Faults:
First day I drove it home the service engine soon light came on due to an EGR problem.
Stereo is a delco bose, but the factory amplifier is bad so the volume was quite low.
Put new brakes on and had the rotors turned.
Replaced leaky water pump (very easy on the Chevy v8's).
Transmission makes a buzzing noise; no problems yet however (transmission is GM model 700R4).
Car got totaled by a drunk teenage driver who ran a flashing red light and hit me in the quarter panel. To my surprise the car was able to be fixed at a cost of $4218, thank god she had insurance.
After the accident however the car rapidly goes through brakes (one set every 6000 miles or so). Also began to consume oil and the engine makes a tapping noise after cold starts, also it detonates.
General Comments:
Despite the car being quite large, it has great acceleration from the 305. It hits 0-60 in about 8-9 seconds, not bad for a 4000 pounder. It also outruns many so called sports cars. You know the ones with the 6 cylinders, import or domestic.
The handling is terrible, it feels like you're driving a large wallowing boat with pancake syrup in the steering wheel. The suspension is way too soft causing the car to float too much. My 87 Cadillac Brougham handles much better than this.
The leather seats are fairly comfortable, but I prefer soft seats. The front seats are firm and the back seats are soft.
Car has just about every option available that year. Power everything including seats and antenna, twilight sentinel (lights turn off and on by themselves), cruise control, tilt steering, heated mirrors, digital rearview mirror compass, remote keyless entry and trunk release, fluid monitors, bose stereo, and many more options not normally found on Chevy's.
I'm disappointed about the fact that the engine uses oil, detonates, makes a tapping noise on cold starts, and goes through brakes like a baby does diapers. I don't feel all this was due to the accident as the car got hit in the rear quarter panel. Although the car did do a 180 degree turn and stall when it was hit so it is a possibility the engine problems could be due to the accident, how I don't know, but the transmission was making the buzzing noise before the accident and I did have to put on two sets of brakes before the accident.
This is my second large GM car, my first was an 87 Cadillac Brougham, that review is also posted. Although the Caprice is much faster, the Cadillac has much better build quality. This car has rattles in the dashboard at 66,000 miles, the Cadillac didn't get those problems until 170,000 miles!
As I stated earlier, these cars are quick and I can see why they were popular with the law enforcement departments. However, don't expect the best build quality from Chevy. Reliability is great though, and repairs are simple. Gas mileage is also good for this kind of car. It averages about 18-22 mpg depending on how it's driven.
I'll be getting rid of this car within the next couple of years. My next car will be the 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood; the last of the big bodies.
7th Nov 2004, 04:38
I love the shrouded rear wheel opening, in fact I've added after market fender skirts to mine, makes it low and sleek.