The transmission required work at 35000 miles due to valve body problems.
The transmission required major work at 52000 miles due to a failed input shaft bearing.
The intake manifold cracked at 85000 miles.
The starter failed immediately after the intake was replaced at 85000 miles.
This car offers excellent fuel economy for the size of the vehicle, and retains good power and pickup.
The seats have too much lumbar padding, and it is not adjustable.
The 3800 is not an OHC engine, so it tends to be heavier on torque than on horsepower. Torque kills transmissions, so the trannies have to be built extra beefy to withstand the punishment. When the 3800 evolved from Series I to Series II, both hp and torque jumped dramatically, but GM continued to use the same transmissions they used in the Series I cars. The problem is amplified further if your car uses the supercharged 3800. There should have been development of a stronger transmission and fwd parts at the same time that the Series II engine was being developed. You can't develop one without the other and think all that extra power won't wear out everything between the torque converter and the driven wheels that much sooner.
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