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Buick Century

482 messages,  Last post on Jun 05, 2012 at 7:22 AM

You are in the Buick Century Forum.

What is this discussion about? Buick Century, Sedan

Messages Page 20 of 49

#188 of 482 by michaelpsu

Apr 16, 2001 (2:40 pm)

Amanda,
 
I agree that 83,000 miles is very high for a 1999 automobile. Chances are that it was a sales person's car, and could have been well taken care of. Although the Century is a great car, and I hope to keep mine well beyond 83,000 miles, I think that I would shy away from purchasing one with that many miles already. I actually sold cars for about a year when I was in college and just after college graduation. Let me tell you, high mileage vehicles have NO resale value at all. Once a car hits 100,000 miles, you might as well just keep driving it until it falls apart. A dealer is not going to give you much for it as a trade, and it is hard to sell them yourself.
 
I do not know what your driving style is, but I drive between 20-25,000 miles per year. In less than a year I would have over 100,000 miles on that car. If I was financing even $9000, after a year I would probably still owe $7500 on a car that was now worth $5000. Again, I do not know how you will be financing this, so this may not be a concern.
 
Also, I would be willing to bet that the dealer will sell the car "as-is." I never sold a car that had over 70,000 miles on it with even a 30 day warranty. The extended warranty sounds good, but negotiate the price. Most people do not know this... but dealers make huge profits on these extended warranties--often they double the cost! They also make TONS of money on financing. The bank gives them a minimum rate to charge on a loan, and the dealer will mark it up. Always say you can get a better rate through your bank, and they will usually come down.
 
I know that I am going on here... just do not want you to make a mistake. I would keep looking to see what else is out there. I know our local Buick dealer (Central PA) has a 97 Century with mileage in the 60's for $8000, and it is a local trade--I live down the street from the man who owned it. The regularly have 99's and 00's with mileage in the 20's for $12,000 to $14,000. With these you would even have some remaining factory warranty, or at least a 30 day warranty.
 
It is easy to let the emotions of finding the car that "looks perfect" cloud your judgement when making a purchase. I did the same thing with a 2000 Impala and a 2000 Subaru cutback before coming to my senses and buying the Century. I know now that I made the right choice, and have not regretted my decision for even a day. I hope this helps! If you need anything else, just let me know.

#189 of 482 miles are nothing by occupant1

Apr 18, 2001 (12:03 pm)

See my post #181 and also I just purchased a 1989 Century with the 3.3V6 off eBay for $250. It has over 200K also. A 1999 Regal for $9500 is a good deal, but not great. A 1999 Regal with 32K sells for $12995 at Hertz Auto Sales. It's a rental, but that also means commercial and lease usage. I figure this way, will I get my money back out of it? A $9500 car getting an average of 25mpg, driven 20K per year, requiring minimal repairs, and one set of good tires, would have to resell for $6200 to cost less than 10 cents a mile, not including insurance. Will you be able to get $6200 for it with 143K 3 years from now? Maybe. Depends on how well it is treated, how many plastic things break, etc. If it's nice now and you take care of it, it'll do fine. But I just don't think a bank will loan $9500 on a 2-year old domestic sedan with 83K on it. You might have to put about a third down because with those miles the loan value will be much lower.

#190 of 482 Question about a noise in the back of the car... by bill_1

Apr 20, 2001 (9:38 am)

Hi, My Mom owns a 1999 Century and in general likes it. However there is a noise that comes from the rear of the car when we pass over any bumps... even real small ones. It doesn't seem to impact the ride of the car but the Dealer cannot seem to find out what the problem is (It just came back from almost 2 weeks in the Dealers). Has anyone encountered a similar problem and if so do you know the solution?
 
Oh it appears to come most prominently from the right rear wheel...

#191 of 482 97 Century & Oil Leak by ep0001

Apr 22, 2001 (11:58 am)

Have a oil leak on front passenger side. Preliminary diagnosis is 'cracked lower manifold'. Anyone have a similar problem?
 
Car has 34,000 miles

#192 of 482 I need some help!! by michaelpsu

Apr 24, 2001 (8:19 am)

Greetings to all,
 
A few weeks ago, I posted a message about my 99 Century having a problem with a vibration in the front end. The dealer found a bad drive axle. The car only had a little over 30,000 miles when I took it to the dealer, so the repair was to be made under warranty, and they even got me a rental to drive while the car was in the shop. Well, about a week ago I got a call from the dealer telling me that GM has refused the warranty repair, and that I owed them for the repair and the rental! They claim that the repair should have been made under an insurance claim. Well, my car was in a minor parking lot collision, and the only repair needed was a new left headlight and the left fender needed painted. I am sorry, but an accident like this could not damage a drive axle! I was not happy about this, but I paid the dealer $216. (This dealer really is a wonderful dealership, and does a good deal of business with my Dad's business, so I did not want to create hard feelings there! Besides, they cannot help it that GM is being difficult.) I need to duke this one out with Buick... but unfortunately, but warranty book has disappeared from my glove compartment! I think that the garage where I normally get the car serviced took it out to mark in it what they did to the car, and then lost it. Would someone out there be willing to make a copy of the warranty book to their '99 and either e-mail, fax, or mail it to me? I am willing to pay for the cost of the copying and for your troubles, and would greatly appreciate it. I just want to have a copy of this right in front of me when I call the customer service hotline. Thanks!!

#194 of 482 1999 Buick Century Custom Cruise Control Failed by stanor

Apr 24, 2001 (9:55 pm)

Just got out of the local Buick Dealer. I was having concerns with the cruise control dropping out every 100 miles or so, and I panicked deep in 4 lanes of freeway traffic thinking my engine quit.
Dealer found failed servo assembly and replaced on warranty.
My radiator overflow tank was dry so they checked that and found a weak radiator cap and replaced with a new one on warranty. No intake manifold leak showed up in pressure testing.
I am back on the road again at 25,644 miles in 24 months.

#195 of 482 drive axles by occupant1

Apr 26, 2001 (5:16 pm)

Drive axles will not fail as a result of an accident if no forces were placed on the wheel. GM is being difficult and you should keep your receipts and tell them to reimburse you immediately or find themselves in court. $216 is a small amount of money but the more little people they screw over for little repairs, the more money they make that they don't need. Your drive axle could have bent due to a pothole or maybe a defective axle shaft. Better get ready to fight. I made a u-turn in a Ford Aspire I owned once, and the axle failed on the u-turn, no bumps, no hard acceleration or braking, I simply made a mid-block u-turn in a residential area and upon returning the steering wheel to the straight position, the axle slipped out of the transmission. They're funny things, and when they fail it is a result of the part failing. It's hard to damage a drive axle without a sledgehammer or a big curb drop.

#196 of 482 Buick Century Special by occupant1

Apr 26, 2001 (5:21 pm)

I just checked out the sticker on a new 2001 Century and realized there is no longer a Special model. From 1992 to 1996 it was a basic Century, about $1000 cheaper than a Custom, with more limited options. They could take the Century Custom, lose power windows and locks, give it a plain AM-FM radio, use thinner carpet, cheaper tires, maybe the 2.4L 4-cylinder, and have a $17,000 Century to sell. It would be $2,000 cheaper than an equivalent Accord or Camry and would be more in the price range of an Impala. It would also put it that much closer to me being able to afford to finance one. But I'm happy with my 1988 sedan. I recently bought another Century on eBay for $275, a 1989 Custom sedan with 3.3V6 and 3-speed automatic and I think 205K miles. I can't wait to go pick it up in Erie, PA. I hope the air works well.

#197 of 482 1998 Buick Century by ham_mer

May 09, 2001 (3:17 am)

Hi Mates, I bought a 98 Buick Century with 30K on it about a month or so ago. I just had some observations I wanted to pass along and to see if anyone has experienced some of things that I have.
 
1. There appears to be excessive wind noise on the drivers side, right where the Dash meets the door. I'm not sure if there's anything that can be done about this one ?
 
2. The manual says that the car has a 64 Liter tank, every time I fill it up I am only able to put approximately 54-56 Liters in the tank, is the gauge that poorly calibrated or is it that they have intentionally made it that way so that fewer people would run out of gas?
 
3. The trunk leaks terribly when lifted during rain or when washing the car.
 
4. The brakes have been squealing ever since I got the car, the pads are new. Do they have to be a certain type of pads or will just any do?
 
5. There is quite a bit of glare coming of the front window, it definitely impairs the drivers vision ? I believe it is the sun being deflected off the dash onto the window.
 
6. Otherwise, I'm happy with this car, it is very nice to drive and has a very smooth ride, the gas mileage is very good as well.
 
Thanks to all who respond.

Messages Page 20 of 49

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