6th Jan 2007, 09:39

I have a 1996 Olds Cutlass Supreme 3.1 V6. When I bought the car, it had 84,000 miles, but was regularly maintained by an elderly couple who were the original owners. I have continued to take care of the car with regular checkups, oil changes and so on. I absolutely love this car and it has been great for me. Dependable and pleasurable. Looks great and runs terrific. Being the 2 door model with the sport package is a real head turner. Especially being the year it is... looks much newer than it is. The only problem I am having right now is I just realized that the running lights must have been disabled or something since the book states it has them, but they do not seem to work. No biggie, but bothers me since I like everything to be just so. Only major repairs have been an alternator and fuel pump at about 100,000 miles and then the water pump at about 120,000. I now have 160,000 miles and still running like new. I'll keep it till it dies or falls apart. These new cars, at the prices, just aren't worth it to me. I'm a girl, and even I can do most of the work. Motor is very easy to work on an I have done all repairs except the fuel pump, cause I don't have a lift.

9th Mar 2007, 18:42

I also have a 1996 Olds Cutlass Supreme 3.1, bought used from a lady with 50k, I now have 95000. I do all the maintenance myself.

Flushing the coolant system is easy to do, because the petcock is very easy to get to. I changed the plugs at 85000 miles. The 3 in the front were easy, the 3 in the back were tough.

I had to put the car up on ramps climb underneath and basically twist my arm in a position that I didn't like very much. And since I couldn't really see too much, you basically have to do it by brail. Back 3 took about one and a half hours.

Front brakes are great, back brakes are horrible. I have replaced the front pads once, and back pads twice, and now I do believe my back calipers are shot.

That rotating piston is horrible. The tool that you have to use to back the piston back in slips off half the time, it's just a very bad design.

And yes my back brakes squeak all the time; that's why I will be replacing calipers in a couple of weeks. Hopefully that will stop it.

I do have a broken window lift on the drivers side, but that doesn't bother me, I just open the door at drive thrus.

But the engine is very strong, and it has a very comfortable ride.

2nd May 2007, 13:10

Good to read all the comments posted about 1996 Olds Cutlass Supreme SL 3100cc.

I bought the one I have in 1999 with 34K miles on it for $5600. It is now worth around $1600, with 96k miles. That is eight years of good driving for $4k depreciation, or $500 per year.

Now, add in maybe $300 per year for maintenance and you have $800 per year cost. Not bad for a good ride. The maintenance has been all the normal replacement stuff, call them consumables, since we do use them up.

Here's the real kicker: I keep up with gas mileage by the drop, using an Excel sheet to log in every detail, every time I fillup or do maintenance. About 18 months ago, the "Service Engine Soon" light came on.

I learned that the culprit was the EGR (exhaust gas recycle valve). I was told that if the car was still running well, don't worry about the EGR, replace it whenever I felt like it. Well! I haven't replaced it to today, altho it is very simple to do. Here's why..

My gas mileage went from 19 MPG in town (Jax, FL) and 27 road while the EGR was working, to 24 town and 32 road after it crapped out! This is now my consistent gas mileage. Heck, I ain't replacing that stinkin' valve!

The mileage didn't jump up all at once, took months of gradually getting better with each fill up. The gas mileage is either getting slightly better now with each fill, or is staying about the same, 24 in town, 32 on the road. My driving is 90% in town.

I have heard many theories as to why the mileage is so much better now. "Better driving habits?" are the one most proposed. But it isn't true. I have driven exactly the same way for the last 20 years at least.. and that isn't slow!

Go figure.

Otherwise, this car still looks good, drives well, and what more could a person want? (I may regret that brag, any day now, but so far.. great!)

By the way, I use 87 octane gas from many sources, keep my tires pumped up to a "high normal" pressure, and service the rascal regularly. I also give it a pat and say, "That'll do, pal" everyday. If old guys with Oldsmobiles talk to their cars, maybe they know something.

Good to read all of your remarks, and I look forward to reading more.

BT.

12th Jun 2007, 13:11

Bought my 1996 Cutlass 3.4 in 1999...Has been a lemon ever since. All the same problems listed in previous posts. Pulleys, spark plugs and wires, alternators (on my second one), oil leaks, power steering leaks, countless brake pad and rotor replacements, transmission rebuild, etc. I regret keeping it for so long. Should have been sent to the bone yard a long time ago.

19th Jun 2007, 22:06

I just bought my 1996 cutlass supreme at 82,000 miles for some 3,400 dollars. They replaced my brakes and a tire before I bought it. Needless to say my Mimi paid by check and I traded in a no worth car, an 89 dodge shadow. I have had this car for a little over the month. I have driven for hours on end in it, and it is wonderful. The gas consumption depends on the stops it makes at red lights and what not, but on highway for an hour a way it isn't that bad. Not for a V6 engine.

I hope that it will stay wonderful like this, but who knows. It was well taken care of though and rides so smooth. I had a old cutlass siera a 91, it was a wonderful car until a girl ran into the passenger back door. It was no longer in good running condition and had to get rid of it.

I am thinking about working on it though making it sporty any suggestions. E-mail me at beautifulbigred4u@yahoo.com.