K-Carma: 1986 Dodge Aries

Irony is a clear consciousness of an eternal agility, of the infinitely abundant chaos.  -- Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel (1772-1829).  Regular readers of this website will remember K-Cargate -- which started when someone here compared driving a K-Car to purgatory, continued when the president of the Chrysler K-Car Club defended K-cardom in the comments, and wrapped up with an eloquent treatise on the Thin Line Between Hate and Meh by Kaibeezy.  It was a distant memory until today when I opened up the tips box and found this thing looking at me.  Find this 1986 Dodge Aries offered for $800 in Alameda, CA via craigslist.

K-Carmageddon Survivor: 1988 Dodge Aries LE Wagon

The K-car was an instant sales success for Chrysler when first introduced, and by the end of the third year of production over a million Ks had been sold in Chrysler LeBaron, Dodge 400/Aries, and Plymouth Reliant flavors.  Although marketed as having European flair, the K was distinctly American in execution, with a small overhead cam equipped 4-banger mated to the front wheels and a solid beam axle out back. The Aries/Reliant/LeBaron/400 was tuned for American roads and featured a comfortable ride uncommon with 2500 lb compact cars from the same era, just don't expect anything sporty from the K and you'll be fine.  Find this 1988 Dodge Aries Wagon here on eBay bidding for $1,975 located in Norwalk, CT with 1 day to go.

K is for Krap: 1985 Dodge Aries K-Car

K is, regrettably, for K-car.  The K-word.  Konstantly konfounding kar kooks with krappy kuality and kausing konsiderable kursing from knormally kind Kentuckians.  The K-car is an easy target for journalists and pundits alike - but beware! The little K has a rabid fan base and if you compare driving the K to the limitless horrors of purgatory, someone identifying himself as the president of the Chrysler K-Car Club (say that three times fast) might chime in the comments.  Of course, DT fielded a thoroughly transcendent rebuttal by none other than DT's own logo guru Kaibeezy...but that is ancient history, let's get on to today's K-car.  Find this 1985 Dodge Aries K-Car currently bidding for $1,500 reserve-not-met in Los Angeles, CA via ebay.

1k: 6 Seat Taxi: 1988 Dodge Aries

The Dodge Aries was a version of  the infamous Chrysler K-car platform shared with the Plymouth Reliant and sold from 1981 to 1989.  The Aries and Reliant were introduced as compact cars, but were much closer to mid-sized and were surprisingly popular when new..  Today the K-car is more likely to be the punchline of a joke than a daily driver, but a grandpa owned/driven version can be a surprisingly affordable 6 passenger vehicle.  Find this 1988 Dodge Aries, with 54k miles on the odometer, offered for $1,650 in Burlingame, CA via craigslist.  Tip from Kaibeezy.