1980 Oldsmobile 98 5.7L diesel from North America

Summary:

General Motors crap!

Faults:

What didn't go wrong with this car is a better question.

Well... the ash tray never broke.

Where do I start?

1. Transmission at 13k miles failed. The transmission that was installed in the car was a turbo 200 model. This transmission was designed for a small, lightweight car, about the size of a Vega. What moron from General Motors decided to install this transmission into a vehicle the size of Cadillac and expected it to function? Can we say DUMB ASS?

2. Engine: The same moron's that selected the trasmission must have been smoking dope while designing the 5.7L diesel. This motor had more problems than I could list. Head-gaskets, rocker assemblies, injector pump, broken head bolts, multiple starters, and the finally a broken crankshaft.

3. Differential and Axles: This car left me stranded 2 times with damaged rear wheel bearings. Again the same dope smoking moron's from above decided to redesign the rear end. Take a perfectly good working axle and wheel bearing, then remove the inner race of the bearing, and have the wheel bearing ride directly on the axle without a hardened steel race. (gotta save a few cents). Unfortunately they never grasped the concept that the bearing was harder than the axle, and as wear occurs that the axle would become damaged. This problem occurred 2 times, and of course the axles had to be special ordered each time (about 3 weeks of downtime).

General Comments:

I will never even consider another General Motors product after this car.

GM... GO TO HELL!!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 24th January, 2002

25th Jan 2002, 09:56

I had a turbo 200-r4 in my '81 Buick Electra with a 307 Gas V8 (more power and toque than the diesel) and went 187,000 miles with the car and no transmission problems. If you were crazy enough to buy a 350 diesel then you deserve all those problems!

25th Jan 2002, 12:55

Anyone who would buy a diesel in the first place is foolish. The person who wrote this article condemning GM for one car has a definite problem with reality. Every car I have owned from GM has been extremely reliable. I am currently driving a 1990 Olds Cutlass Supreme International Series and have never been stranded. I bought the car and it had 70,000 miles on it. It currently has 145,000 miles on the odometer, it has been the best car I have owned, no problems. I have never done any major repairs on this car and it consistently gets 20-25 miles per gallon in the city. I have gotten up to 40 miles to the gallon on the highway.

So if you want to condemn GM go ahead, most of us won't listen to you anyway. As we base our opinions in reality.

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1980 Oldsmobile 98 Regency from North America

Summary:

Best vehicle ever

Faults:

Made a hole in the gas tank after jumping a drainage ditch.

The gas bill can get a little high in the middle of winter when it gets 6 mpg.

General Comments:

This is the toughest vehicle I have ever driven, seen, or been 1000 miles from.

The engine will not quit, the transmission should be laying on the road somewhere but it still works great.

The seats are more comfortable than a Lazyboy, and the 8 track player is the finishing touch.

If you want to get the ladies, this vehicle will get you laid. Between the fender skirts or the CB radio, they're bound to fall for you.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 9th April, 2001

24th Jul 2001, 21:29

My 1982 Olds 98 was purchased third hand, with 143,000 miles on it. It still burns no oil at 145,000 miles; and the transmission + other major components are still functioning just fine.

The only thing I have had serious trouble with is the climate control system which physically jammed on heater, then the "programmer" jammed on full blast heat. My gas mileage, with a V8 of unknown size and four barrel carburetor is about what you would expect for a big car like this one

(10 -14), but I certainly think I got more than my moneys worth with this car. I only buy used cars, so who knows what I will buy next. But, if another good Olds is around at the time, I will probably "jump on it," based on my satisfaction with this Olds, plus with a 1964 F-85 Olds that I drove to 210,000 miles before bidding it a sad goodbye.