1996 Buick Roadmaster Limited from North America - Comments

Instead of a little old lady he could rip off, he probably found a guy like him.

Who wanted $7500 for the Roadmaster.

After an 8 week search, I was blessed to locate a 1996 Ruby Red over matching leather Limited Estate Wagon. Loaded with every option offered that year with 29,000 miles on it. The owner passed away at 80. Her son said she used the car to drive from Indy to Michigan and back. I was the third caller on the car which had been on the Auto Trader web site for only 3 hours. I agreed to pay the asking price of $6,500.00 and scheduled a flight from Atlanta. We pick it up on Thursday. After reading these comments, we are sure our research was correct. Amazing to think you can buy a $32,000 top of the line luxury car with under 30,000 miles for $6,500. We hope to put at least 200,000 miles on it. I'll keep a starter in the back!!!

Tom.

I just bought a 1994 ROADMASTER and think it is great. I am 18 years old and I have a 1971 El Camino. there is no comparison. the roadmaster is the best. it is a luxury car with amazing power and it is one of the most comfortable cars I've ever been in. I feel great about buying it because of the comments. My freinds make fun of me, but I can't wait to blow them off the road. o yea it has 55,000 miles on it and I got it for only $1,900. I got the deal of a life time.

The one and only ROADMASTER!

My luck of good fortune finally happened. I've been driving a 1991 chev. caprice since 1999. it has 171,000 miles on it and still runs great. but it was time to find another, but I wanted a roadmaster if I could find one with low millage. I started looking late 04 into 05 with no luck (even caprices) all had high millage. then about 3 weeks ago I was going to pick up a friend when I saw a "master" on the side of the "road". I did the "u" back figuring it would have 100k or more. I hit the jackpot --- 1996 roadmaster "collectors edition" with 51,200 miles, mint condition. its the dark burgendy, all leather, every option. then when I was calling I figured it was already sold, nope I was the 3rd caller the other 2 didn't show, after negotiating I got it for $5650. I can't tell you how happy and pleased I am with this car. I will have to put tires (original) and normal maint. but I know I got a keeper. keep looking and you will find yours, I did! glenn -- detroit.

Today me and my boyfriend bought a 1994 navy blue Buick Roadmaster. Let me tell you, it drives so smooth and with the LT 1 it gets up! Leather seats and a lot of room. I couldn't be happier.

It does have 166,000 miles, but it was a deal of a lifetime. ONLY 1,300! I LOVE IT

JAMIE - DETROIT.

I picked up a 1996 Sedan with 19,500 miles, black with gran touring suspension and tow package. Can't believe there was still one out there. I was tempted to keep driving my 1995 that has 165,000 miles on it and put the '96 up. But hey, life is short and what the heck. Sold the '95, changed all the fluids, belts, hoses and tires on the '96 and it's like a new car. What a ride... Roadmaster is well named.

Not 1, but 2 Buick Roadmasters! A 1994 mint sand colored Roadmaster wagon and a mint 1995 Adratic blue Roadmaster sedan. Incredible power, comfort, and gas mileage. Oh yes, my summer cruiser is a 1970 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 convertible in bittersweet. Can't beat a Buick!!

I am 17 years old. Since as far back as I can remember, there has been an estate wagon in the garage. The summer I got my license my father turned over the keys to his White, 1995 Roadmaster with 145k the 5.7LT1, and all the options. My friends laughed when they first saw it. Then I took them on the highway. I believe this car came from an old lady who wintered in Florida and only drove it to church on Sundays. it came to us with 55k. NO DOUBT I WILL CONTINUE DRIVING THIS CAR UNTIL IT IS ABSOLUTELY DEAD. Then I will promptly turn around and scour the world for another.

I fell in love with this car when GM announced early on it would be introducing it in '91. I vowed to get a new one when I could. Well, marriage, and children saw to it that my dream would take a little more time to be realized. It wasn't until the spring of '04 I got my hands on my first BRMSW.

I saw the car in an on-line add in Texas. Flew down, and drove it back to the East Coast. What a pleasure to drive on the interstate! What a car! It is a 1996 Buick Roadmaster, Collectors Edition, Limited, Station Wagon. Fully loaded, though no LS rear end; odd for a Tow Package equipped wagon.

It had 117,000 miles on it when I picked it up. It now has 166,000 miles on it and the motor is still an excellent performer.

At 165,000 miles, in an effort to keep this car in outstanding running order, I replaced the following this winter; Opti-Spark, Water Pump, Spark Plugs, Plug Wires, TPS, MAP sensor, PCV valve, Engine Temp sensor, EGR Valve, and EGR Vacuum Solenoid, all Vacuum lines, Radiator, all Radiator Hoses, Radiator Surge Tank, accessories Pulley Tensioner, and fan belt Pulley Tensioner. The intake manifold was pulled, professionally cleaned, and bead blasted. New intake manifold gaskets, and valve cover gaskets. The Throttle Body was pulled, both the air plenum cover on top, and the coolant cover on the bottom were removed. The areas cleaned, new gaskets installed on the Throttle body.

A leaking radiator prompted the initial work, and then I just couldn't stop!

To say the engine now runs smooth as silk would be an understatement. This car is an absolute dream to drive. Very powerful for its size. I am laughed at for driving what many consider to be a "blue haired, old man or old ladies grocery getter". I don't care. They don't get it. That's fine, it will leave many more of these fine motor cars available for me to own someday.

Just a few points to consider if you plan to pick one up. While the 4L60E is a great transmission for this car, one that is well maintained, will last for quite some time. It will however, shorten the transmission's life some if you like to routinely mash the throttle to the floor. Though, it is understandable if you find yourself doing so!

Additionally, if you plan to tow with the wagon, (provided it's equipped with the factory tow package) consider this. While rated to tow 5,000lbs, I would not recommend this full time. I attempted to pull a 3770lb pop up with my family and gear aboard. Even after I doubled the size of the trans, air to oil cooler, and moved the cooler up directly into the grille area. I still killed the transmission after 1yr of towing with the car. Tow only in 3rd gear, and read the glove box manual should you decide to tow. It now has a rebuilt, GM SRTA trans, featuring a 3yr, 100,000 mile, transferable GM warranty. No, she isn't for sale.

While there may be acres of cheap, poorly fitted plastic inside. There is very little else to distract one from the true roadworthiness of this longtime, American Icon. The front seat may not be the most supportive, and some may complain about the middle seat lacking legroom. Though, to be sure, many speak highly of pulling a set of front bucket seats from a Bonneville, and transplanting them into a Roadie wagon for ultra comfort.

The fact is though, there wasn't a car on the road in 1996 for $31,000 that offered up what this GM stablemate did. You got it all when you took delivery of this car. Power windows, power locks, 8 way power, heated, leather front seats. Leather, middle row seat. And climate controlled heating and air conditioning. Drivers and front passenger air bags, along with four wheel ABS. Auto dimming rear view mirror, and power, heated outside mirrors. Front, cornering side lamps. If you forget to turn off your turn signals, an audible alarm will gently remind you to do so. If you run low on antifreeze, or windshield washer fluid. A light indicating which one is low will show up on the dash. Oh, can't forget cruise control and intermittent wipers. It was all there.

If you opted for the Gran Touring suspension over the Dyna Ride suspension, you got a very large car that handles supremely in the turns. Not sports car handling, but impressive non the less. If a pillow soft ride was your thing, then by all means the Dyna Ride suspension was your ticket to comfort.

GM got it right when it came to wind noise around the windshield, and A pillar. Almost nonexistent, even with the front windows partially opened or open all the way, it's a pleasure to drive down the interstate or back country roads on a cool summers day.

For what ever reason, in 1996, Buick dropped the full instrumentation. You only got the fuel, engine temp, and speedometer. Personally, the full instrumentation package is a beautiful compliment to this cars interior. Unfortunately, adding one to a '96 is a costly exercise.

Well, there it is, my thoughts on a truly great American road car. One we'll probably never see again. The mini van, and SUV, along with GMs desire to capitalize on sales of the Hummer, killed this outstanding, road touring car. Now with the price of gas climbing almost weekly, it will surely guarantee we'll never see the likes of this car again.

Cherish the ones you have, take care of them. Parts are getting harder and harder to find every day. Most, if not all of the trim pieces, and many other components are no longer available through GM. Were it not for the fact the LT1 was used in many of GMs muscle cars in the mid '90s. Or the fact that the transmission was used in those same cars and trucks. Parts for them may well be hard to find as well. But they're not, you can source most, if not all drive train parts through your local GM dealer.

Well, that's it for me.

Enjoy,

RFIII.