1997 Buick Riviera review from North America

I have had this car for over 8 years now, and I actually had to go to the "car file" to see what has gone wrong over that period.

Like some of the other reviewers, my fuel sending unit broke down somewhere around 40,000 miles, and since then I have been using the trip odometer to pace my fill ups. Usually somewhere between 350 and 375 is a very safe range.

And like the last reviewer, my Riv developed a small oil leak in the head gasket, but it's more like seepage because I don't even add a quart between my 4,000 mile oil changes.

Recently, after 12 years of service, the sunroof has shown signs of failure. It stops between cycles and you have to keep hitting the button to open or close it.

The most noticeable defect is the exterior paint. It's been an outside car, and I live in sunny South Florida, so the paint job has taken a real beating. It was a beautiful silver, but developed a bunch of scratches like broken glass. I thought that our yard cat had been climbing on it and it almost cost the poor boy his claws. So considering all this, the old girl has been a trouble free car and a great performer.

I loved this car from the first time I laid eyes on it. Couple those looks with the supercharged engine, the glamorous interior, the outstanding creature comforts, and the reliability of Buick, and it's the complete package. This car has never let me down, gives great gas mileage and operated like a much more expensive machine.