1981 Oldsmobile 98 Regency Brougham review from North America

Speedometer cable broke at around 191K.

Oil pan starting to leak.

A/C compressor replaced and recharged/retrofitted to R134 coolant after original system finally failed in 2005.

Water pump at 212,000 miles.

Replaced all 4 ball joints; the only thing on this car that I think is truly hard to work on.

Paint is starting to crack and fade after nearly 30 years in the desert southwest.

Rebuilt carburetor in 2006 due to rough idle at startup or in cold weather. The gaskets were old and cracking, and the choke was sticking and needed a good cleaning.

Replaced both valve cover and head gaskets around 200K miles. They weren't bad yet, but usually around this age/mileage is when most cars of this vintage start to really lose oil control.

Replaced rear main seal last week, and timing chain as a precaution.

Replaced both u-joints at 210K. One cracked one day at 70 MPH, and I felt like I was in a jackhammer on wheels. This is the only time this car came even close to stranding me. I was able to limp the car at 30MPH to a repair shop.

Replaced exhaust from the catalyst to the rear at v213K.

Front passenger power window motor failed at 215K, replaced with one from a junkyard for $10. Left rear window motor is deathly slow and probably headed in the same direction.

I installed stiffer coil springs and firmer shocks last year to help get away from the bouncy/boaty ride a bit. The car handles and corners much better now.

I inherited this old GM giant from my grandparents after he died and she was moved to assisted living in 2002. Like most younger people, I had no interest in keeping or driving an "old man's car" or a "land yacht", but like most of the reviews I read on here, it didn't take me more than two weeks to fall in love.

The car is black with black vinyl top, and red velour interior. Sitting in this car it's hard to tell it's almost 28 years old. GM knew a thing or two about fit and finish back then. Time has taken a bit of a toll on the paint, but no rust in sight. My grandparents purchased this car new in the spring of 1981, and ironically I was with them at the time for some reason. I was about 5 years old and was fascinated by the new Delco electronic tuned radio and cassette player; it was the first time I had seen one up close. Grandpa let me play with it and I found a station that was playing REO speedwagon's "I'm gonna keep on loving you." This song mysteriously came on that same Delco radio in 2005 just a few minutes after breaking 200,000 miles.

This car has survived two trips from South Dakota to Georgia and three from South Dakota to Arizona. It has no problem achieving close to 22 MPG at 75 MPH on the highway, sometimes higher, sometimes lower depending on road and weather conditions. I use cheap 87 Octane gas and cheap oil from Wal-Mart, and never a hint of trouble. No oil usage, no blow-by.

Before anyone accuses me of driving a gas guzzler, you had better look at all the yuppies driving full size SUV's down the road at 75MPH and 14 MPG. My cruising range is anywhere from 320 to 510 miles with my 25 gallon fuel tank, assuming I add 21 gallons at each fill-up.

It's no drag racer, and a bit of a slug from a dead stop if you really want power. But mid RPM and high speed cruising is where the engine and gearbox shine. Its tall 2.56 gears are meant for fuel economy, and it has no problem keeping up with any modern car in the hills and mountains. Even when climbing through the Rocky mountains, I've only had the coolant temp gauge touch 200 degrees a few times, usually on a hot day with the A/C blasting. It's so smooth and quiet sometimes I rev it when at a stoplight or roll down the window to make sure it's still running.

Next summer I plan on having the car professionally repainted and re-rustproofed. The car has never touched a salty road and I plan on keeping it that way.