With my son Shane’s 2003 Subaru Forester meeting its sad fate in the crusher after his serious accident on March 9th, it was time to think about something else for him to drive for the summer. I was not looking forward to this process or spending any money. Shane didn’t drive for almost 7 weeks after his accident and was just a bit edgy behind the wheel. And it goes without saying that his mother, Mrs. Carlsberg66 was also very nervous about him driving at all as it brought back some bad memories for her (and for me). I was nervous too but more stoic about the fact that he would need to drive on a regular basis at some point.
Mechanic Paul was aware of Shane’s accident and that we were in the market for a new car for him. He called me about a month after the accident and told me he had a line on a good buy, a 2000 Buick LeSabre. His shop doesn’t do a ton of flips, only once in a while to help a customer out who doesn’t want to sell it on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace and deal with stranger danger. Most often it goes to another customer in his shop ecosystem. This was owned by an elderly local gentleman who was 94 and could no longer drive. It had just 65,000 miles, one owner, well maintained and garage kept. I looked underneath up on the hoist and while not totally bone dry, it was fairly clean. There is nothing I like more than a super old pristine daily driver with low miles, it was a complete creampuff. I just had to have it and immediately named it Black Bart. And at $4,300 with reasonable insurance and hopefully running costs, it was priced right.
Aesthetically, the LeSabre is an inoffensive and unremarkable design. Its big brother the Park Avenue is more handsome and stately, but neither are modern design classics. I’ve never loved the big fish eyes on a lot of cars of this period, especially from GM. The pinstripes are intact and a nice old-school touch. All this said you definitely won’t find yourself looking back at Black Bart when you walk away in admiration. And this was the last generation (the 8th) of the LeSabre nameplate, which started in 1959 and ran all the way to the 2005 model year before discontinuation and was replaced by the Buick Lucerne. A noteworthy sidenote here is that this is a homegrown Michigan made product, and it was made either in Hamtramck or LakeOrion both about 25 minute drives in opposite directions from here.
Inside, typical for the time, it’s GM plastic fantastic and the faux wood that runs the width of the dashboard doesn’t fool anyone. I do think is a handsome and well-laid-out instrument cluster. The fabric seats and carpet are in fine shape and the seats firm and comfortable. No modern tech here unless you consider the digital compass on the mirror modern tech. You do get a CD player AND a cassette player. I put a somewhat prized variety tape from 1989 in the deck and it promptly ate it and ejected a mess of tape. I would say the inside is overall an 8 out of 10 in condition.
Despite the full size of the car, it’s about 3,600 pounds, neither svelte nor a porker. Driving this car offers little in the way of sensory feedback. I have not owned a car with a column shifter since my 1980 Cutlass. The steering wheel feels about 20% bigger than the other cars we have (but maybe it isn’t) and the steering itself is effortless and over-boosted. Turns can be managed with one finger. The ride is floaty and the car probably is on the original shocks and struts and it shows as it’s bouncy but not annoyingly so.
The 205 horsepower, 230 ft-lb torque 3800 v-6 is quiet but emits a pleasant sound. And when you put your foot into it… it actually willing and pulls hard and is decently quick. Auto reviewers of the period made a note of the impressive (for the time) 0-60 mph time of 7.4 seconds and top end speed (125 mph). The ride is gentle and the interior quiet, and it would make a pleasant road trip car. I guess I can see why older folks liked cars like this and Buicks of this generation in general. The AC sadly does not work, and I likely won’t address it anytime soon unless it’s a cheap fix (probably isn’t). Shane gets to enjoy the 4×45 AC system. Driving this car does remind me of my folks, who’s last car before they were unable to drive was a 2002 Buick Century.
How does Shane like it? Let’s face it, the LeSabre isn’t exactly a sexy car. Then again, neither of my sons are into cars and were generally indifferent to my old Miata and my current Corvette. That perspective will save them a lot of money and time in their lives. Initially, Shane moaned about how big Bart is compared to the Subaru and was worried about gas mileage. It’s actually better in that regard than the Subaru, rated 19 city/30 highway. In short though: who cares how he feels. He’s got free wheels and should be happy (he is).
Turns out the way things worked out with Shane’s afternoon shift summer job at the local DPW, he has all of about a mile to go to work. If we really wanted to he could of probably used Mrs. Carlsberg66’s TourX most days to get there are as she works from home. Bart was acquired before we knew of his summer gig. So…. in retrospect, this probably was not a car we absolutely needed and that questionable expense is not lost on me. But, eventually he will need it. As it stands now, once he goes back to school, I will put this into frequent daily driving rotation and parking my new daily driver (more on that soon), and that would suit me fine.
That looks like a great buy for the price! Great condition for half the age. Whatever is wrong with the A/C, surely the parts are cheap and easy to find.
Just curious, did you attempt to salvage the cassette tape, and what were some songs from it? I had some compilation tapes back in ’89 and wondered if I could remember yours.
I think i can gently rewind the tape with a pencil , I have not messed with it.
Tape was made by a way cooler than me friend and had an 80’s alternative vibe to it and was solid top to bottom. Artists that I can remember included: Throwing Muses, Japan, Gun Club, Roxy Music, XTC, Translator among others.
Ahh, another Buick recycled from the elderly to the young. My middle son is still driving the 06 Lacrosse that had belonged to my mother. It too is suffering a/c woes, and at under 90k miles.
This is a perfect choice for someone in your son’s position. It is cheap, its basic components will be durable and it will not be what everyone else is driving. I have never been one to name cars, but I kind of like the “Black Bart” that you have applied to this one.
Oh, and one of those bluetooth adapters that tunes to a radio station will almost certainly be your son’s first accessory purchase.
I was immediately reminded of the outlaw stagecoach robber “Black Bart,” who is one of my favorite Old West personalities – so I love this car’s name.
I’ve also rarely named cars – I did name my Ford Contour “Connie,” though that was hardly a stroke of creativity.
I think I see a QOTD coming…..
“Have you ever named a car, and if you have, what was the name?
Great choice – and buying a car from your trusted mechanic is undoubtedly the best way to buy an older car these days. I’ve often thought that one of these “last real Buicks” would be a good potential car for my own kids, who are approaching driving age.
I’ve never owned a car with a column shifter, but after driving column-shift cars or trucks I’m always struck at how much I like it.
Our 1995 Thunderbird has a cassette player, but about 15 years ago it also ate a tape, and I haven’t used it since. Oh, the things we forget about the past… I don’t miss tape players at all.
Best of luck to you and Shane with the LeSabre!
Congratulations, great purchase! If you are concerned about your Buick looking like an old man’s car, stylish wheels can transform its looks. As we repeatedly see great examples of, here at CC. Slant Six vastly modernized the appeal of his Dodge Aspen wagon, with a current wheel design. A light window tint, may help as well. A more elegant, sportier, and masculine look. A Buick, can look cool. The current wheels are conservative. The curviness, is quite attractive.
Like modern eyeglasses and frames, that make someone appear younger, and more fashionable, at once.
Wow!
A “Bullitt” edition Buick.
Looks great!
As one of ‘the kids’, I can say those wheels haven’t been popular with young people since around 2008. Spoke wheels and steelies are back though.
I’d go with a cool looking wheel design, I like.
Not what my peers are doing, or what will help me be accepted by other’s tastes.
This was/is the case, when I was 21, or 39. or 45.
In this case, whatever Shane likes… Whether others think it’s dated or current. Doesn’t matter.
I’d go with what he likes best.
There’s a TourX in your fleet? Didn’t see a COAL on that one.
In the interest of COAL duplication I did not write one for the the tour X. Principal Dan did almost 5 years ago:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/cars-of-a-lifetime/coal-2018-opel-insignia-country-tourer-or-buick-regal-estate-no-matter-the-tourx-is-all-mine/
We’ve had it for 4 years, bought used with 15,000 miles almost 60K miles now, has been a great vehicle with good economy , utility and reliability so far.
That double DIN size GM stereo should be pretty easy to swap out yourself for a touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android AutoPlay if you are so inclined. Probably $300 or less for a stereo and wiring adapter from Crutchfield. And they send detailed instructions on how to do it. That whole plastic trim from the far left vent to the vent on the right side of the radio probably just pulls off as one piece.
More on the TourX, please!
It’s funny how independent mechanics play many roles. When I had a body shop I had a few mechanics bringing me their customers cars for paint and body work. I guess if you have a trusted mechanic and can use them for one stop shopping then why not. And yes they would also dabble in used car matchmaking.
What a wonderful car, and still going strong after more than two decades. In the past, the LeSabre was my go to for a used car. However, they were never that common here to begin with.
Congratulations on a great buy! As someone who’s owned three 3800 powered Buicks, you made a terrific choice. Decent power, great fuel economy, and relatively easy to work on should you have to.
Now you have me looking on Marketplace for a LeSabre or Park Ave…
I had a 2000 LeSabre (until Hurricane Ian gave it a soaking) and currently own a 2001 with 42,000 miles. Easily gets 20 MPG in town and 30 on the highway. Only issues to watch for are leaking upper intake manifolds at the EGR port, bad transmission oil pan gaskets, bad coolant elbow under the alternator, and occasional bad window regulators. The AC in the 2000 was repaired with a new compressor at $800 installed. 440 air sounds better to me.
My father had one of these until a tree fell on it in 2018. At 6’2″, I didn’t fit well in it, and a fabric seam dug into my back, but it had less than 35k on it, everything worked, and my sister would soon need a new car.
Both rear windows failed (the notorious GM Pop ‘N Drop) at the same time when I cleaned them. If you don’t have A/C, expect this sooner or later when closing one. Just don’t grab the glass with vice grips as I did with my Deville.
This is the Yin to the Yang of our beater 2003 LeSabre “Moby Dick” (painted white). Our ride was our son’s car in college and was passed on to his sister as her first car. Moby has 213,000 on the clock, many dents and dings and literally outlived his first two owners. the ride is kind of floaty but the 3800 V6 gives a good turn of speed and is nigh unkillable. Some surprises are the large turning circle, it feels like my 20′ long F150 turns more tightly and it’s odd they didn’t include outside temperature anywhere in the instruments.
You had to get the automatic climate control to get the outside temp.
Great find! I was working at a Buick dealership when these where new and used one to drive to Vermont for a Ski weekend. The drive home was a 7 hour nightmare in a blizzard , but the new design Lesabre performed admirably. Had I known about the 2 feet of snow I would be dealing with I would have used my 88 K-Blazer. As is well known the 3800 is a great engine and the trans was sorted out by then.The handling was superior to the prior generation H -Body even with the base suspension . The only notable engine issue is the plastic intake plenum can leak coolant into combustion chambers, necessitating replacement .(the last of the 3800s had aluminum ones) . Also keep and eye on the brake and fuel lines for rust.
At least it isn’t beige!
This shows how the used car market has changed. My first car was a 95 similar to this bought in late 2002 from our local Buick Cadillac dealer for 5500. it had 53k miles. That is 9500 in today’s dollars. Meanwhile this car is 3x time as old but only really depreciated by half.
The closest modern match to my car would be a 2015 LaCrosse with 70k for 12000. Older and more miles!
However I did a local search and there was actually a decent selection of cars under 10 yrs old for 10k or less with under 75k. Heavily Korean, Nissan or smaller domestics.
Most likely floaty due to original and worn out struts and shocks. Believe me, when changed out, the drive is a lot nicer. Certainly nowhere near as floaty as my 67 Parklane which isn’t so bad after it had a total suspension renewal.
Design wise these cars are very unassuming yet very capable past that. The typical boring colors never helped this car. This is the first black version I have seen while I have a red 2004. Never seen another red just mostly white, beige and silver. Yuck, in this car. Pretty much yuck in every car.
Truly a senior car. Ordinary looking (?), good mechanicals, and frankly a great, smooth ride. Wait, I’m 70 now, does that make me a senior? My inherited 2004, from a senior, is the family long distance driver. Also my driver when temps over 95 as the A/C works well. My Focus needs to be checked for a possible leak and the Mazda needs a total replacement of everything which I have.
There are upgrades for the coolant elbows and plastic intake that I have finished. Well, advised as it eliminates the two most common issues associated with the 3800. I did myself so have no clue what it costs if done by a shop.
Yesterday as I knew it would go from 78 to 107 once I past the Berkeley Hills at 1800 hours. A/C useful today.
I also have a red 2004. I bought it in 2019, and after looking at several seriously rusted examples here in Mid-Michigan, went to Birmingham AL for this one. It had almost 150K and a couple of small issues to deal with, but LITERALLY no rust. It is actually going into the shop this week to get the AC fixed and we won’t discuss what that’s going to cost, but after about 75K miles it is the first thing I couldn’t fix myself.
By the way, I like those wheels. I picked up a set of them at the junkyard to put my Winter tires on.
Im sure its a good runner, but over 4 grand for a black car with no AC would be a tough sell in my book. Especially since this has to be the most humid sweltering summer we’ve had in a while (east coast anyway). Fix the AC for that poor kid!
Sal, used car prices are obscene even for rusty high mileage garbage. 2010 Hondas with 200,000 miles for $8K etc. . At this price point, its always something of a gamble. I feel like investing in an AC repair may be throwing good money after bad…he can roll the windows down and grin and bear it…like I did in my 1980 Cutlass and 78 Chevette with vinyl sticky seats back in the mid 80’s .
An oil analysis is always a good idea for any older car. Among the potential troubles it can point out is a presence of silicone indicating anti-freeze, in 3800 SERIES II engines usually caused by a leaky upper intake manifold, or the presence of excess types of metals, usually from the cam, rod or main bearings.
One alerted me to the presence of silicone and sure enough the upper intake had started leaking a small amount, to which I attributed the cooling system as just being old and showing it’s age.
This car for $4K -/+ looks like a bargain to me, it’s very clean and shiny .
The AC may indeed be a simple fix, I replaced the AC compressor seals on a lot of GM’s back in my day as a fleet Mechanic .
If nothing else it beats walking and if he makes even one complaint I’d make him buy a bus pass or bicycle, see how he likes managing his own $ .
The soft ride should be another simple and low co$t fix ,
-Nate