1981 Buick Century Limited review from North America

My grandfather bought the car new back in 1982, passed away in 1985, and sat in my grandmother's garage until 2000 when she bought a smaller car which she isn't afraid to drive.

When my grandfather got the car, the transmission died when it was still under warranty.

Before I had put the car on the road, the muffler had rotted out on my driveway. New muffler cat back in 2000.

Had a tune up done at the same time.

Hydroplaned and spun the car around a few times, hit the curb and needed an alignment in 2000.

It has always had a stalling problem, and mechanics told both of my grandparents that it was the electronics system in the car; there's nothing they can do about it. The day I got the car, I found what the real problem was. The metal bar piece in the carburetor that turns the choke on and off was stuck halfway closed. After the state of Massachusetts changed the filler in the gas, the car started stalling so badly that it would flood and I was forced to get the carburetor rebuilt.

A few months later, the water pump died.

One of my few gripes is that the wheels are not large enough for the car or the suspension is too low, so I have to worry about bottoming out and tearing off the muffler. Shortly after I replaced the water pump, I hit a pothole and tore off the muffler and needed another cat-back.

A year later I needed front brakes, getting (65,000 miles on my original ones).

In May, 2003 I hit yet another pothole and needed a catalytic convertor and a cat back.

Also, it burns a bit of oil, so I usually get my oil changed every 2,500, or sometimes add a quart before it hits 3,000.

The original lacquer paint has started to chip badly, and vandalists have ripped off the piece glued onto the back right door (decoration purposes only), and knifed my trunk, so it's looking pretty beat up, but it still has it where it counts. Original back brakes still going on 77,000 miles and still most of the pads are there, even the battery is original and it starts up without a problem, even in the winter!

Sucks down gas (6.5 MPG in a large city, 15 in suburbs, 20-22 highway, although did get just under 30 on a trip before), but it has been very reliable.

Also, GM claims this car only has 100 hp, but that must be running on cold in the middle of the winter. When the engine gets warm, I would guess it has more like 170 hp. Will accelerate up those really large hills that few cars will accelerate up, will leave any 4 banger in its dust, and it's a heavy car!

Very roomy and comfortable car as well. This is important since I am 6'3" and I cannot fit in most cars, and quite often ones that I can get inside are extremely uncomfortable.