1989 Buick Riviera from North America - Comments

Touch screen unit CRT went out. I was still able to control everything, but I had to memorize where all of the buttons were.

Brake lines failed, but on a car with 200,000 miles, I can't say it was any fault of Buick's...

Automatic air-ride load-leveling suspension failed.

Fuel pump failed, which finally prompted me to send the ol' girl up the river.

I bought this car from a friend for $450 after I totalled my 1995 LeSabre and had no money to replace it. The car had been smashed before I bought it, and it had a lot of miles on it, but I needed a car, and it was a Buick. True to form, it was a great riding car, even after the air-ride suspension gave up, and the engine and transmission were bulletproof. The big problems stemmed from the fact that the car had nearly 200,000 miles on it when I bought it and had already been beaten into the ground, picked up, and beaten again. The all digital instrumentation and the touch-screen climate/radio/misc. controls were beyond futuristic for a 1989 car. I know that it could have truly been something special if it would have been in better condition, but I know that if I ever come across another Rivi' in good shape, I will have a very hard time walking away from it.

Starting with the 1989 Riviera, the Touch Screen was no longer used or available as an option; - so obviously the car you are commenting on was earlier than 1989.

89 was the last year for the touchscreen. The re-vamped the rear end of the car, extending it slightly and then it went down at an angle, unlike the 86-88's who's back ends just screamed "After thought!". 89 was the first year for that body style and last year for the touch screen.

1990 saw the interior redesign to the Riviera, including a newer, cooler-looking, more rounded digital dash and the removal of the touchscreen in favor of conventional radio and climate controls. 1989 saw the Riv lengthened by 11 inches and the rear-fascia redesigned to the far better looking sloped tail.

Actually I had a 89 buick riv n sold them new and the 89 was the first year for the nicer back fenders and the touch screen was only up too 89. I traded the 89 for a 91 because the cars were so goood. liked the 89 because of the screen.

I have a 1989 Riviera with an interesting history; paperwork that came with the car showed it never went through a Buick dealership. After it was manufactured, it was driven 71 miles on a GM test track in Michigan. It was shipped to the Electro-Motive plant, a division of GM outside of Chicago, where it went into a GM executive program for 6 months. It was then sold to an employee (my brother) through a GM employee purchase program. Always garaged, he kept the car in perfect running order from 1989 to 2002 when he reluctantly sold it to me when he retired. He knew I had always admired the car.

The paint is the original White Diamond Mist that still glows like an angel in the summer sun. With burgundy leather and suede interior, the car has a rich classy look. The engine, trans, and touch screen, as most everything else, is still original and in proper working order. Occasionally the car attracts attention when least expected and the touch screen is a great conversation piece. This Riviera has every option available at the time, including a moon roof and automatic trunk closer. It also has the touring suspension which, although a bit stiff, makes the car handle like a slot car. What fun!

I took my '67 Mustang convertable to a cruise night contest and my wife drove the Riv and parked behind it. A judge said I should register the Riv for the show. I did. It won.

A 19 year old car used almost every day, with 173,000 miles on it, probably isn't worth a lot... but I feel this one may soon become a classic.

I've owned MANY Riv's. My current 1989 Riv has 200,000 and I'm planning on another 200,000. Good thing I can "FIX" it all! Including the Electronics.

BOB from Pittsburgh.