More on daily driver
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 35
More on daily driver
I have 2 but I need to pick one. Opinions from an impartial, independent source?
1) 93 Chevy Caprice wagon
The good: towing package, 3.23 rear, lots of space, 5.7L engine has 100K, body has 160K miles. Not hard to work on. Overdrive but I wonder if tranny will have to be replaced when it hits closer to 200K miles.
The bad: 2 ugly deer dents. Probably runs 18-20mpg at best. Engine will need head gasket replaced eventually.
2) 92 Subaru Loyale station wagon.
The good: New tranny, engine has 100K on it. 29mpg. Lots of other parts. Working on it is not hard, and far easier than on newer Japanese cars. Don't expect to mess with the tranny ever again.
The bad: The biggest annoyance is no cruise control. It is an econobox, build cheaply. Engine prone to cracking heads if overheating or even if not. No overdrive.
I am torn, because I used caprice as my daily driver but lately mileage has dropped to 17 and I replaced everything pertaining to tune-up stuff and I think it is finally right so it might get about 20.
Subaru is cheaper, lighther and far more fuel efficient. Truly, I don't really need Caprice anymore but I've always liked it and it feels like twice the car.
1) 93 Chevy Caprice wagon
The good: towing package, 3.23 rear, lots of space, 5.7L engine has 100K, body has 160K miles. Not hard to work on. Overdrive but I wonder if tranny will have to be replaced when it hits closer to 200K miles.
The bad: 2 ugly deer dents. Probably runs 18-20mpg at best. Engine will need head gasket replaced eventually.
2) 92 Subaru Loyale station wagon.
The good: New tranny, engine has 100K on it. 29mpg. Lots of other parts. Working on it is not hard, and far easier than on newer Japanese cars. Don't expect to mess with the tranny ever again.
The bad: The biggest annoyance is no cruise control. It is an econobox, build cheaply. Engine prone to cracking heads if overheating or even if not. No overdrive.
I am torn, because I used caprice as my daily driver but lately mileage has dropped to 17 and I replaced everything pertaining to tune-up stuff and I think it is finally right so it might get about 20.
Subaru is cheaper, lighther and far more fuel efficient. Truly, I don't really need Caprice anymore but I've always liked it and it feels like twice the car.
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Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Southern California
Difficult choice, but for me I'd consider how far I had to commute to work and if the difference in fuel economy was a big issue. Also I'd consider the weather and road conditions. You said the Caprice had two 'deer dents'. Sounds like you are in the northeast. So I'd consider the occupant survivability of the two vehicles if you hit a deer or skid on a patch of ice and spin off the road or into the path of a plow.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2003
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To complicate things further, someone gave me a Ford/Mercury Topaz. Old car with many, many new parts. Which means I have 3 daily drivers on top of my F250 of course. So I am trying to narrow it down to 2, but I am keeping the Topaz because its resale value is so low I will never get anything out of it. And, it is almost the same year as my F250, and has the same EEC-IV.
It does get 30 mpg, therefore, the only other question is, if I should keep the V8 station wagon or the 1.8L station wagon. A family member gets the other one. Both have weak spots. Both have no rust and can last until let's say 250K miles (with many little repairs).
It does get 30 mpg, therefore, the only other question is, if I should keep the V8 station wagon or the 1.8L station wagon. A family member gets the other one. Both have weak spots. Both have no rust and can last until let's say 250K miles (with many little repairs).
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Near Wamego KS
I would keep the Caprice, imagine what would be left of the little Subaru if you had hit two deer with it (I guarentee you'll hit another before long). The little Jap engine can get awfully expensive to repair as it keeps getting older and you get closer to that cracked head you talked about. Any decent shade tree Bubba mechanic will keep the GM engine running but run you off with a shotgun if you show up in a Subaru. If you want fuel mileage drive the Topaz occassionally.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2003
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I am still thinking... my caprice wouldn't mean anything to my family member, but to me it means more. I decided to find a donor parts car and cheaply replace the panels which have been deer damaged.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Black Hills of SD
I would have to say the caprice except for the fact that they are pretty ugly and look like something that was made to haul dead people. I have had a bunch of beater Subarus and I always liked them, usually 4x4 wagons. Cheap junky but dependable and disposable. The topaz would be the first to go even if I had to donate it to charity. The Subby heads are trouble prone but used engines are cheap. And most places I have lived had someone who kindof specialized in them.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Atlanta GA
> 2 ugly deer dents
Consider the dents in each vehicle if you hit a deer or worse a moose at 45 mph. If I had the choice it would be a four door Crown Vic, otherwise the Caprice since it will probably fit a 4x8 sheet of plywood. Your bad mileage is most likely from a clogged converter and soon it will feel like the transmission is slipping. Time for replacement. The Caprice station wagon is probably very cheap to insure.
Consider the dents in each vehicle if you hit a deer or worse a moose at 45 mph. If I had the choice it would be a four door Crown Vic, otherwise the Caprice since it will probably fit a 4x8 sheet of plywood. Your bad mileage is most likely from a clogged converter and soon it will feel like the transmission is slipping. Time for replacement. The Caprice station wagon is probably very cheap to insure.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2003
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They are both high-miles vehicles, Caprice has 160K on drivetain (except engine); Subaru has 180K on the drivetrain (except engine and transmission)
4x8 boards can almost fit into the Caprice wagon, but the tailgate does not close. It is irrelevant because I have truck for that matter.
4x8 boards can almost fit into the Caprice wagon, but the tailgate does not close. It is irrelevant because I have truck for that matter.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,209
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From: Black Hills of SD
Any car that is low is an invitation to decapitation if you hit a moose. I have saw the roof peeled off a crown vic that hit a moose. There wasn't hardly a scratch on the car below the windows. Both people died. They don't come over the hood of most 4x4 pickups.
A good friend of mine and his wife both commute in beater subaru wagons. Last winter the wife had a moose run right in front of her and then just slip on the slick road and fall down. She just bounced over him and caught some pretty good air. It killed the moose. Most subaru/moose encounters aren't that lucky.
A good friend of mine and his wife both commute in beater subaru wagons. Last winter the wife had a moose run right in front of her and then just slip on the slick road and fall down. She just bounced over him and caught some pretty good air. It killed the moose. Most subaru/moose encounters aren't that lucky.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,067
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From: Fairbanks Alaska
Subaru's bother me. At least the older ones. They crunch like a soda can. Look uglier than anything I have seen. Wait, except for that Honda Element. And most of all, there a tree hugger car. I know its a stereotype but I still don't like them.
I vote for the Caprice.
I vote for the Caprice.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Black Hills of SD
13honda, in the Matsu valley rusted out subbys are almost a cult car. We call them Matsubaru's. The older ones are all mostly rusted away now, but those old pushrod motors were easy to work on and tough as nails. I never liked to get out on the highway with one much but they got around good in the winter and were great for bombing around the community. When I worked in Wasilla, I usually drove my F-250 in the winter. I like a little more iron around me in the winter time.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Fairbanks Alaska
That sounds about the same as Juneau. My girl is from there. I just went there the 1st of this month. Lots of Subarus there.
As you already know I grew up in Los Anchorage (willowbilly3 will get this) so my view is slanted towards then due to the fact that a lot of greenies drive them and I've dealt with those people more than I ever cared too.
You can call me 13 if you like also.
As you already know I grew up in Los Anchorage (willowbilly3 will get this) so my view is slanted towards then due to the fact that a lot of greenies drive them and I've dealt with those people more than I ever cared too.
You can call me 13 if you like also.
Last edited by 13hondacr250; Sep 27, 2003 at 04:28 AM.