Potential new owner

Hello all,

I'm currently scouting for a 95-99 Riv for my father. He had a '68 many many years ago but was wanting something a little newer.

This is mainly something just to drive from time to time, maybe add a few little go fast bits here and there, but nothing drastic. He has a daily driver already.

I've read that the 95 generally sucks in respect to the entire series of these Rivs for performance upgrades. That said, being that my father isn't looking for some ridiculously fast drag strip car (I think really all he wants to do is a smaller pulley, intake/drop in K&N filter, and perhaps an exhaust), would a 95 be a bad car to get? We found a very nice one that's local to us for $1,800. It has 118,000 miles, nice paint and clean interior and is tan on tan in color.

We live in Northern Indiana, and these cars are very hard to find around here, so if a nice 95 popped up for a great price, and knowing that we aren't going to modify it much if at all, what else would deter someone from a 95?

Being that his budget is about $2,000 or less, we understand it may need a few things here and there for that price, but we can fix stuff.


Any help is appreciated

Nothing at all wrong with a '95, and there are quite a few of them out there, so they're easy to find. However there are a few other changes that you might want to be aware of before making the decision. Steering got a bit firmer for '98 models, so if your father likes a feather light wheel, earlier models offer that. I have driven a '97 and '98 back-to-back, and it's a noticeable difference.

Another difference is the brakes. They got bigger front rotors after '96, so are looking for a solid stopper, a '95 might not be it.

Additional colors were added each year, so if you're looking for something special, it might not have existed in '95. Wheel styles also changed after '95, with a 7 spoke chrome option being common, as well as a 12-spoke version. These may or may not be available for '95, not sure. I do know they changed the base wheel design at some point early on.

If you're not too picky about the little things, your dad will be happy with a '95. It's a Riv, and pretty reliable, too. Nothing wrong with a Series I 3800 engine. I would be sure to get the supercharged version, as that was optional until '98. Good luck.

Thank you AA.

He's mainly just looking for one that's in decent shape and he can tool around in on the weekends.

I think more or less to just own a Riviera again.

I do see more 95 years out there than anything else and that was my main concern in the hunt.

Unfortunately, the one in question that we found does not have a moon roof. I don't think he cares, but I must have one in any car I have owned.

We just talked and he said he wouldn't mind doing a pulley upgrade, intake and exhaust and a set of aftermarket wheels at some point after fixing any maintenance it may need.

vjz11 wrote:

Hello all,

I'm currently scouting for a 95-99 Riv for my father. He had a '68 many many years ago but was wanting something a little newer.

This is mainly something just to drive from time to time, maybe add a few little go fast bits here and there, but nothing drastic. He has a daily driver already.

I've read that the 95 generally sucks in respect to the entire series of these Rivs for performance upgrades. That said, being that my father isn't looking for some ridiculously fast drag strip car (I think really all he wants to do is a smaller pulley, intake/drop in K&N filter, and perhaps an exhaust), would a 95 be a bad car to get? We found a very nice one that's local to us for $1,800. It has 118,000 miles, nice paint and clean interior and is tan on tan in color.

We live in Northern Indiana, and these cars are very hard to find around here, so if a nice 95 popped up for a great price, and knowing that we aren't going to modify it much if at all, what else would deter someone from a 95?

Being that his budget is about $2,000 or less, we understand it may need a few things here and there for that price, but we can fix stuff.

Any help is appreciated

with the 95 the headache will be diagnosing and making repairs - it's OBD "1.5" so you need a certain scanner, an OBD - 1 scanner with OBD - 2 pinout. Actron sells one and there are others. As for repairs, if you think it's hard to find a Riv just try finding crash parts. As for 'go fast bits' I am not sure I would bother - once it is in good tune the SC Riv... it's 0-60 in ~ 7 seconds, you're in good company. 6 cyl mustangs and many NA 8s won't accelerate the cars they are in to 60 MPH that fast. A 2007 Crown Vic police interceptor is ~7.8 sec 0-60 (although if set up right handles somewhat better at speed). 2010 Mustang with 5.0 L Ecoboost is 4.9 0-60.

The other headache with the SC 95 is the transmission. if you drive 'spirited' you will eventually break the out put shaft; GM had a recall and retrofit kit for this but I do not know what % were actually refitted. I don't know how to tell other than service records. You may be able, however, to take the VIN to a GM dealer and ask them to check.

I think your only other headache is that "budget of $2,000 or less" - the '95 is 18 years old already so to speak, keeping it roadworthy is not, ahem, free. Your only saving grace is it's a GM car with lots of hard parts out of the corporate parts bin. Your headache will be that some parts are unobtainable - like the little lights in the door pulls, they are repairable if you can solder though - and others are mad expensive. Like the HVAC control head.

As for availability, there were a BUNCH of 95s manufactured compared to the other years. I think there were fewer than 15,000 98-99 combined made and many many more thousands of 95s.

As for SC versus NA, there's 1/2 - 1 second diff in 0-60 time and the NA engine gets mad great highway mileage - in tune and maintenance up to date you *will* see 30 MPG highway (Riv is slippery car) from an NA riv, 25-27 from an SC Riv.

Good luck with your decision. Other comments??

As a owner of a '95 RIV I have to say... it runs and drives better than
some of the new cars that I have test driven lately. of course its an
older car with 150,000 miles on it so I have been doing a lot of repairs.
but there all repairs that I will not need to do for at least another
150,000 miles. its an N/A model... one of only four in the same
setup. and she is fast on the highway! 2400 rpms at 80mph!
I think any RIV '95 -'99 thats been well kept will be a great prize!
good luck with the hunt! try ebay! I have found a lot in the classifieds.

I have a 95.Its the Prince Albert limited edition.I am totally content with it.She's a little porky but I like'em fat.

I'll bite, Robo. Prince Albert??? WTH is that?

where are you from, found one right now! http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/3102963631.html