1995 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon 4-Door 5.7L, w/ Tow Package & Bitchin' Flames

1995 Buick Roadmaster Description

I know what you're thinking: "I'd be proud to be seen in this woodgrain-flamed station wagon, but I'm not sure I'm cool enough." Have some faith. I think you can pull it off.
General Info
This section is for those uninitiated into the cult of 94-96 GM wagon ownership. If you're already familiar with these cars, skip to the Specific Info section to learn about the car for sale.
Wikipedia has a good primer: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_Roadmaster#1991.E2.80.931996
Here's the gist: In 1991, General Motors came out with an all-new wagon body sold as the Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser, the Chevrolet Caprice, and the Buick Roadmaster Estate. They all had wimpy engines. The Olds was killed after '92. In '94, the 180 horsepower L05 V8 was ditched for the 260 horsepower LT1 V8, the same basic engine used in Corvettes from '94-'96.
Some ads for these '94-'96 GM wagons call them "Corvette engined", but that's not accurate. The Corvette's LT1 in those years made 300 hp. The Buick & Chevy wagon LT1 had iron heads instead of aluminum (heavier but more durable), and a camshaft designed for low-end torque, which is more sensible for a 4500 pound car that seats 8 & tows boats, vs. a 2-seat plastic sports car with no trunk. I'm guessing the wagon's LT1 also has retarded ignition timing as it runs on regular gas, not the premium petrol the 'vette drinks.
Regardless, this is a 4500 pound car that goes 0-60 in under 8 seconds. Mileage isn't bad either: 25 highway (I can testify: I took 8 people with luggage on top from Seattle to Chehalis on I-5 with the cruise control set to 68 and the AC on. 180 miles @ 24.8 mpg.) City mileage is rated at 17, but I've never made it that high, probably because I enjoy acceleration.
The Buick version has all the luxury comforts a Cadillac had. The Buick version also has a nicer interior than the Chevy. While these wagons are 18 feet long, the wheel base is only 116 inches and the front wheels turn sharply, making the turning radius very small. These cars are surprisingly easy to maneuver and park.
As for handling, if your expectations are reasonable, you won't be disappointed. The suspension is designed more for comfort than canyon-carving, but beefy anti-roll bars and decent power steering make aggresive driving borderline fun. They're not the BMW 3-series, but they're not novacained cloudmobiles either. The General made a nice compromise. I've had a couple with performance tires and they understeer at the limit, but that limit is confidence-inspiring and grin-inducing. It has a self-leveling rear air-suspension that makes it drive nicely when loaded.
The '95s & 96s have larger & better side view mirrors than previous years.
The drive-trains on these cars are bullet-proof. Reliability is excellent. Seats are good. Visibility is good. They drive great. In my experience (I've owned six) their weaknesses are cheap trim inside & out that falls off, roof glass that leaks, windows that go cockeyed because of a cheap plastic part, and rear window washers that fail.
Specific Info
I've owned a '94, three '95s, and two '96s. I guess you could say I'm a fan. I sold the others to buy ones in better shape, and I totalled one. I'm selling this one because I bought an insanely customized '96 and decided I don't need two wagons.
The mileage is high, but these engines are understressed in this application and are good for 200K without being opened. The transmission (4-speed auto, 4L60E) was rebuilt at 125K miles (have paperwork). The limited-slip rear end is quiet.This wagon is dark cherry metallic with a tan leather interior, the best combo in my opinion. It has the highly-desirable tow package (limited-slip rear end, trans cooler, etc.).
The following have been replaced during my ownership (have service records):

• HVAC blower
• Radiator
• Rear shocks
• Fuel pump
• Water pump
• Distributor cap & rotor
• Cooling fans
• Front brakes
• Stock stereo. Now a detachable face JVC CD Receiver
• Stock air filter. Now a K&N high flow
• All fluids as needed (see service records)

No rust-through. Only surface rust typical of a 20-year-old car.
Tires are easily within the first quarter of their tread wear.
The car starts instantly, hot or cold. It drives as it should. There are no engine noises that shouldn't be, and the engine uses less than a quart between oil changes. (I use Mobil 1, changing it every 10K. I add no oil between changes.)
Except as noted below, everything works as it should.
Negatives
This car had a low-speed front-end collision shortly after I bought it. I replaced the hood, grille, and headlights. The radiator core-support got bent and I straightened it with a come-along and a telephone pole (see pic). Everything works fine but damage is visible on the left fender and the hood latch does not function as it should (still operable, but requires an awkward reach to undo the safety latch).
The water pump has recently started to leak, which means it should be replaced soon.
The windshield has two cracks. If they meet, the windsheld should be replaced.
The AC is not even remotely cold.
Front passenger window is cockeyed going up. You need to help it with one hand. I have the part to fix it but have been too busy. (Remove the door panel and replace the roller on the end of the lift arm. Not hard, just tedious.)
Rear wiper is broken off, but the motor works, so you could put another one on if you wanted.
Window tint has started bubbling.
Driver's seat has small tears in leather.
Carpet is stained.
Missing trim panel on rear door, outside.
The struts for the rear window are replacements and I've yet to find replacement struts that conduct electricity as the factory ones do; hence the wire around each strut to keep the rear defroster working.
I keep a bungee cord on the hood as a security blanket because the hood has popped up to the safety latch a couple times since the accident, but you don't need it.
Equipment
Here are the important RPO Codes for this car (you can decode the entire SPI label [see pic] at rpocodes.com):
F40 Heavy Duty SuspensionGW9 2.93:1 Rear Gear RatioG67 Automatic Air Load-LevelingG80 Limited-Slip DifferentialKC4 Heavy Duty Engine Oil Cooling SystemKD1 Transmission Fluid CoolerKG9 140 Amp AlternatorLT1 5.7 Liter V8, High OutputM30 4L60E 4-speed AutomaticN10 Dual ExhaustUQ3 Performance Enhanced Audio SpeakersV08 Heavy Duty Cooling SystemV92 Trailer Provisions
Some sellers make their descriptions as positive as they can. I try to make my descriptions as real as I can. I hate going to look at a car and finding a flaw that was never mentioned or never photographed; it's a waste of everyone's time. If you're local, I encourage you to come see & drive this car. If you're having it shipped, I'm home during the day and can assist your shipper.
Buying a car online can be hard. I've done it several times. Here's how I operate: if you win this auction but are disappointed in this car for any reason (how it looks, how it drives, whatever), you don't have to buy it. You can have your deposit back. No negative feedback. The fault will be entirely mine for failing to describe the car accurately.

On Sep-30-16 at 07:52:37 PDT, seller added the following information:

BTW, the Buy It Now price is $1000.