So, a 1998 Buick Century? Seems like an unusual car to feature here on the esteemed webpages of Barn Finds. Yeah, it’s not really interesting; some may even find it boring. But Buick did well with this somewhat nondescript four-door sedan, selling 128K back in ’98. And this one has only experienced 45K miles of usage. Alright, let’s take a detailed look at this inhabitant of Sewell, New Jersey. It’s available here on craigslist for $5,000. Thanks are due to Mitchell G. for this tip!
The seller of this Buick sedan states, “Senior owned.” Really, no kidding, I would have never guessed that. These Buicks, finished in Light Sandrift Metallic, were a sales hit with our Greatest Generation (I know, my father owned one in the same hue). And as stated earlier, they were popular. My guess is this is an estate car, and the seller is doing a flip. Centurys came in two different trim levels in ’98, Custom, such as our subject car, and the more exalted Limited. As for body styles, a four-door sedan was the only game in town. I’d suggest that this car was well cared for and probably garaged. Being from New Jersey, one would expect a more “worn” look, but this Century still presents well. Oddly, it has a Pennsylvania title, so maybe that’s where it lived before the current seller got hold of it. Regardless, the climatic and environmental conditions in PA aren’t really any different from those in NJ. For a senior-owned car, I’d expect some bumper corner parking friction, but nothing substantial is noted. No demerits to be issued for this Century’s exterior!
Up front, this Buick is powered by a 160 net HP, 3.1-liter V6 engine, parked sideways, and driving the front wheels via a four-speed automatic overdrive transaxle. The seller suggests, “runs great“, and then adds, “MUST DRIVE TO APPRECIATE SUPER RELIABLE.” Yes, reliability was one of Buick’s strong suits from this era.
The fabric interior is about as common and generic a GM environment as you’ll ever find. It is entirely finished in a beige hue and appears to be clean and gently used. These are hardly luxurious interiors, or even ones that one would consider fitting for a Buick. The plastics are hard and thin, and I know in the case of my father’s car, the springs and cushioning of the driver’s front seat bottom rest had gone kaput by 45K miles (and no, he was not a large or heavy man). All that said, it’s a thoroughly functional and mildly pleasing interior arrangement.
The listing concludes with, “$5000 cash Only non negotiable! If you don’t have $5000 cash please do not contact me Cash only. If my price is to high is ok buy another vehicle is super simple guys thx!” Well, I guess he told us, though I suppose $5,000 is reasonable considering this car’s mileage and condition. This is a two-stepper. The first step is finding someone who wants a ’98 Buick Century. And the second one is having that individual be willing to shell out $5 large for said Buick Century. What do you think, any takers out there?
Add basically says firm at $5k for this $3,500 dollar car and don’t bother contacting them if you don’t want to pay it, fine by me I won’t contact them but I also have never had good luck with GM products I have given them many chances and always been calling a tow truck.
Hey, if you want it, buy it. There aren’t many to pick from in this condition. I only looked to see if it was my Mom’s Buick. Sold it back in 2014 for a similar price. Only had 32k miles on hers.
I always call this particular color “Buick Beige” because I think every other Century and LeSabre from the 90’s until 2005 was this color. I have had two LeSabres and same color.
seller most likely stole from relatives of a person that passed away for pennies. now they will take 5k no less. they need to find the 5k buyer of the century for this. it will sell but will take a bit.it is almost 30yrs old worth more like 3k even with low miles.
Hmm, how may miles? I had a ’98 Chevy Lumina with the same 3.1L. I live in Michigan, ya know, salt, lake effect snow. It had 138,000 on it when I traded it in. The engine compartment looked a heck of a lot cleaner than this one.
I bought my wife the same car, with 63,000 miles on it, 2001 model year. Is this the custom or the limited? The custom must have been GM’s Base Mid-Sized car. They are everywhere. But they feel CHEAP and TINNY when you shut the doors. (To punctuate that thought) I bought a 1996 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Regency, when my daughter started at the local community college and took the Toyota Camry as her driver.
Much like the 1995 Sedan DeVille, on which the 96 Ninety-Eight was built, it was big, luxurious and solid, inspiring me to push it in the curves (with the factory stock suspension at 130xxx miles and the factory 15”X6” cast wheels and a set of no name Discount Tires, rode very well and the doors closed with a solid “clunk.”
The differences in the cars was night and day. I have to even rate this worse that the 1992 Lumina sedan that had a “Glass Greenhouse” (and a torquier 3.1L version of the same engine that also got better mileage on the Highway).
As far as the seller’s comment, I’m pleased to heed his advice….