To Riv, or not to Riv? That is the question.

Subject: To Riv, or not to Riv? That is the question. Wed Sep 25, 2013 6:24 pm

Hi. Thanks for this great website. I am a new member. I am considering purchasing a Riviera (last generation) to be used as a project car for long distance, summer road trips. The information on this site will really help me determine if a Riviera is the right car for me, and how to best "build" mine if I do buy one. So far, I'm really attracted to the Riviera as it is an extremely elegant and attractive design, with some seemingly wicked "sleeper" performance possibilities - rather the way I prefer my women . . .

Welcome Rich! I dont think you could go wrong buying a Riv provided the price and condition are right! Plenty to read here to further satisfy your interest. And the answer is always "To Riv."

To Riv, my dear friend. To Riv is thy answer thou seeks to comprehend.

Get a 98+ with no rust and low miles and have fun.

Expert Joined : 2007-07-01 Post Count : 2558 Merit : 12

Welcome Rich

Well, I too didn't know too much about this last generation Riviera before pulling mine out of a farmer's "back 40" earlier this year. But I have been very pleased with the car, and other than replacing the fuel pump and master cylinder, basic maint such as tres, belts and fluids, servicing the brakes... the car has been completely reliable and a great daily driver for 10k miles. And this is after the car sat for 2+ years.

It seems very well built and is great for my 112 mile commute every day.

My prior commuter was my 95 Roadmaster. That is definitely more of a highway cruiser, and the Riviera is more of a GT (actual GT, not as in Mustang GT) highway car. They both have a place, but I feel far more engaged and my back doesn't kill me after the trip in the Riviera than in the Roadmaster(base, no lumbar support). I love the Roadmaster and still have it, but I never got out of the Roadmaster and had a desire to rack up "just a few more miles". I do with the Riviera frequently.

There are lots of good deals on reasonable (less than 10-15k a year) mileage Rivieras out there, and a few show up every few months with far less. The nature of the original demographic that bought these cars often means a large pool of lower mileage used examples.

I am in fact on the hunt for another low-mileage 98 or 99, hopefully under 50k miles, so I can give the 95 to my son as his first car smile

Al

GREAT road trip car, comfortable and reliable.

Welcome, Rich. We have a lot of fun with these cars, but be careful driving it in BC!

_________________
'05 GTO 6.0L • 6-spd • 95k miles • 0-60: 4.8s • 16.9 avg MPG • Nelson Ledges Lap: 1:26

'95 Celica GT 2.2L • 5-spd • 165k miles • 0-60: yes

'98 SC Riviera • 281k miles • 298 HP/370 TQ • 0-60: 5.79s • ET: 13.97 @ 99.28 • 4087 lb • 20.1 avg MPG • Nelson Ledges Lap: 1:30
3.4" pulley • AL104 plugs • 180º t-stat • FWI w/K&N • 1.9:1 rockers • OR pushrods • LS6 valve springs • SLP headers • ZZP fuel rails
KYB GR2 struts • MaxAir shocks • Addco sway bars • UMI bushings • GM STB • Enkei 18" EV5s w/ Dunlop DZ101s • F-body calipers
EBC bluestuff/Hawk HP plus • SS lines • Brembo slotted discs • DHP tuned • Aeroforce • Hidden Hitch
^^^ SOLD ^^^ frown

'70 Ninety-Eight Holiday Coupe 455cid • 116k miles
^^^ SOLD ^^^ frown

Thanks to all for the warm reception. I've started to search for a Riviera - but will be patient and choosey. As my wife has family in Miami, I'll extend my search that far. Florida seems like a good place to locate the mythical low-mileage, elderly-original-owner Unicorn.

"AA" the cops are the least of my worries here in BC; I'm much more concerned about getting totalled by the terrible/aggressive drivers hereabouts.

GO FLORIDA & GO RIV thumbsup

AA wrote:: Welcome, Rich. We have a lot of fun with these cars, but be careful driving it in BC!

AA,Klaatu Barada Nikto
Dont be scarin the natives n shit!

There are 2 members in Comox with Rivieras for sale. Coincidentally, both are named Jason, and both have Emerald Green Pearl 98s.

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t9726-fs-modded-98-rivera-with-52k-miles
https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t10305-98-rivera-165kms-for-sale-in-bc

Thanks Jason. They're both good looking possibilities, and worth my consideration. However, so far in my VERY early investigations, I'm finding myself quite attracted to the pearl white on tan colour combo. My developing vision for a resto-retro-mod would probably work best with that combo as well. There's a mechanic selling a '98 somewhere around Hamilton that seems pretty nice. He's asking $8K for it. At this point, I'm not yet sure if that is excessive or not.