1997 Buick Park Avenue from North America - Comments

Fuel, starting.

I have a 1997 Park Avenue and would like to get rid of, but need it for transportation. Have one problem after another. I have had many electrical problems with it. Now it will not start. First repair the mechanic changed the module that gives spark to the spark plugs with some other module which was replaced. Car started and in a couple of days I had same problem again. Was told that the fuel pump was fine and was not the problem. No repair codes found on its computer. This time when I took the car back to have it fixed, it would not start for the mechanic and when he got in equipment hooked up the car started and now he can not find anything wrong. I can not rely on it anymore. Anybody have a clue of what might be wrong? When it runs it is a nice driving car, would like to keep if for the time being.

Handles great.

"I would not buy another Buick"

- What with the way that GM is going now, you probably won't be able to to that in the future!

Buick, Pontiac, Saturn, and Saab are all potentials for the chopping block as GM slides ever further towards bankruptcy.

GM would never phase out Buick. As of 2003 it was the only badge that makes a profit under GM. I think lately Cadillac has picked things up, and they would have been much better off canceling Pontiac and keeping Oldsmobile. Lately they have shrunk down, cutting employees and benefits trying to compete with the Japanese. I do own a Park Avenue, a 2001 model which I picked up used for $9000 a few years ago. It is comfortable and quiet with a little bit of "go" when its needed. I don't demand a lot of a car other than it be comfortable and quiet, but for that price I couldn't have gotten a 10 year old Honda Accord. GM is generally a good used buy because depreciation is so steep. I wish GM the best and hope they can turn around 30 years of bad management and labor relations.

A 10 year old honda accord would be about $3500. There's too much bells and whistles for my liking in the buick- to much could go wrong.

I Loved my 94 Le Sabre and then bought a 97 Park Ave. Great cars and a great value on the used car market. They were less than half the price of a Honda from the same year. I Had been involved in a collision with the 94 Le Sabre. I survived due in no small part to the mass and strength of the superstructure of the Le Sabre.

I get roughly the same mileage that my co workers get with there Honda's at half the purchase price, better crash protection, much larger and much more comfortable. I love these cars!

Bought a 97 Park Avenue Ultra in 2002 with about 25,000 on it.

Maintenance has included: the fuel pump (twice, and the dealer had previously replaced it), brake pads, a water pump, alternator, a bushing in the supercharger, and a crack in the hot side of the radiator tank, its gone to 98,000 running fine.

I do most of my own work so I am only out a small fraction of the cost these fixes would be at a dealer.

The driver's window is slowly failing (now it runs slow going down, if its cold not at all).

The performance is great, I love blowing away BMW's and Porches trying to pass on the right at a light, its such an "old man" car they don't see the 'supercharged' flags and it moves.

Gas mileage (on premium) has been 16-18 in town 25-28 highway (at 85 usually).

I love the heated leather seats, stereo and interior. If I could get a 2004 with a diesel and convert it to veggie like my wife's 85 Mercedes, I would buy it again.