1996 Chevrolet Lumina review from North America

I purchased the Lumina as my first "real" car. I only had about $2,500 to spend and going to a "shady" used car lot was my first mistake. Can ran fine when we looked at it, was recently repainted, and overall was very solid.

After three weeks of driving I noticed the "oil pressure" light would "flicker" at idle. Replaced oil sending unit switch hoping that was the problem. It wasn't and a month and a half later she blew on me while driving home.

Luckily my dad is a mechanic and replaced the engine free of cost, but ever since I got it back it doesn't run as well as it did the first weeks since purchase.

Prior to the engine failure I had to replace the rear struts and gas tank due to a leak. Currently there is a knock coming from the transmission that starts when it gets warm and mostly at idle.

Other than that it's driving OK. Just trying to limp it along till I get enough money to buy my next car.

Overall a very comfortable and good-looking car. If the engine hadn't gone sour it would have been a excellent first car.

Ride is very smooth and interior gauges and switches are simple and easy to use.

I wouldn't buy another used 4 door sedan from Chevy, unless it had under 50k on it and is in good shape.

Although the engine went sour and the car still runs rough, I can't exactly blame GM for this. God knows what the previous owner drove like. It was a bad mistake on my part to buy a car from a used car lot where the highest car price on the lot is $4,500.

If I had to change something about the car I would ditch the bench seats. Although the chicks dig em.