I'm looking to get my first Buick and looking at used 2000-2005 LeSabres and Park Avenues. (I realize there are probably more modern options close to my price range, like the Verano, but I really want a bench seat and the traditional floaty ride that I think you can only get in a large American sedan. I've driven coupes or compacts - Volvo 242, Tercel, Focus - for the past 20 years, so this will be a big and exciting change, I hope.)

I'm looking at 2003 LeSabre Limited with about 40,000 miles, great service records at local Buick dealer (according to Carfax) and a 2005 PA Ultra, with about 70,000 miles, with only a couple of service records (again, according to Carfax). Both are about the same price (< $8000).

I'm leaning towards the LeSabre, because of the seemingly stellar service history and perhaps (according to the interweb) better reliability than the PA. It has fewer miles and, because it doesn't have as many options, presumably fewer things to break that will be costly or complicated to fix. But the LeSabre doesn't have Stabilitrak - should that be a deal breaker? Is the PA the better car, even though it's got more miles and a possibly sketchier service history? Or should I just wait to find a low mileage LeSabre Celebration Edition, which does offer Stabilitrak?

I live in Seattle - so I also need a car that's reasonably easier to maneuver in the rain and on narrow, crowded streets. Thanks for any advice or opinions!

 

No Stab. is DIFFENITLY no deal breaker in my book. I'd absolutely go with the sabre! With the low miles and service records its clearly the best choice. Me, I love my sabre custom and have made it to look like a limited with blackout grille, some emblems and new oem chrome 8 spokes. I really wanted a celebration edition with sunroof but my custom sabre will do JUST fine!

 

Beautiful car! Thanks for the advice - the LeSabre I was looking at has already been snapped up - so I guess I'll have to bide my time for a bit.

 

Thanks! Sorry about that! They dont last long. The parks are nice too. Good luck!

 

Sometimes high mileage ,if highway miles , can be a good buy.
Buicks, when properly maintained don't seem to mind higher mileage
Beautiful car , really nice.

 

Totally agreed! Thank you!