Faults:
Third gear in the transmission went out at 120,000 miles and the transmission had to be rebuilt; still cheaper than new car payments.
The water pump broke at 100,000 miles.
The on-board computer is fried, but the car still runs well.
The windshield wipers will not turn off and must be disconnected under the hood.
General Comments:
This is a fairly reliable car and built like a tank.
The ride is really smooth. I can hit a pothole and hardly feel it. The interior of the Caprice is huge- it's like your living room on wheels.
The paint on my car has cracked on the top and the hood, but still doesn't look very bad. The chrome bumpers and the chrome spoked hubcaps still shine like new.
This is a cheap car; the insurance payments are almost nonexistent. On average I spend 2 or 3 hundred dollars every 6 months to have it repaired. Anyone can tell you that this is far less than the insurance and payments on a new car.
If all you want from a car is the ability to get from point a to point b cheaply then this is the car for you.
Borrow your friend's Camaro or Mustang if you're going on a date.
When this car does finally does bite the dust I will be looking for another Caprice. Since most have a resale value under $1,000 it will not set you back very much.
This car is a great bargain for a college student who is low on cash and can't afford car payments. If you're a student who is working for little more than minimum wage and would rather save your money instead of spending it all on a new car then you need a Caprice.
2nd Feb 2008, 21:48
The transmision seal will leak on most cars, but once you start to drive it it should seal itself again. I own a 1974 impala and had the same problem. thought you should know.