Oldsmobile Eighty Eight

Price Paid:  $27000.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
1999 Olds 88

Summary:
I am a detective with a local department, and sometimes use it in my day to day operations. The car handles as well as any Crown Vic or Caprice I have ever driven, I have had it well over 100mph and it was nothing but smooth. I did have one of the 2 computers short out, but with Oldsmobiles excellent service, even that wasn't a horrible deal.

Strengths:
Handling, comfort, power. Good body lines.

Weaknesses:
Sometimes the windsheild wipers won't activate until you put them on high.

Similar Products Used:
Crown Viv, Caprice

Price Paid:  $21000.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
1999 /Oldsmobile 88

Summary:
After about 4 months, the dashboard had a large separation appear. The seats lack lateral support. The radio antenna will not retract. There is no way to regulate the amount of wiper fluid despensed (so much comes out that it leaves streaks on the front windows).

The engine is one of the best there is. It is absolutely bullet-proof. The car has great acceleration. After a minor adjustment around 45,000 miles, the transmission performed well until just after 100k. It now needs to be replaced. The trunk is great also.

Strengths:
Engine, handling.

Weaknesses:
Interior fit and finish. The breaks aren't good either.

Similar Products Used:
Buick LeSabre - Same basic vehicle, but the buick is more refined, using higher quality materials on the interior.

Year / Model Reviewed:
1999 Eightyeight LS

Summary:
A very nce family car with some style to it that won't look old in 5 years. Has excellent powertrain and reports show a good reliability factor as well as being safe. Easy in and out either in the front or back seats. With the LS there are some nice little amenitites like theater lighting (interior lights dim slowly after the doors are closed making for a smoother light/dark optical transition). Standard running lights, ABS and anit-lock brakes make this a very easy car to drive with excellent pick-up. I do wish the car were a bit more firm in the handling. I get what I consider to be good gas mileage and the range is about 400 miles per tank. Adjustable power seat, keyless entry and incredible road visibilty make this a very pleasurable car to drive. I purchased used from a dealer friend and paid $14,995 - condition was excellent, new tires, extra set of keys and approximately 22,000 miles. My family now owns 3 of these cars.

Strengths:
Conservative yet still styish
Roomy
Nice ride
Very comfortable
Nice sound system
Safe
Nice powertrain
Superior visibility

Weaknesses:
A little soft in terms of handling
Power antenna is not 100 percent reliable in retracting

Price Paid:  $12500.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
1999 Eighty Eight LS

Summary:
The strongest feature of this car is the 3.8 liter V-6. It''s a very roomy car. The trunk is particularly deceiving as it is much larger than it seems from the outside. Gas mileage is good for this size 20-22 mpg for combined suburban and expressway rush hour traffic. A great value except for some unexpected repairs in the last few months that are not typical of a 3 year old car. See below Glad I only paid $12,500 for the car a year and a half ago.

Strengths:
3.8 liter V6 is very dependable. Have the same engine in our 1990 Trofeo which has had no engine repairs.

Weaknesses:
Uncharacteristic repairs for such a new car, such as lower stabilizer arm bushings and driver''s side electric window. Ash tray in front doesn''t fit right and slides open constantly while accelerating. Also don''t care for the notched volume control on the cassette/radio. Big difference in volume between notches making sound either too loud or too soft.

Similar Products Used:
1990 Trofeo

Price Paid:  $9000.00

Summary:
i've owned my olds ls since feburary '01 and i like it. the ride is smooth and quiet without a lot of body roll or floatiness. my last three cars were buicks, one with the 3.8 v6 so i was looking for another car with this engine. the current buicks and bonnevilles are ugly to me so i strayed and bought an olds. on my initial test drive i was swayed by it's spaciousness, the refined valve train,and it had a good price. be forewarned this is NOT an enthusiast's car. this car runs out good on the highway, but it's saddled with a 2.86(suks) final drive and a whisper quiet exhaust which offers good fuel economy, but gives timid throttle response around town. the driving flavor of the car is boring, and i often nod off while driving-not kidding. to me a car should be responsive and fun to drive. i see why olds lost customers. for the regular joe the olds is a great car,so far it's been reliable ,invisible and inexpensive to own.

Strengths:
great fuel economy, room for the piglets, and cheap to maintain

Weaknesses:
clearcoat easy to scratch-sorry paint. the final drive is the pits. cheap interior materials. mirrors too small, and what's up with psuedo vent window?

Similar Products Used:
i trade my '87 buick electra t-type in for my ls. i really liked that car. it banged through the gears and took some pretty good abuse. the ls does every thing as an afterthought. i'm only knocking the car because i had no idea when the newness wore off i would be so hungry for something more active. i thought "ls" meant not so average