Buick's "Small" Range Topping Car: The 1988 Buick Electra Park Avenue (3800 engine)

[@MrDejast]

I grew up in a family that had full size gm cars, so of course I had to have the same. From 75 to 89, then while visiting my girlfriend who worked at a Buick dealership, a salesman suggested taking a test drive. I told him not interested in the front drive platform, but he insisted. Needless to say I was then an owner of a 89 LeSabre custom 2 door. Took that car on many a road trip getting 35 MPG. When it was 10 years old I installed a grand national engine and a body kit. Still have the car today.

[@Healthliving1967]

These 3800 engines were adopted here in Australia and used in GMH commodores for 30 plus years. Great engine,very reliable and robust.

[@michiganman4398]

I miss my delta 88. That 3800 was such a great engine, and these cars were so comfortable on road trips. I’ve never felt colder air conditioning in any car either.

[@andrescrux]

Felt like riding a cloud ☁️ 😅 and I grew up in nyc so that's saying a lot😂

[@genehart261]

We had an '87 Cutlass Ciera Brougham, similar body style. 260.000 miles and never an engine issue. 35 years later these cars still look contemporary and classy.

[@jonrukavina9011]

I bought a '86 Electra 380 from a private party. Being in Mn., a car from Georgia with a new motor and trans. with receipts made me a buyer. First thing was fixing the gas tank because the cell phone base was under the back seat and in mounting it the installer had drilled a hole in the tank! Lol now, not then! Then the brakes needed a complete go through. And there were other things. I did have some salvage yard fun with it, like replacing the headliner and finding a decent set of aluminum rims to replace those god-awful twist-in-your-hands -sounds -like- your -front -end -is falling -apart wire caps. I also replaced the rear glass with defogger glass. Got caught in a hailstorm and got a nice chunk from the insurance company. Traded it for a '91 LeSabre Limited. Driving around one day with that & wondered why the motor was revving up. Because the transmission was ready to puke. That was my last Buick until 2 Park Avenues.

[@kentgabriel3572]

Between my grandma (original owner) then my mom, then me, then my sister.....we put over 300,000 miles on a 93 Buick Regal Custom sedan with almost zero issues....still to this day no vehicle I've ever owned including some luxury cars, have ever driven so velvety smooth...miss that car so much!

[@patrickgrinnan1517]

Picked one of these for my Grams ... it was 2 years old with 28k miles when we bought ...White with fake dark blue convertible top ..dark blue cloth pillow seats like the leather seat in the video .... The Family Loved this car .... Grams dove Olds 98's in the 1960 -70's ...then a few Mercury Grand Marquis ..her 1974 Brougham was a dream ...Suede & Leather seats were nice ... We traded the 85 Marquis for the 88 Buick ...then She had 93 Cadillac Coupe DeVille until she passed ....We All Loved the 88 Buick the Best .... I bought the Buick from her when she got the caddy ... it had 270k miles on it and all she had replaced was the a/c compressor ...I kept the car 3 years and replaced the starter .... I sold the car to a guy that worked for me at the time ...ran into him at the grocery years later after he left our business ...I asked How is Grams Buick ...he said I just got rid of it ..the transmission broke at 350k mile ...I do know he was rough with it ... but what a car ...350k 4 owners and only needed a compressor, Starter and Eddy said he did alternator at 300k

[@tomdelisle8955]

Thanks for this. I had a 1987 Buick Park Ave that I commuted with to grad school. Nothing stopped that car. The front wheel drive pulled me through a number of snow storms on my 50 plus mile commute. The car got excellent gas mileage at over 27 mpg. The car was very comfortable and handled great. I really miss that car and often search ads looking to find another.

[@patrickflohe7427]

I still see them come-up for sale in the Western Washington & Oregon areas.

[@thomaskehoe4519]

Had a 1988 Electra "T type, it was a owner of the dealerships demo, stopped in to look at new Buicks, my wife saw it and had to have it, drove it home that day. The only problem I ever had was the ABS system and that was when the car was 8-10 years old. Car would get 31-32 MPG on the highway, comfortable for (5) people (it had bucket seats and a console). It also had an analog dash with speedo, tach, oil pressure, amp, fuel and water temp gauges, there were also redundant idiot lights. The car also had sport suspension, 15" wheels, wider tires, amber turn signals in the rear., dual exhaust tips and a host of other items that were part of the "T" package. As mentioned in the video there was no faux woodgrain in the car it was all a brushed aluminum look. What a car. '

[@mikenb3461]

Not a Park Avenue, but I bought an '89 LeSabre in '96 when I was just 30 years old. Someone had confused the brake and gas in a parking lot and literally ran over my prior car, causing it to be written off. I went with the Buick because I figured it was likely driven gingerly by an older person. This was the only GM product I've ever owned. The 3.8L V6 was an amazing engine. Smooth, quiet, and reliable. The 4-speed auto caused me some problems, but I think that was more that the car hadn't been as well maintained as I had thought. That car was classy in a deep blue and a vinyl roof. The clamshell hood was icing on the cake.

[@randybourdon2791]

I had the 91 Buick Park Avenue Ultra, loaded with all options. To this day this was the best riding car I owned and virtually trouble free. Great cruiser on the highway. Kept it for 7 years.

[@alexh5257]

My first car in 97’ was a blue 87’ Park Ave with the Digital dash and solid (non wire) wheels. The fuel gauge would dance along to the music when it got down to 1/4 tank lol perfect for hauling the class around in High school

[@knurlgnar24]

I own almost this exact vehicle. Such an underrated classic car. Perfectly driveable in modern traffic, fuel efficient, reliable, comfortable, easily attainable parts, runs the same at -20F as it does at +100F with a good heater and AC. Such a great classic car. There's something to be said about the older stuff but if you are comfortable driving a new car you'll also be just as comfortable in this.

[@cumberlandhistoriccemetery9568]

Loved these buicks!!! Miss them so much!!!

[@klwthe3rd]

Me too.

[@dth2brny121]

My mother had one of these, an '88 in silver with a faux vinyl roof, a power sunroof, and the full-blown digital dash (digital speedo, digital rev counter, fuel gauge, temp and oil meters, etc.). The sunroof was a bit leaky, but I wouldn't know how unkillable that 3.8L 168 hp 3800 motor would be until it went well over 200,000 miles and just kept on going. That goes to show why the 3800 is one of the great V6 engines of all time.

[@paralyzes]

I purchased a used 1996 Park Avenue, rode great, tremendous fuel economy and good power. Graduated up to 2004 Park Avenue several years ago and I like that one even better!

[@garyrains5996]

Again, thanks for the memories! My family traveled out of state for my grandfather's 100th birthday celebration in 1986. I rented a Chrysler New Yorker for the five of us with all our luggage. The old-style Chrysler was awful having no room for us or our baggage. I actually returned the car to the rental agency for that reason. We rented an '86 Park Avenue and could not believe the difference! So much room inside and in the trunk. It was smaller than the Chrysler but the design was amazing. Our vacation was saved by that beautiful car.

[@kevineich5029]

Those cars were some of the finest cars that GM ever produced. I had an '86 Electra Park Avenue (2-door model) that has a service replacement transmission assembly (SRTA) when I bought it at 48000 miles on the clock. I sold it with 210,000 miles on it and I'm sure it had 300,000+ miles on it before the rust got it. It's a shame GM (or any manufacturer) won't produce a vehicle like this. These days, you're lucky to make it out of the warranty period before major issues crop up.

[@TVHouseHistorian]

I had an ‘88 Park Avenue years ago. It had leather, and was completely loaded. The ride was so comfortable, and that car never gave me a single problem. I was in college, and would routinely use it to haul friends over the coastal mountains for beach days and everywhere else that required freeway travel. Eventually, I very stupidly traded it in on a Subaru. I met its next owner outside of a bank one afternoon, and he told me he drove it between Seattle and San Diego often. By the time he showed it to me, it had over 300k miles on it. He said it never gave him a single issue, and I believe him. Out of all the cars I’ve ever owned, the 1988 Buick Park Avenue is the one car I miss most.

[@jasonsummers8097]

I miss and liove these cars. You never realize how much you miss them until they are gone.

[@ddellwo]

This car (along with the lesser LeSabre) were synonymous with the “old fogey retirement set” during this era in much the same way Mercury Monarchs would be in later years. In fact, my parents dutifully purchased one when they retired in the early 2000’s and while it wasn’t necessarily the most exciting car, I have to admit I enjoyed driving it. Plenty of pep, excellent build quality, comfortable ride, an absolute beast in Minnesota snow - I definitely understood why they were so enamored with these vehicles…….👍

[@christopherlarson3401]

Parents has a 1990 LeSabre Limited. They had traded a rwd 1982 Electra Limited for it. I think the 90 LeSabre was more luxurious. Both were bought brand new.

[@oscarprendergast7295]

@ddellwo You mean the monarch in EARLIER years- they were around 10 years before the 88 park Ave

[@ddellwo]

@@oscarprendergast7295 - Yes, but late in their run they were really the only BIG cars left and the sight of one left you with one of two possible scenarios - a tuft of gray hair sprouting above the seat or “cop car”…….😂

[@oscarprendergast7295]

@@ddellwo hahahahahah a good man- ! thanks for the smile - I m in Brooklyn nyc and I was Passing thru an area Called bush wick and you will Never Guess what I saw... A mint mercury monarch in a Weird blue that was around Then - light blue- I remember Reading that this was FOMOCOs attempt at Something called “luxury precision “ - Hey bro? Do you remember The ad when they asked people to distinguish between a Monarch a Granada and A Mercedes 450sel? Pleasure is All mine Talking with another car person that knows!

[@oscarprendergast7295]

@@ddellwo “tuft of Grey hair sprouting above the 💺-“ I’m still laughing at that 0ne DDELLWO!!

[@markkeller8915]

Your mention of "dash lights glow" reminded me of many winter nights solo driving the West Virginia turnpike, lost in the moon snowy mountain scenery. Thank you again for another great memory !! The Basic Lesabre I Was given had been corporate owned had around 300k miles The "86" as I called it was a hand me down, and a few things, had jumped timing chain. Fresh from college, with a strong mechanical upbringing, perfect car for my skill set and connections. By 1995, many would scoff at the sameness in GM style, but to me this meant one thing-- plentiful and cheap used parts in the salvage yards. Such an easy engine bay, even a masterpiece. A few minutes on the ratchet, all the bulky items surrounding the engine could be removed, a real treat to work on, water pump in 30 minutes! I located a power seat which the clever armrest, cupholder console was attached. Upholstery shop re- wrapped it with my original seat cover. Once on the road again, I drove several round trips from Tampa to Cleveland each year, 34 MPG, about 1000 miles each way.

[@oscarprendergast7295]

@Markkeller Mark, thank you! The visuals of you driving through the mountains on the VTP on wintry Nights with that bluish glow inside the cockpit is amazing ! Thank you for sharing - I truly love stuff Like this!

[@chrisbaskett808]

I had an 88 Lesabre and I loved the drop in license plate. I will never understand why more automakers don’t do it.

[@michaeloliva3759]

I never knew about the drop in license plate on these cars. Did other GM cars of that era have that feature ?

[@ismaelgarcia8243]

Our family owned a 1988 Buick Riviera with that same drop-in slot for the license plate

[@OBC-radio]

@@michaeloliva3759 My ‘94 Regal Custom Sedan had the “drop in” plate slot on the trunk.

[@paulsz6194]

The reason why the done do it is for two reasons I can come up with: 1) Most car makers now incorporate the license plate into the rear bumper. 2) It’s cheaper to supply two screws than to press some sheet metal into rails for the license plate.

[@trevorthompson572]

Had an 89 LeSabre. Loved it. It was my grandparents car. Loved that hood. Loved the 3.8

[@FitzArias]

A few people with powerful positions were I worked at had these in those days. I was busy with my 5.0 while these older loaded folk drove themselves in these luxo barges of the time. They had all the GM flavours of this type and loved them very much.

[@cjdesign5700]

I had an 88 LeSabre Limited in this exact color...got rear ended....replaced it with an 89 Electra Park Avenue in darker Red....sold 2 years ago...Loved them both.

[@RossEphgrave]

After 86 these were good cars. My dad had an 89 Lesabre sedan and it was a beautiful car. Tons of room, very comfortable. They drove it for about 10 years. Overall quite reliable with the 3800 v6.

[@bozodog428]

My Dad was sales manager at our local Buick dealer for 25 years. He would have a new Buick about every 2 weeks. I drove most of them over the years, and can agree how smooth the 3800 was and the spaciousness of the interior. Never knew about the rear license plate though. One of his Buicks had a computer that would remind him of birthdays, which would explain how he could remember all his grandkids special days.

[@DGillyy]

That sounds like possibly the Riviera when it had the CRT screen, so the downsized one, 1986 I think is when they did that. That CRT screen would do as lot of crazy things. But now, our phones do all that.

[@bentighe4811]

I had an '86 Park Avenue. Still my favorite car that i ever owned. It was quiet, comfortable, easy to drive, and had a killer stereo. I could take my hands off the wheel and the car would follow the road with no input from me. The seats were amazing. The controls were the best that GM ever produced (my opinion) in terms of ease, function, and intuitiveness. After I sold it, I regretted it for years.

[@jamesmcintire3800]

If only cars like this were still available in dealers

[@elizabethcherry920]

This was one of my favorite Buicks, I use to have an 88 Electra this one brings back some memories. The only issue I had was the heater core went and I couldn't afford to fix it since the dash had to come out so I sold it, mine was a limited and was sapphire blue

[@tfi8308]

I was 20 years old when these came out. I really liked them. My grandma always told me "a Buick is a poor man's Cadillac". I was not crazy about the big Buicks of the day (my mom had a loaded '70s era LeSabre) but when these came out it was a game changer. PS Take what I say with a grain of salt- I still have my '80 Z28 I bought when I was a teenager sitting in my garage. As the old saying goes there is no accounting for taste.

[@DSP1968]

Anther great overview, Adam. I remember visiting the local Buick dealership when these first arrived. I checked them over in great detail and walked away very impressed -- they were a breath of fresh air compared to their predecessors in so many ways. And I liked the fact that the Buick tri-shield and name were proudly displayed on the hood pad -- a nice touch!

[@markbehr88]

I rented an 86 Park Avenue from Alamo back in the day. I liked it.

[@ZGryphon]

GM really did hang onto that engine, with various mods and updates, for eons--I had a 2004 Grand Prix with a third-generation 3800 in it. That thing had literal moonshot mileage on it by the time it died, and it was the computer failing that finally did it in. Wonderful engine.

[@joshnelson6255]

I'd daily this more proudly than a brand new car ANYDAY. Super nice semi-modern classic.

[@weegeemike]

A 1990 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight Regency Brougham was my first car. Almost mechanically identical to the car in this video, I loved the smooth, efficient power of the 3800, averaged 29 mpg on a trip from So. Cal to the Oregon/Washington border. Super reliable, although diagnosing bad sensors and electronic parts is a little more difficult on these, as they only have primitive OBD1 computers. I had issues with dumb mechanics that are lost without a scan tool that led me to believe the car was unfixable (stalled intermittently due to bad coolant temp sensor) so I gave the car away only to find out a week later the new guy fixed it with a $40 part. Last I saw it, it was on its 2nd or 3rd owner since myself, being driven by a tweaker in the ghetto lol. Great cars.

[@OBC-radio]

These, along with LeSabres and their Oldsmobile counterparts, were prolific in my suburban Michigan neighborhood growing up. Nearly every household had either a GM engineer or hourly worker, and these were the family cars of choice.

[@LazloNQ]

The pinnacle of GM success just before the cars got really complicated. My wife and I own my grandma's cousin's 89 Park Ave. It's got 230k miles on it and my wife drives it 100 miles daily to work. It's got a remote start installed and we've had to have some work done do it from time to time, but we are still not even close to the price of a new car. We even had a local fabricator make a crash guard for the front which saved it from a deer impact. It gets a lot of looks from the younger crowd for some reason. It's our main traveler as well. I've run AMSOIL in it for over 12 years and it just keeps on running. Wonderful GM technology.

[@2006gtobob]

My paternal grandmother had a 1986 version of this car. I got to ride in it only once before she passed away. She had just bought it the year before as a very low mile car in 1992. I rode in it in February 1993 (I was 21) and recall it riding much better than her 1976 Chrysler Cordoba, it was also much more comfortable. I inherited her Cordoba in 1996 after my maternal grandfather was finished with it, having only a bit over 52,000 miles on it. She was a cool grandmother, drove fast and loved the cars stereo system. I last saw her in February 1993, she passed away in May 1993. She died of cancer and never took chemo. So, when I last saw her, was also the first and last time I saw the car. Just 3 months before her death she was still a lead foot, happy, and I miss her. I had no idea she had cancer, she told nobody. Yes, she and the car made a great impressions.

[@j.sayler6330]

In 1992, I looked at a 1987 Park Avenue COUPE that was for sale by a dealer. By then, the 2-door versions were very seldom seen, and 1987 was in fact their last year. It was light blue with a dark blue landau vinyl roof. I didn't buy it, but wish I had--and it would be nice to find another that managed to survive.

[@Wasabi9111]

I miss the cars of the 80s/90s with low belt line and big side windows.

[@dmandman9]

My parents had a 1985 Model. I liked the fact that it rode smoothly and got great fuel economy compared to the previous models. It had decent power for it's day as well.

[@GUNMETALGUYUSA]

I had one. It earned it's cost. No complaints other than don't let those power windows down to many times they may not come back up.

[@amcgta]

My parents had one identical to this. Was and still is a beautiful car

[@billowens374]

My wife and I had a base 1985 Pontiac 6000 that also had the drop in license plate feature from the raised trunk. I thought it was a neat idea. Greatly enjoy all your videos.

[@andyk6796]

Loved the 3800 engine which I had in my '91 Regal. Smooth, strong, efficient, and reliable.

[@spencerforsberg4594]

I had a 1991 Lesabre. It was my first car and one of the best cars I’ve ever owned.

[@ponchoman49]

1988 was the first year in a long while that GM got serious. By that I mean they improved the quality control of the H and C-body cars, introduced the long overdue 3800 with balance shafts that not only smoothed out the Buick V6 but also gave it great longevity with centrally located pistons. The steering rack issue was mostly solved by this point and the 440 trans-axle was a better more reliable unit. Also noteworthy Cadillac improved its troublesome 4100 and made the improved more powerful 4.5 and gave it's cars a bit more style with power dome hoods and elongated taillights on Eldo and Devilles. GM also finally introduced its answer to the Taurus with the W-body cars but fumbled by only have a 2 door initially, finally got the Fiero right and of course finally put balance shafts in the 2.5 Iron Duke Tech IV engines. For that I would say 1988 was a pretty noteworthy year for the General.

[@markcollins457]

Excellent car, I had this same car even the color as a company vehicle it covered most if Florida over a 4 yr period and with regular maintenance it performed flawlessly. It was a replacement for a short-lived Pontiac 6000 STE that was a cool car at the time but was in the shop more times than I can remember.

[@tommythomason6187]

My Grandmother had one brand new back then. Smoother than silk, nice appointments and gorgeous burgandy paint. I think it was one of the most beautiful cars GM made.

[@middleclassretiree]

Thanks again for another wonderful video, these GM cars are near and dear to me as young family man I owned a bonnevillle SSE that was my wife’s car and we loved it for the styling economy and ride later I owned both a 98 and a Buick park avenue they were all very very reliable and wonderful road cars that gave me 25-27 mpg daily driving and 30-32 on the freeway the power was effortless especially in city driving I just can’t say enough good about them my wife was involved in a accident when she was t-boned at over 35 mph and her and both my children walked away unscathed. As a young father these cars just checked all the boxes for me and I can’t say enough good about them they truly were trouble free and wonderful like others I couldn’t say the same for the later overhead cam engines that replaced the old 3800 it seemed like GM was answering a question no one asked and gave us a underperforming overly complicated engine to replace old faithful

[@jefweb5043]

Great feature, sir! I currently have a '92 Park Avenue Custom sitting at 179k on the clock. Slide in rear license plate, and I am still able to use the flip out cup holders, too! After seeing the feature you did on the '77 Grand Prix, I was reminded about what a fantastic body GM had on their '73-'77, then '78-'87 bodies (the Monte Carlo, Regal, Cutlass and GP) lines. My dad still has his '76 Monte, and I had a '78 Monte and a '79 Grand Prix SJ. Thanks, Adam!!

[@JCWiley2300]

This car represents what LITERALLY every parent drove when I was in high school.

[@carlobasta3587]

I've wanted one for years. I missed this ad.

[@gsczr1]

Good Video. I had a family member who purchased a 1988 Buick LeSabre. That car was smooth, well built, and very reliable. Did you notice how clean and organized the engine compartment was? Back in the eighties GM spent a lot of money cleaning up the aesthetics of the engine compartment for it's vehicles and it showed. This was also done at Chevrolet. I think GM did this because it gave a perception of quality. The engine compartment in the Buick with the Clam Shell hood looked exotic and expensive. Today most manufacturers cover their engines up with a lot of plastic. I call them, Lawnmower Covers. I'm a car guy. I want see the engine. Anyway, Buick has always had the upper hand in quality compared to it's sister division's. Now with the exception of the Buick Enclave all its other Buick vehicles are built overseas. What a shame. Cheers!!!!

[@antoniomcclendon7941]

I still love love love this car! I would take this today! One of my aunts worked for GM who's now retired. She had a custom 1989, midnight blue. When she would visit from MO it was definitely a head turner, God I loved that car. I wish this one was for sale, I'd buy it. Just in case, if its ever listed for sale please reach out to me! Thanks for showing this!

[@AbcDef-iq4no]

My mom owned a 1989 Olds 88 Royale Brougham and this car was awesome. It rode great, handled great, got great gas mileage and had plenty of power. Hers was white with burgandy interior and wire wheel covers, and was a really good-looking car. The thing that my mom liked the most about this car was how well she could see over the hood. The previous downsized GM offerings (1977-84) had very high dashboards as a result of trying to squeeze too much car into their frames, and for this reason were a bit of a bear to navigate.

[@joec1774]

Another awesome video and one of my absolute favorite GM cars of the late 80s and early 90s. Thanks, Adam!

[@joesinkovits6591]

Even though I bought a downsized 1985 Cadillac Fleetwood, I now think the ‘88 Electra is better looking than the Caddy. Thanks, Adam.

[@annoyedatthis1]

My Grandfather had the 1985 with the 3.8L. These engines were notorious for rough idling and stalling but luckily his didn't have the problem. The 3800 was a giant leap ahead. I never cared for the exterior styling, but aside from that, the paint color/quality (same as the one featured here) was excellent, the interior was very roomy and comfortable, it had plenty of smooth power, the ride was quiet and it returned very good gas mileage.

[@HowardLewis2]

My one friend’s Dad drove a gray ‘87 Park Avenue. My friend got it as a hand me down in the ‘90s. I loved that car. It was comfortable and for the time decent pep. The clamshell hood was the coolest, and the Bose radio was amazing for the time. My parents drove Caddies but that Buick sold me on the “lessor” brand. Love to have a weekend driver from ‘88 to ‘90 years. The car nearly had 200k on it when his girlfriend slid it off the road. Sad day. (Everyone was ok)

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

I loved my 1989 Pontiac Bonneville LE with the 3800 V6 engine!

[@blautens]

I loved this and the Olds 98. Super comfortable and roomy.

[@OLDS98]

Thank you for sharing Adam. You stated everything quite well. I have nothing to add. I am just not a fan of the downsized era at GM. The upsizing was welcomed in 1990-1992 time from from all C, H, and E Bodies. They should have been the size they were in 1990-1992 in 1985 and 1986. That is just my opinion. Thank you for saying what you stated about the failures and the ones that succeeded. If I had to go downsized, I still would take the Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight and Pontiac Bonneville. It had more character. I hated the exterior door handles on all the downsized cars as well except for Toronado. I recall the spy photo of the 1985 Ninety Eight on the GM proving grounds. It did not have those door handles. It got those for production. I recall the videos and spy photos of this Buick and the sketches. Motor Trend did a huge article about them when they came out. The Buick had a solid panel with a Buick emblem up front. The license plate feature was used on LeSabre and Riviera too. I recall they offered digital gauges on this generation too. They were gone by 1991. I noticed a lot of the lines on this car look so much like the Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight. Good comments on the 3800 V6 as well. I thought the Park Avenue before( 1980-1984) and after (1991-1996) were both better looking. The last one 1997-2005 was good looking too. I think it got roomier too. Thank you again Adam.

[@bhigdaddymark]

I had a 1990 Park Avenue and it was the absolute best riding, trouble-free, fuel efficient American car I've owned (the two others were an '82 & '92 Eldorado). I wish that I had another duduplicate '90 Park Avenue with the glass sunroof and fragrant leather upholstery and of course that silky ride. BRAVO GM, BRAVO!!

[@JohnAnderson-hr4qc]

Kept my dads 89 Park Avenue until 2016, 340,000 miles. Replaced everything attached to the engine at least 2 or 3 times, but engine and fuel injection was still original. Really miss that sofa seat

[@JohnK-ph3vw]

My parents had an 89 Lesabre-same color but with the cloth seats. Was a beautiful car inside, outside and under the hood.

[@OldeHadleyVintage]

Horray!!!!🎉🎉🎉🎉 Adam I’m so glad you reviewed my favorite classic and wow she’s just like my 1990!! Although I never cared for the leather seating I think the velour is nicer in my opinion… so soft and plush! Yes those 3800’s are a true winner! Mine has 89,000 and a ways to go yet! Can’t wait til mine is fully restored! Thanks so much for this video!! Jeff 😊❤

[@dave1956]

My parents had a 1985 Electra 380. They bought it as a 4 year old car with 7,000 miles on the odometer. I called the former owner and sure enough, he said that the mileage was accurate. I was working for a wholesale used car dealer and we had purchased the vehicle from the Buick dealership that had sold it new and took it in on trade. Other than for the issue with the steering rack it was 100% reliable for the 10 years that they owned it.

[@eth39232]

I hate that there is no longer a market for a C body GM car - wish we could still get a Park Avenue and Deville.

[@brucekalter4206]

Great video, lots of great info presented really well. Thanks! I really admire these Buicks... they look very stately & I would love to have one!

[@zoomanx9661]

Clean on the inside, clean on the outside

[@jl6166]

My wife and I bought a used one exactly like this in the early 90's. Only repair in years was a radiator replacement, but that was easy with that hood opening. I have tried to find another one, but most of them have been driven into the ground.

[@klwthe3rd]

There needs to be a correction made. The 1987 model year had the normal 3.8 liter(non-3800) motor but it was rated at 150 hp NOT 125 has stated in the video. The 1988 3800 bumped the horsepower up to 165 which was a gain of 15.

[@RareClassicCars]

I never said the 87 was 125hp. I simply said the 3.8 started at 125hp in the C bodies in 1985.

[@joedefedele6380]

Great review and presentation. I would love a review of the 78-79 Buick Le Sabre 2 door coupe with the turbo 3.8 liter V6. I think it was a gorgeous combination of luxury and Malaise era "performance". The car was both luxurious and had a muscular appearance. Please review and give your educated opinion of this car's features. actual HP rating, suspension, exterior and interior. Thank you for your anticipated positive response. Keep your great presentations with your wonderful insight and educated opinions coming.

[@parnellitube]

My dad had a 1989 Electra T-Type. My memories of driving the car were that it had good smooth power, a great sounding stereo, fairly responsive feel, musty smelling A/C, unreliable ABS system, and the back wheels tended to hop if you hit a bump on a windy road.

[@dude28405]

That is an absolute wonderful car one of the most brilliant, modern cars that General Motors has built. I’m not sure if they build anything as cool as this anymore.

[@paullazaga1587]

Had one for over 250,000. Rode like a dream with the Dynaride suspension.

[@shawnsatterlee6035]

I had a 89 LeSabre that I got for free. Was told the transmission was bad, well it was a leaking trans cooler line so fixed it and ran it for 6 years summer only car. It was same color as this park Ave. Was also a southern car with basically no rust/rot. When I sold it, it had roughly 320k on it n ran like hell still. Wish I would have never sold it. But I just acquired a 94 park Ave that's also a southern car and has been sitting for 10+ years. Will be my summer project.

[@montymatilda]

I had a 1989 version of this vehicle and it was wonderful. Had the optional gauge package. Only drag about the gauge package was that the trip odometer was deleted. I agree about the fake wood, it just looked cheap in such a luxurious car.

[@Flies2FLL]

My Mom had and '89 Pontiac Bonneville, and she hated it when my dad bought it for her and loved it when it eventually died. Dad bought her a Passat that she utterly HATED, but a few years later when it was damaged in an accident, she hated the replacement Passat.

[@gm12551]

I wonder what car she would have liked

[@Charlies_Corner]

I inherited a 91 LeSabre Limited from my grandma and I love that car!!

[@navinstrument8353]

I came to the US in 88. I have a soft spot for late 80s GM cars especially buick and oldsmobile

[@terrancecheeseboro529]

I love your channel & watch it regularly! I had the same year Buick LeSabre! It was a great car! I loved the pep & the ride quality! I'd sooooo love to get another one one day! Stay safe & enjoy your day!

[@volktales7005]

Mom had an '87 LeSabre T-Type for 20 years. The 3.8 L sounded smooth to my ears, and had a nice rumble in this model as well. That car never gave her any trouble and she wishes Dad never got rid of it in favour of a stupid SUV...

[@Jack_Stafford]

WOW! I love the frequent and amazing, knowledgeable videos! I don't know how you keep up the pace, but I LOVE IT! I agree with you mostly, but not always, which makes things fun. I really, really hate the small, fwd mid 80s GM "premium luxury" cars and think it started a massive decline, although I think you like them a lot. I think similar MPG could have been achieved with smaller, WELL ENGINEERED engines in the former platform, with renewed styling every 3-4 years, and maybe the big FWD cars aimed more toward the Celebrity/Century market. Simply too small and bland to qualify as "luxury" imo. BUT! I love that you cover all of these, I love hearing and seeing what you have to say and discussing in the comments! At the end of the day, I think much of a car's importance can be determined by how many people seek it and want to obtain, restore, and/or customize it. The boxy GMs have lots of fans, and those platforms and engines lend themselves to easy maintenance and customization. These FWD models, and I've been in many, always seemed low, small, flimsy, cheap, flexy, bland, and SO much plastic. And no V8 in the top of the line Buicks and Olds was a crime. Still love watching review videos of them though! There were a bunch of them around until people moved to Camrys, Avalons, Accord, etc! Without RWD and V8 options, they pretty much gave the segment away, and couldn't compete in the quality and value of the new segment they were trying to invade. Does anyone really think a LeSabre is anywhere close to an Avalon in quality, "Lexus like" luxury, quality and room? That kills me to say, as a lifelong GM fan and being from a "GM family". And the bland styling, as masterfully demonstrated by Lincoln, pretty much have made these cars a forgettable blip in the history of autos. The 3800 was a great engine though, rented a Century and took a 3000 mile road trip in it, and that "mid priced" car seemed just as luxurious as the LeSabre or Electra, simple but high quality in fit and finish inside and out, and looked far better in my opinoin. (1997 model) It was solid, quiet, comfortable, fuel efficient, sleek, just a bit tight in the back seat, but great as a mid priced fwd car. That's what these cars should have been. Mid priced, comfortable, but not pretending to be luxo-boats with the cheap built quality and lack of "boatness'. The Roadmaster did it FAR better. With similar mpg. And if had been given the 3800.... would have been magic. They choked on their lofty ambitions and ignored their tried and true business model, and died out because of that.

[@joelyons3713]

Grandpa had an 88 Lesabre Limited. Loved that car!

[@Sedan57Chevy]

I've been quite enjoying this format of car review. Love having your insight on these cars. Personally, I've always liked these cars...well into the 2000s, they could commonly be seen everywhere in Florida. These gave decades of service with most owners. Sadly, at least where I live, they seem to have finally dried up and become a bit collectible- low mileage examples are often asking as much as the older RWD cars.

[@danielcunningham1144]

There's a bunch of these cars still running around. How many Ford or Chryslers that were similar to these are still running around by comparison?

[@346and844]

Owned a 1990 Park Avenue since 2010. The usual GM failure parts- no more a/c, digital dash, remote lock reciever biffed, and the amp has a really bad ground or short that makes the speakers snap and pop. The 3.8 makes it all worth it.

[@Thankyou_3]

What happened to GM, the good old days are gone. The 2.8; 3.8 and 4.3 are the gems of this era.

[@derrickzenner9300]

My grandmother had this model car in this color. Wonderful car.

[@scottmiller8791]

I loved those cars, had 4 different LeSabres 86, 88 and a 1990 4 doors and a 87 T-type coupe and one 85 Olds 98.

[@billy-ky3nx]

My aunt had a royal blue with a white too and navy velvet interior. Was beautiful.

[@kroge007]

My Dad had the same color and year but was a Buick LaSabra. I liked how the hood opened. There was a lot of room in theses cars.

[@joelippard4696]

I had two of these! And 86 in medium blue and an 89 Ultra in dark gray. I wish I would’ve kept that one! Now, I have my parents 1989 Ninety-Eight Regency sitting in the garage.

[@RaymondHaley-bi8lx]

I don't know about you but Buick didn't disappointed me, and I didn't have to get used to them either.

[@407blkboi]

I had an electra park avenue in that same color beautiful car I loved the flipup hood and that ride was so smooth

[@codymcnary3607]

Beautiful car that has nice crisp clean lines with less garish more subtle elegance than the boats before a them. Beautiful Chandelier Head Lights!