My mother bought a '95 New Yorker (split bench rather than the LHS buckets and console) in late '95. It was the dealer's wife's car. My mother does not like "stick shifts", so the column shift of the NY fit right in.
When it was about 6 years old, the dealer's service mgr (small dealer) recommended a timing belt. At first I questioned it, but then knowing about how tires can't be warrantied after 6 years of age, I considered it "insurance". Don't recall about the water pump, though.
Under light throttle, going up slight hills, the trans would jerk as the lock-up converter would lock and then unlock, then shudden. I told her to just back out of the throttle a little and then give it more to get it past that 27mph speed range. Later, there was a TSB about that, which really minimized that tendency.
Had to do tie rod ends. Driving it, it sounded like a "shock rattle", but was happy it was what it was.
A/C outside air mode door actuator clicks, as noted above, BUT if you keep it on outside air, it doesn't need to move from its default position. The dealer recommended letting it be as it was, as you have to take the lower part of the instrument panel off to get to it.
Cooling fan temp sensor went out, which caused the fans to not run. In hot weather, it would let the a/c head pressure get too high and the compressor would cut off. When the dealer replaced the sensor, they did something which put the trans in "limp-in" mode. But a later re-start cleared that situation up. I did contact a local trans shop and they did a fluid change and such, plus used the diagnostics to check for trans clutch pack wear. In about 100K miles of normal use, the apply times indicated there was very little wear in the trans. Had no trouble passing emissions at 90K miles, either!
Had to replace the radiator. Lack of maintenance, it seems.
Right now, it's side-lined for BCM issues. Although the security system would be armed, it would re-arm itself and turn the interior lights on. When it'd do that, the normal horn chirp was about twice as long in duration. Power locks didn't work right, either. Instrument cluster stopped working, as did the hvac control. I thought a new battery might do it, but it didn't. I had to unhook the battery to keep it from being run down, too.
MPG will be better on the Concorde than on the NY/LHS. I documented that when they were new, with rent cars I'd get from Dollar. When newer, the LHS would average 26mph on highway runs, but the Concorde I rented did 27.5mpg. Look at the body shape from the side and it's obvious that the Gen 1 Concorde has a more aerodynamic front and roof line, almost as good as the Intrepid.
To me, the 3.3L is a decent "drive-around" motor, but it has a lack of low-end torque under about 3000rpm. But when you get to that point, it comes alive. If you happen to be at a road speed where a WOT downshift will hit that powerband, it'll take off big-time. To get better performance at lower rpms, you have to learn the throttle response curve and use it well . . . otherwise it'll come off as "GUTLESS". Have to learn how to best use the equipment!
The Gen 1 3.5L is a great engine. LOTS of high performance items in it, too. With time, the mpg improves on the highway, to more like the Gen 2 3.5L gets when newer. PLUS, I know the 3.5L and 3.3L get basically the same average fuel economy . . . again, from rental car vehicles I rented back then. So, that makes the 3.5 the better choice for power/economy to me. AND, the spark plugs go down into the valve cover like the earlier HEMIs did! One PLUS on the Gen 1 LH cars is the battery is under the hood, rather than behind the lower front fender.
Read the service FAQs on this website, too. They might be a little dated by now, but still have some good information.
Happy shopping!
CBODY67
