Most reliable old man car: Grand Marquis or Buick Lucerne?

[Nick1994]

I don’t think it matters much.

I’m wondering why these are “old man” cars. At 19, I had a 1977 Oldsmobile 98 Regency two door coupe. A two ton cruiser about the size of a Suburban.

It dwarfed anything you’re considering. Acres of velour accompanied the plush ride.

As I approach “old man” status, a have, well, they’re in my signature.

Not one of the current cars are anything like the boats you’re describing.

They're totally old man cars. Nothing wrong with that.

Even my 2018 Genesis G80 is an old man car. That’s ok.

 

[OVERKILL]

There are a lot of recommendations for an Avalon, but isn’t that just a fancy Camry with a V6? I’m a Toyota guy, there are three Toyotas in my driveway now, but sometimes a fellow just wants a little variety.

Yes, that's exactly what it is.

I test drove a 2007 Avalon in the spring. 121k miles, the heater wouldn’t turn off and they still wanted 8k for it!

The mythos of the invincible, omnipotent Toyota, a manufacturer that makes no mistakes and who produces vehicles that never break, is pervasive on this forum.

Despite the impressive track record the Panther cars have, and mentioned specifically by you as one of two options in the OP, in one of the first posts in your thread somebody was unable to simply work with the options given and felt compelled, or perhaps couldn't help themselves, but recommend a Toyota product while denigrating the others. I call this group "Toyanon", lol.

 

[cptbarkey]

Panther is ok. Because i'm biased, any year ES350, or LS430 if its been well cared for.

 

[wavinwayne]

Get whichever one makes you happy and enjoy it. Doesn't matter what us young'uns think.

 

[cb_13]

C Vic's and Grand M's are vastly overrated.

 

[macarose]

With the type of vehicles you're looking at, long-term relaibility is a very small ingredient in a much more complicated recipe of tastes and wants.

Test them all. See what you like. All should be reliable, and there is no right answer without knowing what your tastes specficially are.

 

[IndyIan]

4 banger Fusion? Must be pretty cheap these days and I'd think as reliable as an older GM car? Maybe rides as nice and is close to as quiet?

 

[cb_13]

4 banger Fusion? Must be pretty cheap these days and I'd think as reliable as an older GM car? Maybe rides as nice and is close to as quiet?

Be careful with that recommendation. I got chastised on this forum for having the audacity to recommend a domestic as reliable. Better change that to a Honda or Toyota or you’ll be on the “no credibility list” right there next to me!

 

[ripcord]

There are a lot of recommendations for an Avalon, but isn’t that just a fancy Camry with a V6? I’m a Toyota guy, there are three Toyotas in my driveway now, but sometimes a fellow just wants a little variety.

I could probably buy two Buicks for the cost of one Avalon around here. The Toyota tax is a real thing. I test drove a 2007 Avalon in the spring. 121k miles, the heater wouldn’t turn off and they still wanted 8k for it!

The Avalon is stretched with a longer wheelbase and is a bit heavier even though it's based on the Camry chassis.

 

[ATex7239]

I live my life a quarter mile at a time… And for those 1:26 seconds, I’m free.

 

[proveitwithdata]

The one that passes a ppi from a trusted mechanic

 

[GR_CoB]

Poster: "Which one of these two (non-Toyota) cars should I choose"
Toyanon: *triggered* "THEY ARE GARBAGE FROM THE BOWELS OF HELL! NOTHING BEATS TOYOTA, BUY A TOYOTA!!!!!!"

OP: Personally, I'd be inclined toward the Panther cars, having owned one, and my dad still owns one. They are reliable, cheap to own, get decent fuel mileage. I'd be looking for a GM or Town Car however, which tend to be nicer.

It be like that sometimes

Toyota Avalon is simply a better old man car, maintenance and repairs wise. Buick does edge it out on the plush ride, like lay-z-boy on wheels. But Ford 4.6L and GM 3.8L each have more chronic flaws than either the 1MZ or the 2GR powered Avalons. Facts are facts, regardless of one's bias.

 

[dishdude]

It be like that sometimes

Toyota Avalon is simply a better old man car, maintenance and repairs wise. Buick does edge it out on the plush ride, like lay-z-boy on wheels. But Ford 4.6L and GM 3.8L each have more chronic flaws than either the 1MZ or the 2GR powered Avalons. Facts are facts, regardless of one's bias.

At least you don't have to worry about oil lines blowing out in the 4.6 or 3800.

 

[wemay]

A Toyota Avalon.

Beats both with ease.

This

 

[meep]

I spent some time with a Lucerne. Lots to like about it, but it wasn’t “special” to me in any regard. I liked the styling the most, and if I understand it, it was modeled somewhat after the Asian lines, think “Acura.” They did that nicely.

my father in law owned it and gave it to my ex for the kids to drive. She asked me not to work on it, but if the kids came over with the oil light or temp gauge high or the transmission funny, I’d check it, top it off and not say anything. It consumed every fluid in it. it always felt sloppy when accelerating of braking. It definitely drove “nose heavy.” For drivability, I’d favor the CV with fresh suspension.

BUT, the CV is indeed big on the outside and small on the inside by comparison. The stretched camry (avalon, Lexus ES) is very well-executed.

used Lexus LS? Rear wheel drive. Compared to the old W-series benzes?

if you could find one, the older acura legend was a wonderful sedan.

 

[GR_CoB]

At least you don't have to worry about oil lines blowing out in the 4.6 or 3800.

Idk if a set of oil lines on a 2GR is comparable to the crankcase milkshakes that both the 3800 and 4.6 can make, due to widespread cracking plastic manifolds or manifold gasket issues. Oh look, another spark plug is launched in space by a 4.6...

Hope you know it's a tongue-in-cheek comment, but every engine, regardless of manufacturer, has its issues. Also those engines are usually connected to a drivetrain, and is sitting in a vehicle body. Once EVERYTHING is considered, then to me the Avalon is the clear choice for an old man. 3800 is a great engine, but many of them are in the junkyard because GM vehicle itself and all other components in it did not hold up as well. 4.6L is also legendary, but transmissions took more Crown Vics out of commission than the engines did. Again, once everything is considered - results speak for themselves.

 

[proveitwithdata]

I spent some time with a Lucerne. Lots to like about it, but it wasn’t “special” to me in any regard. I liked the styling the most, and if I understand it, it was modeled somewhat after the Asian lines, think “Acura.” They did that nicely.

my father in law owned it and gave it to my ex for the kids to drive. She asked me not to work on it, but if the kids came over with the oil light or temp gauge high or the transmission funny, I’d check it, top it off and not say anything. It consumed every fluid in it. it always felt sloppy when accelerating of braking. It definitely drove “nose heavy.” For drivability, I’d favor the CV with fresh suspension.

BUT, the CV is indeed big on the outside and small on the inside by comparison. The stretched camry (avalon, Lexus ES) is very well-executed.

used Lexus LS? Rear wheel drive. Compared to the old W-series benzes?

if you could find one, the older acura legend was a wonderful sedan.

avoid the second gen Lexus GSes v8
Lexus ls460s had suspension issues, and brake accumulator failures
Lexus ls600h had hybrid system failure

 

[Elkins45]

avoid the second gen GSes v8
ls460s suspension issues, and brake accumulator. ls600h nope hybrid system failure

I don't know what this means.

 

[proveitwithdata]

I have no idea what this means.

Replying to a fellow commenter about recommending Lexus models.

Avoid the models above

 

[panthermike]

Not super surprising this has turned into an import versus domestic dispute lol. Toyota's are great cars as are Hondas and many others. I see the point made that hey why not buy something that's going to have a great perceived reliability? And on the other side, the OP isn't asking specifically about anything but these two vehicles. It's kind of like those threads where the shoe is on the other foot, and someone is asking about a compact car and most of the recommendations are to buy a Crown Vic