96" Riviera

Greetings,I have been thinking about buying a 96" Riviera. It is at a GM dealer,And it has high mileage,205,000. they want $3,900.00 for it.I did here the engine run,(3800 series II) It sounded great.Real clean body and interior.Was thinking after a test drive,That I would offer $2,000.00 out the door. I have a 94" Olds 88 with the 3800 engine,And had no big problems with that car for the past 6 years. Is there anything that I should look for,As far as wear and tear items on this car? I have worked on cars for along time,Just never worked on Buick Riviera's.Any input would be helpful.Thank you...Diesel 1962........

When I got my 97 it sounded good, looked good and had about 192000. The block was rebuilt, suposed to have new a/c and power steering and all that stuff. Six months later I getting a diferent engine , then new flywheel,A/C pump, then new intake manifold and it's developed a stall out that the dealer can't find. Oh and there is a funny feeling in frontend. The pretty paint is fading and the twilight lights quit, and the fuel door only works sometimes.Thats just in first 2 years.


Don't get me wrong, I still love to drive this car. But now I've vowwed to fix myself or let it set.I wish I could go back and buy the one that only had 90,000 miles for just a few thousand more. It would have been so much cheaper.But I guess I've embarked on a new career! Hope this honest responce might help.

I would hold out for one with about 50,000/70,000 miles. Thease cars are great, but there is also alot of maint. that goes along with them. At least with this type of mileage it is fairly low and if the transmission fluid wasnt change, or the supercharger oil want changed, you can do them right away.

The only way I would buy a car with 205,000 miles is if they had every service record with it.

I just bought my 98 riviera on eBay with 50,000 Miles for 6,500 is it worth the three grand more. I think so.

Thanks for the input!! Yea,I agree about things going wrong with this Buick,With all the high mileage.The car does not have the supercharged engine.It has the series II engine.Strange,I thought all Riviera's had the supercharged engines?? It sure is a nice looking car,I have not taken a test drive yet,But when I do,I will probley offer $1800.00.Thanks, Have a good day.Diesel 1962

I think the supercharger was standard mid 1997. Befor that time it was a option.