My dad had a 1981 Buick LeSabre - jadestone dark green with light green vinyl top. I remember when he brought it home. It was really exciting for a six year old me.
They were great cars in their day. I owned a similar 1983 Oldsmobile Delta 88 with the 307 Rocket V8 that went 16 years and 170,000 miles before it was traded in. And I now have a 2005 Buick LeSabre with the same 3.8 liter V6 and 107,000 miles and have only needed two new sets of tires, a brake relining, two new headlights, new belts and hoses, along with routine stuff such as oil changes.
Old American cars had character. These new cars nowadays look no different from their foreign competition. I wish detroit would make them like that again.
@TheMKEWERBY The 3.8 V6 is known as one of the best motors around. It was made by the Buick Motor Division and started being used in 1975. It was changed in various ways through the years, but it was always known for its longevity. They started using the 3.8 in other GM brands starting in the later 70s. They used it up until the early 2000s- I don't know if they are still using it in current Buicks or not. But yes, the 01 LeSabre got high quality ratings, as Buicks have for a long time now.
The Buick V6 was originally from the 1960's.They used it for a few years and then sold the tooling to AMC who used it in Jeeps for awhile.In the mid 70's Buick bought it back and started using it again.
Yeah right. The 231(3.8) was an underpowered joke with known oil pressure problems due to a crappy oil pump that was part of the timing cover. The 3800 which is what you describing was a very different and much better design that had around 60-70 more horsepower, better mileage, more reliability, and alot harder to kill. About the only people that kill them are the braindead losers in the ghetto.
Even if these cars were kind of slow, they were still elegant. If you ever see the interior of an 80-85 Buick LeSabre Limited, you will know what I mean. The cars were a product of the times. People weren't really willing to go away from full sized cars yet, but they still wanted reasonable fuel economy.
@StoneCold75 I know why it looks old to you. Pre-aerodynamic body styling, which didn't become the trend until after the Ford Taurus came out in 1986. Also, chrome trim and chrome bumpers, which began to be phased out in the late 80s when aerodynamic styling became the norm. Actually the 1980 restyle of the Buick LeSabre was considered aerodynamic. The hood was sloped down more at the front and the grille wasn't as tall, as compared to the 1977-79 models.
@texan176 It was indeed a bigger car- but the price of gas was so high in 1981 (the highest ever when adjusted for inflation) peopel didn't care if the cars were slow. They were worried about fuel economy.
@CDTbossy Fuel economy is the main reason people switched over to foreign cars. Ironically, people also began switching to sport utes, presumably to get more room, which a full sized car could have offered you. However, many sport utes were less efficient than the 80s full sized cars. It was like, cars had to be fuel efficient, but if you drove a truck and it got poor gas mileage, that was OK??
That 81 LeSabre would have had the 4.1 L 252 V-6 which had a little more power than the 3.8 231 V-6 of the time. The main reason was the 4.1L had a 4BBL quadrajet..It was also a 700 R4 automatic.Good combination.My mother had an 82 Impala with this combo.After just 6 years she traded it in. It already had a 150,000 miles on it.Still ran great.She had no issues with it. I think they just put a new starter in it.You are so right about your comment njot33 I agree!
I just bought a 2001 Lesabre I dubbed "Sabrelicious" After one of my RUclips friends you will see if you visit my channel. it has the 3.8 V-6. Are these OK Cars?
Was that Tom Wopat in this commercial? Also, in '81, Buick decided to drop it's own 350 V-8 in favor of This V-6 as its standard engine, because they thought this would save the car gas. But since the car was not downsized, this was a mistake as it made the V-6 work harder to move that big tank. My friend has a brown '84 LeSabre, which he gave me a guided tour of. And that little motor in no way looked strong enough to move a RWD car this size. Possibly the biggest mistake Buick Ever Made.
I had a Regal coupe with the 231 and it barely moved the car. I think it was rated at 130 poines in a 3500 pound car. Thie LeSabre looks 500 pounds more heavy. yikes
Not yet but I am waiting on my recall letter. but I am considering the 2010 Buick LaCross in 2013 or 14, or the Cadillac CTS but I question the build quality on the Cadillac thats based on cars I have owned. My 99 Cadillac Deville is a beautiful car and still turns heads but quality is in the toilet. The Northstar engine has been replaced at 90,000 miles. and many other repairs to numerous to mention for such an expensive automobile.
Not a very intelligent comment? but true, I owned two Oldsmobiles, three Cadillac's two of which purchased new, two Buicks, two Fords, 1 very used Volvo 240 three Toyota's and I am currently driving a 99 Cadillac Deville, 02 Chevy Blazer,and I just purchased a used 2009 Toyota Camry. Toyota ranks best in cars I have owned. Yes American cars suck, but getting better. I may look at the 2010 Buick Lacross in two or three years.
My dad had a 1981 Buick LeSabre - jadestone dark green with light green vinyl top. I remember when he brought it home. It was really exciting for a six year old me.
They were great cars in their day. I owned a similar 1983 Oldsmobile Delta 88 with the 307 Rocket V8 that went 16 years and 170,000 miles before it was traded in.
And I now have a 2005 Buick LeSabre with the same 3.8 liter V6 and 107,000 miles and have only needed two new sets of tires, a brake relining, two new headlights, new belts and hoses, along with routine stuff such as oil changes.
My first car, got me though high school. Dark blue with a 401 V8. Felt like a king.
Old American cars had character. These new cars nowadays look no different from their foreign competition. I wish detroit would make them like that again.
Nice car, I got to drive my friends 83 with the 4.1 V6 and I was impressed by it's comfort,and quiet, smooth, reliable, quality.
I had a 78 and an 85 they were smooth rides.It felt great to drive them.
@TheMKEWERBY The 3.8 V6 is known as one of the best motors around. It was made by the Buick Motor Division and started being used in 1975. It was changed in various ways through the years, but it was always known for its longevity. They started using the 3.8 in other GM brands starting in the later 70s. They used it up until the early 2000s- I don't know if they are still using it in current Buicks or not. But yes, the 01 LeSabre got high quality ratings, as Buicks have for a long time now.
The Buick V6 was originally from the 1960's.They used it for a few years and then sold the tooling to AMC who used it in Jeeps for awhile.In the mid 70's Buick bought it back and started using it again.
Yeah right. The 231(3.8) was an underpowered joke with known oil pressure problems due to a crappy oil pump that was part of the timing cover. The 3800 which is what you describing was a very different and much better design that had around 60-70 more horsepower, better mileage, more reliability, and alot harder to kill. About the only people that kill them are the braindead losers in the ghetto.
Even if these cars were kind of slow, they were still elegant. If you ever see the interior of an 80-85 Buick LeSabre Limited, you will know what I mean. The cars were a product of the times. People weren't really willing to go away from full sized cars yet, but they still wanted reasonable fuel economy.
Great car this is wat I think of when I think of a Buick Le Sabre
@StoneCold75 Doesn't look old to me. It seems like only a couple of years ago, they were everywhere.
@StoneCold75 I know why it looks old to you. Pre-aerodynamic body styling, which didn't become the trend until after the Ford Taurus came out in 1986. Also, chrome trim and chrome bumpers, which began to be phased out in the late 80s when aerodynamic styling became the norm. Actually the 1980 restyle of the Buick LeSabre was considered aerodynamic. The hood was sloped down more at the front and the grille wasn't as tall, as compared to the 1977-79 models.
@texan176 It was indeed a bigger car- but the price of gas was so high in 1981 (the highest ever when adjusted for inflation) peopel didn't care if the cars were slow. They were worried about fuel economy.
@CDTbossy Fuel economy is the main reason people switched over to foreign cars. Ironically, people also began switching to sport utes, presumably to get more room, which a full sized car could have offered you. However, many sport utes were less efficient than the 80s full sized cars. It was like, cars had to be fuel efficient, but if you drove a truck and it got poor gas mileage, that was OK??
28 mpg highway? yea right!!
What he said is true. God i love 80s Buicks.
That 81 LeSabre would have had the 4.1 L 252 V-6 which had a little more power than the 3.8 231 V-6 of the time. The main reason was the 4.1L had a 4BBL quadrajet..It was also a 700 R4 automatic.Good combination.My mother had an 82 Impala with this combo.After just 6 years she traded it in. It already had a 150,000 miles on it.Still ran great.She had no issues with it. I think they just put a new starter in it.You are so right about your comment njot33 I agree!
82' Impala had a 3.8 229CI Chevy V6 standard with a cut down 4.4 267 CI V8 and a 5.0 305CIV8 as options along with the 5.7 350CI diesel
Ahh! I wanted to scream at him for putting his boots on the paint!
@roxy091988 yea i got a 1980 buick lesabre Limited edition with a 350 4 barrell, bad ass fast boat.
I just bought a 2001 Lesabre I dubbed "Sabrelicious" After one of my RUclips friends you will see if you visit my channel. it has the 3.8 V-6. Are these OK Cars?
Yes!
@CDTbossy These cars weren't any worse than a modern sport utility vehicle. 17 city, 23 highway, something like that.
@njot33 No, they stopped after '05 With that motor.
@StoneCold75 30 years of time passing will do that.
@njot33 Today I never see them,. except on blocks burned out as only shells now on dark alleys
and its a good thing too!
The Olds 307-4bl replaced Buick's 350 in '81.
Was that Tom Wopat in this commercial? Also, in '81, Buick decided to drop it's own 350 V-8 in favor of This V-6 as its standard engine, because they thought this would save the car gas. But since the car was not downsized, this was a mistake as it made the V-6 work harder to move that big tank. My friend has a brown '84 LeSabre, which he gave me a guided tour of. And that little motor in no way looked strong enough to move a RWD car this size. Possibly the biggest mistake Buick Ever Made.
That was John Shearin in the commercial.He played Lt Ambrose Finn in TV's Hunter for a few seasons.Passed away in 2017
Having any problems with a stuck gas pedal on your "Best car", that you ever owned?? LOL!!!
Citation was Actually a Pretty good car..very fast to with the 2.8l v6
I had a Regal coupe with the 231 and it barely moved the car. I think it was rated at 130 poines in a 3500 pound car. Thie LeSabre looks 500 pounds more heavy. yikes
110 horse and it moved my 84' Regal just fine.
they don't make cars like that anymore
Funny ..I know that car is brand new in the commercial...yet it still looks old.
Not yet but I am waiting on my recall letter. but I am considering the 2010 Buick LaCross in 2013 or 14, or the Cadillac CTS but I question the build quality on the Cadillac thats based on cars I have owned. My 99 Cadillac Deville is a beautiful car and still turns heads but quality is in the toilet. The Northstar engine has been replaced at 90,000 miles. and many other repairs to numerous to mention for such an expensive automobile.
Not a very intelligent comment? but true, I owned two Oldsmobiles, three Cadillac's two of which purchased new, two Buicks, two Fords, 1 very used Volvo 240 three Toyota's and I am currently driving a 99 Cadillac Deville, 02 Chevy Blazer,and I just purchased a used 2009 Toyota Camry. Toyota ranks best in cars I have owned. Yes American cars suck, but getting better. I may look at the 2010 Buick Lacross in two or three years.
I can't believe they can't even pronounce the name of their own car. Why the hell did they give it a French name?