Another in a series of my reviews that appeared in the online version of African Americans On Wheels, a now defunct automotive magazine that was included as an insert in the Sunday newspapers of major cities.
This car was special to me. The mother of my best friends growing up had a 1969 Buick Electra 225 that had been taken from their grandfather when his driving skills had deteriorated into “unsafe” territory. Neither side of the family was wealthy, so purchasing this Buick must have meant a great deal to him. I tried to put myself in his place during my week with the Park Avenue.
By the way, the photo above is the exact same photo that ran with the review on May 11, 1998. Below is the version I submitted because I really liked that first part of the first paragraph, which my editor removed.
To corrupt an old Plymouth slogan, “Suddenly, it’s 1969!” Is that a bad thing? Absolutely not. In 1969, Buicks were big, powerful, stylish and luxurious. Although the trend today is towards lean European sports sedans and SUVs, Buick has fortunately not forgotten what a Buick is. The 1998 Park Avenue Ultra is big, powerful, stylish and incredibly luxurious.
The Park Avenue was completely redesigned last year and is available in base form and the tested Ultra. The curvaceous styling of the previous generation is now even more dramatic. From the toothy grill to the V-shaped hood to the thick C-pillars to the shiny alloy wheels, the Park Avenue makes a dramatic statement while most cookie-cutter cars barely get out a whisper.
Slipping into the pillowy leather seats, I’m overcome with probably the same feeling my friend’s grandfather felt when he drove his brand-spanking new Electra 225 off the lot. It’s the classic middle-class “I’ve earned this!” The Ultra’s supercharged V6 does an excellent impression of the big-block Buick engines of yore and can still spin the tires from a standing start. But technology has come a long way in 30 years: traction control keeps you in check. The 4-speed automatic shifts flawlessly.
The Park Avenue Ultra oozes luxury. The list starts with all of the conveniences you’d expect, but then includes some items you may have thought were reserved for the “Grey Poupon” set: heated seats with position memory for two drivers, lighted mirrors for front AND rear passengers, moisture sense wipers that adjust their speed to conditions, front passenger climate control (to +/- five degrees) and a passenger outside mirror that tilts down when you shift into reverse so you can see the curb. GM’s On-Star road assist system is also available. Being Buick’s biggest sedan, the rear can comfortably fit three adults, and a handy pass-through is provided to the already enormous trunk.
Although the Ultra, with its tighter suspension and bigger tires, is the best-handling big-Buick thus far, it doesn’t take corners like a German sedan. But Buicks have always been straight line boulevard cruisers. The tachometer also seems out of place here.
There’s trendy, and there’s timeless. The Park Avenue falls into the latter. As their new slogan goes, “Isn’t it time for a real car?”
For more information contact 1-800-4-A-BUICK
SPECIFICATIONS
Type:4-Door Sedan
Engine:240 horsepower, 3.8 liter V6
Transmission:4-Speed Automatic
EPA Mileage:18 city/27 highway
Tested Price:$37,965
In addition to the Electra, my friends’ parents also had a 1968 Mercury Cougar and a 1972 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Their house was a fun place to hang out.
One of my favorite aspects of this car was the MPH/KPH switch. Instead of two sets of numbers on the speedometer, flicking the switch changes the needle to reflect one or the other. For example, if I’m going 62 MPH and hit the switch to change to KPH, the needle will jump to 100. So simple. Why doesn’t every manufacturer do this? Once I rented a Kia Sedona that came from Quebec, and, damn, that inner set of numbers is not easy to see. I wished the Kia had a switch like the Buick.
The joke, of course, is that in the last 22 years, Buick has completely forgotten what a Buick is. Since their best-selling car by a wide margin is the tiny Encore, so have most Americans.
Below is the Plymouth slogan to which I’m referring, which is from 1957.
Got a few of them as rentals at LAX back in the 90s. Great car!
Didn’t know how to send this in to the contributor that recently bought the Ford Taurus. Check out this sweet bargain.
https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/cto/d/covina-1990-mercury-sable-ls-sedan-all/7098909489.html
Holy cow that’s a survivor! Okay, I need my $1200 stimulus check right now! I’m in Georgia, I wonder how much it would cost to have it shipped here. Heck, I bet my wife would be down with it to fly out there and drive it back. Only I’m not about to get on a plane right now. I really want this car!
I so much prefer the previous generation to this one. Buick did their best to make the exterior shape look like an evolution of the 91-96 model, though it is still a less elegant, less flowing shape. But things really fall apart when you open the door and are greeted with a typical GM late ’90s plastic-wasteland interior, without the terrific ergonomics and gorgeous styling of the earlier generation. At least the awesome powertrain carried over – the supercharged Series II 3800 (first used in 1996) is buttery smooth, efficient, reliable, torquey, powerful, and very quiet. The four gears in the transmission are all it needs.
But yeah, Buick seems expendable now, given their full lineup consists of just three crossovers, and Buick and GMC share a showroom, and GMC already has similarly sized and priced crossovers. Buick just seems redundant, at least in North America. It’s a whole ‘nother story in China though.
Agreed. I much prefer the pre-facelift version. I especially like the Ultra with the color matched hubcaps.
The seats in the newer generation are much better.
True. I considered that, and the low-liftover trunk opening to be the two biggest improvements on the 2007 redesign.
I worked for the Buick Customer Relations Center when the redesigned PA came out. What a great road trip car!
One of the perks of the job was getting to drive PEP (Product Evaluation Program) cars for 3 days. It saved wear and tear on MY car, and GM paid for the gas.
These and other Buicks were my introduction to the mighty 3800 V-6. Later, I’d own a Regal and a LeSabre with the same motor.
Hey Adam it’s the other Adam that hangs around here. 🙂
Thanks for sharing these reviews, always a pleasure. I’m a Buick man myself, wore my ‘Turbo 6″ logo T-shirt in my home office yesterday – much more comfortable than my regular shirt and tie! (Some benefits of telework, eh?)
I always fawn over the great Buicks from the Sixties, would sell just about anything for the right GN / GNX, and will always mourn the loss of my 1994 Riviera, also 3800SC and mostly the same G/E/K platform as the subject Park Ultra. That Rivi was nearly flawless in design and build. GM proved they could still build a fine automobile worthy of the Mark of Excellence.
Keep em coming brother! 😎✌
Thanks Adam. I didn’t expect to like the Ultra as much as I did, and that final generation Riviera was a nice automobile!
There was no 1994 Riviera. You may have had an early build 1995 Riviera because the 1993 Riviera was not Supercharged. I am glad you enjoyed it but I would have liked to purchase an Olds Aurora Coupe. The Olds dash was a much better design then the Riviera was. The Riviera dash was very play-skool for a supposed luxury coupe. It was somewhat passible if you ordered the optional wood dash which may have been a dealer install? I have seen some with it but very few.
Wood dash
Tried to post the riv interior pic but it wouldn’t let me. Check it out at
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3346838/1999-buick-riviera/photo-gallery/
Compared to Aurora Dash
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/1998-Oldsmobile-Aurora-Pictures-c3144?picturesTabFilter=INTERIOR#pictureId=41666605
Have a 97 Riv…love it, everything works perfect after 23 years, Oldsmobile were ugly…
Nice review! I am also a fan of these cars. I don’t know if you caught the article I wrote last year based on my wife’s uncle’s car.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-american/2005-buick-park-avenue-the-last-real-buick/
That Ultra sure sounds nice!
Thanks Jon! I missed your article the first time around, but really enjoyed it. I found it amusing that your uncle, who couldn’t get comfortable in a LeSabre, thought he would be comfortable in a Honda! Interestingly enough, my Uncle Joe, who is a diehard Buick/Cadillac man, did the same thing and tried an Accord. He’s back in the Buick fold now with an Encore. Odd choice, but he finds easy to get in and out of.
When better cars are built buick builts them. 1989 park ave. Tops in ride to the 3800 credit the best engine ever.
Unless you had a 3800 Series II non-turbo with a failed plastic upper intake.
Series III non-turbo went back to metal upper intake.
Oops.
I meant super charger.
My company car for a few years was the Pontiac equivalent, a Booneville SSEi. That series II 3800 was a great engine. If the rest of the car had been as reliable as the powertrain, I think it would have been one of the great ones.
Well done Adam! As the owner of 67 LeSabre, I see this as a perfect comparison. I searched long and hard for one of these last year to make my DD. Found a stunning looking ruby red metallic job with burgundy interior but it had too many needs. Fallen headliner a real deal killer.
These were a definite downgrade from the prior generation, as were the LeSabres (my mother had a 1998 and 2004 LeSabre, one from each generation, so I got to witness that firsthand), but they were still pretty sweet. The ones I still see on the road for the most part have caring owners as they’re in great condition.
The 3800 was a terrific engine as well.
iove my 98 park
had it 14 years
Love my Flagship Electra 1963, bought in 1966 with 30,000 miles, now 54 years later, and 430,000 more miles, still feels new, still in love.
I recently picked up a 1996 Park Avenue Ultra with 159K miles and so far I’ve found nothing wrong with it. I only paid $980 for the car at an auction and during the short time I’ve had it so far I’ve come to realize it’s one of the best vehicles I’ve ever owned. Usually I flip my auction cars for a profit but this one’s definitely a keeper. They sure as hell don’t make them like they used to 😣 so I’m going to do my best to preserve this one and enjoy it.
I am a proud owner of a old 1998 Buick Park Avenue. Presently having problems with the car. Still it’s a great car despite the problems. The problem is leaking from radiator but I just put in a new radiator and water pump. My coolant reservoir will not keep coolant. Want is the trouble shot for this and the labor cost is a killer.