Saleofcar.com :Buick

Buick Roadmaster (1996)
for sale

Price: US $3,000.00

Description:

I'll assume you know all about the 94-96 Roadmaster wagons and why they're great in general, and just talk about this particular one. This is the fifth one I've had, and I'm only selling it to make room for a sixth. This wagon has:Dark cherry metallic paintTan leather interiorLimited-slip differentialTow packageProfessional window tintHere 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 ProvisionsI got this one 2.5 years ago at 102K miles and had everthing fixed that needed fixing (see scans of service orders):Complete rear brake jobFront brake padsBrake system flush and new fluidFour-way wheel alignmentCooling system flush, pressure test, new coolantTransmission flush and fluid changeRear diff servicedPower steering flush and changeFuel injector cleaningNew oxygen sensorNew spark plugsNew Opti-spark distributorNew cap & rotorNew serpentine beltNew hosesNew air & fuel filtersNew rear shocksNew center link & idler armAs you can see, I was planning on keeping this one a while. It drives great: tight on-center steering, smooth shifting, quiet power, linear braking. Power everything and it all works like new, except as noted below.
What isn't perfect:A/C works, but is luke cold. After 20 years, it probably just needs recharging, but I live in Seattle so I don't use it.The radio antenna does not automatically retract. It goes up fine, but you have to push it down. It's only $160 from rockauto (ACDELCO 19245561) but it never bothered me enough to replace.The tires are closer to done than to new, but they're matching steel-belted radials with plenty of tread left.The Pass Key idiot-light is always on. Don't know why. The internet doesn't seem to know either. It probably has to do with the current ignition key not being the original key, and a GM dealer could probably fix it for you if it bothers you.This car was sold new in Ohio (still has the dealer decal) so there is some surface rust. Nothing major, no cancer (I photographed all the rusty spots) but it's not a show car.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 make the rear defroster work.I'll take my homemade bikerack off if you like, but there will be four bolt holes in the roofrack crossbars.The rear vent windows on these cars all separate from the top hinge, and this car has that too. The vent windows are still usable, however, and they don't leak. The ROADMASTER script came off each rear quarter panel and I haven't re-attached them but they are included. The driver's side mirror got picked-off by a delivery truck. The replacements only came in black. I was able to re-use the colored housing but the base is black (see pic).Other than that, everything works as new. If you're familiar with these cars, you know a lot of them lose their black rubber door-ding trim, not this car; it's not even loose anywhere. A lot of the power windows get cockeyed because a $1 bushing breaks, but I already replaced the one on the passenger rear and the others are fine.
First thing I did when I got this car and before I put any money into it was a compression test and every cylinder was within factory specs and within 5% of each other. As you probably know, these LT1 engines are understressed in this application and should be good for 200K miles before needing to be opened. People refer to these as the Corvette engine, but they have a milder cam and retarded ignition so they run on regular gas and make 260 HP compared to the Corvette's 300 during the 3 years GM used these engines in these wagons ('94-'96). I also read that the LT1s in Buicks have iron blocks for longevity, whereas the Corvette engines have aluminum, so these engines are very similar to the Corvettes but not identical.
Believe the EPA mileage claims; I hauled 7 passengers with luggage up top for 200 miles with the cruise set at 65 and got 24.5 MPG. Empty, it goes 0-60 in under 8 seconds.
About the pictures: I did not detail this car; I just ran it through the Costco car wash on a rare sunny day in January. It will show a lot better with a proper interior and exterior detailing. Some pics are in direct sun, which shows the color well but obscures detail. Some pics are in shade where reflections show how nearly perfect the body is.
$500 deposit at auction's end, the balance by cashier's check. I'm home during the day so can assist with loading. I'm 20 minutes from Sea-Tac airport and will pick you up if you want to fly-in and drive home. If you're local, come look at it and drive it; you're gonna like what you see.
I've bought and sold many cars online and I know it can be hard to evaluate a car without seeing and driving it, so I make you this guarantee: If you win the auction but are disappointed by this car for any reason when you come to pick it up, you can have your money back (but not shipping costs, obviously). No negative feedback, no keeping your deposit. The fault will be entirely mine for failing to describe the car accurately.

_{update: 2016-01-23}