A Newer Version of a K-Car.

[Danno]

I agree that there should be a newer version K car & Wagon. Only because most shops don't want to work on older vehicles. I have only 1 arm, so I can just change filters,oil & plugs on my 87 K Wagon 2.5, column mounted auto trans, bucket front seats, 5 bolt wheels. It has lost its headliner & upholstery shops laugh when I ask for a quote on replacing it with a vinyl to match its Orange Coast Guard paint. They tell me its not worth their time. There's only 101,000 miles on it. I bought it at 45,000 miles. The Gov't had replaced the Rad, & Grill & surround, because a guy in a 4x4 with manual trans ,on a hill at a stop light couldn't heel & toe when the light changed to green, so he stalled & rolled back into the poor K wagon. They had just replaced the rear brakes & shoes & rear hubs & bearings & wheel cylinders & rear shocks & fr. brake hoses & calipers & pads, & fuel injector & computer motherboard. A few weeks later a stone chip caused the windshield to crack vertically exactly in the middle so they put it up for auction. I Got it in 1995 for $1,001.oo & found out I could have got it for $800.oo. I still haven't changed the windshield. I had to replace the timing belt at 50,000 miles & the head gasket at 92,000 miles. Other than, battery, tires, rotor & cap, wires & plugs & filters,& wiper blades, I just change the oil & put in gas. I cruise at 65/70 & get 27 mpg. I had to replace the fuel filter a month ago, but the car still won't start when the operating temp is at normal running temp. It will only start when the temperature goes back down to the lowest white mark on the temperature scale. The shop "mechanics ??' say that they can't find anything to blame this on & tell me to just sit & wait the 20/30 minutes for the coolant to cool down. OR TO BUY A NEWER VEHICLE !!!! arrrrgh !!!! Danno.

[89ARIES]

Those guys are morons. They are still some good competent people out there. Just gotta find them.

[88 aries]

I have a lil problem with heal and toe on some cars, it depends on the clutch my ex girlfriend had an escort and the clutch was shot, Couldnt heal and toe, so I just reved it and let the clutch out. I Love how the Pt cruisers are, very simple clutch to push in

[IIM_aprentice]

i feel the same way! when i first saw the craigslist ad for the car i fell in love with it. it looks so vintage but sexy at the same time, i had to have it. when my fuel pump was failing and i was sucking through gas like u wouldnt believe i could fart in the gas tank and still get anywhere! now i have that all squared away and the gas mileage increased! my aries is the best car i could ever own, but saddly im going to be getting rid of her soon ive gotten her through her "i want to die" phase and now its time to let someone else know the feeling of a k-car. i will miss her but i will always remember her...mainly for the tattoo im getting in honor of the ever lasting, ever famous dodge aries

[billyjacob60]

It could help us see that new version of K-car if you could post some pictures to see. I just want a new one for me too.

[Arkday Otuslay]

I would like to see that tattoo, aprentice. If you were to ask me, and this is just my opinion, so don't nail me for being abstract with it, If feel that the Dodge magnum and the Charger sort of look like larger, meaner looking Aries. Especially with the Magnum. It's easy for me to imagine because the Aries was marketed in some places as the Magnum.

[capev86]

funny how auto manufacturers regurgitate names. i was at a car show tonight. saw a beautiful mid 50's mercury station wagon and on the original dealer brochure the owner had, the word "voyager" was mentioned for a trim level or something. funny, i always thought the voyager was only given to the minivan. turbo caravan's are cool, but i prefer wagons for their superior aerodynamics, handling and sleeker, sedan based roots. i have a 72 suburban c20 for when i want to sit higher off the ground.

the aries/reliant was sold as the magnum in mexico.

the biggest issues i have with the charger and magnum are the unavailability of a stick shift and the fact that the magnum sacrifices cargo space for the sake of killer looks. i drive a 97 sable wagon for a daily driver. it gets over 30mpg, can seat 8 in a pinch and will haul a ton of stuff with the seats folded down. also, the 96 and up wagons got 4 wheel disc brakes as standard equpment. the magnum is very cramped in the back so forget putting big items in. my parents have an '01 taurus wagon now (to replace that sable that i am now driving) and they often find they can save miles on and gas in their suburban because the wagon can handle so much stuff. the 97 merc was the vehicle they chose in 98 (bought it a year old) to replace my 86 aries wagon that was the primary family car for the previous 10 years. the merc has 206,000 on it, is definitely wearing out but drives me to work every day without issues. my dad maintains that it was the best car he has ever owned, even better than the old k wagon which he also holds in high regard. just gotta make the merc last until i can get the aries back on the road. if i didn't have my other project vehicles, i'd be all over fixing it up and putting a 5spd in it. i do like driving a stick