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Sounds to me that if a car is giving anyone as many problems as some here complain about, get rid of the "lemon" and buy the "high quality" machine that you want.
After my '98 Intrigue got totalled, I had only two cars on my list: the Olds Intrigue and Buick Regal GS. The major reason I didn't buy the Regal is because the left air vent blew on my knee. So I went back to Olds and got another Intrigue (w/3.5 L V6). From a performance standpoint (and people who buy Camry and Accords aren't performance oriented) the Regal was much fun to drive. When you get down to it, who makes the best performance mid-sized or full-sized cars? GM, Chrysler/Dodge, Ford, and Nissan (honorable mention Mazda). And none of them are usually mentioned in the high quality group. Nissan may be considered good, but not up there with Honda and Toyota.
My point? If you want a performance car, go with the domestics (+ Nissan). If you're worried about every squeak and rattle, dump your Regal and let someone else enjoy it :-)
I don't know of any mainstream Ford or Chrysler sedans that can touch an Accord v6 in straight line performance. I guess the LSv8 could but that is up there in $$, while the 300M is better handling but much slower.
I asked my dealer about changing again. He said that it's the air trapped in the radiator that causes the deterioration: if the neck where the pressure cap is built such that the radiatior can be completely filled easily then there's no problem with Dexcool; if the cap has a neck to it where the air tends to be trapped unless you work to get it out, then the hot coolant and the air cause deterioration of Dexcool. Don't forget to bleed the air at the thermostat housing with the bleeder screw.
IOW the air causes the breakdown of Dexcool. If you don't check yours regularly, don't complain at the car company when it doesn't work right...
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
If you have any suggestions, it will be appreciated.
Can someone tell me what is happening.
http://www.slpeng.com/vehicles/regal/index.shtml
also: http://www.spoilers4less.com/buick.html
http://www.spoilerdepot.com/Catalog.asp?A=10&S=1997-03%20Rega- l/%20Century.jpg&idModel=98&idB=
Where do you get that the whole line of cars is being condemned?
When the person said "these cars" what makes you think the person is refering to every regal ever built?
Chill out.
Thanks for the guidance- some good analysis. I have a 1998 Volvo S-70 which is a well engineered car with frequent and expensive repairs, just like many European makes but the seats and controls and road feel are awesome. It needs premium (again like most European makes) fuel, but the extra $3 per week for premium is no big deal. But as my Volvo gets to 60-70K miles, there are big repairs coming up, like the timing chain and some others that should be $1,200. So I see some 1 or 2 year old Buick Regals for $12K or so, which is less than $2K more than I could sell the Volvo for. What do you all think of this idea?
By the way, I checked my fluids on a regular basis and so did the dealership where it spent most of it's time. I never had a tranny problem I was just warning people who have a tendency to not check that stuff except for the occassional level check that they might be better off changing it earlier. The coolant issue was a bigger deal because I checked the levels and so did the dealership but until it jelled up and the upper radiator hose collapsed neither of us knew anything was wrong. It didn't take it long to go from fine to a mess.
Well, it is all water under the bridge now anyway because I traded the thing for a 2003 Accord EX V6 with Leather and so far I am very happy. It is just about as quick as the Regal, much quieter and it handles better. It does have a smaller trunk though. I'll keep you guys posted on how my relationship with it goes and I will be honest about it just like I have the Regal. I hope to have a better ownership experience this time around.
Kdawg
Dear General Motors Customer:
This notice is sent to inform you that General Motors is conducting a voluntary customer satisfaction program that affects certain 2000-2003 Chevrolet Impala, Monte Carlo; Pontiac Grand Prix, Bonneville; Buick Regal, LeSabre and Park Avenue model vehicles equipped with 3800 Series II (L36) V6 engines.
We have learned that your vehicle may develop an engine coolant leak at the upper intake manifold to throttle body gasket, or at the lower intake to upper intake gasket. This condition may result in a low engine coolant level and higher engine temperatures.
To prevent this condition from occurring, your GM dealer will replace the engine throttle body fasteners with redesigned fasteners, and add cooling system sealant to the radiator tank. This service will be performed for you at no charge through July 31, 2005.
If you have already paid for some or all of the cost ... you should contact your dealer to seek reimbursement.... Your request for reimbursement ...must be received by your dealer by July 31, 2005.
however, resale truly sucks. In the future I think a used one is much better of a deal then a new one, they just do not hold value but not many due, the used car market has a glut
Help.
MasonMI
Not only would I not have the guts to pop the hood at a cruise, I wouldn't have the audacity to even show up with a 1998 car.
BTW, I see on the Buick website that there is a 1SC package for the LS to get the SC motor. Don't remember seeing this when I purchased my LS last year. I wanted a sleeper LS with the SC.
Thanks for the encouragement. I think I'll pop the hood anyway. If I get laughed at, so what.
lotech1....
Does the 1SC package include an upgrade to a heavy duty tranny? The SC motor (with 40 extra horses) will eventually destroy the standard transmission that came with the LS.
Your transmissions are the 4T65E for the LS and 4T65E-HD for the GS...
How fast and how quick you want to be is only limited by your imagination and wallet...
Would there be any stopping advantage to getting these? I have a 98 ls w/gt suspension. I am pretty easy on my car and don't really "race" around too much.
Why the big difference in price between bargin and premium. Are the bargin ones just some cheap cast pot metal that will warp before the pads wear out??
same brand, there has to be a quality difference.
I put Raybestos higher-priced rotors on my LeSabre and never regretted it. I would rather do the job once and buy best, than do it again in two years because I saved $60 on two rotors...
I also used OEM raybestor pads. Great quiet stop rather than the long life pads I used to buy; hard pedal, noisy.
BUT I wish I'd bought the Raybestos dust free pads. My new car has them and it's nice not to have brake dust like my 98 LeSabre still has (but its brakes work great).
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I was done with that part in 40 minutes of arrival.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
SOMETIMES, when, say, making a slow RIGHT turn, I hear a "groaning" sound from the front end, accompanied by the dashboard lights ["Trac control", "Check engine now", etc.] lighting up. The brakes and steering function normally. Stopping the car, shutting and restarting the engine restores everything to normal. The dealer connected a "readout" device to the connector under the dash on the driver's side. That showed several instances of false application of the traction control. It did not show a cause. The dealer drove the car but was unable to duplicate the problem. He swore there was no issue of safety, and to keep him informed. He suggested turning off the traction control [you have to do it each time you start the car] but that seems to have no effect. I drove it the next day and the bug did its thing twice. This has happened in both 90 degree and 60 degree weather. Has anyone else seen this? Is there a TSB about it? Any ideas about what's going on here? Thanks for ANY help.
I had a distant (but vaguely similar) circumstance where my ABS module had to be replaced due to various idiot lights coming on and off. Buick dealer said that such situations are usually caused by a faulty ABS module.
GS? Is there something better than the GM ones.
I have some kind of NGK in there now that were put
in by the previous owner.
Thanks in advance for any help. Ed
I've a 2002GS...But I've replaced them with ACDelco 41-932's which are one range colder because of some modifications ...
Things I've had to do on my 98 GS...
Supercharger Cone replaced 2 times
Ignition Switch replaced
2 window motors
New fog light assembly
New Battery, Tires and Brakes (as expected)
I have a bit of oil leak and the window lock switch has broken (going to take it in soon to have these fixed)
Buick needs to put some better quality into the interior and get away from the plastic.
The love of the cheap horsepower suckered me in. I'm not complaining. You get what you pay for.
Thanks!
There should be good buys on them as the Regal name goes away next year...And as they really haven't changed in the past couple years...The reliabilty of mine has been teriffic...Have had 3 Buicks so far, 2002GS now, but you can always get a bad one, just like the many Toyotas that go bad...Good long driver, do a lot of San Francisco to LA trips...
Just a thought...If you are looking at a 2004...Look around for a 2003 GS...Exact same car and you could really save...