1992 Buick Century Custom review from North America
"Practical and Predictable and at not a bad price"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
When my father first got the car:
Alternator.
Brakes, brakes, and more brakes.
Suspension parts here and there shocks,
struts, ball joints, tie rod ends.
Belts.
Spark plugs and wires when they needed to be done.
Mufflers for life.
Exhaust donuts twice (one was my fault, hitting a speed bump at high speed)
Timing chain.
Harmonic balancer and crankshaft position sensor.
When I bought the car:
Engine (due to mechanics that had improperly sealed the timing chain cover) -Cost $2000.
Radiator Fan.
Now the transmission is starting to slip at 230K kms.
Leaks oil a bit here and there.
And the left turn signal doesent click off after a turn.
Cigarette Lighter dead after a penny got stuck in there.
General comments?
Interior is very comfortable. Seats are a bit soft, but the upholstery is fit for a king. The power recline feature is useful. Although dashboard ergonomics and style show less inspiration than a paper bag.
It is decently fast once it gets off the line. It can peel out very easily and can take a lot of abuse. The transmission though would be the exception. Had it been as well designed and bullet proof as the engine (mechanics aside) this car would last forever.
It feels as safe as being on the bridge of a mighty battleship. I've hit the odd thing here or there and the car doesent even have a scratch.
The suspension although soft is excellent for snow filled Canadian residential streets. It seems very tough given the rear rigid axle.
It is quiet so that you can hear a pin drop. However when it is time for noise there is an excellent factory sound system. Also the exhaust emits a quiet burble.
As was mentioned this an excellent winter car. You will not get stuck and provided with winter tires sliding is manageable.
Chews brakes and braking can be likened to stopping a freight train.
Extremely sloppy handling. Body lean is omnipresent. Front wheel drive adds torque steer and is detrimental to handling.
Complex to work on due to electrical components.
The verdict is that while it is an old man sedan it is better than average than most domestics. If you need a car to last you through high school with little trouble this is it.
My investment was $2000, I will now sell for $1000 firm.
Recommended reviews
| It's a great powerful car |
|
| Best car ever |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Model year | 1992 |
| Year of manufacture | 1992 |
| First year of ownership | 1994 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2005 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.3L V6 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 7 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 8 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 40000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 230001 kilometres |
| Date of Entry | 21st March, 2005 |