Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight 3.8 V6 (208 Hp)


Overall Rating

7.9 / 10
Safety N/A / 5
Not Rated
Engine 3.5 / 5
Value 4.5 / 5
Performance 3.0 / 5
Comfort 4.0 / 5
People\'s Opinion 4.4 / 5

Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight:

The Oldsmobile 88 is a full-size car that was produced by the Oldsmobile Division of GM from 1949 until 1999. From 1950 until 1974, the 88 was the division's most popular line, particularly the entry-level models such as the 88 and Dynamic 88. The 88 series was also an image leader for Oldsmobile, particularly in the model's early years , when it was one of the best-performing automobiles, thanks to its relatively small size, light weight, and advanced overhead-valve high-compression V8 engine. This engine, originally designed for the larger and more luxurious C-bodied 98 series, also replaced the straight-8 on the smaller B-bodied 78. With the large, high-performance Oldsmobile Rocket V8, the early Oldsmobile 88 is considered by some to be the first muscle car....(Read more on Wikipedia)

Eighty-Eight Overview:

Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight (Eighty-Eight). With 312 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. With a weight of 1570 kg, it falls in the mid‑range. Front‑wheel drive delivers efficiency and easy handling. The top speed reaches 200 km/h. A four-door car with a separate trunk, ideal for families and daily commuting. Seating for 5 makes it ideal for daily use.

Safety Rating
Not rated
Euro NCAP Year N/A
Adult Occupant N/A
Stars N/A
Expert Note:
The 1995 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight generation was not tested by Euro NCAP, as the program began in 1997 and primarily focused on European market vehicles. Safety features for its era included standard ABS.

3.8 V6 (208 Hp) Verdict:

Rating 4 stars

Performance Verdict

Offers a strong and smooth performance for a large sedan of its era, providing ample power for highway cruising and confident overtaking.

Fuel Economy

Decent fuel economy for a full-size American V6, especially on the highway, but can be thirsty in urban driving.

Best Use Case: Highway / Family Transport

reddit Community Verdict

This rating is based on comments found on Reddit, scanned using artificial intelligence, and may not accurately reflect reality.

Allowed: 86% Neutral: 0% Issues: 14%
rating
4.4 / 5

Based on AI analysis of 7 discussions

Read What Owners Say
👍 POSITIVE
There’s some good options hiding amongst all the mediocrity. For me it’s between the Impala, the Camaro and (if in SSEi trim) the Bonneville
👍 POSITIVE
Roadmaster wagon, Impala SS and/or a two door Tahoe.
👍 POSITIVE
Back in 95, I would have picked the Corvette, no contest... Oh wait, today I'd STILL pick the vette.
👎 NEGATIVE
Fuck that 95 lumina. My mother had one and ended up being handed down to me after I stupidly sold my 240sx for an 85 Cadillac that was also a pos, and that pos shat out every accessory at 130k miles and kept stranding me. It also rusted out. Fuck GM sideways with a rusty screwdriver. Never again. (well maybe a corvette or camaro, since they make lt1 noises)
👍 POSITIVE
One of the few good post here.
👍 POSITIVE
Thanks for writing this man. Appreciate your experience and learnings.
👍 POSITIVE
This is really useful, thank you. I work in HR so the points about using open weight resonate, as we can't risk employee data leaking. I'll be referring back to this regularly. Appreciate the time you've taken to document all of this.


Pros and Cons:

Pros:

  • • Legendary reliability of the GM 3800 V6 engine
  • • Very comfortable and spacious interior, ideal for long trips
  • • Smooth and quiet ride quality
  • • Affordable to purchase and maintain with readily available parts
  • • Good highway cruising capabilities

Cons:

  • • Soft handling with noticeable body roll
  • • Dated interior design and materials by modern standards
  • • Fuel economy is not competitive with modern vehicles
  • • Bland exterior styling for some tastes
  • • Front-wheel drive limits ultimate performance potential

Specifications:

Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(Eighty-Eight: 1991 - 1995).

General:
Brand:Oldsmobile
Model:Eighty-Eight
Generation:Eighty-Eight
Modification (Engine):3.8 V6 (208 Hp)
Start of production:1995
End of production:1999
Powertrain Architecture:Internal Combustion engine
Body type:Sedan
Seats:5
Doors:4
Engine:
Power:208 Hp @ 5200 rpm. Same horsepower
Power per litre:54.9 Hp/l [Same length.]
Torque:312 Nm @ 4000 rpm.
Engine Model/Code:L36 More details about the engine L36
Engine displacement:3791
Number of cylinders:6
Engine configuration:V-engine
Number of valves per cylinder:2
Fuel injection system:Multi-port manifold injection
Engine aspiration:Naturally aspirated engine
Engine oil capacity:4.3 l
Coolant:12.3 l
Engine layout:Front, Transverse
Cylinder Bore:96.52 mm mm
Piston Stroke:86.36 mm mm
Compression ratio:9.4:1
Performance:
Fuel Type:Petrol (Gasoline)
Fuel consumption (economy) - urban:12.4 l/100 km
Fuel consumption (economy) - extra urban:8.1 l/100 km
Maximum speed:200 km/h
Weight-to-power ratio:7.5 kg/Hp, 132.5 Hp/tonne
Weight-to-torque ratio:5 kg/Nm, 198.7 Nm/tonne
Space:
Kerb Weight:1570
Trunk (boot) space - minimum:510 l
Fuel tank capacity:68 l
Size:
Length:5090 mm mm [Same length.]
Width:1880 mm mm [Same width.]
Height:1410 mm mm [5mm less]
Wheelbase:2815 mm mm [Same wheelbase.]
Front track:1535 mm
Rear (Back) track:1535 mm
Powertrain:
Drivetrain ArchitectureThe Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the front wheels of the vehicle.
Drive wheelFront wheel drive
Number of gears4
Transmission typeAutomatic
Front brakesVentilated discs [Best for performance and cooling.]
Rear brakesDrum [bad for performance and cooling.]
Assisting systemsABS (Anti-lock braking system)
Steering typeSteering rack and pinion
Power steeringHydraulic Steering
Tires size205/70 R15
Front suspensionCoil spring
Rear suspensionCoil spring

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