Faults:

This Car is quite reliable, I've had a few problems such as the transmission went at 90000 but I think it was mostly because of the previous owner, he was old and slipped the transmission into reverse a few times while going forward. The car's been in my household for about 11 years. I've acquired it off my dad recently. The engine blew at 130000 my mom drove it to work without oil. She Spun 3 of the bearings in the engine. The paint is chipped and cracked and the headliner is falling down.

General Comments:

I paid a college to rebuild it and it's got a totally rebuilt engine. All the works. Including a chrome oil pan for extra cheesiness. I'm going to install a better headliner, Tint the windows, put a cowl induction hood on it, add some racing stripes and a new paint job. I've bought a sound system consisting of a 600-watt RMS amplifier, two JL W3v2's 12-inch subs, Cerwin Vega midrange speakers and an eclipse CD player. I'm also about to acquire a 350 C.I. engine Block that I'm planning to soup up. I was impressed when I went downstate and saw a 1982 Malibu wagon that could pop wheelies and it had a 409 C.I. engine in it. So the car does have potential and I LOVE to looks.

Faults:

At 250,000 miles, the car leaked fluid from every source that held fluid. The rear main seal and transmission seals leaked the worst. The car has almost 400,000 miles on the original drive-train now and it just keeps on ticking. The rings and valves need to be reworked since it smokes a little, but the engine still purrs like a kitten.

The only real problem that I had with the car was the electronic 2 barrel carburetor. A recent overhaul of the carburetor smoothed the engine out, but it still isn't completely right.

General Comments:

I wouldn't be afraid to take this car across country, even with 400,000 miles on it.

Other than rust in the fender wells, the car is solid after 20+ years.

It would be hard to beat the dependability of this Malibu.

Just wish the rear door windows had the ability to roll down.

Faults:

The engine blew in 1991. Had to get rid of it. Otherwise, the backup lights would sometimes work and I hit a tree while driving in the snow. Nice dent on the passenger front fender. Still driveable, if the old 2.8 didn't blow.

General Comments:

The car was reliable all around! I loved that thing and I want to find another 1982 Classic. I loved the back windows (the way only the rear potion opened!)