1998 Buick Century Custom review from North America
"Dependable family car"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Windshield to cowl seal passenger side.
Carpet replaced by dealership.
Carpet does not fit right. Dealer could not properly fix.
Interior windshield pillar trim shrinking
Front door trim/seal combination issues causing doors not to seal.
Window seals on front doors failing.
Heater control knobs fragile.
Radio knobs fragile.
Brakes have a shorter than normal service life.
General comments?
This car was bought used from a Buick dealer in 2002. It was to replace an identical one totaled (same year, color, trim level). Dealership did not disclose the car had been wrecked and repaired.
The windshield to cowl seals at the ends of the windshield would only leak when parked with the nose up hill. Water coming down the windshield would leak down the firewall and leave a puddle. Dealership took 5 tries to find the issue. It came from their body shop not putting the seal back in when repairing the vehicle. This lead to the mildew & mold in the carpet and padding. Dealership replaced carpet and could not get it to fit properly. They put screws through the carpet into the floor pan!
Other than that, & brakes wearing out sooner than GM says they should, it has been a reliable vehicle. Used on road trips between 800-1200 miles once a year, and driven periodically. Was a daily driver for a few years, and when fuel prices are high.
Never has reached the recommended city mileage, yet gets 1 MPG better highway then advertised.
The door/trim issues are ones GM has not resolved. Annoying problems that do not effect the ability to drive.
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| A reliable, more stylish, feature rich alternative to other mid-size cars of the same era |
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| 1997 - Century Limited 3.1 V-6 Great car for the money, perfect for the average mid-level executive, or marine :-) |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1998 |
| Year of manufacture | 1998 |
| First year of ownership | 2002 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.1 V6 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 5 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 2 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 9 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 30000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 110000 miles |
| Previous car | Buick Century |
| Date of Entry | 19th January, 2009 |