Hiya I have wanted a new Riv since the last body style came out. Maybe it's because the Riviera was the last 'new' car I have seen that has any hint of styling, but I love the car's lines. A breath of fresh air in a sea of automotive clones. I need to buy a car. I want a Riv. Now it's my understanding that the '98 and up models had supercharging, standard There is a dealer with a '96 that I am going to look at, I think. It has the supercharged engine. What do I nned to consider when looking at these cars? Impeller gear has been mentioned to me as a problem. Anything else? I'm looking at putting 2K down on the car and paying the rest in 3 years (no I don't have my heart set on the black '96, I'm just saying 'any' Riv for sale, I have a plan), and also, my old company's 401K is tanking, and I'll pull a grand or two out when I close out that account...lost 3 grand in it over the last year so I'm pulling out. Please no 401K advice. Big boy and all that
Chris, Biggest thing to check for is the supercharger. I've heard of them lasting 200,000 miles or only 60,000 miles. With the hood up, "wing" the throttle. As the rpm comes back down, listen for a rattle noise from the snout of the supercharger. If it makes one (the noise), it will need a supercharger soon. Rebuilt ones are available from http://www.gmusedparts.com/models.html . They are about $900 rebuilt. Other than that, just your normal stuff to check out with any used car. We have a '95 Riv my son drives. Has about 95,000 miles on it and the supercharger is just starting to make some noise. Will probably change it out this spring with one I picked up at the Buick Centennial for $175 from a 25,000 mile Park Ave. That one was a deal!
Off the top of my head, I do know somepeople have had a hard time with the supercharger, not owning one of the cars I'm not exactly sure what the problem is. Also I've heard that like most cars, the first year of the model change was the least reliable and that would be the 1995.
Thanks! $900 bucks isn't too bad, I suppose, when transmissions for '90s cars cost a couple grand! The '96 I saw is only $4700, it must have been on their used car lot for a long time now From a dealer, I will be merciless with checking out the car. Well, actually, I'm pretty merciless checking out used cars anyway :laugh: But I do so want one. I had a '73 Riv but I never drove it...engine's in my Skylark :3gears:
