Troopers are great.
I had an '86 awhile back during my college years. Put 160000 miles on it with no major repairs. Most costly item was the clutch, and technically thats a wear item.
I got into a passenger side rear quarter panel accident with it once too, way out on Long Island. Drove it all the way back to Cape Cod with a broken axle. Handled it no problem.
My friends and I drove the snot out of it. From VT to NYC down to Georgia a couple of times, out west. Also used to take it out on the beach here on the Cape.
Youre right about the paint. On my trooper, even though it was a new england car, the paint always looked perfect. Best paint job on any automobile I've ever owned.

Anyway, thats enough of that...

Z~