1991 Buick Park Avenue from North America - Comments

Absolutely nothing.

So, as of this writing, the 91 Park Av is going on 18 years old (since it was a 1990 model year).

I am hard pressed to think of any sedans from the 1990/1991 model years that have an aesthetic which remains fresh and sharp today - other than this one. Even almost two decades later, they still look great and contemporary, but most importantly, there's a reason you still SEE SO MANY of the 1991-1996 Buicks on the road today. They're just fantastic automobiles!

The GM 3800 3.8 was rated in Wards Top 10 Best Engines of the 20th Century for good reason. If you take care of them, they're absolutely bullet proof. The 3800 Series II as found on the later models is even a bit better, but let there be no doubt - the motor that drives your 1st Generation Park Av is as reliable as anything coming out of Germany or Japan. A well maintained 3800 can reliably be expected to get 200K or more, with plenty of examples going well into the 300 and even 400,000 range.

Gearhead stuff aside, these are about as smooth and comfortable a ride as you're going to find.

Anyone reading this today is someone who is looking for a lower priced, older model used car, which the 1991 Park Avenue now is. If you find one that has been carefully maintained with relatively low miles, you absolutely aren't going to find another car in this price range with this level of comfort, reliability and quality. For the couple grand a very well maintained 1991 Park Avenue brings, you're often getting a car that could have another decade left in it.

I love these as well - have a 1992. The nice thing about them is they didn't all have leather like newer luxury cars (I hate leather seats). But keep in mind the 3800 was bulletproof till about '94 or '95 when they came out with the Series II 3800 - very unreliable due to plastic intake manifold.

That is not necessarily true. My '99 Park Avenue with the Series II 3.8 never had an issue with the engine in the 3 years I owned it. I just traded it with over 140,000 for an '05 with 17,000. I think the '05 has the Series III. Even if it is Series II, I know it has the aluminum intake manifold which won't be a problem. These are great cars, given the 91-96 models generally ride softer, the 97-05 are far classier and better appointed.

Check out the reviews - 1991-1994 have stellar reviews, 1995+ are full of referrences to nightmarish problems due to the intake manifold. The former group is typified by 'best car I ever owned', the latter by 'I'll never buy another Buick/GM'.

Also by 'better appointed' I think you mean leather seats - I hate 'em. So much less comfortable than cloth. It is sad the way newer luxury cars are all leatherized due to social climber's face requirements.