I can't stand scotty's voice. He kind of reminds me of donze52, but they sound nothing alike. I love listening to donze's stories, but Scotty is just so grating I haven't watched a single one of his vids all the way through, no matter how badly I wanted the information in the video.
Because a mechanic isn’t getting paid to work on his (or her) own car. The more time they have to spend repairing their own car, the more they deprive themselves of an income. And which mechanic likes to spend their downtime working on another car, instead of enjoying their weekend time off work?
My dad was a mechanic, had his own shop. We always had the worst cars, and he would laugh and talk about how great they were. And I would still make myself small in the seat as he dropped me off at the high school. Watching this video, I am reminded of my dad, who passed in 2005, at 81. He worked on equipment his entire life, born into a farm family, he was more enamored with the equipment side, repaired planes in WWII and Korean Conflict, cars for 50 years.
My dad was also a mechanic, and retired a few years ago. "Starts, runs, goes, stops" were the sole qualifications for most cars we've ever owned and I always had a reliable but ugly beater available as a cheap hand-me-down or a loaner.
My dad wasn't a mechanic, but he was in the Army and would get a nice car or van for my mom and drive something more practical and fully depreciated for himself. One time he bought an old, brown 2 door Chrysler Cordoba for $500. My sister made him drop her off down the street from the high school. He sold that boat/bomber for $500 3 years later and never had to put a dime into it besides oil and filter changes. Those huge side doors were something though. You had to slightly lift them to get them shut and the passenger door would randomly fly open on left turns. LOL.
But maybe a bit too happy and energetic when changing Hoovie's AMG transmission fluid with the Wizard... He's being very methodical now with the "Porsche" Spyder !
@@steinbauge4591 car was a daily driver for 20 years in upstate new york, they all rust out up there eventually, it was repaired and patched many times over the years, the frame cracking at the rear control arm mounts finally did it in.
@@BigBing1987 They don't last forever but lanoline (FluidFilm in the US) is quite unbelievable. it saved my Ford Escort 1977 from major welding - just stopped the rust cold. Can be used on surface rust, goes into the pores of the steel - saves a ton of work as all the rust does not need to be removed.
They’re called Grandma Cars because Grandmas can and do work on them! And because each one can fit five grandmas, as they drive to bingo, pot-lucks, and gang meetings.
Through high school I drove a '92 Buick Roadmaster, but it was a wagon version with the fake wood siding. It was an absolute beast. The V8 roared like a wild animal, it could drift around corners or long sweeping turns with ease, and if anything went wrong with it my dad and I would spend a Saturday afternoon fixing it with just a google search for the manual and a trip to the local auto shop to buy the readily available parts. I miss that car more and more as I get older.
I understand this philosophy perfectly. I have worked in IT for 18 years now and I apply the same thought process to my technology at home. I have mostly older, reliable tech and things I've built myself. I don't want to spend the weekend fixing broken shit!
As a good friend of mine (Ford mechanic) once told me: "After you work on everyone else's junk all day, the last thing you want to do is go home and work on your own junk."
True it took me 2 weeks to fix my water pump leak on my own truck. I'd come home and pull a couple bolts and say F this and went back inside. It only takes a couple hours to do just no motivation after doing it all day
@@theconsigliere8463 Mechanics make enough money to send it to someone else to work on. Nobody wants to work on their days off or even after work. Especially doing the same shit you do at work unless you're a porn star. 😂
@@ebogar42 what mechanic is making enough to throw it away paying someone else to work on their car? It would make more sense for me to take a day of work to fix my car rather than work 4 days to earn the money to pay for one days labor somewhere else.
I bought a 92 Roadmaster after seeing this video and now I'm getting a 94! Excellent car I love the Roadmasters!! Thanks for the advice CAR WIZARD! I PLAN ON HAVING AN ENTIRE FLEET OF THESE THEYRE SO GREAT
I just talked about it with my mechanic from BMW workshop. He drives an old toyota camry V6. I asked him why he doesn't drive a BMW since he has a BMW workshop. He said: "I repair BMW cars 12 hours a day, so I'd rather go somewhere after work than repair my own BMW" ;)
Cause he’s dumb and doesn’t buy the right bmw. I’m a bmw mechanic and drive an e39 530. Car has 200k and doesn’t skip a beat. No lights. Passes inspection every year. Never quits.
@@michaelric3540 yes until it doesn’t. Sure there’s some examples of bmw’s lasting to 300k but do you not remember the million mile Tacoma? Even Toyota wanted to know wtf they did so right there. They over engineer basically every car they put out you just can’t say they don’t run forever when you take care of them.
@@keithbroh5730 bmw did a test and it found that with regular service intervals their engines would last 1,000,000 miles plus with no major engine wear, intact cylinder hones, and virtually no camshaft wear. It’s all about maintenance.
And after a hard 12 hour day....you get into your armchair-on-wheels and waft home 😊 I wish those were any use in the UK, but our narrow roads and ridiculous fuel prices make them unusable
But that doesn't explain why The Wizard has owned more cars than toothbrushes. Dozens. And not for very good reasons. Buying and selling depreciating assets is never smart.
@@BSGSV That is true but its different for a mechanic. They buy cheap because something is broke, fix it and sell for a profit. Whole different scenario vs the common person. For the average person, cars are a terrible investment, actually not an investment at all. There are rare occasions that you make money and not know it. Like my Father, we have a 1960 bug in our Family. Been in the family since 1963 my Grandfather paid $600 for it. It was just appraised by Hagerty for $30k. So there are exemptions to the rule, but its not a "common" rule. Mechanics can flip cars by use of their trade.
@@James-oo1yq You can still do the same here...Ford Focus, VW Golf/B5 Passat, Skoda Superb etc that aren't that old aren't worth much and are very comfortable. I know our fuel prices are much more, but I've got a MK4 Golf diesel and in 35k miles all I've had go wrong is a seized brake caliper which can happen on anything. It's comfortable, friends that use it say it's really comfortable (although it does really need 4 new shock absorbers)..the seats are much softer than most of the new cars that I've sat in. As I say, 35k miles aside from servicing it's also had its timing belt change, the caliper I've mentioned...Oh and a brake switch failed (by the brake pedal inside the car, that put on a check engine light and I had no working brake lights...Cost £13 new from VW and took me 20 mins after I found a TH-cam vid). You can do it, people here in the UK tend to get rid of cars after 10-15yrs, so if you're careful, not fussy, don't mind driving a manual etc you can get a good car for under £1K and run for 3-4yrs without any major problems. If you want cheap look at a 10-15yr old Ford Fiesta (even Peugeot 206/207) with the 1.4HDi diesel.. great on fuel, cheap to buy, cheap to insure, £30 tax. Okay no comfortable barge but its still cheap motoring. Don't like that look at what I've mentioned before, look at Skoda and Seat. Want to go old luxury..Lexus. LS400? but then bad MPG, tax and I'd imagine more expensive insurance. There's loads of 10-15yr old luxury cars for sale here because nobody wants them as they're complicated and expensive as they age.
Dad had a 79 Pontiac Catalina. He worked at the steel mill, so he wanted a cheap beater that he didn't mind getting dirty, etc. That car lasted a long, long time.
@@kennethclifford1863 Same reason I left the IT field. The hardware and software were both interesting, like I always had a puzzle to put together or a mystery to solve. The people, however, were almost always rude and most often were the cause of device/software failures and blamed everything (including me) but themselves. Many trades would be much more pleasant if the direct dealing of customers was eliminated.
Said someone who understands the mind of mechanics everywhere. And the newer cars get, the more "un-fun" doing this kind of work becomes. I've gotten to where most days I honestly hate it. But, I can't imagine being tied down to a desk all day either...
@@AdamIsUrqed I bring my MX5 to a small specialist shop run by a father and his son. They only do MX5/Miata and they enjoy their customers. I and many others drive two or three hours to their shop which is half way across the Netherlands.
I'm a marine mechanic by trade and I bought my grandmothers '95 Buick LeSabre exactly for these reasons. It had 112,000 grocery getting miles with shopping cart dents that looked like it was in a sideways hail storm covered by scratches down the sides from backing out of the garage. But, the ticket was it blew ice cold AC and the leather seats were just Lazy Boy recliners. And at the end of a hot day after being on your feet...a cold Lazy Boy is what you want
Oh yeah I owned a 95 9C1 police Caprice with all of that good stuff. I went to a u-pick junkyard and took the seats out of a Buick roadmaster and they bolted right in, secret luxury cars.
I used to own a ‘87 Pontiac and had a front crash with another car which was built in the mid 2000s at about 30mph. My car had a small bend on its front bumper easily fixed. The other car looked like crushed paper, instantly totaled. Good thing nobody was injured. It shows how strong old cars were built.
@@WorldlyBudget modern cars are designed to crumple for a reason. Its very easy to understand when you realise that force has to exerted through the car, and that either you’re going to take that force, or your car takes that force and dissipates it through crumple zones. You only need to look at crash tests from the 80s till today and see which is the better option. You can always pay for another car, or fix damage. You can’t get a new spinal chord or replace your crushed skull.
@@elizabethjansen2684 Not true at all. Safety ratings are far more rigorous than they used to be. These old vehicles wouldn't even score 2 stars by modern standards. Crumple zones are just that, ZONES. They do not crumple into you and if you are in a wreck so bad that they somehow do, that would have been a wreck you never would have survived in an older vehicle.
@@davidp8627 Watch out for the plastic intake manifold, you will see a coolant leak in the driveway if you're lucky or it will explode under the hood while you're driving it. The 100,000 mark is around when they go bad. I avoid the years from 1996 to 2001, that's when they used the composite manifold. Otherwise they are great cars, have been driving the panther platform, Mercury Grand Marquis's and Lincoln town Cars for the past 35 years.
I've been wrenching on cars for over 45 years. Just replaced my Land Rover that I bought on auction for $3,200 (plus my maintenance and $1500 in tires, shocks, oils) and I drove it on/off road for 240k miles. Simple to fix and a few tricks that I learned, but who gets a quarter million miles off a $5k car? Granny Car Buys!
My old man is a mechanic, he’s always refused to work on my or my little brothers cars because he hates working on cars. Literally haven’t even spent 20 mins in a garage with him ever lol.
I almost spat out my drink with the opening view of the Roadmaster and Grand Marquis! Back in the day I used to scrounge the back lot (before the Cash for Clunkers days) where the real bargains were. I first found a 1983 Grand Marquis - 27k miles (it was 1993) and the Lincoln dealer didn't want it on their lot. I bought it for ~$2500 and it was a dynamite car. The Roadmaster was a 1992 that came in with a blown motor, but was under factory warranty. The original owner was fed up and the dealer bought it back, but I bought it as the dealership was already in the process of replacing with a brand new engine. I paid a little more for this, but it was worth it and many great miles of cruising.
I would say that was an indicator of success. Not a sign of incompetence. Is there anything shameful of owning a new vehicle? Does he not have a job to obtain a comfortable standard of life for himself?
I love that era Buick Roadmaster land yacht. I'm 6'-3", and was impressed when I first saw how roomy the interior is especially in the back! It's like sitting in a rolling opera theatre. They're also gorgeous cars.
This video is spot on I’m a mechanic and I agree totally my back hurts so bad after working all day I just bought and Oldsmobile 88 grandpa car it’s awesome 👍
I found this channel a couple of weeks ago and now I’m totally addicted- he’s just so balanced and interesting and his videos are just so soothing and really intriguing.
honestly, I was never into sporty cars my whole life. I'm 49, I've owned nearly 50 different cars at one point or another, and not one Camaro or Mustang in the bunch. My dad gave me his Shelby Charger as my first car, I immediately traded it to my sister for her Granada.
I used to work on cars in my spare time. I still do from time to time. Just bought myself a Lexus after trading in my Corolla I put 95k trouble free miles in 4 years time. It rides like a land yacht but looks better, is totally reliable and not too bad on gas either.
@@TheOzthewizI agree. Since 2009 I have driven 2 Corollas and I am a Freelance Computer Tech who travels a lot. My 2010, which I bought used in 2015, has over 100K miles on it and runs perfect. And this car was first purchased by an old lady from Philadelphia who hardly drove (only 17K miles in 5 years). I picked the right car and I will keep it until it disintegrates (which will be in 20 years).
Thanks, Wizard. Not only are American luxury cars comfortable, the people who buy them new drive them gently and take care of them. I have an '85 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz. It was previously owned by a little old lady who drove it little, and kept it in a garage. It had only 47,000 miles when I bought it. It's beautiful and comfortable. Other than routine maintenance, it's been trouble-free for the last fifteen years. I plan to keep it forever. Keep up the good work.
Your voice is so calm and even toned that you should do audio books for relaxation. Or an hour long+ video of you talking about cars would also probably work.
@Black Dragon Nothing is wrong, but for us europeans its too big and definitly not economical in my country, we pay 1,30 USD for litre of gasoline... you lucky americans pay 0,675 and thats why we have smaller engines or lpg conversions :(
I remember him saying in the video when he bought the Grand Marquis he would never sell it because he couldn’t stand to see anything happen to a car that nice and his wife laughed at him
This or an Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser. The dealership I worked at had two in alternating rotations (one was a rebuilt wreck). Both sweet rides. The only problem that they had was that big ass dashboard pad catching the sunlight and blinding you. If I could find either the Buick or Oldsmobile full size wagons that haven't been ragged out at a decent price I would buy it without hesitation.
I've got 96 Buick Roadmaster Estate Limited (LT1), 92 Olds Custom Cruiser (305 TB), 89 Caprice Estate (403), 86 Caprice Estate (305), 86 Pontiac Parisienne (305), 72 LTD Country Squire (400), 67 Pontiac Parisienne convertible (283). All are factory original, except the 89 which had the wheezy Olds 307 replaced with a built Olds 403. Full size RWD cars are the best!
Caprice, Roadmaster and Fleetwood, all were great cars. Comfortable, durable and relatively efficient, especially when you consider cost of ownership (repairs). 1993 and earlier had conventional 350s, and 1994-96 were LT1 equipped.
@@Kenster1025 Shitferbrains decided to turn left in front of me in his Explorer. I had the right of way. 50 mph combined headon. I have knee injuries but actually walked away from that wreck. Sucks 'cause that '01 LTC was perfect at that point and I intended many more road trips in it.
I‘m the German Process Engineer out of the team who were flown over for a year to make the 3rd Generation 03-12 Panther platform happening at the Rouge River Frame stamping plant in Detroit. The hydroforming process alone took me more than a year to develop, for this monster of a frame and another year to commission the whole production line to rid out all flaws. It was a major effort from Ford and a real thorough endeavor, where they even had a bunch of retired engineers called in as well, to raise the quality. Stiffness was raised to such a level, that I feel sorry for any opponent in a crash with a Crown Vic to this day😄 A tank has nothing on these cars. Wall thickness of the frame tubes is 3.5mm and we hydroformed it with 1700 bar/24.656,42psi from round into a square, boxy shape. Magnificent stuff.
I’m not a mechanic by trade but I bought my 2004 Lincoln Town Car for those very same reasons. With a 100 mile round trip every day, I wanted to be comfortable.
I have a soft spot for those late 80s early 90s "grandma cars". My grandpa had his moms (my great grandmother) 91 (or 93?) Plymouth Aclaim. Had the V6, 3spd auto trans (with lockup but no OD). That thing was awesome. Was a pretty reliable car.
I love watching your presentation skills improving and your comfort in front of the camera increasing with every video. You never as bad as Hoovie when he started out, though.
I want to take a minute and compliment your camera...’man’ or ‘woman’. His/her hands are steady and they know how to anticipate what you’ll speak to next. Bravo!
When I was little I always loved our Lincoln Town cars, and Mercury's to ride around in. Everyone said I was crazy and those are grandpa cars. So lets review: Comfortable, big trunk, safe, cornering headlights, power everything, looks nice too. Sports car: Rides like garbage but you can take a turn at 90. (Sure I do that all the time.) No golf clubs will fit but it will be in the shop quite a bit anyway so buy a golf cart. Depreciation factor: Do not ask. Want to see 100k turn into 20K just buy one and wait two years or less. I choose the open road and comfort and that you drive daily and safely.
I own a 97 grand marquis. 4.6 double exhaust, high ratio differential, blue interior / blue exterior 👑. 100k miles. Bought it used at 50k. I love that thing, ride is smooth and that v8 rumble gorgeously at high rpm, delivering high quality torque with those fine 225 Yokohama tires I put on it 🙂
@@abyssstrider2547 you've clearly never driven a mid-90's B-Body. my 94 caprice handled wet/snowy/icy weather better than almost anything i've ever owned. only my x-drive bmw outdoes it.
This guy knows his stuff. I was a mechanic for 30+ years and pretty much everything he says rings true. I also like his laidback demeanor. That idiot scotty is annoying as hell. I have a 2006 tundra and a 2000 sienna van. I always tell people buy a toyota or honda. They make the most reliable cars out there. Thx car wizard! You da man!
"this is an engine you can work on for 1 or 2 hours without getting mad and throwing your wrenches through your garage" - why does the Jaguar XJ12 spring to mind when he says that? ;-)
V6 and RWD are a great combination. I like that better than a V6 and FWD combination. I have both, one a GM Holden and the other an 01 Camry touring. Holden seats are great and give me better visibility and comfort. Both are 22 years old. The loins share of repairs on both have been on the front suspensions.
My all time favorite car I owned was a Crown Vic police car. That car was comfortable, handled like a cat, and would go through snow like a 4 wheel drive.
Oh I remember the 1st time I sat in the Buick Roadmaster ... I literally sank in the driver’s seat ... I was 19 years old when this generation was introduced and since then I never felt that degree of plushness and comfort in any other car
You hit the nail on the head. I drove grandma cars a long time. Cheap and easy to maintain. Then 10 years of driving them, my wife refused to drive them so I bought a Honda. It's been good to me but the power and comfort is not there.
I've been thinking of getting something like a minivan to haul my artwork, etc., around. After owning two, I'm opting for the Roadmaster wagon. Big and retro cool.
I remember going to Auto Shows in my youth: Mercury's Grand Marquis was marketed as the archetypical "Old Folk's" ride...even in the brochures, senior citizen models were shilling this car.
Yet police officers and undercover detectives ride them and still are. I mean, panther platform is very dependent on the trim and color you choose. You can make that 4.6l v8 a baddie if you wanted to, add some borla exhaust. Nice wheels, nice matte paint job. Nice sound system and you've got a completely different set up of a grandma car.
never stop wrenching, gentlemen. youve got yourself a sub. the almost scripted sitcom esque nature to this is extremely entertaining. i didnt expect to watch the whole video but you hooked me
Had a '94 in burgundy. Without exception, the most comfortable ride I've experienced. Also, for tall dudes, the head room getting in and out is great in a Buick- got a 2000 Park Ave now with 103k on it.
This is why I love American cars. When I was a kid my mate's dad had a Ford Fairline (1960s classic).Big V8. It could really shift and seated my mate, me, another friend, AND our girlfriends with acres to spare. Then when I was older I got a Pontiac Firebird which I used to fix (water pump etc replaced) easily, despite knowing little about cars, could practically get into that engine bay, and everything was so straightforward. And they look awesome. Jeremy Clarkson can go jump.
OptiSpark on LT1.... do NOT drive it through one of those car washes with the under-body sprayer. Especially if you have to pay a shop to replace the distributor on a 1994 Trans Am. Twice.
It's really not as hard as you think to replace. but it is a pain in the @ss when it goes bad especially more than twice in a year. the best thing to do is go EFI.
I love "grandma" cars! 91-92 Caprice and 93-96 Fleetwood have been my dream cars since high school. I'd actually rather have that Roadmaster than Porsches or other sports/muscle cars you mentioned.
Love to know where these low mileage "grandma" cars are. My 1990 Volvo 240 was bought new by my mom when she was 60. By the time she gave up driving at 85, Arthur was up just past the 200,000 mile mark. He is at 400,000 now and running like new.
I drive a Lincoln continental mark III daily as a dealership mechanic. Old luxury cars are dirt cheap, supremely comfortable, and big block v8 engine torque still makes them fun to drive.👍
I'm a mechanic for 30 yrs working on electric generation plants. I drive a 1987 420SEL gas burner V 8 and love it ! Do most all repairs and maintenance myself. Very easy to work on and parts are not expensive. Drives and rides excellent !
I had a '93 Buick LeSabre and riding in that thing felt like I was driving a recliner. I bought it for $2k @90k mi, got it up to 175k mi and sold it for $1500. The AC still worked. So much room inside the cabin and in the trunk. It was a very smooth ride.
Great advisment! I actually bought & own my grandparents last car, which is also a '93 Buick Roadmaster w/ the Lo5 v8 engine. I have been maintaining and updating it over the yrs. Awesome car and its the same color.. Seats are awesome, steering is so smooth. Just can't beat it!
One of my friends that's sadly no longer with us, adored the buicks. The way they felt like big luxary boats with these huge seats and so much space. It was a joy to ride around in. He had like 3 or 4 of them when we were teens and young adults. Cause he'd always buy cheap and used and drive them to death. But man were they comfy.
@@everythinggrowsyaheard I got one for $800. Maybe put in $7-800 in parts, more than it needed. Changed the whole steering linkage to grease fittings. Driving it for years, put about 80K miles. It is a 98.
well a police crown vic has a LOT of hours on the engine, a lot more than the miles on it might suggest. They idle their squad cars for long periods and are likely more worn than civilian-owned crown vics. I think Wizard touched on this point before
Police Vics are not bad though, the ride is fine, not pillow soft, but definitely average. They have substantially more power (30hp) more than the civilian models, and the transmission is upgraded as well. The best part is that the parts are interchangeable, so you can put town car seats in a police car. Yes, they tend to be well worn, but Gov't vehicles tend to be maintained well.
I work at Speedee 8 hours a day and I drive a Mercury Grand Marquis that my great aunt gave to me. After a long day at work it’s very comfortable. I love that car. It’s also really fun to drive. Edit: I wanted to replace “inherited” with something else because my great aunt is very much alive and well.
I found this interesting. I have a 1993 Roadmaster - it was my mothers. 259k miles. Engine has never been split. 3 radiators, 2 or 3 Alternators and when the air conditioner quit I had it upgraded to R134. Rear axle replace in the last 50k miles (internal shafts and bearings) In tank fuel pump in the last 25k miles. I replaced the EGR valve myself. Pollution # went from 700 to a 7! Replaced all the radiators myself. All in all cheap to work on over a 27 year period. It is a backup car at present. 1st 7 years it would get 25 to 28 highway mileage. Window sticker EPA rating and it would do it. In the last 7 years have never done better that 22 highway. This is a 5.7 but not same as the 1994. Still has tremendous power and get up n go. Some of the best engines GM ever made.
I have a gold 95 roadmaster Lt1350. Bought it 6 years ago with 98000 miles. I drive it 4 to 5 times a month. It's a great car. It's got 120000 on it now. I've replaced the AC compressor, shocks, thermostat, starter, and put all new coolant hoses since I've had it. It's rides so damn good. And most importantly, it will roast the the tires really good pulling out of the nursing home 🔥 🔥! Great Car. And frankly it's not worth selling.
I owned a 1994 Buick Roadmaster Estate wagon back in the early 2000’s that I purchased from my wife’s grandmother. Loved it! Unfortunately, I was T-Boned and the insurance totaled it. I bought it back and parted it out. What awesome cars. Great video.
My parents have an 86 Grand Marquis. Bought it brand new when they were my age today. Odometer reads 90k for at least the 2nd time around. Such a good car.
When I was an up and coming carpenter, I worked out of an Oldsmobile wagon. During the ice storm it was unstoppable with posi rear and weight balance. Dry tools in the back.
@@larrynorsworthy8582 I worked as a painter out of my Caprice wagon, and later on I got a Pontiac Safari with the woodgrain sides. I took it camping upstate, too, I can't even remember why I got rid of it.
I worked as a commercial construction electrician and had an 8 year old 1980 Cadillac Coupe de Ville I bought from a wealthy suburban wife. Car was garage kept with 51,000 miles and looked near showroom new. She sold it to me for $1500. Drove it 10 years and put another 200k miles on it. I wish I kept it.
There are few things more annoying than going to all the trouble to replace a part and then find out it's faulty. B&B Auto Parts was guilty of this many times for me, circa 35 years ago. Once I had to return a starter three times before I had one that worked. At that point, I'd had enough and never went back and forever named that business (Bring It Back Auto Parts Store). I guess this problem is rampant these days and makes me glad I'm not an auto mechanic. Thanks for a superb video. I'll be back. Cheers
I actually like this guys easy going nature.
It’s a nice change from Scotty yelling at me all the time.
It's funny, Scotty seems to know exactly when you buy a new car, cuz he will literally make a video the next day telling you why it is crap.
@@otakucat3827 Unless it's a celica. And even then you got the wrong one
I can't stand scotty's voice. He kind of reminds me of donze52, but they sound nothing alike. I love listening to donze's stories, but Scotty is just so grating I haven't watched a single one of his vids all the way through, no matter how badly I wanted the information in the video.
@@otakucat3827 that dude is irritating, almost senile
Love Scotty
They way cars otta be.
A mechanic looks forward to fixing his own car like a postman looks forward to an evening walk.
'Old does not mean dead.
New does not mean best.'
EXACTLY!!!!!!
I am a postman and I agree. My LeSabre is Sooooooo smooth and comfortable on the ride home. Like driving a couch
lol it took me 3 years to change the oil on the last car I bought. But I did eliminate that VCM in the first week.
Because a mechanic isn’t getting paid to work on his (or her) own car. The more time they have to spend repairing their own car, the more they deprive themselves of an income. And which mechanic likes to spend their downtime working on another car, instead of enjoying their weekend time off work?
My dad was a mechanic, had his own shop. We always had the worst cars, and he would laugh and talk about how great they were. And I would still make myself small in the seat as he dropped me off at the high school. Watching this video, I am reminded of my dad, who passed in 2005, at 81. He worked on equipment his entire life, born into a farm family, he was more enamored with the equipment side, repaired planes in WWII and Korean Conflict, cars for 50 years.
May he rest in peace. Thank you for sharing :)
My dad was also a mechanic, and retired a few years ago. "Starts, runs, goes, stops" were the sole qualifications for most cars we've ever owned and I always had a reliable but ugly beater available as a cheap hand-me-down or a loaner.
sounds really crappy
My dad wasn't a mechanic, but he was in the Army and would get a nice car or van for my mom and drive something more practical and fully depreciated for himself. One time he bought an old, brown 2 door Chrysler Cordoba for $500. My sister made him drop her off down the street from the high school. He sold that boat/bomber for $500 3 years later and never had to put a dime into it besides oil and filter changes. Those huge side doors were something though. You had to slightly lift them to get them shut and the passenger door would randomly fly open on left turns. LOL.
Do you have Facebook?
I've been a mechanic for 25 years and the older I get the more appreciate the old cars. I hope that by the time I retire I'll be driving a model T.
Over 30 years here my friend and I agree 100% lol.
There’s just a certain charm abt old cars
Get a "Model A" you'll thank us later
Rod knock? Just tighten the cap end
I’m so old I’ll be riding a penny farthing
Magic Mike is just a bundle of happy energy. Great addition to the Wizard Garage!
Thanks, you're very kind 😊
@@shawnl5634 hey now?
But maybe a bit too happy and energetic when changing Hoovie's AMG transmission fluid with the Wizard...
He's being very methodical now with the "Porsche" Spyder !
@@johnmoruzzi7236 shit happens
@MichaelTimmermeyer looks like your taking care of my baby lol
It is even in '90s beige, the most period correct color.
Gold, homie.
Had a roadmaster in refridgerator white, awesome road trip car, stone reliable till i got rid of it at 300k miles when the rust became to much to fix.
@@BigBing1987 You sadly did not know about lanoline grease/oil (Fluid Film and others)
@@steinbauge4591 car was a daily driver for 20 years in upstate new york, they all rust out up there eventually, it was repaired and patched many times over the years, the frame cracking at the rear control arm mounts finally did it in.
@@BigBing1987 They don't last forever but lanoline (FluidFilm in the US) is quite unbelievable. it saved my Ford Escort 1977 from major welding - just stopped the rust cold. Can be used on surface rust, goes into the pores of the steel - saves a ton of work as all the rust does not need to be removed.
They’re called Grandma Cars because Grandmas can and do work on them! And because each one can fit five grandmas, as they drive to bingo, pot-lucks, and gang meetings.
And carry all that weird shit to Tupperware sales
And....they have a '3-body trunk'....lol
@@travistucker7317 Plus they often like to throw quilts in them and make them part of the interior itself.
The name comes from how they look and how heavy and underpowered they are for the weight.
My Gramma was a real wrench bender, parcheesi shark and mean cookie baker. 2 of these are true
Through high school I drove a '92 Buick Roadmaster, but it was a wagon version with the fake wood siding. It was an absolute beast. The V8 roared like a wild animal, it could drift around corners or long sweeping turns with ease, and if anything went wrong with it my dad and I would spend a Saturday afternoon fixing it with just a google search for the manual and a trip to the local auto shop to buy the readily available parts. I miss that car more and more as I get older.
Compre outro e seja feliz😁
want to buy one I have a 1995 Buick road master white woody wagon no rust 128k miles i want 2500. bucks
90s Buicks are probably the stereotypical high schooler car
I understand this philosophy perfectly. I have worked in IT for 18 years now and I apply the same thought process to my technology at home. I have mostly older, reliable tech and things I've built myself. I don't want to spend the weekend fixing broken shit!
Yeap, all my HW is ex refresh. A few cheap upgrades like vid cards etc and you have a very cheap capable machine
Q
sysadmin here, same except I have an enterprise grade nw setup as well for testing 😂 but by this point it is super optimized and have years of uptime.
Still running my Lenovo T420 with a SSD and extra ram
I never even went to college and I know already older is better because it's all I have, and it works and never has not worked.
As a good friend of mine (Ford mechanic) once told me: "After you work on everyone else's junk all day, the last thing you want to do is go home and work on your own junk."
True it took me 2 weeks to fix my water pump leak on my own truck. I'd come home and pull a couple bolts and say F this and went back inside. It only takes a couple hours to do just no motivation after doing it all day
@@theconsigliere8463 Mechanics make enough money to send it to someone else to work on. Nobody wants to work on their days off or even after work. Especially doing the same shit you do at work unless you're a porn star. 😂
@@ebogar42 nah even porn stars don't have sex on there day's off.
That's exactly what a Gynecologist says!
@@ebogar42 what mechanic is making enough to throw it away paying someone else to work on their car? It would make more sense for me to take a day of work to fix my car rather than work 4 days to earn the money to pay for one days labor somewhere else.
Wow my Roadmaster made it on your channel, that’s sweet!! Couldn’t have sold it to a better person, Magic Mike.
ThatsMint👌
Parev Hovsep jan!
You're a good GrandMa,,, Thanks.
Those roadmasters are beautiful vehicles. I know a few people who own them and they love them.
I love the roadmaster wagons...with the paneling on the side....great video
I bought a 92 Roadmaster after seeing this video and now I'm getting a 94! Excellent car I love the Roadmasters!! Thanks for the advice CAR WIZARD! I PLAN ON HAVING AN ENTIRE FLEET OF THESE THEYRE SO GREAT
The Fleetwood Cadillacs 94-96 are just as good along side the station wagon variants.
I just talked about it with my mechanic from BMW workshop. He drives an old toyota camry V6. I asked him why he doesn't drive a BMW since he has a BMW workshop. He said: "I repair BMW cars 12 hours a day, so I'd rather go somewhere after work than repair my own BMW" ;)
Cause he’s dumb and doesn’t buy the right bmw. I’m a bmw mechanic and drive an e39 530. Car has 200k and doesn’t skip a beat. No lights. Passes inspection every year. Never quits.
@@michaelric3540 yes until it doesn’t. Sure there’s some examples of bmw’s lasting to 300k but do you not remember the million mile Tacoma? Even Toyota wanted to know wtf they did so right there. They over engineer basically every car they put out you just can’t say they don’t run forever when you take care of them.
@@keithbroh5730 wow what year Toyota Tacoma was it lol I might get one !
@@keithbroh5730 whatr did they do right?
@@keithbroh5730 bmw did a test and it found that with regular service intervals their engines would last 1,000,000 miles plus with no major engine wear, intact cylinder hones, and virtually no camshaft wear. It’s all about maintenance.
Its worth keeping cars like this going because they come from a time after steel metallurgy was perfected and before designed obsolescence.
Designed obsolescence has been a thing since the 50s, or even before that. It's not new.
@@EssenceofPureFlavor yes, but it wasn’t in the steel yet
@@spoonikle What would planned obsolescence in steel even be? Rust?
@@EssenceofPureFlavor lower quality steel moving parts that break too quickly.
@@EssenceofPureFlavor Look at a 1972 C10, then check out the 1973 C10!
You'll see! 😉
I've always drove old Grand-paw cars. Parts are cheap, easy to work on and the ride is easy on the back for sure.
Mechanic: Your repair is going to cost $4,500.
Old Lady: I can't afford that!
Mechanic: Well, I'll buy your car from you for $800
You can bet that the Lizzard and Maggot Mike got that Buick for $400
He paid $2500
Mechanics drive beaters because they all know cars are a depreciating investment. They buy what works not what is the newest and greatest thing. 😎
And after a hard 12 hour day....you get into your armchair-on-wheels and waft home 😊 I wish those were any use in the UK, but our narrow roads and ridiculous fuel prices make them unusable
But that doesn't explain why The Wizard has owned more cars than toothbrushes. Dozens. And not for very good reasons. Buying and selling depreciating assets is never smart.
@@BSGSV That is true but its different for a mechanic. They buy cheap because something is broke, fix it and sell for a profit. Whole different scenario vs the common person. For the average person, cars are a terrible investment, actually not an investment at all. There are rare occasions that you make money and not know it. Like my Father, we have a 1960 bug in our Family. Been in the family since 1963 my Grandfather paid $600 for it. It was just appraised by Hagerty for $30k. So there are exemptions to the rule, but its not a "common" rule. Mechanics can flip cars by use of their trade.
Mechanics know how to buy wholesale, fix up, and sell retail when it comes to cars. And they can often do it at their leisure.
@@James-oo1yq You can still do the same here...Ford Focus, VW Golf/B5 Passat, Skoda Superb etc that aren't that old aren't worth much and are very comfortable. I know our fuel prices are much more, but I've got a MK4 Golf diesel and in 35k miles all I've had go wrong is a seized brake caliper which can happen on anything. It's comfortable, friends that use it say it's really comfortable (although it does really need 4 new shock absorbers)..the seats are much softer than most of the new cars that I've sat in. As I say, 35k miles aside from servicing it's also had its timing belt change, the caliper I've mentioned...Oh and a brake switch failed (by the brake pedal inside the car, that put on a check engine light and I had no working brake lights...Cost £13 new from VW and took me 20 mins after I found a TH-cam vid). You can do it, people here in the UK tend to get rid of cars after 10-15yrs, so if you're careful, not fussy, don't mind driving a manual etc you can get a good car for under £1K and run for 3-4yrs without any major problems. If you want cheap look at a 10-15yr old Ford Fiesta (even Peugeot 206/207) with the 1.4HDi diesel.. great on fuel, cheap to buy, cheap to insure, £30 tax. Okay no comfortable barge but its still cheap motoring. Don't like that look at what I've mentioned before, look at Skoda and Seat. Want to go old luxury..Lexus. LS400? but then bad MPG, tax and I'd imagine more expensive insurance. There's loads of 10-15yr old luxury cars for sale here because nobody wants them as they're complicated and expensive as they age.
Dad had a 79 Pontiac Catalina. He worked at the steel mill, so he wanted a cheap beater that he didn't mind getting dirty, etc. That car lasted a long, long time.
My neighbor had the Bonnie version.77' I think and it lasted well over 200000 miles before the rust monster finished it
Is that shock a monroe? Those things are junk.
my customer has one of those cars, theyre big cars but he says the ride is ultra comfortable
@@waynes.2983 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Being a mechanic makes you hate cars. You just get the easiest one to work on cus you thought making your hobby a job was a smart idea.
I found some cars a pain to work on, but what made me not want to work on them for a living is the customers.
@@kennethclifford1863 Same reason I left the IT field. The hardware and software were both interesting, like I always had a puzzle to put together or a mystery to solve. The people, however, were almost always rude and most often were the cause of device/software failures and blamed everything (including me) but themselves.
Many trades would be much more pleasant if the direct dealing of customers was eliminated.
@@kennethclifford1863
😂
Said someone who understands the mind of mechanics everywhere. And the newer cars get, the more "un-fun" doing this kind of work becomes. I've gotten to where most days I honestly hate it.
But, I can't imagine being tied down to a desk all day either...
@@AdamIsUrqed I bring my MX5 to a small specialist shop run by a father and his son. They only do MX5/Miata and they enjoy their customers. I and many others drive two or three hours to their shop which is half way across the Netherlands.
I'm a marine mechanic by trade and I bought my grandmothers '95 Buick LeSabre exactly for these reasons. It had 112,000 grocery getting miles with shopping cart dents that looked like it was in a sideways hail storm covered by scratches down the sides from backing out of the garage. But, the ticket was it blew ice cold AC and the leather seats were just Lazy Boy recliners. And at the end of a hot day after being on your feet...a cold Lazy Boy is what you want
you got it momma
Cold, lazy beer, in a cold lazy boy
Hahaha I'm a 28 year old mechanic and my daily is a 99 Avalon that I've had for over 8 years (bought it from an 80 year old lady) I love that car
Zachary Edgar - Good smart purchase. Why piss your money away for vanity.
Sounds like a smart man.
that's the japanese buick
They're absolutely wonderful. Like driving a couch. Also sound great if you get a custom exhaust.
I prefer the Ford Crown Victoria than imports.
Oh yeah I owned a 95 9C1 police Caprice with all of that good stuff. I went to a u-pick junkyard and took the seats out of a Buick roadmaster and they bolted right in, secret luxury cars.
Smart thinking. I love that your upgrade gave a "2nd life" to seats from a scrap car.
Bam ! Good move !
"Looks like it had a small fender bender here on the bumper"
Some car probably totalled itself on that bumper. :D
I used to own a ‘87 Pontiac and had a front crash with another car which was built in the mid 2000s at about 30mph. My car had a small bend on its front bumper easily fixed. The other car looked like crushed paper, instantly totaled. Good thing nobody was injured. It shows how strong old cars were built.
@@WorldlyBudget modern cars are designed to crumple for a reason. Its very easy to understand when you realise that force has to exerted through the car, and that either you’re going to take that force, or your car takes that force and dissipates it through crumple zones. You only need to look at crash tests from the 80s till today and see which is the better option. You can always pay for another car, or fix damage. You can’t get a new spinal chord or replace your crushed skull.
@@Psyopcyclops I see. Good information, thanks.
@@Psyopcyclops until that crumple crushes into you and not only traps you but injures you in the bargin . I've seen many stories like that.
@@elizabethjansen2684 Not true at all. Safety ratings are far more rigorous than they used to be. These old vehicles wouldn't even score 2 stars by modern standards. Crumple zones are just that, ZONES. They do not crumple into you and if you are in a wreck so bad that they somehow do, that would have been a wreck you never would have survived in an older vehicle.
This is one of the most honest videos I've ever seen from a fellow mechanic! Everything he said is right in the money. 👍
You CAN NOT argue with name like ROADMASTER!!
Man-Ung Yi watch the RCR review of the Buick road master. It’s Hilarious! 🤣
@@paulsz6194 Cam-Master!!
Sure I can! (Pulls up in an Abrams tank with a 120mm main gun). "Roadmaster"--that's a cute name for that dinky car. :)
The best car buick made period
That's all im saying.
Mechanic for 24 years, and I drive an '03 Grand Marquis daily🙂. It's actually my 4th Panther.
That's another thing, these cars that are built on platforms that run 10 or more years have lots of cheap parts available.
@@paulwoodman5131 and they're cheap
I've had a 1997 Grand Marquis since 2009, just hit 100,000 miles a month ago. I'll probably have it another 20 years.
@@davidp8627 Watch out for the plastic intake manifold, you will see a coolant leak in the driveway if you're lucky or it will explode under the hood while you're driving it. The 100,000 mark is around when they go bad. I avoid the years from 1996 to 2001, that's when they used the composite manifold. Otherwise they are great cars, have been driving the panther platform, Mercury Grand Marquis's and Lincoln town Cars for the past 35 years.
I've been wrenching on cars for over 45 years. Just replaced my Land Rover that I bought on auction for $3,200 (plus my maintenance and $1500 in tires, shocks, oils) and I drove it on/off road for 240k miles. Simple to fix and a few tricks that I learned, but who gets a quarter million miles off a $5k car? Granny Car Buys!
My old man is a mechanic, he’s always refused to work on my or my little brothers cars because he hates working on cars. Literally haven’t even spent 20 mins in a garage with him ever lol.
Yeah, I'm a chef and I hate cooking at home or for ppl, unless I'm getting paid for it.
I almost spat out my drink with the opening view of the Roadmaster and Grand Marquis! Back in the day I used to scrounge the back lot (before the Cash for Clunkers days) where the real bargains were. I first found a 1983 Grand Marquis - 27k miles (it was 1993) and the Lincoln dealer didn't want it on their lot. I bought it for ~$2500 and it was a dynamite car. The Roadmaster was a 1992 that came in with a blown motor, but was under factory warranty. The original owner was fed up and the dealer bought it back, but I bought it as the dealership was already in the process of replacing with a brand new engine. I paid a little more for this, but it was worth it and many great miles of cruising.
Love the Roadmaster. The station wagon version is a beast.
I’ve owned 4 big old boats, I love the way they ride. Awesome car!
I was once told to never take a car in for repairs to a mechanic that drives a brand new car to work.
Huh, interesting.
@@thisisntsergio1352 meaning he couldn’t fix his own car
@@jameskimp49 I know the meaning. That's why I said it was interesting. 😂
I would say that was an indicator of success. Not a sign of incompetence. Is there anything shameful of owning a new vehicle? Does he not have a job to obtain a comfortable standard of life for himself?
If he buys a new car that's because he doesn't want to fix it
I love that era Buick Roadmaster land yacht. I'm 6'-3", and was impressed when I first saw how roomy the interior is especially in the back! It's like sitting in a rolling opera theatre. They're also gorgeous cars.
I am six five, and for the first time in my life, I actually have a car that fits me.
Sometimes, the old ways are still the best ways.
Simple is always better - we've certainly lost the plot by a wide margin.
@@godfreyberry1599 Yes 60 year old cars are still begin driven daily in cuba. Computer on wheels like Tesla will hit junkyard much much sooner.
@@springer-qb4dv I'll take a computer on wheels if it means it drives itself.
@@springer-qb4dv Cuban Cars aren't all original, though.
This video is spot on I’m a mechanic and I agree totally my back hurts so bad after working all day I just bought and Oldsmobile 88 grandpa car it’s awesome 👍
Those cars are just plain honest.
I found this channel a couple of weeks ago and now I’m totally addicted- he’s just so balanced and interesting and his videos are just so soothing and really intriguing.
Grandma cars :
-Barely driven
-Driven easy
-Poor resell value
- Like driving around in your living room
That’s not true
@@YoungCarWiz Some of it is
@@YoungCarWiz why
Garage kept
With a Walker
Nice ride .. when we where younger we wanted the fast cars .. when we get older we want the reliable ..Such is the way of things 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
honestly, I was never into sporty cars my whole life. I'm 49, I've owned nearly 50 different cars at one point or another, and not one Camaro or Mustang in the bunch. My dad gave me his Shelby Charger as my first car, I immediately traded it to my sister for her Granada.
At a large Toyota dealer all the mechanics drove Toyotas/Lexus. At the large BMW dealer next door, their mechanics do too. Can't make this up.
I used to work on cars in my spare time. I still do from time to time. Just bought myself a Lexus after trading in my Corolla I put 95k trouble free miles in 4 years time. It rides like a land yacht but looks better, is totally reliable and not too bad on gas either.
The BEST car to use as a daily would be a Corolla. Maybe not as cushy as this Buick, BUT a Corolla will run FOREVER with MINIMUM repairs!!
@@TheOzthewiz a little small inside
@Jim Allen what they recommend for you and what they want for themselves are two different things
@@TheOzthewizI agree. Since 2009 I have driven 2 Corollas and I am a Freelance Computer Tech who travels a lot. My 2010, which I bought used in 2015, has over 100K miles on it and runs perfect. And this car was first purchased by an old lady from Philadelphia who hardly drove (only 17K miles in 5 years). I picked the right car and I will keep it until it disintegrates (which will be in 20 years).
Thanks, Wizard. Not only are American luxury cars comfortable, the people who buy them new drive them gently and take care of them. I have an '85 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz. It was previously owned by a little old lady who drove it little, and kept it in a garage. It had only 47,000 miles when I bought it. It's beautiful and comfortable. Other than routine maintenance, it's been trouble-free for the last fifteen years. I plan to keep it forever. Keep up the good work.
Went air born in a 96 crown vic, I've had landings at O'hare go rougher than that vic landed.
4 bolts to change waterpump. Perfect. 4.6 v8
crown vics and cutless sierras were clearly designed for short term flights.
Did ya get hurt? I did. Stupid hateful x-ray tech.
When Mrs Wizard mentioned there being enough space for Magic Mike to fit in the front, I thought of the Car Ninja in the engine bay.
These old boats are cooler than porsches etc and no one can change my mind. Great video!!
Your voice is so calm and even toned that you should do audio books for relaxation. Or an hour long+ video of you talking about cars would also probably work.
"3.8 or some rinky dinky engine"
*sweats in european*
More like *laughs in engines half as big, just as powerful, lasting 3 times as long* .
@Black Dragon Nothing is wrong, but for us europeans its too big and definitly not economical in my country, we pay 1,30 USD for litre of gasoline... you lucky americans pay 0,675 and thats why we have smaller engines or lpg conversions :(
@@hypnotoad357 1,30 dollar is not to bad i have to pay 2,01 dollar per litre :(
@@derbigpr500 HAHAHAHAHA! Oh wait, you're serious? HAHAHAHAHA!
that triggered a lot of commodore fans i bet :)
I remember him saying in the video when he bought the Grand Marquis he would never sell it because he couldn’t stand to see anything happen to a car that nice and his wife laughed at him
Buick road master estate wagon is still one of my dream cars.
Come to AL and get my 92. I'm tired of it.
This or an Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser. The dealership I worked at had two in alternating rotations (one was a rebuilt wreck). Both sweet rides. The only problem that they had was that big ass dashboard pad catching the sunlight and blinding you. If I could find either the Buick or Oldsmobile full size wagons that haven't been ragged out at a decent price I would buy it without hesitation.
The 70's and 80's models are good too.
Love those BIG AMERICAN station wagons. Wish they would make a comeback !
I've got 96 Buick Roadmaster Estate Limited (LT1), 92 Olds Custom Cruiser (305 TB), 89 Caprice Estate (403), 86 Caprice Estate (305), 86 Pontiac Parisienne (305), 72 LTD Country Squire (400), 67 Pontiac Parisienne convertible (283). All are factory original, except the 89 which had the wheezy Olds 307 replaced with a built Olds 403. Full size RWD cars are the best!
Caprice, Roadmaster and Fleetwood, all were great cars. Comfortable, durable and relatively efficient, especially when you consider cost of ownership (repairs). 1993 and earlier had conventional 350s, and 1994-96 were LT1 equipped.
They run forever and are easy to fix. Thats why I'm into the Panther platform
Panther series FTW! I'm on #5. One of my LTCs saved my life!
@@HiroNguy how did it save your life?
Mercury marauder. Crown victoria. Grand marquis. I love all 3. I owe all 3😉
@@Kenster1025 Shitferbrains decided to turn left in front of me in his Explorer. I had the right of way. 50 mph combined headon.
I have knee injuries but actually walked away from that wreck.
Sucks 'cause that '01 LTC was perfect at that point and I intended many more road trips in it.
I‘m the German Process Engineer out of the team who were flown over for a year to make the 3rd Generation 03-12 Panther platform happening at the Rouge River Frame stamping plant in Detroit.
The hydroforming process alone took me more than a year to develop, for this monster of a frame and another year to commission the whole production line to rid out all flaws.
It was a major effort from Ford and a real thorough endeavor,
where they even had a bunch of retired engineers called in as well, to raise the quality.
Stiffness was raised to such a level, that I feel sorry for any opponent in a crash with a Crown Vic to this day😄
A tank has nothing on these cars.
Wall thickness of the frame tubes is 3.5mm and we hydroformed it with 1700 bar/24.656,42psi
from round into a square, boxy shape.
Magnificent stuff.
Mike threw the money in hoovies face told him the Buick was now his car an walked out of the office. It was hilarious.
I’m not a mechanic by trade but I bought my 2004 Lincoln Town Car for those very same reasons. With a 100 mile round trip every day, I wanted to be comfortable.
I’m looking for an 04-11 town car because they are so low maintenance, they do gugle has a bit
I miss those old town cars
The ride is so smooth on those Town Cars.
I have a soft spot for those late 80s early 90s "grandma cars". My grandpa had his moms (my great grandmother) 91 (or 93?) Plymouth Aclaim. Had the V6, 3spd auto trans (with lockup but no OD). That thing was awesome. Was a pretty reliable car.
I love watching your presentation skills improving and your comfort in front of the camera increasing with every video. You never as bad as Hoovie when he started out, though.
Its not an easy thing to do! I am very impressed - especially with longer and longer videos.
My daily driver is a 1986 Chevy caprice classic 4 door. Comfortable ,simple and inexpensive to maintain.
gotta save these cars from the idiots who cut them up for hydraulic suspensions
@@MrTaxiRob LOL, TO EACH HIS OWN!!!
I want to take a minute and compliment your camera...’man’ or ‘woman’. His/her hands are steady and they know how to anticipate what you’ll speak to next. Bravo!
Camera woman. It's Mrs. Wizard.
He married his camera person, and there is nothing San Francisco about him.
When I was little I always loved our Lincoln Town cars, and Mercury's to ride around in. Everyone said I was crazy and those are grandpa cars. So lets review: Comfortable, big trunk, safe, cornering headlights, power everything, looks nice too. Sports car: Rides like garbage but you can take a turn at 90. (Sure I do that all the time.) No golf clubs will fit but it will be in the shop quite a bit anyway so buy a golf cart. Depreciation factor: Do not ask. Want to see 100k turn into 20K just buy one and wait two years or less. I choose the open road and comfort and that you drive daily and safely.
love how this started out as a car review/reasoning to a quality control check.
I daily a 94 Roadmaster sedan! I he's absolutely right, a perfect everyday car: comfy and classy.
I own a 97 grand marquis. 4.6 double exhaust, high ratio differential, blue interior / blue exterior 👑. 100k miles. Bought it used at 50k. I love that thing, ride is smooth and that v8 rumble gorgeously at high rpm, delivering high quality torque with those fine 225 Yokohama tires I put on it 🙂
Rear wheel drive means an engine that's easily accessible for repairs.
someone's never worked on an LT1...
Rear wheel drive means you will loose control of your vehicle any time it rains,snows or road freezes
@@abyssstrider2547 you've clearly never driven a mid-90's B-Body. my 94 caprice handled wet/snowy/icy weather better than almost anything i've ever owned. only my x-drive bmw outdoes it.
@@abyssstrider2547 says someone who's never driven a rear-wheel drive in the snow.
@@adotintheshark4848 says someone that has snow in his area.
This guy knows his stuff. I was a mechanic for 30+ years and pretty much everything he says rings true. I also like his laidback demeanor. That idiot scotty is annoying as hell. I have a 2006 tundra and a 2000 sienna van. I always tell people buy a toyota or honda. They make the most reliable cars out there. Thx car wizard! You da man!
"this is an engine you can work on for 1 or 2 hours without getting mad and throwing your wrenches through your garage" - why does the Jaguar XJ12 spring to mind when he says that? ;-)
Wait... You have an xj12 without an LS swap?
Nobody wants to touch those Jags.
Now even with a 10 feet long wrench.
Unless they have plenty of time to get out the wrench 🔧 on them.
Let's not forget three gallons to the mile.
@@georgepatient7710 yeh but its a v12
@@dcarbs2979 Yes it’s a V 12 however it don’t run. you need shit that runs
I've always loved those Buick Roadmasters of the 90s. The LT1 V8 and RWD makes them alot of fun.
V6 and RWD are a great combination. I like that better than a V6 and FWD combination. I have both, one a GM Holden and the other an 01 Camry touring. Holden seats are great and give me better visibility and comfort. Both are 22 years old. The loins share of repairs on both have been on the front suspensions.
First off I love land yachts, most of the mechanics I know hate working on their own cars.
and that ain't limited to the US of A, believe a European mechanics son, who drives a 99 Grand Cherokee
My all time favorite car I owned was a Crown Vic police car. That car was comfortable, handled like a cat, and would go through snow like a 4 wheel drive.
Oh I remember the 1st time I sat in the Buick Roadmaster ... I literally sank in the driver’s seat ... I was 19 years old when this generation was introduced and since then I never felt that degree of plushness and comfort in any other car
You hit the nail on the head. I drove grandma cars a long time. Cheap and easy to maintain. Then 10 years of driving them, my wife refused to drive them so I bought a Honda. It's been good to me but the power and comfort is not there.
Wizard should have called Magic Mike into his office and presented him an estimate for repairs. That would have been funny.
I've been thinking of getting something like a minivan to haul my artwork, etc., around. After owning two, I'm opting for the Roadmaster wagon. Big and retro cool.
Man you are so chill when you discuss this stuff. Insanely entertaining. I love this channel.
I remember going to Auto Shows in my youth: Mercury's Grand Marquis was marketed as the archetypical "Old Folk's" ride...even in the brochures, senior citizen models were shilling this car.
Yet police officers and undercover detectives ride them and still are. I mean, panther platform is very dependent on the trim and color you choose. You can make that 4.6l v8 a baddie if you wanted to, add some borla exhaust. Nice wheels, nice matte paint job. Nice sound system and you've got a completely different set up of a grandma car.
Our 81 Crown Vic outlasted and proved a much better car than our 87 Grand Marquis. Luxury goodies can be a liability if they break down.
I would own a Buick Roadmaster any day of the week. That is one great car. If it's rust free and got a good drive train, I'd own it and be proud.
The LeSabre and Electra are better.
never stop wrenching, gentlemen. youve got yourself a sub. the almost scripted sitcom esque nature to this is extremely entertaining. i didnt expect to watch the whole video but you hooked me
Had a '94 in burgundy. Without exception, the most comfortable ride I've experienced. Also, for tall dudes, the head room getting in and out is great in a Buick- got a 2000 Park Ave now with 103k on it.
This is why I love American cars. When I was a kid my mate's dad had a Ford Fairline (1960s classic).Big V8. It could really shift and seated my mate, me, another friend, AND our girlfriends with acres to spare. Then when I was older I got a Pontiac Firebird which I used to fix (water pump etc replaced) easily, despite knowing little about cars, could practically get into that engine bay, and everything was so straightforward. And they look awesome. Jeremy Clarkson can go jump.
OptiSpark on LT1.... do NOT drive it through one of those car washes with the under-body sprayer. Especially if you have to pay a shop to replace the distributor on a 1994 Trans Am. Twice.
It's really not as hard as you think to replace. but it is a pain in the @ss when it goes bad especially more than twice in a year. the best thing to do is go EFI.
Just spray it.
Problem solved.
Replaced the factory opti-spark on my 96 TA WS6 with MSD.
Speaking from experience, I presume??
@@karlsmith2570 lol, yes. my 96 impala ss went through a few in the 12 years i owned it.
yup in europe had front shocks replaced. both failed inside 500 km. old ones lasted for over 10 years.
I love "grandma" cars! 91-92 Caprice and 93-96 Fleetwood have been my dream cars since high school. I'd actually rather have that Roadmaster than Porsches or other sports/muscle cars you mentioned.
Why, because they have low miles, interiors are clean, and aren’t hooned to death.
Love to know where these low mileage "grandma" cars are. My 1990 Volvo 240 was bought new by my mom when she was 60. By the time she gave up driving at 85, Arthur was up just past the 200,000 mile mark. He is at 400,000 now and running like new.
I drive a Lincoln continental mark III daily as a dealership mechanic. Old luxury cars are dirt cheap, supremely comfortable, and big block v8 engine torque still makes them fun to drive.👍
This is the way!
@@michaeltutty1540 If you're looking for a roadmaster I've noticed that most up for sale are either in the Midwest or the eastern seaboard.
lots of rust over there, can't smog them on the West Coast either
I'm a mechanic for 30 yrs working on electric generation plants. I drive a 1987 420SEL gas burner V 8 and love it ! Do most all repairs and maintenance myself. Very easy to work on and parts are not expensive. Drives and rides excellent !
Mercedes parts not expensive? You must be kidding!
I had a '93 Buick LeSabre and riding in that thing felt like I was driving a recliner. I bought it for $2k @90k mi, got it up to 175k mi and sold it for $1500. The AC still worked. So much room inside the cabin and in the trunk. It was a very smooth ride.
I own and still drive all the time three 1992 Lesabres. Paint now terrible but great operating vehicles. Comfortable and roomy.
7:50 - the covered Viper in the background looks AMAZING!~
Cheers from Poland!
Great advisment!
I actually bought & own my grandparents last car, which is also a '93 Buick Roadmaster w/ the Lo5 v8 engine.
I have been maintaining and updating it over the yrs. Awesome car and its the same color..
Seats are awesome, steering is so smooth. Just can't beat it!
I had a 94 roadmaster... One of my absolute favorites ( coming from a fellow mechanic and land yacht enthusiast)
I just recently bought a mint condition 100k mile 1995 Caprice, and when driving it, I wondered why I didnt buy one before 👍
One of my friends that's sadly no longer with us, adored the buicks. The way they felt like big luxary boats with these huge seats and so much space.
It was a joy to ride around in. He had like 3 or 4 of them when we were teens and young adults. Cause he'd always buy cheap and used and drive them to death. But man were they comfy.
Good times right
RIP
Nothing like the Buick Skylark..Circa 65 to 71! 👍🇺🇸
I'm a mechanic for 35 years and I drive a 2003 toyota echo,35 mpg and it has never broken down..It will run forever.
Cool
A B-body, if rust protected, would last unlimited miles, is strong and easy to work on. Cheap parts too.
I bought a 92 Park Avenue from a Grandma and I confirm it's very confortable and reliable!
All features and gages still work after 30 years!
There's no point in getting a police crown vic when the grand marquis, town cars, fleetwoods, and roadmasters exist
I find amazing condition Grand Marq's all the time on Craig's List
@@everythinggrowsyaheard I got one for $800. Maybe put in $7-800 in parts, more than it needed. Changed the whole steering linkage to grease fittings. Driving it for years, put about 80K miles. It is a 98.
Yeah the only problem is it's getting harder and harder to find a clean B/D body lol
well a police crown vic has a LOT of hours on the engine, a lot more than the miles on it might suggest. They idle their squad cars for long periods and are likely more worn than civilian-owned crown vics. I think Wizard touched on this point before
Police Vics are not bad though, the ride is fine, not pillow soft, but definitely average. They have substantially more power (30hp) more than the civilian models, and the transmission is upgraded as well.
The best part is that the parts are interchangeable, so you can put town car seats in a police car.
Yes, they tend to be well worn, but Gov't vehicles tend to be maintained well.
I work at Speedee 8 hours a day and I drive a Mercury Grand Marquis that my great aunt gave to me. After a long day at work it’s very comfortable. I love that car. It’s also really fun to drive.
Edit: I wanted to replace “inherited” with something else because my great aunt is very much alive and well.
Me too!
@Dirty Dave Update on that, I lost it in an accident this past July.
The marquis is the ultimate road car. You can be going 100mph without knowing it
In the backseat is where my generation was made😂
As a resident of rust-belt NE Ohio, I am envious of that underside!
I found this interesting. I have a 1993 Roadmaster - it was my mothers. 259k miles. Engine has never been split. 3 radiators, 2 or 3 Alternators and when the air conditioner quit I had it upgraded to R134. Rear axle replace in the last 50k miles (internal shafts and bearings) In tank fuel pump in the last 25k miles. I replaced the EGR valve myself. Pollution # went from 700 to a 7! Replaced all the radiators myself. All in all cheap to work on over a 27 year period. It is a backup car at present. 1st 7 years it would get 25 to 28 highway mileage. Window sticker EPA rating and it would do it. In the last 7 years have never done better that 22 highway. This is a 5.7 but not same as the 1994. Still has tremendous power and get up n go. Some of the best engines GM ever made.
i imagine they want a cost effective durable car that needs no mantenaince...
When you spend your life working on cars you want a personal car that causes minimal hassle.
All cars need maintenance, these are just far easier to work on. Unfortunately not as cheap anymore due to the lack of availability of parts.
That’s the point
Drive a Toyota then
anything mechanical requires maintenance.
I have a gold 95 roadmaster Lt1350. Bought it 6 years ago with 98000 miles. I drive it 4 to 5 times a month. It's a great car. It's got 120000 on it now. I've replaced the AC compressor, shocks, thermostat, starter, and put all new coolant hoses since I've had it. It's rides so damn good.
And most importantly, it will roast the the tires really good pulling out of the nursing home 🔥 🔥!
Great Car. And frankly it's not worth selling.
I owned a 1994 Buick Roadmaster Estate wagon back in the early 2000’s that I purchased from my wife’s grandmother. Loved it! Unfortunately, I was T-Boned and the insurance totaled it. I bought it back and parted it out. What awesome cars. Great video.
My grandma drove a 95 Chevrolet Impala SS, it was awesome. My uncle still has it today
My parents have an 86 Grand Marquis. Bought it brand new when they were my age today. Odometer reads 90k for at least the 2nd time around. Such a good car.
I'm a electrician and since I started 10 years ago I still drive my 92 road master estate wagon. It fits all my tools and it has yet to fail me.
When I was an up and coming carpenter, I worked out of an Oldsmobile wagon. During the ice storm it was unstoppable with posi rear and weight balance. Dry tools in the back.
@@larrynorsworthy8582 I worked as a painter out of my Caprice wagon, and later on I got a Pontiac Safari with the woodgrain sides. I took it camping upstate, too, I can't even remember why I got rid of it.
...and you don't need a ladder to get to your ladders!
Im an hvac contractor and i know a service guy who uses a 92 wagon. I am sooo jealous.
I worked as a commercial construction electrician and had an 8 year old 1980 Cadillac Coupe de Ville I bought from a wealthy suburban wife. Car was garage kept with 51,000 miles and looked near showroom new. She sold it to me for $1500. Drove it 10 years and put another 200k miles on it. I wish I kept it.
There are few things more annoying than going to all the trouble to replace a part and then find out it's faulty. B&B Auto Parts was guilty of this many times for me, circa 35 years ago. Once I had to return a starter three times before I had one that worked. At that point, I'd had enough and never went back and forever named that business (Bring It Back Auto Parts Store). I guess this problem is rampant these days and makes me glad I'm not an auto mechanic. Thanks for a superb video. I'll be back. Cheers