I have had to re-glue the side rubber moldings once, but when they fell off again, I decided to keep them off and to tell you the truth, the car looks even classier with the more chrome on it.
My front passenger seat motor went bad and that was pretty expensive to replace.
Both front driver and passenger seatbelt springs blew and that was very costly to replace professionally.
I had to change the heater control valve at 148,000 miles.
The DynaRide electronic shock system went bad at 127,890 miles and I chose to replace it with just regular shocks. I like the lowered look a lot better than with the DynaRide ones. Plus, it doesn't feel as splashy when making corners at 40 miles an hour now.
The water pump went bad at 148,090 miles and that was the easiest engine part to replace. It took about thirty minutes.
I live in Phoenix, AZ, and its really hot here and I just started to notice an increase in engine temperature when running the AC. It just so happens that my radiator has a few minor leaks. Mind you, this is the original radiator. I will be replacing it soon.
I LOVE THIS CAR! I am a 21 year old kid and when all my friends were buying imports I bought this car and I beat the snot out of them EVERYTIME off the line. They cannot compare their turbocharged Honda's and VW's to my ALL ORIGINAL 350. Granted it only has 180 HP, but the Torque is through the roof and being Rear Wheel Drive helps a lot.
My friend has a 1996 Impala SS and we race quite frequently and he has done a lot of extra stuff to make his car handle better and more powerful, but my ALL ORIGINAL Roadmaster can still keep up almost Nose to Nose. Off the line, my nose is about to his side mirrors till about 67mph. His 1/4 mile is about 15 where as mine is about 20. But his car cost him close to $14,000 used with 101,000 and mine cost me $7,5000 with 88,000. I think I made a good choice.
As far as comfort, you cannot compete with a big American Car. The Buick Roadmaster is truly the leader in comfort. There is plenty of room in the front and the back for my 6'5" friends and my friends that weigh in excess of 280lbs.
The seats are so comfortable that you can sit in them from Arizona all the way to Florida without having to get up. It is more comfortable then my Lazy Boy in my living room.
As far as gas mileage, it isn't the greatest, but it does well. I drive my car hard and I get about 300miles to a tank. when I really use a light-foot I can get up to 375miles to a tank. As far as freeway mileage, I can drive from Phoenix to Los Angeles without having to fill up once and while coasting at 80-100mph the whole way.
Future upgrades will be a K&N Air Filter, Better shocks/suspension (Bilsteins come to mind), Flowmaster Exhaust, wider tires (245 or 255's), cold-air intake, and if I have the money, Turbo Charger kit.
All in all, this car is great and I am glad not many people know about it cause if this car ever dies, I want to buy another and another and another...
Do not turbocharge it. If I were to do anything I would supercharge it, but not before I had a few things taken care of.
First I would get a TBI spacer, High Flow Exhaust, and headers, You will notice a difference with this even without headers a straight through muffler and high flow cat would help out a lot, and take out the air intake silencer (Piece of metal inside the air-box right on top of the throttle body, looks like a carb doesn't it?)
So before you think about a turbo/supercharger make sure your car is getting enough airflow.
One more thing, with a supercharger you would also need a higher pressure fuel pump and regulator.
Hey, about replacing the dynaride system. Was there a lot of work involved. How much lower is it and could it be done on another car say a LeSabre. Could you describe to me how you did it. You can email me croomrobot@hotmail.com Thanks!
If you ever get another roadmaster, get a 94-96 model with the LT-1 (the same engine as your friend's ss). My parents got a 96 for $6,000 with 55,000 miles on it & I'm looking for one just like it. my only complaint is the 108 mph speed limiter.
I just bought a 1992 BUICK ROAD MASTER LIMITED EDITION V-8 5.7L
this car is great, it rides smooth, with front and rear sway bars, the comfort is incredible, and the room is perfect I'm 6'3" and I feel relaxed not to mention I just ate up a little mazda whatever like it was nothing, I'm currently getting a K&N air filter for more horse power and better air flow and maybe some flow master exhaust that's all I need to be the ROAD MASTER..
arrios83@yahoo.com