1995 Buick Skylark Custom 2.3L DOHC from North America

Summary:

A nice car that has it's faults, but will last a long time

Faults:

One of the temperature control knobs broke.

The front speakers are blown.

First my signal lights went out, then my dashboard lights, and then my interior and headlights too! I had to replace the whole module in the steering column in 2002.

There is a terrible grinding sound coming from the front driver side tire and no one can figure out what it is.

I had a new transmission put in at 80,000 miles in 1998 because it was not shifting right.

It takes a while to shift into the next gear.

When flooring it, the car goes real slow and then all of a sudden kicks in very powerfully.

The driver side window broke twice because the motor is a cheap (but expensive) plastic part.

The trunk is hard to close.

The trunk light fell out of where it belongs and won't stay put when I put it back.

I put a new alternator in 1999, and now, in 2002, I am about to need a new one again.

General Comments:

Overall, I am generally pleased with my car because it has never really let me down.

The gas mileage is pretty good.

The driver seat is comfortable.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 3rd September, 2002

31st Aug 2003, 10:10

I had to put a new alternator, fix several leaks and not too long ago, I had a mail saying that this 1995 Buick Skylark was "Recalled". So far, its still running, I got the car in 1999. Now it's 2003 and I'm planning to keep it anyway.

1995 Buick Skylark Custum 2.3 DOHC Quad Four from North America

Summary:

A cheap upgradeable subwoofer-machine.

Faults:

Driver side seat broken since 1997. It doesn't stay back when you put it all the way back.

I replaced the CV joints in 1999 and then again in 2002.

Along with the CV joints I replaced struts, shocks, brakes and bushings in 2002.

Rear bumper is plastic on the outside, but there is a lot of rust underneath and it needs to be replaced.

Speakers blown, replaced as needed with aftermarket, along with a new head unit.

Defroster on rear window stopped working in 1998.

Knob for temperature controls is broken.

Air conditioner compressor broke in 2001.

General Comments:

The brakes need to be replaced very often. I usually replace them every summer just to be on the safe side.

Lots of plastic parts that break easily; seems to be cheaply made.

Needs to have a stick shift version, but you can get some performance out of the 2.3 version like I do. Adding an exhaust and an intake makes a great sound due to the higher compression of the 2.3.

The automatic comes in two versions, a 3 and a 4 speed version. You definitly want the 4 speed version because without it you have terrible take offs and make no power until over 40. I have had the car not shift until 55 miles per hour in first gear just stomping on the accelerator in drive.

A set of subs sounds great in the car, but sometimes the small plastic parts rattle along with the rear bumper, which is due to rust.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 20th August, 2002

1995 Buick Skylark Limited from North America

Summary:

Horrible, it's falling apart because it was poorly built before it was wrecked

Faults:

For one thing, I picked out a red car. Very bad luck. Please understand that I am a woman and will probably call something by the wrong name.

The car had some problems, but got worse when I was rear-ended after having it only 3 months. Car did not rebuild well. The alignment is said to be correct yet the tires on the back wear unevenly. The passenger side window does not shut properly. You can hear air rushing in all the time. The truck lid does not latch sometimes. The grill in the dashboard right below the windshield where the air comes out when defrosting the windshield won’t stay in place. It pops out at every bump.

Filling up with gas was a real problem. I could smell gas fumes in the car for at least 2 days after filling the tank. Of course all the men who looked at the car said there was nothing wrong and with that “now ma’am” voice said that of course I smelled gas; I was at the gas station. Why would I sit for 2 days at a gas station after filling the tank? They just didn’t get it. My fiancée unclogged the vent tubes and now, no gas smell after I leave the station.

The head gasket had to be replaced. Luckily I had an extended warranty to cover the damage. Now the warranty has run out and the dealer doesn’t want to see me anymore.

The driver’s seat never did adjust properly.

The gearshift sticks in park a lot of times. It’s weird the way this happens. When you try to move it to reverse or drive, the shift won’t move. But if you hear a click when you depress the break before trying to shift, it moves correctly and smoothly. Bottom line is, it will either move OK or stick. When it sticks, it will not move until you hear the click.

The check engine light stays on practically all the time. Car has been checked out and “they” say there is nothing wrong with it.

Brakes have been replaced twice on the front and once on the back. Rear tires get replaced often.

The padding on the dashboard and decorative moldings on the inside of the doors are loose. It is falling apart so we use superglue to try to stay ahead of the problem. The vent covers will also pop off without warning. Where the radio is mounted in the dash is also loose. The clips don’t hold the parts in tight like they should.

The turn signals are about to die. Fuses are OK. Alternator is OK. Bulbs are OK. Everything checks out. “They” cannot explain why or fix it.

General Comments:

The sunroof works right. The radio works right. The air conditioning works right.

The car has been a nightmare. I have too much invested it the thing to give it up, but dearly would love to lose it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 21st May, 2002

29th May 2002, 09:42

I wanted to add one more comment about this car. There is so much wrong with it, it is almost impossible to remember what all is wrong. There are a couple of things, one in particular that bothers me. The remote door opener. It is supposed to work from 5 to 30 feet from the car. Well, it has never worked more than 8 or 10 feet away, and only if you hold it just right. The battery was changed, and now it is worse. You press the door unlock from 2 to 5 feet away, and sometimes the trunk opens. Sometimes the doors actually unlock. But they will lock almost every time from almost any distance. Sometimes nothing happens. Usually, after you use the key to get in the car, you can press the button and it works so wonderfully. The other thing is the operation of the trunk release inside of the car. It requires no key in the switch to give it power. All you do is pull the plastic handle. You can never leave the windows down, because if someone gets in, they can get in the trunk. Why were these lock releases not electric? Probably because they wouldn't work like the rest of the electrical stuff. Just remember if you ever own one, not to leave anything inside your trunk out of sight, because it can be gone rather quickly.

1995 Buick Skylark Custom 2.3L DOHC 16v 150HP Quad 4 from North America

Summary:

A zippy 4-cylinder

Faults:

Needs a new exhaust.

Horrible stock sound system.

Bad gas mileage for a 4-banger.

Sluggish, inconsistent power windows.

Tranny has a jerky shift from 1st to 2nd.

AC had to be recharged, but that was a $40 Do-It-Yourself task which took all of 15 minutes.

General Comments:

It's quick for a 4-cylinder car. I can keep up with my friends in their faster cars, but this won't win many races. The engine sounds nice when revved... much nicer than my old Dodge 600 (which I also have a review of on here).

I put in a Sony Xplode (ugg, dirty power output) an 2 Pioneer 2way 6x9s that a friend sold to me for $10.

The front seats are comfy, though the driver's seat doesn't go back far enough. The back seat is also cramped.

I wish the car was a manual... more fun, and I hate the auto tranny in this car. Jerky shift.

It's fairly reliable, though. Always starts up. I'm either going to keep it until it dies or get a new car this spring.

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

Review Date: 27th November, 2001

1995 Buick Skylark from North America

Summary:

Nice car to get me going in life

Faults:

Front brakes went out.

Driver side window bracket broke from melting ice.

Driver side seat bracket broke.

Steering alignment is off.

Anti lock brakes light goes off and on at times.

General Comments:

This car is a fast car, and very nice to operate to start with.

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

Review Date: 30th July, 2001

1995 Buick Skylark Custom 3.1L V6 from North America

Summary:

A great car

General Comments:

The car runs excellent, and I have no complaints about it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 15th March, 2001