1983 Buick LeSabre Limited review from North America

Replaced the Transmission pan gasket at 81,000 miles.

Replaced all the belts and hoses at 81,000 miles.

Replaced the valve cover gaskets at about 82,000 miles.

Gave it a tune up (plugs, plug wires, rotor, rotor button)

It was mostly all general maintenance as the car had been sitting since 1990 and these things had been neglected. Everything else worked perfect.

I had to replace the poor Oldsmobile 307 with an Oldsmobile 350 at 85,000 miles (see details below).

I think the transmission is getting ready to sour on me, it doesn't like to shift when it's cold outside.

First, it wasn't the engines fault, the 307 is a trooper, kind of on the weak side, but it was reliable and never gave up on me. I live in a rather mountainous area of the US and you don't realize you're pulling a pretty good grade, until you're in an old car trying to keep up with the traffic on the interstate. Anyway I thought the car had shifted out of overdrive and into 3rd, but in fact had shifted into second. The exhaust noise in the car was too quiet to make any kind of judgment about RPMs so I didn't know what was really going on.

Apparently GM thought all I needed to know was how fast I was going and how much gas I had left, no tachometer, no oil pressure gage, no temp gage (this isn't a blow to GM, my Grand Marquis is the same way). So we went 75 mph in second gear for about 50 miles and the car didn't die it just started making strange noises. I pulled off the road and let it cool down, but the damage was done, couple of spun rod bearings and a blown head gasket. The car was able to drive the last 20 miles into town, no tow truck needed. Like I said, the engine is a trooper.

Everything else on the car works perfectly, the seats are more comfortable than my living room couch and I like knowing I'm surrounded by steel. If somebody doesn't want to wait their turn at a four way stop, I'm fairly positive I'll come out feeling better than they will.

The ride is comfy and I can fly over bumpy rail road crossings without feeling much, if anything. Plus I don't have to worry about my friends "borrowing" my car, they won't drive it, it's too big and ugly.

I still have my Buick and I plan on having it forever, but if anything should happen to it I will be seeking out another B Body Buick of the 1980's. Great cars to say the least.