How does the Buick 3.1 stack up?

"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem) 04/01/2019 at 12:50 • Filed to: Cars I might buy for my daughter

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The Taurus was sold before I could get to the seller. So this is my next candidate for LittleGolem’s first car.

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I’ll ask the seller to kindly throw those steering wheel covers away.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > CalzoneGolem 04/01/2019 at 13:00

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I had a 1991 Grand Prix with the 3.1, it’s oil still drained honey color despite having 250,000 miles on the clock. 142k from the previous owner, 108k from me when I sold it in 2001. Not particularly fast, but it did well enough.

CalzoneGolem > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 04/01/2019 at 13:04

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That sounds pretty good.

PS9 > CalzoneGolem 04/01/2019 at 13:06

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Come on, at least get her the 3.8. 

OPPOsaurus WRX > CalzoneGolem 04/01/2019 at 13:06

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i didn’ t look at who posted this, only the link and I’m like ‘o shit wheres Calzone?!? that would be perfect for his girl. .... oh, its him ’

lone_liberal > CalzoneGolem 04/01/2019 at 13:07

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If they’re throwing in both steering wheel covers I don’t know how you could possibly walk away from it.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > CalzoneGolem 04/01/2019 at 13:10

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I had one in the monte carlo LS I autocrossed. Hit 200k and then everything exploded. Good first car. Could be fixed with the 20$ harbor frei ght ratchet set and 40-60$ cash at the nearest auto parts store. Since EVERYTHING on the 3.1 is both cheap and readily available.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > CalzoneGolem 04/01/2019 at 13:15

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IIRC not inspiring but smooth and built very tough. I think I’d prefer the buick over the taurus too.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > CalzoneGolem 04/01/2019 at 13:20

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Pretty solid as far as I know.

Shift24 > CalzoneGolem 04/01/2019 at 13:22

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Not bad but 3.8l is way better if at all possible. Dexcool issues are plentiful on these years. Car will still run forever, just top off coolant. I think there is an inherent issue with the crank pulleys of the 3.1 and 3.4L but rare to cause an issue.

Even so way better off than the Taurus  

Zed28M6 > CalzoneGolem 04/01/2019 at 13:26

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Good news is that the 3.1L/3.4L/3.5L was in practically a billion cars, so a cheap replacement will be easy to find if it ever blows up, but my money would be on that slush box letting go far sooner.

There is no way that is a $2k car though. More like $850.

Quadradeuce > CalzoneGolem 04/01/2019 at 13:41

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My parents had a van with one that ran 300k+ miles.  My brother and I both had HS cars with the 3.1 that were former salesman cars.  Meaning, they had a lot of miles on them.  Not really sure how many, the odometers broke.  Anyway, we beat the shit out of those cars for about 4 years each before they died.  No complaints on the 3.1.  Tried and true, IMHO.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > CalzoneGolem 04/01/2019 at 13:47

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It’ll probably need intake manifold Haley’s at some point in it’s life if they haven’t been done yet. Well, maybe even if they have. But other than that they’re fine. Reliable, cheap, a solid teen  option.

CalzoneGolem > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 04/01/2019 at 13:52

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What’s an intake manifold Haley’s?  

CalzoneGolem > Quadradeuce 04/01/2019 at 13:52

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Radical!

CalzoneGolem > Zed28M6 04/01/2019 at 13:53

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I can tell you with confidence that this is not an $850 car in my market.

CalzoneGolem > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 04/01/2019 at 13:55

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This is what I like to hear.

CalzoneGolem > lone_liberal 04/01/2019 at 13:55

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Then you can switch them out depending on your mood? Brilliant.

CalzoneGolem > OPPOsaurus WRX 04/01/2019 at 13:57

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Trying to sell MrsGolem on it now. I’m leaning on the snow tires for the safety factor.

CalzoneGolem > PS9 04/01/2019 at 13:59

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Ok

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > CalzoneGolem 04/01/2019 at 14:01

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The 3.1 is the biggest heap of MEH you will ever find in your life. It is gutless as fuck, it is a pain in the ass to work on, there’s nothing you can do to fix any of it, and it will just go forever.

It’s not anywhere near 3.8 levels of bulletproof, but, it will go moon mileage. The transmission sure as fuck won’t, but the engine certainly will. Being an ‘01 in this case, intake manifold gasket is a must. At 83k, this one PROBABLY hasn’t had it done.

That’s about the only thing you will actually break on these mechanically . ‘00-’01 you might run into a head gasket failure at some point. You WILL run into minor electrical stuff like the coilpack, but that’s one of the few easy fixes. (The plugs are not. They suck ass. You will hate life.)

Transmission, you can usually get 130-150k out of it if you actually follow the goddamn service recommendations. Any mechanic that says fluid changes on these take out all the important metal particles should be immediately shot. 70k is the absolute max between changes, and 50k is better. Fluid AND filter, every change.

Presuming no rust, $1250-1500 would be a very fair price for this one. Rust? You run the fuck away. The engine cradle on these WILL rot out WITHOUT WARNING. And I have SEEN it cause wrecks multiple times.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > CalzoneGolem 04/01/2019 at 14:02

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Damnit autocorrect! *Gasket

CalzoneGolem > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 04/01/2019 at 14:05

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Ah! That makes more sense to me.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > CalzoneGolem 04/01/2019 at 14:06

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Best part was the badging - I had a monte carlo LS. So rearranging the letters using the sides and back, I had “CAR” for a model and “LOL” in the trim using the actual GM letters and not the shitty lick-and-stick ones you get from pep boys.

CalzoneGolem > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 04/01/2019 at 14:10

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I had a similar gen Lumina and the paint fell off and took the letters with it. 

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > CalzoneGolem 04/01/2019 at 14:13

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There was another guy who would autoX a lumina. We also had a cobalt LS and a saab 9-3 in what we called the “GM Understeerers Club”. We, uh......We never did that well. Al ways great comedy when we ran though.

shop-teacher > CalzoneGolem 04/01/2019 at 14:15

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I was going to say the same thing. That went unnoticed in my in-law’s ‘98 Malibu with the 3.1 , and cost them a short block.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks 04/01/2019 at 14:52

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+1 on all of this.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > CalzoneGolem 04/01/2019 at 15:07

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At first I couldn’t tell if the slightly rose colored metal on the actual wheel was intentional or just fading patina.

After looking for five minutes, I still can’t tell. Nice car though. I’d offer $1200, maybe 14 if no rust. 

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > CalzoneGolem 04/01/2019 at 15:42

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Anything GM V6 from mid-80's onwards should be pretty damn solid. The rest of the car might fall apart around it but  the engine will keep going until long after hu manity is gone.

LongbowMkII > CalzoneGolem 04/01/2019 at 15:55

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Some years/versions tend to develop a lower intake manifold gasket leak which can put coolant where it shouldn’t be

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > CalzoneGolem 04/01/2019 at 16:17

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This would be a solid car for her, way better choice than the Taurus.

Watch intake gaskets on the 3100, otherwise they’re decent motors. Not fast, but acceptable, and return decent mileage.

I’d say search for a 3800 powered variant, but this is a good choice.

AMC/Renauledge > CalzoneGolem 04/01/2019 at 16:32

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Make sure the 3.1L has had its head gasket fixed. Or buy it and immediately invest in the kit that fixes GM’s mistakes.

AMC/Renauledge > CalzoneGolem 04/01/2019 at 16:33

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The 3.8 wasn’t available in the Century of this vintage . You’d have to get a Regal to get the 3.8L.

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 04/01/2019 at 16:53

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I declare shenanigans!

How many transmissions?!

The oil description definitely checks out though.

CalzoneGolem > AMC/Renauledge 04/02/2019 at 08:07

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https://maine.craigslist.org/cto/d/portland-2002-buick-park-avenue/6852547483.html