The Buick LeSabre-It's Still Grandma's Car-At a Great Value

In 2005, My parents decided it was time to get a new car and they sked for my help in choosing one. Helping my parents find a car is not something I relished. My parents are in their fifties and are very particular, my father especially. My mom is more open to all different types of cars, she had driven two mitsubishi Galants in the past and liked the japanese manufacturers. My dad prefers things American Made. Ford, Chevy, Dodge-You get the picture. He is very tall as well- 6 foot 7. So I tried to give them ideas of cars that not only did I like, but were recieving good reviews and had a strong reputation for reliability. I recommended the Toyota Avalon, Chrysler 300, and the Ford Five Hundred. But they weren't impressed with the Avalon, They didn't wanna pay for the 300, and My dad didn't want the Five Hundred because it was in its first year of production.

So feeling hopless, I gave up. Parents get pickier as they get older and you love 'em, but this was silly. Im no salesman and frankly I believe that hey, if they say they don't want it-They dont want it. So anywho, I returned home from work one day to meet a smoky bronze colored Buick Lesabre Limited greeting me in the driveway. I was surprised. I mean I didn't expect a buick in the yard. You know the bias about Buick-only old people drive them. I didn't see it happening. My parents were middle aged but not like way old. It just kind of Weirded me out for a minute.

About a week later, The car was filthy and needed to be washed, So I offered to take it to my neighborhood Grease Monkey for a car wash. I felt of it as a nice way for me to have some alone time to myself to sink my teeth into this baby and see what she was made of. So I first took it to the wash, and then-I was off!

Walkaround

The design at first glance is sort of and updated classic. It has all of the stylish bulges and ridges that were very popular decades ago, but still make a statement today. The LeSabre is an attractive full size, with fifteen inch alloy wheels, large greenhouse, and generous head lamps and tail lights, the LeSabre dosent' knock my socks off, but it is functional without being offensive. Keyless entry and trunk release are standard on the LeSabre, which was something I was thought was cool. Just the push of a button and the trunk pops up and the doors unlock. I drive a 1995 Galant so this was nice compared to what Ive been used to. However while the LeSabre's trunk is a generous cavern, the rear seatback dosen't fold down for extra space. That seems a little pre-air conditioning don't you think?

Driving Impressions

The LeSabre comes equipped with a 205 Horsepower, 3.8 Liter V6 Engine. This engine is smooth and responsive. Takeoff is excellent and you are usually first off the line. I was surprised because most Buicks are driven so slowly. Believe me, its not the car's fault at all. The car is equipped with a standard four speed automatic transmission that shifts adequately and quietly during acceleration. When slowing down however, the tranny is slow to downshift, and you can sense a ridculously long time for it to "hunt" between gears to get it right. The engine would be better off with a better crafted transmission. Braking is marginal at highway speeds and you must put a considerable distance between yourself and the person in front of you so as not to rear end them. Braking in the city is much more improved and at most neighborhood speeds is a quick responder. Gas mileage is a downer in the city however, averaging 19 MPG. Highway mileage is rated at 30 mpg on the freeway. So far with the drive, I was pleased but not excited.

Inside Story

The interior of the LeSabre is well appointed, but also has a bit of a budget plush feel. The car included some amenitites you would be more inclined to find on higher end cars like Volvo or Lexus. It included some features like dual power front seats, dual heated seats, a multi read out on the odometer that tells you how many miles until empty, how many until oil change, tire pressure, and average mileage to the gallon. It also included a Cassette/cd player combo.

Driving in the interior was comforatble. It felt like relaxing in a bean bag. The seats were a tan color with a woven printed pattern. There were fake woodgrain accents on the dashboard and doors to give a classy look. I enjoyed how quick the power seat was, but i didnt like the low seatbacks, low head restraints, and the seatbelt that comes out of the seat next to the headrest. The seatbelt scratches my neck and is unadjustable. This is something for tall people to watch out for. I also did not like the bench seat and column shifter configuration. I like my shifter next to my legs and appreciate having a full floor console in any car. Buick tried to make up for this by integrating a console box into the arm rest with the inclusion of two very small, non adjustable cup holders. In the 21st century, three people do not ride in the front of a car at one time. At least I hope not, because the middle passenger would be uncomfortable. Face it, both the driver and right passenger adjust their seats the way that makes them comfortable. They will surely be uncomfortable by hearing of the discomfort and inevitable wedgie that the middle passenger is experiencing. So thus, bench seats are a thing of the past and need to be put to rest.

I also didnt feel that the dual front passenger zone climate controls were effective. The front passenger seat is equipped with a temperature indicator switch on the door arm rest seam. In one example I put the driver on eighty degrees and passenger on sixty nine degrees just to see how it works, and franklu it didnt make any difference. It was still quite ridiculously warm on the passenger side. I did however enjoy the steering wheel stereo and climate controls. I really feel that putting things more within the driver's reach makes a car much safer to drive, so I do applaud General Motors for this. Overall, while I enjoyed the interior, I can see that this interior is much more geared to a certain demographic of people and that this car is just not a car for me.

Safety

If you are still interested in this car then you would be interested to know that it is safe and solid. This 2001 model recived a rating of good, which is the highest from the NHTSA in frontal offset head on collisions, so with the LeSabre comes an extra feeling of security.

Final Thoughts?

I enjoyed the Buick very much, Im not in love with it, i don't really want one, but it serves its purpose in style and with ease. Not the most fun to drive, its certainly not as nimble as the type of cars I prefer, and sort of old-fashioned and bland, it still remains a top seller for GM'S Buick Division. Why do people like them so much? Its beyond me, but what I can derive from my experience, is that it offers a lot of space and comfort, reliability, as well as luxury features for almost three to ten thousand less that comparably equipped japanese competitors. So in the end when I look at a LeSabre, I see a great value for the money.