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2003 Buick Park Avenue
Date Published: 2/20/08

2003 Buick Park Avenue
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MSRP:
$34,600 - 39,725

Invoice:
$31,313 - 35,951

Class:
Large Car

CG Award: (What's This?)
2003 Buick Park Avenue
Expert Rating Summary
Category Base Rating (See All
Ratings)
Large Car Average Rating
Acceleration 5 5.5
Fuel Economy 5 4.6
Ride Quality 7 6.8
Steering/Handling/Braking 5 5.5
Quietness 8 6.3
Controls 7 5.6
Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front) 7 6.9
Room/Comfort (rear) 6 5.9
Cargo Room 6 5.8
Value within Class 7 6.9
Total Score: 63 59.8
Ratings: Maximum 10 points per category
2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE BUYING RESOURCES
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2003 Buick Park Avenue Review
Portholes from Buick's past return for 2003 on its flagship sedan. Park Avenue comes in base and Ultra models, both with a V6 and automatic transmission. Ultras have a supercharger for more power. ABS, self-leveling rear suspension, and leather upholstery are standard. A front bench provides 6-passenger seating; bucket seats are an Ultra option. For '03, Ultra gets three chrome-plated "VentiPorts" on each front fender. Associated with Buick since 1949 and last seen in the 1980s, these design icons also increase engine-compartment airflow, Buick says. Other retro additions to Ultra are a "waterfall" grille, tri-shield Buick insignia, and chrome exhaust tips. Optional on the base Park Avenue and now standard on Ultra is the Gran Touring Package that includes a firmer suspension. Ultra also replaces 16-inch alloy wheels with new 17-inch chrome-plated wheels and gets interior-trim revisions, including a woodgrain steering wheel. Optional on the base Park Avenue and standard on Ultra are OnStar assistance, StabiliTrak antiskid system, traction control, and a tire-pressure monitor. A rear-obstacle-warning system is optional on both.



Competition
This hotly contested segment has its benchmark in the Lexus ES 300. It blends comfort, style, luxury, and sport into an efficient package at an affordable price. ES 300 manages to offer a little more luxury than others in the class.

We Recommend the Acura TL, Audi A4, and new Infiniti G35. All offer comfort, speed, and nimble handling at attractive prices. The sporty and Euro-flavored BMW 3-Series is Recommended as a rear-drive alternative. The "3" has enough bodystyles and engine choices to suit anyone. At the other end of the near-luxury spectrum is the posh and comfortable Buick Park Avenue--an old-school luxo-cruiser from Detroit.
News
Park Avenue's days increasingly seem numbered. Sales took another hit in 2002, dropping 17.3 percent after a 23.5-percent loss the previous year. And Buick is said to be debating the model's future after 2005, when the present G-platform design comes up for replacement. Given the downward sales trend, Buick may well decide to drop Park Avenue and try something else. What that might be is far from clear now, but we'd bet on a luxury crossover wagon patterned on the Centieme concept featured at this year's Detroit Auto Show. Buick recently said it is mulling such a product, albeit less extreme in appearance.
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