Faults:

The only major problem was the transmission that I replaced at 215,000. I bought one at a local junk yard for $75.00, and had a tech I found on Craigslist install it! Total cost for this; $350.00!

The ABS as well as the traction control were out when I got it - never fixed it - never bothered me!

General Comments:

This car has been the best car I have ever owned, and I plan on buying another just like it! This car has the usual lifter noise of the 3.1 motor when you first start it - no worries! It's NORMAL from what I have seen (They will quiet down as the car warms up).

280,000 miles, and I never have to add oil between changes (every 4000 miles).

Bang for the buck, I would take this over any Japanese car maker any day of the week!

As an added bonus, it looks like a senior citizen's car (you can fly below the radar!) ;)

Faults:

Hard shifting, whining when hot.

General Comments:

I just purchased a used 2000 Buick Century with 35000 miles. When I test drove the car before purchasing, the car ran and drove flawless, but upon my return home from the dealer, I got stuck in the typical Staten Island expressway traffic, and the car began to shift terribly, and I heard the annoying whine of the tranny; at this point I felt like OMG, I just got screwed!!

After cooling off for a while, I began to research the problem, and learned about the diag code P1811, and all of the other owners who were having the same problem.

I started with the easiest and cheapest fixes first, and I believe I have solved my problem and hopefully it will fix yours.

I checked my air filter, and it was bad so I purchased a new one. Upon trying to install it, I noticed the assembly of the breather tube to airbox didn't look right.

There is a rubber coupler that joins the tube to the airbox; the coupler has a small tab that needs to be set into a notch on the breather box. If it isn't, the car will not run correctly. It will run hot and could also be responsible for changes in intake pressures, At least this is what I think. And after correcting the setup of the intake, my car is running at 1 hash mark below halfway on the temp gauge, before it was at half. And my shifts are whisper quiet and smooth as silk. There was a video on youtube showing the proper installation of the assembly on youtube however I cannot seem to locate today.

Hope this helps.

By the way, my previous vehicle was a 1998 Buick Century, which we drove for 12 years, and gave my family great service til my wife overheated it and cracked the head. Great cars, but never ever over heat them. If the car is hot, shut it down and take a cab.

Mr.Phil

Brooklyn NY.