I was in the middle of a long stroll in San Francisco this past December, during what was a brief visit to the city I had lived in twenty years prior. What better way to get reacquainted with the neighborhoods than to travel them by foot?
Despite the inevitable changes, the streets did manage to give my mind a good flood of memories. Nothing like physicality to create such feelings; in my head, it was the days of the turn of the century placed against the updated surroundings. And in keeping with the theme, what do I find? An early aughts Buick LeSabre, a true callback to those Y2K days (remember that?).
So there it was, a model launched for the year 2000, though not quite ready for the new millennia. Instead, closer to the end of an era than a new beginning.
As many may recall, the lines of the ’00-’05 LeSabre were largely evolutionary, still greatly derived from its larger Park Avenue sibling –renewed in ’97, though inspired by the ’91 Park Avenue. Understandable, since that ’91 C-body Buick was a rare styling success for GM. Perhaps the maker’s best-styled car of the era.
Looking back, one can see the ’91 Park Avenue’s intent had followed usual practice; launch a successful flagship and allow its cues to trickle down to the remaining lineup. An idea that didn’t quite come to be in those tumultuous GM years; with lineups stuffed with holdovers from a prior decade. Not the most convincing way to present yourself as trendy and up to date.
Even those flagship styling efforts would prove shortlived, however. So it was a new century, and everything in GM had taken an evolutionary approach; with the new LeSabre carrying a chunkier and more bulbous look in its updated design language. A competent and decent auto for its segment otherwise, but in many ways it felt anchored in the mid-’90s in an era that was heading to much turmoil and change.
But as some theorists have said, eras don’t go exactly by year count. The century mark, when it comes to actions, doesn’t really stop neatly in the ’00 mark. Hindsight lets us know that when it came to old GM, its century came to an end in ’08, and these cars spoke to that earlier era. But leaving that aside, when Buick’s full-sizers appeared in ’91 they brought a short-lived sense of hope for the maker and its divisions; at least among the brand’s faithful.
Related CC reading:
Curbside Classic: 1991-1996 Buick Park Avenue – The C Gets An A+
Future Classic: 2005 Buick Park Avenue – The Last Real Buick
This last gen LeSabre was based off the G body shared with Aurora/Park Ave. Made for a great car beneath the questionable styling and Rubbermaid interior.
Buicks mistake was making the LeSabre too close to the Park Ave equipment wise. Why step up when you can get all the luxuries in a smaller package?
Just bought a 04 Park Ave, and even at 209k it is tight as a drum.
Used to see this gen LeSabre every where, but I guess the tin worm finally wiped them out.
Buick ended car production on a high note with these. I searched in earnest for one till I tripped over an ultra clean 04 Towncar. Our commercial truck dealer has Park Avenue that’s used as a free loaner. Truly a last legs beater, it too is extremely tight.
I still remember the first one I saw. I had really liked the prior generation, and I thought this car looked bigger but was otherwise less attractive. I have never seen figures, but these must have sold really well based on how common they were in my area.
We are almost certainly done seeing a full size sedan for the masses in North America a segment that was so popular for generations. I am currently daily driving a 2000 LeSabre , opting to leave my Cadillac mostly hibernating through what is proving to be a very icy and cold Michigan winter so fat. Bought last spring with just 64,000 miles and rust free, while is is something of a vanilla dullard, it’s proving to be a very gentlemanly and comfortable daily companion and what can one say about the legendary 3800 that hasn’t been said? It amusing to folks that one of the senior and higher paid people in our office drives a 25 year old car most days. There is something to be said for absolutely zero modern tech though I miss basic phone to car connectivity . I elected to fix the broke AC for $700. The cruise is inoperable and headliner is sagging and I’m debating between a professional vs. stopgap fix. This is shaking out to be one of the most reliable GM products of the last 30 years. It will go back to my 20 year old son this summer and I pray he doesn’t abuse it.