Greetings All:
I just purchased a 1999 Park Avenue base sedan without the touring package (one owner, full maintenance history & only 42,000 miles on it). Overall, I decided on the Base vs. the Ultra for the following reasons:
--Base uses, as noted here, regular fuel. The cost difference vs. premium for my area of the US & driving plans is significant.
-- While both cars tend to have good reliability the standard maintenance on the Ultra is slightly higher.
--It was much easier to find, eventually, a regular Park Avenue that had been extremely well taken care of. All of the Ultras I looked at were some combination of: higher mileage, no service history and/or obviously driven hard (lots of "extra" wear even taking into account mileage.)
-- I -like- to float over the bumps in our deteriorating freeways & am in no rush to get anywhere.
-- I prefer the six passenger seating configuration instead of the huge and, to me, somewhat intrusive center console in the Ultra.
Overall, though, if I'd found a similar Ultra the choice might have been a difficult decision despite what I've noted. As it is I'm very, very, VERY happy with this Park Avenue and am even happier to be back driving a great GM product. If this car is any indication of what Buick was and the Lucerne is the direction they're going I think I shall be a very happy Buick customer for many years to come.
Best regards,
ParkAvenueGent
