1995 Buick Riviera | Retro Review
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- čas přidán 15. 02. 2023
- The mid 90's amazingly gifted us with some timeless classics. Perhaps non more striking than this 1995 Buick Riviera!
Show 1329 | Original Airdate 03-23-1994
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The way this car looked years ahead of its time. It could really pass off as a 2003.
😂 No it cannot
No, it looks solidly late 90's with its round theme. At least they didn't overdo the round theme like Ford did with their contemporary Taurus.
Funny enough, back in 2003 I thought these were new cars. I thought the body style had come out a couple years earlier and was still in production. I was sad when I looked it up and found they’d been out of production for about 5 years by that point. I was just 10 in 2003, but even at 30 today I still find these cars to look several years ahead of their time. And yes, it could pass as an ‘03, maybe not as a design that was new for that year but something that had come out in like 2000 and was produced through 2003 (or later).
February 16, 2023 11:23 am
That's mostly because the 2003 lineup was still using all of this car's styling cues. The Park Avenue and Century/Regal being sold in 2003 came out just 2 years after this car, for 1997. The Riv just died off more quickly thanks to lack of demand for large coupes combined with its 2 years ahead product cycle. Given GM's overly long product cycles back then and lack of interest in updating designs throughout production, if it had been more popular you probably could have purchased a new one in 2003, unchanged from the 95.
Also, when a car design is not directly replaced by a newer version, it generally tricks your brain into thinking it stays fresher longer. Cars only look old because a newer version replaced them. Gauge yourself by looking at any car that wasn't replaced, from the model dying off or the brand being closed. Then compare it with related cars that were replaced. If given enough visual differentiation from related cars, you will probably feel the non-replaced design has held up better over time.
🤔🧐 I don't see it. I will the styling is mild enough to fill in the broader styling gap between the 90s to early 2000s cars. I guess I just proved your point. Me = 🤡
Proud Owner of a 1998 Dark Green Riviera with 145,000 miles when I Purchased it back in February of 2022.
Not too common to come across on the road these days. It has been of the best cars I've ever owned to this day!
I literally just bought one today! It's so nice and quiet, even compared to today's cars
I’m torn between this car and a 1997 Lincoln Mark VIII.
Ya most are all at the junk yard because everything is broken just like the dodge magnum wagon not worth your money and time.
Beautiful car. Timeless looking. Seeing one in person stops me in my tracks even in 2023.
Agreed, ahead of its time in styling. Looks new today. Great interior design as well Own a 1997 supercharged, with about 99,000 miles on it. Very reliable and quiet. GM should bring back the brand with an EV version to compete with Tesla.
When I worked for GM in the late 1990s, we always had a small fleet of "Rivis" for our transmission test cars. Even though I did not think about it at that time, I suspect the Riviera was not selling well, hence GM had a bunch of them for our transmission testing. While they were awesome cars to test our various transmission modifications, they were terrific travel cars from Ypsilanti (where GM Powertrain is located) to Milford Proving Grounds. Many times I would be able to take my Rivi overnight to my apartment and therefore to the restaurant and bars since I was in my 20s at the time. That trunk was huge. Probably the only thing that was not great were the humongous doors. Oh man were they hard to open when parked next to someone.
I recall one test I did the the cold box where I was trying to replicate some customer issues with cold starts. The Ypsilanti location was able to have several cars cooled to less than -40F in their cold box. So I was sitting in my Rivi with two space heaters going full blast at me while I started up my computer test collection system. You would never think that sitting in a car at -40F with two space heaters only a foot away, one would still be freezing...but I was. So when I was ready to test, they open the cold box doors, I start the car, put it in gear, then go full throttle up a 30 or 45 degree ramp to see if the transmission would work. Amazingly it always did. The only thing is that the transmission fluid was so thick that what normally takes less than a second would take several seconds to engage. It was fun to do this testing, but I was very happy when I no longer needed to do it.
Great story, thx for sharing
Awesome story!!!
Looks so much better in real life! The design was awesome.
One of the most original, and some might say controversial designs of the 90's. I personally love them, especially in black. Thanks for this excellent review from the past MotorWeek!
Wait why it's controversial?
@@georgiesdoodle4633 Some people feel like it's front end is similar in looks to a catfish!
@@georgiesdoodle4633The exterior styling of the Buick Riviera from this era is controversial because of how curvaceous it is; much like how it was with the 1996 through 1999 model year Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable.
These looked great when they came out. Love a Retro Review.
Perhaps not “the most striking Riviera yet”, but certainly at the time, the most striking Rivera since the 1971-1973 Rivieras…
These and Auroras were exquisite examples of fine GM design
Buick Rivera and Oldsmobile Aurora is different cars. The Aurora is insane design
@@fernandorocha-dx1wvyou mean insane in a good or bad way?
This is hideous
My high school English teacher back in '98 had one in green with the taupe interior. I have the Series III 3800 in my Lucerne. Low-reving, under-stressed, bomb-proof engine.
Such a beautiful car from Buick.
The Mid-1990s had some of the most stylish Vehicular Designs!
Absolutely. Car companies in the mid to late 1990's began to shed the dull and drab boxy exterior styling of the 1980's and early 1990's in favor of a curvaceous exterior styling that could be called bold and boundary pushing.
My great uncle owned a couple Rivieras of this generation. I believe the first one was a 95, and since he was in a wheelchair, he preferred the bench seat for getting in and out, and he had to special order it since his dealership didn’t have one in stock, as most people preferred the bucket seats for it. The next one was one of the few 99 models built, and since he couldn’t get one with a bench, he made do with the bucket seats. He kept that one until about 2007 when they decided it was time to get a ramp van.
I have a 97..its mint.. Champagne, sunroof,leather and polished aluminum wheels.. favorite car of all time except for a 67 conv. Firebird I had in my 20s😀
Me and my friends thought these were sweet when we were kids - supercharged Buick was enough for us to be interested lol.
I know my buddy and I still drool over these and either one of us would still drive one.
It’s the curves! 😂
Seriously one of the most beautiful cars ever made.
When GM was taking chances
The 3800 V6 was one of the best V6 engines ever
I definitely agree with you!
@@anibalbabilonia1867 yeah...I've gotten to the point where mine is making 400whp. Still reliable but much faster
The 3800 V is durable and nice V6 engines
I'd take a 3800 over any Toyota V6 any day of the week.
The 90s V6 in general were the best engines ever made.
The 3800, the LS400 engine, the 4Runner engine... Indestructible.
This and the Infiniti J30 looked so great to me as a kid
There’s nothing like the J30 on the road today. Those curves are wonderful
When the j30 first came out I was a child and I saw it on the road I thought it was a jaguar lol 😂
Still really like the J30, that rear profile is just so distinct.
@@flurpoid one of the new Hyundai electric cars looks a bit like it. I guess eventually, we'll all fall in love with "our own" electric car. Hahahaha lol I despise electric cars. But they always have a design to captivate everyone.
Even into the 90s, the USA still had an automobile identity featuring striking design both inside and out. Its a shame what is being produced now
My grandfather bought a year old 1996 Supercharged Riviera and after a couple years handed it down to my parents. I was a high school junior, so that was a pretty neat car to get to drive. It would destroy front tires with the traction control turned off! Took that car to my senior prom. Big, floaty, comfy, and pretty quick it was.
One of the funny things my grandpa did was he had just bought a 24k gold electroplating machine and decided to try it out on the Riviera's exhaust tips and chrome plated badges. It was quite tacky, lol.
(In Hector Elizondo's voice) "The concept car you can put in your driveway.......WHAT A CONCEPT!!!!" STILL a gorgeous automobile nearly 30 years later!!!!! One of the sexiest cars of the 1990's, in my personal view!!!!!
Back when GM was not afraid to take a risk and let the design and engineering departments make decisions without accountants involved. Interior was stunning for the price. It undercut the Lexus SC300 by around $10K for similar engine power and features expect the RWD. Most of these have been run into the ground and destroyed once they dropped below $10K about 10 years ago. If you find a good one it is worth buying. Seat comfort and ride quality are top notch. Too many cars today are made with the stupid mentality of sporty ride quality when 99% of them will crawl in traffic or run in a straight line on the highway at 70 mph. This car had recliner like softness and comfort with the seats. The suspension was soft and absorbed the bumps. Not a boat like ride of the pre 1980s Cadillacs but a great somewhere in between that and sporty.
Iam still driving my 95 Buick Riviera super charged love it .
My grandfather had one and so did my father. These cars will always give me a little hit of nostalgia.
And it’s still looks beautiful by today’s standards!
Very beautiful this Buick Riviera
puke 😂
Puke
Thank you for posting and sharing this GM road test. It is interesting how the Oldsmobile Aurora and the Riviera shared so many parts back then. The exterior miors for starters. They needed to do a different interior instrumentation panel on this car. Compared to the Lincoln Mark VIII and others in this segment, it looked out classed and and not up to par. I liked the fact the Riviera offered a front bench seat too. That option went away. He has the 3800 Series II V6 as well. It eventually got the supercharged Series II 3800. The looks of the car were in line with the other Buicks at the time because Park Avenue was redesigned for 1997 and LeSabre for 2000. I did not like the seat controls on the side of the seat. They should have been on the door panels. They were on the door on the Oldsmobile Aurora. I dod like the fact the car grew in size too. It went from 205- 206 inches in 1985 down to 187 in 1986-1988 and then 198 inches in 1989-1993. Then up again in 1995 to 207 inches. I sat in one of these and it was an interesting feeling too. You still see them on the road. Thank you again for posting.
Agreed, love the outside of this Riviera but was never a huge fan of the instrument panel.
For reference, my 1991 Olds 98 Touring was 205" long. That Two door 1995 Riviera was 207" long. Why they went bigger is odd, i mean it was a Two door sedan. If customers wanted a land yacht they had other models to choose from. Yeah, it was the Nineties, i get it.
@@HackHunter1835 I drive a 1996 Oldsmobile 98 daily. It is 205 almost 206 inches long. There were other oddities during the 90's too. The Cadillac Seville was longer than the Oldsmobile 88 and Buick LeSabre and Pontiac Bonneville for a period there in the 1990's. Seville was 204 inches and the H Bodies were 200-201 inches long. The Eldorado was wider too at 75 inches. In the 1989-1990 model years, the Riviera was the longest Buick at 198 inches long. Park Avenue was 197 and LeSabre was 196. This stuff started in the 1980's. During the downsized era at GM in the 1980's the Pontiac Bonneville was the longest front wheel drive sedan at GM at 198.7 inches. Then it goes down from there to Buick Park Avenue( 197), the Deville and Fleetwood( 196.5), then 88 and LeSabre( 196), the Seville and Eldorado( 188- 190), then Riviera at 187 inches and Toronado was the smallest 1986-1989 at 186 inches. To really throw things off, the A Bodies were long at 188- 189inches. The Oldsmobile Aurora and 1995 Buick Riviera were on the same chassis, but was longer than the Aurora sedan. The Lincoln Mark VIII was just as long as the Riviera. Thank you for sharing.
I always liked the lines and stance of this car, especially toward the rear. It looks like a plane fuselage.
Love these cars. I wish I picked up one when they were still on the used car lots in good shape. Same goes with the Aurora.
That Db level must have been so low it went mute, lol 😂 @3:44
In my younger days I just happened to test drive one. I had no intention of buying one prior. It was surprisingly comfy and powerful
Love the design of this car. When it came out it looked so striking.
I think this was a neat car, but I still think the same thing I thought when it came out: The Riviera (and the Oldsmobile Aurora) would have had a greater impact had they been rear wheel drive and available with at least an optional V8. The Buick 231/3800 V6 was a great engine, and would have made a great base engine here, but a V8 with some trappings of performance would have been something special. Buick could have made a proper Grand Sport package for this and cashed in on Buick's grand touring heritage with a classy modern car instead of more front drive also-rans.
We need the 90s gm b body Road test ( caprlce roadmaster and impala ss and Fleetwood) from motorweek
For the money, one of the better 90's cars to collect. If you can find a good example; and if you like the "love it or hate it" styling. I think it's great, and mine has treated me well for 17 years of ownership. It's reliable, relatively easy to work on, and most parts are cheap. Unfortunately there are some parts that are getting to be unobtainable, but the 8th gen is an increasingly rare 25 year old car. You have to expect a challenge every now and then.
It may give the impression of "granddad's floaty boat," but that is far from the truth. It's not a "sports car" but it's definitely a "sporty car" that, thanks to the L67's large performance aftermarket, can be upgraded to a legitimate sleeper. This isn't the car for drifters and well-monied racers, but it will reliably and affordably get you from point a to b in comfort and faster than you ought to be going.
I always liked the lines on this version of the Riviera.
I give these a solid look everytime I see one in the road. Cool looking cars, don't see many nowadays.
I used to own a 98 Riv. It was the quietest and most comfortable car I've had. The car also handled particularly well for it's size.
Timeless design, they still look futuristic to this day. If you lookup the specs on this car, it puts down a larger footprint on the road than other big coupes at the time, even the Lincoln Mark VIII.
I distinctly remember the first time I saw a Riviera. It was 1994 and I was 12. My sister and I were sitting in the KFC drive-thru when a brand-new champagne color Riviera pulled into the parking lot. My eyes locked on it. I was amazed at what a radically different and beautiful design it was. I've always liked it. I never cared for the interior design though. I thought then and still think now it looked cheap and very plain. Had they done a 2-tone color scheme and maybe added some bits of plasti-wood and chrome it would have made it look like an actual luxury car inside. Monochromatic interiors always look cheaper.
Monochrome was a hot look at the time, but many install aftermarket dash kits in these cars to break up the monotone. It helps a lot if done right, and is a hot mess if slapped in by someone with a bad eye for color.
Modern Classic
I had a '96 SC. Loved it until things started to go wrong. The wiper stalk has some kind of issue, so intermittent wipers never worked right, and sometimes the wiper would stop in the rain. No replacement parts for the stalk anyway.
And even with gentle driving and new transmission fluid, the 3800SC ate the 4T60-E HD alive. Torque converter gave up because the clutch could not take it.
This was my dream car as a kid even though they were already old when I was growing up. This is what I considered luxury as a kid. In all honesty, it looked more well put together than anything Lexus, Mercedes, BMW or Audi were making at the time. It had more road presence than any of the German/Japanese brands.
I see where Jaguar designers seeked for inspiration for creating the 2006 XK. The front end of that car looks similar to this Riviera's.
Oh, man. I really want one of these. Preferably with the green interior some had.
I always loved these cars, one of my favorite vehicles of the 90s.
Probably the last somewhat cool buick
For a car that's nearly 30 years old, this car's body design has aged gracefully. It STILL looks very modern.
If only the interior was better . All GM 90s plastic fantastic .
They switched from Body by Fisher to Interior by Tupperware. Though Ford also has several that were pure low bid plastic molding too.
The Detroit Three loved plastic as their structured foundation. Now that's America quality.
Typical 90's
@J. Dns People should consider the looks from the perspective of the time - organic and ergonomic styling was a radical shift from the polygonal shapes of the eighties. Monotone was a sophisticated and modern look after decades of two and three tone paint jobs, stripe packages, and screaming chickens. People were ready for a break from oceans of fake wood.
I personally think the way the top of the dash extends out over the front of the dash, and sweeps into the doors, is super cool. I haven't seen anything like it anywhere else, except for the revised C4 Corvette interior, which I also love.
Another point in favor of the Riv's interior - unlike many 90's cars, only one of my soft-touch surfaces turned sticky. It was the button for the center console lid - I sanded it down, repainted, and now no more sticky buttons!
Even the headliner is still like new (being garaged surely helped).
@J. Dns I've got a couple of the car magazines of the time that reviewed the Riviera. I believe one of them praised the HVAC vents.
The shifter knob is a common GM part used in several models. I'm o.k. with it, but I've seen people replace theirs with aftermarket knobs.
My #1 complaint is with the flimsy door handles, also a common part used on many vehicles, including the C5 Corvette. If you're going to save money by putting a part on so many vehicles, make it good.
Another complaint is that the car is never off, and has to be kept on a battery tender if not used regularly. I sure learned that the hard way.
Overall I think it's a great car and seriously underrated.
Sure looks like something i fished in the RIVERA
I had my supercharged version for 7 years. The car overheated multiple times due to belts breaking, due to bad icm and coils, bad pulleys, it even spun out of control on ice and landed on the sidewalk blowing the struts and shocks. Got into an accident ( his fault) with a Mercedes and the Mercedes shattered to pieces while my car didn't sustain any damage. Also it's hard to find parts. Very hard. I've been left stranded a few times in this thing. It leaks oil and burns it also.
Hands down the most reliable car I've ever owned and still do!!😂
I owned a 96 Riviera and loved it.
Man. I remember seeing these everywhere back in the early 2000s
Beautiful. Along with the Olds Aurora.
What exactly is a 'horsey' tail light design?
The Boat tail Riviera was the most striking followed by the 63.
I thought it was gorgeous at the time, this along with the Aurora were home runs in the styling department. The only problem I had with it was it really was a GIGANTIC car for being a 2 door coupe.
I think this is one of the best looking cars ever. I've always been partial to its graceful curves. My friends father had a supercharged one back in the day. thing was a dreamboat. I only wish they had given it frameless door windows and a roll down rear window. A true pilarless coupe it should have been
It does have frameless door windows, but it's true that the rear side glass is fixed.
Looks very Jaguaresque, I like it. The 60s Rivs are epic.
Beautiful car
Still love that car
I owned a black on cream 95. Great Looking Car!
Had a 97, still my favorite car
My first car was a 73 Riviera with a 455 V8.
The interior is really really modern for 1995.
I have always felt there were elements of Jaguar in design language.
I just want to manual swap everything!
I miss those days.
Absolutely adored my '97 and still love the design. Unfortunately, mine was a lemon.
I once owned a supercharged 95 Riviera in white. It was both the best and worst car I've owned. It was the most comfortable car I've owned too. And thats coming from someone who's owned a couple 70s land yachts. The only issues were mechanically, I had to do a full engine and transmission rebuild within months of each other around 120k miles. If I were to buy another, it would be 96 or newer with the series 2 3800 V6. More power and better aftermarket support.
Beautiful and nice car this new Buick Riviera
I haven't seen one of these on the road in decades
When I went to Buick's website a few years ago just to check out their lineup, and there were NO cars there, I almost dropped a tear! ALL CUVs/SUVs. From being one of the most stylish car brands EVER, to having NO coupes or sedans at all! It's it's an absolute atrocity!!!
Beautiful car. Wish I could have bought one back then
A great car let down by pitiful interior finishes.
I own a totally restored 1996 Riv with magna steel metallic ext. and taupe interieur color with dark burl wood inserts en two tone interior theme
Totally custom build on GM/ Opel OPC 19” black rims.
Real beauty
But it’ was a money pit to get there.
The interior of this car is really nice.
I agree with THIS assessment of the Riviera. I don’t understand how its looks have since been poo-poo’ed by the auto world. I still think it looks good.
Too bad about the audio "drop out" when John was about to give the noise level.
4:37 They weren't convinced and this was the last Riviera and the last big luxury coupe GM made.
Still a beautiful car!
I used to have a 99 and got wreck by a drunk driver never was fixed right
❤
same here, was parked and hit, totalled so 😭 sad
I remember when this came out and it looked like nothing on the road
4T60E Auto on a v6? Is it only for a V8 like on a B or D body GMs?
It wasn't the body style that impressed me but the performance of it's smooth 3.8 V6 engine and electronic 4sp automatic
had a 98, loves heated seat, big trunk, nightmare to put on a accesory belt 😂 , had planned to keep it but some drunk Chinese lady rear ended it at midnight and that was that. Not many around.
Wish this and the Aurora were RWD and the 4.0 Aurora V8 getting a twin turbo option.
1:19 The industry's horseist taillamp assembly?
The most striking riviera yet? That first gen Riv is one of the best looking American cars ever.
I like the 1965. Had the clamshell headlights that opened and could be had with a 425 V8 with 360 hp.
@@Snake-ms7sj yeah one of my dream cars for sure
This design has aged so well.
This engine can make 600 hp with little know how. Grand national basics mechanical modifications. 10 second quarter mile. ❤
yeah they make a z3 kit that puts it at 400 at the wheels really easy to install is about 2400 dollars. idk if it can mount on riv it does specify grand prix/ams with the 3.8 series II so id imagine it would wortk on a riv too
believe it or not the series II can withstand 850 with stock bottom end they're crazy
Nice 🥰
Interesting side view, a very noticeable long wheel base. The close up of the shifter reveals wide gaps, big enough for a McDonald’s French fry to hide for years to come.
Riviera the V6 eldorado.❤
Now THIS is a severely-underrated Buick, honestly! Why don't game developers really consider going for the 90s American and Japanese cars? (*cough* Playground Games *cough*)
I can’t believe these cars were as slow as a Prius
Finally!!!!
I worked for a GM dealer when this car came out.. it was so ugly, The sales people thought it looked like a fish... Horrible interior.. it was the end of a once stylish car..
A catfish to be exact.
You guys had it worse than Ford with the 3rd generation Taurus!
@Andy Auffrey Nah, the 3rd gen Taurus was waaayyy more polarizing and ugly. The Riv is ugly. But, everything about the Taurus was debauchery. Even the SHO couldn't redeem it.
Caraca que carro Belo sensacional
The way Buick nailed this design so well goes to show there were people working in American car companies who wanted to keep up with the Europeans and Japanese. Because the way we think about 90’s American cars is associated with imbalance styling that’s dated and holding onto the past. The Buick Riviera is one of a few American cars that understood the assignment to modernize. It’s only recent that GM finally got rid of terrible designs around the mid 2010’s.