1986 Pontiac Parisienne Safari Wagon review from North America

Replaced water pump and all belts, front brakes.

Various sub-systems have ceased to function -- air con, vacuum door locks, cruise control, tape deck (radio is fine), rear window is very tired so I only open the tailgate from the side, passenger visor hangs vertically, dash lights have a mind of their own :), passenger seat is stuck all the way back, the window tinting is peeling, the washers come on with the wipers always.

This car seems destined to run forever.

The original owner retired from GM and bought this as his going-away present. He fabricated a custom bed for the cargo area. My father got it in 1991 and used it to haul his sailboat around, then garaged it in 2003. I picked it up in 2005 after my Ford got flooded in Wilma. (I live in Key West FL USA.)

In three years I have put only 6,000 miles on it. I bike to work and walk to the convenience store, and only use it a couple times a week. But when I need to haul paving stones for a new walkway, or a rental floor sander, or lumber for a project -- this car rules! It is so darned practical.

For the first time I feel safe on the Overseas Highway. If any of the new plastic cars hits me, they'll just bounce off. At 45-55 mph the V8 just barely turns over.

It is battleship gray; I have named it the DREADNOUGHT.