Faults:

The car is 31 years old and has truly been a great car. Very few cars even last 31 years.

A few power windows over that past 31 years.

Transmission leak at the front seal.

Engine rebuilt in 2000 (the car was 19 years old) at 75,000-miles. Not unusual for this new "Diesel" technology that GM rushed to market in the late 70's (oil leaks - low compression, coolant leaks, getting harder to start), but the engine never actually gave out.

Rebuilt engine has head studs, solid copper head gaskets, and a beefed up mains. I added a water separator as well.

Injection pump rebuilt in 2000 also. Was leaking a small amount of diesel fuel due to old seals.

Glow plug system converted to push button activation with all new glow plugs several times over 31 years.

2 alternators in 31 years.

4 or 5 water pumps in 31 years.

1 fuel pump - I converted it to electric in 2000.

I drove this car to work for 20 years. Just down the road. It always started (no matter how cold) and never had to be towed once.

General Comments:

The car has been great. It can get up to 33 MPG on the highway at 55mph if driven like a Granny.

In town with the A/C on - it will get 17 MPG or more. By the way, the A/C is still 100% original with a minor leak - 1 pound of Freon per summer.

The old car drives so smooth and the cloth pillow top seats are amazingly comfortable. The car is by far more comfortable than any car built in the past 20 years.

The diesel engine is a bit loud, but these cars have become so rare, that at gas stations people always walk up to talk about the car, once they hear the diesel clatter.

The power steering is so easy to turn, and the car drives like a real boat. The ride almost makes you feel like you are on water, as you can feel no road bumps whatsoever.

The car is probably not up to speed in today's fast paced "rat race" world, but it is sure nice to drive on a Sunday.

It is a great car from a past time in automotive history in the United States.

By today's standards the car is under-powered, but we have to remember why the car was built during the energy crisis, the car was built for MPG - not horse power. Jimmy Carter was still in the White House when this car was being built.

I still enjoy driving the car, and will never sell it. I love the smell of the diesel exhaust along with the sounds.

Faults:

Speedometer cable broke at around 191K.

Oil pan starting to leak.

A/C compressor replaced and recharged/retrofitted to R134 coolant after original system finally failed in 2005.

Water pump at 212,000 miles.

Replaced all 4 ball joints; the only thing on this car that I think is truly hard to work on.

Paint is starting to crack and fade after nearly 30 years in the desert southwest.

Rebuilt carburetor in 2006 due to rough idle at startup or in cold weather. The gaskets were old and cracking, and the choke was sticking and needed a good cleaning.

Replaced both valve cover and head gaskets around 200K miles. They weren't bad yet, but usually around this age/mileage is when most cars of this vintage start to really lose oil control.

Replaced rear main seal last week, and timing chain as a precaution.

Replaced both u-joints at 210K. One cracked one day at 70 MPH, and I felt like I was in a jackhammer on wheels. This is the only time this car came even close to stranding me. I was able to limp the car at 30MPH to a repair shop.

Replaced exhaust from the catalyst to the rear at v213K.

Front passenger power window motor failed at 215K, replaced with one from a junkyard for $10. Left rear window motor is deathly slow and probably headed in the same direction.

I installed stiffer coil springs and firmer shocks last year to help get away from the bouncy/boaty ride a bit. The car handles and corners much better now.

General Comments:

I inherited this old GM giant from my grandparents after he died and she was moved to assisted living in 2002. Like most younger people, I had no interest in keeping or driving an "old man's car" or a "land yacht", but like most of the reviews I read on here, it didn't take me more than two weeks to fall in love.

The car is black with black vinyl top, and red velour interior. Sitting in this car it's hard to tell it's almost 28 years old. GM knew a thing or two about fit and finish back then. Time has taken a bit of a toll on the paint, but no rust in sight. My grandparents purchased this car new in the spring of 1981, and ironically I was with them at the time for some reason. I was about 5 years old and was fascinated by the new Delco electronic tuned radio and cassette player; it was the first time I had seen one up close. Grandpa let me play with it and I found a station that was playing REO speedwagon's "I'm gonna keep on loving you." This song mysteriously came on that same Delco radio in 2005 just a few minutes after breaking 200,000 miles.

This car has survived two trips from South Dakota to Georgia and three from South Dakota to Arizona. It has no problem achieving close to 22 MPG at 75 MPH on the highway, sometimes higher, sometimes lower depending on road and weather conditions. I use cheap 87 Octane gas and cheap oil from Wal-Mart, and never a hint of trouble. No oil usage, no blow-by.

Before anyone accuses me of driving a gas guzzler, you had better look at all the yuppies driving full size SUV's down the road at 75MPH and 14 MPG. My cruising range is anywhere from 320 to 510 miles with my 25 gallon fuel tank, assuming I add 21 gallons at each fill-up.

It's no drag racer, and a bit of a slug from a dead stop if you really want power. But mid RPM and high speed cruising is where the engine and gearbox shine. Its tall 2.56 gears are meant for fuel economy, and it has no problem keeping up with any modern car in the hills and mountains. Even when climbing through the Rocky mountains, I've only had the coolant temp gauge touch 200 degrees a few times, usually on a hot day with the A/C blasting. It's so smooth and quiet sometimes I rev it when at a stoplight or roll down the window to make sure it's still running.

Next summer I plan on having the car professionally repainted and re-rustproofed. The car has never touched a salty road and I plan on keeping it that way.

Faults:

Alternator.

A/C compressor.

P/W rear.

Door handle broke passenger side.

General Comments:

Purchased for $300 as a third car for a spare. Now we drive it as #1 car.

Interior in excelent shape for the age.

Handles very well.

Gets excelent mileage for such a huge car, 24 m.p.g. Hi way.

Closest I'm ever going to get to a Cadillac.

We are planing on a new paint job, and keeping it as a classic!