Faults:

Needed to replace alternator @ 75,000 miles.

Have put 2 sets of brakes on front.

Am on 3rd set of tires (replaced at 50,000 and 90,000 miles).

Front tires wear slightly uneven, despite front end alignments once every 20,000 miles.

General Comments:

This '96 SL sedan was purchased at the same time I bought a '96 SL wagon. I have driven both cars a total of well over 150,000 miles the past 5 years, and the alternator is the only part I have had to replace other than tires, brakes and a battery- and that's both cars!

The SL's have split bench power front seats, remote power windows, pop out cup holders from the center arm rest, and many other options found in much more expensive cars, making them very comfortable.

The 3.1 has adequate power and delivers about 30 mpg on the hi way and 25 to 27 mpg during in town driving.

Faults:

When I got the car I replaced the spark plugs with Bosch platinum +4's and the car ran terribly. I was told the plugs ran too hot for the motor. I then put in GM OEM replacement plugs and the car ran fine. I then installed a new PCV valve and an K&N air filter. Also when I got it all the fluids were replaced. New rubber was put on the car because when I got it the tires it came with new were still on it.

General Comments:

The V6 has good power up high in the rev range and the auto transmission shifts smooth running it hard or soft. The suspension is soft, but will go around most corners at speed with little hesitance. The interior is very nice although some wood trim would really dress it up. Leather would have also been a nice touch and I might get the seats done in leather since the car is in mint condition. The A/C blows cold and the radios sounds pretty good even stock, but one should replace the front speakers because they are junk compared to the back. The side moldings on all of these cars were never good and they would lose their paint quickly, the previous owner of the car had it replaced twice and its showing its age again. I'm going to replace it with aftermarket molding which I think is a higher quality. Other than that I am very happy with the car.

Faults:

I have replaced the transmission twice. The car failed to shift into higher gears. The first time the transmission was done-with a 12 month warranty, it failed at 13 months. The next time I bought an extended 3 year warranty about 1 year ago.

Starter replaced 7/02 and now failed again 8/03-one month beyond warranty again!

My last Oldsmobile Ciera cracked the engine block at 54000 miles!

The car body is also rusting terribly despite regular washing and waxing.

The power window motor failed and needed replaced.

The alternator need replaced at 24,000 miles.

General Comments:

I like the size of the interior and find it very comfortable.

The trunk is large and holds a lot.

The car handles well in rain and snow.

Faults:

This car has had almost no problems at all.

I had to replace the alternator at 88,000 miles.

The drivers side power window motor went at 118,000 miles and was almost impossible to change. It was pop riveted on which required drilling out the rivets and taking apart the entire door.

Absolutely no other problems.

General Comments:

This car is the best car I have ever owned. I only hope that the next car I own has the same reliability that this one does.

I have done literally nothing to this car in terms of service except plugs and oil. The above problems can be expected with a car with over 100,000 miles on it.

This car has an extreme amount of power, also. You would not believe the kick that this engine gives.

The transmission is geared perfectly for the car. It holds the powerful gear that you want, especially when going up hills. None of this shifting up business like you get in Fords.

This car would easily beat any Civic or Accord off the line, or any other wanna be sports car out there, within reason.

Faults:

The transmission was rebuilt at 181,000 miles, cost me less than 900 dollars to repair.

Coil pack stopped firing 2 spark plugs at 231,000. Was repaired with a junk yard part. Total cost 150 dollars.

Radio stopped working last year, replaced with a Pioneer CD player.

The shocks, struts, springs, brakes, tires, have been replaced.

Trunk lid has started to rust, but otherwise the car looks good inside and out.

General Comments:

This car has been fantastic. I bought it from an auction from the State of New York Thruway Athourity in November of 1998. I am in sales, and I drive between 500 and 1000 miles a week, and this car never lets me down. It's ride on the highway is wonderful, and it's big enough to keep my luggage, paperwork, and whatnot in the trunk, and my laptop between the two front seats. The car seats 5 comfortably, 6 officially.

I get about 30 mpg on the highway, and the engine has plenty of power. The transmission doesn't shift as smoothly as it did before it was rebuilt, but it always finds the right gear. It handles poorly, but that's my only complaint.

This car is very similar to my 1989 Buick Century which still runs with almost 400000 miles on it. I'm considering another Buick or Olds for my next car.