Sold my friend on an '04 LeSabre

[mustang84]

Tonight my friend called me up asking me some car advice. He drives a black 2002 Taurus SES with 65K miles and was offered a great deal on an '04 LeSabre Custom. The LeSabre only has 25K miles and is excellent shape; my honest opinion with him was that if you can get past the stigma these cars had, you'll be getting a larger, more powerful car with an excellent track record for reliability. I told him about the 3800 getting about 29 mpg on the highway, which is more than his Taurus gets. He's also a pretty tall guy (6'9"), and the Taurus is a little cramped for him.

When he first called saying he was looking at trading in for a different car, I never expected him to mention a Buick LeSabre...I was awaiting dreaded Camry / Accord / Altima etc. advice. And he said even the styling isn't that bad to him...in his words, it's the type of car you'd see someone in a suit driving. This is coming from a 24 year old who is pretty image conscious.

Overall, it was kind of a surprise to me. He's not a car guy at all, either.

[Paolino]

Tonight my friend called me up asking me some car advice. He drives a black 2002 Taurus SES with 65K miles and was offered a great deal on an '04 LeSabre Custom. The LeSabre only has 25K miles and is excellent shape; my honest opinion with him was that if you can get past the stigma these cars had, you'll be getting a larger, more powerful car with an excellent track record for reliability. I told him about the 3800 getting about 29 mpg on the highway, which is more than his Taurus gets. He's also a pretty tall guy (6'9"), and the Taurus is a little cramped for him.

When he first called saying he was looking at trading in for a different car, I never expected him to mention a Buick LeSabre...I was awaiting dreaded Camry / Accord / Altima etc. advice. And he said even the styling isn't that bad to him...in his words, it's the type of car you'd see someone in a suit driving. This is coming from a 24 year old who is pretty image conscious.

Overall, it was kind of a surprise to me. He's not a car guy at all, either.

For his sake, I hope its at least got the leather option, cause the cloth interior is horrendous. It's what really turns me away from the Custom trim.

[daves87rs]

I don't think the cloth is that bad...

Then again-I see quite a few of them around here...

[mustang84]

For his sake, I hope its at least got the leather option, cause the cloth interior is horrendous. It's what really turns me away from the Custom trim.

I'm pretty sure he said it was leather. My dad has a '99 LeSabre Custom with leather too...I don't think I've ever seen one without. Was the Custom a low-end model or something?

[XP715]

Cloth exists in the Custom. My grandmother had an '04 with a cloth interior; it was the last vehicle she owned before she passed away. It wasn't spectacular but it wasn't terrible either. Overall, a very nice car.

Edited August 29, 2008 by XP715

[regfootball]

does he have the duratec taurus or the old pushrod 3.0? if its the pushrod 3.0, the mpg will be about the same as the lesabre. either 3.0 in that year taurus will be bulletproof and i think the tranny issues were fixed by then also.

the lesabre is an ok car, but doesn't have modern ergonomics or even supportive seats, which at least that gen of taurus had. check for antilock brakes too......not sure it was standard on the lesabre of that vintage. the taurus has nice firm upright seating positions. the lesabre seats are low and squishy and not at all supportive.

i would check on the lesabre if the transmission issues and gasket issues were fixed.

also, check airbags.

Edited August 30, 2008 by regfootball

[bobo]

I drove one of those generations LeSabres for several months at work, and it was a great car. It was called the Grandpa car, but it did not drive like that at all. It was smooth, had good power, and was comfortable. The steering had good feel. The worst part was the plasticky interior, but I didn't find the cloth seats to be bad. I wouldn't mind having one as a daily driver at all. I currently drive a Taurus at work, and the transmission is about to go, though it's a '99.

[capriceman]

great cars proven too. the 98 is been a dream so far.

[ocnblu]

It is a requisite that he get some Pep Boys portholes and blingy, 20" rims if he buys the LeSabre. Kidding, please smack him if he even mentions it.

The Custom is the base trim level, with Limited being the uplevel. The LeSabre is an excellent car, imo, an unsung American Hero.

[vonVeezelsnider]

The LeSabre is an excellent car, imo, an unsung American Hero.

Agreed. I love every generation of that car.

[gm4life]

I love my Bonneville on the G and have driven a 2004 LeSabre Limited and liked the way it drove too. Not as sporty as the Bonneville but certainly not a drag either.