1997 Oldsmobile Achieva SL review from North America
"Another mistake"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Had both oxygen sensors replaced (2x).
Had the catalytic converter replaced.
Had the ignition coil replaced.
The gas cap cable broke.
The car was already repainted when I bought it.
The door panels and the interior trim rattle and squeek.
The engine overheated and had to be replaced. There was no indication of the motor overheating according to the gauges (they could not determine why it overheated so it was not covered under the warrranty).
All this happened within the first 6 months of owning it.
Now I cannot remove the key from the ignition when the car is turned off (the position indicator switch under the shifter is bad and the whole shifter needs to be replaced because it is all one unit).
The check engine light still comes on when the car is waiting at a red light.
General comments?
The car is fun to drive when it works. But it's very unreliable. If I were married to it, I could at least get a divorce.
Recommended reviews
| OK budget mid-size, but not great |
|
| Over all this is a great car that can take a great deal of abuse and keep running |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2001 |
| Engine and transmission | 4 cylinder Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 4 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 2 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 1 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 48500 miles |
| Most recent distance | 64000 miles |
| Previous car | Ford Escort |
| Date of Entry | 16th July, 2001 |