It's been 6 months today since I purchased this big monster.
A charcoal grey/cream leather 2003 Buick Park Avenue, it was in fantastic shape, 44K miles at purchase, 50K on it now. It has the non-supercharged 3.8L engine, with rear automatic level control, concert-level stereo, and almost all the bells and whistles GM provided for their top-of-the-line sedan.
I purchased it (after a good deal of research, on BITOG and elsewhere) in August of '07 because (a) it was a great deal, and (b) my '97 Mercedes C230 was about to lose its 5-speed autobox. There were a couple of other issues with the Benz as well. I'd looked at and driven the current model Buicks, and might have bought a used '06 LaCrosse had it not been for that dealer's unpleasant and difficult attitude.
In the 6 months, I've spent money on the following:
Air filter
3 oil changes (Auto-Rx treatment)
Dex-Cool coolant
Front brake rotors, pads, new brake fluid
Rear self-leveling shocks (originals leaking, car bouncing)
PCV valve
Power steering fluid (extracted old, filled with new)
1 new tire (old one developed an "egg")
Transmission fluid and filter
Gasoline (more of that in a moment)
All of these things, except the tire and maybe the shocks, are normal maintenance/wear-and-tear items that would need to be done around 50K miles. I chose to change the coolant because I don't think any fluid can last 100K miles. About all I have left to do is window tinting, a safety brake tag, and the April oil change, and I hope to coast for quite a while.
Gas? Runs on regular, and gets within 10% of the mileage the 4-cylinder Benz got -- and the Benz required premium. I'm breaking even on that. Normal (75% city) mileage is 21-22, and I saw 31.9 on the open highway in November.
Drawbacks? A much larger turning radius than the small Benz, of course. A column automatic shifter, which I hadn't dealt with since 1995, but I'm used to it now. Pretty small potatoes.
The Park Avenue is truly a great car. Yes, I know it has a reputation as a rolling sofa and an old folks' car; I know that if it were alive, like a pet, and wanted the company of its own kind, I'd do best to bring it to a Piccadilly Cafeteria during the Early Bird Special, or to the local church for Bingo Night.
But you know what? I don't care. The cracked broken streets of The Swamp require a car with a softer suspension to soak up the bumps. And its resale value, insanely, drops like a stunned condor, so I paid about 1/3rd of the original MSRP. The dark grey paint, plus blackwall tires on chrome wheels, give it a stealthy, powerful appearance, too.
I'm driving Cadillac/Mercedes quality for Chevrolet money!
A charcoal grey/cream leather 2003 Buick Park Avenue, it was in fantastic shape, 44K miles at purchase, 50K on it now. It has the non-supercharged 3.8L engine, with rear automatic level control, concert-level stereo, and almost all the bells and whistles GM provided for their top-of-the-line sedan.
I purchased it (after a good deal of research, on BITOG and elsewhere) in August of '07 because (a) it was a great deal, and (b) my '97 Mercedes C230 was about to lose its 5-speed autobox. There were a couple of other issues with the Benz as well. I'd looked at and driven the current model Buicks, and might have bought a used '06 LaCrosse had it not been for that dealer's unpleasant and difficult attitude.
In the 6 months, I've spent money on the following:
Air filter
3 oil changes (Auto-Rx treatment)
Dex-Cool coolant
Front brake rotors, pads, new brake fluid
Rear self-leveling shocks (originals leaking, car bouncing)
PCV valve
Power steering fluid (extracted old, filled with new)
1 new tire (old one developed an "egg")
Transmission fluid and filter
Gasoline (more of that in a moment)
All of these things, except the tire and maybe the shocks, are normal maintenance/wear-and-tear items that would need to be done around 50K miles. I chose to change the coolant because I don't think any fluid can last 100K miles. About all I have left to do is window tinting, a safety brake tag, and the April oil change, and I hope to coast for quite a while.
Gas? Runs on regular, and gets within 10% of the mileage the 4-cylinder Benz got -- and the Benz required premium. I'm breaking even on that. Normal (75% city) mileage is 21-22, and I saw 31.9 on the open highway in November.
Drawbacks? A much larger turning radius than the small Benz, of course. A column automatic shifter, which I hadn't dealt with since 1995, but I'm used to it now. Pretty small potatoes.
The Park Avenue is truly a great car. Yes, I know it has a reputation as a rolling sofa and an old folks' car; I know that if it were alive, like a pet, and wanted the company of its own kind, I'd do best to bring it to a Piccadilly Cafeteria during the Early Bird Special, or to the local church for Bingo Night.
But you know what? I don't care. The cracked broken streets of The Swamp require a car with a softer suspension to soak up the bumps. And its resale value, insanely, drops like a stunned condor, so I paid about 1/3rd of the original MSRP. The dark grey paint, plus blackwall tires on chrome wheels, give it a stealthy, powerful appearance, too.
I'm driving Cadillac/Mercedes quality for Chevrolet money!