278,522.6 Miles

[mjdecker]

Replacing his 91 Caprice Classic, my dad bought this car used in 96 with only 30,000 on the clock. He needed something with a smooth ride since for his career (rick management) he travels quite a bit to medical facilities across the state. Both myself and my brother started learning to drive on this car. Over the years, very few mechanical problems have arose so when it was time to buy another car for my brother, they bought a 92 and shortly after my mom's sister had bought a 93. Well, now the time has come that now some mechanical issues are coming up and my parents have probably invested a few thousand into the car to keep it running. At the moment, it leaks gas, oil, has a rotted exhaust, and some sort of electrical problem causing intermittent startup issue.

So now, we are parting it out between my brothers car and what ever my aunt/uncle can use on theirs.

So for your enjoyment here's one last look of it... Yeah and it just HAD to snow last night too

[trinacriabob]

At the moment, it leaks gas, oil, has a rotted exhaust, and some sort of electrical problem causing intermittent startup issue.

So for your enjoyment here's one last look of it...

I am laughing right now. I, too, JUST took an odometer picture of my Buick. Now, I don't feel so weird.

Can the gas leak be fixed? Rotted exhaust - well, being in Binghamton doesn't help. Is the powertrain FULLY original - i.e. engine and transaxle have NEVER been touched other than routine maintenance?

For all of you who repeatedly DOG the 3800, those odometers indicate otherwise!

[Dsuupr]

Sounds like he got his moneys worth.

[mjdecker]

Can the gas leak be fixed?  Rotted exhaust - well, being in Binghamton doesn't help. Is the powertrain FULLY original - i.e. engine and transaxle have NEVER been touched other than routine maintenance?

Those issues are just the ones that the shop saw just to get to the problem and make the car leagal, so there's more to it to get the car to stay running. Just those problems alone the shop said well over $1000 to repair. So my dad's gonna bag it and now we're on the look for a new(er) car for my mom.

She's a realistic type and knows what the budget limit is so she will tollerate anything (almost), but she's been talking about a Nissan Pathfinder (last gen). Though I've been trying to move her desire to some other suvs. She seems pretty interested in a Trailblazer/Envoy, Liberty, and the Vue she seemed interested if it was reasonable on gas. Pretty much vehicles that are not going to be looked at are compacts/small midsized cars, full size suvs, pickups, and minivans. Tomarrow I might hop to a dealership to take a look.

For all of you who repeatedly DOG the 3800, those odometers indicate otherwise!

Damn right! Who says that American engines don't last?

[Buickfosure]

I hate to see a car go my first 87 buick century had only 75000 miles on it when i let it go the parts just all started going at once gas line started leaking timing jumped, coil pack went, then i was having trouble with the sequetial fuel injection. I got it to run for another month great till I kept on getting code 41. I think i replaced every part it specified of course parts from the local junkyard not to invest too much into it i put in a computer cam and crank sensor and coil. One thing i didn;t replace was ignition module but doubt that would of helped

[scharmer05]

good old 3800, they go forever....my 95 bonneville had about 230000 before it took the big $h!

[VenSeattle]

Wow, a lot of my teenage life was spent riding in that body style of Park Avenue. My mother had a red one and then traded it in for a blue one. Both were reliable and built to last. It brings back memories.

[Charger4U]

there nice cars, eh? we have a 1993 ultra and i swear it a sofa on wheels.

[Sixty8panther]

RIP little dude, your faithful service was appreciated.

Edited March 20, 2006 by Sixty8panther

[Mach5GTP]

High mileage is cool...

Fare thee well, aged warrior- may flights of Grand Nationals sing thee to thy rest...