Looking @ buying a 1996 Park Avenue Ultra with 21000 miles.

[Buick fan46]

Hi . This is my first post.Looking for help on what this car might need due to low miles . It has had 2 senior owners & I fit right in as I'm 76 .1st put on 22000 miles until 2010. 2nd & current owner put on less than 5000 since. It's immaculate. What is a fair price & what maintenance should I do? I know these are good cars but what are potential issues. It won't be a daily driver I will put on a few thousand a year. It will be a toy to enjoy & preserve. All options but unfortunately doesn't have the 16' Wheels that I would want to buy in near future.Anyone know up to what year Buick had those wheels? I assume a Lesabre would have had them available too?
Thanks for any help. I will be a very active member of this Forum if this deal goes through.

 

[ulycyc]

I wouldn't do anything to it other than consumables like tires, brakes and oil. Nice car and should have plenty of life left in it.

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Ask for the maintenance history, if documentation is available even better. Unfortunately some owners consider the mileage and omit that the number of years that the fluid has been in the vehicle. Besides oil and transmission, the coolant and brake fluid are two to find out. Also check the battery date / months on how long it been installed.

On fair price check online what similar years and close mileage are going for, Kelly Blue Book may be something to consider but the way prices are today it's difficult to know for sure.

 

[Buick fan46]

Ask for the maintenance history, if documentation is available even better. Unfortunately some owners consider the mileage and omit that the number of years that the fluid has been in the vehicle. Besides oil and transmission, the coolant and brake fluid are two to find out. Also check the battery date / months on how long it been installed.

On fair price check online what similar years and close mileage are going for, Kelly Blue Book may be something to consider but the way prices are today it's difficult to know for sure.

Thanks for advise. Unfortunately can't find any comparables with this low miles anywhere.

 

[Buick fan46]

Update: Bought the car & now after almost 3 months & 2500 Kilometers runs great & EVERYTHING works. Always garaged ,original windshield & I touched up the only 2 rock chips. Even has the original 26 year old uncracked " Royal SeaL" whitewalls that drive fine but I'm still looking for a set of 16" Grand Touring Suspension Wheels to put new radials on & keep these Whitewalls for show. I will probably put less than 4000 Kilometers a year driving from May to October & parking it for the winter. I have a 2017 Genesis G80 3.8 AWD for winter.
Should I get GM Dealer to replace the Dexcool or take my independent garages advise & switch to green antifreeze? I've never seen so many opinions on pros & cons of Dexcool. I know it's critical to get ALL the Dexcool out if green goes in. I've also heard Dexcool is fine if you change every 5 years. Mine is smelly in the reservior but is still orangy & the level has not dropped @ all. I have no idea when it was ever changed but definitely not less than 5 years ago.
Here are some better pictures. Interior still smells new : ). Engine compartment is just a little dusty.

 

[BuickGirlFromMars]

Update: Bought the car & now after almost 3 months & 2500 Kilometers runs great & EVERYTHING works. Always garaged ,original windshield & I touched up the only 2 rock chips. Even has the original 26 year old uncracked " Royal SeaL" whitewalls that drive fine but I'm still looking for a set of 16" Grand Touring Suspension Wheels to put new radials on & keep these Whitewalls for show. I will probably put less than 4000 Kilometers a year driving from May to October & parking it for the winter. I have a 2017 Genesis G80 3.8 AWD for winter.
Should I get GM Dealer to replace the Dexcool or take my independent garages advise & switch to green antifreeze? I've never seen so many opinions on pros & cons of Dexcool. I know it's critical to get ALL the Dexcool out if green goes in. I've also heard Dexcool is fine if you change every 5 years. Mine is smelly in the reservior but is still orangy & the level has not dropped @ all. I have no idea when it was ever changed but definitely not less than 5 years ago.
Here are some better pictures. Interior still smells new : ). Engine compartment is just a little dusty.
View attachment 39266View attachment 39267View attachment 39268View attachment 39269View attachment 39271

those tires are UNSAFE do NOT drive your car until you replace them. If you get in an accident and you have a blown tire (which is very possible) your insurance company is going to drop you like a stone
also the Dexcool is been changed or OE? If its changed recently, id say youre good, if it was original, itn eeds replacement

 

[BuickGirlFromMars]

Update: Bought the car & now after almost 3 months & 2500 Kilometers runs great & EVERYTHING works. Always garaged ,original windshield & I touched up the only 2 rock chips. Even has the original 26 year old uncracked " Royal SeaL" whitewalls that drive fine but I'm still looking for a set of 16" Grand Touring Suspension Wheels to put new radials on & keep these Whitewalls for show. I will probably put less than 4000 Kilometers a year driving from May to October & parking it for the winter. I have a 2017 Genesis G80 3.8 AWD for winter.
Should I get GM Dealer to replace the Dexcool or take my independent garages advise & switch to green antifreeze? I've never seen so many opinions on pros & cons of Dexcool. I know it's critical to get ALL the Dexcool out if green goes in. I've also heard Dexcool is fine if you change every 5 years. Mine is smelly in the reservior but is still orangy & the level has not dropped @ all. I have no idea when it was ever changed but definitely not less than 5 years ago.
Here are some better pictures. Interior still smells new : ). Engine compartment is just a little dusty.
View attachment 39266View attachment 39267View attachment 39268View attachment 39269View attachment 39271

show us the reservoir. But You should take it to independent reliable shop and put dexcool in it is my vote. the additives may still be protecting if the mileage is low enough.

 

[Buick fan46]

those tires are UNSAFE do NOT drive your car until you replace them. If you get in an accident and you have a blown tire (which is very possible) your insurance company is going to drop you like a stone
also the Dexcool is been changed or OE? If its changed recently, id say youre good, if it was original, itn eeds replacement

I don't know if Dexcool was ever changed so that's why I am asking best choice .
I intend to change or replace it with Green/Glycol ASAP . That's my dilemma.
Go with new dexcool or green? Tires are going to be replaced too but I'm still looking for 16" GTS wheels for new tires.

 

[BuickGirlFromMars]

I don't know if Dexcool was ever changed so that's why I am asking best choice .
I intend to change or replace it with Green/Glycol ASAP . That's my dilemma.
Go with new dexcool or green? Tires are going to be replaced too but I'm still looking for 16" GTS wheels for new tires.

You CAN replace it with green but ify our dexcool isnt nasty this is really the best time to let it do its thing it does best
Also, picssssssssss?
Show us the tank and under the cap
Also, Do not drive till the tires are new

 

[Buick fan46]

You CAN replace it with green but ify our dexcool isnt nasty this is really the best time to let it do its thing it does best
Also, picssssssssss?
Show us the tank and under the cap
Also, Do not drive till the tires are new

 

[Buick fan46]

Pictures won't download for some reason 🙁.
Fluid is bright pink/red color just stinky.No nasty residue.

 

[BuickGirlFromMars]

Pictures won't download for some reason 🙁.
Fluid is bright pink/red color just stinky.No nasty residue.

I am very much concerned by this
This describe either of them? the color is being looked at through the cap not the tank, right?
Also, your pictures. do you have a newer flagship phone like a galaxy or iphone 10/11+ ???
If so, find your photo on your phone and take a screenshot of that picture thenn uplaod the screenshot

 

[Buick fan46]

Can't figure out says " the uploaded file is too large for the server to process" on website but I downloaded other pics of car the same way today .I have a Android Moto G Stylus & never had this issue before & @ 76 I'm not a teckie 🙂.
Colour is sort of between your 2 pictures. Not nasty but smells kind of rank.

I attempted to download pics again & got this from Buick Forum "Files are still being uploaded. Are you sure you want to submit this form?

 

[BuickGirlFromMars]

they recently slashed upload size capability quite a bit.... @Sal Collaziano (im complaining to you 🙂 ) lol. Anyway. Do you know how to take a screenshot. The file size of your photos need to be cut down. a screenshot should do tha, otherwise upload to another site and link., hard to explain the process, sadly.

 

[Buick fan46]

they recently slashed upload size capability quite a bit.... @Sal Collaziano (im complaining to you 🙂 ) lol. Anyway. Do you know how to take a screenshot. The file size of your photos need to be cut down. a screenshot should do tha, otherwise upload to another site and link., hard to explain the process, sadly.

Thanks for all your help.
Sal is also the admin @ lots of Car forums including the Genesis Forum .I can send you the pictures from my overflow reservoir.
Terry

 

[BuickGirlFromMars]

Thanks for all your help.
Sal is also the admin @ lots of Car forums including the Genesis Forum I belong to..
My Email is terryjmurphy@shaw.ca & I can send you the pictures from my overflow reservoir.
Terry

sal really gets around doesnt he 🤣I dont really want to share my emailbut are you able to send them in a message to me? or upload to imgur or some other hosting site

 

[HotZ28]

Downsize the pics & upload again!

 

[ulycyc]

Can't figure out says " the uploaded file is too large for the server to process" on website but I downloaded other pics of car the same way today .I have a Android Moto G Stylus & never had this issue before & @ 76 I'm not a teckie 🙂.
Colour is sort of between your 2 pictures. Not nasty but smells kind of rank.

I attempted to download pics again & got this from Buick Forum "Files are still being uploaded. Are you sure you want to submit this form?

Your Moto G phone has basic phone camera settings and not to great for editing. Try and download from Google playstore a standalone photo editor Like the one I linked.

Photo Editor - Apps on Google Play

Photo Editor is a small but powerful photo editing application

play.google.com

 

[02LTD]

Just have your shop flush the system and fill with fresh DexCool.
Supposedly the new formula is much improved over the original.
Keep it simple and happy motoring!!!!

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Focus on the other fluids, transmission, brakes and power steering as if they have never been done or no maintenance history they are all overdue. The AC should also be something to check, again nothing lasts forever as seals and other rubber components can age.

Don't confuse mileage with fluid changes especially if the vehicle doesn't get driven often, low mileage doesn't mean no maintenance.

On the tires, unless you have a chemical degree in the manufacturer of rubber for tires they need to be replaced! There is no way a 27 year old tire is safe no matter how good you think they are.

Shopping for a Used Car? Keep in Mind That Tires Age, and Not Like Fine Wine

Even though they might still have plenty of tread, older tires can be dangerous. Here's what you need to know.

www.caranddriver.com