1989 Buick LeSabre Custom 3.8 Liter V6 from North America

Summary:

A reliable, comfortable, and surprisingly powerful

Faults:

Replaced front CV joints at 120,000 miles.

Catalytic convertor blew at about 125,000 miles.

The air conditioner no longer works, and would require a significant investment to fix.

The cruise control stopped working correctly.

General Comments:

The 3800 Series engine has a whole lot of power. The LeSabre may seem like a tame car, but it has a whole lot of passing power.

One word: Reliability. While the air conditioning no longer works, the engine and transmission continue to run like new.

Has one of the smoothest rides and some of the most comfortable seats of any car I have ever driven.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th April, 2002

1989 Buick LeSabre T-Type 3.8L , 231cu.in, MPI V-6 from North America

Summary:

Big, fast, comfortable, good-looking without being flashy

Faults:

When I bought it last year, the driver side window (power) wouldn't go up. After repeated trips to the dealer's mechanic, no repair lasting longer than 3 days before the window would fall off track, I enlisted a friend to help me fix it once and for all. It took us less than 2 hours, one pop rivet and some duct tape (to reseal the plastic liner) and it's lasted 2 months.

Dash light behind speedometer out, as well as console shifter backlight. Dash too much of a pain to take out, so I'll wait 'til the other bulb goes before replacing.

Someone had done some shoddy tranny work, leading to a leak in the upper transmission cooler line that drained the tranny nearly dry. Have had shifting problems since, growing steadily worse, and will be replacing the tranny fluid (ALL of it) and filter this weekend... and keeping my fingers crossed.

A/C hasn't worked since I bought it.

General Comments:

Car is amazingly quick and responsive, especially at higher speeds. 100 MPH easy while pointed uphill!

Stock stereo came with a 5-band EQ, auto-reverse cassette with AMS, power antenna and four decent speakers. Still sounds great!

Power leather seats are to die for! So comfortable and easy to adjust.

HUGE trunk, but it doesn't like a lot of weight in the rear so it's wasted space, usually.

Love the jack! It has it's own case on the wall of the trunk, making it easily accessed and out of the way.

It's two doors are huge and heavy, and unopenable from the back seat (a pain for passengers), but the forward opening hood is an attention getter and makes working in such a large engine compartment safer and pretty easy.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 7th February, 2002

26th Feb 2002, 21:23

I own a 1988 Buick LeSabre T-Type myself. A/C hasn't worked in 3 years (Since Purchase) So far I have replaced: Rebuilt Tranny, Tranny Cooling Lines, Power Steering Lines, ALL brake Lines, minor repairs to interior, Replaced sound system using factory holes and factory sized Kenwood speakers for an added 770 watts of power. (The ultimate in concert sound.) I have recently purchased KMC 17" 14 spoke rims. The car will soon be having it's whole fuel system replaced as well as water pump. 154,000 miles and still going strong. I've squeezed 130 MPH out of her on the highway, with no room under the pedal and a tachometer just at red line. A great car for it's age and mileage!

1989 Buick LeSabre Custom 3.8 V6 from North America

Summary:

Drives better than it looks

Faults:

Power window motor failure.

Seat belt problem.

Turn signal module broke.

General Comments:

This car might look like a grandpa car, but it performs like a sporty coupe.

The 3.8 V6 really gives the car some nuts, and it handles easily.

The custom version gives you a very comfortable ride from the driver's seat and it has all the creature comforts you could ask for.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 7th June, 2001

19th Aug 2001, 21:53

My sister had a 1989 Buick LeSabre (6 cylinder, 4 door). I agree that it may not look like a fast car, but boy did that car move :) And would you believe that it went 256,000 miles before dying of a timing problem and bad brake lines that cost more to fix than we bought the car for?