Oldsmobile Eighty Eight

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Family Member

Year / Model Reviewed:
1989 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight Royale

Summary:
Originally when this car was given to me, the plan was to use it for a year or two until I saved the money to get what I really wanted (an Oldsmobile Aurora). But after driving her for a couple of days, I have fallen in love with this car!!! After spending yearsof driving those little four cylinder pea shooters, itfelt nice to drive a BIG car with some POWER!!!
Even at almost 18 years, the 3.8L V6 (in my opinion the best engine GM EVER produced) still has a lot of kick and does not burn a drop of oil, and the transmission shifts pretty good as well.
The seats are nice and comfortable for a husky guy (6-1, 260) and there's lots of room for five other people too.The ride is a bit too spongy for such a large car, but some struts should take care of that. Also the brakes are a bit spongy (I've had those done and they still are quite a bit soft). Did I mention that the steering could be a bit tighter as well, but I guess that can be chalked up to age as well.
As far as looks are concerned, to me it's very understated; with just the right touches (tinted windows and a good compound job on the paint) it would be a very appealing car to the eye!

Strengths:
3.8L V6
Nice, roomy interior and trunk space
Digital instrumentation
Classic "big car" look and feel

Weaknesses:
Spongy brakes, steering and suspension (probably attributable to its age);
Air conditioning not functioning properly (age);
Power windows and door locks not functioning properly (age);
Not the most stylish car on the road in terms of looks

Similar Products Used:
Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera-got that from my dad for free. Drove it for a year with a bad steering pump, never changed the fluids, leaked oil like a sieve and still squeezed out 10,000 miles out of her. Imagine how many miles I can get out of this Olds!!!And of course, my next car will be an Olds!!!

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Price Paid:  $4100.00 from Price LeBlanc Used C

Year / Model Reviewed:
1988 LS

Summary:
I was in the market for a mid-size sedan as a second family car. Found this 88 LS on the lot via an internet posting and put a deposit on it that evening. Kelly BB showed ~ $4200 market value, but the dealer wanted ~ $5000. We compromised and I brought it home for $4600, taxes included. At the time, I wasn't sure what I had, but it fit the bill.

It's been nine months / 15 kmiles and I'm falling in love with it. Initially I replaced shocks, the belt, and upgraded to a CD / cassette combo bought from a refurbisher in CA. I'll probably replace the AC compressor soon. I've settled into the feel of a soft ride, but the control is good. From the leather seats to the solid "thud" when closing the door, this car is a pleasure. It's heavy, tight, quiet, smooth, and has plenty of power on tap for traffic and highway. Best of all, there's a nice understated simplicity to this car which translates into fewer gadgets to break and disappoint. No other mechnical issues so far, but time will tell.

Why do people go for the lightweight feel of Japanese cars at extra expense? My growing family has ample room in the back. My daughter calls it the "spiffy" car. I'm looking for simlar cars for may sons' first cars as they go to college. Even they are convinced.

Strengths:
Solid, well built, simple performance. A pleasure to drive. Mechanically good so far. Milage has been surprisingly good at 25 city and 31 hwy.

Weaknesses:
Rear suspension tuning should be a little stiffer, but this can be accomplished with shock selection next time.

Similar Products Used:
None, but plan to purchase another one.

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Family Member

Year / Model Reviewed:
1993 4 door Sedan

Summary:
My dad gave me his 92 Olds 88, and I love this car. Comfy as hell, 3.8 L V8 is very strong engine, moves briskly. On road trips people fight to get in my car than my friends civic. The olds is that much roomier and comfier. Huge Trunk. Very little maintence needs to be done. Got 190K on it and it shows no sign of stopping. Very pleased with this car.

Strengths:
Very comfy Powerful engine bulletproof reliability

Weaknesses:
Bland Styling (but who cares?)

Similar Products Used:
None

Price Paid:  $3400.00 from private party

Year / Model Reviewed:
1993 Oldsmobile 88

Summary:
This is the best luxury car money can buy if the engine were to perform properly. This car has every option possible. The automatic climate control is great as well as the steering wheel controls. The leather seats look like new at 104000 miles. Everything is in top notch condition exept for the cars performance. I have heard that the 3800 series V6 engine by GM is one of the most strong performing V6 engines ever made. I have heard and read that it offers brisk acceleration and smooth effortless crusing. This is not the case in my car. My 3800 is very anemic and has sluggish acceleration. It dreads hills and with the AC on can barely keep up with semi trucks from a standing stop. I have repaired just about everything to do with the cars performance and yet seen no result. (See list in weaknesses). Any advice would be helpful. I would hate to have to get rid of the car.

Strengths:
Dual power seats, CD, high quality leather, keyless entry, auto down driver window, back seat air ducts, great steering wheel controls, and great body integrity.

Weaknesses:
Weak 3800 V6 engine. Have replaced spark plugs with bosch platinums (best you can buy), fuel filter, fuel injectors, and engine control modual. I also put in Mobile 1 fully synthetic motor oil. All these things have had little to no affect. Had transmission checked and told not the problem.

Similar Products Used:
1989 Mercury Grand Marquis.- 225000 miles and runs great. Weighs 3900 pounds and has 150 horsepower and out accelerates the Olds and climbs up hills with ease. The Olds weighs 3400 pounds and has 170 horsepower. (no wonder I am conserned) 1990 Dodge Dynasty.- Very bad car. Lousy transmission. Poor integrity.

Price Paid:  $3400.00 from private party

Year / Model Reviewed:
1993 Oldsmobile 88

Summary:
This is the best luxury car money can buy if the engine were to perform properly. This car has every option possible. The automatic climate control is great as well as the steering wheel controls. The leather seats look like new at 104000 miles. Everything is in top notch condition exept for the cars performance. I have heard that the 3800 series V6 engine by GM is one of the most strong performing V6 engines ever made. I have heard and read that it offers brisk acceleration and smooth effortless crusing. This is not the case in my car. My 3800 is very anemic and has sluggish acceleration. It dreads hills and with the AC on can barely keep up with semi trucks from a standing stop. I have repaired just about everything to do with the cars performance and yet seen no result. (See list in weaknesses). Any advice would be helpful. I would hate to have to get rid of the car.

Strengths:
Dual power seats, CD, high quality leather, keyless entry, auto down driver window, back seat air ducts, great steering wheel controls, and great body integrity.

Weaknesses:
Weak 3800 V6 engine. Have replaced spark plugs with bosch platinums (best you can buy), fuel filter, fuel injectors, and engine control modual. I also put in Mobile 1 fully synthetic motor oil. All these things have had little to no affect. Had transmission checked and told not the problem.

Similar Products Used:
1989 Mercury Grand Marquis.- 225000 miles and runs great. Weighs 3900 pounds and has 150 horsepower and out accelerates the Olds and climbs up hills with ease. The Olds weighs 3400 pounds and has 170 horsepower. (no wonder I am conserned) 1990 Dodge Dynasty.- Very bad car. Lousy transmission. Poor integrity.