1987 Chevrolet Caprice Estate review from North America
"I'll always have a Caprice Estate, they are great for everything"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The cruise control doesn't work.
The wipers only shut off if you shut the car off.
It leaks/uses oil, not sure which, maybe both.
The headliner is indoor/outdoor carpeting.
Power seats just stopped working earlier this week.
Power window on passenger side rolls down, but not up from driver's side control.
Power locks require much effort to use.
Mirrors do not adjust (vandalized).
Exhaust snapped when pulling into a parking lot. I bottomed out, fixed with a tin can.
Rear air-shocks were shot, replaced for cheap.
General comments?
I love this car. All the problems are simple little fixes I can take care of at my leisure. I can haul parts, plywood, or 8 people, with the rear-facing seat.
It is a classic looking car, earth tone paint job, cloth interior, wood paneling, nice chrome trim, and the classic luggage rack. Perfect symbol of Americana.
Parts are cheap and readily available, Caprices were abundant in their day and all the GM small block parts are interchangeable for the most part, making these babies easy to work on.
If I could find another one, I'd buy another one. It floats down the road. It's geared very low, with a 200 r4 trans. It is fine if you don't want to go fast, and is great in the snow and slop.
If you have a chance for a Caprice Estate, or any vintage GM wagon, take the chance. This beautiful big wagons are getting rarer and rarer, but are more dependable then most of what is being built today.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1987 |
| Year of manufacture | 1987 |
| First year of ownership | 2008 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Engine and transmission | 307 Olds Automatic |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 10 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 9 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 132000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 133800 miles |
| Previous car | Ford Crown Victoria |
| Date of Entry | 6th January, 2009 |