Information about our LeSabre

General Info:

  • Official Name: 1996 Buick LeSabre Limited
  • Scientific Name: GM H-body
  • Nickname: None, yet. Ideas?
  • Color: Black
  • Miles: 189,000 (as of 11-22-08, originally 161,000)

Under the Hood:

  • Engine: 3.8 Liter (231 c.i.) V6, OHV, 2 Valves/Cyl
  • Horsepower: 205 @ 5200 RPM
  • Torque: 230 ft-lbs @ 4000 RPM
  • Transmission: 4-speed automatic w/overdrive

Dimensions:

  • Length: 200" (5.08 meters)
  • Width: 73.6" (1.87 meters)
  • Height: 55.7" (1.41 meters)
  • Wheelbase: 110.8" (2.81 meters)
  • Track, front/rear: 60.4"/60.2" (1.53m/1.53m)
  • Curb Weight: 3430 lbs (1550 kg)
  • Tires: Cooper Lifeliner Classic II 205/70R15

Performance:

  • 0-60 mph, sec: ?
  • Quarter Mile, sec/mph: ?@? mph
  • Braking, 60-0 mph, ft: ? ft

Best Observed:

  • Speed: 85 mph (summer '06)
  • MPG: 29 mpg (summer '07)
  • Utility: One child and a lot of camping gear (Summer '08)

Stuff we've had to do to it thus far:

  • 10-7-05: Removed the hideous driving lights and scraped off an old parking permit. Cost: $0
  • 10-22-05: Put on a new Gatorback serpentine belt (the old one was looking craked and unhappy). Cost: $25
  • 10-29-05: Got a new (junkyard) fuel filler door to replace the one that was rusting off. Cost: $14.50 (including sandpaper, primer, and paint)
  • 7-14-06: Had a used/reman transmission installed. Cost: $1500
  • 10-20-07: Repaired some rust damage inside of the rear wheel-well. Cost: $20

Stuff we didn't have to do, but did anyway:

  • 11-26-05: Added a custom CAI (Cold Air Intake), which should improve both fuel mileage and performance. Cost: Not sure, the components were a gift
  • 7-29-06: Finished installing FE2/F41 sway bars, which are thicker than the stock FE1 parts, for better handling and stability. Cost: Around $50-60, including hardware

Related Links:

About the LeSabre
October, 2005 - July, 2010

Buick LeSabre
Viewed from the front
Buick LeSabre
As seen from the rear

7-23-10 - Sold. After about a month of being for sale, we have sold our LeSabre. It sold for about what I thought it would, but not before making me replace it's front brakes and radiator. The brakes we replaced about 1,000 miles before selling it, and the radiator sprung a leak on it's first test-drive. Cars know when they are being sold, and they don't like it. So in the end, we didn't get as much money out of the car as we'd hoped. But such is life.

It's replacement is our new 2001 Grand Caravan. Hopefully it treats us as well as our LeSabre did. Well, minus the transmission failing within the first 10,000 miles.

11-22-08 - Over two years, and nothing too serious to report here. I think that makes this a good car, after all. Actually, there have been some troubles not mentioned. One of the front subframe attachment bolts rusted through it's washer, and then broke off as I attempted to fix it, which then made it necessary to cut a hole through the driver's side floor to access the hidden captive nut. So I did that, got it all fixed up, and patched it with some spare sheet-metal and goop. Everything is under the carpet, so you'd never know. I think that the auto-level suspension air compressor has died, also. I plan to fit it with a manual fill kit eventually, just for those overloaded camping trips and such. Still, not bad at all.

7-14-06 - Well, many months later, the LeSabre has a new transmission. It's actually a GM reman that got in a wreck, but it seems to be working great so far. Perhaps best of all, it has a one year warranty on parts and labor. Anyway, it's good to have it back on the road.

11-30-05 - Good news and bad news. The good news is that we installed a really nice custom CAI, and it seems to work great. The bad news is that about half way through my first full throttle test run of that CAI, the transmission broke. The other good news is that it broke no more than a mile away from home, so I could nurse it back into the garage. We'll have to get that fixed sometime.

10-6-05 - We just bought this one. We were really looking for an Oldsmobile 88, but this was a great deal, and it's very cushy. I also vowed that I would never own a black car again, but this black car was a great deal. And it really looks good in black, I think. Hopefully it works good and lasts a very long time.