Thanks in advance for your thoughts. I am looking to buy a second car for wife and kids and a friend has a 01 Regal GS that his mother can no longer drive (she is getting up in years). They bought it new and drove most of the 45000 miles up till 2007. Since then it hasn't been driven much. It is clean as can be. My concern is overall age and lack of use in last 5 years. The car is from Oklahoma and has always been garaged. He is looking to get $5000 for it. Any thoughts or concerns I should have or items I need to get checked out? Thanks again for your input.

Keith,

A lot to like in this Regal. One owner, garage kept, super low miles adult driven. No rust/ no salt on roads. Only issue is back seat is a little small compared to a Park Avenue.

Things you might expect to be expenses after buying:
Tires- dry rot after 12 years (if original)
Flushing of all fluids
Air conditioner may have issues after years on little use
May need lower intake gasket replaced

It would be nice to pay less than 5k for the car and use the savings for maintenance it may need. Good luck, sounds like a solid deal for you.

the rotors will need replaced from frequent rusting some times too

Thanks guys for your thoughts. The tires have been replaced and are in good shape. That'* a good point on the fluids and I was figuring some of that. We live in Wisconsin so the AC is not as heavily relied on. Up here for that price I am seeing Century'* with 12 years of winter and usually over 100k on them. We currently have a 99 Century which has been great but the winters have eaten up the bottom and one of the sub-frame anchors is rusted out where it attaches to the unibody, making it unsafe. Finding the Regal with these low a miles and taken care of really seemed like a good opportunity. I will keep and eye on the gasket and rotors. With these low miles and not seeing salt/rust, I am hoping we can get another 75k plus with regular maintenance. Any thoughts on the 3800SC engine versus the basic V6'* of that era? Thanks again for your input. I appreciate it. If you think of anything else, please let me know.

Having the SC engine in it can be loads more fun, but your practically paying double for it. Besides swapping the entire engine, AND getting the transmission for it, you will need to have the PCM replaced with a SC one or have it reprogrammed. Then the cost of running 91 octane in it. Then the cost of new tires. I wore mine out in like 6 months. LOL.

But like Guns said earlier, your biggest concern right now, is to find out if the lower gasket job has ever been done. If not, swap them out along with the coolant elbows now that way your good for the next 100K miles.

Hey Keith, 5000 is not cheap but neither it is expensive for something w/such low miles. however before paying 5000 id double check how much money. If that thing really dont have rust at all as you say, (and what i mean by really is: no rust at rear bushing mounts on a front subrame, no rust at the rear frame peace that flows into a unibody, no rust through the trunk behind the rear bumper, if it have no rust on radiator support under it where dog bones (front engine mounts)mount, and some other important places, then that thing prob worth what he ask for. however if it have all that rust plus rusted rockers behind the plastic molding then trust me - some like that you can find it for much cheaper even though it might have slight more millage. As far as the car itself goes; Buick Regal + the GS one - is the winner! it is the lightest off all w and h body 4doors, hence it is the quickest, it is just as fast as the 2 door GTP, where as all the Bonnevilles come in last on that due to their heavier and bulkier suspensions and such. Trust me, i had SSEi'* but after getting a Regal, there is no going back!

for some reason i cant edit my post, so what i meant to say in the beginning is: id double check how much rust it have.

GS should have the l67, i think he was asking about maintenance, besides tires, lol

Oh, I thought he was talking about a swap. Didn't even notice the GS part. Duh!

Hi Guys - I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts. I've gotten pictures of the body and interior and I must say it looks pretty clean. I'll have to check the frame out though to see what I find underneath. I have also asked for the maintenance records to see what has been done and how long ago. I'd add some pic'* here but not sure how that works with the forum.
Mike - I should have been clearer with my question regarding the 3800SC engine. I was wondering if it needed more or special maintenance than a standard Buick V6? This is a second car for the family and a Century would have been fine but when this one became available from a friend with all the benefits listed above, it seems like a much better buy for similar money around here than a rusty Century with 100k+ on it. Is the Lower gasket needing replacement and something typical for this age or for this engine? Any idea what a garage might charge for that? When fluids were mentioned I'm thinking oil, radiator and tranny??? Does everyone run 91 octane or will 89 octane do ok?

Thanks again everyone. I really appreciate you sharing your thoughts and taking the time. If I can figure out how to tie some pics to this, I'll get them on. Take care!