What's the story behind your LeSabre

[IMSITINGINYOURCHAIR]

For me, I was about to attempt to buy back my first car. I had everything ready. but when I called to let him know I was ready, I was informed that my car was sold but that he had another of same year, less miles and most of the options in the limited trim
My first car was just a simple white 2000 Buick LeSabre custom with only one of the options. the stereo.
When I arrived I saw it. light bronze with an overcoat of dirt around the wheels, finger prints on the windows, and I'm thinking "How does he intend to sell this to me. We head inside to get the keys to start the test drive. No remote or master key, what i was handed was just a valet key, the originals were lost. I open the door and have a seat, adjusting the mirror and seat as the owner is rather short. Key in, i turn it over and it fires up. There is a terrible exhaust noise and I think about just shutting it off and leaving it be but I decide to go ahead and finish my check, just to see what else might be amiss. First off, I notice the headlight switch is broken off it's mount, the passenger window moves one inch down, no further. The seats are dirty along with the floor. Under the hood was no better, The first thing I check is the oil cap, no moisture so we're good. The coolant is fresh and tranny fluid is pink. Tires are nearing their end but still had time left, I use this to have 375 knocked off the price. I wasn't really easy with my first Buick or the 96 t-bird I was using, so naturally this drive would be no different. I pull out on the road and stop, and open it up it wasn't really special but again, it's a Buick, it's not fast but it has all the power I remember from the other lesabre. 0 to 80 then hard brakes to test the abs and how the brakes function in general everything is great. I drive to a vacant car park to test the axles, hard left and right turns reveal no problems. and ending there i decide that all that is wrong here is cosmetic and decide to go ahead with the purchase.
101k miles for $2000. Options on the car were; leather, audio package, power passenger and driver seats, heated seats, dual climate temp control, heated mirrors, auto dimming rear view and driver side mirror with compass, rainsense wipers (horrible system immediately disabled those.) I bought it in late January of 2012 and have since put 21k miles and $1400 into it for parts and I would do it again given the chance.

Things i've replaced in the order replaced
Battery
Coil pack
passenger window regulator ("snap and drop" while driving"

Front hubs
radiator cap
radiator (after I replaced the cap the driver side tank cracked, go figure)
lower and upper intake gaskets (failed after replacing radiator literally minutes after first run with the new one, good thing i used water for the first fill huh?)
Tires
map sensor
o2 sensor

 

[leftoverture]

My story is quite a bit easier. Bought it a little over a year ago. 2002 Limited with almost every option. It was owned by an older couple and driven mainly out in the country. The dealer replaced the intake gaskets and the battery before I bought it. Had 73k on the odo. I've done very little to it since and have put 32k miles on it. I did install the Transgo shift kit to cure some rough shifting, which (of course) included new tranny fluid and filter. Regular maintenance I have done to it: serpentine belt, brake pads all around, and oil changes (always with synthetic). Just today I put on some custom wheels and new tires. I don't drive it too much this time of year, but when warmer weather comes it will get plugs and wires, fuel filter, and other typical maintenance items including new front struts. Thinking about a stereo upgrade, too, as I would like satellite radio and an auxiliary input. It is in mint condition inside and out and good for many miles/years to come.

 

[redmondjp]

Mine was an insurance total (light front-end damage, both frontal airbags deployed) that I purchased for $300. It was a one-owner car with 73K miles on it.

I Replaced:

Both front headlight assemblies
Grille (used)
Radiator
Both airbags (used)
Windshield

Got it inspected and relicensed. Since then, I have replaced:

- Radiator again (first aftermarket one leaked, second aftermarket one leaks at an unused but plugged port on one side tank, lesson: buy OEM radiator only)

- Both front wheel bearings as they were getting pretty sloppy

- Driver's side front window regulator

- All illumination bulbs in all steering wheel controls and dash-mounted devices

- Radio removed for repair (have a portable AM/FM radio on the seat, crude but works)

- A/C controls appear to be on the fritz now, as I have to have the controls set all the way to max heat to get any heat out

- Intake manifold will need to be done eventually (have all of the parts to do so)

I have mixed feelings about the car. It's a nice driving and riding car, but I've had to replace more parts at a low mileage than I think should be required, and I've had many more issues (not related to the accident damage) that I ever had with my 1988 Buick.

 

[gnhbodyguy]

In 99 I was looking for a car to replace my 86 Olds. My dream car was maybe a 95-98 Buick Riviera or Olds Aurora. They were too expensive at the time but I came across a 98 Olds Eighty Eight LS. One model year old with 35,000 miles. It was in great shape. I’ve had it 14 years and it’s at 164,000 miles with little trouble so far. I replaced the intake plenum, radiator, spark plugs and wires, and a brake line. It’s built on the same platform as the LeSabre. Has buckets and a console (picture). I love that car.

In 2010 my kid started driving, so I gave him the Olds Eighty Eight and wanted another car with a 3800 engine. Looked at 2003-05 Grand Prix, Bonneville, La Crosse, Lucerne, Park Avenue, and a couple dozen LeSabres. Shopped in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Lansing, and Flint areas. So many of them were rusty or beat up. I finally found a 2004 LeSabre Custom from Arizona with 129,000 miles that was for sale 80 miles from where I lived – the farthest trip I took to see a car. Carfax showed oil changes every 3000 miles and it was in great shape. I’ve only driven it the summer of 2011 and 2012 so far. Found a 2003 Limited for winter – which was more than I was looking for, but it was hard to turn down.

Stumbled across a 2003 Limited Celebration Edition that was in great shape for being nine years old and 109,000 miles. It had the wheels I liked, the interior was mint (except for a few burned out dash bulbs). Had to replace the coolant elbows, refurb the inside of the chrome wheels, and plug a leak in the trunk. The place I bought it from put in new rear shocks, battery, fixed the heated seats, and put in new OEM floor mats. I polished it up and it’s a real nice car so far.

 

[IMSITINGINYOURCHAIR]

I'll admit, I am jealous of that celebration edition you've got. I remember about two months after I bought my limited I saw one in person exactly like yours and I loved it. It doesn't look as dull/tired in that color like mine does (light bronze). I wish I could have mine painted but it will be too much work I think. with having to paint the motor well and door wells.

 

[gnhbodyguy]

Have you tried rubbing it out with polishing compound? That stuff is great. I’m also using the new synthetic wax, which leaves no white residue. I used to use Nu-Finish on my Olds, and it filled up all the little stone chips with wax that looked bad and was hard to get out.

I’m lucky living in Michigan, so there was a decent number of LeSabres to look at both times I was looking.

I remember when I was looking for my first LeSabre, there was a Celebration Edition for sale at a dealership that sold on the first day for something crazy like $11,000. I never even saw it. I figured they were in decent demand.

On mine, I went to a huge used car dealership that had four LeSabres for sale. It was a “no haggle” dealership, where you can’t make an offer. You have to pay what they are asking. The prices are usually reasonable. What they will do is fix things if you agree to buy a car. I said I would buy mine, but I wanted new rear shocks and floor mats. They said fine. When I went to pick it up, I figured out the driver-side heated seat wasn’t working. I asked them to fix that, and they said fine. So I took delivery and brought it back to get the heated seat fixed.

Don’t know if it mattered in what they were asking for it, but they didn’t advertise mine as a Celebration Edition. I don’t think they knew what it was, or that they had one. Was surprised they didn’t have it detailed. It was dirty. There was a tiny bit of rust. Some scratching and stone chips. The floor mats had holes in them.

If they wanted, they could have made it look way better than it did.

Didn’t know it was a Celebration Edition until I got home and did some research on the Internet regarding them. I just knew it had a ton of potential, was well maintained, and had a ton of options.

 

[IMSITINGINYOURCHAIR]

Nicee, There aren't too many for sale down here in Alabama (if any they are they are in worse shape) I need mine painted because there are some scratches on the driver front and rear door, here is a picture. it goes down to the primer and there are a few chips on the hood and bumper that have started to rust.

As far as a pre sale detail, it took me weeks to get mine fully cleaned. There was some gunk in all crevasses in the steering wheel, radio, climate control buttons, and in the window buttons. Soap water in a spray bottle with a shop vac and tooth brush cleaned that up.
The carpet needs to be replaced but I've done what I can with some tuff stuff cleaner for now.
There was about 5 lbs of bird seed under the rear seat around the, at the time, six year old battery (undersized battery too).
The spare tire was a full sized steel wheel with a decent stock sized tire on it. no jack ( I want to find the original type with the plastic thing that holds the jack)
The motor was as bad as your celebration edition was but with more oil. Mean Green, three wire brushes, a leaf blower, water hose, and 5 hours later and it's shining like new.

 

[whitecrystal1]

Purchased mine almost 3 years ago for my wife. The original owner had only driving the car to 23,800 miles when I found it. They were wanting premium money for it too. The original listing was for $8,999. and was dropped to & 7,999. when I went to look at it.

Everything on the car was original but the tires, they had just installed a new set of Michelin tires on it. the car was brand new in everyway 🙂

After looking it over and taking it out on a test drive I made an offer for $6,500 explaining that this was on the high side of the blue book. My offer was declined and was countered with $7,500 so I walked away. Really liking what I seen I called the nexted day to see if they would split the two offers and that I would be willing to go $7,000 then was countered at $7,200 and that they would not go any lower. Am I buying this from a dealer lol no haha. I agreed to pay the last offer and purchased the car.

I have had many 3800 powered GM cars. My first was a 1995 Bonneville SSE that I purchased with 74,000 miles that I drove for around 14 years until it reached 234,000 miles when the tranny died. Nexted was a 93 Park Avenue ULTRA that I got off a friends family. Then a 2002 Bonneville SSEi and a 1994 Bonneville SE and then came along this Lesabre and I also currently have a 99 Bonneville SSEi. I would love to find a loaded, low mileage 2008 Lucerne at a fair price. I have found one that has been listed for a while with less than 30,000 miles but is too far overpriced imo. and it's not like I need 5 cars in my driveway

 

[leftoverture]

After looking it over and taking it out on a test drive I made an offer for $6,500 explaining that this was on the high side of the blue book. My offer was declined and was countered with $7,500 so I walked away. Really liking what I seen I called the nexted day to see if they would split the two offers and that I would be willing to go $7,000 then was countered at $7,200 and that they would not go any lower. Am I buying this from a dealer lol no haha. I agreed to pay the last offer and purchased the car.

What part of the country do you live in? Cause 3 years ago here in MN an 02 with 23k miles would have been a steal at $7999. Heck, you could expect to pay between $6000-$6500 for my 02 with 105k miles at a dealership here now. These things are popular here in MN and good ones like mine still command a decent price.

 

[gnhbodyguy]

Ruled out Grand Prix’s pretty quickly because of a big bump right under the driver’s seat. Ruled out the Lucerne because I started to read about the poorer MPG than the LeSabre. I figured LeSabres were the best bang for the buck and in my opinion, the sharpest looking. Plus, I wanted to stick with an H Body.

http://www.reviewcars.com/2007-buick-lucerne

http://www.buickforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7519

Was within hours of making an offer on a nice Park Avenue before I drove 45 more minutes to one last dealer that specialized in Arizona cars. They had two LeSabres and a Park Avenue. I found the 04 in near perfect condition. I ended up paying 7450 plus tax. I thought that was a pretty good deal for a car that had 3000 mile oil changes, no rust, perfect wheels, was very well maintained and pretty loaded.
The original sticker price was about 30,000.

I paid 7700 plus tax for the 03, but if I back out the price of the battery, shocks, floor mats and heated seat repair, I put it at about 7200. I thought a pretty good deal for a Celebration Edition in great shape. The original sticker price was about 35,000

 

[whitecrystal1]

What part of the country do you live in? Cause 3 years ago here in MN an 02 with 23k miles would have been a steal at $7999. Heck, you could expect to pay between $6000-$6500 for my 02 with 105k miles at a dealership here now. These things are popular here in MN and good ones like mine still command a decent price.

Northern VA. Dealer's were wanting priceses in the 5-6K range for the same car with around 100K then too but KBB did not show the value that high at that time. There are popular here too. But if it's not valued at the asking price then you have to decide what it's worth to you. The high value was only 6500, my first offer but I was willing to go over some because of the mileage and condition. This Lesabre in pretty basic in options. It has the normal power windows/locks cloth bench seat/radio cd player with controls on the steering wheel/keyless entry. It does not have leather or heated seats or the driver memory buttons on the door, no heads up display or sunroof. and has the smaller 15" wheels. It is nicely equipped but not loaded by any means. It was truly a Grandmas car lol

I just had the intake gaskets done a couple weeks back and one front wheel hub at the same time. Today I had to replace the original battery. I have a new set of brakes to install all the way around the car. Car is getting ready to turn 80,000 on the odo soon.

 

[leftoverture]

I missed that your car was a custom. Mine's a limited and has pretty much everything. The dealer's are still getting top dollar for really nice limiteds in Minnesota. I'm keeping mine until the wheels fall off. Then I'll probably put them back on and drive it some more.

 

[1LowToy]

I'll tell ya my story but I'm only out $3200, but needing some services with 26K miles. Intake and AC compressor. I work on cars myself so no big deal.

I love old farts that think they need new cars to go to church.

 

[98 TWILIGHT BLUE METALLIC]

http://www.buickforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13810

 

[gnhbodyguy]

Any new members or anyone else that hasn't had a chance to tell their LeSabre story?

 

[Helladamnleet]

My mom's ex boyfriend purchased a 1990 lesabre back in 1999. For years I hated it, but after my mom lost her house, broke up with him, et cetera, I wanted it to capture the last remaining piece of my childhood. Eventually he was ready to sell, I picked it up for $650, and now I'm in the process of restoring it.

Going from blue to black, and trying (with no luck) to find a BLT to grab the buckets, back seat, and floor shifter out of.

 

[oldschool]

Five years ago my wife needed a new car. Found a '03, was an estate sale. Low mileage and a good price, it had a few bumps and scrapes but overall in good condition. It's a Celebration Edition, didn't know that until we bought it and I was doing some googling about it. Has all the options except sunroof.
I've had to change rear wheel bearings, rear shocks, muffler, tires and brakes, and coolant elbows.
Great car for a long trip, went to Florida in it last winter, 3,000 miles round trip. Might be taking it again but not sure yet. My '07 Allure is nice but not quite as comfortable as the LeSabre although the Allure has less miles and is newer.

 

[jimmyh]

I am the custodian of my late grandmas 2002 until my cousin gets his license.

 

[cmac84]

I had literally rolled my 77' 924 (Porsche) into a tree in the summer of 2005, my winter beater at the time was a 2001 Honda Civic Si. In the winter of 2012 I replaced the Fuel Pump, then had to replace the PVC valce, then the coolant intake pipe... started getting annoyed but hey at 430,000km it had served me well so I decided to buy a new car. I was first test driving a Jaguar XJS but I kept looking at the 2005 Lesabre Custom in the lot and thought well, why not give it a go right, fell in love from the first test drive and we've been together since. I'm happy I didn't buy the Jag as I would of had to keep the Civic for the Winter and with 3 kids the Buick is perfect as you can fit 3 kids and the wife in the car no problem. It's too bad Buick doesn't have a model similar to the LeSabre in it's profile right now with the bench seating. I also love that it had every single option added except Leather seats which I just installed from a beater I bought at the wreckers.

 

[gnhbodyguy]

The Limited is back on the road for winter.
Painted the calipers black.
Put on another coat of wax.
Put in a can of freon because the AC stopped working. It's still OK after two weeks, which surprised me. Usually when the AC stops, it's a leak.