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Have been searching for a larger older car. I may consider something a little smaller. Is this a good car? Looking at 2003-2005. Is this 3.8 supercharged engine reliable? Any thoughts on this car?
It can be a very good car, overall, but remember the 3.8l supercharged requires premium gas; however, the normally aspirated version in the regular Park Avenue can run on 87 octane. As with the 3.8l engines of this vintage, the Achilles heel is the intake manifold gaskets, upper and lower, that were prone to failure. Other than that, I don't recall anything major with the Park Avenues, and the intake manifold gasket problem did not hit every vehicle as I know someone who has an '04-'05 vintage model with lower mileage (kept in Manhattan) and it has not had the problem.
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All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.
~William Shakespeare (As You Like It Act II, Scene VII)
It can be a very good car, overall, but remember the 3.8l supercharged requires premium gas; however, the normally aspirated version in the regular Park Avenue can run on 87 octane. As with the 3.8l engines of this vintage, the Achilles heel is the intake manifold gaskets, upper and lower, that were prone to failure. Other than that, I don't recall anything major with the Park Avenues, and the intake manifold gasket problem did not hit every vehicle as I know someone who has an '04-'05 vintage model with lower mileage (kept in Manhattan) and it has not had the problem.
Do you think the non Ultra engine would have fewer issues? I am not that interested in the additional power, but think the Ultra looks much more sporty. I am ok putting premium in it, and would choose it if it is not a mechanical nightmare.
The 3800 is one of the best engines ever made. Sc or not. Considering the people who generally own this type of car - the chances of finding a low mileage, garage kept cream puff is much higher then on most other vehicles. If I wanted one I would get one, no hesitation.
The only issue is the intake manifold gaskets, and that does apply to the supercharged version as well. I, too, have no issues putting premium in the car if the manufacturer specs it. The Park Avenue was an excellent vehicle and does what it was designed to do consistently and reliably, such that even knowing the intake manifold gasket could be an issue, I'd not hesitate to recommend it as a buy, and would definitely fix the intake manifold gasket issue should the need arise. Definitely consider a purchase of one, and you may find one with replaced intake manifold gaskets as well, which I believe solved the problem, as I have not heard of the problem recurring among people I know with the 3.8l engine. I had the same engine in a supercharged Bonneville, and that was the only flaw. Had I not known someone who needed a car desperately, I would have kept it as I used to use it to park at the airport when I didn't want to leave another car there. Dead of winter, snow, that car always started and ran well, and still does for the person who now owns it.
__________________
All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.
~William Shakespeare (As You Like It Act II, Scene VII)
The only issue is the intake manifold gaskets, and that does apply to the supercharged version as well. I, too, have no issues putting premium in the car if the manufacturer specs it. The Park Avenue was an excellent vehicle and does what it was designed to do consistently and reliably, such that even knowing the intake manifold gasket could be an issue, I'd not hesitate to recommend it as a buy, and would definitely fix the intake manifold gasket issue should the need arise. Definitely consider a purchase of one, and you may find one with replaced intake manifold gaskets as well, which I believe solved the problem, as I have not heard of the problem recurring among people I know with the 3.8l engine. I had the same engine in a supercharged Bonneville, and that was the only flaw. Had I not known someone who needed a car desperately, I would have kept it as I used to use it to park at the airport when I didn't want to leave another car there. Dead of winter, snow, that car always started and ran well, and still does for the person who now owns it.
Thank you. Could I assume parts for the intake manifold are still avaialble?
Yes, it should not be a problem to find the parts at all, because of the number of 3.8 engines produced and GM brands that used the engine.
__________________
All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.
~William Shakespeare (As You Like It Act II, Scene VII)
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