1987 Oldsmobile 88 Royale Brougham 3.8 from UK and Ireland
Summary:
The best all round American car I've owned
Faults:
When I bought the car, the speedometer didn't work and it ran a bit rough. When I got it home (a 150 mile trip), it hardly ran at all. I replaced the plugs & plug wires, which completely cured the running problems. I also gave the car a complete service, & replaced the blown cruise control fuse, which fixed the speedometer!.
Since then the muffler blew on the way to a car show (embarrassing), but that is all that has failed since I bought the car.
There are some faults I still have to fix; the A/C doesn't work (not a big deal in the UK), the central locking and power windows are both slow, and the hood needs a new strut.
General Comments:
This car has both the best performance & gas mileage of any American car I have ever owned. The engine & transmission are wonderfully smooth, returning 30 mpg in normal use, and 22 mpg towing a caravan, which it does with no stability worries, & deals effortlessly with hills.
My girlfriend loves both driving & riding in it, loving the smooth ride & comfortable seats; the only car I've owned that beat it for ride & seat comfort was a 1982 Lincoln Mark 6.
The only gripe I have with the car, is that being a 2 door, parking it in typical tight English supermarket car parks, opening the doors wide enough to get in and out easily, can be a problem. But what the heck; I bought it to go to car shows (there is a thriving American car scene over here), and although it doesn't compare with the fins'n'chrome of the fifties or '60s muscle cars, I am very happy with it.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 28th November, 2010
2nd Apr 2010, 00:37
This review is in regards to my 1989 Olds 88.
Let's start with the purchasing the Olds last year in June. My Olds only had 80,000 original miles on it. Most people would assume that a good and reliable automobile from GM with only 80,000 miles on it would be a steal of a deal, right? Especially for $1400.00.
Well I did as well for the first two months, then the plague started. What went wrong with the dear Olds!
1.) Both front brake lines rusted out, parking brake needed adjusted, as well again.
2.) Front pads and calipers; $330.00.
3.) Right outer tie-rod; $200.00.
4.) New winter studded snow tires $75.00.
5.) Exhaust system from the cat-back $226.00.
6.) Thermostat and coolant pressure check $190.00 Note: Includes labor, tax, and part pricing!
7.) New spark plugs self installed, air filter, PCV valve, and vapor canister make-shift filter price $ n/a.
8.) Now most recent, the car was having a fuel/air issue, stalling and surging. Now this only occurred once my throttle body was taken apart when my thermostat was retapped. I thought for the longest time it was my MAF sensor, but wrong. I had a engine scan today, and no trouble codes or error lights on, but ignition module replaced $120.00, fuel filter $15.00, and now the fuel-pump at $120-149.00.
Nothing really major wrong with the car, just frustrating objects that are very hard to figure out on your own, without having proper OBD tools.
Now the body is very clean, has no rust, paint is clean and clear coat in great condition, interior is red-cloth, as well very clean.
I'm hoping after these things are replaced, and other minor things like oil change and filter, rear brakes, but the normal wear and tear on any old and new car, I would like to think my 1989 88 Olds will last me until 200,000 plus miles before the famous 3800 needs TLC, but odds are the transmission won't last as its brother, LOL.