Looking to buy a Lesabre

[GerGa]

Hi guys, previous 94 Lesabre Limited owner here looking to get a Buick again. I liked the car but I think this time I should look for the newest(the last generation) of Lesabre. The only issue I have is that I do not like leather seats. Is it hard to find the newer Lesabres with cloth seats?
I might consider another 90's gen Buick (95+ with 3.8 series ii engine) if in very good condition too.
Anything I should look out for in the newer Lesabres?


Thanks

 

[17thabn]

From 2000 on they had and still have problems with the newer ones,failing window motors,(from Mexico)Dealers wouldn't help, 600 to 800 a pop,But a 99 Buick Lesabre or Custom with low Miles and good pain job,look at hood first thing.When mine dies I will buy another 99 Buick lesabre.

 

[scottydl]

My 2000 LeSabre has been great. I bought in January with 159k miles and it has performed flawlessly since then. I've put another 5k miles on it, daily driving since then (8 months). Any used cars will have stuff break, and I wouldn't expect dealers to support anything out of warranty. But my '00 is undoubtedly the best $1500 I ever spent!! Mine was really taken care of by the previous owner, so I got lucky there. The 3800-II is a great powerplant that's very reliable (although some known intake gasket issues sometimes, none on mine so far) and well known among mechanics when it does need repair.

 

[donthekawguy]

2000 up have tranny issues. About a $600 fix, oil pressure sending unit $50, blower motor not sure on the cost, front wheel bearings I got a kit with rotors and hubs for $145 off ebay, intake manifold on some. Seems like the tranny is the biggest problem with these cars. If you find one at a dealer you might be able to get them to change the solenoids if you pay for parts and if they have a service dept. as part of the deal. Other than that these cars are pretty bullitt proof. I had a 94 Regal that had 250k on it when I got rid of it and it ran like a top. I got my 2003 Lesabre a couple years ago and love it.

 

[GerGa]

2000 up have tranny issues. About a $600 fix, oil pressure sending unit $50, blower motor not sure on the cost, front wheel bearings I got a kit with rotors and hubs for $145 off ebay, intake manifold on some. Seems like the tranny is the biggest problem with these cars. If you find one at a dealer you might be able to get them to change the solenoids if you pay for parts and if they have a service dept. as part of the deal. Other than that these cars are pretty bullitt proof. I had a 94 Regal that had 250k on it when I got rid of it and it ran like a top. I got my 2003 Lesabre a couple years ago and love it.

I don't understand, what exactly are the transmission issues?

 

[HotZ28]

I don't understand, what exactly are the transmission issues?

Simply put, lack of recommended fluid/filter changes. If you buy one of the these later model LeSabre's, look for all maintenance records, especially the trans. Most people neglect this service because the trans fluid is not visible without pulling the dipstick. If the fluid smells burnt, or appears brown, the trans has been neglected and therefore, will have have a solenoid sticking, or shifting problems.

 

[GerGa]

Simply put, lack of recommended fluid/filter changes. If you buy one of the these later model LeSabre's, look for all maintenance records, especially the trans. Most people neglect this service because the trans fluid is not visible without pulling the dipstick. If the fluid smells burnt, or appears brown, the trans has been neglected and therefore, will have have a solenoid sticking, or shifting problems.

Is this the same of the 90's lesabres as well, or is the 2000-2005 generation more sensitive to lack of fluid changes?
I had a 94 and it was a really solid car, would get another of that generation if in good condition..but the next generation also looks a bit nicer.

I am seeing a lot of very low mileage(40-50k mile range) 2000-2005 car on craigslist in Long Island for sale. What do you guys think? Safe to buy at such low miles? Do people in Long Island ride the train to work or are these just elderly people's cars who didn't drive much?

 

[Spriteman]

Purchase criteria:

- Price
- Miles
- Year
- Service records - has it been maintained by a reliable dealership - do they have the records

I think that it would be better to buy the later models with low miles if you can find one for a great price.

 

[GerGa]

What I was getting at was that ive heard certain things may deteriorate on a car that hasn't been driven much. Plus low miles may mean the car was driven on mostly short trips which is hard on a vehicle.

 

[scottydl]

What I was getting at was that ive heard certain things may deteriorate on a car that hasn't been driven much. Plus low miles may mean the car was driven on mostly short trips which is hard on a vehicle.

That's where the importance of maintenance records would come in. Yes low mileage cars / non maintained cars could be problematic, but not if they have still received regular oil changes and other recommended stuff. And for a post-2000 MY vehicle, I would not call 40-50k miles too low. Lower than average perhaps but still at least a few thousand miles per year which is plenty to keep things moving. Now if you run across a car that was driven 40k miles in its first 3 years and then sat parked for 10 years, you might have a different set of issues to consider.

 

[carbearator50]

HI, I agree with some of he concerns with buicks. My 2002 lesabre went through two left rear window regulators. ( JUNK ) I just wedged the window shut with wood. Also both of my wheel bearings failed at 98,000 miles. Use the bearings from raybestos, amazon had them at the best price. I have put 10,000 miles on them so far and they seem to perform well.

 

[GerGa]

Is the window regulator problem really that bad with 00 - 05 cars? Does ANYONE have a GOOD experience with their windows??

 

[Cadillac_AL]

The wimpy regulators are very easy to replace so it shouldn't be too much of a deal breaker.

 

[scottydl]

Is the window regulator problem really that bad with 00 - 05 cars? Does ANYONE have a GOOD experience with their windows??

I would say that the hundreds of thousands of past Buick owners who HAVEN'T posted in this thread have not had major problems. 😉 Remember many times on forums you hear mostly from the people who are having issues or breakdowns.

Looking at the past service records of my '00 LeSabre, it did have 1 rear window regulator replaced before I bought it. I personally have not had any window problems... if I did and it was a rear window, I probably wouldn't even spend the money to fix it as long as the window would stay up. Not bad for a 14-year-old car with almost 165k miles.

 

[GerGa]

Anyone know what the problem is with these regulators? What is a "regulator"? I wonder if there could be some unfound diy fix..

 

[fullmonte44]

Anyone know what the problem is with these regulators? What is a "regulator"? I wonder if there could be some unfound diy fix..

poor or cheap construction (cost savings, you know!); it makes them "wimpy", easy to malfunction. The regulator is just the mechanical arms assembly that the window motor is attached to, to raise and lower the window. It comes out of the door as an assembly with the motor attached, if one were to replace or repair it.

 

[scottydl]

When we refer to window "regulator" we really just mean the motor and window lifting mechanism. These parts are manufactured together and sealed, and are considered a non-serviceable part. i.e. when it quits working, you have to replace the whole thing. There's no quick DIY fix unfortunately. That is assuming that the motor itself is what failed... sometimes a non-working power window may be a bad switch or frayed wiring someplace too.

 

[GerGa]

Hi guys I looked at an '04 with 47k miles. On the 10 minute test drive it drove well but on the way back there was a squeak in the left front wheel. It was something rubbing in there as the wheel spun. "squeak squeak squeak" Took the wheel off and spun the brake disk by hand and could here a "brushing" sound. Ya think that was it? Is it the brake maybe the caliper is just not retracting enough and allowing the pad to touch the disk(caliper just needs some cleaning and grease?). The pad and disk looked fairly new. Or could it be something else?

Over all the car was nice, silver, memory seats, heads up display, over all really good condition and minimal corrosion underneath. Probably will need one or both intake manifold gaskets-could see oil from it in the engine bay but not dripped on the driveway. I offered $6800, he said he could probably do $7000 when I bawked at the 7200 he said he was hoping for.

 

[Webfoot_WA]

Howdy and thanks for being here...the wife and I have chosen to buy my buddies 01 LeSabre Limited edition w/140,000mi...his dad left it to him after he passed (R.I.P) all maintenance is up to date with newer tires, recent oil change, tranny flush and front brakes. all work was done at the same dealership he bought it from.
I've spent the last few days or so reading the FAQ's and searching for as much info as I can via car dot com, edmunds, kbb, car connection etc..etc...I'm not buying this 01 because we have to but because #1 it's a great bargain @ $2000 #2 he and his father have always taken great pride in their vehicles and #3 I really dig how comfortable this car is..we're not kids anymore and our daily driver is a 06 Scion xB (the Box/Toaster) which I've done some mods to just because... after driving our 2001 F-250 PSD for 13yrs using it to tow our 5th wheel all over the desert SW and of course the Pacific North West which is home.
What I'm looking for is honest pro's and con's on this car, we're buying it(bought it yesterday) next week but thought we'd take her out for a few hrs tomorrow. I've ridden in this car and it seems to ride a bit rough and I've read where these have "coil rear springs
Air rear shocks" and the bags could be getting old or even leaking..

So I'm asking for any and all feedback..

Thanks and good evening..

Webfoot_WA