Opinions on 1998 Buick LeSabre Limited

[QueBota]

Possible car for my 17 yo son. He has been driving my Crown Vic (safe but too fast for him) and my Dodge CTD.

Looking for something of his own to drive and maintain.

1998 Buick LeSabre Limited (just about every option)
3.8l
4 speed overdrive auto, front wheel drive
123,500 miles
2 owner car
Current owner is a licensed charter boat captin, last 100K miles
Looks and drives well, very clean.

Should be close to 20 mpg in mixed driving if driven properly.

Relatively (for its day) large car, should provide some protection in
the event of and accident.

3.8l seems to have a good reputation, don't know much about the rest of that GM platform.

Asking $4k, I'm thinking closer to $3.5K, seems like a lot of car for that price range.

Appreciate any opinions, experience or advise.

Thanks,
Q

 

[MESSMAKER]

Not a great looking car, but one of the better cars GM has made. Some of them get incredible mileage and seem to last forever. The 3.8 motor has been in production forever. I would think it would be a very good 1st car. The only negative is that it is roomy and might end up being the road trip wagon for your son and his friends. That can lead to trouble but Y.M.M.V.

 

[QueBota]

Car full of teenagers is defininitly a concern.

We have discussed this many times.

He is a fairly mature and responsbile 17 yo.

Appreciate the input.

Thanks,
Q

 

[BleedingOrange]

Any vehicle you get will be too fast for him, if he chooses to drive it in an inappropriate manner.
I,m kinda getting a mixed message. In your first post, you mention that a a Crown Vic is to fast for him, and then you mention He is a fairly mature and responsible 17 yo.
Keep stressing how any vehicle can get him in trouble, if used with wreckless abandon.
If you already have the vehicle, I wouldn,t waste the money on another vehicle, that can get him in just as much trouble, if he chooses to be irresponsible.
I would clearly state what the rules are for when he is driving the vehicle, and if they are broken, what the consequences will be.
Teach him to be a leader, not a follower, and to quickly choose between what he knows is right, and wrong.
Good luck, I,ve been there, and limited our son to the slowest, least expensive vehicle we owned at the time.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Is that motor Super Charged? My boss had one and it had lots of little nuisance items. Like others mentioned the 3.8 is a great motor. Add the supercharged and not so much.

Check the car closely for rust. His was running fine but suspension attach points and chassis did it in.

There is no way I would pay $3500 for a 17 yr old Oldsmabuick. Seems high to me. I sold mt Saturn in 09, a 2001, with all new suspension, tires, and 139,000 miles for $3500

Chris

 

[QueBota]

No supercharger, just the 3.8.

Price is a bit high but the car is convieniently located two miles away.
Purchase will be easy, I don't have a lot of time to drive around an look
at cars, very busy at work. I'm willing to pay a few $$$ more for this
car, will save me a lot of time and gas money not drving around looking
at cars.

Car looks and drives like new, very clean, well maintained.

It looks and drives like you Grandfathers Buick.

Guido455
My son dosent' operate any vehicle in a reckless manner, he is a good driver,
as mature as a 17 yo boy can be and responsible.

The CV is an ex State Patrol car with a tune on top of it. It is just flat out fast.
Very tempting to put the peddle to the floor.

My Dodge CTD puts out 350 hp and 850 torque to the rear wheels.
It is suprisngly fast for a 7800 lb truck.

I can vaguely remember being a 17 yo. Going fast is always a temptation.

We test drove the LeSabre, car is definitly not that fast.

It will keep up with traffic but doesn't provide any "thrill factor" when you
put the peddle down.

Looking for something that will go another 100k, get reasonable gas mileage, provide
safety in a collision and front wheel drive for the winter time. Accords/Camarys are too
small for my taste.

Appreciate all the replies.
Q

 

[flyingcow]

I'd take it for another test run and have a shop all scheduled to go. Bring it in and out it up on a lift. Do a state vehicle inspection on it. Brakes/exhaust/front end parts, etc. If you're paying on the high end then it should be tight and sound from below.

 

[coobie]

I have owned 3 buick Lesabres,1993,2000 and 2005.One of the best cars ever made IMHO.My grandson still drives my old 2000 model,165,000 miles on the 3.8 motor.The only thing I can complain about the have crappy power window motors.All four were replaced in my 2000 model.$4,000 is way to high of a price,more like $3,000.

 

[coobie]

Is that motor Super Charged? My boss had one and it had lots of little nuisance items. Like others mentioned the 3.8 is a great motor. Add the supercharged and not so much.

Check the car closely for rust. His was running fine but suspension attach points and chassis did it in.

There is no way I would pay $3500 for a 17 yr old Oldsmabuick. Seems high to me. I sold mt Saturn in 09, a 2001, with all new suspension, tires, and 139,000 miles for $3500

Chris

Super charged motors were in the Buick Park Ave. models

 

[Diamondpilot]

Super charged motors were in the Buick Park Ave. models

Ok, he has a PA. Never paid much attention other than it was a Oldsmabuick and it had a Supercharged 3.8.

Chris