Used 1996 Oldsmobile Achieva

"My "Olds" Car"

"It is 22 years old; I have owned it for about 18 years. I ran over the wrong curb a few years ago and did a bit of damage, but it still runs and serves my purposes just fine. Sometimes I consider buying a new car, but when I think of the cost, I decide it is better to keep the Oldsmobile Achieva for local driving and rent a car if I want to go on longer trips. All in all, it has served me just fine."

"good car"

"I have had very little problems with this car. I have had it for 9 years. It is ugly though! It is not comfortable for a family either. It was great when I was by myself but it is not possible to fit 2 carseats and a 9 year old in the backseat. Still runs great."

"Achieva SCX fun, but with some flaws"

"The Achieva SCX is a LOT of fun. the W41 Quad 4 runs hard even in stock form, but there are some penalties to drive this car. The used one I brought had a well worn driver seat, which started to dig into my back after a few years of use. The engine is a little noisey as well, but is powerful AND gets great mpg. Before I modified mine, I used to average around 30 mpg on the highways of Colorado behind Denver. 5 spd shifts great is has very high gearing 3.94, which with the low diameter 14 inch performance 215/60r14 tires will make the performance Quad 4 roar. Passing power will NOT be a problem on this car, except in higher altitude enviroments where it will take a some revs to get into the power band. The power band kicked in around 4000 rpms on mine due to altitude (8000 feet altitude). Very reliable car over all. GM did saddle it with too small of intake and exhaust systems (2", I would recommend tearing It all out and getting a dual of 2" inlet performance mufflers, y-pipe, and going to 2.5" piping to mufflers, and throw in inline 2.5"resounator as well) and creating a intake system (stock one is quiet, but does rob power and mileage) by getting an turbo nitrile adapter ( 2.75" to 3" and going to 3" cone filter). Most of engine and transmission parts for this car do interchange with HO Quad 4s Achievas version of this car. I would suggest everyone to check electronic shock system, shocks over time do leak, these are very expensive and hard to replace. Other owners have converted over to gas KYB shocks( not being able to get electronic OEM shocks) . Sometimes GM did have them, and sometime they didn't.Handling is first class. Great suspension system when working, Touring was a great setting when driving for long distances. Fun car to get service on GM dealerships, was a favorites of local GM dealership mechanics who were awed with it, usually cutting down service waiting time with it. Anti lock brakes is decent with discs in front and drums in back, I would recommend replacing disc rotors and pads with high performance replacements (like slotted rotors and carbon performance pads), combined with anti lock tech, works beautifully). getting to ECM under dash Is a bit of a pain, 92 versions can be reprogrammed with 4 more degrees of advance for more mpg and pwr). I would recommend dynomating this car under hood, and under rear seat and trunk area to cut down some noise, and rust proofing (use POR 15) under and in trunk area as well. and look at aftermarket driver seat replacement as well."