This 1996 Buick Century was parked in my yard for a year...and more.
No, I didn't make a big financial deal that landed me millions of dollars. I wish! Actually, we passed along a twenty-two year-old car that's been taking up space in my driveway for a long time. In the process, it regained some of its lost value by serving the needs of a young family.
That old Buick Century found its way to my house in June 2010, after I married my second husband, who'd acquired it for a song in its less-ancient days. It was still in relatively good condition when he gifted the car to Sarah and Chris on their wedding day, July 30, 2011.
Chris & Sarah got away in the old Century after their wedding reception.
July 30, 2011
Eventually, Sarah got tired of enduring our snowy winters without four-wheel drive, so in February 2015 she bought herself the 2008 Jeep Liberty Sport she currently drives and loves. The old Buick Century was parked for a while in the driveway of Chris's mom, Brenda, before Sarah and Chris decided to sell it in July 2015.
Sarah and Chris with their new 2008 Jeep Liberty Sport.
February 13, 2015
Who was the next lucky owner? It was little brother Dylan, who purchased it from Sarah and Chris for a mere $100. By now it needed a bit of work, and it was hardly the flashy car most teenage boys dream of, but it was reliable and Dylan appreciated it.
Sarah and Chris pass the keys and title for the old Buick on to Dylan.
July 17, 2015
The Buick got Dylan around town for the coming year, until his older brother Jacob agreed to sell him his 2007 Buick LaCrosse for $1,700 in July 2016. The LaCrosse had been damaged while parked in front of their house in Utah, when it was struck by a passing car sliding on ice after a snowstorm. The only real damage was the left rear taillight and bumper (see photo below), yet the woman's insurance company (Progressive) inexplicably decided to total the car, not even giving Jacob enough to pay off the loan on the car.
Dylan picks up his new 2007 Buick LaCrosse from Jacob in Utah.
July 18, 2016
Ultimately, Dylan gave Jacob the money to pay the difference and buy the LaCrosse back from the insurance company. Jacob had already bought a new car while battling Progressive, so the LaCrosse became Dylan's. Eventually, Dylan was able to have the smashed taillight replaced, and the LaCrosse remains his main mode of transportation to this day.
Meanwhile, the Buick Century did not sit idly under the trees to gather pine needles. By this time, Jake had moved here from Pennsylvania, gotten his very first drivers license at the age of twenty-four, and had a good job to get himself to every day. The Century became his to drive until he purchased a brand-new Kia Soul in March 2017.
Jake and Dylan with their brand-new 2017 Kia Soul.
March 15, 2017
Even then, the Century didn't languish in my driveway for long. Five months later, Jake's friend from Pennsylvania, Brooke, moved to Arizona and roomed with the guys for the following four months. Like Jake, she'd never learned to drive in their ultra-urban environment, so she too had to get her very first drivers license. Once she'd accomplished that, she had use of the Century.
Then, after Brook moved back to Pennsylvania, the old Buick Century was truly parked and virtually abandoned in my yard. No one needed her anymore.
November 16, 2018: The children enjoy pretending to drive the old car
while their parents check out the Century's condition.
Until almost a year later, when I heard about a family whose van kept breaking down on them, leaving them without transportation. Many people had been stepping up to get this family of five to wherever they needed to go, but what an unnecessary hassle for these young parents, when I had a car sitting unused in my driveway! So I broached the idea to Dylan about selling the Century to them at a bargain-basement price.
He was on board with the idea right away. We all remember what it's like to be starting out, when money is tight and there's nothing extra for emergencies. Besides, at that time, he and Jake could use a little extra money themselves.
Four days later, the young family returns to claim their new ride.
I checked Kelley Blue Book and learned that a 1996 Buick Century in good running condition but with cosmetic defects could sell for anywhere between $1,400 and $500. We agreed that $500 was fair. We had to replace the battery, which was beyond revival, but once we installed it the engine started right up and ran smoothly.
On the other hand, all four tires needed replacement; the driver seat sagged backward (Sarah and Dylan had stabilized it by placing a laundry basket behind it); the driver door couldn't be opened from outside, requiring the driver to slide in from the passenger side (but it did open from inside the car); and the right front window was wonky. Also, while trying to open the hood to check the engine, Dylan managed to break off part of the lever!
The new owners drive away in their new-ish old Buick Century!
November 20, 2018
We were upfront about the car's issues, but the young husband is very handy and felt confident that he could work out a way to deal with each problem. After a successful test drive, they made a down payment and drove away in their newly-acquired transport.
I confess, I held my breath for a while, hoping the car would live up to its hype. It is old, after all! Now, though, their sweet family has driven the car for more than three months with no serious issues, other than replacing a spark plug. That old car had a long history of being there for our family members when we needed its services. I'm so happy to know its usefulness continues for another young family, hopefully for as long as they need it!
