Used 1997 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight Consumer Reviews
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Awesome first Car
This was my first car that I owned when I got my license. Gas mileage was great 28 mpg hwy with a V6 and about 16 city for a 1996 I would consider that very good especially since car these day aren't getting much better mileage if they are at all better in the same class. Car was very comfortable and reliability wasn't much of an issue until I had about 200,000 miles on the car.
Love this car
Bought it with 112000 miles on it, doesn't burn any oil, gets about 30 on the highway, 22-25 in town, lots of power, quiet, smooth ride. It's just a great car.
- Base SedanMSRP: $5,495927 mi away
- Base SedanMSRP: N/A1,076 mi away
Fun to drive.
The Olds Eighty-eight is a great highway car! It is very stable at high speeds, has good acceleration, is comfortable, and has acceptable gas mileage considering the horsepower. Like all sporty cars, this is not the most maintenance-free I've owned. That is not to say it left me stranded on the side of the road, it just needed attention periodically; lots of little things quit working properly. Overall a good second car, and a great family vacation car.
Long live the 88
I bought this car with 160,000 miles on it, it now has 190,000 and is still going strong. It leaks a little oil but burns none. I have never have to add any between oil changes (3,000mi.). It is very quick for a big car with a V6 engnie. It has a very comfortable ride. Its body roll is a bit much in a hard corner but then it's not a sports car. It has been very reliable.
I LOVE this car but...
I bought this used as a second car for the family. I love it and it's totally fun to drive. We also have a 1993 Buick Park Avenue. It's the same car only a little older. I like the updates on the Old's 88 but i'm having some old car type problems. The anti theft system engaged and had to be bypassed. The lighters don't work so I can't plug things in. The fuel sending unit rusted. $600. There just seems to be a lot of little things. I'm not sure if it's because the car is old. My other old car (the Park Ave) didn't have these problem - from what I recall. This car feels like luxury when you drive it. THAT's nice!
Too Soon Gone but Not Forgotten
I like the car, used it mostly for work as a salesman. Didn't have a lot of problems over the years. I'd buy another if they were still being made. Probably should have purchased a new one prior to it's phase out but could not justify selling a perfectly good automobile.
A Bargain Family Car
We bought this car to replace our aging '87 Delta 88, which we decided to keep, and still have! Just as the '87 is, this car is a sleeper of a bargain as a family car. They are as reliable as any car can get, We consistently get 33mpg on the highway. It rides like a luxury car, and has the smooth quiet power that everyone enjoys. We live in the snow belt of upstate NY, and this car never ever spins a wheel any time! It's just so sure footed, no need for alll wheel drive here! I recommend any of these cars that have been well maintained. Used ones are plentiful, and cheap!
A Very Good Car
We bought this car used in '99 with 101,000 on the odometer. Has been a very good car, with only minor repairs. It seems to be hard on front brake hardware like pads and disc rotors (probably the way wifey drives!) but otherwise VERY dependable and I would recommend it to anyone. Styling is somewhat "dumpy" but still a very good car.
96 Olds LSS
Great car, comfort,performance, economy, style
Initial Impressions
Just purchased with under 55k on the odometer. Love that LSS supercharged motor! Handles fine for the barge that it is. Comfortable, tons of room front and back, has leather and sunroof, CD, etc....but I'm still wishing for heated seats and a CD CHANGER. I've heard GM made one that's compatible with the single CD/cassette/AM-FM stereo, guess I'll look on Ebay for one!
Has more power than meets the eye!
This has been a wonderful car. In going from the comfort and power of a Cadillac Sedan Deville (used) to a smaller car I was a bit concerned. But it didn't take me long to fall in love with this vehicle. The V6 Engine has plenty of get up and go and if I had my foot to the pedal I could have taken that Firebird! As far as reliability, I follow routine maintenance and have no problems except for a faulty gas gage. I would recommend this car to anyone if they can still find one that was taken good care of.
Great Car
We bought the car with about 30K miles. The cassette deck immediately ate a tape. At about 80K miles the fuel pump and sender unit had a melt down and cost us over $900 CDN to repair. Too many of these expensive setbacks could quickly turn a person off. Otherwise the car has been excellent in every way.
American Classic
Bought as dealer exec car with 5,500 miles on it. Big brawny rugged reliable American classic. It's a shame Olds is no longer made. We had a Pontiac 6000 LE for 15 years which was a great car. When we looked for its replacement, this Olds 88 was even better.
Uncomfortable Seats
Overall this is a great car, but it has terrible seats in the front. My car's driver side seat tilt is stuck with a bad motor. It is also a little hard to steer when parking. Other than that, this car has a good ride and gets good gas millage.
I love this used car!!!!
Comfortable with no problems at all. We bought it with 30K miles on it and have had not one problem in the past year. My Mom swears it is a Cadillac because of the comfort and pick up. We do change the oil and take good care of the car...it is a great ride!
Rate
Great car.Vey rialable.I feel very safly driving this car.
Superb until it’s not
My second of my H body Oldsmobiles (previous was a 97’ LSS) second owner here. Purchased in 2023 with 96,000 miles. Have done over 40,000 miles since then (currently at 136xxx). Engine has been amazingly reliable and so has the transmission. Every expensive electronic on this car that could have gone, has gone. Every. Single. One. This car is 30 years old, so I won’t fault it. The brand is gone, so specific parts aren’t available, which I won’t fault the car for. I feel this car is the ultimate used car IF you take a time machine back to 2010-2015. You have to now source parts from junkyards and EBay. Certain issues no one will know how to fix, like my highbeams kept burning out. Replaced every Lamp module, relay, solenoid, every light related thing (multiple highbeam switches) until I finally was told it could be a bad steering column wiring harness. Both GM experts I know personally told me this and REFUSED to fix it due to it being such a pain. The old shop I worked at did, but told me they are refusing to do any more major jobs on my car, as they can’t even find diagrams for if other specific issues. Sure they will happily replace a blower motor, do my oil, put on a new alternator. But if my guage cluster, or my water pump (major job on these) or anything big goes. It’s bye bye Oldsmobile. I find the seats amazingly comfy (base model cloth couches. The car gets still 32 highway mpg and is immensely comfortable. It just has the typical 90’s car fault of electronic gremlins and no available parts for specific issues. The car genuinely has cost me far more than it’s been worth in the past couple years. After putting in many of my own hours and thousands. I now have a reliable car I won’t enjoy much as I’m planning to upgrade anyways. If only this car was made today. Also amazingly safe for its age, gigantic airbags and steel body. I should know my LSS (the same car) went under an SUV at 40 mph. I only had a scratch on my hand from the steering wheel. I walked out of that car fine.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value