Can't go wrong with the 3800 engine, and the supercharger is a bonus. Heck, with what people are paying for used cars these days it's a smart move to find one of these older sleepers for a commuter car.
Absolutely badass car. I've owned a Park Ave and two LeSabres with the 3800 and they were all bombproof. Only issues across 500K+ miles of ownership was one transmission rebuilt, an intake manifold gasket replaced and one failed ignition coil. They rode great and actually didn't get bad MPG. Unbreakable and a great cruiser.
@@bluwngI had a 2000 lesabre. I think between the 2 cars the park avenue has a bit more goodies making it somewhat more luxurious. I want to say they both ride the same. The video mentions it and it's true try to buy from an older person that has taken good care of the car. Idk if it was a lesabre or just a buick thing in general from that year but the window regulators on my lesabre would stop working and would have to be replaced it's not hard to replace or expensive there's plenty of youtube videos on how to do it just throwing it out there it's nothing that should scare you from purchasing a buick.
Why do people keep saying early-2000’s? Most of the cars GM was building at that time were designed and introduced in the late-90’s. This Park Avenue for instance came out in ‘97.
@@LateNightCable The years of the Lesabre many associate with the Park Ave because they are so similar in this generation was actually 2000 -2005 -which a lot of people just tend to remember offhand, and was also the Park Ave/Sabre's last generation of production ending in 05. Also many meaningful updates that made these cars special on the inside happened around 2001 to 05 -which represents the majority of survivors still on the road today. My 04 Lesabre limited I picked up a few years back often gets remembered by people as an "early 2000's" era GM -largely considered the last time GM got these things right🙂.....at least the engine anyway.
@@LateNightCablemost of the good ones and high end models came out in 2000-01. The Park Avenue did come out in 97 but I think it was much nicer after its refresh in 2003.
A few years ago, I bought an 06 Buick Lucerne with the 3800 engine for 4500 bucks to save some miles for my main car (a mini countryman s all4). The Lucerne has been bulletproof and I drive it way more than my mini - I’m actually thinking about selling the mini and just having the Lucerne. You’re not wrong about the seats either, most comfortable car I’ve ever been in. Trunk is also huge. Best car I ever owned (had a sonata, Highlander, challenger before my 2 current cars)
Is there a huge difference between the Park Avenue and the LeSabre? I have a 2005 LeSabre and had a 2000 LeSabre, both had the most miserable seats ever in a four door sedan. Absolutely miserable to drive in.
I remember test driving one of these at a dealer sponsored ride & drive event at Mile High Stadium in Denver. Out of all the cars I drove, this car impressed me the most that day. It's cliche, but the older I get, the more I appreciate that floaty land yacht feel BUT, going through the little slalom course they set up, I was surprised how well it handled ... considering. At Denver altitude, that supercharger made the car feel quiet but nimble.
My old neighbor had one of those and we got to borrow it when I was little. We thought that car was sooo fancy with the magic volume knob and the passenger climate control. Not to mention how smooth of a ride it was
My 2000 Ultra is sitting out front right now. Been driving it forever, I’m the only owner, and have refused over the years to buy a new car. I’m too in love with this one.
@@TonyBasuro My work requires me to travel the world. I've rented cars on almost every continent and as recently as two weeks ago. I can go through the alphabet A-Z and have rented so many brands. What you said really is one of the reasons I have bias. There are no cars you can see out of, small window glass all round, overcomplicated controls, unnecessary screens and tech. Never liked feeling confined in a coupe-like atmosphere. I suppose some people love all of that, but I'll pass. Not my cup of tea just like my car is not someone else's.
I have a 2001 Ultra as my daily driver in the past 50k miles I have only washed it and Changed the oil gets 25 mpg around town and almost 32 on the highway a excellent car paid$325. For it a few years ago love it
We owned a 2000 Park Avenue. (Regular Engine 3.8L) It was a nice ride. I commuted 4-5 days a week in it. (150 miles round trip). When I got out of work my back would be hurting a LOT. Now this Park Ave had the BEST Lumbar Seats with Heated Seats of any car I ever owned. The Lumbar would seem to 'Fill Up' and 'Form Fit' into your lower back. It was wonderful when added with the Heated Seat. Even in July. My back would stop hurting by the time I got home from work. Lumbar Seats that I have in my Toyota has a kind of a 'Pinch Bar' that would Open and/or Close on your lower back. They are OK but nothing like the Buick Park Avenue's 'Bladder System'. Anyone else here knows what I am talking about?
Up-voted and subscribed. But I think you missed an important feature of the 3800 engine platform. That is the surprisingly great fuel economy to power ratio. These cars often got 26 to 29 MPG driving interstate at 70-80 mph and north of 30 mpg when you don't mind being passed and are in no particular hurry, like the old grandma or grndpa that drove these. Hard to believe the economy when you take into account torque, hp, comfort and space. With fuel prices and the economy as it is, the efficiency of this drive train is the real draw that makes them extremely under valued.
I had a regular 1999 Park Avenue. Had 92,000 miles when i got it 13 years old. I put another175,000 miles in it in 7 years. Was moms old car and paid her $3,000, about the trade in value. Dad kept it well maintained, and it was the best cheap car i ever had, and it even got over 30 mpg in the interstate.
Buick has always had decent, reliable,affordable transportation. My second car was a 1984 Buick century. My first was a V6 base Camaro. The cost to run the Buick was probably half as much to run,and insure. But I would always recommend for a first car,A Buick. Especially with the bulletproof 3800.
My 1997 grand marquis broke down going to pick up my check from work and my uncle has a 98 Buick lesabre with 99,485 miles it has some rust not horrible and with a intake gasket leak but seems like I might get it for $1200-1400 I just need some to get to work and around town the car market is crazy right now! Plus I love the way Buicks look personally! Thanks if you see this, for the info on it makes me feel a lot more comfortable with potentially going through with it soon!
With the cost of vehicles today the Buick Park Avenue is a super value. Especially for a daily driver. I own several cars and just purchased a Buick Lucerne which replaced the Park Avenue. My Lucerne is a CXS an it's a one owner car. I had one as a company car back in 2007 and loved it. I've owned, American cars, Asian cars, and European cars. I always gravitate back to American cars. I have a real soft spot for Buick's and Cadillac's. Anyway, for, $2500.00 bucks how can you go wrong? Cheers!!!
This make me miss the amazing 1986 Buick Century T Type I had about 2 years ago. Only had 90k miles on it when I sold it. I regret it so much. Still the best riding vehicles I’ve ever driven! With good power from that 3.8!
I’ve heard that the later model years like 03-05 had performance upgrades on the ride and handling. People write about the Ultra having excellent road manners in spirited driving, but I’m sure the 97 is still great 👍
I recently purchased one of these, a 2000 Ultra in Light Bronzemist Metallic (beige) over (more) beige leather interior. Old man driven and maintained, It currently has about 1thirty2kms or 82,000 miles on the clock. Parked indoors and oil sprayed every year, this thing has zero rust on it. I'm in Canada, by the way. I have put about 5000km on it so far, with just an oil change and thermostat replacement. In an incredible stroke of luck, i picked up this car for $2000CAD. This will go down as my best used car purchase ever, and I've had some good ones.
These late 90’s to mid 2000’s Buicks were actually very reliable and well built cars. It’s not uncommon to see them still on the road today with 250k + Miles.
The 3800 V6 is such a great engine. It's bullet proof, and has a great balance of power and mpg. Mind you that this was also before 200+hp wasn't as ubiquitous as it is today.
I have my mother's Ice Blue 1991 Park Avenue, shipped to Perry Buick in Norfolk, Virginia September 9, 1990, built with every option offered by Buick and Cadillac, has been maintained with the proverbial 'open checkbook' and every feature operates as designed.
In some ways, modern cars perplex me. These older cars, with their torquey engines and relaxed ride are what most folks really want. The seemingly everlasting quest to make cars "sporty" really makes them less enjoyable for the average consumer. I've owned, and own modern cars, but every time I drive them I wish them to be just a wee bit quieter and a bit more compliant. When I'm just traveling the highways or commuting, a sporty, firm ride and excess noise don't add to my driving experience. I hypothosize that the consumer preferring SUV's is a by product of the failure of manufacturers to make comfortable sedans that can deal with our substandard roads.
This car is a great purchase and I hope you enjoy it awhile. My dad had one new and it was outstanding. I like the style of the first gen better. There are cup holders in the front. They are inside the arm rest and when you showed it I said “well those broke.” They folded out and were flimsy. The Bonneville was on the same chassis and drove similar. Bonneville owners tended to drive a lot more so there are very few examples out there now unlike this lovely machine. Congrats
Don't forget the 12v charge port at the bottom of the drivers seat....it's kind of hidden, but pretty handy. Especially since my cigarette lighter port refuses to charge anything, although the lighter functions. I owned my 2000 Park Ave for years before I discovered it.
I absolutely LOVE my 2003 Park Avenue Ultra! Supercharged, 3800 engine, it is just an all around comfortable car. Mine was a one owner that boughtnit brand new so its clean and was well cared for. We love "Grandpa" and my two teenage sons both are constantly wanting to take my car out with their buddies, they all love my rolling time capsule. 😂
😄- I have a Regal GS with a fairly bit built 3.8, up to & including LSD and intercooler...it has the big Caddy discs on front, 9C1 suspension bits with a mix of German and Japanese parts and 18" wheels. It's my favorite all-around car
I bought one of these for beater car money to get me around temporarily, 5 years later I can't find a good reason to get rid of it. Did some basic mods to help the supercharged 3800 run a little more efficiently (cooler thermostat, exhaust downpipe) and even got an access port for tuning which allowed me to drastically improve the shifting feel and longevity of the transmission. Literally the only things I don't like about it are the body roll when turning and needing to run premium gas. I would've preferred a Regal GS but for the deal I got I can't complain. Really fantastic cars for the money, mine just passed 180k miles and runs like new.
I owned a early 2000's Chevy Impala with the 3.8L normally aspirated engine. It had adequate power and would run all day long at 75 mph and still get 30+ mpg on the highway (in town, about 21 mpg). Many later model full-size cars wouldn't do that. The Impala wasn't Toyota reliable, but it was the most reliable American Big Three vehicle that I've owned. The Buick Park Avenue had the best design of the GM full-size cars of that vintage, though. If I found a Park Avenue of that vintage with low miles in good shape at a decent price, I'd likely buy it.
We had had an "03 LeSabre with the same 3800 series 2, I thought it was great myself though you won't win any races with it and the 4 speed automatic from that era is way more reliable than the later 6;or 8 speeds
@@LateNightCable Try again. I hand calculated my fuel economy on every tank of fuel. Highway mileage was usually 28-32 mpg. 30 mpg was feasible in these cars if one didn't drive them stupidly.
He is trolling...... So.w how those little GM v6s could do it all day long. My dad owned 2001 Lumina I think with the 3400 and it would scald my 2000 Camry with the 2.2 four banger from the red light and skipping gas stations. He could get 30-31 all day long and the best I could do was 20mpg with a tailwind. It was so frustrating for me...... 😅😊 I don't know why.....
I have a 1999 Ultra with barely 74k on it. Except for a couple of minor things, it's pretty much in pristine condition. I love the power, even though it requires premium fuel. On the highway it's a cruise ship getting better mileage than one would expect. That said I just don't get to drive it much and will probably being selling it. Good video. That engine is one of the best GM ever made. Very reliable provided you don't ignore normal maintenance. Good video.
I had a 1994 Park Avenue and it was ahead of its time. Pillow top seats, electronic climate control, exterior light monitor, automatic trunk, everything. The subframe rotted out and I fixed it twice but then the entire car just became in a state of disrepair. I miss it.
Love the reference to the Chrysler LHS. I had one for some time and loved that car. Personally, the interior is way nicer than in the Park Ave, it actually felt like a car you are not ashamed to have friends/family in and the same could be said about the exterior. However, funny enough, while the high output 3.5 had some serious punch for the day (250hp I believe), mine was toast at like 125,000 miles which was such a shame. The engine in those Park Aves were darn near bulletproof, especially the non supercharged ones. Of all GM cars with the supercharged 3,800 engine, the Grand Prix GTP of the early 2000’s was the best. Those things were down right fast.
I Owned a 2001 GP GTP, dark green w/tan leather interior. Same 3800 super charged engine. It had sooo many options, even heads up display on the wind shield. Loved that car. Didn't love the cost of premium gas though.
Back when these barges were part of the rental car fleet, we did the route 66 thing with one down the California coast and only thing I liked about it was the trunk was huge for all the antiques I was buying. I remember the car was olive and that color suited that thing to a T because it was like sitting in a military style plastic trashcan.
I needed a cheap car didnt care about if something happenedtoit. In 2024 I got a $2600 2005 park Avenue 105k miles with sunroof. Switched to michelin defender low rolling resistance tires and get 30 mpg.
Loved this car! I had a 2003 black Buick Park Avenue Ultra with factory Chrome Wheels and Chrome ventiports in my college days. I took care of mine religiously and easily achieved 30 mpg on the highway. Never left me stranded, WITH the exception of the time I let my idiot father-in-law work on it 🙄 I'd still have it today if it weren't for my careless ex-wife who smashed it into the back of her mother's car.😓 Ended up selling it to buy a stupid Kia soul my ex insisted we needed. Which blew up after father did "maintenance" on it. (I can laugh now because that thing was embarrassing to drive) If I had to do it all over again I would've kept the Buick and Booted the @itch
I purchased a 2003 Park Avenue base, great car. Only 115k miles and paid 4900 for a southern car with no rust, and lots of recent maintenance. Hope to drive it for a long time.
About 15 years ago I got my wife a 1994 Oldsmobile 98 for $1000 and it only had 43,000 miles on the 3.8 and it's been nothing but reliable to say the least. We have took that car everywhere and it was flawless. It now has 350,000 miles on it and just blew a head gasket. I'm probably gonna get it fixed in the fall. Well she needed a new car so a few weeks ago I found a 2004 Buick regal LS with the 3.8 and 120,000 on it and it looks almost new and runs like a champ. It runs and drives almost the same as the Oldsmobile it's just has a little more sporty suspension. I Love the 3.8 litre engine and I'm expecting to get the same long lasting reliability out of this Buick regal. Cars with this engine are excellent and plentiful for now. I wish they would start making this engine again and putting it in GM vehicle's. The junk they put out now is embarrassing. My wife works at a Buick GMC dealership here in Pennsylvania and all the new stuff breaks constantly as our old car kept rolling along 😂
I'm with you. I had a "Turn of the Century" Century (aka one of the ones built for Y2K). Loved that car. With a front bench, it was a literal couch on wheels. I think mine had the 3400 but I dreamed of swapping in a 3800SC and make it a sleeper. It wasn't to be. I sold it to my brother and 4 years of Ohio winters turned it into a pile of dust.
These are wonderful. I used to think Pathers were great, but if I was driving from sea to shining sea, I'd rather do it in a Park Avenue, Lucerne, or LaCrosse.
I have an '01 3800 (not supercharged) Park Avenue. I bought it 7 years ago with 240,000 miles. I’ve naturally had to replace a lot of peripherals that wear out over age, but the core of the car is that legendary engine. It has been one of the finest machines I've ever owned. It is a beast on the highway and rides like it's on a cloud.
The Buick ultra is an awesome purchase as a daily. Luxury at low price with reliability and inexpensive upkeep. Rides great and goes too. Thanks for the review
I like the LeSabre of the best specially the trunk badge on the Buick Park Avenue just doesn’t look all that fancy like it does on the LeSabre my Buick is a custom cloth seats and I love that car
The Park Avenue and LeSabre were some of the most reliable vehicles ever made by GM. That was only tarnished by the 4T60E transmission and the plastic cooling elbows and intake manifold, not really well known for longevity.
Best car I ever owned. A ‘95 park ave ultra. Bought it off an old lady had only 10k miles and was 10yrs old. I put on 200k plus miles till engine seized up.
I like the LeSabre. We had a 1994 Limited. With velour 'Catcher Mitt' Seats. It in my opinion the LeSabre rode even nicer then my 2000 Park Ave. Also it had the Series 1 3.8L engine which meant it had more horse power then the later 3.8L. HOWEVER, they had a bad Rust Problem. Mine rusted out in the rear wheel wells (Trunk). That was sad because it had 208K miles on it and would have run for 200K more miles but I ended up selling it for $1500.00. That was when I bought the Park Ave.
I have seen some without it surprisingly -for an Ultra. Yet I recently picked up an 04 Lesabre Limited that actually has one -extremely odd for one of these. So they were options people could add or delete🙂
Really nice car with what you need and don’t need that’s comfortable great on gas, easy to fix. I’d gladly look at anything with the panther or g platforms.
Cool video. I have a soft spot for the Buicks of that generation. I had a 99 Regal. It was super comfy! My dad had a Century. Was a little more rolly and spacious. I miss them to be honest.
Had a 2002 Park Ave Ultra - beautiful car. Bought it in 2005. Comfortable, fast (could keep up with a Porsche in a straight line up to 80 mph). Fully loaded - heads up display, sunroof, sport suspension option, Bose sound system. I loved driving it, and it looked great - was a true old-guy-whose-made-it prestige boat. But.... yeah - big BUT. The electrical system... The sketchiest thing I've ever seen. The headlights would go on and off by themselves, even when parked with the ignition off. It would drain the battery, and strand me. Weird dashboard and display hauntings... I put 2 computers in it, traced every major circuit out of the junction block, had the dealer almost take the car completely apart - and never found the problem. Traded it in for Chevy Volt - have loved that little go cart for 8 yrs now.
Let's see that car vs some newer cars or newer trucks. What can it out run? Idk just curious. I know I know, not a performance car. When you said it felt like it had more balls. Love this content. Keep up the good work
i currently own a 98 and 2000 Leasable AND a 2002 Buick regal all 3800. I bought the 98 from an estate sale for $2000 with only 70k miles in 2020. My 2000 I just bought this year 2024 for $1,000 with 59k miles from a 20 y/o It was his great grandpas car and the 2002 Regal I paid just $500.00 in 2023 had 179k miles.( I didn't need it but HAD to for 500 bucks) these are SO simple to fix all you need is basic tools and RUclips, that's it. . both LeSabre needed intake and valve cover gaskets an intake gasket sounds like a real scary job but all that can be done in an afternoon with basic tools in your driveway for 100.00 or less. . The regal had a knock BUT I know the Buick 3800 like the back of my hand it was an older guy that actually worked at Buicka as sales and it was up to date on maintenance . it was a collapsed lifter, cost 8 dollars on Amazon. the gaskets I had to take off to get to the lifter cost more than the lifter. My theory is they were putting in zero weight oil at the dealership that they put in new cars and that super thin oil collapsed it over time IDK. My old car is a 98 LeSabre.i still use it as a parts car. bought it in 2005 for 3,500 or so with 40k miles. it survived 100k miles with my ex wife driving it which is an absolute testament to the quality of the car. once it started with the paint peeling my wife got a Honda Civic and I took over the Buick cause IDC other people's opinions when it's paid off. the bottom eventually rusted out from towing the jetskis on the beach dragging the bottom so many, many times. I parked it in 2020 still use it for parts occasionally and bought another same everything but color.
I bought my 2002 with 196k miles 7 years ago for $1,500. So far $3,000 in repairs and still going strong at 275k miles. Wife and I love it. Why buy new?
The reason that many of the older cars didn't have cup holders in the front is because we would buy an accessory and put it on the hump in between the driver and passenger floor area. it would have cup holders and storage space for media 😁 whether it were eight tracks or cassette tapes. it's actually much better that way because you get to choose which center console you want to buy so you can get whatever sized cup holders you prefer. the last time I bought one of those was for an old Cadillac and it had really nice adjustable cup holders on it. of course this is going back to the days when steering wheels didn't have airbags so you could walk into any car parts store and there would be a huge selection of aftermarket steering wheels that any teenager would typically buy whichever one he liked the appearance and feel of and then just put it on. back in the days when most every woman knew how to change a flat on her own. we didn't need cell phones and we didn't need to pay people to do every damn thing for us. I also remember with my '80s Camaros, I could come out from work and jump up on top of the hood and run across it to get to the driver side without ever even imagining that it would dent because cars were not made of tin foil then lol.. nowadays if you so much as lean on a car or let a shopping cart touch a car, there is damage.. but of course today's cars are made to be disposable because they just want to keep selling another one to people every 2 years.
You are correct. The Buick Ultra is a good buy when you find one that has been "well-maintained." Once these cars get some serious miles under the hood as this one has clearly demonstrated, you definitely what this to be a "secondary" vehicle, not your primary car or a reliable road warrior. The $2500 you can pick these cars up for is just the beginning. I purchased a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix 3800 V6 brand new. I have taken care of this car like it's the last car I'll ever get to own. I've changed the oil "every" 3500 miles (full synthetic). I've had the transmission flushed "every 50k miles, yet at 220K miles I've had to replace just about "everything" except the engine and transmission, and I'm crossing my fingers. My goal is to drive this car at least 300K miles before upgrading, but my confidence is mellowing, to put it nicely. Had I purchased a Toyota Camey or Honda Accord instead of this GM product, I don't think I would be this nervous, in my opinion. But GM got me. The Pontiac was thousands less expensive. The Achilles heel for shopping price instead of reliability.
You would have to get used to 20mpg in that Camry of the same vintage. Toyotas don't do fuel mileage. That Pontiac has saved you enough gas money to buy a new engine man. My Camry used to piss me off with that fuel mileage.
Don't sweat the little things, the overall comfort for those miles matters. As an owner of many different cars, and a delivery driver of thousands of rental cars, I found buick much more fitting. Toyota never fit me as good, I'd have to take it to a coach builder and have the seat redone and the pedals moved. If I ever bought one new.
You have a great car.I have one issue, the Twilight Sentinel is your automatic headlights, not how long the lights stayed on after the car was off. The slider selects how dark it is when the lights come on and how far away oncoming traffic is before the bright headlights are dimmed.
Maybe on other models. The manual for the Park Avenue describes it as he did. It'll adjust the exterior lights being on after being shut off anywhere from instant to several minutes.
I like how they ride, I have had two from that platform the head gasket always seemed to go, that said an electric conversion of something like a mark vIII would be great.
Hey. I’m a new subscriber behind your review of the Lincoln Town Car. The Park Avenue Ultra is likely the sporty among luxury barges. It is also a bargain at the pump. Great fuel economy and the 2004 was an absolute tour de force for Buick. If you could expand on your barge review to include the Lucerne that would be great.
Can't go wrong with the 3800 engine, and the supercharger is a bonus. Heck, with what people are paying for used cars these days it's a smart move to find one of these older sleepers for a commuter car.
Exactly what I'm doing for my first car. My classmates may say "Hey, Gramps" but I don't care. This thing will be superior to their Scions and Nissans
Brake job for the rear. Both sides. Hoses to rotors. Well under 150. Coworker just spent 150 on a single emergency brake
Absolutely badass car. I've owned a Park Ave and two LeSabres with the 3800 and they were all bombproof. Only issues across 500K+ miles of ownership was one transmission rebuilt, an intake manifold gasket replaced and one failed ignition coil. They rode great and actually didn't get bad MPG. Unbreakable and a great cruiser.
You are the person I need advice from, looking at LeSabre vs Park Ave, is LeSabre just as nice from luxury and does it ride as smooth? Thanks
@@bluwngI had a 2000 lesabre. I think between the 2 cars the park avenue has a bit more goodies making it somewhat more luxurious. I want to say they both ride the same. The video mentions it and it's true try to buy from an older person that has taken good care of the car. Idk if it was a lesabre or just a buick thing in general from that year but the window regulators on my lesabre would stop working and would have to be replaced it's not hard to replace or expensive there's plenty of youtube videos on how to do it just throwing it out there it's nothing that should scare you from purchasing a buick.
I miss this type of car! The early 2000’s gm cars were some of the best cars they made.
Why do people keep saying early-2000’s? Most of the cars GM was building at that time were designed and introduced in the late-90’s. This Park Avenue for instance came out in ‘97.
@@LateNightCable The years of the Lesabre many associate with the Park Ave because they are so similar in this generation was actually 2000 -2005 -which a lot of people just tend to remember offhand, and was also the Park Ave/Sabre's last generation of production ending in 05. Also many meaningful updates that made these cars special on the inside happened around 2001 to 05 -which represents the majority of survivors still on the road today. My 04 Lesabre limited I picked up a few years back often gets remembered by people as an "early 2000's" era GM -largely considered the last time GM got these things right🙂.....at least the engine anyway.
@@LateNightCablemost of the good ones and high end models came out in 2000-01. The Park Avenue did come out in 97 but I think it was much nicer after its refresh in 2003.
Picked up a 02 this morning with 135k miles for $1500 - few bumps & bruises, buy rides great! Can’t wait to work on it
The early to mid 2000's were the most comfortable seats ever made. GM knocked it out of the park with those seats...
A few years ago, I bought an 06 Buick Lucerne with the 3800 engine for 4500 bucks to save some miles for my main car (a mini countryman s all4). The Lucerne has been bulletproof and I drive it way more than my mini - I’m actually thinking about selling the mini and just having the Lucerne. You’re not wrong about the seats either, most comfortable car I’ve ever been in. Trunk is also huge. Best car I ever owned (had a sonata, Highlander, challenger before my 2 current cars)
Is there a huge difference between the Park Avenue and the LeSabre? I have a 2005 LeSabre and had a 2000 LeSabre, both had the most miserable seats ever in a four door sedan. Absolutely miserable to drive in.
Late 90’s, not early 2000’s.
Late 70s and early 80s, not 90's and 2000's. You guys are just young weren't around then
Even the truck seats were great from 1999-2007. Comfort really peaked in GM at this time across the board
My first car was a 2001 Buick Regal GSE and I absolutely loved it. Miss it to this day
My grandpa has had two Buicks both lasting over 400,000 miles .
I remember test driving one of these at a dealer sponsored ride & drive event at Mile High Stadium in Denver. Out of all the cars I drove, this car impressed me the most that day. It's cliche, but the older I get, the more I appreciate that floaty land yacht feel BUT, going through the little slalom course they set up, I was surprised how well it handled ... considering. At Denver altitude, that supercharger made the car feel quiet but nimble.
My old neighbor had one of those and we got to borrow it when I was little. We thought that car was sooo fancy with the magic volume knob and the passenger climate control. Not to mention how smooth of a ride it was
You had a nice neighbor!
My 2000 Ultra is sitting out front right now. Been driving it forever, I’m the only owner, and have refused over the years to buy a new car. I’m too in love with this one.
rent a new car every now and then. It should confirm your bias, until you decide you want the car to drive itself more.
@@TonyBasuro My work requires me to travel the world. I've rented cars on almost every continent and as recently as two weeks ago. I can go through the alphabet A-Z and have rented so many brands. What you said really is one of the reasons I have bias. There are no cars you can see out of, small window glass all round, overcomplicated controls, unnecessary screens and tech. Never liked feeling confined in a coupe-like atmosphere. I suppose some people love all of that, but I'll pass. Not my cup of tea just like my car is not someone else's.
@@socalguy97 Buick.
I absolutely love the look of the stereo. big fat buttons. big fat digits on the screen, looks great.
I have a 2001 Ultra as my daily driver in the past 50k miles I have only washed it and Changed the oil gets 25 mpg around town and almost 32 on the highway a excellent car paid$325. For it a few years ago love it
We owned a 2000 Park Avenue. (Regular Engine 3.8L)
It was a nice ride. I commuted 4-5 days a week in it. (150 miles round trip).
When I got out of work my back would be hurting a LOT.
Now this Park Ave had the BEST Lumbar Seats with Heated Seats of any car I ever owned.
The Lumbar would seem to 'Fill Up' and 'Form Fit' into your lower back.
It was wonderful when added with the Heated Seat. Even in July.
My back would stop hurting by the time I got home from work.
Lumbar Seats that I have in my Toyota has a kind of a 'Pinch Bar' that would Open and/or Close on your lower back.
They are OK but nothing like the Buick Park Avenue's 'Bladder System'.
Anyone else here knows what I am talking about?
Up-voted and subscribed. But I think you missed an important feature of the 3800 engine platform. That is the surprisingly great fuel economy to power ratio. These cars often got 26 to 29 MPG driving interstate at 70-80 mph and north of 30 mpg when you don't mind being passed and are in no particular hurry, like the old grandma or grndpa that drove these. Hard to believe the economy when you take into account torque, hp, comfort and space. With fuel prices and the economy as it is, the efficiency of this drive train is the real draw that makes them extremely under valued.
I had a regular 1999 Park Avenue. Had 92,000 miles when i got it 13 years old. I put another175,000 miles in it in 7 years. Was moms old car and paid her $3,000, about the trade in value. Dad kept it well maintained, and it was the best cheap car i ever had, and it even got over 30 mpg in the interstate.
Buick has always had decent, reliable,affordable transportation. My second car was a 1984 Buick century. My first was a V6 base Camaro. The cost to run the Buick was probably half as much to run,and insure. But I would always recommend for a first car,A Buick. Especially with the bulletproof 3800.
I have a 2001 Park Avenue Ultra w/ 292,000 miles workin’ on 300,000!!!
I had the Regal GS from this era. Great cars, great engine, just make sure to replace the plastic coolant elbows with the metal ones.
My 1997 grand marquis broke down going to pick up my check from work and my uncle has a 98 Buick lesabre with 99,485 miles it has some rust not horrible and with a intake gasket leak but seems like I might get it for $1200-1400 I just need some to get to work and around town the car market is crazy right now! Plus I love the way Buicks look personally! Thanks if you see this, for the info on it makes me feel a lot more comfortable with potentially going through with it soon!
With the cost of vehicles today the Buick Park Avenue is a super value. Especially for a daily driver. I own several cars and just purchased a Buick Lucerne which replaced the Park Avenue. My Lucerne is a CXS an it's a one owner car. I had one as a company car back in 2007 and loved it. I've owned, American cars, Asian cars, and European cars. I always gravitate back to American cars. I have a real soft spot for Buick's and Cadillac's. Anyway, for, $2500.00 bucks how can you go wrong? Cheers!!!
This make me miss the amazing 1986 Buick Century T Type I had about 2 years ago. Only had 90k miles on it when I sold it. I regret it so much. Still the best riding vehicles I’ve ever driven! With good power from that 3.8!
I love the way these float down the road.
I’ve heard that the later model years like 03-05 had performance upgrades on the ride and handling. People write about the Ultra having excellent road manners in spirited driving, but I’m sure the 97 is still great 👍
Guys this car has a cd player AND a cassette player
The stereo is damn good as well
I recently purchased one of these, a 2000 Ultra in Light Bronzemist Metallic (beige) over (more) beige leather interior. Old man driven and maintained, It currently has about 1thirty2kms or 82,000 miles on the clock. Parked indoors and oil sprayed every year, this thing has zero rust on it. I'm in Canada, by the way. I have put about 5000km on it so far, with just an oil change and thermostat replacement. In an incredible stroke of luck, i picked up this car for $2000CAD. This will go down as my best used car purchase ever, and I've had some good ones.
These late 90’s to mid 2000’s Buicks were actually very reliable and well built cars. It’s not uncommon to see them still on the road today with 250k + Miles.
The 3800 V6 is such a great engine. It's bullet proof, and has a great balance of power and mpg. Mind you that this was also before 200+hp wasn't as ubiquitous as it is today.
I have my mother's Ice Blue 1991 Park Avenue, shipped to Perry Buick in Norfolk, Virginia September 9, 1990, built with every option
offered by Buick and Cadillac, has been maintained with the proverbial 'open checkbook' and every feature operates as designed.
In some ways, modern cars perplex me. These older cars, with their torquey engines and relaxed ride are what most folks really want. The seemingly everlasting quest to make cars "sporty" really makes them less enjoyable for the average consumer. I've owned, and own modern cars, but every time I drive them I wish them to be just a wee bit quieter and a bit more compliant. When I'm just traveling the highways or commuting, a sporty, firm ride and excess noise don't add to my driving experience. I hypothosize that the consumer preferring SUV's is a by product of the failure of manufacturers to make comfortable sedans that can deal with our substandard roads.
Love the "older car" vids.
Keep em coming plz.
This car is a great purchase and I hope you enjoy it awhile. My dad had one new and it was outstanding. I like the style of the first gen better. There are cup holders in the front. They are inside the arm rest and when you showed it I said “well those broke.” They folded out and were flimsy. The Bonneville was on the same chassis and drove similar. Bonneville owners tended to drive a lot more so there are very few examples out there now unlike this lovely machine. Congrats
Don't forget the 12v charge port at the bottom of the drivers seat....it's kind of hidden, but pretty handy. Especially since my cigarette lighter port refuses to charge anything, although the lighter functions. I owned my 2000 Park Ave for years before I discovered it.
Dude, I forgot it had that until you mentioned it!
I absolutely LOVE my 2003 Park Avenue Ultra! Supercharged, 3800 engine, it is just an all around comfortable car. Mine was a one owner that boughtnit brand new so its clean and was well cared for. We love "Grandpa" and my two teenage sons both are constantly wanting to take my car out with their buddies, they all love my rolling time capsule. 😂
Need to find a Buick Roadmaster to compare to the Grand Marquis. Sometimes I wonder if I’m the only one who misses the big American sedan.
I miss those old, big. Comfortable sedans.
Nice ride. A new set of headlight covers and a wash and wax and poof, you've got yourself one fine car!
One of my favorite cars
😄- I have a Regal GS with a fairly bit built 3.8, up to & including LSD and intercooler...it has the big Caddy discs on front, 9C1 suspension bits with a mix of German and Japanese parts and 18" wheels. It's my favorite all-around car
I bought one of these for beater car money to get me around temporarily, 5 years later I can't find a good reason to get rid of it. Did some basic mods to help the supercharged 3800 run a little more efficiently (cooler thermostat, exhaust downpipe) and even got an access port for tuning which allowed me to drastically improve the shifting feel and longevity of the transmission. Literally the only things I don't like about it are the body roll when turning and needing to run premium gas. I would've preferred a Regal GS but for the deal I got I can't complain. Really fantastic cars for the money, mine just passed 180k miles and runs like new.
Always loved these and they are a nice value. They look unique too, which today stands for something.
I owned a early 2000's Chevy Impala with the 3.8L normally aspirated engine. It had adequate power and would run all day long at 75 mph and still get 30+ mpg on the highway (in town, about 21 mpg). Many later model full-size cars wouldn't do that. The Impala wasn't Toyota reliable, but it was the most reliable American Big Three vehicle that I've owned. The Buick Park Avenue had the best design of the GM full-size cars of that vintage, though. If I found a Park Avenue of that vintage with low miles in good shape at a decent price, I'd likely buy it.
You never got 30+ mpg from that, keep dreaming.
We had had an "03 LeSabre with the same 3800 series 2, I thought it was great myself though you won't win any races with it and the 4 speed automatic from that era is way more reliable than the later 6;or 8 speeds
@@LateNightCable Try again. I hand calculated my fuel economy on every tank of fuel. Highway mileage was usually 28-32 mpg. 30 mpg was feasible in these cars if one didn't drive them stupidly.
He is trolling...... So.w how those little GM v6s could do it all day long. My dad owned 2001 Lumina I think with the 3400 and it would scald my 2000 Camry with the 2.2 four banger from the red light and skipping gas stations. He could get 30-31 all day long and the best I could do was 20mpg with a tailwind. It was so frustrating for me...... 😅😊 I don't know why.....
Neither car ever left us stranded for the record also.... lol. Both would fire off with the first start
I have a 1999 Ultra with barely 74k on it. Except for a couple of minor things, it's pretty much in pristine condition. I love the power, even though it requires premium fuel. On the highway it's a cruise ship getting better mileage than one would expect. That said I just don't get to drive it much and will probably being selling it. Good video. That engine is one of the best GM ever made. Very reliable provided you don't ignore normal maintenance. Good video.
Price ?
I had a 2003 Park Avenue and it was amazing. I've thought about picking another one up just for fun.
You do get cup holders in the front, they flip out of the center console. Maybe the ones ones on this car are broken.
The Ultra wasn't very floaty. Probably just blown shocks.
It has air ride suspension
I had a 1994 Park Avenue and it was ahead of its time. Pillow top seats, electronic climate control, exterior light monitor, automatic trunk, everything. The subframe rotted out and I fixed it twice but then the entire car just became in a state of disrepair. I miss it.
Love the reference to the Chrysler LHS. I had one for some time and loved that car. Personally, the interior is way nicer than in the Park Ave, it actually felt like a car you are not ashamed to have friends/family in and the same could be said about the exterior. However, funny enough, while the high output 3.5 had some serious punch for the day (250hp I believe), mine was toast at like 125,000 miles which was such a shame. The engine in those Park Aves were darn near bulletproof, especially the non supercharged ones. Of all GM cars with the supercharged 3,800 engine, the Grand Prix GTP of the early 2000’s was the best. Those things were down right fast.
I Owned a 2001 GP GTP, dark green w/tan leather interior. Same 3800 super charged engine. It had sooo many options, even heads up display on the wind shield. Loved that car. Didn't love the cost of premium gas though.
Back when these barges were part of the rental car fleet, we did the route 66 thing with one down the California coast and only thing I liked about it was the trunk was huge for all the antiques I was buying. I remember the car was olive and that color suited that thing to a T because it was like sitting in a military style plastic trashcan.
Keep these great shows coming. Thanks, enjoyed watching very much
I needed a cheap car didnt care about if something happenedtoit. In 2024 I got a $2600 2005 park Avenue 105k miles with sunroof. Switched to michelin defender low rolling resistance tires and get 30 mpg.
This car is on my wishlist for a sleeper build.
Loved this car! I had a 2003 black Buick Park Avenue Ultra with factory Chrome Wheels and Chrome ventiports in my college days.
I took care of mine religiously and easily achieved 30 mpg on the highway.
Never left me stranded, WITH the exception of the time I let my idiot father-in-law work on it 🙄 I'd still have it today if it weren't for my careless ex-wife who smashed it into the back of her mother's car.😓
Ended up selling it to buy a stupid Kia soul my ex insisted we needed. Which blew up after father did "maintenance" on it.
(I can laugh now because that thing was embarrassing to drive)
If I had to do it all over again I would've kept the Buick and Booted the @itch
relatable 😂😂
lol I feel bad for you. Going from a park avenue to a shitty Kia Soul. I agree that a majority of women don't have the best motor skills.
I purchased a 2003 Park Avenue base, great car. Only 115k miles and paid 4900 for a southern car with no rust, and lots of recent maintenance. Hope to drive it for a long time.
About 15 years ago I got my wife a 1994 Oldsmobile 98 for $1000 and it only had 43,000 miles on the 3.8 and it's been nothing but reliable to say the least. We have took that car everywhere and it was flawless. It now has 350,000 miles on it and just blew a head gasket. I'm probably gonna get it fixed in the fall. Well she needed a new car so a few weeks ago I found a 2004 Buick regal LS with the 3.8 and 120,000 on it and it looks almost new and runs like a champ. It runs and drives almost the same as the Oldsmobile it's just has a little more sporty suspension. I Love the 3.8 litre engine and I'm expecting to get the same long lasting reliability out of this Buick regal. Cars with this engine are excellent and plentiful for now. I wish they would start making this engine again and putting it in GM vehicle's. The junk they put out now is embarrassing. My wife works at a Buick GMC dealership here in Pennsylvania and all the new stuff breaks constantly as our old car kept rolling along 😂
I had a 99 Supercharger and it was awesome it even had the heads up display!!!! Miss it so much
Love this car, and the supercharger icing on the cake.
My favourite Buick is the LeSabre like the one in The Bourne Legacy
I'm with you. I had a "Turn of the Century" Century (aka one of the ones built for Y2K). Loved that car. With a front bench, it was a literal couch on wheels. I think mine had the 3400 but I dreamed of swapping in a 3800SC and make it a sleeper. It wasn't to be. I sold it to my brother and 4 years of Ohio winters turned it into a pile of dust.
I have a 2001 PA, and other Buicks. I am set for my driving needs for decades.
These are wonderful. I used to think Pathers were great, but if I was driving from sea to shining sea, I'd rather do it in a Park Avenue, Lucerne, or LaCrosse.
I have an '01 3800 (not supercharged) Park Avenue. I bought it 7 years ago with 240,000 miles. I’ve naturally had to replace a lot of peripherals that wear out over age, but the core of the car is that legendary engine. It has been one of the finest machines I've ever owned. It is a beast on the highway and rides like it's on a cloud.
neighbour in his 70s has one and I always show interest in her care and shovel his driveway
I love this funny oddball car reviews, they are always a great idea for not a lot of money👍🤗
I had a 03 Ultra. I miss that car so much.
Love these land yachts!
The Buick ultra is an awesome purchase as a daily. Luxury at low price with reliability and inexpensive upkeep. Rides great and goes too. Thanks for the review
Great video! Your reviews make me happy.
Nice.. had a 99' LeSabre, bought cheap with 63k on the odometer. Nicest, most reliable car I've owned. Wish i could get another!
09:23
I love it when a car has more BALLS.
I like the LeSabre of the best specially the trunk badge on the Buick Park Avenue just doesn’t look all that fancy like it does on the LeSabre my Buick is a custom cloth seats and I love that car
The Park Avenue and LeSabre were some of the most reliable vehicles ever made by GM. That was only tarnished by the 4T60E transmission and the plastic cooling elbows and intake manifold, not really well known for longevity.
You do have cup holders in the front. They fold out of the center console/armrest.
Best car I ever owned. A ‘95 park ave ultra. Bought it off an old lady had only 10k miles and was 10yrs old. I put on 200k plus miles till engine seized up.
Love my 2000 Le Sabre! 120,000 miles, still like new and gets great fuel economy!
I like the LeSabre. We had a 1994 Limited.
With velour 'Catcher Mitt' Seats.
It in my opinion the LeSabre rode even nicer then my 2000 Park Ave.
Also it had the Series 1 3.8L engine which meant it had more horse power then the later 3.8L.
HOWEVER, they had a bad Rust Problem.
Mine rusted out in the rear wheel wells (Trunk).
That was sad because it had 208K miles on it and would have run for 200K more miles but I ended up selling it for $1500.00.
That was when I bought the Park Ave.
Just for giggles, I would install smaller supercharger pulley. Hopefully intake cooling parts are upgraded.
Let's not forget that the Ultra also got you a decent heads-up display!
I have seen some without it surprisingly -for an Ultra. Yet I recently picked up an 04 Lesabre Limited that actually has one -extremely odd for one of these. So they were options people could add or delete🙂
Awesome cars. Tyler Hoover's, from Hoovie's Garage, favorite!
I'm a 2 door coupe man myself but I've always had a soft spot for buicks
Riviera. they got the blower, it's personal luxury with 2 doors and a trunk
Now I want one.
If it had a manual it be a ultimate sleeper .
Really nice car with what you need and don’t need that’s comfortable great on gas, easy to fix. I’d gladly look at anything with the panther or g platforms.
Cool video. I have a soft spot for the Buicks of that generation. I had a 99 Regal. It was super comfy! My dad had a Century. Was a little more rolly and spacious. I miss them to be honest.
My dad had one of these. It was fun to burn the rubber at 16 years old.
Currently looking at thos car for $950 250k on it needs new water pump and a good vacuum clean, good or bad deal?
Had a 2002 Park Ave Ultra - beautiful car. Bought it in 2005. Comfortable, fast (could keep up with a Porsche in a straight line up to 80 mph). Fully loaded - heads up display, sunroof, sport suspension option, Bose sound system. I loved driving it, and it looked great - was a true old-guy-whose-made-it prestige boat. But.... yeah - big BUT. The electrical system... The sketchiest thing I've ever seen. The headlights would go on and off by themselves, even when parked with the ignition off. It would drain the battery, and strand me. Weird dashboard and display hauntings... I put 2 computers in it, traced every major circuit out of the junction block, had the dealer almost take the car completely apart - and never found the problem. Traded it in for Chevy Volt - have loved that little go cart for 8 yrs now.
Just got my kids 15 and 17 a 2004 Buick LeSabre here in Florida. 47k like new.
Let's see that car vs some newer cars or newer trucks. What can it out run? Idk just curious. I know I know, not a performance car. When you said it felt like it had more balls. Love this content. Keep up the good work
2000 Buick Lesabre here. Best $1,000 car ever.
i got burned on the 3.6 enclave and i lovrd the buick style so im looking to get one of these.
I paid $450 for my 1997 Ultra with 128, 000 miles! Simply amazing vehicle, now it has 160k and still running great! AWESOME vehicle for sure.
Ive got an 01 ultra. Love it.
i currently own a 98 and 2000 Leasable AND a 2002 Buick regal all 3800. I bought the 98 from an estate sale for $2000 with only 70k miles in 2020. My 2000 I just bought this year 2024 for $1,000 with 59k miles from a 20 y/o It was his great grandpas car and the 2002 Regal I paid just $500.00 in 2023 had 179k miles.( I didn't need it but HAD to for 500 bucks) these are SO simple to fix all you need is basic tools and RUclips, that's it. . both LeSabre needed intake and valve cover gaskets an intake gasket sounds like a real scary job but all that can be done in an afternoon with basic tools in your driveway for 100.00 or less. . The regal had a knock BUT I know the Buick 3800 like the back of my hand it was an older guy that actually worked at Buicka as sales and it was up to date on maintenance . it was a collapsed lifter, cost 8 dollars on Amazon. the gaskets I had to take off to get to the lifter cost more than the lifter. My theory is they were putting in zero weight oil at the dealership that they put in new cars and that super thin oil collapsed it over time IDK. My old car is a 98 LeSabre.i still use it as a parts car. bought it in 2005 for 3,500 or so with 40k miles. it survived 100k miles with my ex wife driving it which is an absolute testament to the quality of the car. once it started with the paint peeling my wife got a Honda Civic and I took over the Buick cause IDC other people's opinions when it's paid off. the bottom eventually rusted out from towing the jetskis on the beach dragging the bottom so many, many times. I parked it in 2020 still use it for parts occasionally and bought another same everything but color.
You're on the money! Good cars for not a lot of money. Early 2000's Pontiac are great for not a lot of money.
I bought my 2002 with 196k miles 7 years ago for $1,500. So far $3,000 in repairs and still going strong at 275k miles. Wife and I love it. Why buy new?
I get 23mpg+ in town and had 36mpg on the highway. for a full size car. I think that is good. 2003 3800s II Buick LeSaber
The reason that many of the older cars didn't have cup holders in the front is because we would buy an accessory and put it on the hump in between the driver and passenger floor area. it would have cup holders and storage space for media 😁 whether it were eight tracks or cassette tapes. it's actually much better that way because you get to choose which center console you want to buy so you can get whatever sized cup holders you prefer. the last time I bought one of those was for an old Cadillac and it had really nice adjustable cup holders on it. of course this is going back to the days when steering wheels didn't have airbags so you could walk into any car parts store and there would be a huge selection of aftermarket steering wheels that any teenager would typically buy whichever one he liked the appearance and feel of and then just put it on. back in the days when most every woman knew how to change a flat on her own. we didn't need cell phones and we didn't need to pay people to do every damn thing for us. I also remember with my '80s Camaros, I could come out from work and jump up on top of the hood and run across it to get to the driver side without ever even imagining that it would dent because cars were not made of tin foil then lol.. nowadays if you so much as lean on a car or let a shopping cart touch a car, there is damage.. but of course today's cars are made to be disposable because they just want to keep selling another one to people every 2 years.
I just got gifted a 2001 Park Ave. with 116,000 miles for free rides. Amazing.
You are correct. The Buick Ultra is a good buy when you find one that has been "well-maintained." Once these cars get some serious miles under the hood as this one has clearly demonstrated, you definitely what this to be a "secondary" vehicle, not your primary car or a reliable road warrior. The $2500 you can pick these cars up for is just the beginning. I purchased a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix 3800 V6 brand new. I have taken care of this car like it's the last car I'll ever get to own. I've changed the oil "every" 3500 miles (full synthetic). I've had the transmission flushed "every 50k miles, yet at 220K miles I've had to replace just about "everything" except the engine and transmission, and I'm crossing my fingers. My goal is to drive this car at least 300K miles before upgrading, but my confidence is mellowing, to put it nicely. Had I purchased a Toyota Camey or Honda Accord instead of this GM product, I don't think I would be this nervous, in my opinion. But GM got me. The Pontiac was thousands less expensive. The Achilles heel for shopping price instead of reliability.
You would have to get used to 20mpg in that Camry of the same vintage. Toyotas don't do fuel mileage. That Pontiac has saved you enough gas money to buy a new engine man. My Camry used to piss me off with that fuel mileage.
Don't sweat the little things, the overall comfort for those miles matters. As an owner of many different cars, and a delivery driver of thousands of rental cars, I found buick much more fitting. Toyota never fit me as good, I'd have to take it to a coach builder and have the seat redone and the pedals moved. If I ever bought one new.
You have a great car.I have one issue, the Twilight Sentinel is your automatic headlights, not how long the lights stayed on after the car was off. The slider selects how dark it is when the lights come on and how far away oncoming traffic is before the bright headlights are dimmed.
Maybe on other models.
The manual for the Park Avenue describes it as he did. It'll adjust the exterior lights being on after being shut off anywhere from instant to several minutes.
I like how they ride, I have had two from that platform the head gasket always seemed to go, that said an electric conversion of something like a mark vIII would be great.
Hey. I’m a new subscriber behind your review of the Lincoln Town Car. The Park Avenue Ultra is likely the sporty among luxury barges. It is also a bargain at the pump. Great fuel economy and the 2004 was an absolute tour de force for Buick. If you could expand on your barge review to include the Lucerne that would be great.