Late 90's Buick Riviera

A friend of mine had one, she loved it. I couldn't take it when she wanted to give it to me due to too little space, it needing a gas tank. She gave it to her SIL but I find myself kicking myself sometimes. These supercharged 3.8's had 225-243hp? I assume those horses had a heavy wagon to pull but if you can get past the platypus face, I kinda like them.

Any opinions pro's or con's?

Wikipedia makes me want one!

Seems like a good solid unibody structure to me. Not to mention they're going for just under/over Challenge money in Ma.

I dig those Riviera's. I think they are pretty stylish. I think they are rather reliable being that there are many of them still running around the ghettos I work in. It has the same drivetrain as the rest of the large GM FWD cars of the era.

G body correct?

Yes

Plus one for the style

I think it's probably the best looking GM front drivers from the 90's.

I don't mind the interior either.

Over the years I always thought the Rivies were the closest ever looking thing to GM concept cars.

I wouldn't mind owning a Trofeo either

Lots of torque right off idle to help with the weight

Man I had no idea the interior looked that good.

looks fun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=4SDOR9SU99Q

Why do I do this to myself?

http://rivperformance.editboard.com/

ebonyandivory wrote: looks fun. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=4SDOR9SU99Q

cool vid

looks like Nelson hasn't been maintained very well

thanks for posting that

keep in mind that they are an Olds Aurora with a Buick badge and a better engine, so they are electrical nightmares just waiting to happen and nothing for them is cheap..

novaderrik wrote: keep in mind that they are an Olds Aurora with a Buick badge and a better engine, so they are electrical nightmares just waiting to happen and nothing for them is cheap..

This is the type of post I hate (but love at the same time!)

I love the braintrust around here even if it tells me something I dont want to hear! It's kept me from making expensive mistakes in the past and I'm sure it will again.

(I still want one though!)

This guy has the right idea

I agree on the looks--both interior and exterior.

My dad had one for a love time. Overall a good car for them. It was a cruiser. IT would eat up the drive to Alabama from Chicago without a problem. It was very comfortable doing so. The work problem they had with it over 120K miles was the power steering pump failing.

I can see a couple things with with it that would die out with age. It had the airbag system in the rear. It seemed the compressor ran a lot. Also, There was a lot of leather in there that wasn't the greatest quality. I'm not sure how that would age.

Hate the back view. Like someone is pulling a size 10 into a size 5.

In general i think they are good cars. The worst thing about it will be that it has a 90s gm interior, which isnt so much commenting on how it started as how they end up..

They're fairly easy to work on, and dont have any super major issues.

That motor is not exciting to drive, stock. It just drives like a larger version of an n/a 3.8. One thing i dont like about 3.8 SC cars is they dont let you load the motor up very much in 3rd or 4th so if you want boost it will almost ALWAYS come with a downshift.

Overall my impression is positive.

Im not exactly how sure how closely connected these are to auroras (i would THINK its actually closer to a park avenue) but i do think the Aurora is more annoying to do anything to than the 3.8 cars on the same 'platform'.

Vigo wrote: In general i think they are good cars. The worst thing about it will be that it has a 90s gm interior, which isnt so much commenting on how it started as how they end up.. They're fairly easy to work on, and dont have any super major issues. That motor is not exciting to drive, stock. It just drives like a larger version of an n/a 3.8. One thing i dont like about 3.8 SC cars is they dont let you load the motor up very much in 3rd or 4th so if you want boost it will almost ALWAYS come with a downshift. Overall my impression is positive. Im not exactly how sure how closely connected these are to auroras (i would THINK its actually closer to a park avenue) but i do think the Aurora is more annoying to do anything to than the 3.8 cars on the same 'platform'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_G_platform_%28FWD%29

nothing in common with the Park Aves.. the battery is under the back seat, along with some modules... there are also modules scattered around in the trunk and under the hood...

not saying they are bad cars- just that when things start to go wrong it will likely be a world of suck trying to figure it all out..

I was just coming back here to correct myself on that! It is safe to say i guess that a riviera has more in common with a Deville than a Park Avenue. Surprising to me but thems the facts according to wikipedia.

You know you want her

Around here (Milwaukee) they are all hood rat cars by now. Mismatched wheels, dents, bad tint job, no plates, just waiting to hit you without insurance.

Out in the sticks, I could see wanting one. In Milwaukee, its asking to get pulled over.

I would get one for a nice interstate cruiser