Faults:
Eight window regulators- two on each door.
Broken buttons (radio).
Climate controls quit working.
Three interior door handles.
Horn would sound on its own, but never when I honked it.
Faulty gas gauge.
Burned oil.
Blown taillight fuse (left).
Turn signals had a mind of their own.
Kept going out of alignment.
Blue and black smoke came out of the tailpipe like water from a hose.
Had trouble going into reverse, drive, park, and neutral since day one. The demo version was fine.
Head gasket.
Only got 11 miles per gallon. I drove like a granny!
Brakes failed countless times, leaving me stranded at least 4 times.
General Comments:
I bought this car to have a second car. I used the Century for comfort and long drives. I used my Geo for for efficiency.
I wish I hadn't bought the Century.
The transmission literally blew up. I had it fixed, but it wasn't much better. I couldn't get it into reverse, drive, park, nor neutral (since day one).
I rear-ended someone at 5 miles per hour (after the brakes failed). This was at 75K (like at 74,985 miles). I was actually heading to my Buick dealer to get the oil changed. I got there, and my odometer said 74,998. I bought the extended warranty (from 3/36 to 5/75), but it was not honored due to a 'lack of maintenance'. It really angered me (and because a regular oil change took 6 hours and labor was insane!). That's why I gave the dealer a 1/10. I was quoted $4000 for the transmission, and another $2000 (!) for the head gasket. I wanted to sue the dealer. So, I locked the doors, closed the windows, took my keys, and called for a ride home.
I came back the next day and showed it to another person at the service desk. He said to give him the keys, and he looked at the odometer. He said there was nothing he could do. So I ponied up the $6K and left. No rental.
Since then, the car was crap. Until the trans going out, it was a decent car.
EXCEPT:
I can't begin to count the times the brakes went out.
The car leaked oil from day one.
I only got 11 MPG. My bud's Ford F-350 got at least 13.
I will not buy another GM in my life (except for the 'old' Geos).
27th Oct 2008, 18:10
You couldn't get it into drive, reverse, park or neutral from day one? How exactly did you drive it? If you were truly getting 11 mpg with a Buick Century, then you should have known something was terribly wrong. A 1976 Century didn't even get that low of fuel economy.