1997 Oldsmobile Achieva SC V6

Summary:

Love the car its quick and comfortable

Faults:

Replaced radiator and thermostat at 130k due to a crack.

Front rotors and pads replaced at 140k.

The front drivers window stopped working at 140k.

Passenger seat don't slide forwards it was like that when I bought it.

Heater works off and on.

Gets reals close to overheating and sometimes does, but there is probably somthing wrong with it and just need it checked out.

General Comments:

Very fast car beat a lot of sport cars in this.

Very comfortable and I like the looks of the car, but everyone tells me it looks like a grandma car.

Suspension is a little to much.

Good gas mileage, 22 in the city and 34 on the highway.

Take care of her and she'll take care of you.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 1st November, 2005

1997 Oldsmobile Achieva

Summary:

I love this car

Faults:

I had to replace brakes and rotors. Just common things.

Nothing real serious.

General Comments:

This car has very good pick up and can outrun few sport cars. It's a fun car to drive being it's my second car. I was very impressed.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 12th September, 2005

1997 Oldsmobile Achieva SL 2.4 Twin cam

Summary:

The Achieva is a fast, fun and reliable car, if you get the chance to own one do so

Faults:

The only problem that I have had with my Achieva was when my alternator went out on me. However that was my own fault. My Stereo required more power than it could handle.

With just standard maintance the car runs great.

The only complaint I have was the suspension. There was to much roll when taking fast corners. The problem was solved with a strut tower brace and an Eibach pro-kit. Now I can whip through corners with hardly any roll.

General Comments:

The 2.4L twin cam engine is awesome. With 150hp at 5000rpm and 155lbs of torque at 4500 the Achieva can climb through any situation.

Achievas are cheap great running cars.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 3rd March, 2005

1997 Oldsmobile Achieva LS 3.1 liter V6

Summary:

Good, reliable car with some unexpected power

Faults:

The alternator went bad at 75,000 miles, bought one with a lifetime warranty for only $100.

The 'check oil' light comes on intermittently when there is no real problem (probably bad sensor).

Mysterious coolant leak, I replaced the lower radiator hose, but it still leaks. The rate of leakage is so slow that I've just been topping it off once a month.

Nothing else major beyond standard things like brakes, oil changes, filters, tires, etc...

General Comments:

It's pretty powerful and handles quite well. For what I paid for it, I'm very satisfied and will probably run this car into the ground.

Doesn't quite have the pickup of my old Cutlass Supreme, but it definitely isn't lacking in power. Also, the air conditioner seems to bog this car down really bad when accelerating.

Overall, it's a very reliable car that has never left me stranded.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 16th September, 2004

13th Jun 2005, 11:27

I agree. Replacing alternator today at 173,967 miles. Repaired coolant leak 2x's. Plus power steering problems. Mine is a 1998.

1997 Oldsmobile Achieva SL 2.4 liter

Summary:

Mine might have been a lemon, but I'm not sure

Faults:

The serpentine belt broke at approx. 70,000 miles... just lucky I had the extended warranty.

The steering rack had to be replaced at 88,000 miles.

The front end has developed a very serious-sounding rattle/clunk sound at low speeds. The strut mounts have been replaced three (yes, three) times within the last 20,000 miles.

The lumbar adjustment for driver's seat broke -- the cable is molded inside the foam of the seat, so repair is impossible.

The oxygen sensor has failed twice.

The engine mounts and transmission mount all failed simultaneously, and had to be replaced at approx. 90,000 miles.

General Comments:

When I first got the car, it seemed very nice. The 2.4l engine seems underpowered for the car, and the transmission shifts fairly hard from first to second with the air conditioner on. The seats were not the most comfortable, and now that the lumbar adjustment has broken on the driver's side, I feel like I'm sitting in a bucket. There are a few little picky things wrong, as well, like the carpet beginning to wear near the driver's seat (not near the pedals, where you would expect it), and the paint has begun to come off all the buttons (like the door lock buttons and the radio buttons). The slate gray interior makes the car seem smaller on the inside than it really is. But the biggest problem is with the suspension. It has never been the smoothest ride, but since repairing the motor and transmission mounts, it has been a noisy, rough ride. The strut mounts are always considered the culprit, but after having them replaced three times in the last year or so, I don't think that's the problem. Overall, this is not a car I would take out on the highway with any level of confidence.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 3rd August, 2004