1983 Buick Electra 307 V8

Summary:

Cadillac alternative

Faults:

Nothing went wrong with the car despite the check engine light came on and off a couple times. This was sort of typical for the time do to the GM "CCC" system being still relatively new.

General Comments:

Loved this car. Comfort, style, soft ride and large size were a perfect blend. The car was pretty loaded up with power and convenience options.

Lots of highway and long trip usage. Didn't buy it for fuel economy, but yet it delivered good on the highway with the 4 speed overdrive.

Being from the smog era, the power for the 307 wasn't that bad for passing power or highway driving. Press the accelerator with a lead foot, open up the secondaries on the carb. and it really started to move effortlessly and smoothly.

IMHO this was the best large GM luxury car from the early eighties along with the Olds 98. Have driven a Cadillac DeVille from this era and the Buick is just as good as far as comfort and ride quality for a lower price. Also this car used a much more reliable engine as opposed to the Cadillac V8 that had a well known reputation for being a nightmare. The 307 Olds in this car was actually used in Cadillacs a few years later.

When looking up these Electras for sale, it's nice to see that a lot of them were well preserved over the years. A dime a dozen back then, but not anymore.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 7th March, 2023

1983 Buick Electra Park Avenue 5.0L Olds 307 V8

Summary:

They don't build 'em like this anymore!

Faults:

Windshield washers never worked.

Rear springs sagged.

Radiator hose blew at 190000.

Drivers power seat motor died at 198000.

General Comments:

I bought this car as a winter beater and it was very good to me. Drove it about a year. It was fun to drive this big beautiful boat around despite the complete lack of acceleration. Hey, what do you want from a 2+ tonne car with 150hp? Besides, these cars are about class :)

The 307 did what it was supposed to do well: produce enough torque to get the ship out of the harbour and run smooth and reliable. Even at over 200000 original Km, this engine was tight.

The tranny always shifted like butter, and the car got decent gas mileage on the highway. Easily the most comfortable couch on wheels you'll ever drive.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 4th October, 2007

8th Jan 2016, 07:47

These cars are pretty uncommon nowadays, at least where I live. The same could be said about the same generation Oldsmobile 98 too, but there's several more of them around than the early-1980s Electra.

In reply to 8th Jan 2016, 07:47

9th Jan 2016, 08:57

That's true. I don't think the early-1980s Electras sold quite as well as the Olds 98s either, making them less common to begin with.

In reply to 9th Jan 2016, 08:57

19th Jan 2016, 02:55

My elderly neighbors had a baby blue one in the 90s when I was a kid, but I am sure that it is long gone now. I went to college with a girl that was still driving an '83 Electra that was given to her. It was pretty rough, but ran reliably. You don't see many of the big 80s land yachts any more from any of the big 3. I would say I see more of the big Fords than GMs though. Probably more Town Cars and Grand Marquis than anything else. The larger Chrysler products from the 80s were pretty rare even then.

1983 Buick Electra limeted 5.0 V8

Summary:

A reliable "Cadillac"

Faults:

My fuel pump went out when I got the car at 77000 miles, but that is expected with a mechanical fuel pump.

My alternator went out at 77000 miles as well. Both of these things were expected because the car sat for about two years.

General Comments:

This car is the nicest car I have owned. It is the oldest, but most reliable. It is very cozy. It is considered a gas hog to moast people.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 2nd June, 2003