Faults:

When we bought this car, it smoked and had an engine knock. The problem was there was six and one half quarts of oil in it. It only takes four on my model. Now it runs nicely. So far we have had to replace the window motor on the driver's side.

General Comments:

I own a 1996 Oldsmobile Achieva with 22,000 miles on it. My father purchased this car for $1,000 because it smoked terribly.

My model is the V6. Overall, it has substantial acceleration power. I tested it at 0-60 in approximately 8.5 seconds. I am interested in purchasing performance upgrades. I am not certain as to what is available. This car is comfortable and still maintains the sporty feel.

Faults:

I've experienced the usual problems with my 96 Achieva --- I'm replacing d/s power window motor for 2nd time, have had alternator and brake problems, but over all, the car's been really good to me. Now, I'm having some type of "coding" problem, where the car's security system thinks it's being stolen and quits running after I start it up. My mechanic said I need to have it re-coded at the dealership. The dealership is now up to $800 in just parts for the ignition system. AARRGGHHH. Anyone else seeing anything like this??

General Comments:

My car only has 56000 miles on it, and I don't really want to get a new car, but am I kidding myself at this point? Is it worth it to keep it?

Faults:

It needed some front end work (tie rods, ball joints) but when this was done it was fine.

General Comments:

I was very pleased with this car. I've owned many cars in my life and I would have to say that this Achieva was the best one I've had in terms of comfort and reliability. The car was comfortable, had a great sounding factory cd stereo, hugged the road, looked great, and had power to pass on the highway.

Faults:

One of the gaskets blew, which caused anti-freeze to leak into the oil causing the crank to be tore up at 96,000 miles.

I had to send the heads off to be fixed at a machine shop and I did a temporary fix on the crank by replacing the bearings.

At 100,000 miles I drove my car off a cliff tearing up the suspension and the whole under-body of the car.

At 110,000, under constant abuse, the crank finaly gave out, where the anti-freeze tore it up earlier, and just went ahead and replaced the whole engine.

General Comments:

The only reason this car has seen so many repairs is that I give the car a lot of abuse, by taking it to drag strips and the such.

I've got a lot of performance mods to this car, I have had the motor I just stuck in it bored out 40 over and had a supercharger put on.

The car is purple with 18in white racing rims, white graphics on its side, a performance Borla exhaust system, with strobes and neons all over it, I also replaced the original seats with momo racing buckets, I had a power moon-roof put in, and it has been lowered using the Eibach suspension lowering kit.

I have upgraded the stereo in it using a eclipse head unit, mtx 1500 watt amp, 2 Polk/Momo 12"s subs, some 6 1/2" Infiniti kappa series component speakers for the front, and two Infiniti 6x9s for the back.

Overall this car is very quick, especially with the mods I've done and handles very well on the 18's. The stereo ensures you don't get bored while driving, but that usually doesn't happen because this is a fun car to drive.