1989 Oldsmobile 98 Regency from North America - Comments

Just about everything. The car has needed extensive brake work, a full tune up, an alternator, a battery, crankshaft positioning sensor, coil packs, and now the engine is making odd sounds. The ride is not as smooth as I've been told it is. The armrests are loose, and there is a grease stain on the front seat. A hubcap has fallen off as well.

I bought my Olds 98 last year in the fall for $400. So far, I have been very disappointed with it. Everyone tells me how "reliable" these cars are. However, mine has been nothing, but problems. The power windows are slow, the brake pedal is spongy, and the car makes an odd creaking noise every time I get in it for about 30 seconds. I think that might be the body coming loose from the frame. Even performance is mediocre. I will admit that the seats are comfortable, and gas mileage is OK, but other than that, I can't really recommend an 89 Olds 98. They don't seem to be as reliable as I've been told. Hopefully this fall, I'll have enough saved up for another car. Next time, it will most likely be a used Accord or Camry. No more GM cars for me. Not after this nightmare.

After 295,000 miles, no car will be running OK!!!

What an absurd review. This car had 295k on it when you bought it, and you expected it to be perfect? And on top of that, most of the "problems" you mentioned are routine things that go on just about ANY car, regardless of manufacturer, at various points during it's lifetime. How is a grease stain on the front seat the car's fault? The "creaking" noise you're hearing is probably your self leveling suspension evening the car out when people get in it. The body won't be coming off the frame because an 89 olds 98 is not a body on frame design. Sorry about the long comment, I just can't tolerate a foolish review.

C'mon now, you're not really that much of a numbnutz, are you?

Did you really think you could buy a car with almost 300K miles for $400 and not have to make any repairs?

Go buy a Honda or Toyota with that much mileage and see whether you have problems or not.

OK, let me get this straight. You're blaming a car company (General Motors in this case), and swearing off of their products, because of a worn out used car that you purchased for 400, was built a decade and a half ago, and has well over a quarter of a million miles on it, that's required basic maintenance and repairs? You expected this car to be reliable? And now you think the ultimate solution to this perceived problem is buying a Honda or a Toyota? Well, wait till you need parts for a Honda or Toyota (Which you will, judging from what your price range is). Than you'll really be crying the blues about how much more expensive they are than parts for your Olds, or even worse, the timing belt will go, and destroy the engine. Your expectations far outweigh reality.

I agree that you will have a lot more luck with an Accord or a Camry. You can't go wrong with either one.

If the comment above this one isn't a deliberate flame, I don't know what is! As for the original review, if you're going to be stupid, and buy a car with almost 300,000 miles on it, that's on you. You're complaining about reliability, but with almost 300,000 miles on it, and still going, I would say that would make the car pretty reliable, even though you don't think so. If I were you, instead of going with the old "I'll buy a Toyota or Honda, and it'll solve all of my problems" standby, I'd look for another one of these with significantly lower miles on it. Even if it has 150000 miles on it, you know you'll get that much out of it, especially if it's been well maintained.

If you think that the problems with your car are the fault of the company that sold it 300,000 miles ago, you really have issues and should not be driving any vehicle at any time because you live in a fantasy world. You got off easy for a 300,000 mile, $400 POS.

If you knowingly bought this car with the excessive mileage it has on it, you deserve everything you get as far as I'm concerned. Don't expect myself, nor anybody else here to be sympathetic towards you because you made a bad decision to purchase a car with so many miles on it. If this car truly was a "lemon", or one that was heavily flawed, it would not have ever made it to the 300,000 mile mark. Actually, I am in the market for a used car, and your review has inspired me to go look for one of these now that I have seen how far they can go.

OK, so this is not original... but GET REAL!!! The fact that the car made 295,000 miles speaks wonders for it. That is almost 20 per year for 15 years. That car served countless owners well and you just happened to be the sap that bought it at the end of it's life.

"Oh woe is me! I bought an older beat to death car with incredibly high mileage, and now it is giving me problems!" Whoever sold you this vehicle must've seen you coming a mile away.

Is this review a joke or something? yes, you should go get a accord or camry, because consumer reports said so... really, who even buys a car with 300k on it... and especially then comes back and COMPLAINS because it has problems... its not a semi tractor you know.. but yes, I know I know, those imports are just AMAZING and can't be beat, thank you automotive journalism...

I could understand you complaining if the car had 30,000 miles on it, and was giving you trouble. But this car has 10 times that mileage!! Get over it, and get over yourself. These things happen when a car ages, and accumulates a lot of miles!

You probably don't think any car is reliable. What did you expect out of this car? 1 million miles?

Oh wow, your 98 had 300k on it, and is still going? That's great to know, because I just inherited one of these with 85k on it.

Yeah, okay - you are complaining about an 89 '98 with over 300K on the clock. Did you expect this thing to run as if it came out of the showroom yesterday after 15 years and 300,000 miles?