Affordable Luxury: 1990 Buick Riviera

In many ways, the 1990 Buick Riviera attempted to correct some of the missteps of previous model years, where an overabundance of concern over fuel economy caused GM to significantly alter a historic nameplate. Making the Riviera into anything other than a high-end, land yacht cruiser was seen as a mortal sin by many of the luxury model’s faithful customers, and when 1990 rolled around, some of the style and grace the car was known for had returned. While it didn’t do much to restore sales numbers to pre-malaise era levels, the 1990 Riviera today represents a reliable, affordable entry into classic car ownership. Find this low-mileage Riviera here on eBay with bids to $8,500 and no reserve.

In 1986, the Buick Riviera was a significantly different car than it had been in years prior. 20 inches was chopped out of its overall length, the V8 was gone, and it was ho-hum in terms of styling. If you had been a previous owner of a Riviera, you likely saw it as some sort of an accomplishment, a sign that you had made it. The Riviera was a statement to all onlookers that you were well-suited to high-style and opulent luxury. To see such a significant vehicle downsized was an insult to Buick loyalists. When the 1989 refresh debuted, the length and V8 didn’t return, but the styling at least spoke to being a luxury-oriented vehicle. The rear end treatment was particularly striking.

Though it didn’t do much for sales numbers, it was the return of the personal luxury coupe. Despite headwinds that indicated this class of vehicle was a dying breed, Buick hadn’t yet figured out (did it ever?) how to entice younger shoppers into the showroom. Therefore, it had to appeal to its base, so an opulent coupe was what the doctor ordered. The Riviera was generally a high-quality product with typical GM shortcomings, but this was the era when the company began installing high-tech touchscreens (the famous “CRT”) inside its upper-tier models. This, along with acres of leather and thick carpeting, gave off the veneer of luxury.

Under the hood was a familiar sight across GM’s lineup: the 3800 V6 with sequential fuel injection with 165 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque. Not exactly a powerhouse, but sufficient and cheap to run. These days, the Riviera isn’t much of a collectible but that makes it possible to buy the best one out there for relative pocket change. The CRT units can fail as can the load-leveling suspension. The seller reports that there’s just over 62,000 original miles on this Buick, and that’s also equipped with a power moonroof. This appears to be a turnkey classic you can enjoy right now, especially if comfort cruising is your jam.