1987 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royal Brougham

Summary:

Where can I get another one?

Faults:

Absolutely nothing!

General Comments:

This car ROCKS!

I no longer have this car due to the fact that I was a dummy and thought it was time for a newer car as this one was old.

My biggest regret was getting rid of it (my baby) and bought a Chrysler then a dodge~: (

The velor interior was so soft and comfy. This car had so much power.

Great car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 2nd November, 2002

1987 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale 3.8L V6

Summary:

A great first car

Faults:

Transmission gave out around 75K, but 13 years. Ran to be $1500.

Power antenna started being horrible in '99, disconnected it and just leave it up.

Power windows don't like to stay on the track much.

Blower locked in defrost mode in '01. Kinda a bummer since the A/C won't work now.

General Comments:

This car has been great. It's very very old, yet has been extremely reliable. The engine is great and has enough power to haul the beast (something like 4500 lbs) past mucho sportier rides. Interior is LARGE and spacious. Factory 6x9's are great, but the tweeters should be replaced or add a bass blocker.

A great car to learn how to fix. Nothing is majorly hard, and the problems are with silly things everyone should know how to fix.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th August, 2002

1987 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale 3.8L FI V-6

Summary:

Looks like a butterfly, stings like a bee

Faults:

Transmission pan leaked (probably because someone bottomed out with it).

Plate connecting the transaxle to the transmission comes loose about every 1,000 miles or so, then leaks fluid (I push it too hard).

Transmission cooling line needed replacing.

Brake rotors and calipers replaced.

Push-rod bent. Replaced for 10$.

Brake lines went out.

One door lock won't work sometimes.

Tape deck stopped working.

Power antennae froze in the up-position.

Power mirror stopped working, reverted to manual ones.

Dash is starting to warp.

Windshield is pitted, I can't see in the glare of the sun.

Front right wheel bearing is going out.

General Comments:

I do work on this car all the time.

Considering that I'm not able to spend much money on it, it's still in great driving condition.

This car has been broad-sided, slid over a highway median going 40 MPH, got nailed by 4x4 wooden sign posts, and has been rear-ended at least twice.

In spite of all this, every single accessory and convenience still works.

There's only two things that really bother me about this car:

1. The power windows are extremely slow coming up.

2. The power locks need some coaxing to trip all four doors.

I love the 3.8L V-6. The engine has been rebuilt, as has the transmission at about 100k. If you push it, this thing will jump from 0-60 in less than 9 seconds, but only if it's somewhat cold.

If the engine is driven for a while, it gets a little sluggish. Still haven't worked that out yet.

Keeping the front tires from spinning on wet pavement is difficult, and getting the alignment exactly right is quite difficult.

This is my first car I owned for myself, and like these other reviews here, I can say that this vehicles' appearance is deceiving. When you put it in gear and stomp on it, before you know it you're going 45 and shifting into 2nd gear.

I would recommend this car to anyone looking for an inconspicuous appearing, fast car with excellent comfort and ride to match.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 18th August, 2001

1987 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale Brougham 3.8L SFI OHV V6

Faults:

Transmission went at 96k miles. $1200 to fix. Front struts replaced at 100k miles. Door trim loose. Door lock and window mechanisms need work after 100k miles (TLC).

General Comments:

This is a proverbial "cream-puff" driven by a retired couple on long trips and to church on Sundays. Stored in a heated garage, washed, waxed, oil changed 3k miles, all fluids changed and maintained. I bought it from their estate after they died. Quality of paint is amazing. I wash it every week and wax it every month and you couldn't tell it's a 1987; the paint is so good.

Styling screams old folks (nobody will steal this car), but I can run with V6 Camaros and stomp V6 Mustangs off the line. 3.8L SFI V6 is rock solid, straight out of the Buick Grand National (without the turbo) and makes tons of torque. A good custom exhaust and intake would really help out top end. Lots of torque steer because of the FWD though. Floor it and you'll be in the next lane over. Handling is Grandma.

Brakes are adequate but not exceptional. Parts are cheap, and you could probably get sport suspension items from the 1988 Buick Regal T-type which uses the same platform.

The factory stereo blew me away. It's amazing, and it even ran my 10" subwoofer unamplified without too much of a problem.

AC is ice-cold, heat is super hot. Gas mileage on the highway is at least 30mpg; around town is 20. Interior is quiet, soothing. An excellent car for being 12 years old, and just goes to show you that if taken care of, any car will shine in its old age. At anything under $2800 in good shape this car is a steal. Be careful about transmissions though; they last 100k miles and cost a buttload of money to fix/replace. Not something the DIYer could do either. DIYers should buy an 80's Chevy Caprice. See my '86 Caprice Wagon review in the appropriate section.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 28th September, 1999

26th May 2001, 09:12

I could not agree with you more about your 88 olds!! Add a set of Pirelli P400Touring 205/75R14, black wall out, and you can change all your ratings to the highest possible.

Thanks for your review.

19th Jul 2001, 23:34

Forget blackwalls! The only way to lay waste to soon-to-be ego crushed Honda owners is with wire wheels, whitewall tires and vinyl roof intact. Just let the engine do its work. As a frequent passenger in an '87 Olds 88, II'd have to say that getting beaten in a race by a Grandma car is the ultimate insult to young masculinity. Glad I'm the one winning!

6th Sep 2002, 21:35

I also have a Delta 88 and have greatly considered putting the Bonneville SSEI supercharger and the Aeroform bodykit on it. Just to give it that extra little kick. Plus Flomasters and intake would be nice too.

4th May 2004, 18:22

My parents use to own a 1987 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale and I have to agree that not only was it fast, but it got pretty good fuel mileage also. But at the end, my dad was taking a left into a restaurant, and the whole front-end in front of the wheels got totally smashed from a person doing 30-40mph coming from the right. Even though the car couldn't be driven ever again, the engine still ran perfectly.