1991 Chevrolet Lumina Euro 3.1 review from North America

The car required brakes when I first began driving it. The rear brake caliper on the driver's side had began to stick, and wore out the brake pad and rotor. At 173000 miles, this was the first work done on the rear brakes, and the second set of front pads.

I had to put an alternator on the car New Years Day of 1999, it died on the way to a New Years party.

The thermostat bypass line gasket blew out once, which was a distress, because it was in the first week of my ownership.

The cooling system cratered all at once one night. The water pump shelled out, which I believe in turn clogged the radiator, and messed up the thermostat. That was the biggest expense I had in ownership, and that includes a set of 16" tires.

One cold winter day the driver's side outside door handle broke, which is common.

The intake gaskets leaked, but at the time I didn't realize that was the problem. As a GM technician, I now know where the oil was coming from, and I also know that a 3.1 V6 with that many miles was definitely leaking at the intake gaskets.

The Lumina was my first car. I bought it from my aunt and uncle. My uncle purchased it brand new. The only major work my uncle did to the car was an alternator and a water pump.

The car was one of the most comfortable vehicles I have ever driven, and extremely roomy. I spent a lot of miles riding in the backseat of the car before I bought it, and was not cramped. The trunk was very spacious for a coupe.

The engine was plenty powerful. Of course, no car has enough power, but this one could flat out run.

Part of the Euro package was 16" wheels, red trim, and a trunk louver, making it a sharp looking car.

I would definitely like to find another Lumina just like it in the future to bring back the memory of my first car.