In about three months, it will be 26 years ago that this car rolled off the Buick city assembly line in Flint Michigan. That plant would be closed for car assembly about 10 months later and would end a long, proud history of Buick car production in what was one of the last vertically integrated production locations that GM used. I purchased the car 8 years ago from the first owner in the U.S who obviously took great care of her. Shortly after buying from him, I joined BITOG and learned a lot from the wise folks here on the forums about the car’s vaunted 3800 GM V6 engine and why I think I like it so much. When it comes to power trains, my needs are not that sophisticated. I don’t drive fast and I’m not drawn to vehicles with great horsepower ratings or race car handling. What I DO really find satisfying is torque. The torque curve on this engine meets my “Goldilocks test“ as feeling just right. I like being able to go from a stop and get up to speed quickly and smoothly and this engine is the smoothest I’ve ever driven. Our other daily driver is a Honda CRV which has a number of redeeming qualities, mostly utilitarian. Not a thing wrong with the vehicle, but I don’t enjoy driving or riding in it as much.
Funny, but I never imagined that one of my daily drivers could be a “vintage sedan“. The car just got its Springtime, semi annual oil change with Castrol GTX high mileage 10w30 weight oil. Sometimes, I run full synthetic 10w30 weight as well, but the car really just doesn’t seem to care what I put in it as long as I change the oil. I just gave the car a full vacuum and hand washing and got her dried off and thought I would take some photos to share. There is zero rust in this car and I took a few extra pics of the paint finish to demonstrate to those who sometimes say paint finishes can only last so long. This car has never been repainted and you can still see your reflection in the paint. The original owner used paint sealant (NuFinish) twice a year and and I apply paint sealant twice a year as well although I use Meguiars because it’s a lot easier to apply and buff off while giving me the same durability as the prior owners product of choice.
The first owner kept full and complete records of all maintenance ever performed including oil changes every 3000 miles (with Mobil 1,no less, LOL) and he changed the automatic transmission fluid every 30,000 miles just as I have. No automobile or engine design is perfect and yes, I had to do the lower and upper intake manifold gasket replacements that all of these engines needed, and it was done long before any issues could have occurred. I perform any maintenance that I feel is within my personal wheelhouse such as spark plugs, oil changes, ATF changes, power steering fluid flushes, and coils, of which I have needed to replace one. I have a local shop here that does any other repairs that are beyond my reach such as the one time the car required new rotors and brake pads. The rear drums are still original and work just fine.
No vehicle can do everything perfect, but this car excels at one mission, and that is comfort on the expressways. I guess the old Buick marketing slogan, “King of the open Road“ was true. Everyone I ever transport in this car falls asleep in it because it’s like riding on a silent cloud.
I have always been mystified but pleased with the extraordinary fuel mileage that I get when I’m on the highway. With ethanoll-free Shell, which we used to get here, I was able to get 31 1/2 MPG, which is extraordinary for such a heavy car with a four speed/overdrive automatic.
Nothing lasts forever, and I don’t know how long I will have the car, but I do know that every Fall, when I take the car to be oil sprayed to keep the chassis rust-free, the gentleman there always offers to buy the car off of me. There are very few of these left in Ontario given what the salt eventually does to all cars. One of the pictures that I am sharing is of the odometer which I just took along with these others and as you can see from the total mileage (true numbers) after 26 years, it is obvious what inspired the screen name I created when I joined BITOG
Funny, but I never imagined that one of my daily drivers could be a “vintage sedan“. The car just got its Springtime, semi annual oil change with Castrol GTX high mileage 10w30 weight oil. Sometimes, I run full synthetic 10w30 weight as well, but the car really just doesn’t seem to care what I put in it as long as I change the oil. I just gave the car a full vacuum and hand washing and got her dried off and thought I would take some photos to share. There is zero rust in this car and I took a few extra pics of the paint finish to demonstrate to those who sometimes say paint finishes can only last so long. This car has never been repainted and you can still see your reflection in the paint. The original owner used paint sealant (NuFinish) twice a year and and I apply paint sealant twice a year as well although I use Meguiars because it’s a lot easier to apply and buff off while giving me the same durability as the prior owners product of choice.
The first owner kept full and complete records of all maintenance ever performed including oil changes every 3000 miles (with Mobil 1,no less, LOL) and he changed the automatic transmission fluid every 30,000 miles just as I have. No automobile or engine design is perfect and yes, I had to do the lower and upper intake manifold gasket replacements that all of these engines needed, and it was done long before any issues could have occurred. I perform any maintenance that I feel is within my personal wheelhouse such as spark plugs, oil changes, ATF changes, power steering fluid flushes, and coils, of which I have needed to replace one. I have a local shop here that does any other repairs that are beyond my reach such as the one time the car required new rotors and brake pads. The rear drums are still original and work just fine.
No vehicle can do everything perfect, but this car excels at one mission, and that is comfort on the expressways. I guess the old Buick marketing slogan, “King of the open Road“ was true. Everyone I ever transport in this car falls asleep in it because it’s like riding on a silent cloud.
I have always been mystified but pleased with the extraordinary fuel mileage that I get when I’m on the highway. With ethanoll-free Shell, which we used to get here, I was able to get 31 1/2 MPG, which is extraordinary for such a heavy car with a four speed/overdrive automatic.
Nothing lasts forever, and I don’t know how long I will have the car, but I do know that every Fall, when I take the car to be oil sprayed to keep the chassis rust-free, the gentleman there always offers to buy the car off of me. There are very few of these left in Ontario given what the salt eventually does to all cars. One of the pictures that I am sharing is of the odometer which I just took along with these others and as you can see from the total mileage (true numbers) after 26 years, it is obvious what inspired the screen name I created when I joined BITOG
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