1994 Oldsmobile 88 Royale from North America - Comments

- fuel line corrosion.

- alternator replacement.

I am a typical Olds 88 owner: a 65 year-old male with a question:

Why can't Toyota or Honda make a car that drives just like my Olds 88?

I own a 93 Lexus e300 and a 94 Oldsmobile 88. The Lexus has 210 000 Km on it and the Olds 320 000 (200 000 miles). There is no comparison between the two cars. The Olds is much quieter, more powerful, more economical on gas, more spacious, and it nearly rarely breaks down. Its ride is as smooth as silk. Cross winds don't affect it at all. Parts are much less expensive and it is more resistant to corrosion.

On the minus side, it has a trombone-case interior, big ugly dashboard knobs, and I have to slow down in sharp curves because it waddles. (But I would much much rather have the waddling than the kicks in the butt I get in my Lexus every time I run over pavement joints. Who needs to go into expressway ramps at 70 mph anyway?). Sitting inside I look and feel like the 65 year old male that I am.

Before the Lexus I had a Chevrolet Celebrity which I gave to a needy relative when my son's Lexus became available. When I gave it away, the Celebrity had 500 000 km, with its original transmission and engine with no major power train repairs during the 14 years I owned it. The Olds is made out of the same cloth I think.

But now, having said all this, I'll be honest with you. If I had to give up the Olds or the Lexus. Guess which one I would keep? It's the Lexus. Why? For the same reason a person would pay $20 000 for a Rolex rather than $30 for a Timex that does just about exactly the same thing. I can't help it, my ego gets a boost when I drive into a parking lot, or a friend's driveway, or when I answer 'Lexus' when the guy at the counter what kind of car I drive. Crazy, but that's what makes the economic world

go round.

Sitting in my leather-clad Lexus, I still look like a 65 year old male, but I certainly don't feel like it!

If GM ever figures out a way to get around the image problem, they have it made. But until then, how could we convince Honda or Toyota to make Oldsmobiles 88 in disguise and astound every critic with cars that are quieter, more powerful, smoother riding, more spacious, and cheaper on gas?

I might be crazy, but I own a 1992 Olds 88 Royale, and I also own a 1991 Olds Cutlass Calais. I love both of my Oldsmobile cars dearly. As my aunt put it one time, riding in my 88 is comparable to taking a ride on a luxury liner. My dear aunt is in her early 40s, I'm 21. Who cares what others think about what the car looks like :) I would rather have an ugly car or one that people would term an "old folks" car than a newer car that drives like it should be in a junkyard somewhere.

I bought my 18 year old daughter a 1993 88 LSS for HS graduation back in 2001. I only paid 3500. for it as it had 97,000k miles on it. The car was mint, garage kept, loaded and kept immaculate. Sporty too. At first she was a little hesitant about the big "safe" car. After a few weeks she admitted to me how she really enjoyed driving the car and that her friends were totally in love with it. Did I mention how safe it was? Here it is, almost 2005, and the care has almost 160,000 miles. The only problems have been front wheel bearings and a cv joint. The car still looks great and drives great. My now 21 year old loves driving and owning her "old man car"!!

If I had had to choose between a '94 Olds 88 and a

'93 Lexus ES-300 I would choose the Olds. Not that I don't like Lexuses I have the up most respect for them-the first car I ever drove was a '96 ES-300 (which is no different than a '93) but an Olds is an Olds.

GM should have kept the olds line and got rid of thepontiacs. My 1994 olds 88 royale is the best gm car I have ever owned. I bought it new and have 118,000 miles on it right now and still drive it everyday. If I could get thirty miles to the gallon instead of the 20 miles, it would be perfect. The fiber glass quarter panels have kept the car looking as good as the day I bought it. I am looking for an suv right now, but leg room is really scarce for us 6 foot 2 drivers.

OK I PREVIOUSLY owned a 1995 Oldsmobile 88 Royal "Special Edition" with gold badging which made it RARE. It had all power options for the year including a moon roof and base 3.8L 3800 V6. The car was $1,500.00 out the door back in August 2004 with 114,000 miles. My dad (ex mechanic) told me not to buy it because the trans might be going. I thought otherwise. It had normal wear and tear, but rode smooth and had awesome pickup!

REPAIRS:

Front brakes and rotors - 2 weeks after had car $400?

Moon roof seal started cracking after 3 months

Transmission needed to be replaced/rebuild after 5 months.

Lost car due to transmission slipping in and out of gears and COULD NOT AFFORD the $1,600.00 rebuild on trans due to lack of employment.

Over all so far this has been my favorite 1st luxury sedan to own and I still miss it to this day! Anyone have same problems?