One of my parents is going to be looking for another vehicle on the cheap in the near future and I have found late 90s early 00's Buick Centuries aplenty for sale for under $3k with under 100k miles on them. Looks like they come with the 3.1 V6. Are these cheap runabouts or problematic couch on wheels to be avoided? Anything to look out for in particular.
3.1L will need a manifold gasket. Other than that, completely dull and effective.
Same years of Buick Regal is the same size but got better 3800 engine. A little bigger, the LaSabre and Park Ave got the 3800 too.
At around what mileage interval will it need a manifold gasket? The one that really stands out right now is a 97 with 65k miles on it for $1700.
Typical to need gasket between 80 -120k. No set time. Sitting long like this one could need early. I would buy it just knowing it may need it in the future.
How much would getting the gasket redone run $$ wise?
My uncle had a 93 Pontiac Grand Prix with the 3.1. He used that thing for years to travel all over hells half acres. He traded in on a 2000ish Buick Regal GS with a 3.8 supercharged V6. The Grand Prix had well over 400K Km, 250K miles , when he got rid of it and the only thing he had to do was basic maintenance.
$500 low shop rate. $1000 high rate so let's say $800.
Is it worth throwing them an offer of $1000 for it and see if they bite?
Wife had an 89 Century which she traded in on a 2000 LeSabre which was traded for a 2013 Subaru. Both bought new. Century had the 3.1 and the LeSabre had the 3.8. Never had any problems with either one and both had 100K+ miles on them when she got rid of them
Granny bought an '02 new, she's was close to 110K miles last time I drove it, a few months ago.
Religious 3K mile oil changes but other than that, no real maintenance.
She had to have the intake manifold gasket replaced about 2 years ago, I remember her gripping about paying $600 to fix it, and she "didn't even know what they did."
The TPMS light is always on, has been like that for 5 years or better.
The fuel sending unit died, gas gauge doesn't work, has been like that for about as long as the TPMS light has been on. She was quoted something to fix it, she can't remember how much, just that it was, "way too much when she can just reset the trip, and fill up every time she goes grocery shopping."
Currently has a CEL on for a coolant temp sensor, but I haven't gotten around too it, I don't make it over there as much as I should, and I had forgotten it until you posted this thread.
The Century is a fine appliance, Granny's has cloth interior with power driver seat, it's comfy, not Volvo comfy, but comfy, dual zone air, and a decent sound system with CD & tape deck.
Husky makes decent, direct fit floor liners for them too, that was part of Granny's Christmas present last year. 
I've owned 2 GM 3100 (different from the older 3.1L) Grand Prix, one made it near 200K miles, the other made it closer to 260K miles. The second '94 Grand Prix got a junk yard engine with less miles swapped in for less money than the cost to replace the intake manifold gasket, but a guy owed us a favor, and has a bit of a personal junk yard. YMMV.
Those things are the roach of the GM lineup: unkillable. The aforementioned intake gaskets are not difficult as long as you put the pushrods back in the right place, I saw a fair number with seized A/C compressors and there was a part of the 1990's where they used plastic valve covers that leaked like Edward Snowden's laptop. The vast majority of those were replaced with powdered metal covers while they were under base warranty.
I know its not the car, but as a demographic, Buick drivers are nothing more than slowly moving obstacles.Every single one is like a member of the anti-destination league. I'm talking road Zombies. Don't do it have some self respect.
If avoiding the stigma above, look into the FWD Monte Carlo. They seem to sell cheaper than their 4 door counterparts. I think the reasons for cheaper are two:
1. Young parents look for the 4 door to load kids.
2. The much elderly know that big front door is heavy and difficult for entry in tight parking.
If you can overlook these two things, they could be a bargain.
The Monte was offered with 3.1L and 3.8L depending on year and options.
In reply to Curmudgeon:
I had an A/C compressor seize on the 2nd Grand Prix, it got replaced by an A/C compressor from a Lumina.
Another freak occurrence on the 2nd Grand Prix, the plastic pulley for the power steering pump decided it no longer wanted to be attached to the pump anymore and broke off. That afternoon sucked.
Get the couch on wheels with the 3.8 over the 3.1 you will thank yourself for doing this. Reliable comfortable and boring.
I found out from my parents that they found a couple vehicles earlier today (99 Altima and an 04 Elantra GT Hatch) for my brother and dad (not sure whose going to be driving what) so im out of the running for a couch on wheels. Thank you for everyone's insight on this. I am glad to be a member of this funny farm. I will post the couch on wheels I was previously looking at:
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/4444780227.html
I like the '99 Altima. They were sized a little bigger than same year Civic/Corolla and a little smaller than same year Accord/Camry. Not really great mpg (expect 24mpg, mixed) due to the 2.4L engine shared with 240sx but in a fwd application in the Altima. Pretty quick and torquey.
Engines are chain, not belt. Some reports of chain guide wear but my 240sx was still doing fine at 170k when I sold it.
This smaller body carried on through '01. In '02 the Altima changed to the large car it still is today.
Sample '99
every car mentioned in this thread is a fine appliance-type car. I love $3000 buicks. Like, LOVE. Century, Regal, LeSaber, whatever. I don't mind 3.1's. They knock when cold and have less power, but I've had every bit as good luck with them as 3.8's.
I grew up in Lesabres and Park Avenues of the below body style. I'd actually like to own one some day. Unkillable, somewhat peppy, 30mpg highway, cushmobiles.
Obliquely related...I'll just leave this here:
I have a strong dislike of working on 3100s and 3400s. For that reason i greatly prefer the Regal over the Century because it's the same damn car with a better engine and more content.
But i like Park Avenue Ultras even more than that.
I bought a 1999 Century with 196,0000 miles in 2009 and sold it in 2011 at 207,000 miles. A couple of the ones I test drove developed rod knocks during the test drive. I did the lower intake manifold gasket in 2010, but it started showing oil in the coolant again before I sold it. I found the whole procedure to be rather annoying. I had earlier replaced the starter, the radiator, a CV half shaft, and the front struts with some KYBs. About the only other problem I had with it was the rocker panels rusting, which I spent some time trying to fix unsuccessfully.
I had a 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue GX that I liked a lot more. I've heard that the GM 3800s from the same period also have intake manifold issues. My dad had a series of new Bonnevilles over the years and was never impressed with them. I had a 2001 Dodge Intrepid SE just before the Century, and I would definitely get one of those again as a 6-passenger car. It certainly handled and rode better. Though the Century did get better gas mileage.
My 1998 Toyota Sienna has been a great rolling couch. I would look at Toyota Camry variants.
Yeah the 3100 is plenty of power to get around in traffic and got decent highway mileage, we got 28mpg on average from DET to asheville NC and back. We had a sticking brake caliper (the whole time) until on our way back it failed somewhere in kentucky. However since its cheap and GM parts are everywhere and cheap, it was 2 hour delay and we were back on the road with a new caliper, pads and rotor. Fixed it in the parking lot.
I say go big or go home.... 
If you are talking sofa style Buicks with Century in the name, you need to go back a few years
All I have to add is that my then future FIL had an 86 Century that he bought from a Dentist. It was ordered with the 3800 6 in it and it would move out well.
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