I'm trying to make a decision between the 2 one is a 1997 Buick riviera SC with 145k the interior is like new and the exterior has 3 paint chips on the trunk and also just needs a abs sensor.

The other is a 1999 Buick park avenue ultra with 190k with new SC, alternator, battery, radiator, and suspension. It needs a blower motor and rear shocks and the ext and interior are good as well.

Both vehicles are going for $1500 I know they 3800 will last very long if maintenanced very well. So any advice or opinions would be great.

with all the new parts id say the park ave for sure. the rear shocks are pretty cheap and its as easy as undoing a few bolts and a butterfly clamp for the air line to change them. about a 45 min job. park ave is also alot more comfy if you plan on doing lots of road trips like i do. i regularly go to chicago from memphis, which is about a 9 hour drive and when i get there i feel as if ive been in a recliner all day. no soreness to be spoken of.

Nice I guess the lim and uim should be the first thing I take care of as well then. Thanks for the advice

Drive them both, you'll buy the Riv. You really don't have to worry about the intake gaskets on either car. I am not biased, really.

The riviera drives better to you?

Its all about personal opinion. You need to look at each car yourself, drive it, look it over very well, then make your decision. Make sure you ask the seller a lot of questions about the cars' histories. The PA has had a lot more work done to it by the sound of it..maybe it had a rough life, and could have more demons lurking.

Mechanically, both cars are fairly similar. The 3800 is generally a strong engine, but they all have their own problems.

the way i see it with all that new stuff, the current owner has taken care of it. as for riv vs park ave, i have driven them both, along with regals centuries and some lesabres, and for my purposes it was the best of the buicks. tight handling suspension like the riv, with the comfort of the regal/century and has way more options for the money than any of the others. along with the fact that being under 21 the insurance on a 3800 2 door would have been the same as a v6 camaro. its really all about personal preference and what you will be using the car for. not too many cars can fit 2 road bikes, 2 duffle bags 2 full size suitcases and still have the room for a 32" flat screen still in the box all in the trunk so i can let the dogs walk around in the empty cabin on the 9 hour drive back to memphis lol.

i will be honest and say i prefer the styling of the riv over the park ave ten fold, but the way i see it ive got the best of all worlds. handling, power, comfort, and a ton of options.

[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XUNaqrrdeo[/YT]

Those are all valid points Tater, but until you have owned and driven the Rivieras, people just don't understand how special they are. And I openly admitted I am terribly biased after owning many. I do like the PAU'* almost as much. They seem like a four door Riviera. LOL