Newb on the forum

Hi all!

Family got bigger and I am slowly looking for the right wagon. It will be used mainly for weekends family trips and occasionally in city, although for the city's everyday chores we have smaller car.

I am still not decided yet what wagon to get, from performance point 94-96 seems to be the logical choice, but repairs on 91-93 as I understand will be cheaper.
So opinions would be very welcome.

Interesting thing is that earlier wagons seems to be kept better in my area (I am in Toronto, Canada).

I wanted to thank everybody who posted already technical topics there and in other forums (unfortunately one ofe them went down recently and lot of topics were lost). Those posts are very valuable for newbie like me for understanding what I am about to get into.

Well..welcome!

We are all wagon nuts here and love to share anything we know and learn

I am partial to the LT1 wagons myself....but have owned a '92 RMW and loved it as well. It is all about what you want. The repairs are not too different between the two IMO. But the TBI wagons are pretty easy to work on if you are used to the older style V8s.

Chris

On the LT1 cars, plug wires and power steering pumps are the only repairs I've really not liked compared to the '91-93 cars with the TBI engines. The AC compressor is also a lot more difficult to get to but I've been fortunate there with no issues on my two.

It depends on what deal you get. If you find a 91-93 wagon in great condition for cheap, that might be a better route to go. I'd also say though; if you're going to keep it a long time, step up and buy something nicer. You'll thank yourself a thousand times over.

Oh, and a '92-93 wagon with the 5.7L engine (L05 code on the option sticker) and the 3.23 rear axle (I forget what code this is.. GU something) will have sufficient pep.

Welcome aboard! Where are you located?

With regards to the earlier (91-3) versus later (94-6) decision. I agree with the other posts. You need to buy what you would be most happy with. The LT1 cars really aren't that much more expensive to repair unless you pay someone to do all the work. Parts are only slightly more expensive, except in the case of the Opti which is a lot more expensive but replaced considerably less often.

I've been able to drive just about every engine/rear combination these wagons had. The only one I can say is a bit underpowered is the L03 (5.0L) with a standard rear. But, if power isn't a concern that might be just fine for you.

It really doesn't matter which one you get. They are all great cars. Just depends on how fast you want to go. Having said that, don't buy one locally unless you can verify that it was never driven in the slush (highly unlikely). Spend the extra time and get one up from belkow the Mason DIxon line (southern States). A member here does this for a living (Ruphraxe) out of Waterloo New York. He can find a good clean example of what you want without the rust.

The import procedure is realitively straight forward and if you choose a 94 or older, you can avoid the only real headache (if it is 15 yrs old you don't have to go through the "Registrar of Imported Vehicles"). Will save you 400-500 dollars.

Good luck on your hunt. There's lots of people on here that are more then willing to help.

Bill

convert2diesel wrote:

It really doesn't matter which one you get. They are all great cars. Just depends on how fast you want to go. Having said that, don't buy one locally unless you can verify that it was never driven in the slush (highly unlikely). Spend the extra time and get one up from belkow the Mason DIxon line (southern States). A member here does this for a living (Ruphraxe) out of Waterloo New York. He can find a good clean example of what you want without the rust.

The import procedure is realitively straight forward and if you choose a 94 or older, you can avoid the only real headache (if it is 15 yrs old you don't have to go through the "Registrar of Imported Vehicles"). Will save you 400-500 dollars.

Good luck on your hunt. There's lots of people on here that are more then willing to help.

Bill

or look for a wagon guy in the area that might have some for sale (lt1's only tho tbi's are for kids )

Nick

Guys, thank you all for replies!
Car will be used all year around, less in the winter, but still. Also it will spend most of the time in the driveway and not inn garage which is occupied by another project, unless we get new home with 2 cars garages.
So I doubt that getting a really nice car from the states and putting it to Ontario winters is a really good idea. It will be sad to see the clean car gets killed by rust which will start growing sooner or later despite on any protection I will use.
I guess a best choice for me will be hunt down a nice 94-96 local good maintained wagon.
There are a few on kijij right now.

Even if you are going to subject your car to Hog Town winters, your still better off starting with a southern car. Why start with a problem? The 2 Roadies we brought up from Florida 5 years ago are just now starting to show the effects of a Ottawa winter. A good paint job on each and they will probably last another 5 years.

They are both driven as Dailys, winter and summer, and other then some priliminary stuff I did on the diesel, they haven't been touched. Just weekly washings and a monthly spray at the local DIY car wash. A southern car done with Krown or equivalent should last you till the mechanicals fail to the point of no return.

For the most part, these cars are really good (in comparison with alot of stuff on the road) for surviving as is out of the factory. If you start with one from the south, its like getting one fresh from the factory, except dirtier. Recoat the frame and chassis parts and your good to go.

Bill

phantom 309 wrote:

or look for a wagon guy in the area that might have some for sale (lt1's only tho,. tbi's are for kids )
Nick

HINT

Nick,.... 45 mins north of toronto
being subtle just doesn't work any more does it,.