1987 Buick LeSabre Limited 3.1 from North America

Summary:

A nice, dependable car with guts and good looks

Faults:

Transmission weak going into second gear. Once it catches though, it hauls butt!! Also, dropping into overdrive is a bit hesitant.

Power windows are each their own entity. Driver's side goes down, and comes up when it wants. Passenger window is stuck in up position. Rear driver side goes up/down with master controls, not the one on its panel. Rear passenger goes up/down, but not with the master panel.

Had to replace the ignition switch, it locked in the on position. Had to pull the fuel pump fuse to cut it off, and put it back in to crank.

General Comments:

An awesome ride. Comfortable and quiet. Really nice condition to be almost 25 years old. Seats are clean and not worn.

Body is very straight. No dents. Two dings on the driver's door.

Paint is grey. Clearcoat is still good on 80% of the car.

I would not trade this car for anything.

It's gutsy, strong and loves 55-65 mph. A cruiser.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 15th July, 2011

16th Jul 2011, 13:40

I guess it must be the 3.8 rather than the 3.1 liter V6.

In reply to 16th Jul 2011, 13:40

18th Jul 2011, 15:16

It's a 3.1 litre. It's just one of those cars that was built right.

21st Jul 2011, 11:56

It is possible that the car had the older 3.0 V6, which was a quite different engine from the 3.1 liter, but the 3.8 was more likely.

The 3.0 was a 'lower deck' version of the 3.8 liter with a shorter stroke, so it was a 90 degree V6 like the 3.8 litre. The 3.0 version hasn't quite the superlative reputation of the 3.8.

The 3.1 liter that was used in many later GM cars only appeared around 1990, and was a 60 degree V6 evolved from the original 2.8 liter V6 (which was developed under the Chevrolet brand line). It was used in post 1993 Centuries, but never in the LeSabre.

I'm sorry to dispute the point - perhaps it isn't important. And I do agree that these cars were excellent, well made cars, and a great value - like most old GM cars. Too bad everything's become so much worse since.

1987 Buick LeSabre Limited 3.8 6 cylinder from North America

Summary:

Strong, dependable and great looking, well worth the investment

Faults:

After 150,000 miles, I could not keep a transmission in it, But it was because I went to a bad place to rebuild it. They kept telling me it was blowing the torque converter. Finally I had it done at another place, and it lasted another 90,000 miles.

General Comments:

This was a great car. Large family car, and I got almost 30 mpg on the highway during extended trips (and with almost a quarter million miles, there were a lot of them).

After it got crashed (that made me sick), the engine was still strong and had NEVER been worked on other than normal and regular maintenance.

My ex-wife hated the car (color, Grey) so she went and bought a 96 Cutlass, that did have a little smaller engine, 3.1 but did not get near the mileage that I got with my LeSabre.

There was one small rust spot on the rear just behind the right wheel, no bigger than a quarter.

After my first wife and I separated, I put chrome wheels and half moon caps on it. I loved it. She thought it looked stupid. I guess that was the point.

In 2000 some young girl, joy riding with her friends, pulled out in front of me on a highway at 55 mph. She was driving a '91 Daytona. My Battleship of a Buick (compared to her Daytona) ripped the front clip right off her car. Took both fenders, horse collar and part of the hood. My LeSabre was totaled, but stayed intact.

All in all, after paying $5,000 with almost 50,000 miles on it, then putting 200 k miles on in 11 years without any major work other than the tranny, I was more than pleased.

I have never been as happy with a car as that one, except maybe my first car, a '71 Mach I that I rebuilt in 77.

I loved my Buick. Wish I still had it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 2nd December, 2009