COMPARISON · THE SHOWDOWN
OPEN LABOR PROJECT
VEHICLE A
▼
Plymouth
Fury
361ci V8
VS
VEHICLE B
▼
Plymouth
Fury
318ci V8
Real labor data. Real maintenance costs. Real recall counts. No subscription, no paywall — free for every wrench-turner.
01
Specifications
Year
1966
1989
Engine
361ci V8
318ci V8
Drivetrain
RWD
RWD
Transmission
automatic
automatic
Fuel
gas
gas
04
Cost of Ownership
5-Year Maintenance
$9,770
0.16 $/mi
★ WINNER
5-Year Maintenance
$7,132
0.12 $/mi
🏆
ADVANTAGEPlymouth Fury — Saves you $2,638 over 5 years (27% less in routine maintenance labor)
Routine maintenance only. Cost = labor hours × $150/hr × estimated 5-yr frequency. Parts cost not included.
05
Maintenance Breakdown
Hours per common service. Lower is faster (and cheaper) at the shop.
Oil & filter change
0.5 hrs$1,380 / 5yr
0.3 hrs$1,020 / 5yr
Tire rotation
0.5 hrs$600 / 5yr
0.5 hrs$600 / 5yr
Rear brake pads
1.4 hrs$560 / 5yr
1.2 hrs$500 / 5yr
Front brake pads
1.2 hrs$520 / 5yr
1.2 hrs$520 / 5yr
Differential fluid
1.2 hrs$440 / 5yr
1.2 hrs$440 / 5yr
Torsion Bar and Lower Control Arm Bushing Wear
— hrs$618 / 5yr
— hrs
Brake fluid flush
1.0 hrs$330 / 5yr
0.8 hrs$270 / 5yr
Wiper blades
0.2 hrs$240 / 5yr
0.3 hrs$300 / 5yr
Cabin air filter
0.4 hrs$255 / 5yr
0.4 hrs$255 / 5yr
12V battery
0.3 hrs$245 / 5yr
0.3 hrs$245 / 5yr
Coolant flush
1.2 hrs$230 / 5yr
1.2 hrs$230 / 5yr
Spark plugs
1.0 hrs$230 / 5yr
1.0 hrs$230 / 5yr
Intake manifold gasket
4.5 hrs$230 / 5yr
4.5 hrs$230 / 5yr
Timing Chain Stretch and Gear Wear
— hrs$423 / 5yr
— hrs
Water pump
3.5 hrs$226 / 5yr
2.5 hrs$173 / 5yr
Oxygen sensor
1.8 hrs$195 / 5yr
1.8 hrs$195 / 5yr
Fuel filter
0.5 hrs$210 / 5yr
0.3 hrs$150 / 5yr
Cooling System Inadequacy with Big-Block V8s
— hrs$350 / 5yr
— hrs
Oil pan gasket
4.2 hrs$170 / 5yr
4.2 hrs$170 / 5yr
Carter/AFB Carburetor Fuel Leaks and Flooding
— hrs$309 / 5yr
— hrs
Valve cover gasket
2.5 hrs$174 / 5yr
1.5 hrs$114 / 5yr
Serpentine belt
0.7 hrs$140 / 5yr
0.7 hrs$140 / 5yr
Alternator
1.5 hrs$131 / 5yr
1.2 hrs$120 / 5yr
Engine air filter
0.2 hrs$120 / 5yr
0.2 hrs$120 / 5yr
Power steering flush
0.6 hrs$110 / 5yr
0.6 hrs$110 / 5yr
Ignition coil
1.0 hrs$92 / 5yr
1.0 hrs$92 / 5yr
Rear Axle Bearing and Seal Leaks
— hrs$175 / 5yr
— hrs
Starter motor
1.5 hrs$85 / 5yr
1.2 hrs$76 / 5yr
Thermostat
1.2 hrs$77 / 5yr
1.0 hrs$67 / 5yr
Wiring Harness Degradation and Bulkhead Connector Failure
— hrs$140 / 5yr
— hrs
PCV valve
0.3 hrs$65 / 5yr
0.3 hrs$65 / 5yr
06
Active Recalls
Open NHTSA Recalls
0
CLEAR
Open NHTSA Recalls
0
CLEAR
✓ Both vehicles are completely clear of open safety recalls.
08
The Verdict
🏆
THE WINNER
1989 Plymouth Fury
318ci V8
- Plymouth Fury is cheaper to maintain (saves ~$2,638 over 5 years)
Based on objective maintenance and recall data. Driving feel, looks, brand loyalty, and ownership experience are separate (and very valid) considerations.
Open the full dashboard for either truck
Labor times, torque specs, fluid capacities, DTC codes, repair procedures, recalls, common platform problems.