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).
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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