1992 Buick Century from North America - Comments

The exhaust has had constant problems.

The brakes have been replaced many times now.

Rust is everywhere.

We replaced the transmission at approx. 45,000 miles.

We replace the shocks about 2 or 3 times a year.

The ride is very uncomfortable.

The interior is very noisy and plain.

Steering is sluggish and the brakes are very poor.

I don't think these are a result of the cars fault. I think you are being taken for a ride by the service station you take it to for repairs. It really stinks when people think its the cars fault when it is really some jerk who want to make a quick bucks fault. Good luck in the future.

I have been driving a 1992 Century with the 3.3 engine for over three years now. This car has cost me virtually nothing in repairs. It has 240,000 kilometers on it and I feel I will put at least another 100,000 on this car here in Eastern Canada.

A question for the Century Custom driver in eastern Canada.

I was wondering of you ever had problems (and what the costs may have been) with the fan (or blower, however you call it). The heat is working, just the blower isn't.

Thanks.

A lot of the problems with your car sound like they may not be the car's fault. Consider: You've only put 63,000 miles on it since purchasing it new 14 years ago. I'm guessing your car doesn't get driven a lot. Perhaps it sits idle for extended periods of time. Not driving a car for long periods of time is sure to ruin it eventually. It sounds contrary to logic, but cars thrive on being driven. I know this firsthand. I've had cars that I quit driving and left idle for months before selling them. When they sit, everything deteriorates fast-paint, trim, body panels, belts, tires-everything. This is especially true if they're not garaged. Rust really sets in all over, and in a major way. That could be the reason for your exhaust problems, if they're due to rust. And of course there's the rust you mention. The brake problems could also be due to lack of use. The rotors and drums rust when the car sits idle and it's possible your brake calipers may get sticky from lack of use, resulting in rapid brake wear when you do drive the car. I can't understand why you had to replace the transmission at only 45,000 miles. Unlike a few other makes/models, the Buick Century is not particularly prone to transmission failure, so yours could've been a fluke or, dare I say it-neglect or abuse. And why would you need to replace shocks/struts 2-3 times a year? On the other hand, if you have such low mileage on this car because you only do city driving, that could also be a factor in all of the problems. Constant city driving is no good for a car because everything wears out sooner, especially brakes, engine, transmission and suspension components (relative to your mileage, not necessarily the age of the car).

And if you hate the car so much, why have you kept it for so many years?

I don't know who wrote the above post, but he/she really knows his/her stuff and is dead-on!

Yeah, I'm not sure I trust a review from someone who says they change their struts out two or three times a year. I've put 70,000 miles on my Century that came with 60,000 already and have never replaced the struts.