The Dark Side of the Force

[HLandin]

Well, it looks light forum member HLandin has been persuaded to join the dark side of the force. Like Skywalker, I feel anger, contempt, hate while I know I should feel glad to have escaped my latest incident unscathed. "I'm not the Jedi I should be."

I think I might just call an end to my endevores to keep buying Caprices. Everyone I've bought is taken away from me by other people's bad driving. I have fear (the path of the darkside) that if I buy another one, I will only loose that one too. Both times my dreams have been killed.

So, if I do buy another car, I probably will buy just a new car (due to warranty), just a plain old car like everyone else. Just my experiences have turned me into a cynical person.

[kahjdh]

No way, with your luck you will only be able to survive a wreck in a full frame car. I would look for a 96 and maybe even an impala before i give up.

[bobss396]

I've totalled out 2 Caprice wagons between 1990 and 1997. Both times due to someone running into me. I was slightly hurt in the 1997 one, but would have been dead meat if I was driving something smaller.

Bob

[HLandin]

Maybe I was a little premature. I was just venting some steam. My new plan is to buy back the Caprice (only $100 less than if I give it to them totaled), and sell it to High Performance Motors (a police car dealership) for parts. I imagine they will give about $500-$600+ for the car (engine, tranny, accessories, and certain body parts should still be good). But I think it will take more to fix this one than to go by this plan and buy another one with the money. The one thing I'm hung up on is whether I want to get another '90 9c1 or a later model ('95 or '96). Here are the pros and cons as I see them:

90 Caprice 9c1
-parts less expensive than later years (I think)
-less sophisticated engine and powertrain (L05 vs. LT1 and 4L60 vs. 4L60E)
-cost less than newer model
-blue-book value less than later model
-probably has more miles (although not necessarily)
-I like boxy body more
-Onboard Diagnostics 1 (less expensive to diagnose than OBD II)

95 or 96 Caprice 9c1
-more powerful engine (LT1 vs. L05) and more advance transmission (4L60E vs. 4L60)
-more expensive parts (at least engine and transmission)
-more reliable water pump (gear driven after '91 model)
-higher blue-book value
-less milage (probably) and less years
-Opti-Spark Ignition (some people have had problems, others have not)
-Onboard Diagnostics II on 96 model (more expensive to diagnose than OBD I)
-Dexcool Anti-freeze on 96 model (some people have had problems with it gumming up, others have not)
-Most powerful year of 9c1 Caprice ('96 model)
-More fuel-efficient than L05
-I like bathtub Caprice, but not as much as boxy

Everyone, feel free to chime in.

[silicon212]

Let's see if this helps you make up your mind.











Did that help?

[1986Z28]

whoa silicon thats awesome

[silicon212]

It's the same car that I dispatched a certain 1990 Honda Accord with too, on a balmy March night in 2003. Oh, and the dash top has no cracks in it, either!

[HLandin]

Damn, I've got a boner already. Only thing I did not like was the interior color (I'm more a fan of dark blue/dark safire instead of sherrif light brown), but that is personal preference. Love the good condition of car and the addition of the computer unit. If that was my car, the only thing I would be missing is my CB unit.

That Caprice 9c1 rocks.

[PeteA216]

Personally I would love the 9C1 Caprice, but I really the class and elegance of the regular civillian Caprices. My dream would be a Caprice from anywhere between 81 to 85, dressed up real nice with all the chrome trim, opera lights (if I could ever find the damn things), power everything, but have something amazing under the hood and a beefed up suspension and tranny. Of course this is only wishful thinking, and my own personal preference. But I agree with HLandin with how the boxy style Caprices are much more appealing that the newer "tub" or "bubble" style. But again, thats just my opinion.

[silicon212]

Pete, it won't be an '85, but there were versions of the 9C1 Caprice that had the accoutriments of the civvie Caprice - full luxury interior etc. The difference is under the hood and in the powertrain. These were used as unmarked vehicles to blend totally in, some even having the standard speedometer, and in '86 and '87 were also available in a 2-door config. They're still 9C1s, two doors included.

Unfortunately for your desired model years, the 9C1 option was not available on the Caprice, it was the Impala.

[PeteA216]

Figures, well like I said, its only wishful thinking. I am wondering one thing... the running lights in the front bumper, I noticed some caprices have amber colored ones instead of clear ones with amber lenses as in this caprice. What year were those used? I kind of like the amber color.

[silicon212]

Looks to me as though that's used on some export models for certain countries ... I've noticed that all of the amber-lensed ones are not in North America.

[PeteA216]

Thats really interesting. I wonder why that is. Is that the same situation with the opera lights?

[silicon212]

I would probably think it has to do with lighting laws in the countries those cars were exported to. It could also include the opera lights, but those were only used on the Brougham LS cars anyways.

[PeteA216]

Would they fit on a standard Caprice Classic 4 door sedan?