1993 Chevrolet Caprice review from North America

This car was previously owned by my father from about 18000 miles to the 85000 where I acquired it. He kept it very well maintained, which is more than I could say for my own treatment of it. With relative abuse, there have been few problems for a high-mileage American boat.

I had a problem with the engine surging and then stalling when I pulled up to a light at about 103000, which was fixed with several hundred dollars of work to the ignition.

She eats tires and brakes, which can partly be blamed on driving style, but also on the sheer physics of starting and stopping a 4200+ lb car.

The heater stopped working at about 111000 on a cold day in Buffalo, NY. Later that night, the car overheated and needed a new water pump (200$).

The nighttime display for the climate control works on it's own accord, which is less often than not, but doesn't really bother me. Cruise control never worked for the longest time only to be resurrected for no apparent reason at about 110000 miles...wierd. Some squeaks and rattles, but generally solid. The original radio was OK, but had two blown speakers and was very old, so I replaced it with an aftermarket system.

As my first car after getting my license, this car is proof that I can love anything. Even mid-sized cars feel like go-carts after driving this beast for a couple of years. The only aspects that stand out as completely exemplary are the room and the ride (massive and magic-carpet-like, respectively). The drive is just completely unique. Off the line, you won't mistake it for anything, but a big engine trying to move more than two tons. I'd much prefer the larger 5.7L V8 but I didn't have a choice in the matter. It's not particularly quick, but not painfully slow either, like many small cars I've driven. Torque is the engine's forte. Any throttle action above 45 mph provokes almost neck snapping acceleration up to about 90 where it starts to lose some grunt due to the weight. Even in speed in excess of 100, the ride is super smooth and the car feels rock solid. Low speed handling is really pretty terrible, as this car exhibits more body lean by far than any other car I've driven. The body flexes unmerciful in 90 degree turns at 20 or so. Regardless, rear wheel drive dynamics leave some room for fun. In rain or snow, the back ends slides haphazardly around in a controlled, but heavy manner. There's also those special situations where I'm gliding at about 30 in the wet, nail the accelerator and enjoy copious wheelspin in motion, cool. Steering is about as vague as a Shakespearean sonnet. There really is no "on-center" feel for it though the car tracks reasonably straight and turns are completely disconnected from the road, so much so that it caused me to label the steering feel and handling of my friend's Kia Sephia "sporty." Even if I want it to be, my baby's no sports car, but all of its characteristics combine oddly for a unique motoring experience. It's unparalleled on the highway for distance cruising in comfort, completely disregarded by law enforcement and has boatloads of personality. Dressed in Metallic Purple Pearl (top notch paint quality), no one in my neighborhood mistakes this car for anyone else's, and though my next car will be something small, sporty and with a manual transmission, there'll be a massive void where the Caprice once stood that will never be properly filled.