Recently, the coolant hoses required replacing.
The rear main seal is leaking and the oil pan drips a significant amount of oil.
Due to the above point, it is burning some oil. It's not severe enough to burn out of the exhaust, but every now and then you can smell a little bit of it.
Heater core was replaced this year (2003) for the second time.
Transmission has been rebuilt once (1999.)
Headliner needs to be replaced once it gets warmer (It's March right now)
After a couple of fender benders, the car is still running perfectly. I've done all the repairs myself.
Stock tire size is 205/75/15 but I've upgraded to 225/70/15 (which is the sport package size.) I would suggest that everyone does this because the car feels MUCH more stable on the road (and the stance is much better.) The 205 tires are far too small for the dimensions of a car like this.
I have a project 350cid engine being built which I will be swapping in so the oil drips will be a thing of the past by then.
The car has gotten about 24 to 25 mpg on the highway and is a GREAT ride for long distances.
I have nothing bad to say about this car really though if it had come with a more powerful engine that would take the cake (though I would still swap it for the one I'm building.)
Oh and I went to the track once in 2001. This means the car was 18 years old with the stock motor and it ran:
17.829 @ 75mph. Not bad for a 3700lb car of its age.
Your Caprice's acceleration data is respectable for world standard in this era. Since your SS1/4times is 17.82sec, with 225-15 sized wider tyres, your acceleration can be 17.2-17.3sec if equipped with original 205-sized tyres. It's as fast as the likes of BMW 728i (184bhp),Mercedes 280SE (185bhp),and Jaguar XJ-6 4.2 (205bhp).
It proves your 305V8 engine's immense and constant torque and power delivery, so she's quite fast for mere 150bhp (112kW) engined full-size automobile (weighing 3700lbs)!
Certainly such full-sized car has long been contempted with cool scorn for wallowy handling, bulky body, and easily fading brakes, but on another side of view, such full-sized auto is very respectable and lovable animal. In fact, several areas over the world as Mexico and Venezuela banned import of automobiles in early 1980s, hence in such countries the local-assembled Chevrolet Caprice was as worth as ton of gold, very precious alternative for Mercedes, BMW, and Jaguar or other first class luxury cars. Her toughness and immense power made her a worthy and reliable transportation for VIPs in such countries.
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