MotorWeek | Retro Review: '85 Chrysler K Wagon

[@larrydrozd2740]

When you're a broke, touring musician in the late 80's...these cars, especially the wagon I had, were the best thing out there. You can PACK these with everything, they got great gas mileage even when you did (unlike a van) and were reliable and cheap to operate. The 2.2 engine was a non interference unit. Which means if the timing belt goes, it doesn't take out the valve train. With just a set of hand tools, the spare tire jack to hold up the engine and $28 for the part, you can change out THE TIMING BELT in the parking lot of the club you played at the night before!!!No other car can claim that. Mine had 147,000 miles on it when this happened. I drove it another 3 years until some idiot ran a red light and T-boned it. I walked away from that too.... These were great little cars. Run for ever.

[@danjones3402]

Wow, great story!! At least you survived the crash!!

[@Snake-ms7sj]

I don't remember having to use the jack to change the timing belt. I used to just unbolt the valve train cam, change the belt and rebolt it. There was a little dot on it that you had to line up with the TDC mark and that was it. Many Mechanics at the time rated the K cars as the easiest car to work on. The 2.2L was simple. Spark plugs, fuel filter, distributor ...... all located at the front of the engine.

[@larrydrozd2740]

@@Snake-ms7sj The motor mount is bolted to the front of the engine in the middle of the timing belt. In order to take the mount off, you need to support the front of the engine. You can't get the belt off without taking the mount off.

[@Snake-ms7sj]

@@larrydrozd2740 I think I know what you mean. I probably used a jack. That was like 25 years ago that i did the belt change.

[@johnmaki3046]

These were GREAT "riders"! Iacocca (and BRILLIANT B.S.) SAVED Chrysler...to now become "Stellantis"!

[@bg147]

I loved seeing the crash helmet when he was unleashing the monster through the quarter mile.

[@HarleyBadger]

+bg147 Same helmet they wore for the Chevette with its 21-second 0-60 time.

[@alexander1485]

OR the pontiac 1000 for the nearly 30 second 0-60 run

[@hendersonchap6725]

HaHaHa!....Unleash the BEAST! : )

[@hendersonchap6725]

That wagon is fierce! 0-60 in just 94.2 seconds! : )

[@FeisarX]

I'd wear two helmets in one of these pop cans.

[@BluDog35]

It's amazing seeing all these older cars in mint condition when I'm used to seeing them absolutely rusted to hell.

[@gzuzsavz]

They were excellent in snow. A victim of their own success on the rust deal. Most cars then would put you in a ditch for merely thinking about driving them in the winter.

[@maineindividual5202]

This is the original review from 1985. It's not present day so the wagon was new at the time

[@FraggleRagaraga]

@@maineindividual5202 oh wow I thought this was 1080p

[@oliverdelgado6952]

Also It's cool to see that fake wood decal still intact

[@JulioLopez-xz5kx]

@howtobebasic1 Those cars were total trash. It's no wonder they are pretty much extinct.

[@danmccarthy4700]

Someone, somewhere, at this very moment is working feverishly in their garage, painstakingly restoring a K-Car to showroom condition.

[@dodgeguyz]

Dan McCarthy In my Old Cars magazine by Hemmings they did a multi page coverage of the restoration of a 79 Horizon. He guy used 80% NOS parts! Crazy!

[@the66volks]

That would be me! 😁 only mines a 1985 wagon just like in the video

[@BigWheel.]

Excellent

[@commodoresixfour7478]

Someone needs to do it!

[@richardcole6690]

I am kind of doing that to a 1987 Omni... I love this little car... recently jumped time on me so I'm just going to rebuild the engine and replace the clutch while I'm at it... if you can find one with a good body these K and C cars are awesome and bulletproof...

[@Nickmd-zd8rb]

First experience with the concept of understeer...threw Mom's 82 Reliant K wagon into an off-ramp at 50 mph, age 16. Guardrail still has marks 30 yrs later. Dad laughed, Mom not so much.

[@pl5624]

That's what wound up killing Dottie west in an 82 aries thanks to her speed demon elderly neighbor.

[@ElectoneGuy]

My father used to produce wood paneling tape at 3M.

[@Peter1Europe]

It's not a real wood ?

[@thefiveguy5258]

@@Peter1Europe nope, if it was it would have to be a 20ft long piece of wood, older "woodie" wagons had wood dividers on it so it would only be a 5ft long piece, so every 1960's+ wagon you see on the road today has fake wood.

[@georgeharleydavidsonrider156]

Electone_Guy Cool 😎

[@stangable5564]

What’s your address? I’ll send you a cookie.

[@manhalen7046]

@@Peter1Europe lol

[@rrad8106]

I miss the day when cars were that simple. You look under the hood and you can see where everything is. Not over-engineered. It was also a time when drivers drove - not distracted.

[@midcenturymodern9330]

I really like the front of this little wagon! It's clean and practical.

[@gedisdiop]

I sold these when they were new, in KY. They were nice, but just couldn't beat the Volare/Aspen wagon. When they were received as a trade-in, they were never on the lot for more than 3 days. I was taking some prospective buyers, in a fully loaded K wagon, on a test drive. It went well. But, when we got back to the dealership, and the driver went to pull out the key, the entire ignition assembly came out onto his lap. He gave me this crazy look, and I said " Oh WOW ! That's a theft deterrent option ! He bought the car. Could I sell cars or what ??

[@amartinjoe]

+Wilbur Snaffel LOL!!! what did you say to him ? "Just pop it back in and your ready to go!" ?

[@NESherv]

+Wilbur Snaffel How the hell did you pull that off (the sale, not the ignition)?!

[@paxhumana2015]

+Wilbur Snaffel , the Volare/Aspen wagons might make for an awesome sleeper muscle car.

[@martylevente8742]

+Pax Humana Drop a Magnum 360 crate engine in an Aspen/Volare wagon and have a beefed up Torqueflite 727 backing that small block will make her go damn nice!

[@dmcnamara9859]

+Wilbur Snaffel These cars were garbage when new, me and my siblings dreaded seeing a K-Car rental when my pops took us on his business trips (which was quite often). Seems like the Cutlass Ciera/Fairmonts/Taurus/ Cadillacs,LTDs,etc were sometimes always gone..then we had to settle for K-Car. Most memorable were the AMC 4 doors...they seemed to ride alright and were much quieter than some of the other Rentals.

[@MerkinMuffly]

RIP Lee Iacocca

[@isaiasnelson3941]

i dont mean to be so offtopic but does anybody know a method to get back into an Instagram account?? I was stupid lost the login password. I would love any tips you can give me

[@callumlian7821]

@Isaias Nelson Instablaster ;)

[@crashbandi53]

I would cherish the heck outta this thing- just with the 2.2 or 2.5.

[@aquateen77723]

There's something about this wagon that I find cool in a quirky way. Thanks for sharing these retro episodes, Motorweek!

[@Lianpe98]

I love it's brick shape

[@BeingMe23]

If Chrysler wouldn't had been broke. They could have actually put a decent 4 cylinder or 6 cylinder in it with good power. It would had sold very well.

[@dkt1976dt]

The K cars were good reliable transportation, everybody i know who owned one or had one of their variants were very happy with them. The Chrysler minivans were basically K car wagons and spawned the minivan revolution back in 1984.

[@muhdewd9727]

Actually the k car four banger was a hunk of junk.. they weren't built to last at all.

[@phantom3rdchannel]

@@muhdewd9727 i have an 81 and its nothing if not reliable paid 800 for it in February and I've put 8k miles on it since

[@muhdewd9727]

@@phantom3rdchannel I wish you the best of luck but that motor is notoriously unreliable. Maybe you'll have a good run with it.

[@75aces97]

@@muhdewd9727 Muh Dewd we had one last about 15 years. Mass produced cars have finite lifespans by design, so that you'll buy a new one every so often. But K cars didn't cost an arm and a leg either. If it runs for 10 years after it's paid for, with low insurance costs, is more than good enough.

[@desimo147]

My Mom had an 1983 K car wagon, which was passed on to me when my college car died. That car was a nightmare, and to this day no one from the family will buy a Chrysler vehicle. I can't imagine anyone being happy with one of those things.

[@cgreenfield6655]

That steering wheel is a thing of pure beauty

[@whoohaaXL]

"Ah, the throaty roar of a K-car" (Mike on Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode: Timechasers)

[@FIVEOFEVER]

Standard 13 in wheels with 14 inch standard..... 2.6 rated at 101 HP with a 0 - 60 time of 12 seconds and the 1/4 mile at 181/2 seconds .....Those were the days!!

[@smithraymond09029]

I haven't driven a car with bench seats since the early 90's. Those were like driving your sofa down the highway.

[@TheMailmanOfSteel]

Biggest positive of the K wagon: Many of them are still around, and fairly clean due to being "adult owned". You can get one for cheap, and then start bolting in parts from its platform mate, the Daytona. Some of them even came with the Turbo engine stock, making half the job already done. :D

[@christianobrien4465]

One of the best family cars EVER made.

[@fernandorocha-dx1wv]

Beautiful Chrysler K wagon, my favorites of K cars

[@TomasGraf-rr6co]

People used to shit on them, but they were literally everything you ever needed in a car.

[@DanaTheInsane]

The car that made you wonder what cars A through J were like. ;)

[@knowbodiesfull5768]

Dana W And what about L through Z?

[@waterheaterservices]

I had a 1973 Ford Galaxie 500. I suspect the first 499 designs were a failure.

[@mattdavis9601]

Chrysler terminology, since you asked and I'm a nerd when it comes to old Mopars: A - RWD compacts (Dart, Valiant) B - RWD midsizer (Charger, Road Runner, Coronet, etc) C - RWD fullsize (Monaco, Fury, Chrysler New Yorker, etc) D - Full size pickups E - RWD Ponycar (Challenger, Barracuda) F - 70s RWD compacts (Volare and Aspen) G - Sporty K-car coupes (Daytona and Laser) H - Sporty Euro style K-car (Lancer and LeBaron GTS) I - Didn't exist, I don't think. J - F body luxury coupes (80s Imperial, 2G Cordoba, Mirada) J, again - K-car luxury coupes (Late 80s - mid 90s Lebaron)

[@marycorrell2557]

My brother had an 88 or 89 Daytona turbo and got rear ended, bought 86 k wagon brown with the woodgrain "wall paper" in mint condition. Drivetrain swapped along with the suspension and brakes. Turned up the boost and fuel pressure and had the perfect sleeper.13.50 all day.hahahaha

[@elizabethcherry920]

I miss my Reliant k I drove as a taxi in the early 90s, such good days. I moved myself twice in it and I even moved someone's standard size refrigerator in it, I wished I had it back today.

[@reints74]

These cars are the biggest reason Honda and Toyota are the kings of the industry.

[@twoeightythreez]

reints74 No, they arent. I knew people who had these and they were reliable and well built. They just were the most boring appliances you could imagine...kind of like a modern Toyota lol. but in the eighties the corolla and civic shitboxes actually had some quirky character to go with the reliability...these K cars were bland as vanilla yogurt.

[@tedhaubrich]

reints74 I had one. 83 Plymouth Reliant wagon. looked pretty good, but NOT well built, lots of flimsy plastic, horrendous awful breaks, laughably underpowered engine. It WAS practical, it was comfortable, it's ride was pretty nice, and it's handling acceptable. In summary, ir didn't GO ot STOP very well. Other than those two things not a bad little car.

[@tedhaubrich]

They needed a high mpg car so they built one a light and plasticy as possible, knobs springs, door handles, cables bolts, door panels, all as light weight as possible. Then they put in the smallest engine that could creep it up to 55, the national highway speed limit at the time.

[@decayofalberta1520]

I had a Sedan style at 18. It was a 83. I loved that car.

[@BigOldCarChannel]

These were great cars. Comfortable, smooth-riding, reliable as all get-out. Simple, humble cars that got the job done. They were never impressive, but they were never meant to be. I liked my K-coupe, it weirdly got 28mpg no matter how I drove it.

[@Channel-cm7yc]

+Jonathan A sorry John wrong part of this thread! It's removed that didn't look very good!!!

[@ponchoman49]

@@Channel-cm7yc As long as you avoided the junk 2.6

[@kurtmartin2580]

I loved my Kcar that old peice of shit would alway's start.Minus 30 nobody else in the family's car's would run.I was like ya what ever mine prob won't run either.Low and behold she fired right up.All the part's were dirt cheep for that car.She would only do about 150kh but would always get there.And it was awsome on gas.My buddy gave me the car cause he thought it was past repair.I threw $250 into the car and she lasted me about 7yr's of hard life.Great little car

[@weirdshibainu]

I had an AMC concord wagon that was the same. Took me everywhere, easy to work on, never let me down. I was sad when it finally quit on me after 50,000 trouble free miles and 210,000 mile on the clock

[@HeCute_]

I love Chrysler interior of that era

[@RobHeathers]

Excuse me whilst I squeal like a little girl... Eee!!!! Long live the Pentastar!! K-car FOR LIFE!!!! We always love our first car. Mine was an 87 Plymouth Reliant LE coupé. He had the 2.2L, painted light blue and had a periwinkle & navy houndstooth velour bucket seats. That car took me everywhere as a teen. I retired it my senior year of high school and restored it. Old Byron is still sitting in storage only coming out during the summer for local car shows. K-cars always put a smile on my face. One of the best damn cars my family has ever had. Bought for an older sister of mine in 1992 for her to learn how to drive, then went to another sister, the briefly my mom, and then when I turned 14 he was mine. 13 years of near flawless service for my family, and he still turns over every spring to go gallivanting. Near perfect car.

[@orbits2]

she not he when referring to sheet metal

[@mrhighway]

FCA

[@gzuzsavz]

Thats the fact, jack! It's nice to hear a legit story from someone who cares to tell the truth & drove and enjoyed & still does, a great little car. K stood for killer..& that of anything else similar on the market then. they could likely sell a bazillion now, albeit with a multi-speed auto trans & a few updates like beefier tires.

[@archangele1]

I had an Aries as a company car. It was one that had the 2.5L engine which they offered that year as an option over the anemic 2.2L. The little wagon could actually get out of it's own way and handled well. Prior to that one, we had an Aries wagon but with the horrible 2.2L engine. That engine was pretty much DOA at 40K miles. Still, both cars had very comfortable seats and rode very smooth.

[@fernandorocha8459]

I love this K wagons

[@s1n4m1n]

I've owned a Dodge Aries 2 door and a 4 door. Those front seats are seriously comfortable.

[@67marlins81]

I had an '81 Aries wagon and loved that little car. Miss it to be honest.

[@sferrell1000]

I owned two, both 1982, loved them both.

[@BobNarz]

A 1980 K-car wagon was the first car I drove when I learned to drive in 1985. The only option was an automatic. Even though it is crap by today's standard, it really was a good car for its time.

[@brentaudi9354]

When I was in college my next door neighbors had two of these. I could never figure out if these were "new" cars or "old" cars. They always looked old to me.

[@landyachtfan79]

I have always had a very special love for the K-Car. Sure, it was never the most beautiful car in the world, but how could you hate a car that saved an entire company from oblivion?!!!! The K-Car was responsible for my mentality that Chrysler was just the s*** in the 1980's, because that platform filled quite a few niches in the American car market that other manufacturers were ignoring. Plus, without the K-Car, we wouldn't have the minivan.........think about it!!!!

[@JDsHouseofHobbies]

My parents had a Dodge Aries wagon. My mom loved that car.

[@peepallgame]

my best friend had one passed down from grandparents.... when I tell you this car was the true bucket that did everything. multiple moves.... rolling deep wit friends to the beach.... camping..... grocery and mall shopping.... old school for real... .....but so comfortable ..... not a head turning but we would turn heads in the pull up . ...lol....... we literally put this wagon through everything.... We actually called it The Wagon.... ...lol..... once we grew out of it they actually took it as a trade in even with the permanent dipped back driver seat..... so many memories in the wagon. I still laugh about pulling up on people in it. but when people got in they would b like it's so comfortable...... same color with that one dent in the door.

[@chasevineland1508]

I drove this wagon several times with no oil. To the point where the engine would putter out and seize. Wait about 15 minutes and pour some oil in and voila it's ready to drive again. This thing was bullet proof and easy to fix and maintain.

[@johnturner4765]

Chase Vineland why would you drive a car with no oil?

[@chasevineland1508]

John Turner Good question. I was a knuckleheaded 16 year old kid at the time and inherited the car before it went to the junkyard. Didn't really drive it without oil intentionally but never cared to check the oil knowing it was leaky.

[@dieselcoondog]

My family had one of the first minivans with the same 2.6 Mitsubishi. Could barely go but it went 225,000 miles under heavy teenager abuse and my dad's eco friendly oil change schedule. Probably still going somewhere.

[@dwilsonjr78]

A friend of mine's mother had the Chrysler version of the K Car wagon: a 1985 Lebaron Town & Country with the turbo engine. Those Turbo K Cars were quick back in the day. I love the 80's.

[@mthomas8327]

I'd buy one of these in a heartbeat and what a good little car back in the day. My parents owmed a k car wagon staying in the family for many years.

[@JesseyJamez911]

I love this retro series!

[@acca5512]

I still love these boxes on wheels. Id take one over a cavalier or escort from the same era

[@dm919]

"Times to shorter distances were even better..." Um, yeah.

[@jakohindman2622]

These throwbacks are fun to watch during this covid lockdown.

[@allwrathnograpes]

neighbor had a blue aries wagon up until the mid 2000s. had a friend who had a plymouth caravelle up until two years ago when the transmission went out

[@imperiallebaron4476]

I owned a 1988 Reliant wagon. I never really liked the K models. Well my reliant changed my mind real fast. That car was great. The 2.2 Chrysler 4 cylinder had plenty of power. I miss it.

[@snakeater84]

My grandma had one of these and our first minivan was an 85 Caravan with the 2.6L 4 from Mitsubishi. Mitsu tends to get bad raps for burning oil and timing belts that snap bending valves and rendering the motors useless. If I remember correctly our minivan actually had a timing chain so we never worried about the engine. Towards the end of its life it leaked oil but it made it to 141,000 without much maintainence. My grandma's was hardly used and only has 35k on it when my uncle sold it. It looked to be in showroom condition

[@fantom5894]

Matt H Sounds like our 86 voyager with the 2.6. Needed a new chain but other than that no real problems ... except towards the end it took forever to hit 60

[@steveespinola7652]

Once in a while I still see these cars around and they're in good condition.

[@jdonns2221]

Still see these occasionally

[@76carmel]

Remember those cars with the wood-grained trim? That was the 80s and 90s. It was also there in the with the Chrysler minivans...

[@bfun4615]

They should bring the wood-grained trim back. It's soooo awesome!

[@MichaelandCathy1999]

My father bought a new ‘70 Plymouth Sport Suburban when I was a young teen. Full boat equipment, including 383 c.i. Magnum/4 bbl/auto. First wagon with 2 way rear door( open as a door or down as a tailgate), rear glass up/down, loaded equipment, and beautiful Metalflake Gold(ish) paint with yes, 1 acre of MacTac wood grain plastered all over the sides and rear....but what a cruiser- mom,dad and 3 kids was no problem hauling with the Big Motor.

[@Mr_Chris77]

My parents took us from Kentucky to New England and back with this exact model. Parents up front and me and my niece in back. No seat belts. We were on the floor, seat, cargo area...making faces at other cars, playing travel board games. Simpler and better times. Anyway, the muffler fell off driving back through Pennsylvania on their wonderful shitty roads. Other than that, the car was awesome.

[@Hot80s]

5:18 the look on the driver's face says only one thing DA BEARS

[@NESherv]

+Hot80s DAAA BEARRRRS!

[@tommyj19751]

Polish sausage, ditka, da bears...

[@johne6081]

We really liked our 1988 Aries wagon.

[@jackhitchcock4777]

What's interesting about this 1985 Aries wagon is that it has power windows while most Aries models had roll-up windows.

[@chrislemaster2695]

Yes I had a 1988 Dodge Aries K LE 4 Door Mine had the 2.5 Auto PS/PB Bucket seats Air Tilt CC Chrysler Infinity 1 premium sound with cassette player rear defrost Power Locks & Mirrors and Power Driver's Seat. NO PW Paid 50.00 for it drove it 4 years trans went out sold it for 100.00 to a mechanic friend of mine

[@classic287]

My 88 Reliant had a 2.5 litre with a torque converter lockup transmission. When I stepped on it to pass someone on the highway, it actually moved. It rode like a Cadillac and the velour seats were super comfortable.

[@blancaw6280]

4:40 "For those times when you are caught driving in the wrong lane" Oh ok...I'm sure Lindsey Lohan will find this feature handy the next time she is driving in the wrong lane on the freeway.

[@John_Snowbird]

The 2.6 Mitsubishi engine was useless. Chrysler's 2.2 and 2.5 were actually much more reliable, and that's saying something.

[@Membrane556]

+2ndOfficerCHL The Chrysler 2.2/2.5 engines were almost bullet proof.

[@dmcnamara9859]

+Membrane556 It actually was a French engine...from the Talbot/Simca.....origins to the 1960s. Peugeot used the high nickle-content and chain driven 2.2 version for the 505 Turbo Gas. Don't forget, Peugeot gave Chrysler matching funds (and free stock swaps) equal to the 1 Billion+ the FED gave in loans when it was in the dumps coming out of the 1970s.

[@ElectoneGuy]

+Membrane556 But gutless. I had a 1990 Shadow with the 2.2 and it was slower than molasses.

[@dmcnamara9859]

+Audioquest56 2.2 in the Shadow should have been peppy, maybe you had a restriction in the Catalytic Converter,restricted-clogged fuel filter. Although tall-geared.....they weighed nothing.....especially the Base versions....either in slush-box or manual form.

[@ElectoneGuy]

D McNamara No, we're talking right from new - gutless. The 2.5 was definitely better.

[@HSMiyamoto]

My family had an 85 Horizon and an 87 Le Baron. The Horizon went to 1997 and the LeBaron went to 1999. The Horizon was scrapped only because I didn't want to repair the exhaust manifold and we had air pollution testing, the LeBaron was totaled by another driver hitting it. So neither really broke down. If only domestic made cars were that relaible today.

[@dcanmore]

To think the K-series that saved Chrysler was based on a French design. K-series was a slightly bigger version of the L-series platform (Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon) which in turn was designed by French car maker SIMCA as the C2 global platform. Also the Dodge Omni/Horizon, aka Chrysler/SIMCA Horizon in Europe was styled by British designer Roy Axe who was brought over from Chrysler-owned Hillman (later worked with Rover, Honda and Bentley).

[@MaestroTJS]

To me, the K car is THE car of the '80's. They were everywhere.

[@gedisdiop]

+Maestro_T To me, the car of the 80's was the Cadillac Fleetwood D' Elegance. It had a Corvette engine, and picnic tables in the back seat.

[@MaestroTJS]

Wilbur Snaffel Well, that is certainly another hallmark car of the '80's (though since it first came out int he '70's, I guess you could make an argument for it being a '70's design). But I meant it in terms of how ubiquitous the K car was.

[@johnbehneman1546]

I love the K Car!!!! Perfect Street Sleeper and excellent for Pro Touring and even Pro Street!!! I would use a Roadster Shop Chassis with a Hellcat Motor and T56 transmission. I would have a lot of fun on the Hot Rod Power Tour and Good guys Autocross!!!

[@MrMenefrego1]

In 1988, with my blushing bride, we bought our first new car; a deep painted burgundy on burgundy interior Chrysler K station wagon, with every bell & whistle Chrysler offered. We needed it to haul our bouncing new baby boy around and a medical modality, a HUGE and very heavy [322-lbs] medical modality (an extremely effective pulsed-electromagnetic device) known as "Diapulse", I was a sales-rep for them at the time. But with the (IMO) the very weak and poorly designed Chrysler 4-cylinder. It was such a poor design that when it was low of just 1/3 of a quart of motor oil, the engine seized! I had to have it completely rebuilt! Other than the poor engine design, it really was a good automobile. we used it for three years then, after having it carefully tuned and detailed, gave it to my grandmother. She drove the boxy little wagon for over eleven years, granted she only used it to go grocery shopping and to church, but it still served her quite well. All-in-all, and other than the engine design defect, it was a good vehicle. RIP Chrysler, you deserved better than Fiat.

[@iamgermane]

K-cars were much better than people realize. If they made them today at a low price they would sell!

[@poppyneese1811]

In 1980 I was working the midnight to six show on WHIS adult contemporary radio in Southern West Virginia. The lady that did the cleaning was a black lady in her late 50’s that became my buddy showing up at 4 to do her job. She fell in Love with the fake wood siding on a ton of MOPAR products at the time and talked me in going to the nearby KMART and we purchased the vinyl wood that people put in their kitchen cabinets, it was sticky and we gave her old Pontiac Wagon the full woody treatment, didn’t look as bad as it could have to been done by a late middle age cleaning lady and a 18 year old air jockey snd she was happy and that’s all that mattered!

[@erickh.7321]

My first car, which I received during my senior year of high school back in 1995, was a 1988 Dodge Aries LE, which was a K car. It was overall a very good economy vehicle for me.

[@richardunicorn7879]

The pivoting light in the visor is cool.

[@JD-he4fp]

I Out ran an Eclipse from dead stop in an Aries. Sleeper.

[@TorqueEffect]

Ahh a Mitsubishi grenade under the hood, that's why I don't see these anymore. lol

[@davidvalenzuela4529]

Here's a Motorweek Retro Review of the Dodge Aries K Wagon from 1985.

[@aenoymotors]

Wow, I've never seen one of these with power windows before. That's awesome. Can you post up the 82 K car review as well? I've owned (and own still) a lot of these and they've always been great to me.

[@stainlessdmc5954]

That caught me by surprise, too! I didn't know power windows were ever offered on K-Cars.

[@HALWG51]

A wagon that size, with today's engines and electronics, would be a big seller. Wait, isn't that what a Subaru Outback does?

[@wall-e3313]

Although I would never own one, those rental K-cars could hold their own. I still remember being able to keep up with a BMW 5-series in the late 80's, when I was running late to a flight from EWR. We were limited by traffic flow, but I still got that bee-atch over 90, based on the speedometer that didnt have a peg at 85.

[@noseefood1943]

my dad bought one despite my strong recommendation of honda accord. he still regrets his decision. he is 80.

[@75aces97]

One of my first cars was a K car, so I can't say I miss them, but it filled an essential need. A car just good enough for its time, and it offered midsized sedans and wagons at bargain basement prices. There doesn't seem to be an option for that niche anymore.

[@lightningbuster]

I like how the tail lights are pretty similar to that of the 80's Rams tail lights. Just a little smaller.

[@TheHelado36]

The beauty of simplicity !

[@Mortalomena]

That fake Merc front end :D Doesnt look too bad though, it is a soothing MB style.

[@mcqueenfanman]

I worked on a lot of k cars, luckily most had the 2.2 or 2.5 engines.

[@svenlabots1869]

I just love those more 'boring' somewhat "bread and butter"kind of 1980's American cars. So overlooked and underestimated...Reliable,smooth'n creamy, not noisy, increadible mileage, spacey, I guess in some more remoted areas of the US, these might be sold for pocket money (with a Mitsubishi 2600cc), Wow!!

[@courtney5796]

My parents had a 1988 K sedan and gave it to me when they go new. We go lucky. That thing would not die. Sold it with 180,000 miles for $2000 in 2005.

[@Analysta654]

I bought a used one of these 1992. Not a bad car.

[@paulxaviercyr]

This would be a cool project to turn into a sleeper. 5.7 hemi under the hood bolted to a NAG1 and IRS diff out back... make sure the outside is this gawd-awful "woody" design and slap a "Where's the beef" or "I've been to Graceland" sticker on the bumper. Just tacky, awful and fast... in other words, *perfect*.

[@mr.butterworth]

+Paul Cyr Cut out the floor for a mid-mounted 6.2 Hellcat V8 and transaxle, retractable wheelie bars, BOOM, ha! At less than 3,500 lbs. that thing would haul so much ass.

[@chrislemaster2695]

LS III Swap?

[@darrininverarity4297]

Early front drive shafts would separate at the universal joint and the ball bearing would fall out so when you turn the wheel it would lock in a turn and put you right in the rhubarb or worse.

[@harleyguyinmilw]

I would LOVE to find a decent Aries/Reliant wagon with woodgrain trim and a manual transmission, just sounds like FUN

[@HIDHIFDB]

harleyguyinmilw those are common in mexico, allmost all the k cars in mexico were sold with the 2.5 engine and manual transmission the spirit and shadow were the first ones reverting to automatic and a few whith manual.

I still see one of these still driving around!!

[@mrtyreus0]

I've always abhorred the K- car, but considering it's competition at the time it's quite impressive.

[@gzuzsavz]

our fam owned a few of these, one purchased new in 87 along with a couple used, here & there, great cars. ppl that say the 2.2L & 2.5L auto examples were slow are wrong..given the era they were out, they were anything but. but i dont get that, there was many turbo examples out there if power is/was your only complaint. very good dailies. id love now, as was..but hb one with a SRT-4 engine along with 17" wheels & 4 wheel disc

[@frederickletterblair]

I see most comments hate this but this sold very well at the time(Over 2 million and that's just sedan)? Time changes.

[@christopherconard2831]

Most people who don't like them weren't around to see what came before the K-Cars. My folks bought a new Areis station wagon in '83. Before these came out, almost everything from Chrysler was over sized, over weight, under powered, and out of date. These cars were revolutionary at the time. Though, with hindsight, we can see they were better on paper than in the real world. Early problems with certain engines having seal problems, weak transmissions, and flaky CV joints didn't help. The salesman was probably so happy he talked my parents in to the extended warranty. My mother definitely got her money out of it.

[@fantom5894]

Christopher Conard Torn CV boots were the order of the day for K-cars and minivans

[@thekhakiobserver3128]

It doesn't look bad for a mid 80's car and you have to remember the national speed limit was 55mph.

[@richardkaltenbach3961]

I'll Take One Of These Over Any POS SUV Any Day Of The Week!

[@devinpetersen2387]

My uncle rolled a k car station wagon in the winter. It's a miracle he survived!

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

K Car is like a Futon on wheels. Sweet nightlight though. 2:00

[@landyachtfan79]

I would love to see the '82 Reliant test. Also, a little bit of trivia........1985 was the only year of the redesign that offered the 2.6 engine. It would be replaced by the Chrysler-built 2.5 for '86.

[@user-tb7rn1il3q]

This car was definitely underrated. I like small turning circles.

[@Commentator541]

How can sound and video be this good??? I don't think movies looked this good in 1985.

[@Tuppoo94]

These are probably ripped from original tapes that went on air.

[@2BArchives]

The front-end could never be mistaken as a Mercedes-Benz at any angle to me

[@robwatts4623]

For the record the timing chain didn't rattle it stretched and hit the timing cover eventually wear a hole right through..then a big oil leak started!

[@Doobie1975]

I thought the 0-60mph and 0-500 feet times were adequate for a mid 80's compact wagon.

[@roadgrader97]

Drove a new 1987 K car wagon in drivers education.

[@frankmartinez6888]

Same here. They were the Driver Ed cars in my high school back in '89.

[@JeffDeWitt]

I kind of like it, I don't WANT one, especially with that engine and a three speed automatic, but I kind of like it.