seating position as well as seat comfort turned me off on it. Add this illustration by others behind the same wheel to weigh out a buying decision. I can read a glossy brochure which lacks this. If I were a casual observer beforehand as I was, I knew little of the vehicle. Mainly price and size. And a paint color. Doesn’t make anyone an expert, which was never said. Or a rule. But it may assist a real world buyer, aware of maybe one small element. I bump into car owners and ask how is it? Is there anything on it that you wish you bought? Has it been reliable for you. Did you feel you got your money’s worth? Did the dealer treat you right? Did the manufacturer/dealer honor warranty issues? That’s what I am highly interested in hearing. This wasn’t a very informative review, but give the guy a chance. Would have been nice to have heard its earlier history.
21st Nov 2017, 22:59
I find the whole patching the floorboard with an old stop sign concept quite interesting, and would have liked to seen a YouTube video demonstration.
22nd Nov 2017, 08:59
That is very common idea, often seen on rat rods. It solves a problem with floor pans that are totally shot. The legality of using a highway safety sign may be an issue. I am not certain, but if you got pulled over it may. You do have to really give credit to the creativity and imagination these guys have. I have also seen old license plates covering small rotted out areas and pinholes as well. I actually saw a scuba tank cut to make a transmission tunnel. Then saw one with a rear seat made from a cut down church pew. Or a hood ornament made from an acetylene torch head. So some pretty cool ideas. Some of them clear lacquer the aged patina of the bodies. I do not personally want cars like this, but do respect them.
After WWII, veterans came back and many had strong mechanical skills from being in service. So they created hot rods. Chopped, channeled and customized. The rat rod segment is doing their own take on that idea. Finding inexpensive cars and going that direction.
I personally prefer restification of older cars, mainly over the safety aspect. Keep the stock look as much as possible, but greatly improve drivability and reliability. Keep all the original stock parts that came off and set aside. Bolt on changes, but no body or interior changes. Add retro air. That’s customizing too, but can revert to original for the next owner. It’s often hard to find solid rust free cars on the East Coast. One of mine was built in Van Nuys and was shipped after spending its first 33 years on the West Coast. So no rust or floor pans needed. Worth the cost to ship a nice one. The rat rod guys solve the problem easily. Improvise with ideas like the stop sign without fretting over its appearance. Add a bottle opener mounted on the dash. And enjoy it! That’s what the car hobby and cruise nights are for. The review car may be a rat rod candidate itself someday. There are likely those that would buy it in its current direction. Or the current owner may keep it going as long as possible. Guess we can check in to see if he updates this post.
22nd Nov 2017, 20:15
Your getting a little too excited with your comment. I don't think the owner of this Aries is going to stretch things as far as going to cruise nights for example.
22nd Nov 2017, 20:32
You've got to be joking, right? A Dodge Aries? Come on! That's about as far away from being any kind of classic as one could define!
24th Nov 2017, 16:16
It's nice to see someone appreciates an old K car. I bought an 84 leftover new in 1985. We drove that 120000 miles and sold it to my brother-in-law who drove it as a Jeep for another hundred thousand. I've owned 5k cars since that one, plus a Dodge Omni and a Dodge Caravan with essentially the same drivetrain.
The 2.2 or 2.5 with a 3-speed automatic is practically bulletproof; all I have owned have gone over 200,000 miles before being retired for other reasons.
Things you should watch out for on this type of vehicle at this age are the aluminum radiator if it hasn't been replaced, the head gasket (which is bound to go eventually), vacuum lines, and the hall effect sensor which is under the distributor cap will drive you crazy if you don't know about it. If the timing belt breaks, the engine is not ruined, it's a free running engine, but replace the water pump when you replace the timing belt, because the labor is almost the same.
Good luck, you should have many cheap miles ahead of you if you don't mind getting your hands dirty. Allpar is a good place for info and help.
20th Nov 2017, 17:56
Maybe the odometer is broken.