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Smart Shopper Used Vehicles Best Values
948 messages, Last post on Aug 11, 2009 at 11:51 AM
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Replying to: cccompson (Jan 08, 2007 4:55 pm) Any opinions about the supercharged engine on the ultras. Is is better to stick with the base engine in terms of reliability/maintenance costs. Didn't these cars come with the heads-up display. Any opinions about those?
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Replying to: zodiac2004 (Jan 09, 2007 7:22 am) While not every plastic intake manifold failed lots of them did so it is something to watch out for. |
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Replying to: british_rover (Jan 09, 2007 7:45 am) |
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Replying to: british_rover (Jan 09, 2007 7:45 am) A few more questions for you if you don't mind. Does the SC engine require premium gas. How would you rate the overall reliability/repair costs of this model - let's stick with the SC Do you think the interior trim would be in good shape for a 10 year old car - in terms of not coming apart. This is one car I have never driven - nor sat in. So any impressions are appreciated.
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Replying to: zodiac2004 (Jan 09, 2007 8:18 am) The 3800 engine is an outstanding motor even with the SC on top a couple of hundred thousand miles with appropriate maintance should be no issue. I would be a little hessitant about the HUD display though as I have heard of that having problems. It is a typical 1990's GM car so the drivetrain is great, the electrics are average and the paint/interior finish is poor. If the interior was well taken care of and stored mostly inside it might be ok. Otherwise it will likely be in poor shape. The paint will also most likely be faded and comming off unless it was stored in doors and waxed constantly.
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Replying to: plekto (Jan 08, 2007 9:51 pm) I don't understand this. Almost all the leSabres have bench seats. A few had a console in the middle designed for business papers, worktop, technology holder, etc. But 99% of the leSabres which were not made after 2005, I believe, have bench seats. Some comfortable cloth, some comfortable leather. The Park Avenue seats tend to be covered with a topping to make it slightly plusher in feel. But the Park Ave is 500 pounds heavier. The UIM (upper intake manifold) once replaced rarely gives problems. In 99 they changed that design from the factory. Few failures in 2000 and later. Some people blame DexCool for failures of gaskets around edges leaking; some failed with an EGR plastic pipe setup through the middle. 1999s had a smaller diameter metal pipe sticking up into the UIM manifold's plastic out later separated by a small air space. DexCool does fine if changed every 24000 or two years just like regular antifreeze. The UIM is a $150 item with $120 labor at typical practiced garage. Some with medium mechanical skills replace their own (and do the lower seals as well). Watching antifreeze level in recovery tank for slow drop without a temperature explanation from season to season being reason to have a knowledgeable garage check. The intake manifold problem is overemphasized--unlike Toyota's sludge or their and Honda's transmission failures/problems. I would avoid the supercharger myself because I don't want the extra maintenance for it, like frequent oil changes and possible failures and replacement. I believe the Lucerne's 3800 has a completely different, metal UIM. |
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Replying to: british_rover (Jan 09, 2007 8:25 am) |
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The supercharger is fine. Really. It operates at only a few PSI of boost - so it's more like a "slightly better than normal-charger"  So engine life is essentially identical. As for the cars, you definately want the Ultra if you can. I presonally like the last couple of years' designs with the more angled lines, but the early to mid 90s models were much better inside. better electricals and interior by far - it seems as if the bean-counters made it cheaper inside every couple of years until they got rid of it. All of that said, though, you can find a 1-2 year old LaCrosse or Lucerne for cheap. Really cheap. We're talking under $16K for a LaCrosse CXS, which is effectively a FWD version of the CTS. And it has a much better interior than any of the older models had. The bench seat is nicer, too, IMO, because it makes the car feel much more spacious and open up front. http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=212411646 One of about 50 or so selling for this price on autotrader. It drives *very* nice with the 3.6 engine. Zero throttle-lag and plenty of midrange power for city traffic. Nice Cadillac quality suspension as well. Much firmer and better than the LeSabre it replaces. |
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Replying to: plekto (Jan 09, 2007 9:59 am) The guys I knew that raced those engines were running more then double that boost without major engine problems. The problem they had was that the final drive in the transmission could not take that kind of abuse. No one makes a strong enough pinion gear for that transmission so you just buy the best you can, have it cryo treated, run high quality synthetic fluid and pray you make it through a season without a failure. |
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Replying to: qbrozen (Jan 05, 2007 7:22 am) Plus, it's the law to keep them RF at least until they are 1-year AND 20lbs. Thank you, I will get off my soapbox now. 
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