I am considering biding on a 1990 Oldsmobile 98 on an estate auction. It has low mileage for its age (54K). Were there any problems with that model that you can tell me about.
We had an 88 Buick Century several years back but the wife talked me into trading it when it had a bit over 200K on it. The Buick V6 got about 30 mpg on the highway. We really liked it and I would like to find something similar.
Thanking you in advance, Jack
Bid on it, Jack. It has the trusted 3800 engine--probably the best engine GM ever made, considering power AND economy AND longevity. Driven carefully, it may approach the mpg you got w/the Century which likely had a smaller (3.1) engine. (And it'll ride thousands better for not too much larger.) Why I say "may" is because of the many I've driven, the mpg can vary from car-to-car, same year-model, kinda like 26+ to 32+, different cars, same usual hospital trip 300 miles away. Essentially the same car as Buick Park Avenue. I've sold MANY of them, wife has driven several of them for personal use, and we only left them due to needing Sto'N Go seats for grandchildren, i.e., a van. Luck to you, s
I agree with SD that these are basically good cars, but they are not classics, nor do they demand a premium over Kelleys Blue Book.
My advice is.... it's too old. Unless you get it for peanuts.
Buy a pre-owned Kia or a Honda. Anything with a GM logo stamped on it that's more than 5 Yrs old is a time bomb waiting to break down and leave you stranded on the road.
Thank you for your concern. I fully realize that, like a TV, you can not buy a truly American made car anymore but my ride will have a name that sounds like it was made in the USA. I expect any of them will eventually require some repairs along the way. I have even seen some of the imports sitting by the road.
I guess I have been lucky so far, and maybe my luck will hold. I am looking to replace my 88 Chevrolet Celebrity with something similar. I had thought the Chevy would be my last car. It was still running good with 165,000 miles when a deer jumped in front of my wife. She hit him pretty good. Took out the left headlight, grill, hood, windshield, and bent the top as he went over. My plan was to drive it for another 40 or 50K before letting it go (If I lasted that long). To fix it right they say $2500. I think not. I gave $5000 for it when it had 37,000 miles on it in '91. It replaced an '84 Chevy Citation with
229,000. My wife had an '88 Buick that we used as our family car until we traded it for a new Saturn SC2 in June of 2000. The Buick had somewhere in the neighborhood of 240,000 miles on it at that time and was still running good. The Saturn has been good to us but as I am getting older it is hard for me to get in and out. The Saturn now has 168,000 miles on it and last oil change it was down a quarter of a quart at 3000 miles.The Buick did have an alternator light come on a trip. I stopped at the next parts store and they had one. I borrowed some tools and replaced it in a few minutes. The Celebrity developed an engine miss on a trip once and I limped into the nearest Chevy dealer. They had the parts. A couple of hours and about $300 later I was on my way.
A more reliable H> > I am considering biding on a 1990 Oldsmobile 98 on an estate auction.
With any used car that old you take a chance. 54,000 is low though for a
16 year old car. If its in good shape & its what you want bid on it.1990 was the last year for that body style. Good engine & gas mileage. Should get near 30 MPG on the highway.
good luck
harryface
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