2003 Buick LeSabre: Living up to expectations

[giagastormer]

While in Florida, I had the oppertunity to drive my grand parent's 2003 Buick LeSabre limited. The only real option it has is leather.

I wasn't all that impressed with the interior. The interior build quality is horrible, my 20 year old Oldsmobile puts it to shame - no kidding. The leather feels like it should belong in a Cavalier. Also, the leather feels paper thin. You can find unfinished surfaces throughout the interior. The fit & finish is better in my Aunt's $14,000 Corolla, so are the materials. Upper dash feels nice, reminds of the '06 Impala I sat in. Surprisingly, there is alot of rear seat legroom, much more than that of the Impala.

On the road, the LeSabre is a comfortable cruiser. My grand parents are averaging about 22 mpg, mixed driving. Put the pedal to the floor, and this car goes. After a quick downshift, speed quickly increases. The good ol' 3800 never fails to provide good torque. I was surprised with how it rides. I figured it would be floaty, like how my Ninety Eight rides.

Overall it's a nice car. They kept the sticker, and the price was an even $28k. It would have been $27k, but it has the vinyl roof, which tacked on around $800. The LeSabre is a good example of how much GM's interiors have really improved since 2003.

I like the classic Buick styling of the exterior, too bad that's going away, in favor of new styling themes. Good things can only last so long.

[OzoneGTX]

I sat in one at the dealer, felt comfortable, and got out. There was just nothing in there for me. Especially not with a bright orange G6 GT parked in front of it.

[giagastormer]

I didn't find the seats to be all that comfortable, not as plush as my Olds. I don't know, maybe they just don't build 'em like they use to.

[s113]

Originally Posted by giagastormer

I don't know, maybe they just don't build 'em like they use to.

I think that's true. I rented a Cadillac DeVille two years ago and found the seats to be much firmer than I would expect in that type of vehicle.

[IAMCANADIAN]

if you ever talk to my grampa about the LeSabre, he'd tell you it's the best car ever built, he had a 1992 until he stopped driving and you could be driving a 150,000$ car with a V-12 and an interior with all the latest technology and the best materials you can get and he'd still say the LeSabre is better. In fact every car he owns is the best car you can have, he even owned a brand new VW Rabbit and said it was the best little car where my moms friend bought a brand new VW Rabbit and said it was the biggest P.O.S you could ever buy. He even said my grandma's old 99 Hyundai Sonata 4-cylinder who my aunt owns now, was the ultimate car, well I rode in it and it felt like a turd on wheels, it's slow, awkward, cheap and ugly, we all get tired of hearing how great the Hyundai is, even my aunt doesn't like it much, in fact she thought she was getting the 97 Olds Cutlass Supreme my grandma owned a year and a 1/2 ago before it and sadly was dissappointed when she saw the hyundai. You can like your car, but in his case, every car he owned was the best thing since sliced bread and everybody else's car is either so-so or a P.O.S. Has anybody met anybody like that?

[mgescuro]

The Le Sabres were one of the best cars GM built in the 90's and on. Extremely high reliability and build quality.

But I didn't think Le sabres had a vinyl top option in 2003.

I know the Phaeton roof remained a BTO option for Cadillacs... but not Buicks.

[giagastormer]

The vinyl top was dealer installed. I can't remember the brand.....

[VivienM]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

But I didn't think Le sabres had a vinyl top option in 2003.

I know the Phaeton roof remained a BTO option for Cadillacs... but not Buicks.

When we had a big discussion on vinyl tops a few months ago, someone claimed the last GM products with them from the factory were the 96 Roadmaster/Fleetwood.

That doesn't stop dealers from putting them on LaCrosses, CTSs, STSs, and whatnot.

[CRBoyd91]

My grandpa has a 2003 Buick Lesabre and I'll tell you it's not bad for him. It is a quiet and comforatable cruiser - just what he wants. It will be hard for Buick to shed that image.

[IAMCANADIAN]

that's one of the reasons why I'll never own a buick. Their new products are attractive looking compared to the Grampamobiles they usually offer but they're still dull, and have zero excitement. Also their CXS models which are supposed to be "sporty" should be changed to viagra, cuz all their other trims have "excitement" dysfunction, plus most Buick owners most likely require viagra anyway, no offense to Buick owners, but you have to admit it's probably true, at least the majority of Buick owners anyway.

[Gm786]

The Buick LeSabre is a very good car from what I hear from people.Glad to hear you like it.

[Bravada]

The last LeSabre was a very nice car on the outside. I really liked the late 1990s Buick's design theme, it kinda looked like.... Buick? It was just right for the brand.

I wouldn't like to even touch these seats, however. They look so supportless. On Friday, I had a five-hour drive in a Renault Laguna and this car gave no lumbar support whatsoever... My back was in pain and I was actually tired.