How to tell a Regal from a Century

Tell me, please, what makes a Regal a Regal and a Century a Century. I'm talking about late 90's to early 2000's models.

Regal = 3800 V6----Century = 3100 V6...I think? If so, I had a 3100 along with some friends and they had alot of problems. I've heard good things about the 3800. I believe the Regal had a little more "sporty" stiffer suspension and maybe different seats. I actually wouldn't mind a Regal for a cheap DD. Oh, ten years ago the Regal was considered the most reliable family sedan: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/autos/2003-11-03-reliable_x.htm

I believe the Century offered the 3.8 as well, but no S/C 3.8. Trim differences and some options.

These cars have electrical issues as they age, like a lot of GM products from that era.

edit: They only had the 3.1.

The 3.1 and 3.8 both eat intake gaskets like candy until you put the spendy felpro kit in, upper plenum on the 3.8 is pretty much disposable too, though Dorman thinks they may have fixed it with a necked down egr chimney. Other than that, if the aforementioned issues didn't wipe out the main bearings(like mine), it hanst rusted to pieces, and the trans was taken care of, they're good cars.

I think that about sums it up. Basically the same car, but the Century only had the 3.1L and not as fancy trim/seating/interior.

That, and the average age of a Regal buyer was probably 74, where the average age of a Century buyer was 78.

In reply to Kenny_McCormic:

I always assumed that getting these cars off Dexcool would help prolong the life of the intake gasket. Any accuracy to this statement? 140,000 miles on the 3.8 in my Intrigue, ditched the Dex for green stuff around 50,000 miles, and no problems so far...

The 97-05 Century was a lower-spec W-Body Regal basically. 3.1 instead of the 3.8 (which was not an option in the Century at all), less options, cheaper, bench seats front and back, column shift. The Regal was a little "sportier" with front buckets and a console with a floor shift, the 3800 Series II, and the Supercharged GS version.

the bumpers look different. that's how i can tell without getting close. i like both the 3.8(regal) and the 3.1(century) variety though.

IIRC the Century had chrome trim around the tail lamps, the Regal did not.

Other than that, motor size will be the main confirming factor.

are there suspension parts for these that would tame the wallow for a bit tighter drive?

In reply to WilberM3:

Dave, there's stuff out there. Takes a bit of searching. We had a modified Regal GS out on one of the kancamagus highway cruises & it held it's own on Hurricane Mountain road.

When I had my GSE I replaced the rotted hollow front sway bar for a solid one & it helped a little.

In reply to pres589:

Maybe, maybe not, either way, I think its asinine to make a seal on an eninge out of something stiff and crack prone like nylon, put the aluminum framed gaskets in and a 3800 will probably work fine with a radiator full of donkey piss.

In reply to Kenny_McCormic:

I had the car in at a Firestone shop near my home to get a vehicle inspection per an arrangement I'm brewing up to sell the car for low low dollars to a friend (long story) and I wanted to know what they'd find.

And guess what; the intake manifold is wet. I wasn't told exactly how, and it apparently needs valve cover gaskets as well, so I guess there's a slight chance that it's oil... but it seems highly doubtful. The estimated cost to replace gaskets and not any part of the intake itself, for the valve covers and intake, runs $760 including labor. Thinking I can do it myself for maybe $300 in parts including the APN lower intake that is supposed to be a big improvement over factory. Ugh. Now to figure out if the friend still wants the car with this issue hanging over it, and I need to stop driving it in the meantime until I can get a good idea of what's actually going on with the intake.

Very timely. I might be looking at a free Century soon(Mrs. neon's late grandfather's).

On one hand I need a new car, on the other, I still have PTSD over 3100 equipped W-bodies, albeit the previous generation.

In reply to bravenrace:

I'm curious as to why you ask. Just wondering, or is there a plan behind this?

One has a good motor, one has a crappy motor.. my .02. Id rather be replacing plastic water elbows on a 3.8 than lower intake gaskets on a 3.1. Oh, and id rather be driving the 3.8 by about a 200% margin.

Sold in slightly different colors of beige?

I was always surprised just how thrifty that 3800 could be.

The only thing I know about them is that they are both Buicks. I'm afraid I couldn't pick one out in a parking lot without reading the badge. I can usually spot Pontiacs of the same era because of the horrible trim, but Buicks must be invisible to me.

I really have nothing to add except to tell a story. Back in HS when I was dating my wife to be her dad got an 86 Century, it was like two years old then. It had a 3800 in it, the Doctor he bought it from said that he special ordered it that way and it is the only Century that old I have ever seen with a 3800. That car could not handle for crap but boy was it quick.

In reply to pres589:

Stock LIM is fine with the Dorman Chimney(comes with new UIM), I think I had $150 in parts, coolant and loctite included, took an afternoon.

Rusted_Busted_Spit wrote: I really have nothing to add except to tell a story. Back in HS when I was dating my wife to be her dad got an 86 Century, it was like two years old then. It had a 3800 in it, the Doctor he bought it from said that he special ordered it that way and it is the only Century that old I have ever seen with a 3800. That car could not handle for crap but boy was it quick.

yup. mom and dad's '87 Century had it. Solid beam axle in the rear

only rated 150? hp but it felt quicker than any of the later model 3800s they had.

I too have driven a late 80s 3.8 buick that felt way faster than any of the newer ones. It's one of a few memorable 'freaks' i encountered over the years. Another one was a 95 5.2L dodge cargo van, and another one was a late 80s carbed 351 f250. Go figure.

Vigo wrote: I too have driven a late 80s 3.8 buick that felt way faster than any of the newer ones. It's one of a few memorable 'freaks' i encountered over the years. Another one was a 95 5.2L dodge cargo van, and another one was a late 80s carbed 351 f250. Go figure.

Ditto on the 5.2 dodge cargo van. That was my normal high school driver and it was really eye opening; 475000 miles and not caring if it broke could have been part of that though.