Nothing was wrong with the car when I first purchased it. I have owned the car for one year. Since I have had the car I have had the transmission rebuilt, the gas tank replaced (it was leaking), and I have replaced the power steering return hose.
The car is roomy enough to carry the kids, their belongings, and me.
My experience with these cars is that they are very very reliable. It should last you for years to come with the only operating costs being gas and routine maintenance. They're a smooth ride too. Enjoy!
Are these cars any trouble beyond average to keep running? I'm interested in buying one, but am concerned that running costs, despite my love for huge, 18-foot road cruisers, will be too high for me, being a 17-year old looking to buy his first car. The owner is only charging me $250 to buy the car from him, but it's because my family is on very good terms with the owner, and he isn't looking to make a profit. I just need to know if parts and maintenance costs will or will not be too much of a problem, as I plan on investing a great deal of money taking care of and restoring the wagon.
Had one of these in the family growing up. With the plastic 'wood trim' stickers on the side and a chrome roof rack. It looked like the wagon out of National Lampoon's Family Vacation.
Like most of the GM cars of the time, the steering was totally numb and felt 'loose'. That's about the only knock on the car.
It was built up to Taxi standards. All the major parts on it were totally over engineered. Nothing major went out on the car for the entire 10 years we owned it.
I can still remember jumping the thing at like 60mph over railroad tracks. The car would get major air. The thing didn't mind at all. You could drive it over the most terrible potholed roads all day and it didn't mind, you'd get to where you were going and would get out relaxed. Try that in an Accord.
The Olds 98/88/Custom Cruiser and their other GM cousins were the last of the great American cars IMO.
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