1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera LS 4 door sedan review from North America

The ignition mod. died at approx. 111,000 miles.

The "dogbone" (top motor mount) was replaced twice from excessive down shifting.

Right channel in the factory stereo has been dying.

The exhaust manifold broke from excessive down shifting.

Both front CV axles were replaced at 115,000 miles due to excessive down shifting and normal wear.

The A/C never worked at all.

The front anti-roll bar broke in two and was replaced at 150,000 miles.

The headliner has fallen down from ceiling.

The passenger side rear brake sticks and also its parking brake cable is frozen where it forks off (over the rear axle) to that brake.

NOW, HERE'S THE BIG ONE THAT GETS MY GOAT...

The transmission is DESIGNED to prematurely

wear major and minor components on this engine

and drive train as it ages...

Here's what I mean; The tranny is a 3 speed automatic with a "lockout", meaning, when the car reaches a certain speed, (41mph in my case) the drive axles lock together and the engine revs drop approx. 10%. The problem is that lockout happens about 10mph too early, (it should happen at 50mph) and seeing that it's not adjustable at all, (thanks to the fine management at GM) and also seeing the engine, tranny, and many other components are already in a somewhat weakened condition from age, they take a serious beating when the transmission kicks down to fix its premature lockup mistake. This happens because the transmission senses the lack of revs and forces an extra-hard down shift to occur usually when you start going up hills (when the speed limit is 45 and there's traffic in front of you).

This simply leads to premature component failure

of things like motor mounts, exhaust parts, tranny output bearings, inner CV joints, etc. which all take this unnecessary beating and finally wear out way before they're supposed to. If the lockout was adjustable, this could all be avoided and I could drive my old crappy car in peace and not cringe every time it slams from lockout into drive. YUCK!

First of all, whoever designed this engine should

drawn and quartered. PERIOD!!!

The distributor cap and oil filter are located in

the absolute most hard-to-reach places I've ever

seen. Don't get the 2.5 litre 4 cyl. engine!

The spark plugs cannot be reached by mortal man unless you buy the special tool.

The transmission is the most "user unfriendly" thing I've ever delt with.

The car is very comfortable.

Once (if) you get it up to cruising speed, she's happy. 70mph is cool!

The 2.5L engine is definitely NOT peppy!

How come I have to look around the steering wheel to see my gas gauge? Couldn't they put it where you can see it?

There are two types of Cieras... ones that totally rust out, and those that don't rust ever!

This car gives you no road feel whatsoever. In fact, it doesn't even give you a feel for what's happening to the engine. In most cars you can get a sense of what might be wrong or right with the engine. Not in this car! It gives you absolutely no feedback. It is an old person's car for sure!

By the way GM, it's "unleaded GAS" not "unleaded FUEL". Gasoline is NOT fuel. Gas and oxygen is fuel!!! Get it right!

It should have int. wipers and cruise control, but that would make it a better car... and we just can't have that, now. Can we?

Okay, the car cost me $450.00 and I got 3 years out of it. I guess it wasn't too bad a deal.