1993 Buick Century Custom 3.3 V6 from North America

Summary:

The 1993 Buick Century Custom is a solid daily driver

Faults:

I had the alternator replaced at 96,215 miles.

I had the alternator replaced at 101,112 miles.

I had a complete brake job performed at 111,016 miles.

I had a complete exhaust system installed at 121,458 miles.

General Comments:

The 1993 Buick Century Custom is a tank.

This vehicle has been an excellent commuter during my entire college career.

The 3.3 V6 is a strong performer.

The automatic transmission is solid.

This vehicle rides like an expensive luxury car.

This vehicle has not required any major repairs since I have owned it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 10th February, 2002

9th Jul 2004, 14:02

When rear ended at 65 mph, my Buick held strong, and while damaged, still was able to get me to and from work for a few weeks while dealing with insurance.

1993 Buick Century Special 3.3L V6 from North America

Summary:

A pillow-soft cruiser

Faults:

Alternator was replaced once.

Brake Booster was replaced once.

Oil Light comes on for no reason (checked out OK)

Battery Replaced once (8 years old!)

A/C never seems to work 100%...even after many attempts at fixing.

General Comments:

Great car!! It is very comfortable and has a great amount of power under the hood compared to the regular 'family car'.

The design looks outdated, especially the interior which is nothing but a bunch of rectangles.

The A/C has a mind of its own and has stumped the auto shop many times. Its freezing some days and hot the other days.

Good stereo for stock.

The ride is perfect for me. It does bob up and down on really bumpy roads, but it feels so nice to not feel every bump in the road...it feels like a luxary car.

The engine takes a while to get used to. The 3.3, from 0-15, feels like it could not get out of its own way. But, from 16-whatever, it will fly. I don't drive like this unless absolutely needed, but in downtown traffic situations, flooring it does nothing from a standstill. Although I'm used to Ford's 3.8 which has a lot of low-end torque. However, the 3.8 is no match for the 3.3 at highway speeds.

Great car for anybody. Sure it may look old, and every other car may look like yours, but for good reason. It gets you from point A to point B... and it feels like you're riding on a cloud (literally).

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 29th June, 2001

28th Sep 2001, 11:51

These are nice cheap cars! You get the most basic design of a luxury car without all the luxury car fluff... a soft cushy ride, plush and quiet interior, most have power windows and locks, and a more economical engine than say a '93 Cadillac Deville or Lincoln Continental. I would take a '93 Century over a '93 Continental any day! They are way cheaper to buy used and a lot more reliable!

10th Jan 2004, 09:44

Unbelievable value. If you want to hang on to it, ensure that only a top-class technician does any service on it(a credit to the GM engineers and assemblers). Rides like a European luxury car. Buick proved it is possible to build an affordable, reliable North American car which won't shake your teeth loose! BTW, don't install cheap tires - ride quality will suffer. Well done, GM!

7th Feb 2004, 08:45

Wonderful car, perfect for college students like myself who need reliable, affordable transportation... somewhat finicky at lower speeds, but great for interstate driving (and it gets terrific gas mileage.) I'd recommend this car to anyone!

8th Dec 2009, 17:57

Fords OHV 3.8 was a reverse engineered GM 3800 (your 3300 is a 3800 with a narrower bore). The mistake Ford made was giving their motor aluminum heads... which led to frequent head gasket failures.

14th Feb 2011, 21:54

This is my second year here in Mexico with my 92 Buick Century 3.3 V6. I only trust myself to work on this car and it runs fantastic. Very reliable.

I will run this engine up to 300,000 kms before I sell it and it will make it there no problem. If you look after this car by doing regular maintenance, you can beat it up a little with no serious problems. These cars can take a beating, believe me I have beat up on this one enough to know that this car is durable.

1993 Buick Century Special 3.3 V6 from North America

Summary:

A dependable, comfortable bargain

Faults:

Water Pump, Power window motor.

General Comments:

Suspension is a bit bouncy compared to Olds Cutlass Ciera and Pontiac 6000 my two previous cars.

All 3 of these cars have been great! The Olds and Pontiac were both involved in accidents (neither one was moving at the time and not my fault) or I might have them today. Overall nice ride and performance.

I take heat from others about outdated style of the car but it's very comfortable on long trips.

Repairs have been minimal.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th June, 2001