Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-49
I too have an 89 Reatta, it is black and I very recently had it painted. I sell cars for a living and Have brand new cars for demo's. But I love driving this car more than any new car I've driven. Yes I have had to replace the screen because the old one kept going in and out. But once replace with a refurbished one it works great! This car handles soo well and is very comfortable to drive! I can relate to reattachick! This cars is FUN!...Osseobob!
I've just completed phase I of my "get it up and going" 89 Reatta program which included struts all around, a complete Teves brake unit, motor mounts, power steering pump, rack & pinion, and, to top it off, a windshield. The 132K engine remains flawless and untouched with the exception of a new temperature sensor. If I didn't love this little red coupe before, I need to love her now. At times I felt like I must have been buying Rolls Royce parts. I bought the car on Ebay a couple of weeks ago having recalled the first time I saw one back in the early 90's. Now that she's safely rolling, the romance is on again. Good acceleration and great braking, slot car like cornering, and killer eye appeal are the features that I most admire, not to mention the 20+ MPG. It's the perfect old guy sport car, fast, but not scary, comfortable, but not boring, pricey, but still affordable.
Greetings. I have owned my 1990 Reatta for about six months. Thus far, the ownership experience surpasses all those previous (I have only owned five cars).
At times, I do question its practicality, mainly because the gas mileage is so horrible. Especially considering the fact that it is only a two-seater: City 15 mpg; highway 19 mpg. My previous car was a heavy European V6 sedan that always got better than City 22 mpg.
However, the Reatta's thirst for becomes more validated when one considers the fact that the automobile is built like a tank - figuratively speaking - and has a V6 3.8L engine. Safely built.
Fast?
Yes, I consider the car to be quite fast. Its top speed is likely governed, however I have never maxed it. Those of us that truly cherish the auto for what it is surely understand that the stoplight competitor cannot trifle a car of its caliber. The Reatta's power is not found from a stop-to-go position. Rather, it is found when the driver is already going over 20 mph. I see the Reatta as being built for the highway.
Handling:
Good maneuverability, but bad turning radius. E G: If I need to change lanes instantly, while going 75 miles the Reatta performs magically - DO NOT TRY THIS YOURSELF. However, if I need to make a U-turn or cut an angle to make compact parking place, I will most certainly have to come to a complete stop.
Reliability:
Thus far, the car has done well! Despite one major problem, the heater core - which could have been avoided (described below). Car was purchased with 84K from 1st owner - who apparently kept the car garaged without storing it properly. The tires where mostly rotted through, so where some belts and gaskets. Maybe that's why the rubber weather-stripping is so fickle.
Major costs repairs on vehicle:
New Quality TIRES (270) : Front Struts (250 P&L) When purchased the car needed new front & back struts. I had the front ones replaced for. I will wait on the back ones.
HEATER CORE (350 P&L) : This proved to be a real drag to get fixed. Every time the part would blow, large quantities of coolant would drain onto my floor. I had the core replaced three times in three months - the second two were under warranty. After the third time the problem was diagnosed! Apparently, the engine coolant had never been flushed and had become an extremely acidic sludge that continued to eat through the aluminum solder joints. Since the coolant has been flushed the heater core works fine.
H2O PUMP (110 P&L) : the major cost was labor.
BRAKE FLUID FLUSH ($50.00) :
FRONT BRAKES (140) with labor:
RIGHT HEADLIGHT: parts (40.00 per light). - The guy before me had this job done at dealer and cost him over 150 per light. A common problem! Found free repair instructions on-line. Suggest going ahead and fixing both b\c both sides acquires similar ware.
Approximate Total: 1,000 since purchase.
That might seem high when cost of vehicle is considered, but a lot of these things were routine - brakes, strutts, tries, and fluid flushes. Anyhow, what does one expect when buying a used car with 80+K? When you buy someone's car, you buy her/his problems too.
I love the car. I am in my twenties and this is the first car that I can claim as my own. The parts can be expensive, but it's a modern-day classic! I have had more than one mechanic say, "Wow a Reatta! I have never seen one of these before!" When driving around the city it is common for people to admire its uniqueness.
I searched and searched for a Reatta and finally found one last January (2004) with only 35K miles. Today, I have 60K miles and have had minimal complaints. However, I have had to replace a headlight (right) and blinker bulbs on several occasions and still I cannot get a bright light, only dim. Anyone know the problem with this? Also, currently my touchscreen is blinking on and off, depending on the day. Anyone know how I might diagnose the problem and/or fix it? I love my car! 2.5 years ago was in an accident in a small foreign car, I wouldn't trade the luxury and protection of the Reatta for another sporty model. I finally feel like I have a bit of protection between me and the other careless drivers. You cannot beat this car for long trips! We drove it across the nation without a worry.
FOR SALE: 1988 Buck Reatta Luxury coup. Black with 62,000 original miles. Purchased 7 days ago~! Car is to hard riding on wife's back, she has 3 rods down her spine & can't ride in or drive it. 1st come, 1st Buy. It's in excellent shape & ready to drive "anywhere"!
This is the Select 60 (rare} 2 seater! Pwr windows, doors, leather seats (two tone beige & cream}, stereo, CC, touch screen computer, automatic climate control. LOADED! etc! They made 694 only in black! MACK {951} 652-6691 $5,995 OBO Hemet, California 92545 E-Mail: BUICK1988@msn.com.
I have the chance to buy an 89 Reatta, it would be for me--not my kids, not my husband--are they really that awesome of a car?? Brenda brenda.k.berger@us.army.mil.
I am the original owner of a 1988 Reatta with 82,800 miles on it. I love it.
I took it to Germany and drove the Autobahn and let me tell you she handled like a dream. There is however some type of electronic govenor on it because the digital dash blanks at 200kph and I also felt a slight deceleration. But what a rush. By the way I only did this once, but I had to see what she could do :)
I do have the standard problem with the stereo; tape does not work and the radio works, but the static is unbearable. Anyone know where I can either get it fixed or rebuilt?
I also need to replace the passenger side smoke window. A hit and runner whacked the mirror and it shattered the glass. Any help/info would be greatly appreciated.
My wife has been driving the same 1990 Reatta Coupe since 1991. It was and is a wonderful automobile who's styling becomes more advanced every year.
We keep it in near perfect condition.
Problems?
1. Grey finish has worn off the leather steering wheel and new replacements could run close to $2000 installed.
2. Actuating assembly which opens and closes the headlights is a poor design and small replacement pieces of linkage cost roughly $150.00 from Dealers. Internet suppliers are very few and want up to three weeks to deliver at around $80.00 for the same part.
3. Pedestal is drab and the black liner on the shift shaft chaser subject to peeling off. Replacement? Very difficult. Wood grained dash and pedestal trim sounds better all the time.
4. Had an engine sensor problem which was very difficult and expensive to repair which only shows the deterioration of Dealer mechanics. The problem was common to the GM engine.
I drive a BMW 328 which is my favorite car of record, but I still enjoy driving the Reatta. Weight distribution is poor, but is still a great highway car and an eye catcher in the city.
Strange that one hears so little of the fact that the Reatta was the last hand-built car in America and among the last in the world. No production line; shop built. It is also my understanding that it was built by the Cadillac division rather than Buick.
The cars are worth considerably more than they sell for on the open market, but the lack of financing for cars over ten years old restrains their value.
The Reatta was a great car. My son bought one as his first car two years ago when he turned sixteen. I am sad today because he rolled it over today on his way to school. He was not injured and the car protected him very well. I was sad to see this fine automobile hauled to the junk yard today. But hopefully the parts from it will make it onto some other Reatta's to help prolong their life. I would buy another one if one would come my way.
Thanks
Robert Morehead
captainbob@charter.net.
Leather steering wheels can be refinished by skilled leather smiths. Go to a high-quality auto upholsterer for this service.
If the leather is torn or gone, you can buy a very nice lace-on replacement at a nominal price.
I owned a red ’89 Reatta with tan leather and the car was so much fun. I am a big guy and the doors were a dream to enter, exit. The gadgets were indeed luxurious in nature. Right down to the dual power seats. The only issue I had was the touch screen CRT in the control center. Years ahead of it’s time. Unfortunately the screen, since it is a high voltage tube exactly like that of a television, has a limited life span. Mine was starting to show the text lean to the right like italics. I think the replacement was available for $500 as of three years ago. I’m destined to own another some day, once the divorce is done. There are two in my small Midwest hometown I am watching closely.
I purchased my 1989 Reatta off the showroom floor in a small Washington town where pickup trucks ruled. As a result, I got a great deal. It is red with the sunroof, but not the 16 way seats. What the hell are they, anyway? The only problems I have had are the computer screen, which I had replaced 3 times. It has worked well now for 12 years. I had the water pump and hoses replaced years ago, and the antenna (my fault) and the cruise control and front brakes. It has 85 thousand pampered miles on it. I hope to be buried in it someday. It is a heavier car than it looks, is really great on freeways, and I get decent mileage in town and on the highway. People are constantly asking me about it and are surprised to learn it is a Buick. Mechanics and dealers are always telling me they have never seen one before, or if they have, not one is as good a condition as mine. It is a classic before its time.
Ken, Tucson, AZ.
Follow up from my Mar 2005 comments: I can't believe I still really like this car! Normally I get bored after a few months. The little '89 red coupe had 130K miles when I picked it up. Apart from the $2.5K to get her up and running there have been very few problems (see my Mar 2005 comments). We drove from Arizona down through Mexico to Central America, exploring the beaches of El Salvador and the ruins of Guatemala. Had to replace the radiator fan motor after running over an abandoned three foot plastic cone left in the middle of an unlighted road by the Salvadorian police. A Mexican mechanic adapted the electric motor pulled off of a junked '84 Buick something and got us rolling. Upon returning to the US, we made a tour of America from Arizona to Virginia with a bunch of stops constantly averaging nearly 27 MPG. Coming back through North Carolina the heater core gave out causing a huge cloud of steam like vapor to pour out of the defrost vents totally freaking out my wife. I had to rig a bypass until I arrived at my son's home in Alabama where he paid his mechanic $200 fix it. On the way back to Texas I began to note the mileage was falling off, perhaps around 23MPG or so. After hanging out in Texas a few days, we headed South once again ending up in the small town of Santo Tomas De Castilla where we live most of the year. The check engine light came on a couple of days later and I found out through the touchscreen computer that the O2 sensor needed replacing. Hey, what do you expect from a '89 model car with now 156K miles. The bottom line is that I like driving my Reatta better than any car I have ever owned. My only regret is that I didn't buy one sooner.
I owned a 1989 Reatta coupe. It was very reliable for the duration of time I had it. At about 120,000 miles, I decided to sell it. To make the engine compartment look nice to potential buyers, I steam-cleaned the engine bay.
Big, BIG mistake!!! The problems started almost immediately, and within a couple of months, I had spent nearly $2000 replacing electrical parts, sensors, air-conditioning parts, etc. What a huge headache.
In just a few words, NEVER, under any circumstances, steam-clean your engine in these complicated, electrically-complex cars!!! Just wipe things down with a rag.
I bought a '91 reatta a year a go, I love it. I want to keep it forever. The problem that I have is this, 3 months after I bought it the dash started to blink out. Some days it works fine others all it reads is error. No one in my town in Montana has a book to this particular car, and they don't know what to do. The second problem just occurred, apparently the parking rod is broken and the car doesn't shift out of park. To fix this problem the transmission has to be removed. Has anyone else had this problem? Does anyone have any suggestions? I want to fix my car, but would like to find the least expensive way possible since I am a broke college student. I say least expensive, but that doesn't mean that I want to have the job done badly. Any help would be great.
Nicholethomas690@msn.com.