1992 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon review from North America

Air conditioner had to be replaced and updated. This was a big nuisance, mainly because the dealer couldn't seem to figure out how to fix it.

Little electric problems with windows, turn signals, panel lights.

Usual maintenance of brakes, tires, etc.

At fifteen years of age, the wood grain trim on the plastic backing was peeling off.

Driver's seat is wearing badly, but the rest of the interior is pristine.

This is one great car. Before we got this one, we had a Chevy Caprice Station Wagon that was very similar. We drove it to nearly 200,000 miles, until the motor needed to be replaced, and decided that we'd buy another big wagon instead, though we really liked the Chevy, too. We knew we wanted one as like it as we could get. We also realized that a very surprising number of these old wagons are still on the road. We see them everywhere as we travel around the country -- and they are often states away from where the licenses indicate their home states are! People obviously trust their old wagons and enjoy traveling in them.

We bought our Buick wagon on E-bay, in New Hampshire, in the middle of the winter, and it has run like a champ. It is comfortable, can carry anything -- like big antique cabinets and whole garage sale merchandise--and holds lots of people or grand kids. The gas mileage is excellent -- we astound people by comparing gas mileage with their vans and other vehicles, and we usually win! We've heard these big wagons referred to as land yachts, and we certainly sail down the highway in ours! We also drive through New England winters in our nice big heavy car. We intend to keep it until it becomes a true classic and go for antique plates -- but keep driving it.

We couldn't replace it with anything on the road today. Our wagon is sleek and trim looking -- everything now produced looks clunky and like an old truck. The electric seat allows it to be driven by my 6 ft., 1 in. husband and by me, at 5 ft. It's easy to get in and out of and to load. The little molded areas on the back sides are great for carrying plants or things you don't want to tip over.

People at rest areas who drive these wagons are beginning to talk to each other about their vehicles. It's like you are automatically friends -- or at least someone with the same good taste! Meeting other wagons on the road often means a wave or a flicking of lights. These wagons have their own fan club going!

The only thing that looked shabby on ours was the wood grain trim on the plastic strips around the wood grain panels -- and that only happened in the last year. We found a company called stripeman.com in Florida who is apparently the only place you can still get the wood grain (GM discontinued it in 2002), and we just put the the new wood grain on. Our wagon looks like new!

Do you suppose Buick would make a 25-year anniversary model just like ours? It's the only thing that would tempt us to buy new. Unless they do, we'll just keep our wagon rolling!