What is the differance between the Lesabre <mid 90'* era> and the park avenue <same era>. Does the lesabre usually have less toys? Differant markets?

PA has a longer wheelbase (C-body is a stretched H-body) The PA is more luxurious on the inside also.

92-95 lesabre/park avenue had the same front clip, but past the b pillar they were different.. 96 park avenue saw a face lift, and in 97 model year saw a complete redesign inside and out. the le-sabre used the same basic unibody from 92-99 however, updates in 96 were plastic lamps, different tails, cladding, interior trim.. otherwise they're pretty much the same.

just curious. looking at both a 93-94 lesabre and a 97 avenue ultra. second might be out of my price range though. any common failures? or typical 3800 stuff?

for the most part, they are the same as the bonnevilles, and same associated problems, and strenghts.

I wouldn't say more luxurious, but the PA will have more options available..

Actually, I believe there are actually some advantages to the PA. I haven't heard that PA'* have the intermediate shaft clunk problem, and as far as I know, they don't have the cockpit leaks that 00+ Bonnie is becoming known for. Trunk leaks seem to be a shared issue.
Window regulators seem to be better in the back, but the front ones have problems.
Other than that, the 97+PA should be about the same as the 00+Bonnie body and suspension-wise, and of course the engine is the same as the same year Bonnie, with minor wiring and vacuum differences.

actually, i told my dad about the '97. he may jump on it, would get it for possibly $4k after trading in the SHO. i hear the lesabre is actually another park avenue. would be funny if we switched from a ford to a gm family

Will check it out tomorrow...

BTW, dad put in an application for financing on the ultra, we'll see what they say. his credit leaves much to be desired