Wagon shopping

Hi all,
I'm shopping for a 91-96 GM wagon for a daily driver.
In terms of reliability, what year model is best?:confused:
Thanks

 

I think they're all pretty reliable, but you'd think that later years would have more kinks worked out.
The 94-96 cars will have the LT1 engine.
And the '96 will be OBD2, if that's important to you.

 

I know the LT1 engine makes more power, can that make it more problematic? more injectors etc...

 

Ps
What's the difference between the LT1 & OBD2?
Does one have a better reputation?

 

The LT1 is the V8 engine they used in the '94 -'96 whale wagons.
Great engine, excellent gas mileage, can go fast. Their downside is the Opti-Spark distributor that's buried behind the water pump. Expensive and a pain to service but not that bad.
The earlier engines are fine but but the mileage and horsepower drops a lot.

The OBD2 is the onboard diagnostics system.
It does a lot more than OBD1, nice to have.

I'd personally go for a '96 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon with the leather interior for my dogs and trailer package for the upgraded cooling and stuff, beautiful cars and they run and drive great, cruise like old Cadillacs on the freeway, have a roof window too.
I want one bad but I'm at my car limit right now. Maybe this year if I sell that blue car in my avatar.
The lower mileage clean ones are expensive but well worth it, a comparable new car isn't around and would cost about 50K if it was.
There are "normal" people (unlike us ) that won't drive SUV's or minivans and need wagons for the room and they're the only thing that fills the bill, a lot of competition for nice ones.
For looks I like the Olds Custom Cruisers, throw an LT1 in one of those and you have the best of both worlds, put a newer LS engine in it and you would have awesome.

 

I'd prefer something more industrial, so I'd go for a '96 Caprice 1A2, which is the designation for a service wagon, with all the police options. They are more rare but I've seen a couple of nice ones come up from time to time. Mostly I like them because they would have a rubber flooring instead of carpet.

Here's one a guy was trying to sell for quite a while:
http://badass-of-ne.forumotion.com/t1043-1995-1a2-caprice-wagon-for-sale-120000-pics-n-price-drop

 

For a daily driver I would take any of them. The 94-96 with the LT1 are super cars but probably a little more costly in maintenance and costlier to buy. If I were you, I would find all the cherries in the respective years and test drive them. Go to car lots that have them and do test drives. Doesn't mean you have to buy there. Everyone likes Roadies but don't discount the Caprice. Same basic wagon without the roof glass etc. I have a 96 Caprice wagon and they are great. For a DD just look in the years that you posted and buy the one you like best. The 91's have the 305 engine, in 92-93 they went to the 350, 94-96 they went to the 350 LT1.

 

All this info is a great help! I do like the OBD2 cause I suck at trouble shooting, and need all the help I can get.
I kinda prefer the Caprice because I think the lines are cleaner with out the roof glass, but finding one with leather interior is rare.
Sooo, I pulled the trigger and got a 96 Roadmaster
I'v been searching for a few weeks, (impulsive I know) and all of your input has helped.
I post a pic or two soon!

 

Congrats, dfar! Yup....post her up here!

 

Wow way to go.
Hey did you know that the Roadmaster seats are a common swap into the Caprice.

 

Yeah, Andy. I would love to get a set of cherry maroon seats for my cappy. Although, the color is off a little. I have the dark maple interior. Forget the name of the earlier cappy and the Roadie red but it's different. I think it would work, though.

 

I kinda figured the seats would swap. But the roof window is a minor concession, compaired to great condition of this Roadmaster. Pics soon

 

well congrats on the buy

had i got here faster... i would have pointed you at the pre-LT1..and pre-digital dash

only because..every person in know with the newer ones...complains about all the gizmo gremlins
and...my 91 Roadkill...ate my buddies 95 Caprice 4 outa 5 light to light races

 

My dash has an anolog spedo and gauges...??

 

OK...here she is, not vintage or rare...maybe my next wagon?
If anyone has a set of 17" Torque Thrust rims they wana let go, let me know!