He is moving in to replace an existing roommate, and needed a car. I called him over and we poked around Craigslist for about a half hour when we stumbled on a 1997 Century Custom with 137k, $1600.
I told the guy we were heading over immediately. We stopped at the bank across the street, got the cash, and drove up the boulevard (he lived nearby). Took it for a test drive, came back 5 minutes later, and a car pulled up behind us with people who wanted to buy it. We handed over the cash, declared ownership, signed some papers, and took it home.
The people who arrived after us were apparently late, so they missed out.
It smells like cigarettes but the interior is in otherwise decent shape. Some of the rubber seals on the door need replacement or need to be glued back, but the panels and seats look nice.
AC works, heat works, radio sounds great, and power windows and locks work. Has keyless entry too.
There's a dent on the trunk lid and a couple big dents on the fender. The hood needs to be pushed back into place, but otherwise its nice. Not in mint condition, but pretty damn amazing for the price.
The 3100 V6 has some power from 0-30, then peters off. You can't really hear the motor, or anything else. If you step on it, you hear a hum from the front while the car accelerates modestly.
The factory radio sounds great for being nothing fancy. None of the speakers are blown and the display has HUGE letters, probably so older Buick drivers can see it.
The Check Engine light is on and brake light comes on intermittently. Brakes work surprisingly well. I expected mush, but they stop with some authority.
Handling? Well, if you can imagine laying in a waterbed and rolling around, that's how it handles. Thats fine, because it rides beautifully. Buick has something called "Dynaride", which is probably a gimmicky name for Buick's traditional mush ride.
And steering... well it steers.
I like the interior though. The plastic is rubberized or padded, and the bunched vinyl on the doors feels nice.
The gauges are big and clear, if a little cheap looking.
So there you have it, basic reliable transportation from GM with a few niceties. It was an excellent value back then for people who just wanted a comfortable, conservative car without the power and showiness of a Cadillac or the common cheapness of a Chevy.
Quick ratings:
Powertrain: 3/5 Its slow but smooth. I can't feel it shift, which is a little odd. I can't really hear the motor either. There's sufficient torque for moving around town but not a whole lot of passing power.
Audio/Electronics: 4/5 Everything seems to work and controls are almost child-friendly with how large all the knobs and displays are. This particular Century lacks power mirrors and power seats.
Comfort/Interior: 4/5 There isn't any lateral support to speak of, but I like the idea of having the utility of a bench seat. Everything feels nice, if not expensive. Buick values through and through.
Steering/Suspension/Handling: 2/5 It steers reasonably well enough, but around corners you really have to slow down. The whole car seems to float on a body of water.
Overall: 4/5 I get it now. I see why people buy this kind of car. Its not my style, but its something I can understand. The value for money when it was new was pretty darn good. An Intrepid offered a LOT more car for the money, but less dependability.
