Bought my 1985 Lancer base column shifter automatic in March of 1986. It was a "congrats on your new job" purchase. Paid $7700. it had 15k miles on it. 2 1/2 years later I traded it in with almost 90k miles. Yeah, LOTS of driving for me from 1986 to 1988. "Upgraded" to a new 1988 Dodge Daytona base 5 speed. The Lancer was a great car for me.
My dad picked up a black Lancer Turbo in the mid ‘90s for a song. Great sedan, reasonably peppy, fun. He daily drove it for at least a couple years - reliable as far as I can recall
My Aunt had 2 of these, she was involved in a roll over accident in her red Dodge Lancer, the car held up very well in the accident and she walked away with just a few scratches. She replaced it with a blue Chrysler LeBaron GTS Turbo.
I had a 1985 Gold Dodge Lancer, the 2.2 was a good engine. It was a comfortable car with a few options, full gauge cluster, air, tilt steering wheel and cassette.
I had an '87. The reliability was still a work in progress for American manufacturers at the time, but it was a good looking car and never left me stranded anywhere. Hated to part with it, to be honest.
I almost bought one of these used in 1989. It was a somewhat roper example but it was seduced by the Turbo power. 6:49 Mom talked me out of it and I got a VW Fox instead. That was a great tough little car that I hammered on for 2 years with no problems
Your mom was right. That Fox was Audi with a VW badge depending on the year and was way more quality built and reliable. This car would of been fun but unreliable and would fall apart on you.
Had the best looking Lancer they ever made- 1987 Lancer, ES, Turbo, Black, red cloth interior, manual 5sp. Sport seats and rims same as the Shelby Daytona that year. With only a head gasket change at 100k, the powertrain lasted over 250,000 with the owner after me, until rust got so bad. Never had a clutch change. GTO blackout headlight covers of course.
I always thought of the Dodge Lancer and Chrysler LeBaron GTS as a grown up Dodge Shadow and Plymouth Sundance, even though the Lancer and LeBaron GTS came out in 1985 and the Shadow and Sundance came out in 1987.
I bought a Lancer ES 2.2 5 sp brand new in 1985, at 22K i white flagged owning it...absolutely piece of merde engine and tranny and the quality of the build was brutal including the drivers seat coming out of the floor, i bought a civic after this
This review just brings back so many memories of me riding in the back of one of these as a little kid in a booster seat. Parents owned one from 1991 to 1995. I haven't seen one in YEARS.
I wonder why the Mitsubishi-built 3.0 liter V6 was never available on the Lebaron GTS and Lancer? It would have made both cars more user-friendly for upscale families. I would have wanted one myself.
Timing, mostly. When they started using the V6 the first thing they put it in was the minivans in 87. They probably didn't want to spend the money to federalize it in the GTS/Lancer which were about to get replaced by the Spirit/Acclaim
Always liked these.
My first car ever, 1985 Dodge Lancer ES turbo with all digital electronic dash. 🎉🎉
My first car was a 1986 Chrysler LeBaron GTS auto. It was a fun car as far as first cars go.
I love this Chrysler LeBaron GTS 85-88. Beautiful and comfortable car
Bought my 1985 Lancer base column shifter automatic in March of 1986. It was a "congrats on your new job" purchase. Paid $7700. it had 15k miles on it. 2 1/2 years later I traded it in with almost 90k miles. Yeah, LOTS of driving for me from 1986 to 1988.
"Upgraded" to a new 1988 Dodge Daytona base 5 speed. The Lancer was a great car for me.
My dad picked up a black Lancer Turbo in the mid ‘90s for a song. Great sedan, reasonably peppy, fun. He daily drove it for at least a couple years - reliable as far as I can recall
My Aunt had 2 of these, she was involved in a roll over accident in her red Dodge Lancer, the car held up very well in the accident and she walked away with just a few scratches. She replaced it with a blue Chrysler LeBaron GTS Turbo.
I had a 1985 Gold Dodge Lancer, the 2.2 was a good engine. It was a comfortable car with a few options, full gauge cluster, air, tilt steering wheel and cassette.
I had an '87. The reliability was still a work in progress for American manufacturers at the time, but it was a good looking car and never left me stranded anywhere. Hated to part with it, to be honest.
I almost bought one of these used in 1989. It was a somewhat roper example but it was seduced by the Turbo power. 6:49 Mom talked me out of it and I got a VW Fox instead. That was a great tough little car that I hammered on for 2 years with no problems
Your mom was right. That Fox was Audi with a VW badge depending on the year and was way more quality built and reliable. This car would of been fun but unreliable and would fall apart on you.
My grandfather had one in a coupe in gold colored. He got it used in early 90’s. He was driving a 1977 station wagon in green for a long time.
Had the best looking Lancer they ever made- 1987 Lancer, ES, Turbo, Black, red cloth interior, manual 5sp. Sport seats and rims same as the Shelby Daytona that year. With only a head gasket change at 100k, the powertrain lasted over 250,000 with the owner after me, until rust got so bad. Never had a clutch change. GTO blackout headlight covers of course.
My mother had a 1988 Dodge Lancer ES Turbo in 1990 which she drove for almost a decade.
I always thought of the Dodge Lancer and Chrysler LeBaron GTS as a grown up Dodge Shadow and Plymouth Sundance, even though the Lancer and LeBaron GTS came out in 1985 and the Shadow and Sundance came out in 1987.
I like to have one in white Carroll Shelby version
Never saw these cars on the road, they look good
I bought a Lancer ES 2.2 5 sp brand new in 1985, at 22K i white flagged owning it...absolutely piece of merde engine and tranny and the quality of the build was brutal including the drivers seat coming out of the floor, i bought a civic after this
This review just brings back so many memories of me riding in the back of one of these as a little kid in a booster seat. Parents owned one from 1991 to 1995. I haven't seen one in YEARS.
They almost blew through that stop sign! Lol! 😂😂😂
Bought a new 1987 turbo GTS with the upgrade suspension. Loved the performance & handling but engine and trans failed right at 50K miles.
Shame that they didn’t make a true successor, also unfortunate that for the given purpose, they lumped a 3 speed automatic with it as an option
LeBaron
K boxes!!
I had a Garnet red 1985 with a Turbo all options paid 1000 for it in 1992 with 80k miles.
0:28 - Volvo? AUDI?? BMW?!?
If anyone was duped into this car over those, they need to have a conservator to help them through the day.
What was the "hot rod" Lebaron called? I can't remember.
It had a monochromatic paint job and a wing on the roof.....
Oh yeah it was the Lancer, not Lebaron.....
The Lancer Pacifica.
Are there any still on the road?
I wonder why the Mitsubishi-built 3.0 liter V6 was never available on the Lebaron GTS and Lancer? It would have made both cars more user-friendly for upscale families. I would have wanted one myself.
Timing, mostly. When they started using the V6 the first thing they put it in was the minivans in 87. They probably didn't want to spend the money to federalize it in the GTS/Lancer which were about to get replaced by the Spirit/Acclaim
Quick
The American Audi only FWD Turbo
Audi's are either FWD or Quattro and were often turbocharged so the comparison is valid.
"European design feel"
we had a Lancer...pos
So did we...In the 90s....garbage never ending problems
Any self respecting yuppie would never be caught dead in one of these. I didn't see these past 1993.
Just another variant of the horrid kcar
I love Chrsyler Lebaron
That K-car platform is the reason Chrysler is still around even today.
Would not have the Viper or today's chargers or challengers without the k kar platform and subsequent mini vans built on said platform