1995 Oldsmobile Achieva S from North America - Comments

This is the second Acheiva that I have owned, the first one was a 98, I got the steering column fixed in the 98 by recall and shortly after it was t-boned and totaled. By far the 98 was the best car I EVER drove. Now for the 96...I have never sunk more cash into a vehicle in my life! Given, it's an 11 yr. old car, but it only has 76,000 on it and I have replaced the radiator hose, the alternator and serpentine belt, 2 water pumps, an intake manifold gasket, and now I am ready to shell out about $1000 to fix the timing chain cover. All these parts, minus the alternator and serpentine, are cooling--and it STILL kicks out hot air like a woman who just fell off her menstrual cycle! Not to mention, I've replaced front brake rotors, power lock and window mechanisms and a dash cluster and the front driver's seat because it completely came off the track! The airbag censor is constantly on, it makes this ticky noise for miles before it warms up, the seat belts don't retract in the front and to top it all off I have replace ALL FOUR exterior running lights (heads and tails) and the licence plate bulbs in the past 6 months. For the $3300 I paid for it, I have surpassed that mark by nearly $1000 in repair over the past year and I'm sure to put more into it. Despite all of this, I do feel physically safe in my car. I feel that the structure, even though quite ugly, is safe--I was cut from one once and walked away unharmed because of the steel beams in the door, the underlying reason why I purchased another--the engine and such is a different story. Understandably, repairs happen, especially with an old car, but some of this is pretty redundant and silly. I definitely would buy another Olds, but never again an Achieva.

--Mad in MN.

I own the 1995 Oldsmobile Achieva S with The 3.1 V6. I have 163,500 miles on it. I have had ZERO Transmission problems, My thermostat just burned out and replaced it for $10. (Pain in the rear to get at and change, too close to the exhaust.) My father, when he owned the car, crushed the gas tank and now it only holds 10 gallons. I have taken the car from southern Illinois to Northern Illinois a lot. Also from C.R, Iowa to Joliet, Illinois a lot. This is a road warrior def. on the highway. Considering I got this car for free from my father because he didn't want it, wanted a truck. The power steering pump has been out since we bought the thing 7 yrs ago. I have had to buy a steering wheel cover, the material was wearing away. And for all of you that think that it is an "Ugly piece of crap" you just don't know what to buy and what to do to the car to keep it running well. ALso the Scion XB is a nastier looking car, there are way too many cars out there that are a lot more freaking ugly than the Achieva. This car is more mechianlly stable than many other vehicles out there. So all of you that say that Achieva sucks, you need to learn which cars are ones you should buy, (TEST DRIVES, MATIENCE HISTORY, AND ACCIDENT REPORTS) and learn how to take car of it.

I own a 96 Acheia sport coupe. I have had this car for 3 years, and I have put abut 1500 into it, which I don't think is bad, and not too mention I only paid $800 for her. She is a beauty too. Bright cherry red and sporty looking. Mine is a v6 and has a lot of power. She has 128,000 miles on and it still running tight. My only complaint is that I do put brakes on a lot and I see it is to do with the car not me. I am not a brake rider, and only put about 6,000 miles a year on my car, so it does not get much wear and tear.

I've owned two Oldsmobile's and will never buy one again. I owned a 1990 Calias Quad 4 in '94-'95 and had an electrical problem that the dealership could never diagnose, so I sold it. Bought a '98 Olds Achieva SL in the fall of '98 with 25,000 miles on it and have had problem after problem ever since. Water pump, alternator, gaskets, radiator, cooling sensor, power window motor, power locks, funky coolant smell when use heater, hoses, trunk light, and not even 100k yet. Would sell it or trade, but have to replace the radiator and because of it's size and frame, letting teenager drive it for now, but tired of it nickel and dime-ing us to death.

I bought a 94 with the 3.1 driven by a old couple out of Wyoming that had 97,000 miles on it, it still looked so nice they had it in the showroom. Paid $1,000 under blue book then and now it has 206,000 miles on it. So far I have replaced.

Water pump, heater core, spark plugs, v-belt and tensioner, all hoses, fuel filters, upgraded brakes to Brembo drilled and slotted with ceramic pads, gram light mags and Pirelli P6000's for summer and a set of studded snow tires for the winter on a set of cheap mags. Windshield wipers, rear drums and shoes, thermostat and coolant, transmission fluid, engine oil and filters.

All things considered to be normal replacement parts.

I have beaten the crap out of the car and replaced the following for my abuse and wear.

ABS Module.

Exhaust 2ft drive VS muffler = Snow wins.

Alternator 800W AMP, High beams, A/C, etc... killed it.

Thermostat was changed to a 160Deg (Also fits Pontiac Grad Am with 3.1)

Intake gasket as I ported the upper plenum and port matched.

Air filter to K&N.

Brakes, a lot of brakes, remember to backup and adjust your rear brakes up!!!

Resistor modded a few sensors.

I use 0W40 synthetic engine oil and a larger oil filter and go to 10-12K oil changes. Synthetic ATF.

My biggest complaints are.

Blown off radiator hose. You can fix this with a bit of RTV black silicon and let it dry before you refill.

Overheating, but this was fixed with a better thermostat, and a cooling system overhaul and user waterwetter in your coolant.

Crappy A/C but this year I am going to get a dual pusher fan and replace the single crap puller fan.

And a gas smell when it is hot out, but I was told I damaged a return line with my snow plow maneuver.

I have owned my 97 Olds Achieva for two years, now -- and I have spent more on repairs than I did when I bought it. Some of the repairs are understandable, but then some are just ridiculous. As far as the person stating that you should understand and know a car and how to take care of it, why are you talking when you got this one FREE from your father, who obviously had more sense to get another one.

I'm not complaining, though, seeing as how this is my first car (got it after I turned 18, right before I graduated high school)...but dear LORD!

My husband and my parents both agree this is a complete waste of money.

MY PROBLEMS:

1. My gas gauge doesn't work -- I basically have to guess how much gas I have at any given time, based on mileage. I had it replaced TWICE, and now it barely works from 1/4 of a tank down.

2. I had to put a toggle switch in my column when my Achieva decided that I was trying to steal it -- and GREAT security feature -- it wouldn't let me start my own car.

3. OVERHEATING. I had to replace the radiator on it once, already -- but now (I guess I cannot blame anyone in particular), it's overheating again due to my hose.

This car is NOT a summer car. I live in Texas, so the summers here are BRUTAL on my car's engine...

Those are the three that mainly tick me off, as a consumer.

I have had MANY other problems (hell, I've replaced the entire engine). I had someone back into my driver's side... granted the body structure is a plus. I didn't have major damage, but since this car IS a P.O.S, I never claimed it -- I find it a mere blemish on a crappy car I soon look forward to giving a proper burial.

Another thing I give mad props for in this car (with the body structure) is a girl I used to work with got into a major accident in this car (same make and model as the one I currently own), and she swore up and down that the driver's seat was undeniably the safest seat inside of this car. So if you use it for passengers, you might want to think twice. The entire car was smashed, crashed and totaled EXCEPT for the driver's seat, which remained intact.

The battery DID fly out and nearly come through the windshield towards her head.

I hate this car so bad -- but I'm really not complaining.

Like I said, I'm waiting to give it a proper, Texas made, burial...