Those last generation Park Avenues were such beautiful luxury cars. They had a nicer appearance than the Lucerne. The exterior and interior styling had a whole combination of contemporary, European, cruising, sporty, and true American.
These 1997 large front wheel drive GM cars were the first cars that had the new 4T65-E transmission. These transmissions were mated to the L67 supercharged 3.8L V-6. I remember these products very fondly since I did my small part to design the 4T65-E transmission when I worked at GM Powertrain. What a fantastic bunch of people who brought this to market! We beat the crap out of our development cars and they kept on running. I remember testing high speed durability in a Bonneville SSEi with a stock 4T65-E and L67. We had to disable the speed limiter and we ran it at 156 mph (250 kph) at Ft Stockton, Texas. Yes, the Bonneville was able to go that fast. A full tank of gas lasted about 30 minutes. A set of new tires lasted about four tanks of gas. If I recall correctly, the 4T65-Es came out of the testing without any major problems. We did this high speed testing for the Volvo S80 project. The 4T65-E and L67 came in the Park Ave, Riviera, and Grand Prix. All great cars and I wanted to say which one was my favorite, though they all had things I liked.
Cool story. I'm not going to lie: I don't think the styling was all that great. However, I saw a comment saying how cheap these were compared the the lexus's, Infinity's, and BMW's of the era. I would only reply that these Buicks are the only luxury cars from that era that I still see alot of today! GM always gets a bad rep for reliability. My own personal experiences have proven otherwise. Hell, I have a 1996 Chevrolet CK 1500 Silverado trim that has 305,000 miles on the original long block and tranny. Still starts up faster than my trailblazer and if you put a glass of water on top of the air breather, it would eventually come to a still: that's how smooth that 5.7 runs with over three hundred grand miles( not easy ones by any means, this truck is beat to shit). My trailblazer unfortunately proved otherwise; my tranny ate itself inside out at 107,000 miles. Even then, it still liked me home 5 miles stuck in third gear. That 4.2 I6 powerhouse is something else though. So much power and such a smooth engine. It outruns my buddy's 351 windser.
Oh they are. I've got a 97 park avenue base model. Same color as the test model. Got it used after someone ran into my last car, so I got this one with the insurance money. I'm pretty psyched.
You're not wrong! My cousin bought one for super cheap with over 340,000 miles on it and it was still probably the most comfortable seat i ever sat in.
Yes, very comfortable indeed. The ride quality and sound deadening are even better! Hell, having driven my grandma's '05 base model, I would even say it's somewhat sporty! Of course, it also weighs less than some Camaros thanks to its front-wheel drive configuration. Yeah, I really like that car.
I drive a 2004 Park Avenue Ultra and im gonna be 100% honest, the body,i interior, trunk and everything else about it hasn't changed. So if a vehicle looks exactly the same over the spam of 7 years, that means they did something right!!
20 years ago the focus on a car was luxury and interior room. Today we're focused on MPG and technology. I wonder what consumer concerns/needs will be 20 years from now?
I like classic American luxury like this. We have a Roadmaster it's awesome. We have to take a few 8 hour roadtrips a year hauling 1500lbs in our wagon. It does it effortlessly, it's super comfy, and gets 25mpg! Our Caravan would kill our backs and struggle with the weight. Especially braking.
+Tully3674 Modern cars emphasize all of the above, and safety too. Entry level small cars offer leather and accessories too due to consumer demands. Every time a model gets redesigned, it gets bigger, due to all that added "stuff" and safety. A modern Honda Civic is bigger than the '90s Accord. MPG may get a lot of talk, but cars haven't advanced that much, because of all that bulk, and the oil and auto industry is keeping our expectations low.
Kupidzheart Check out my page, I swapped it in stock originally, it was a blast. Now I rebuilt the motor with a large cam, and turbo ;) check out Pt. 2 to hear it run. Sounds wicked
+SaturnValleyGamer The Park Avenue currently in the Chinese market for Buick. Once you think about it, you're right. The current model names like Verano, Encore, and Enclave represent the current and new Buick.
+SaturnValleyGamer unfortunately all of our car companies that used to make Senior citizen appeal cars have stopped making these types of cars. That's ok, cause now you can get cars like this for cheap and still get that big, floaty, cross-country car.
Billy Sou I really wish the RWD 2007-2012 Chinese- only Park Ave (also known as the Holden Commodore and Pontiac G8) was available here in the states. It was a beauty.
these cars were luxuy sleeper cars. many people will look at this car and think anything but powerful, but 0 to 60 in 7.5 for a car this big was very quick by 97 standards and still moderately quick by todays standards for such a big car.
The Park Avenue had decent performance for a large sedan. Even though it only had a supercharged V6, it was pretty much as quick as the Mercury Marauder. If only the Park Avenue was rear wheel drive, then things would have gotten really interesting!
My best friend's dad had a champagne one and to this day I still think it might have been the best and most comfortable luxury car I have ever been in, even better than my S-Classes. I wish GM would make it again, just like it was nothing changed except maybe the infotainment system.
The regular non supercharged 3800 B6 was a super reliable engine but adding the supercharger created a lot of problems with lubrication and Cooling. The four-speed automatic was this car's biggest weak spot but if you had the standard Park Avenue and properly maintained the automatic transmission you had a pretty reliable car.
when i was your age, I was more into luxury cars with muscle, than those small sports cars that like sitting on the road. comfort and power is where its at.
Funny enough I’m old enough to remember when these big boats were still being made; many are still on the road thanks in part to the SFi series 2 and later 3 3800 V6
Zach I like the way the car looks for 1997, I love the wide open leather filled interior with no shortage of luxuries, I would love to be stuck in traffic in that car. Also, brand new and without the influence of newer car designs, I think it looks pretty sharp.
$52,600+ in today's money seems insane with what you can buy today, but that supercharged 3800 was the real deal. 91 in the 1/4, especially from Motorweek in a big FWD barge, was seriously hauling in 1997.
Yes but remember this wasn't designed for speed it was designed as a comfortable cruiser, if it was tuned up to today's modern V6 specs, it would probably have over 300 HP and like 295 LB-FT of torque....it would absolutely still hang with modern cars
WOW!! I've just been reading over some of the comments that have poured in over the last six years, and I gotta tell ya, I'm impressed! Since my daughter wrecked my 2000 Le Sabre years ago, and I'm back in my prime (61 is a prime number), I'd love to own one of them Grandpa cars again. I'd drive it till I die. These comments reaffirm their reliability. I'd take one over anything that's newer than ten years old. Having had several Buicks, and yes, some were lemons; still, I'd own one over anything else.
My grandpa had one and I remember thinking it was so cool that it was supercharged when I was a kid . Red paint red leather interior. The man would light up a smoke and try to burn the front tires if I asked him to sometimes lol
Standard CD changer connector in the trunk plus a $20 interface box and an (expensive) iPod equals total integration with the stock radio; No crusty old headphone jacks or "aux" required. Want a USB port? Monoprice has cigarette lighter adapters for less than $15. And any decent smartphone made in the last five years (with an Internet connection and Google Maps) will give you a better GPS experience than GM (or any other aftermarket radio for that matter) could have thanks to that handy little shelf in front of the climate control. Park Avenue. It's more modern than you thought ;-).
Worked at a buick dealer in the late 90s, the average buick owner in my state was about 76 years old, and drove about 5k miles a year. Sounds terrible but when the codgers croak there should be a pile of these with low miles for sale!
3” gain in wheelbase, huge! Gotta love the bench seat. Mom can slide left or right and smack you with a newspaper if you don’t behave. Oops, we can’t do that anymore. My friend’s dad is a weekend mechanic and swears by this car.
@@nunyabusiness896 but they sell well too, they aren't completely neutered by laws that insurance companies make for safety, I guess safe cars are a good thing of course but they often feel stale and clinical while also feeling overbuilt and cramped, as much as I dislike trucks as family cars their the only modern vehicles short of a van that are enjoyable to fill up with a group of friends and drive in. I do automotive detailing and of all the mercades BMW and Cadillac cars among others I've been in the only cars I seem to enjoy being in are older early 200s cars trucks and chrysler 300s/chargers....
@@nunyabusiness896 I would be nice if they offered a lap belt and center airbag for cars. It's too bad the bench seat is gone. I feel so cramped up front with the massive consoles crowding my feet. I guess I'm just old-school.
Can we get a review for the 2000 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi and the 1998 Cadillac Seville STS?? Also the Motor Week for the 1989/90 Pontiac Turbo Grand Prix??
I Had a white 97 Buick park ave for 3 years. It was 175,000 on the dash when I got. When I sold it it 230,000 miles on it. Those 3800 motors last forever if take of the right.
+Nutz4Gunz45 Yes, I was warned by several auto techs about this. So I had to find out myself. Nasty grey, noxious stuff that smelled like it was made out of the secretions of rotting cadavers. I should have listened, but I never learn.
+keri “KJ” ellerbe When they were built in Flint Michigan they sure was all real American car. My father in law was an engine tester for all 3800's when they were built here also. He told me some horror stories about when they did testing on the turbo version in the 80's. Spark plug electrodes would go shooting into the roof. could not use standard plugs in them.
so happy to see another retro review added! I love watching them. they take me back in time. I especially like the reviews about the dodge Daytona but all I can find are reviews of the pre 1987..will you guys at motor week please dig deep and find some reviews of the 1987-1993 Daytona @Motorweek
A great car probably one of buicks best super comforatable, powerful, suprizingly economical for such a big car and most importantly dependable many still on the road today 22 years later
I just watched the 1995 Aurora MW review and can't believe it's over a full second faster to 60mph. It's only around 100lbs lighter than the Aurora, and from what I remember riding in it 20 years ago, the Park Avenue ride quality is wonderful.
I really like this car, the "geriatric" reputation is really undeserved! Besides, Elderly people are just like us regular folks, only more experienced.
I have long struggled to find a first car within my budget that would be fun, comfortable, and safe all wrapped into a single package. This car solves that problem and more.
I've been in a 2005 N/A model. I love its floaty ride as a passenger, but I hate driving it. It's disconnected from the road, slow to respond, squishy on the brakes, and I found speed particularly difficult to gauge, but I guess that's the whole point of it - a smooth, tasteful ride isolated from world. Like I said though, the ride itself is at least as soothing as any BMW or Benz.
@@tednguyen2034 Very reliable" brought it 8 years ago with 80k miles Now with over 2011k miles, most of the repairs under warranty repaired' the most dependable vehicle I have ever owned other than regular maintenance
This car would still sell today if Buick brought it back. Front bench seats are more comfortable than bucket seats, offer more room, and you can easily exit the car from either side when there is no center console in the way. Bucket seats belong in sports cars not luxury cars.
This was the first car whose design I really liked when I as 16. Everyone hates it.. got a marquis now though I'll probably stick with big cars forever
I remember seeing these on the road when new but see very few now. 3800 series engines were great and I loved driving any of the many cars that used them. Buicks, Oldsmobile, Pontiac and Chevys, loved the exhaust note and the feeling of having much more power than they did. Yet all I can say bad is the styling. I'd have returned that car, even if it was a gift!
@@1voiceofstl In 2022 this is still true. I see LeSabres and Centurys here in the Ohio Valley more than any other Buicks, except for the Enclave and Lucerne.
I bought a Regal GS I'm 2004. I drove the hell out of it, sold it to my dad, he gave it to my brother. It still runs and drives like it did back then. The poor cars had rust problems like old Toyotas. I was replacing brake lines as early as 2005! My brother almost gave up on the car over the same problem, and leaky tires due to plated wheels. I considered an L67 C4 corvette for a moment.
I learn to drive on a 98 one of these they are awesome they lay rubber with the front tires and are more luxurious then a Cadillac inside in my opinion. Plus if you filled it up with 100 octane it was crazy fast
I the '80s, I had a 1975 Park Avenue sedan (First year as a "trim" option on the Electra 225). At the same time I had a 1975 Coupe DeVille. The interior of the Buick was FAR more luxurious than the Cadillac, even THEN. The Caddy was more about the STATEMENT it made. The Buick was more about "content". Fun fact: an internal GM report stated that some of GMs wealthiest buyers were BUICK buyers. Caddys were often bought by the newly rich (and ofcourse, Celebrities). Big Buicks were bough by "Old Money" families who wanted luxury WITHOUT "displaying" their wealth.
I had a 1997 Buick Park Avenue ultra that I bought as my first car. To this day I still regret getting rid of it. Everything was great including engine, interior, comfort, mpg and was surprisingly fast and powerful for a v6. The supercharger made such a big difference in power.
l own a 2004 park avenue. its not only a very beautifully styled car in looks and comfort . But its one of the best by far in total dependability, lf your looking for a true gorgeous classic that retains it's stunning beauty. These stunning classics still are out there. if you drive one, you'll want it.
As a teenager at the time I remember thinking these were just typical GM front wheel drive garbage that only old people drive and now I’m at the age where I genuinely like it.
As I owner of a 99 base model with apparently quite a few ultra features I love this car I’ve put more money then I ever thought I would but the car is older then me and still drives amazing
I had some good seat time in a supercharged Bonneville of similar year, tall gears in the 4 spd auto means you are on boost a long time in each gear, lots of low RPM torque, and that fun supercharger whiney noise!
Very seriously considering getting one of these old sleds. I'd prefer the Regal GS but you can get a near-mint Park Avenue Ultra for the same price people are asking for a clapped-out Regal GS.
This car was so much what GM was at the time. Handles decent, comfy, and a fair price. Problem was so few people would even look at it. The imports had all the image while to get the volume needed GM had to sell into rental fleets. Today this would make a decent car for a family on budget if they could find a lower mileage example what with it being 20 years old. Had GM not been so awful in the 1980s this might have sold better.
AZDuffman i admit this was a pretty nice car at the time but the problem was likely that it was competing in a segment the imports had no interest in. the largest cars from Lexus Acura and Infiniti were easily a size smaller and held more appeal for anyone who wasnt longing for the 70s. Perhaps if GM took its smaller cars more seriously, every tile you stepped down a size in the GM lineup you saw a significant drop in apparent effort. a similar era Regal wasnt appreciably nicer to be in than a well optioned Lumina and the Lumina wasnt anything to brag about compared to an optioned up Accord.
It's not like GM didn't do it to themselves, the 70's and 80's were a bad time for GM fans. I haven't heard great things about GM electronics of this era either.
You can get a 90s era Buick Ultra for less than 2 grand in 2018. That is not just a bargain, it is a steal. If anything this car will go up in value as it becomes more rare.
I wish my 97 park avenue ultra looked as nice as the ones in this vid :' I got mine used and for free from a family friend. It sat in a driveway for like 5 years.
I had a base 1998 Park Avenue for eight years and used it as a daily commuter car with a 100 mile round trip. I bought it used for $3000.00 and it had 56K on when I got it and when I sold it for $900.00 after I retired from my job, the car had 291,000 miles. It was always a great freeway car and average 28 MPG. Yeah it got ugly over the years I had it as the paint started to get chips then sections peeling off but the car always ran smooth and easy. I never cared how powerful the car was but I wanted good ride and that car returned that with ease. the only thing I ever did was the crankshaft sensor at 69,000 miles and I resealed the engine, replaced the intake manifold and resealed the transmission in my shop at 110,000 miles. the only complaint that my wife ever had with the car was the fussy seatbelts as you had to pull them out slowly and with a steady pull or it would lock up. Sure wish GM would rethink the decision to discontinue most car productions but CUV's have taken over and I am not immune as I bought one as nothing best the utility of them.
I've had one of these I gotten from a friend of mine. It wasn't the best car I've ever owned and that was because of the condition. It had 260K miles, the clear coat was coming off and the driver's seat was totally warn out. Also I was finding oil in the coolant reservoir. Hopefully I might get another that would be in a lot better shape.
I had one of these, it was a 99. The transmission went out at 199,000 miles... and the fuel pump. I had it fixed for $1800. The the manifold broke away from the engine shortly after. I was going to set the car on fire while it had a full tank of premium, essentially blowing it up. This guy I knew only had a motorcycle, but he had a wife and child. I gave him the car for $500 and he welded the manifold back together and put new plugs and wires on it. It ran fine. I didn't care though, I'd just bought a new Deville. THAT car was bulletproof for me. I didn't do a thing to that car the last 50,000 miles I had it... no maintenance no lightbulbs, zero. I'm done with GM and Dodge. I'm not even a Ford person. I've had enough of the new vehicles. I had a 1990 Taurus SHO that gave me no issue until 210,000 miles. I drove that car lock I stole it. At 210,000 miles I had to replace the crankshaft position sensor. I just had to strip a Honda Odyssey dash down to the sheet metal just to replace the heater core. Then I took it to Honda to have it looked at. $1069 later. They fixed the power door, power rear hatch and the airbag wiring harness. I could go on...
Buick was always an under rated vehicle line. The press was always pro japanese cars and against american. Buick had better quality than most of the Japanese luxury cars. Thanks John for setting the record straight!
coolcamaroo12 if you stay where cars are prone to rust because of weather conditions then it shouldn't surprise you, all cars rust under those circumstances, here in North Carolina you hardly see rusted out cars.
Man that car still looks good all these years later imo... & it sure made good power. I mean those specs are not far off of my 2.0t Honda Accord. Actually has more TQ than the Accord 😂
The riviera sc 1996 was good for 15.2. I loved it when a ricer tried me and once a turbo talon with mods... didn’t spoil quick enough to hang with the sc light to light.
l drive a 2004 Buick Park Avenue. its an absolute favorite. gorgeous comfortable interior. premium sound system. Just a round about CLASS act automobile.
the legendary 3800, one of GM's best engines ever
This 3800 V¨supercharged is durable 205 hp and 240 hp
that and the original LS the best engines ever made by them
Those last generation Park Avenues were such beautiful luxury cars. They had a nicer appearance than the Lucerne. The exterior and interior styling had a whole combination of contemporary, European, cruising, sporty, and true American.
The engine 3800 V6 is resistent, solid and durbale. Best engine everytimes of GM
These 1997 large front wheel drive GM cars were the first cars that had the new 4T65-E transmission. These transmissions were mated to the L67 supercharged 3.8L V-6. I remember these products very fondly since I did my small part to design the 4T65-E transmission when I worked at GM Powertrain. What a fantastic bunch of people who brought this to market! We beat the crap out of our development cars and they kept on running. I remember testing high speed durability in a Bonneville SSEi with a stock 4T65-E and L67. We had to disable the speed limiter and we ran it at 156 mph (250 kph) at Ft Stockton, Texas. Yes, the Bonneville was able to go that fast. A full tank of gas lasted about 30 minutes. A set of new tires lasted about four tanks of gas. If I recall correctly, the 4T65-Es came out of the testing without any major problems. We did this high speed testing for the Volvo S80 project. The 4T65-E and L67 came in the Park Ave, Riviera, and Grand Prix. All great cars and I wanted to say which one was my favorite, though they all had things I liked.
Cool story. I'm not going to lie: I don't think the styling was all that great. However, I saw a comment saying how cheap these were compared the the lexus's, Infinity's, and BMW's of the era. I would only reply that these Buicks are the only luxury cars from that era that I still see alot of today! GM always gets a bad rep for reliability. My own personal experiences have proven otherwise. Hell, I have a 1996 Chevrolet CK 1500 Silverado trim that has 305,000 miles on the original long block and tranny. Still starts up faster than my trailblazer and if you put a glass of water on top of the air breather, it would eventually come to a still: that's how smooth that 5.7 runs with over three hundred grand miles( not easy ones by any means, this truck is beat to shit). My trailblazer unfortunately proved otherwise; my tranny ate itself inside out at 107,000 miles. Even then, it still liked me home 5 miles stuck in third gear. That 4.2 I6 powerhouse is something else though. So much power and such a smooth engine. It outruns my buddy's 351 windser.
nice bob
Bob can you make videos about your experience working at gm you would get a lot of views
Speaking of Governors, how do you disable them?
You forgot the Buick Regal GS.
those seats are probably more comfortable than my couch
they are nice seats, but not as nice as the late 70s early 80s park avenues with the crush velour..IMO
Oh they are. I've got a 97 park avenue base model. Same color as the test model. Got it used after someone ran into my last car, so I got this one with the insurance money. I'm pretty psyched.
You're not wrong! My cousin bought one for super cheap with over 340,000 miles on it and it was still probably the most comfortable seat i ever sat in.
Yes, very comfortable indeed. The ride quality and sound deadening are even better! Hell, having driven my grandma's '05 base model, I would even say it's somewhat sporty! Of course, it also weighs less than some Camaros thanks to its front-wheel drive configuration. Yeah, I really like that car.
And as useless for driving as your couch.
I drive a 2004 Park Avenue Ultra and im gonna be 100% honest, the body,i interior, trunk and everything else about it hasn't changed. So if a vehicle looks exactly the same over the spam of 7 years, that means they did something right!!
20 years ago the focus on a car was luxury and interior room. Today we're focused on MPG and technology. I wonder what consumer concerns/needs will be 20 years from now?
I like classic American luxury like this. We have a Roadmaster it's awesome. We have to take a few 8 hour roadtrips a year hauling 1500lbs in our wagon. It does it effortlessly, it's super comfy, and gets 25mpg! Our Caravan would kill our backs and struggle with the weight. Especially braking.
it'll probably be some electric car self-driving self parking
+jim cherkas yep. it will be whose self-driving has a smoother ride, less jerky input.
+Tully3674 Modern cars emphasize all of the above, and safety too. Entry level small cars offer leather and accessories too due to consumer demands. Every time a model gets redesigned, it gets bigger, due to all that added "stuff" and safety. A modern Honda Civic is bigger than the '90s Accord. MPG may get a lot of talk, but cars haven't advanced that much, because of all that bulk, and the oil and auto industry is keeping our expectations low.
cadsux That's not exactly what I meant. Oldschool American Luxury is giant cars, sofa seats, super quiet, tons of Torque too
I love American luxury, can't go wrong the 3800 S/C those are badass engines.
+Ian Thompson that's the best part of the car by far
+Ian Thompson had a 2004 gtp, very underrated
Kupidzheart Oh I know, stuffed one in my Fiero :)
+Ian Thompson any videos of it?
Kupidzheart Check out my page, I swapped it in stock originally, it was a blast. Now I rebuilt the motor with a large cam, and turbo ;) check out Pt. 2 to hear it run. Sounds wicked
I think the Park Ave. name should return to the current Buick lineup.
It won't, they want to get rid of the "senior citizen" image they've had.
+SaturnValleyGamer The Park Avenue currently in the Chinese market for Buick. Once you think about it, you're right. The current model names like Verano, Encore, and Enclave represent the current and new Buick.
It has. It's just called the Lacrosse now.
+SaturnValleyGamer unfortunately all of our car companies that used to make Senior citizen appeal cars have stopped making these types of cars. That's ok, cause now you can get cars like this for cheap and still get that big, floaty, cross-country car.
Billy Sou I really wish the RWD 2007-2012 Chinese- only Park Ave (also known as the Holden Commodore and Pontiac G8) was available here in the states. It was a beauty.
these cars were luxuy sleeper cars. many people will look at this car and think anything but powerful, but 0 to 60 in 7.5 for a car this big was very quick by 97 standards and still moderately quick by todays standards for such a big car.
+SteelCity1981 they made this car all the way up to 2005
And the Riviera was even quicker. I got a 6.9 0-60 back when I got mine with 44,000 miles.
I have an 03 ultra I just hit 98k. I have an intake and exhaust with a smaller pulley. haha She gets 22 mpg and pulls hard.
damn
SteelCity1981 I have 97 Ultra Super Charged, just rolled over to 100K, I love it so much. It's the best for highway driving.
I was working at a buick dealer when these came out. Quite expensive, seemed modern and impressive and wasnt a volume seller. Nice cars still, imo
The Park Avenue had decent performance for a large sedan. Even though it only had a supercharged V6, it was pretty much as quick as the Mercury Marauder. If only the Park Avenue was rear wheel drive, then things would have gotten really interesting!
if all the 3800 cars were, imagine
My best friend's dad had a champagne one and to this day I still think it might have been the best and most comfortable luxury car I have ever been in, even better than my S-Classes. I wish GM would make it again, just like it was nothing changed except maybe the infotainment system.
I miss cars with front bench seating... :(
Yes they shout bring them back.
why?
samsquantch14 Because why not?
misamisatv My 08 lucerne has bench seating and I'm never getting rid of her
The Lucerne arm rest hits my left knee. I like Park/Lesabre better.
The regular non supercharged 3800 B6 was a super reliable engine but adding the supercharger created a lot of problems with lubrication and Cooling. The four-speed automatic was this car's biggest weak spot but if you had the standard Park Avenue and properly maintained the automatic transmission you had a pretty reliable car.
I love these old grandpa cars. Even though it's not THAT old. I'm only 16 so it's weird for me to like them
Its not THAT weird
@John Sluder I'm 23 and I love old school Buicks more than any cars. Most people my age are into stuff like Integras/RSX and Celicas.
The old ones are real comfy
when i was your age, I was more into luxury cars with muscle, than those small sports cars that like sitting on the road. comfort and power is where its at.
Smart kid you got grandpa knowledge on cars
Funny enough I’m old enough to remember when these big boats were still being made; many are still on the road thanks in part to the SFi series 2 and later 3 3800 V6
Wow what a beautifully designed car. I would've never guessed that those we're so nice.
Zach I like the way the car looks for 1997, I love the wide open leather filled interior with no shortage of luxuries, I would love to be stuck in traffic in that car. Also, brand new and without the influence of newer car designs, I think it looks pretty sharp.
If a Town Car is too big for you, this is the "bullet proof" beater you need.
@z Mediocre how? These Park Aves are well known to top 300K miles. Doesn't sound very mediocre to me.
$52,600+ in today's money seems insane with what you can buy today, but that supercharged 3800 was the real deal. 91 in the 1/4, especially from Motorweek in a big FWD barge, was seriously hauling in 1997.
Yes but remember this wasn't designed for speed it was designed as a comfortable cruiser, if it was tuned up to today's modern V6 specs, it would probably have over 300 HP and like 295 LB-FT of torque....it would absolutely still hang with modern cars
@@truckercowboyed2638 Exactly, if it was given at least a 5 speed or a 6 speed transmission the 0-60 would have been lower.
WOW!! I've just been reading over some of the comments that have poured in over the last six years, and I gotta tell ya, I'm impressed! Since my daughter wrecked my 2000 Le Sabre years ago, and I'm back in my prime (61 is a prime number), I'd love to own one of them Grandpa cars again. I'd drive it till I die. These comments reaffirm their reliability. I'd take one over anything that's newer than ten years old. Having had several Buicks, and yes, some were lemons; still, I'd own one over anything else.
My grandpa had one and I remember thinking it was so cool that it was supercharged when I was a kid . Red paint red leather interior.
The man would light up a smoke and try to burn the front tires if I asked him to sometimes lol
What!!?? No usb or aux port?? No GPS???!!! hahahaha nah this was the real deal back in time I LOVE IT!!!!
Standard CD changer connector in the trunk plus a $20 interface box and an (expensive) iPod equals total integration with the stock radio; No crusty old headphone jacks or "aux" required.
Want a USB port? Monoprice has cigarette lighter adapters for less than $15.
And any decent smartphone made in the last five years (with an Internet connection and Google Maps) will give you a better GPS experience than GM (or any other aftermarket radio for that matter) could have thanks to that handy little shelf in front of the climate control.
Park Avenue. It's more modern than you thought ;-).
Browningate do you know of any videos or guides covering what connector is required for this ?
@Paul - There's a review of one on my channel ;-). The iSimple PxDp iPod2Car peripheral will get you the iPod integration.
This was my first car at 16, absolutely loved it! Rode like a dream.
These are great cars and very impressive! I love my Park Avenue!
Worked at a buick dealer in the late 90s, the average buick owner in my state was about 76 years old, and drove about 5k miles a year. Sounds terrible but when the codgers croak there should be a pile of these with low miles for sale!
rfdsdf1 Jus got one with 108000 miles rides like a champ
rfdsdf1, that's how my grandma got her's, some old guy died and she got it for cheap with low miles.
Literally got my '02 Century from an estate sale. I actually purchased it with around 90,000 miles on the odometer.
I got one with 84000 miles on it. Sold 3 years after someone's wife passed away. They had taken good care of the car.
"Robust curves and a wider stance for a more road dominating appearance " I have a 97 and couldn't of said It better myself
3” gain in wheelbase, huge! Gotta love the bench seat. Mom can slide left or right and smack you with a newspaper if you don’t behave. Oops, we can’t do that anymore. My friend’s dad is a weekend mechanic and swears by this car.
My old man had the Supercharged model. I fondly recall blowing the doors off a Jaguar from a stoplight back in the day.
as long as said jags were bargain bin basemodels, I'd believe that.
Why do all the newer cars have that massive center console?
Bring back the Bench seat!!
Probably safety, that center seat with just a lap belt and no air bag is not a fun place to be in a wreck.
@@nunyabusiness896 they still have full front bench on trucks base models
@@BigWheel. Work trucks are a couple decades back when it comes to safety.
@@nunyabusiness896 but they sell well too, they aren't completely neutered by laws that insurance companies make for safety, I guess safe cars are a good thing of course but they often feel stale and clinical while also feeling overbuilt and cramped, as much as I dislike trucks as family cars their the only modern vehicles short of a van that are enjoyable to fill up with a group of friends and drive in. I do automotive detailing and of all the mercades BMW and Cadillac cars among others I've been in the only cars I seem to enjoy being in are older early 200s cars trucks and chrysler 300s/chargers....
@@nunyabusiness896 I would be nice if they offered a lap belt and center airbag for cars. It's too bad the bench seat is gone. I feel so cramped up front with the massive consoles crowding my feet. I guess I'm just old-school.
Buick is my favorite GM brand!
2:52 "I can't believe it's a Buick!" Lol, how ahead of its time that phrase truly was....
What a beautiful car, to think of where Buick has gone is sad. Just thankful Buick's at one point were this cool.
Buick's are solid. The old ones have lots of space and are cool cars for going on trips
Can we get a review for the 2000 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi and the 1998 Cadillac Seville STS?? Also the Motor Week for the 1989/90 Pontiac Turbo Grand Prix??
Forget "best luxury car." This is the best car ever, period.
I Had a white 97 Buick park ave for 3 years. It was 175,000 on the dash when I got. When I sold it it 230,000 miles on it. Those 3800 motors last forever if take of the right.
This is the car I would want for a cross-country trip..
It's snappy and pulls strong throughout the rev band. I'm sold.
do a review of a 1997 grand prix gtp!!
+Ryan Vandyke I want to see the review of the 2000 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi !!!
+Ryan Vandyke I want 2 see a review of a 1987 Pontiac LeMans!!
Fun Fact: The supercharger oil smells like pickled rotting death. When changing it make sure not to spill any on yourself.
+Nutz4Gunz45 Yes, I was warned by several auto techs about this. So I had to find out myself. Nasty grey, noxious stuff that smelled like it was made out of the secretions of rotting cadavers. I should have listened, but I never learn.
I changed the supercharger oil on my regal gs the other day, you are right it smells terriable!
250kicker why?
I poured a little on my morning cereal by accident one morning, it does have a peculiar tang on the tongue.
Fatty acids/animal fat
Ahhh, real Buicks than all these German & Chinese Buicks they're trying to sell now...
Well I will take these "real Buicks" over a German badge anyday.... So Yes they won over this customer...
+keri “KJ” ellerbe When they were built in Flint Michigan they sure was all real American car. My father in law was an engine tester for all 3800's when they were built here also. He told me some horror stories about when they did testing on the turbo version in the 80's. Spark plug electrodes would go shooting into the roof. could not use standard plugs in them.
so happy to see another retro review added! I love watching them. they take me back in time. I especially like the reviews about the dodge Daytona but all I can find are reviews of the pre 1987..will you guys at motor week please dig deep and find some reviews of the 1987-1993 Daytona @Motorweek
Even by today's standards, that is a beautiful car.
A great car probably one of buicks best super comforatable, powerful, suprizingly economical for such a big car and most importantly dependable many still on the road today 22 years later
I just watched the 1995 Aurora MW review and can't believe it's over a full second faster to 60mph. It's only around 100lbs lighter than the Aurora, and from what I remember riding in it 20 years ago, the Park Avenue ride quality is wonderful.
I really like this car, the "geriatric" reputation is really undeserved! Besides, Elderly people are just like us regular folks, only more experienced.
I used to have a 1998 Park Ave, God I loved that car.
Cool, My Mom had a 1991 Silver Park Avenue Ultra, till 1998 :) It was great car, I miss it :)
My house is less comfortable looking than this car.
I have a 2000, I can confirm it is much more comfortable. It's dangerous, cause you can and will fall asleep at the wheel if you are on a long cruise.
I have long struggled to find a first car within my budget that would be fun, comfortable, and safe all wrapped into a single package. This car solves that problem and more.
I've been in a 2005 N/A model. I love its floaty ride as a passenger, but I hate driving it. It's disconnected from the road, slow to respond, squishy on the brakes, and I found speed particularly difficult to gauge, but I guess that's the whole point of it - a smooth, tasteful ride isolated from world. Like I said though, the ride itself is at least as soothing as any BMW or Benz.
The Naked Argonian I can't think of any BMW that rides better than a Park Avenue ;)
That Buick is still beautiful today in 2019. Where the automotive industry is going I am not particularly fond of. 😏🤔
Facts I had a park ave and 2 lesabres.I still drive one of them now
@@familyfirst7027 what happenes to the other two hmmmmm???
I'm sure enjoying my 05' Buick Park Avenue SE' it rides so soft and comfortable with even good gas mileage!
reliable ? repairs?
@@tednguyen2034 Very reliable" brought it 8 years ago with 80k miles
Now with over 2011k miles, most of the repairs under warranty repaired' the most dependable vehicle I have ever owned other than regular maintenance
Buick so cool when it leans in turns. Good luxury suspension. Ooh oh my buick is sick.👍😊.
This car would still sell today if Buick brought it back.
Front bench seats are more comfortable than bucket seats, offer more room, and you can easily exit the car from either side when there is no center console in the way. Bucket seats belong in sports cars not luxury cars.
This looks beautiful in white.
I love front bench seats my dad had a 02 Buick I used to always ride between my parents in the middle 😂
I have a 2001 with 40,000 miles on it and I really love my Park Avenue I would not trade it for anything
This was the first car whose design I really liked when I as 16. Everyone hates it.. got a marquis now though I'll probably stick with big cars forever
I remember seeing these on the road when new but see very few now. 3800 series engines were great and I loved driving any of the many cars that used them. Buicks, Oldsmobile, Pontiac and Chevys, loved the exhaust note and the feeling of having much more power than they did.
Yet all I can say bad is the styling. I'd have returned that car, even if it was a gift!
still see alot of lesabres around.
@@1voiceofstl In 2022 this is still true. I see LeSabres and Centurys here in the Ohio Valley more than any other Buicks, except for the Enclave and Lucerne.
I bought a Regal GS I'm 2004. I drove the hell out of it, sold it to my dad, he gave it to my brother. It still runs and drives like it did back then. The poor cars had rust problems like old Toyotas. I was replacing brake lines as early as 2005! My brother almost gave up on the car over the same problem, and leaky tires due to plated wheels. I considered an L67 C4 corvette for a moment.
I learn to drive on a 98 one of these they are awesome they lay rubber with the front tires and are more luxurious then a Cadillac inside in my opinion. Plus if you filled it up with 100 octane it was crazy fast
I the '80s, I had a 1975 Park Avenue sedan (First year as a "trim" option on the Electra 225). At the same time I had a 1975 Coupe DeVille. The interior of the Buick was FAR more luxurious than the Cadillac, even THEN. The Caddy was more about the STATEMENT it made. The Buick was more about "content". Fun fact: an internal GM report stated that some of GMs wealthiest buyers were BUICK buyers. Caddys were often bought by the newly rich (and ofcourse, Celebrities). Big Buicks were bough by "Old Money" families who wanted luxury WITHOUT "displaying" their wealth.
I remember riding in one of these when I was 16. Thought it was awesome.
I had a 1997 Buick Park Avenue ultra that I bought as my first car. To this day I still regret getting rid of it. Everything was great including engine, interior, comfort, mpg and was surprisingly fast and powerful for a v6. The supercharger made such a big difference in power.
Man 90s cars and early 2000s cars were honestly pretty great
That L67 is a damn good engine!
l own a 2004 park avenue. its not only a very beautifully styled car in looks and comfort . But its one of the best by far in total dependability, lf your looking for a true gorgeous classic that retains it's stunning beauty. These stunning classics still are out there. if you drive one, you'll want it.
As a teenager at the time I remember thinking these were just typical GM front wheel drive garbage that only old people drive and now I’m at the age where I genuinely like it.
As I owner of a 99 base model with apparently quite a few ultra features I love this car I’ve put more money then I ever thought I would but the car is older then me and still drives amazing
Perfect car for a grand ma that likes comfort and speed.
Once upon a time when real cars existed 😢
Amen Brotha.
What the fuck is this post to fucking mean ???? Bitch
Verna Warren You Ok?
Vela Suarez so new cars are just our imagination?
It's the first of FWD V6's... after real cars, RWD V8's...
I love bench seats i could hold my gf while driving as if we were sitting on tha couch at home watching television
Christopher Owens there Big Af in the Inside
Man what a cool car. I love it, coming from someone who likes handling and drives a saab which is the exact opposite of this
kirbyswarp. different? fwd, boost, torque steer, only found in china today? they should be roommates!
DrewLSsix Saab is Dead. These are nothing alike. Not even close.
kirbyswarp They "Make" electric cars in China
If u like good handling get the Pontiac grand prix gtp comp G version with the same engine.
I had some good seat time in a supercharged Bonneville of similar year, tall gears in the 4 spd auto means you are on boost a long time in each gear, lots of low RPM torque, and that fun supercharger whiney noise!
yessir
Very seriously considering getting one of these old sleds. I'd prefer the Regal GS but you can get a near-mint Park Avenue Ultra for the same price people are asking for a clapped-out Regal GS.
got a park ave ultra sled for sale if your interested , $2500 minty owned by a grandpa $2500 runs and drives great lmk...
im also only 2.5 hours from chicago
This car was so much what GM was at the time. Handles decent, comfy, and a fair price. Problem was so few people would even look at it. The imports had all the image while to get the volume needed GM had to sell into rental fleets. Today this would make a decent car for a family on budget if they could find a lower mileage example what with it being 20 years old.
Had GM not been so awful in the 1980s this might have sold better.
AZDuffman i admit this was a pretty nice car at the time but the problem was likely that it was competing in a segment the imports had no interest in. the largest cars from Lexus Acura and Infiniti were easily a size smaller and held more appeal for anyone who wasnt longing for the 70s.
Perhaps if GM took its smaller cars more seriously, every tile you stepped down a size in the GM lineup you saw a significant drop in apparent effort. a similar era Regal wasnt appreciably nicer to be in than a well optioned Lumina and the Lumina wasnt anything to brag about compared to an optioned up Accord.
It's not like GM didn't do it to themselves, the 70's and 80's were a bad time for GM fans. I haven't heard great things about GM electronics of this era either.
These were made in the same basic form till 2005
You can get a 90s era Buick Ultra for less than 2 grand in 2018. That is not just a bargain, it is a steal. If anything this car will go up in value as it becomes more rare.
I love these Buicks, just like Cadillacs, they're pretty darn comfortable.
Also, why can't we have front bench seating anymore?
These are coming back with popularity wit the young crowd.
ya, strange isn't it? kia soul was dominated by boomers but now gen z likes them. interesting huh?
I wish my 97 park avenue ultra looked as nice as the ones in this vid :'
I got mine used and for free from a family friend. It sat in a driveway for like 5 years.
These cars are bad ass with a great 3.8 engine very solid motor
Buick was on top of the world in the 90’s! Oh how the mighty have fallen 😥
I had a base 1998 Park Avenue for eight years and used it as a daily commuter car with a 100 mile round trip. I bought it used for $3000.00 and it had 56K on when I got it and when I sold it for $900.00 after I retired from my job, the car had 291,000 miles. It was always a great freeway car and average 28 MPG. Yeah it got ugly over the years I had it as the paint started to get chips then sections peeling off but the car always ran smooth and easy. I never cared how powerful the car was but I wanted good ride and that car returned that with ease. the only thing I ever did was the crankshaft sensor at 69,000 miles and I resealed the engine, replaced the intake manifold and resealed the transmission in my shop at 110,000 miles. the only complaint that my wife ever had with the car was the fussy seatbelts as you had to pull them out slowly and with a steady pull or it would lock up. Sure wish GM would rethink the decision to discontinue most car productions but CUV's have taken over and I am not immune as I bought one as nothing best the utility of them.
LOVE BUICK'S
I've had one of these I gotten from a friend of mine. It wasn't the best car I've ever owned and that was because of the condition. It had 260K miles, the clear coat was coming off and the driver's seat was totally warn out. Also I was finding oil in the coolant reservoir.
Hopefully I might get another that would be in a lot better shape.
If you can find one of these still going today,....... Buy it!
Loved my 01, gave it to my son who is still driving it today!
I love the bs Gm phraseology of 4 speed automatic "with adaptive controls".
All modern cars adapt engine and transmission response to the way they are driven. This was pretty new in '97.
I had one of these, it was a 99. The transmission went out at 199,000 miles... and the fuel pump. I had it fixed for $1800. The the manifold broke away from the engine shortly after. I was going to set the car on fire while it had a full tank of premium, essentially blowing it up. This guy I knew only had a motorcycle, but he had a wife and child. I gave him the car for $500 and he welded the manifold back together and put new plugs and wires on it. It ran fine. I didn't care though, I'd just bought a new Deville. THAT car was bulletproof for me. I didn't do a thing to that car the last 50,000 miles I had it... no maintenance no lightbulbs, zero. I'm done with GM and Dodge. I'm not even a Ford person. I've had enough of the new vehicles. I had a 1990 Taurus SHO that gave me no issue until 210,000 miles. I drove that car lock I stole it. At 210,000 miles I had to replace the crankshaft position sensor. I just had to strip a Honda Odyssey dash down to the sheet metal just to replace the heater core. Then I took it to Honda to have it looked at. $1069 later. They fixed the power door, power rear hatch and the airbag wiring harness. I could go on...
I love this car model. Where can I buy one for my enjoyment?
I had the L67 in a 2000 Regal GS..... I loved that car...... Faulty ignition killed it
Sweet 😀 My Mom had a silver 1991, model, very nice and good power 😀
Buick was always an under rated vehicle line. The press was always pro japanese cars and against american. Buick had better quality than most of the Japanese luxury cars. Thanks John for setting the record straight!
Crazy to look at this car today and think that it was a better choice than a 740i
great cars i never test drive one since 97 that I miss especially high school day
1997 park avenue: The official rusted out first car of high schools everywhere
camMDR. these seem to be much more rust resistant than the earlier H bodies.
My 98 Park Avenue has over 255,000 miles on it and virtually no rust at all.
coolcamaroo12 if you stay where cars are prone to rust because of weather conditions then it shouldn't surprise you, all cars rust under those circumstances, here in North Carolina you hardly see rusted out cars.
No that’s the Ford Taurus
I see lots of Centurys and Regals but never any Park Avenues
Can you please do a retro review of the third gen 96-2000 Chrysler/dodge Plymouth minivans. Love these ! Keep em coming
Na do the Turbo ones!
+Ian Thompson I'm looking for one
Those are good power numbers. And you get all that comfort too!
Man that car still looks good all these years later imo... & it sure made good power. I mean those specs are not far off of my 2.0t Honda Accord. Actually has more TQ than the Accord 😂
Why did they skip how long it took this car to stop? I mean they literally jumped to the next scene mid breaking.
this car would be fookin legitimate m8 if it was rwd.
The riviera sc 1996 was good for 15.2. I loved it when a ricer tried me and once a turbo talon with mods... didn’t spoil quick enough to hang with the sc light to light.
l drive a 2004 Buick Park Avenue.
its an absolute favorite.
gorgeous comfortable interior. premium sound system.
Just a round about CLASS act automobile.