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Used 1996 Buick Century Sedan Consumer Reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
17 reviews

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3.38 out of 5 stars

Grandpa likes gGandma's car

russ, 05/14/2005
1996 Buick Century 4dr Sedan
8 of 8 people found this review helpful

Oned it for 9 yrs,no major problems,yet little plastic things like to break off like the slide buttons on the radio or the knob on the front seat adjust or the plastic handle on the emergency brake. B after nine years of use that can be expected...still runs good and that is the most important part

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4.88 out of 5 stars

So many still on the rooad

Been Around, 05/25/2009
1996 Buick Century 4dr Sedan
7 of 7 people found this review helpful

I bought this car in Florida, drove it around the country, through snow, rain, sleet, desert... It has always been reliable. Recntly I parked in a parking lot in our SMALL town and there were five Buick Centuries, from !980's through 2000 models. Little things like power window failures go, I replaced struts, but with regular maintenance, these cars seem to run forever, get good gas mileage, and my giant dog can spread out in the backseat!

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4.75 out of 5 stars

Solid reliabble ride

triple J, 04/12/2004
1996 Buick Century 4dr Sedan
6 of 6 people found this review helpful

This is hands down the best vehicle I have owned! It has never let me down, and the original engine & tranny have well over 100K miles. Fuel economy is not bad, especially considering the V6 power that the car has. In my opinion, GM's 3100 engine ranks right up there with the 3800 for the best engine GM has EVER made. Great car!

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5 out of 5 stars

my first car

breazy love it baby, 03/14/2010
1996 Buick Century 4dr Sedan
5 of 5 people found this review helpful

i read a comment about it not being good for a teenager its all how you look at it. I was 17 when I bought the car from my dad. at first I was hesitant. Then I fell in love. It was reliable, smooth to drive , and so comfortable. I think its all the way you look at it I don't want to say the car fit me but I fit my car. mine was a custom edition. Well I am not quite sure it said custom on the exterior, but on the dash it said limited so I loved it and I think no matter the age this car is perfect. sad story mine was stolen and everything was ruined the leather was torn engine, taken out the list goes on. Now I am on the search to own my champagne colored whip once again.."it's all krystalle"

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4.88 out of 5 stars

This Century is nice

Jayson, 05/29/2007
1996 Buick Century 4dr Sedan
3 of 3 people found this review helpful

This car is great. Extremely nice suspension, handles good, drives nice. Close to 200,000 miles and the engine and tranny are real good. Great cruise control. And the body is excellent also.

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3 out of 5 stars

"Auction Blues"

NW, 04/05/2017
1996 Buick Century 4dr Sedan
3 of 4 people found this review helpful

I purchased the vehicle at an auction for $2500 and based on appearance, one owner and 75K miles for a 1996 model it seemed like a good buy. After driving the vehicle 2-3 times a week for (5) months I now have the "auction blues" because of current repairs: New tire, oil pan/intake gaskets, rear shocks, headliner, accelerator/throttle adjustment, realigned drivers door so it closes properly, replaced cracked/peeling hubcap, electrical problems with passenger windows and brake pads . Repairs were $1065 added to the purchase price of $2500 for a total of $3565. So, I have a loss of $1865 per Edmunds appraisal of $1700.

Safety
3 out of 5 stars
Technology
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
3 out of 5 stars
Value
3 out of 5 stars
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3.13 out of 5 stars

1996 Buick Century

RKS, 05/31/2002
1996 Buick Century 4dr Sedan
2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Replaced warped brake rotor to fix brake surging. Intake manifold gasket leaked coolant into crankcase. Interior design is clumsy and not well thought out. Paint finish on hood has rust pits that developed under paint.

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1.63 out of 5 stars

My Lemon

Century Special, 09/02/2005
1996 Buick Century 4dr Sedan
2 of 4 people found this review helpful

Since the day I bought the car brand new, I've had problems with it. The dealership did nothing but blame it on my tires. It has front end shimmy so bad, I can't keep tires on it. The window motor failed. The door lock broke. The intermitent windshield wipers were just that...intermitent. They worked when the felt like it. The heater died. The brakes had to be continually replaced. I have not one good thing to say about this car. Don't buy this car.

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3.75 out of 5 stars

Good rental car

Bill H., 07/13/2002
1996 Buick Century 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Purchased as one year old prior rental, good second car with good gas mileage of 29 mpg. Above average fit and finish and overall reliability. Good basic 4- door car despite aging design. Engine 3.1L at 103k miles still not burning or leaking oil, which is saying a lot for an American make car. Transmission still smooth. Easy to change own oil. Drawback is suspension very soft, and turning radius too wide for size of car.

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4.13 out of 5 stars

Happy to have it

Don Carlo, 10/23/2002
1996 Buick Century 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

I bought this car i 2000, it had only 14K M, now it has 63,500 I live in Monterrey Mexico, two hours from the border, this year we had a travel from Laredo, Tx to Los Angeles and Las Vegas, car response EXCELLENT. I wont sell it, I had also an 1988 Century, you can die on it!!!!!

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4.63 out of 5 stars

1996 buick century special great car

sorrel, 01/06/2004
1996 Buick Century 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

very dependable car smoothest ride imaginable for the money lots of convenient options amazing gas mileage- 30 mpg hwy !!!!

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3.25 out of 5 stars

Great car ... until now!

Kim , 02/02/2006
1996 Buick Century 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

My car only has 50k miles on it - it has never left me stranded. We recently had an incident where it was in park, with engine running, in someone's driveway. After I got out of the car, it automatically locked and about 7 seconds later rolled forward on the uphill driveway. It hit a car in the driveway and a house. Upon impact of hitting the house it unlocked. My 2 children were in their carseats in the back seat when this happened. Mechanic finds absolutely nothing wrong with it. We have had no problems with it before this.

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3.13 out of 5 stars

How old are you?

boshsb, 10/14/2007
1996 Buick Century 4dr Sedan
2 of 5 people found this review helpful

Car is a good first car with outdated styling(they kept the body from the early 80s to mid 90s) and bad handling. Bad understeer tendency that is exaggerated by wet weather. I got the car at 90k and killed it around 115k. Stock struts are miserable and I killed a total of two front pair. Went through 8 tires on it (1sets rear, 3 front) until it finally died, the differential went out, but not before the rear window motors starred going (hence not my fault, the diff was). If you are good though, it can out handle a Civic due to its ability to power out of turns. It can do burnouts, drifts and anything else you make it do, but it will fight you all the way.

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1.75 out of 5 stars

not a good first car

vash gulan, 03/15/2003
1996 Buick Century 4dr Sedan
1 of 3 people found this review helpful

as a teen you hate it. all your friends have nice cars while you are stuck with a 1996 buick century. it is like something your grandma should be driving. i did not like it i got bad gas mileage for a poor teenager. it had no pick up. had to upgrade everything.

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4.13 out of 5 stars

My Car

Yaakapo, 04/20/2002
1996 Buick Century 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I like to drive the car. I sit up fairly high and do not need a cushion.

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3.5 out of 5 stars

Best used car I have ever bought.

Beatle412, 01/10/2006
1996 Buick Century 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Works fine, had very low mileage when I purchased it and it has never left me stranded. I have had to replace a few routine things on the car, as with any car. I do notice a tendedncy for the 3.1 to have excessive noise. I was told that this is due to some of the rod lenth being off by thousandths of a second.

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5 out of 5 stars

Best Ever

Laura, 08/07/2020
1996 Buick Century 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

24-year-old car. Had for 22 years. 130,000 miles on it. I've been recently test-driving many makes which were brand new. None compare to the smoothness, comfort, handling, dependability, and quiet ride. Always first off at the traffic light. No transmission problem ever. Main problem was automatic windows.

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