Buick Park Avenue

Price Paid:  $35000.00 from FERRARO CADILLAC-BUI

Year / Model Reviewed:
2004 BUICK PARK AVENUE ULTRA

Strengths:
SERVICE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GOOD AND ARE SINCERELY ATTEMPTING TO FIX PROBLEM TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY.

Weaknesses:
QUALITY.

Summary:
MAJOR WATER LEAK (I'M TALKING PUDDLE ON THE FLOOR HERE)INTO THE CABIN ON THIS $41,600(LIST)CAR. DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT. HAS HAD TO DISMANTLE THE ENTIRE INTERIOR OF THE CAR(DASH, SEATS, CONSOLE, CARPETS) DOWN TO THE BARE METAL TO GET TO IT. TURNED OUT TO BE DEFECTIVE SEAL (ROBOTIC MISALIGNMENT) AT THE FIREWALL/DASH JOINT. I TOOK DELIVERY OF THIS CAR ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND IT'S BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 16 DAYS SO FAR. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF THIS CAR HAD A DISTINCTIVE AND, MORE THAN JUST ANNOYING, "CREAK". DEALER ORDERED NEW SEAT PARTS BUT NOT SURE YET IF THIS WILL BE CORRECTED UNTIL THE INTERIOR IS "RE-ASSEMBLED" VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS PURCHASE. ENTIRE NEW CAR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN RUINED.

Similar Products Used:
1999 BUICK REGAL WHICH ALSO HAD QUALITY PROBLEMS WHICH WERE NEVER FULLY CORRECTED, I.E., DOOR PANELS WHICH CONTINUALLY CAME LOOSE NO MATTER WHAT THE SERVICE PEOPLE DID TO FIX THEM.

Price Paid:  $39000.00 from Lorenz Greenfield MA

Year / Model Reviewed:
2003 Park Ave

Strengths:
look, ride, acceleration, sound system, seats and electronic amenities.

Weaknesses:
Doors don't always easily close, particularly a problem when you are seven years old and attempting to exit the car during elementary school drop off. So far minor problems such as the radio lights, weather stripping.

Summary:
Car looks great, fast, smooth somewhat floaty ride but corners really nice. It is wicked comfortable! I really never get tired of driving it. I have had some problems such as a chrome wheel that needed to be replaced after my wife drove over a huge pot hole-$550 to replace- wholesale price. Two of the lights on the radio went dead and the dealer replaced the radio as a result-covered under the warrantee. You'd think that the bulbs could be changed? I needed front breaks at 30k and there is a very slight vibration even after they were replaced but this is not a big deal. This car is big, substantial but with the 17" wheels and an updated grill and portholes it looks more like an aggressive sleeper than the an old man's Florida car. I have three young children all in some type of car seat and they all fit in it fine. I had also considered the Chrysler 300M and a used Deville but the Ultra really had more stuff in it than the base Deville and a Buick seems a bit more socially acceptable for where I live although I have really broken the rules by spending this much $ on something other than a Saab or Volvo. With 0% for five years this brought the 39k price tag way down when compared to other cars with less attractive financing . I will probably purchase an extended warrantee and I have already had a trans service (filter change etc.) in hopes that with some preventative maintenance I will head off future problems. So far the dealer has been attentive-a very classic GM dealership (i.e., lots of dealership dudes in polyester slacks guzzling bad coffee with creamora! )

Similar Products Used:
96 eagle vision TSI,

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
2.00 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $38000.00 from not an official deal

Year / Model Reviewed:
2002 Park Avenue

Strengths:
Big, according to European standards. Extremely smooth ride (most Europeans get seasick in cars like these however), very good mileage because of the six cilinders (gas overhere is almost three times more expensive than in the US). Attracts the interest of other people while driving.

Weaknesses:
Hard to find a parkinglot, but on the other hand, that is one of the nice things driving those huge cars in Europe. You are lucky if if you cannot find a parking space, because than you will not have to leave your car and can go on enjoying the ride. Did not exeperience any real weaknesses yet.

Summary:
Buying and driving American cars in The Netherlands is not that easy, as long as you don't want to drive a more common Chrysler. First of all, it is very exepensive because of all the extra taxes (of the above mentioned price about 40% are taxes US citizens do not have to worry about). Furthermore there is the problem of the lack of dealer support.You may call yourself very lucky if you can find a garage where they can give you that support. This Park Avenue was imported from the States a month ago. It had run 70.000 miles. I liked the car at first instance, because it looks a lot like the Chevrolet Caprice Classic 1991 I owned before.

Similar Products Used:
Chevrolet Caprice Classic 1991 (for more than 4 years), Volvo S 80 T6 (for the last year, which was a very boring year), Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham 1985, still in use for particular trips.

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Enterprise car renta

Strengths:
comfortable interior, attractive exterior styling, plenty of power.

Weaknesses:
complicated interior controls, some fit and finish issues, non-impressive handling, doesn''t excell at anything, there are better cars on the market for the same money.

Summary:
I rented this car after my wife totalled her Nissan Pathfinder so we could buy her a new vehicle. Initially, I wanted her to go back to a sedan and really liked the Park Avenues. But, after driving it for a week, I was not impressed. My first impression of the car was when I opened the driver''s door to get in and noticed that the power seat control panel on the side of the seat had popped off. I snapped it back on and settled in. panel would pop back off whenever I sat in the seat. Leather seats were very comfy and looked nice. Dash board was overly complicated and seemed out of place in such a sporty luxury car. This car is aimed at the elderly market, and I couldn''t imagine my grandmother ever figuring out the heater and radio controls on this car. Controls on steering wheel came in handy. Power was very nice, handling was a bit too soft, but ride was great. Didn''t check actual mpg, but it seemed very thirsty. Body design of car is very attractive and rear seat is roomy. Overall feel of interior was one of cheap luxury; nice than the average sedan, but some materials were just not adequate for a luxury car. Overall, a nice car with a cushy ride, sporty appearance, comfortable interior, but didn''t do anything extremely well. There are plenty of luxury sedans on the market for the same money that are much more refined. A good grandma car, if grandma isn''t too picky.

Similar Products Used:
Ford Taurus, Ford Crown Victoria

Year / Model Reviewed:
2000 Buick Ultra

Strengths:
This is my 5th Buick and 3rd Ultra in a row. I am in sales and am on the road a lot. This car has good power, super ride and ids an excellant ride on long rides.

Summary:
Cost was $39M and the car has almost every available option. It has very good value for a luxury car. Have friends who say that it has much better value and is better equiped thta their Cadillac. I would recommend the Buick Ultra to anyone looking for an excellant ride, good gas mileage (filled up today and the last tank's mileage was 24.4.