2006 Buick LaCrosse

Ultradog MN · Apr 17, 2015

Good? Bad? Ugly?
My wife's 06 Camry is getting up in miles - 225K+
It's clean, needs nothing, still runs like a watch and has fairly new tires.
Just starting to show some rust.
She would be happy to drive it for a few more years.
Her mother is getting up in age and thinking about letting her Buick go.
We could buy it from her pretty reasonable.
Does anybody here have one? Know of one? Have any opinions on Buicks of that era?
It's a bit bigger which would be nice.
Probably not get the gas mileage of the Camry but that's ok.
Buick is clean - 71K miles, old lady car, well maintained, etc. So Dakota car so not much salt.
Just wondering if it's worth making the switch.
The Buick would be nice but not at the expense of the Toyota's reliability.
We would appreciate any advice.

dhermesc · Apr 17, 2015

Biggest issue is the 3.8 engine will probably need intake manifold gaskets any second now - if they haven't been replaced already. If they have the car is good to go. People brag how great the 3.8 engine is but my personal experience with the 2000 and newer cars has been quite poor.

John M · Apr 17, 2015

That's exactly what my wife is driving right now! Got it with 80000 or so, right at 170000 on it now. Had to replace the belt idler, that's it. He previous car was 01 LeSabre. She had right at 300000 on it before it died. These 2 cars were her work cars, and were driven all day, almost every day.

casecollectorsc · Apr 17, 2015

My Dad had a 07. Great car! Had about 81000 on it when he passed away. Sold it in 2012 for $11,300 on their estate auction. I thought by 06 and up, the gasket issue had gone away.

Dick2 · Apr 17, 2015

Brother has one of that vintage; he hates it. Been in the service bay way too many times.

fightfire · Apr 17, 2015

Have a similar '06, a Lucerne,bought with 67k now nearing 160k. No mechanical issues. Only issue we're having is the poor quality chrome on the steel rims- is peeling off the outside and there is oxidation/pitting on the inner bead allowing for slow leaks on several tires. Will be replacing the rims and driving it until the wheels fall off!
If I'm not in my PU...the Buick suits me fine.

Jmo1999 · Apr 17, 2015

I always said one of the best cars ever built was a 1997-1999 Buick Lesabre, however the 2000's were not as good, there are some bad ones and some good ones. The Lucerne was poor, the Lacrosse seems to be better. The intake gaskets don't leak, its the intake plenum that has to be replaced by 125,000 mi. or it can dump antifreeze into the cylinders. The elbows behind the tensioner need to be replaced with aluminum ones. Buy it and if you start to have problems, sell it as there is always people looking at these cars as reliable, because of their past models. the 3.8L can get up to 32 mpg., ride and drive nice.

hd6gtom · Apr 18, 2015

gasket issue has gone away we at the dealership see them with 250000 miles on them with nothing being done to them. I would not hesitate to buy it.

Ultradog MN · Apr 18, 2015

So you work on these cars?
And can speak of them from first hand experience?
It is a very nice car. I drove it a couple of times but just a few miles to the restaurant, etc.
Thanks to all who replied.

dhermesc · Apr 18, 2015

Maybe so. We had 6 GM cars with 3.8 between 2000 and 2006 as fleet vehicles. Two suffered oil pump failures that destroyed the engine. 3 had intake manifold gasket failures one was sold to the employee driving the car at 65K. The 2007 Impalas that replaced many of them were equipped with 3.9 engines - all three were run to 165K to 175K. Their issue was the transmission - pressure control solenoid failure. Two of the three had this problem - one was fixed (new transmission) one was traded with the issue.

Anonymous-0 · Apr 18, 2015

That Toyota will outlast the Buick.

rview_ · Apr 18, 2015

My aunt has one she bought new, and it is an '06. Around 140k miles now, has had only regular maintenance, no mechanical issues.

2006 Buick LaCrosse

Ultradog MN

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dhermesc

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John M

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casecollectorsc

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Dick2

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fightfire

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Jmo1999

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hd6gtom

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Ultradog MN

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dhermesc

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Anonymous-0

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rview_

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