1997 Buick Skylark Consumer Reviews

My parent's 97 skylark...

Vehicle

1997 Buick Skylark Custom 4dr Sedan

Review

Just got my permit in November, and love to drive this car. The controls are all easy to get to, It has a lot of power, very good handling, safe and smooth ride, but don't expect it to drive like a Caddy or Roadmaster. My parents made 2, 300 some mile trips from wv to ohio and had no issues to speak of. also, later on after I got my permit, we made a drive from oak hill, wv to Grantsville, MD, and 3 weeks later Oak Hill, WV to Severn MD and again, no problems to speak of. And the car has around 119,500 miles on it. Have had the car a little over a year and it is very reliable. When I turn 16, I want a Skylark as a first car.
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Best Quality and Reliable Car

Vehicle

1997 Buick Skylark Custom 4dr Sedan

Review

I have found this car needs very little maintenance and is made of great quality. Very reliable! The gas mileage is unbelievable for an older car.
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Grandma's 97 Buick skylark

Vehicle

1997 Buick Skylark Custom 4dr Sedan

Review

My Buick Skylark has only 35,000 miles and was my grandmother's from 1997- 2003. After she died I got the car and it is a great little car in perfect shape and reliable--until now. The water pump went and I found out that it takes hours to get to the pump and it costs $$$--$750.00 to replace it-- and a gasket too. Why did Buick design an engine that would be so hard to get to a water pump. The mechanic suggested that as long as you are paying for the cost of labor to get to the water pump you should have several other somewhat related items fixed as well. I called the dealer to verify the extent in reaching the water pump and they verified this issue. Not good.
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junk

Vehicle

1997 Buick Skylark Custom 2dr Coupe

Review

Lower control arm bushing (driver side) popped out while under warranty. Passenger side popped out after out of warranty-$130 for control arm loaded w/new bushings-I installed it. Ignition switch went bad- THEFT light was flashing and no start-$540 to tow and repair. Windshield wiper motor went out-$230 new motor installed. Driver side window popped out of the track at top of window-haven't fixed it yet. Alternator went out-$95 with exchange-I installed it.Remote trunk release cable snapped. Remote filler door seized up.On it's second set of rotors.This car had 33000 miles when i bought it in 2000. It now has 72000 on it, so it's not like it has a hard life.
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Sweet car

Vehicle

1997 Buick Skylark Custom 4dr Sedan

Review

Great fuel economy. Very fun to drive. Mine has a 2.4l twin cam. Very fast, it beat my friends 14,9 sec. focus with just an intake and muffler. Love it
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Car to last

Vehicle

1997 Buick Skylark Custom 4dr Sedan

Review

I got my 97 as a program car from a dealership, in 98. I had problems with the radiator and once the water pump. After these were taken care of the car has been reliable and trustworthy. No it is not a stylish car but it still has time to get to 100,000 and some paint is chipping and the windows are in tough shape(bad electrical windows!) I would buy another Buick in a heartbeat but with roll-down windows! Forgot to say...air conditioner just went on it and the knobs for the dash are hard to find when you replace them.
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They just keep running...

Vehicle

1997 Buick Skylark Custom 4dr Sedan

Review

This is my second Skylark, my first was a 1991. These cars just never quit, my first was sent (running) to the junk yard with 179,000 miles and my 1997 is about to rollover 160,000. They both had their little mechanical quirks, but nothing too expensive and nothing out of the ordinary. They have never needed new transmissions or waterpumps. Even with the redesigned quad4, which was an initial worry... this car hasn't let me down. Buicks have made my life much easier:)
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Our 97 Skylark

Vehicle

1997 Buick Skylark Custom 4dr Sedan

Review

I purchased this vehicle in 2003. We all really liked it. However, one year later in 2004 it needed a new water pump. Imagine my surprise when I was told that the cost to replace most water pumps was about $150.00 but because of the way they built this car (quad 4 engine, a very poor design), it would be $640.00! Not only that, but any future repairs would also be very expensive as you practically had to take the engine out to get at anything. Our car repair service would not even look at it because it was so expensive to repair. They told me I would have to take it to a dealer. Well, as much as I liked this little car, I sold it that day!
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Good little Buick

Vehicle

1997 Buick Skylark Custom 4dr Sedan

Review

Good little car. Gave me a scare at the GM dealers when we thought the rattling noise was an oil pressure plunger 600 bucks but turned out it was low 1 quart of oil. Dodged the bullet there. Gas milage lousy for a 4 banger (20 city)
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My 97 Skylark

Vehicle

1997 Buick Skylark Custom 4dr Sedan

Review

I bought my car used in Oct 1997 with 12000 miles on it. Beside regular maintance and replacing the water pump at 50000 miles, my Buick has been trouble free. It now has 150,000 miles. It's a great car!
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