Nothing better than that "little old lady" owned find

[xraytech]

Well, I bought something big I really didn't need, but I couldn't pass it up this week.

It was a little old lady owned 1996 Buick Park Avenue. Not only does it look and feel like new this well preserved cream puff has a mere 53,000 miles on it.

 

[xraytech]

Here is the interior

 

[ea56]

OMG, that Buick is pristine!! Even the engine compartment is spotless. What a score. I'm sure you will get lots of good mile out of this beautiful car. Congratulations on your good fortune.

 

[joeypete]

Beautiful car!

What a find! One of my favorite GM cars of the 90's. The 3800 engine is nearly bulletproof. You made a good choice! Congrats.

 

[gusherb]

Wow, that car is so immaculate I'd hate to use it for anything but a Weekend car!

 

[xraytech]

Oh I love the GM 3800 v6, I've had several in the past: a 1990 LeSabre, 1999 Park Avenue, 2000 Park Avenue, and I also currently have a 2008 Lucerne with the engine as well.

I don't think this was driven in winter as these unibody GM cars were notorious for the subframe rotting out from the road salt. This one however is spotless underneath

I hope I have this one for many many years

 

[joelippard]

That's a mighty fine Park Avenue.  I had an 86 and an 89 and they were among the best cars I've ever owned.  I've heard you've got to be careful with that series II engine and it's potential intake manifold gasket issues letting coolant go to places it shouldn't.

 

Makes me want a Park Avenue again!

 

[warmsecondrinse]

I had a '96 Oldmolbile 88. Smooth and quiet. I actually got THIRTY miles per gallon averaging 85mph with a/c blasting on rte 95 in south Florida when I lived there.

Ok, that's one of 2 questions answered...... ;-)

Jim

 

[dustin92]

Very nice car! A friend of mine had a 1992 Park Avenue, of course with much higher miles, but it was a very comfortable car. She finally let it go when the frame rotted out so badly that the doors didn't close properly and wiring was being pinched due to the bending. She didn't hesitate to buy another Buick though, they are good cars. Hope it serves you well for many years! The engine should be good for at least another 200,000 miles, I have seen those engines with 300,000 on them and still going.

 

[streakers]

SAM!!!!

Swap you the Taurus for that one?? LOL

Looks sweet!!

 

[norgeway]

I would MUCH

Rather have that than anything they make today!!!

 

[moparwash]

Great Find!

Youll have to bring that and the estate wagon to the wash-in!

 

[xraytech]

Jerry, sadly I can't drive both cars at the same time if I could I'd bring both

 

[xraytech]

Joe, when I got this I was torn between the 96 and a 90 Park Avenue, but the 90 was the most horrid shade of gold.

This is my third 3800 series II, I've not had any issues, and I prefer it to the 3800 series III in my Lucerne.

Steve, while I enjoyed my time with Ted the Taurus wagon I'll pass on the trade as this is more my taste. However next time we see each other you are welcome to take the Park Avenue and the Estate Wagon for a drive to enjoy some old school American luxury

 

[dnastrau]

Beautiful car; 3800 Seies II thoughts

Wow - that is a beautiful Park Avenue! I always liked that bodystyle. Enjoy!

There are a few things that I would do to truly make that car bulletproof:

Get the lower intake manifold (LIM) gaskets replaced with the latest PermaDryPlus gaskets from Fel Pro. If the LIM gaskets leak internally, coolant will mix with the oil in the crankcase and trash the engine. This is the main Achilles' heel of the 3800 Series II.

At the same time, replace the upper manifold plenum with ATP part #106001 (and use Fel Pro gaskets here too). This is because the the EGR pipe (chimney) can eventually burn through the plastic on the original manifold plenum. The ATP part reportedly solves this problem.

Have the transmission fluid and filter changed.

Check the front subframe/engine cradle as well as the rocker panels and door bottoms for any signs of hidden rust and have it treated accordingly. Rust issues in these spots are often what eventually take these cars off the road.

Again - enjoy that great car!

Andrew S.

 

[circlew]

My former neighbor Edith had one like that in Light Blue. Bought it new, and drove it until she had to give up driving a couple years before her passing.

She liked it so well that she paid over what the insurance would, to have it fixed after it was totaled after being rear ended.

 

[warmsecondrinse]

My vote is to take the Estate Wagon!

Jim

 

[a440]

What a great find!  It looks new! 

These are fantastic Highway cruisers!  Those Buick seats are the most comfortable seats!

You are going to have years of fun driving with this beauty!

B

 

[washer111]

MMMM

Very nice, pristine car. I'm sure it will serve you well for years to come.

Aside from the intake-manifold gaskets, my understanding of the 3800 engine (as it was used here in Australia for our own "Holden Commodore") was the very high low-end torque, coupled with essentially no idle-rpm oil flow can mean these will wear themselves out un-necessarily. The problem is unrepairable, although careful driving round the lower end will save the engine, as will good (synthetic) motor oils.

I've looked around at videos of these, and one thing I find interesting is the style of interior the US domestics retained for a very long time. The blending of the dash to the doors, and the seats in particular were always something interesting for me.
The front ends of those things look big, foreboding but also beautiful at the same time.

Hope it goes well for you. And congratulations again on the good find