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Introduction
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Market Position
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Segment:
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Full-size luxury sedan
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Target Audience:
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Consumers seeking comfortable, quiet, and well-equipped transportation for longer journeys, often appealing to a mature demographic.
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Competitive Analysis
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Competitors:
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Ford Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis, Mercury Sable, Chrysler LHS/Concorde, Oldsmobile Aurora, Cadillac DeVille, Lincoln Continental/Town Car.
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Key Features
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Ride Comfort:
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Renowned for its exceptionally quiet and smooth ride, achieved through extensive sound deadening and a compliant suspension.
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Powertrain Options:
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Available with a robust 3800 Series II V6 engine, including a powerful supercharged variant for enhanced performance.
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Interior Appointments:
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Spacious and well-appointed interior with comfortable seating, often featuring leather upholstery and premium trim on higher trims.
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Safety Equipment:
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Standard safety features of its era, including airbags and anti-lock brakes.
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Manual Details
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Coverage Areas
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Vehicle Systems:
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All major vehicle systems including engine, transmission, braking, steering, suspension, electrical, climate control, infotainment, safety features, and body.
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Maintenance Procedures:
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Scheduled maintenance, fluid checks and changes, filter replacements, tire rotation, brake pad inspection, battery maintenance.
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Do It Yourself:
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Basic user-serviceable tasks, troubleshooting common minor issues.
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Safety And Towing:
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Driving safety considerations, emergency procedures, towing guidelines and precautions.
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Page Count
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Estimated Pages:
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Approximately 250-300 (based on typical owner's manuals for this era and class of vehicle).
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Manual Type
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Type:
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Owner's Manual
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Language
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Language:
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English
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Format
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Format:
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PDF Download
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Manual Coverage
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Systems Covered
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Powertrain:
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Detailed explanations of the 3800 Series II V6 naturally aspirated and supercharged engines, including their operating principles and basic maintenance. Covers automatic transmission operation and basic fluid level checks.
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Chassis:
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Information on the braking system (ABS), steering, suspension components, and wheel/tire specifications. Covers proper tire inflation and care.
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Electrical:
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Explains dashboard indicators, lighting systems, power accessories, and the basic operation of the vehicle's electrical controls. May include fuse box locations.
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Climate Control:
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Operation of the automatic climate control system, including temperature, fan speed, and air distribution controls.
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Infotainment:
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Details on operating the audio system (radio, cassette, CD player), and potentially optional features like a driver information center.
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Procedures Included
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Routine Maintenance:
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Guidance on checking and topping off essential fluids (oil, coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, windshield washer fluid), tire pressure checks, and bulb replacement.
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Scheduled Maintenance:
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Recommended service intervals for oil changes, filter replacements, coolant flushes, transmission fluid changes, and other key maintenance items based on mileage or time.
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Do It Yourself Tasks:
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Instructions for simple tasks such as checking oil levels, topping up washer fluid, changing wiper blades, and understanding dashboard warning lights.
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Towing Operations:
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Information on proper towing procedures, including trailer wiring connections, weight distribution, and any vehicle-specific towing considerations.
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Safety Features:
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Explanation of the airbag system, seatbelt operation and adjustments, and general driving safety tips for various conditions.
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Technical Depth
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Depth:
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Designed for the vehicle owner, providing clear explanations of features, controls, and basic maintenance. Does not typically include detailed diagnostic procedures or complex repair instructions, which are found in service manuals.
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Engine Specifications
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Primary Engine
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Engine Code 3800 Series Ii V6 Na:
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L36
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Engine Displacement 3800 Series Ii V6 Na:
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3.8 L (3800 cc)
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Engine Configuration 3800 Series Ii V6 Na:
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Naturally Aspirated V6, Overhead Valve (OHV), 12 Valves
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Horsepower 3800 Series Ii V6 Na:
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205 hp @ 5200 rpm
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Torque 3800 Series Ii V6 Na:
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230 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm
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Optional Engine
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Engine Code 3800 Series Ii Supercharged:
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L67
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Engine Displacement 3800 Series Ii Supercharged:
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3.8 L (3800 cc)
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Engine Configuration 3800 Series Ii Supercharged:
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Supercharged V6, Overhead Valve (OHV), 12 Valves
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Horsepower 3800 Series Ii Supercharged:
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240 hp @ 5200 rpm
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Torque 3800 Series Ii Supercharged:
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280 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm
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Fuel System
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Fuel Delivery:
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Sequential Fuel Injection (SFI)
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Fuel Type:
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Unleaded gasoline, 87 octane recommended (91 octane recommended for supercharged for optimal performance)
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Ignition System:
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Distributorless Ignition System (DIS) with individual ignition coils.
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Safety Features
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Ratings
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NHTSA Frontal Impact Driver:
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Good (likely, based on typical GM G-body performance for the era)
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NHTSA Frontal Impact Passenger:
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Good (likely, based on typical GM G-body performance for the era)
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IIHS Offset Frontal Impact:
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Acceptable (likely, considering structural design and safety advancements of the time).
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Active Features
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ABS:
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Standard Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) on all four wheels.
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Traction Control:
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Optional Traction Control System (TCS) available, especially on supercharged models.
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Passive Features
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Airbags:
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Standard front airbags for driver and front passenger.
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Seat Belts:
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Three-point seatbelts for all seating positions, with driver and front passenger pretensioners.
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Child Seat Anchors:
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LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system or equivalent provisions in the rear seats.
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Technology Features
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Infotainment
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Audio System:
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Factory AM/FM stereo with cassette and/or CD player. Often featured premium sound options like Bose speakers.
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Driver Information Center Dic:
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Optional feature providing trip computer functions, fuel economy readouts, and system alerts.
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Driver Assistance
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Cruise Control:
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Standard cruise control system for highway driving comfort.
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Auto Dimming Rearview Mirror:
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Often available as an option, reducing glare from headlights at night.
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Connectivity
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Onstar Readiness:
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This model year may have been equipped with OnStar hardware, or was at least prepared for its integration, offering communication and emergency services via a subscription.
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Maintenance
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Service Intervals
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Oil Change Interval:
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Every 5,000-7,500 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first, using synthetic blend or full synthetic oil.
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Engine Coolant Flush:
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Every 30,000 miles or 2-3 years.
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Transmission Fluid Change:
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Every 30,000-50,000 miles, depending on driving conditions. Check owner's manual for specific recommendation.
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Spark Plug Replacement:
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Typically every 100,000 miles for platinum or iridium tipped spark plugs.
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Fluid Specifications
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Engine Oil Type:
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SAE 3.8L V6 (L36/L67): SAE 5W-30
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Engine Oil Capacity:
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4.5 quarts (with filter)
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Coolant Type:
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GM P/N 12346290 or equivalent, a 50/50 mix of Dex-Cool antifreeze and distilled water.
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Brake Fluid Type:
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DOT 3
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Power Steering Fluid Type:
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Dexron III (or equivalent) ATF
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Known Issues
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Intake Manifold Gasket Leaks:
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Common failure on 3800 Series II engines, leading to coolant leaks and potential engine damage if not addressed. The manual will likely advise checking coolant levels regularly.
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Supercharger Coupler Failure:
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On supercharged models, the decoupler pulley on the supercharger can fail, causing noise and loss of supercharger engagement. The manual will not detail this repair but may advise on belt inspection.
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Window Regulator Failure:
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Power window regulators can be a common failure point in GM vehicles of this era. The manual will cover window operation but not the repair.
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Door Lock Actuator Failure:
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Similar to window regulators, power door lock actuators can fail. The manual will describe how to use the locks but not how to fix them.
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Strut Mount Wear:
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With age and mileage, strut mounts can wear, leading to clunking noises over bumps. The manual will cover suspension operation and tire care, indirectly related to suspension health.
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Vehicle History
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Brand Heritage
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Buick Legacy:
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Buick has a long-standing reputation for comfort, quietness, and dignified styling, often positioned as a more upscale offering within General Motors.
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Model Evolution
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Park Avenue Lineage:
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The Park Avenue nameplate has a history dating back to the Electra 225. The 1999 model represents the second generation of the Park Avenue nameplate, succeeding the 1991-1996 model and sharing its platform with the Oldsmobile Aurora and Pontiac Bonneville.
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Platform Generation:
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This generation Park Avenue is based on GM's G platform (G-body), which it shared with other GM full-size sedans.
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Production
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Manufacturing Location:
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Lake Orion, Michigan, USA
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Production Years For This Generation:
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1997-2004
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Awards & Recognition
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Recognitions
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Car And Driver 10Best:
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The Park Avenue, particularly the supercharged variant, was often lauded for its blend of performance and comfort, though not a perennial 10Best winner, it was respected in its segment.
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Ratings
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Jd Power Initial Quality Study:
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Buick models of this era generally performed moderately in JD Power studies, with the Park Avenue often cited for its quietness and comfort, but sometimes falling short in areas of build quality or electronics compared to import luxury rivals.
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Certifications
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Epa Fuel Economy Na City:
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Approximately 18 MPG
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Epa Fuel Economy Na Highway:
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Approximately 27 MPG
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Epa Fuel Economy Sc City:
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Approximately 17 MPG
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Epa Fuel Economy Sc Highway:
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Approximately 25 MPG
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