Automotive Forums

Hey guys,

alright so im looking to buy a used 1998 Oldsmobile Achieva and the price? $1400, not bad alright. Anyways I might buy this and its from a dealer but ive heard so many bad reviews and well some say its very underrated car...

Should I stay away from this Car?  

In a word: yes.  The Achieva is that bad.  Now, the fact is that any $1400 car is going to be either very old, have tons of miles, or both.  As a result, you won't find a $1400 car that is sure to never break, or need replacement parts.  

But for that money, something like an Achieva is the worst possible option.  They were horribly unreliable when new, when slightly used, when old, and now.  Add to that the fact that they drive like crap, and I see no reason to even consider it.  

To get a better car for a similar price, you'll most certainly have to look at older, higher mileage cars.  But I'd feel much, much better with a 1992 Nissan Sentra with 200K miles, for example, than any Achieva, especially one that's old enough/used enough to be worth $1400.  

So here's some anecdotal evidence--it's just anecdotal, but I think representative of what you can expect

A few years ago I had two friends who'd inherited Achievas from thier parents/grandparents.  One began to experience serious problems and expensive repairs at around 70K miles, such a failed water pump, shocks, shiftlock, and various body trim.  At about 80K miles, the lame, underpowered, oversized, engine threw a pushrod, and destroyed some valves, essentially totaling the car.  

The other had a fairly young example, just 50K miles when inherited, and right away it experienced a failed water pump, a slipping transmission that was never fixed (too expensive), a failed fuel gauge, and a host of strange grinding noises that nobody could ever figure out.  At 60K miles or so, the water pump failed again, and then again at 65K.  by 70K, the car felt like it was 15 years old with 300K miles, and she finally got rid of it.  

In contrast, back when my girlfriend and I were struggling students, she had an old 1988 Nissan Sentra with 150K miles on it to drive from our house to school-just 1/2 mile. Sure, it had pretty soft, worn shocks by then, and a bum fuel gauge, but it started every time without problem when it was 2 degrees outside.  The shifter, the clutch, the engine, and the steering all felt solid and were trouble free.  The car never ever developed any problems that required immediate repair, and it lived in a terrible environment in the midwest, what with cold winters and short trips that never warmed up the engine and all.  

So basically, find a toyota, honda, or nissan that's old and high-mileage.  You'll be happier than you would with an Achieva.  

hmm..well i turned it down and didnt buy it lol.

So what your trying to say is Buy International and not American huh?

cause really Ive heard that Chevys are the only American Care trustworthy..