'89 Century station wagon
teacher
07-11-2004, 01:03 PM
I just finished reading the Don't buy a Century post because I am considering an 89 Century station wagon. The grey paint is peeling and the molding which was glued on is missing or coming off. The interior is red and looks really nice and there are no major "dings" on the exterior--just a piece under the left front running light broken out.--looks like fiberglass rather than metal? The brace to hold the hood up does not do so on its own at this point. We could not start it because the battery posts are seriously corroded. It also looks like it leaks oil, maybe around the head gasket. It has 176,000 miles on it. We owned a used 1970 Electra in our married life (which is still parked as my husband's dream is to resurrect it). My parents and grandparents favored Buicks and have owned a variety of models.
We do not know much about Buicks and the long line of models but know the brand is usually good. My husband is concerned about the number of miles (176k) on this car. I am drawn to it. I like the looks of the seats, the space and the rear "jumper seat." I was told that the fellow who bought it drove it very little. He parked it in front of his house and couldn't start it again so gave up on it --he knows nothing about cars. He will sell it for $300. I need good gas mileage, dependability and somewhat ruggedness. I drive 35 miles one way to work every day over basalt-gravelled roads (for about 1/2 of that distance) My husband wants something he can work on himself and has low cost parts available. Can you give me any advice?
We do not know much about Buicks and the long line of models but know the brand is usually good. My husband is concerned about the number of miles (176k) on this car. I am drawn to it. I like the looks of the seats, the space and the rear "jumper seat." I was told that the fellow who bought it drove it very little. He parked it in front of his house and couldn't start it again so gave up on it --he knows nothing about cars. He will sell it for $300. I need good gas mileage, dependability and somewhat ruggedness. I drive 35 miles one way to work every day over basalt-gravelled roads (for about 1/2 of that distance) My husband wants something he can work on himself and has low cost parts available. Can you give me any advice?
tman
07-11-2004, 02:32 PM
I'd get something newer, or even get the Electra running again. My grandma had a 69 Electra 225 (duece and quarter) and that thing was a tank. It filled up it's side of the road however. I was almost born in that thing!
teacher
07-11-2004, 02:59 PM
The electra would need a new motor my husband thinks and then what kind of gas mileage would it get? I like the car and would like to see it running again, but...
Our cars have always been old. Right now I'm driving an 84 toyota celica which drives nicely but also needs work--new windshield, engine rebuild, etc. It has about 272,000 miles on it. We got an '80 Datsun 210 on the road again to back up the Celica till we decide what we are going to do about a vehicle. Our finances are extremely limited due to medical bills, etc.
Our cars have always been old. Right now I'm driving an 84 toyota celica which drives nicely but also needs work--new windshield, engine rebuild, etc. It has about 272,000 miles on it. We got an '80 Datsun 210 on the road again to back up the Celica till we decide what we are going to do about a vehicle. Our finances are extremely limited due to medical bills, etc.
occupant
07-22-2004, 07:47 PM
I just finished reading the Don't buy a Century post because I am considering an 89 Century station wagon. The grey paint is peeling and the molding which was glued on is missing or coming off. The interior is red and looks really nice and there are no major "dings" on the exterior--just a piece under the left front running light broken out.--looks like fiberglass rather than metal? The brace to hold the hood up does not do so on its own at this point. We could not start it because the battery posts are seriously corroded. It also looks like it leaks oil, maybe around the head gasket. It has 176,000 miles on it. We owned a used 1970 Electra in our married life (which is still parked as my husband's dream is to resurrect it). My parents and grandparents favored Buicks and have owned a variety of models.
We do not know much about Buicks and the long line of models but know the brand is usually good. My husband is concerned about the number of miles (176k) on this car. I am drawn to it. I like the looks of the seats, the space and the rear "jumper seat." I was told that the fellow who bought it drove it very little. He parked it in front of his house and couldn't start it again so gave up on it --he knows nothing about cars. He will sell it for $300. I need good gas mileage, dependability and somewhat ruggedness. I drive 35 miles one way to work every day over basalt-gravelled roads (for about 1/2 of that distance) My husband wants something he can work on himself and has low cost parts available. Can you give me any advice?
The Dont Buy A Century post is from some stupid kid who didn't like his rental car, IIRC. I wouldn't pay attention to it.
The battery terminals and posts will clean up with baking soda and water. Cheap. Easy.
The 1989 is unique in that it has the new body style, smooth headlights, etc, but it still has the pillar mounted seatbelts. 1990 to 1996 models have the front seatbelts mounted in the door, very annoying but they work.
$300 is a good price for any running car.
That broken piece under the light *is* fiberglass. Easy fix or swap out the whole panel, junkyard should have plenty, and probably in your color, faded gray.
The hood support always wears out. You have three options. 1) broom handle or a piece of wood. 2) Replace the support ($15 or so, two bolts, easy fix). 3) Find a Chevrolet Celebrity, Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera, or Pontiac 6000, any year, in a junkyard, and buy the hood prop rod from it, it will bolt right on, then cut a small hole in the bottom side of the inner hood panel to slip right in. I did this on my 1995 because I didn't have $15 for the support, but I sure could spend $5 for the prop rod. I used to have pictures of the install, but I accidentally deleted them off my flash card. I might go out and take pictures of the finished product and update my page:
My 1995 Buick Century (http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/581310)
If you have any other questions about it, email me. I plan on driving Centurys until I can't find them anymore and I kill all the ones I get. This 1995 is my fourth Century (seventh A-body).
We do not know much about Buicks and the long line of models but know the brand is usually good. My husband is concerned about the number of miles (176k) on this car. I am drawn to it. I like the looks of the seats, the space and the rear "jumper seat." I was told that the fellow who bought it drove it very little. He parked it in front of his house and couldn't start it again so gave up on it --he knows nothing about cars. He will sell it for $300. I need good gas mileage, dependability and somewhat ruggedness. I drive 35 miles one way to work every day over basalt-gravelled roads (for about 1/2 of that distance) My husband wants something he can work on himself and has low cost parts available. Can you give me any advice?
The Dont Buy A Century post is from some stupid kid who didn't like his rental car, IIRC. I wouldn't pay attention to it.
The battery terminals and posts will clean up with baking soda and water. Cheap. Easy.
The 1989 is unique in that it has the new body style, smooth headlights, etc, but it still has the pillar mounted seatbelts. 1990 to 1996 models have the front seatbelts mounted in the door, very annoying but they work.
$300 is a good price for any running car.
That broken piece under the light *is* fiberglass. Easy fix or swap out the whole panel, junkyard should have plenty, and probably in your color, faded gray.
The hood support always wears out. You have three options. 1) broom handle or a piece of wood. 2) Replace the support ($15 or so, two bolts, easy fix). 3) Find a Chevrolet Celebrity, Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera, or Pontiac 6000, any year, in a junkyard, and buy the hood prop rod from it, it will bolt right on, then cut a small hole in the bottom side of the inner hood panel to slip right in. I did this on my 1995 because I didn't have $15 for the support, but I sure could spend $5 for the prop rod. I used to have pictures of the install, but I accidentally deleted them off my flash card. I might go out and take pictures of the finished product and update my page:
My 1995 Buick Century (http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/581310)
If you have any other questions about it, email me. I plan on driving Centurys until I can't find them anymore and I kill all the ones I get. This 1995 is my fourth Century (seventh A-body).
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