2005 Buick Park Avenue with 13,650 miles on it. You may wonder why it> has 13,650 miles on it. Well its a rental car buy back from Alamo in> Boca Raton, Florida.>

I know we've had Mass Debation's on the pros & cons of buying fleet /> rental cars as we all know how drivers tend to drive something that> doesn't belong to them.>

Let me start out buy saying I didn't set out to buy a rental car - it> just ended up to be one. Its a base Park Ave with no option packages add> - but does have the radio upgrade to the AM- FM CD / Cassette.>

Last week there was a very close threat that car # 6 was going to be a> charcoal grey 03 Lincoln Town Car. If it wasn't for the fact it had the> California emissions system I would of bought it. But I still had the> General in mind - as I have been with General M since 1980.>

A mechanic friend of mine works at the Buick Olds Caddy dealer I got the> car at. Last year he gave me a salesmans card that might be able to give> me a good deal.> I still had the card here at home.>

A Buick dealer in Villa Park IL had the same identical Park only it had> 18,050 miles on it and had also been rear ended.> The repairs were noticeable.>

The I stopped at my friends work place two Sundays ago. When I saw it I> thought oh chit not that f' in Bronzemist again. Reading the window> sticker for 05 the came out with Cashmere Metallic.> I looked at it, looked inside and noticed no Driver Info Center, no> memory seat, buttons, no heated seat buttons and no OnStar Mirror. Uh Oh> ! No options, must be a rental. Look further down the sticker and see> the miles - 13, 644, yep, rental.>

The RR quarter has four tiny scratches, two might rub out with compound,> the rear bumper cover has the classic drag over scratches from suit> cases being unloaded.> Doors, fenders, hood, roof were perfect.> Interior was spotless, no stains, tears or wear marks / creases in the> leather.>

This car was parked on a raised concrete platform along with other> vehicles and backed up to the edge. I was able to almost stand under the> back end of the car. No rust underneath, no damage from bottoming out,> no evidence of it being rear ended, no color fading from salt, the wheel> well liners were still bright black. This can't be a Chicago car.>

Monday morning my buddy at the Chevy dealer run the Vin number.>

Alamo Rental - Boca Raton, FLa.> Built in June 2004>

The only service record shown was replacement of the trunk latch> striker. Maybe it got bent, possible a suit case strap hooked it &> somebody pulled like hell on it?>

For a rental car this one was the best looking one I've seen with> virtually no damage, just cosmetic stuff. Even the matts are clean.> This type of car usually is rented by older people, Parks are usually> $99 a day cars and 20 year olds and young parents with kids want a> cheaper sedan to rent.>

I went to the dealer with this information, saw my mechanic friend first> - then he tells me the dude won't get in till 1pm, Arghhhhh. I go do> lunch, go home and come back about 2 pm.>

I tell him about how my buddy works here and he said you might be able> to work out a better deal for me. Kind of like the Insiders deal> Seinfelt got from Puddy at the Saab dealer.>

Salesman let me drive the car alone, took it for about a 20 mile ride.> Rode great, handled well, no wind noises, no troubles. Everything seemed> to be functioning as it should. I forgot to bring a CD & tape to try,> but oh well. Had the car up to 90 mph.>

I pulled back the trunk trim looking for pull out marks on the inside of> the quarter panels - there were none. No flooding evidence - though I> wonder how the car did in the 4 hurricanes in FLA last summer. Of course> the car might of been in Ohio at the time.>

When I got back my buddy hoisted it up and we gave the bottom end a> good looking over. Again - no undercarriage damage, there weren't even> any jacking marks on the jack points. No leaks, Wow an oil filter free> and clear of the frame rail - whatta yah know ! No more mess changing> oil.>

I wasn't to thrilled with the absence of the grease fittings on the ties> rods and ball joints. My Mechanic leaned over & whispered its a good> car. The 3800 V6 has all kinds of room around it to work on.>

I mentioned the Villa Park twin to the salesman and told him it was> $24,999 with 18,000 miles on it. His reply was they could knock some off> of this one.>

The window sticker said $27,999 I was also told it was advertised (> website ? ) for $29,999 I didn't see it advertised in the paper, but> was shown a print out from their website with a picture of the car &> options. When we got to his desk he come to me with a figure of $25,500,> plus tax, title, license etc. SOLD !>

So I bought the car, rather a pleasant experience, I told the sales man> no extended warranty, Me or Phillip are the extended warranty, I also> mentioned my Big Al discount on parts at Chevy dealer and the salesman> replied, " You can't beat that".>

The GM Certified Warranty extends it to JUne 2007 or 39,010 miles> whichever comes first.>

No telling how long I'll own it. Might be 3, 4, 5 years. Might be 14> years. I might go ga - ga over the 07 Impala SS, or the 07 425 horsepwer> hemi Charger, who knows.>

The salesman asked if I was trading in a vehicle-___________­__________Oh> let me tell you about that " vehicle " I currently drive. He sat there> quietly , smiling, listening in amazement at the monumental> accomplishments of the 300,000 mile Bonneville.>

At this time I plan on keeping the Bonneville for awhile, just in case> the Park decides it rather be parked than driveable.>

Alot depends on whether I get tired of it hanging around. It might have> to be jockeyed for position on the driveway, the garage, the street. All> I know is its gonna be hard to part with when that time comes.>

The new car is a base Park Avenue with cashmere metallic ( gold looking> ) exterior with a cashmere leather interior,> Power front seats, Elec Climate Control, AM FM CD Cass, power everything> really, 19.0 cubic foot trunk. Two remotes, two keys, leather steering> wheel with AC/ Radio controls built in. 16 inch Aluminum wheels.>

CLEAN DEX COOL - so far!> Hello Intake gaskets, how are we today?>

$120 for the Service Manual - Currently studing the Owners Manual, which> I was given a new one to replace the missing one.>

One click of the parking brake does NOT turn off the DRL's !!>

To J C REEVES - Help me man ! How do I disable the DRL's ? , the> automatic headlights ?.>

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH­AHAHA.>

I'm not touching nothing. LOL.>

Wish me luck.>

Harryface> 2005 Buick Park Avenue 13,672 miles> 1991 Pontiac Bonneville LE> 303,030 miles>