Faults:

Engine replaced at 40k miles, because previous owner stuffed it in a storage and forgot about it.

Carb was rebuilt (and still acts up if not fully warmed up)

New paint job.

General Comments:

This is a great car, it has served me well and even provided me a place to sleep on some dark and foggy nights.

It doesn't have the greatest handling, but it gets the job done.

The power of the engine is a head rush every time you step on the gas.

Faults:

Mirror on driver's door broken inside unit. Heater not working since purchase.

General Comments:

Best car I've owned so far, a true high-quality GM!!! It's not only a terrific and reliable running car, the jet smooth 350 isn't cheap on gas, but makes up the cost on excellent dependability!

Suspension isn't too soft like a Cadillac, but would certainly please the Queen if she rode in this top-of-the-line Caprice Classic!

Mechanically it is a marvel with all it's anti-pollution hardware. Regardless, with prpper upkeep the car doesn't leak any oil, and no work is required on the brakes, transmission, or any other component on this my Caprice.

All she needs is a fresh new two tone paint job, and a new stereo, and it'll be the perfect cruiser~! Chevrolet... A-ok!

Faults:

The usual... gas tank, radiator, brakes, rotors, turn signal spring, tie rods/center link, shocks.

General Comments:

I also owned a 78, bought it from my dad with 196k on it. It was totaled when I had my temps at 16. That was at about 185k on it. Sold it still running good at 238k. Original Engine and trans, carbuerator and valve gaskets were never touched, body was still in decent shape for Wisconsin, but finally the frame was getting really rusty on the rear end and I stuck my finger through it under the trunk. Decided college was just about over, and upgraded to a 91 caprice. Boy, how I wish I had the 78 back. Never complained about the gas mileage for this beast. I averaged about 12-14, which meant never more than 270 on a tank! Only left me stranded 2x in 5 years. 1 of them was a flat tire, the other was a leaky gas tank. Just fed it oil (burned about 1 qt/2000 miles, same as the 91 with 70k on it). Other than the ugly green color, it was really a good car.

Faults:

General Maintenence i.e.: Tires, Brakes and regular oil changes.

General Comments:

I bought this car in 99 from a little old lady who used to drive it back and forth to church on Sundays, and bingo on Wednesday nights. It has a V8 350 and a 4 bbl Quadrajet in it. I'm not quite sure what she needed that much power for.

In December of that same year a drunk driver plowed head first into me. If I were in any other car I would have been killed. To show my appreciation I rebuilt the car from the ground up, and gave it a top of the line paint job.

It still has all of its original components. (Engine and Transmission)

It even survived going from the Roanoke Valley up to the Mile High city for a year and a half and back down again.

I would always trust my life in a Caprice. My wife has a 95. My sister has an 84. My mother had an 80 with over 400,000 miles on it, and my grandmother has a 95.

Faults:

New radiator at 170000 KM.

Original starter failed at 190000 KM.

Both front brake hoses and calipers at 197000 KM.

Alternator belt let go at 199000 KM.

Routine maintenance (brakes, tires, tune-ups etc. don't count).

Non-functional air conditioning (no freon in the system).

General Comments:

1978 Chevrolet Caprice Classic 4-door sedan:

This car does not get the best fuel economy (16-17 MPG city, 22-24 MPG highway) but I feel that its excellent reliability more than makes up for it.

This car still has its original ball joints, tie rod ends, brake drums and rotors (new shoes and pads though), and of course, the original 350-4 barrel V8 and 3-speed automatic transmission; evidence of good care on the part of the previous owner.

The car has its original white paint, and green velour-like interior (though the right front fender was poorly repainted after a minor scrape-up).

Major options are: power windows and locks, in-glass antenna, tilt steering, and air conditioning (non-functional when I bought the car, and haven't bothered fixing it). It has an after-market stereo radio cassette player.

And of course, the 350 V8-4 barrel.

This car is easy (and cheap) to get parts for, and is easy to work on, if you do your own mechanics (cheap if you take it to a mechanic).

The car is quiet on the road, and comfortable for long trips and it handles reasonably well for a 3800-pound car. Despite its size, it is fairly easy to park in close quarters. The performance is pretty good for an emissions-choked 350 V8, with brisk but not quite neck-snapping acceleration. The brakes do a fairly good job of stopping the car, but in panic stops, it can try to skid to one side, if one were to lock up all the wheels. Good accident avoidance ability, though (I should know, I had to do it a couple times!)

The only modification I made was to add a rear anti-sway bar to the rear suspension to smarten up the handling a bit. I would also consider trashing the single (restrictive) exhaust system and go to a dual (freer flowing) system. The tires on it now, 215/75/R15, are adequate, but one size wider, 225/70/R15, for example, would aid in hard-cornering maneuvers.

I am satisfied with this car in general, and except for the fuel economy issue, would be THE ideal family car.

Now, if only I can find a '78 Caprice in that nice 2-door body style...