2nd Dec 2008, 19:48

I own 1996 Buick Roadmaster LTD. I bought it with 49 000 miles on it in factory mint condition. Now after 5 years it has 142 000 miles. Those are 90% highway miles.

I never use this car in winter. I use it as my travel partner for long trips only. California, New Mexico, Nevada, Washington, Montana.. you name it.. I live in Michigan.

This is the most comfortable and reliable car I ever had. Exceptionally good on long highway trips.. 700 -800 miles a day. Even more... Drivers seat has great back support and I never feel tired after those long miles.

It has big trunk so I can take with me almost anything I need. Naturally, if the trunk gets too heavy the rear end sags down. To get rid of that problem I bought "air lift 1000" set, which helped a lot. The air lift set also gives more stability on the road. I replaced original shocks with Bilstein shocks, original coil springs with Eibach springs, and the original air filter system with high flow K&N cold air system, which I use together with 160 degree thermostat.

At 60 000 miles the water pump started to weep. So I replaced it.

At 110 000 I had mysterious problem when after long miles highway driving my car refused to start up. It started up in the morning, but then after few days did same thing again. Mistakenly I replaced fuel pump. The real problem was in fuel sending unit. There are some cheaply made bad connections that (after long drive) start to heat up and sometimes even melt plastic that surrounds those connections and connections get loose. If that happens you won't start your car again. Those bad fuel sending units are the only common problem with these late B body Buick's. Other than that I'm happy about my Buick Roadmaster Ltd (collector's edition). I do not think I will ever sell it. :)

8th Dec 2008, 16:05

My old '99 Park Avenue actually started itself once in my garage, then about 10-20 seconds later shut itself off. I wonder how it is doing for its elderly owners in Florida.

1st Oct 2009, 23:02

Do all 1996 Buick Roadmaster Wagons have the Towing Package? If not, how can I tell if mine has it?

Thank you.

4th Apr 2010, 20:28

To answer the previously posed question - "Maybe someone can offer up a way to get a little closer to the 24-25 mpg"

I believe there is no secret - the key component in getting better gas mileage is a full tune-up including, first of all, spark plugs and wires. Then one may think about cleaning injectors, getting new distributor (optispark), CO2 sensors, cleaning the mass air flow sensor, EGR, IAV, gas pump/filter and so on - there is actually no limit to that. One will probably end up assembling a new car our of spare parts, right :)?

15th Jun 2010, 17:41

I bought a 96 LTD Wagon in 2005 for $8000 out of Salt Lake City, a single owner with 77k miles. The window sticker MSRP with options was $31,665 and production sequence is 417585.

This is the most expensive and latest model I could find and have ever seen on Ebay listings. I now have 125,000 miles, it is in excellent condition with no missing exterior parts.

I love to put the wife, two kids, and 3 to 5 hundred pounds of stuff out back for the proverbial long family vacation.

I too used to get no better than 18 miles average per tank full. Then I installed some Airlift 1000 air bags in my coil springs, and my mileage went to 19.5. I put 10 pounds of air pressure in the bags, which raised the back end up a little higher, almost to the rear skirt matching the height of the alloy rims. Bingo. Now I get 23.5 MPG while still flooring it once or twice a tank full for entertainment value. So it all boiled down to aerodynamics.

The rear end was sagging a little; the on-board compressor was coming on too often. I have a Draw-Tight tow bar installed and tow a 14 foot tandem axle trailer only on those large Home Depot runs—no problem.

Whenever GM comes out with Chevy Avalanche that has a light duty diesel that will get 25 MPG or better, I’d be willing to sell it to the highest bidder.

Sincerely, rilingbr@hotmail.com.

7th Dec 2010, 15:12

I recently purchased a 1996 Roadmaster Estate Wagon that seems to be in good condition - runs well, both interior and exterior very nice. My question - is there a site where I may obtain an original window sticker or build sheet so I can learn more about how the car is equipped? I was told it had a "tow package", but there is no hitch - I would think that would be the key element in any towing package! Any help would be appreciated.

Tom T.

20th Dec 2010, 17:25

I have a 1996 Roadmaster Limited with all the goodies; tow package, grand touring package, posi, the ugly landau roof too, factory glass tint, everything... right at 100,000 miles and in mint condition, it's a winter car for the wife.

I did plug off the home plate with a nice looking Buick plug. Probably will leave this stock, just a K&N filter. The car is in unbelievable shape white/blue landau top.

Also at 100,000 miles, I have a 1996 Fleetwood Brougham with all the mods done to it, Bryan Herter/PCM reprogram, descreened & no cats, full Borla exhaust, K&N cold air kit, LT4 knock sensor, TB by-pass, just sold my 95 FWB... these are the last FRAME ON RIDE, so please everyone, we need to take care of them, and the LT1 is a beast in this car, truly a match made in heaven, and then taken away from us. I figure I have a easy 6-10 years left in both cars. Long live B & D body cars.

31st Dec 2010, 15:41

I am the 2nd owner of a beautiful Dark Jadestone Metallic 1996 Buick Roadmaster Limited Wagon with all the goodies purchased in 2002 with 70,000 miles, and now has 163,000. I am thinking of selling it. The car was built in September, 1996. I understand the production run ended in December, 1996. The last 6 digits of the serial number are 420000. I have tried to learn what is significant about the serial number, but have not had any luck. Any ideas or places to go to find out?

6th Mar 2011, 12:43

Bought a 1991 Estate Wagon in 1997. 200,000+ miles and 14 years later, bought a 1996 Limited Sedan loaded with 10,000 miles on Ebay. It is an awesome car, delivered to my door looking brand-new. Hope to get another 200K. If I want to play, I still have the '68 Camaro.

28th Jul 2011, 14:11

I read your comment. I have a 1996 Roadmaster Limited. Why is that year good?

I had many people ask to buy it, but I refuse them since it was my Dads. Please email with more info. shirleyc27@charter.net

25th Dec 2011, 04:00

Have owned a 1994 Buick Roadmaster White/Wood Wagon, LT1, loaded with Dynaride, sold it at 184,000 miles, did not use a drop of Mobil 1 oil and got 27 mpg.

Now own a 1996 "Collector Edition" LT1 with Grand Touring Suspension (firmer springs and additional stabilizer bars) that has 128,000 on it, and does not use a drop of Mobil 1 oil and 28 mpg.

GREAT cars, float down the road, and with the 3rd seat that faces to the rear/or fold down the 2nd and rear seat for full sheets of plywood.

The LT1 is the Corvette engine with cast iron heads instead of the aluminum heads like on the Vette. Under 50 mph use drive, not overdrive, which makes it LUG the posi rear gears. Mobil 1 and AC air and oil filters forever. Ebay has all the information, manuals, etc. Best...

11th Nov 2012, 23:43

I have a 1996 Buick Roadmaster Ltd. It only has 85,000 miles on it. Great car! No leaks, runs like a champ. I would sell it for $10k. But I have 22 inch rims, with new front/rear speakers, amp, and subwoofer. I love the car :)

22nd Apr 2015, 19:12

The first way to tell, tow package cars normally had a hitch installed. The second way is they have one electric cooling fan and one belt driven fan. Also on the SPID sheet are all the RPO codes, inside the trunk lid in sedans, and visible on the passenger side when the tailgate is open. There will be a GW9 - 2.93 gear ratio, and a G80, which is a limited slip rear end. A non tow package car may have either of those codes, but not both.

16th Jul 2016, 11:21

Hey can you send a pic of yours to Big2385@aol.com? I want to see the racing stripe. I have a black RM with Pioneer Champion Series 12s, 3 mode shift kit and K&N air filter. Also how does the Flowmaster sound on it? I want to put Magnaflows on. They look pretty good on 20s too.

16th Jul 2016, 11:30

I live these cars. My mother has been trying to find car that rides like my dad's Park Avenue and now so have I. Well I came across this big boy and finally felt I beat him out.

I love the accelerating power of the engine. I also have a 3 mode shifter, and an after market air filter with 20 inch rims. I'm in love with the car; my friends can't believe it's so fast but still so smooth.

Buick did a great job.