Comments: 1-15, 16-22
Fuel pump went at 125,000 miles.
Front suspension began bouncing badly and the rear suspension, when hitting a bump in the road, makes the entire rear-end of the car shift slightly in the direction whichever tire recieves impact.
Radiator developed a crack and had to be replaced at 140,000 miles.
Coil packs had to be replaced at 147,000 miles.
Flip-up plastic cover that hides the ashtray and cigarette lighter just fell apart one day w/o me even touching it. I was driving down the road and it just fell apart for no reason. This happened just this saturday (8/20/05).
Also, the car just began stalling at highway speeds. Sometimes, it will restart on its own, other times I have to pull off the road and restart.
The defroster setting for the front windshield blows hot on the driver side and cold for the passenger side. Sometimes, the car decides to switch sides in which the driver side blows cold and the passenger side blows warm.
The hinges of the trunk lid, where they are supported by the nuts and bolts that go through the frame have caused rust holes, so now when it rains, water enters the luggage area.
The paint is starting to fade on the trunk.
The seat controls are cracking and breaking apart on their own.
The supercharger sometimes makes rattling noises.
The engine bay light only works when the headlights come on.
The "Service Engine Soon" light comes on and goes off. Whenever it does come on, the car acts as if it is skipping. I can temporarily solve the problem by turning the car off and restarting it.
The power steering assist doesn't kick in when I am parking the car.
The "Low Coolant" light comes on and rarely goes off. The car has been checked and no one can figure out why it comes on.
In hot weather, the electronic locks that engage when the gear changes are made do not work all the time.
This car is impressively quick for such a large car.
The car is beautifully designed. Too bad the quality isn't there.
However, the interior is of very poor quality, fit and finish.
The interior pieces are of cheap material that breaks easily if you're not careful.
Also, with the dashboard, you have to be careful when you touch it because you may scratch the painted surfaces... you shouldn't have to baby a car in this manner and it just doesn't say quality.
If the weather is hot, my Riviera seems to "get tired" while being driven. Meaning, the charging system seems to drop the cars idling very low and the car doesn't shift as strongly as it should.
Also, the electronic shift gauge on the instrument cluster blinks on and off a lot.
I have always been against American vehicles, which is sad because I am American, but this car has confirmed that I will not be buying another American car again. Thank God for German and Japanese vehicles. They know how to build cars that will last a long time!
I have problems with this car, back to back, and I am going to sell it for a ridiculously low price this fall just to get it out of my hair. I don't trust the name Buick anymore. This car has truely turned me off.
Just goes to show you that what looks good ain't always so! This is why the first owner sold the car to me!
I don't even know where to begin... as far as the hot/cold air coming out of your vents, try checking/adjusting the dual zone climate control. You probably didn't even know you had it. Also, seeing as how this is the first model year of that particular style of the Riviera, I would say that your luck isn't too bad. That and you picked the car up with over 100,000 miles to begin with. It's people like you that are putting Americans out of jobs, you with you "foreign is superior" attitude. Sorry to burst your bubble, but it is not. If you don't believe me, look at the tons of negative reviews on Audi's and VW's, or even Hondas. Your comment probably is unfounded. You probably drive some little 2 cylinder Honda Accrap.
Isn't the Honda Accord built in Ohio, or at least in mainland U.S.A.?
When you buy a car that is over ten years old and has over one hundred thousand miles some things are going to go bad on the car whether it is a Mercedes, VW, or a Honda. American car parts are inexpensive, try buying a 2 dollar part imported from Japan, and buying American cars keeps American jobs. If you want better quality materials go for the Cadillac. No honda or vw can match the style comfort or quality of this car, except maybe that $80000 VW, but the Buick looks better.
HELLO!!! YOU HAVE AN OLD CAR! It has a lot of mileage on it and guess what, things are going to go wrong. I don't know where you live, but if you get snow, road salt can be hard on the car as well. A lot of cars would have given up the ghost by now, so quit complaining, get a good mechanic, fix your car and enjoy it. It sounds like there is a lot you do like about the car. If you want one that is more trouble free you are going to have to get one with less miles on the clock!
Well, people... I have to agree with the originator of this review. American cars do tend to be much more problematic than the foreign competition. It's the truth so why not admit it? I have a 1987 Nissan 300ZX that I have owned since 1990. The car now has 387,000 and a little change on the odometer and I have never had any engine problems nor transmission problems. All I have ever done to the car was change the timing system, replace the valve cover gaskets, spark plugs and wires, distributor, added a new radiator due to it being cracked from lack of coolent one winter. Now have you ever seen an American car do that? And when you find one that does, please let me know. Have a nice day.
There are plenty of american cars that reach that mileage, and it's misguided thinking to believe all imports last as long as your 300 (I am a fan of the car, having owned an 86). Cars are as good as the maintainance performed by the owners.
OK. I am sorry to imply that foreign vehicles are better than American. I didn't exactly mean for it to come out that way. All I am saying is that Japanese vehicles, and some European brands, tend to be much less problematic as opposed to American brands. Yes, every country has had problems, but when you look among the many brands, which do you see sitting on the sides of the highways more often? Just the other day, I saw a 2006 STS, driven by an elderly couple, at the redlight that wouldn't start as if the timing had gone out! When was the last time you saw a Lexus LS400 / LS430 doing that? Yes, I know that anything can have a problem, but foreign companies do more quality testing than American companies do. And that is a fact. Check the quality standards among the American car brands and compare them to the foreign competition and you will see a big difference. I know many American people get angry when people say things such as I am saying, but it is the God Honest Truth. If we as Americans began caring about our quality finished products instead of just throwing metal and fabric together, we would have AWESOME products because we do produce some very beautiful cars. I do agree with the idea that a car is as good as it is cared for, but that isn't always the case.
I have another idea: Purchase two brand new cars, a 2006 Cadillac STS-V and a BMW 7-Series, and test them for a year with equal treatment. More than likely, the Cadillac will begin to have issues before the BMW. It's not necessarily a fact, but you can still pretty much bet that will be the case. I don't hate American cars at all, but we as Americans need to be more quality-concerned!
This buick sounds like it has been outside in the hot sun most of the time when not being driven. it also sounds like little maintenance items were neglected before you bought this car and have turned into big items. I have had good luck and bad luck with both german and american based cars. a good car is determined right from the factory (ie-built in defects) and this is the luck of the draw. yes, in the past american cars have had more of these build-ins, but they also cost less than their competition. a toyota is less likely to break than a buick, but God help you if the toyota breaks off warranty. very expensive and difficult to find knowledgeable staff outside the dealer.
It sounds like a few trips to the auto recycler and a weekend or two in the driveway and all the broken bits could be changed. you WILL miss this car once you sell it.
I have a 1996 Buick Riviera with 28800 miles and I love it, I think it looks better than a brand new Mercedes its gorgeous inside and out, why Buick decided to discontinue it I have no idea, but its very pretty. Fast, Good gas mileage and very reliable.
Why Buick decided to discontinue it?
Well, the usual reason is because not enough people were buying it...
Two door coupes in this price range have fallen out of fashion. In fact, although they don't necessarily compete, that is why the new Charger is a four door instead of a two - the two simply would not sell.
As the baby boomers get older and have no kids to worry about you may see a resurgence in this type of car.
Well, let's see, the current Mustang is selling well and Chevy and Dodge are bringing back the Camaro and Challenger, respectively, in the next couple of years--all coupes. And Nissan will be introducing a coupe version of the Altima, shortly.
"fallen out of fashion"? Buick coupes, yes. Seems unlikely that we will ever see a Buick with only two doors again. In fact, we may not see any new Buicks at all in a few years if GM's problems continue...
I'd like to buy the Riv at the top of this discussion, but I doubt it's still around. Sounds like a bad case of neglect on a beautiful American made sports coupe... If you can't tell I am a Buick Rivvie fan. I have owned a 1965 Gran Sport, a 1996 Riv T-Type and now own a 1963 Riv, a 1964 Riv, and a 1996 Park Avenue with 185,000 miles that I use as a daily driver... what a ride!! Regards, Jake.
The Riviera is a very beautiful car indeed. And I doubt that repairing this car would be as expensive as an Audi or VW. American cars have fallen off with the genuine thought and materials used in cars now days. Take Chevy for example, the interiors on chevys look like a big plastic mess with cheap looking leather and dashes that look like legos there so cheap. But they are not costly to maintain or repair. Buy an Audi A4 with that kind of miles (as your Riv) then write another blog about your experiences with it. If anything goes on that thing, I hope you have some money saved up. If that turbo goes on you, Have a nice day! Just trade it in!
I just recently bought a Buick Riviera as well and I am Revving and Loving it. I have been looking for this car for some time and the sleek body and appearance of the vehicle has been haunting me ever since I've been driving any thing else. It has 63,000 miles and is treating me like the driver it deserves. I previously was considering buying a Lexus and I know that if I have any problems with the Riviera I'll be glad that it is not a Lexus. American cars may be cheap, but they are manageable and foreign cars are expensive to maintain.