My "Beater" Has Impressed Me

[DC44]

So I took my Buick with 188,000 miles on a 1300 mile round trip and it real impressed me. I averaged 31-33mpg on almost every fill-up except two in which I got around 28mpg for one, and 22mpg for the other(city driving). This really surprised me I thought I would get 27-30mpg max. I got better gas mileage than some of the newer cars today with a big 3.8L v6. The 3800 Series II is a great engine besides the intake gaskets and manifold issue.

Also the fact that it gave me no problems for the 9.5 hrs each way makes me content with keeping the car. I was really thinking that I should prepare myself for being forced to get a new(used) car with the mileage on my buick but now I'm confident it has plenty of life left in it.

Plus with this economy and used car prices today, which are overpriced, it just makes sense not to create unnecessarysary bills before needed and just save as much as I can. Plus at the end of the day It will do the same thing as a car that I would be paying a car note on, get me from point A-B. I think I'll drive it until it can't perform that task anymore.

Just thought I would share my experience.

 

[sciphi]

Keep driving that PA until it munches the 4T60, then find another low-mileage 4T60 and keep on driving it until you're tired of it!

 

[HM12460]

Those are really good cars. Run the wheels off it!

 

[bodeh6]

Thats very nice. Did you use a fuel injector cleaner
at all during the trip? That would have been a perfect
time for one.

 

[Jimmy9190]

There is a great sense of security in having a car that is paid for and still runs well even though it has a lot of miles on it. I agree that it makes better sense to keep driving the car you have rather than pay a car payment on a new car. That Buick sounds like it is a good old car. Drive it till it falls apart.

 

[FXjohn]

but that can't be a good car. you're supposed to be blathering on about a civic or corolla.

 

[TomYoung]

I appreciate this, and any other high mileage story out there. Congratulations on a successful ride on this "just broken in" vehicle. I would also add that you would spend a fair amount trying to match your Park Avenue's comfort in a new vehicle.

 

[beast3300]

Excellent vehicle through and through!

 

[L_Sludger]

My new sub-$3,000 beater has averaged 63mpg so far....

 

[OceanDoctor]

Pontiac and Buick are my fav GM marques. The Park Ave is a rolling living room; comfortable, sedate and gets great mileage apparently

 

[cadfaeltex]

My olds 88 (same engine) was great. Got about the same gas mileage you are talking about.

 

[CharBaby]

My B-I-L has a '95 Olds 88 with the same motor(3.8L) and the thing is great! Served him well over the last 16 years. Each time I get in the car it amazes me with it's quiet and ride. Puts my wifes '01 Lexus to shame in that area. It sees less duty now as he's getting ready to sell it. It'll be a sad day for him. I'll have to send him a sympathy card.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: L_Sludger
My new sub-$3,000 beater has averaged 63mpg so far....

What is this a Vespa scooter?

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted By: GMBoy
Originally Posted By: L_Sludger
My new sub-$3,000 beater has averaged 63mpg so far....

What is this a Vespa scooter?


If it has 4 wheels, then it's probably free falling while idling.

 

[DavidZ28]

Originally Posted By: Jimmy9190
There is a great sense of security in having a car that is paid for and still runs well even though it has a lot of miles on it. I agree that it makes better sense to keep driving the car you have rather than pay a car payment on a new car. That Buick sounds like it is a good old car. Drive it till it falls apart.



+1

I had a customer who had a '95-'96 Olds 88 (same car basically) with the 3.8 in it and he got 330K out of his. I agree drive it 'til it drops!

 

[cadfaeltex]

I sold my '94 in '02 because I had always been told never to keep an American car longer than 100K (mine had 98k). We thought we were leaving the country so we sold it. Bet it's still running if it wasn't crashed.

 

[L_Sludger]

Originally Posted By: KrisZ
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
Originally Posted By: L_Sludger
My new sub-$3,000 beater has averaged 63mpg so far....

What is this a Vespa scooter?


If it has 4 wheels, then it's probably free falling while idling.
it's a honduh enzyte

 

[InvalidUserID]

My camaro has the 3800 II engine in it and is pushing 190k. Dependable engine has never let me down and took me nearly 50 miles per day during my college years.