1992 Oldsmobile Achieva SC | Retro Review

[@Motorweek]

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[@ddellwo]

Am I the only one who grows nostalgic watching these retro-reviews? I didn’t think it was even possible to get misty-eyed about the early 90’s......😂

[@RADGarage]

I'm totally with you.

[@CrossingRover]

I wasn't even alive yet but I love the aesthetic of early 90's cars.

[@Vekurus]

Right there with you.

[@Bartonovich52]

Yep.

[@agamemnon8163]

No. You are the only 1.

[@ahmadfaisal6778]

I think 180hp from 2.3L NA engine is still impressive by today's standard.

[@chaseman94]

This engine seemed like it had potential to be legendary like the 3800 series but I'm assuming there's a reason why GM discontinued it aside from what I'm guessing head gasket issues.

[@mikederucki]

Pretty solid achievament indeed

[@jaxandmore440]

@@chaseman94 Head gasket and overheating issues. It was a great engine on paper, but terrible in the real world. Noisy and failure prone.

[@dante04srt]

Yes, these engines had a few problems early on yeah, but they don't really suffer from those problem today. With a redesigned head gasket and a set of ARP head studs, these things don't have any problems there anymore. The one and only head gasket failure I've had on any of my numerous quad for powered cars in the past was back in 2000 when I had to replace an oem head gasket on my 1993 gtz. Truthfully, these cars are a blast to drive and are very capable of seeing 7500 RPM without breaking a sweat. They really were engineering Marvels for their day, but got a bad reputation early on that they truthfully, don't warrant today.

[@Bartonovich52]

Unfortunately they sacrificed everything for top end power. It had no low end torque and terrible NVH. Almost every auto reviewer at the time recommended the V6 for better daily driving, and they were the volume sellers. GM would redesign the Quad 4 into the Twin Cam to fix all of those problems in the mid 90s, and in the process it would lose 30HP.

[@channell11]

An Oldsmobile with a manual-things changed a lot over the 90's

[@emeyer6963]

They always had manuals.Firenza's and Omega's and even Cutlasses back in the 70's and 80's.Not many were sold but they were available

[@halohunter5217]

The Alero had a manual too, the Achieva's replacement.

[@chrisSVT]

Can you imagine a first gen Aurora came with a manual??? I would be ISO as we speak if that existed.

[@rodger7029]

Almost no manuals were sold

[@koss9488]

I once had a 2001 Olds Alero coupe had a manual. My wife was driving our daughter to volleyball practice and the cooling fan relay died and blew a head gasket. It had 158K on it and was 14 years old, so I sold it to the scrap yard.

[@RoadCone411]

Can we applaud the most notable feature of this video: after 10 years of being on the market, John finally says "Camry" and not "Cam-Ray"!

[@BreakStuffClub]

I still have my '93 Achieva SCX W41, highly underated

[@theKevronHarris]

4:01 Interior noise at 72 decibels which sounds like a MW record for the highest interior noise ever recorded IMO.

[@happy_camper]

Yeah that’s an insane amount of noise lol

[@basshead.]

You don't hear it over the loud music anyway.

[@Bartonovich52]

That’s why the Quad 4 was redesigned into the Twin Cam.. gaining displacement for more low power, balance shafts to reduce NVH, and losing 30 horsepower.

[@liddlebopeep]

If not for GM beancounters, the Quad4 would have had balance shafts and better NVH control before it was introduced.

[@LrulestheworldM8]

Nah. I know ive seen way higher. And the noise on some modern cars are worse than this. Ill never understand the noise complaint

[@chaseman94]

0:48 - promises to go a whole lot further....until 2004.

[@LrulestheworldM8]

You can thank CHINA for that one.

[@terrenceh.3139]

Yep. I Bought a 2004 Olds Alero. It was the last of the line.

[@jacktorse2145]

The delightful song that the Quad 4 sings is music to my ears! Love that motor.

[@Sl1pstreams]

If you didn’t mind the rough running and the constant head gasket failures…

[@jsciarri]

I remember Carl buying one of these in Family Matters.

[@basshead.]

Blossom too.

[@whatup654]

Me too.

[@theKevronHarris]

Me too

[@hank1556]

Me too.

[@igarrett113]

He bought a red one. That episode was on a few days ago lol

[@user-tt2fh8nf1o]

Finally another "regular looking" car to review. I love these videos. I think Oldsmobile was used by GM for new ideas and innovative tech.

[@Gunsforfreedom]

I really miss brands like Oldsmobile and Mercury. It was nice to get a car that was middle of road. Not a basic Chevy or an overpriced Ford (Lincoln).

[@isaakwelch3451]

Buick!

[@Gunsforfreedom]

@@isaakwelch3451 I stopped liking Buicks when they ended the GN in '87! lol

[@tristanlaferriere5194]

@@Gunsforfreedom I find Buicks to be much nicer now. They've gone from an older person's simple basic luxury car to a rather beautiful, comfortable premium car for all ages.

[@isaakwelch3451]

@@Gunsforfreedom Buick never stopped making comfortable, luxurious, sleepers. The execs at GM told Buick that they couldn't keep stealing corvette customers with the GN though

[@isaakwelch3451]

@@tristanlaferriere5194 I'm not a huge fan of the modern buick, although the Regal TourX is pretty cool. There were some pretty solid winners in the 90s and early 2000's though

[@mattiasvelinov1226]

I got really excited when I saw this was uploaded. My parents had a ‘97 SC. No power options and a plain radio!

[@oneblach]

I drove the v6 version back in the late 90’s. Yeah, the looks were weird and interior plastics were cheap, and it felt really cramped inside, but man was it riding smooth and comfortable , and fast!

[@tedschmitt178]

Looks were weird???

[@Sl1pstreams]

Until it broke. Which was very often.

[@canadianplanespotter]

20 years later, it became the official car of rural retirement home parking lots

[@davidsheward2113]

20 years later nearly all of these were in scrap yards with blown engines is more like it!

[@povking1460]

There are a few v6s around and also the later 2.4 engines.

[@isaakwelch3451]

If only. They cant ve found anywhere at all!

[@povking1460]

@@isaakwelch3451There's a scx in Philly at a highend dealer for like 20k with low miles. Probably can't find one nicer

[@isaakwelch3451]

@@povking1460 the question is: who wants to pay 20k for a 90s oldsmobile?

[@rightlanehog3151]

"After a decade of less than inspired products," it was clearly time to bring back the Vista Cruiser.

[@rootsmanuva82]

And the Citation. What a beaut.

[@pgtmr2713]

@@rootsmanuva82 I think you mean Omega, if we're keeping it all Olds ;-)

[@trevagraham1605]

Right Lane Hog Clearly indeed!

[@aarongranda7825]

What about the 442? Is THAT inspired?

[@440_SIXPACK]

@@pgtmr2713omegas and citations were both junk just like the achevia

[@AutoXerWgn610]

Had a 92 Achieva SCX W41 back when I was a teenager. Knew it was a pretty rare car, but didn't have the knowledge or the means to do the repairs it needed at the time :(

[@goodbonezz1289]

All too common story..had my share as well! Too bad lol

[@BreakStuffClub]

I still have a '93 SCX, my dad had a '92 when I was a kid

[@mattc4970]

"We appreciated the convenient cupholder." What a quaint statement.

[@TheMELTDOWN911]

man what a memories.. I used to injection mold the front plates for all those Delco radios and many parts for GM cars back in the early 90's......

[@MrTaxiRob]

It pisses me off that nobody made aftermarket radios for American cars in that size, at least not in any appreciable quantities. And there are still millions of them on the road.

[@TheMELTDOWN911]

@@MrTaxiRob yes.... I remember when I worked in the plant that assembled those radios, we made many even when the model had become obsolete, for the dealers, as the car companies had to be able to supply replacement parts (any type) for up to 10 years, after 10 years good luck, only used and eBay maybe

[@johnl5993]

At the Kokomo Delco plant ?

[@HowardDaduk]

GM still sticking 3 speed autos in '92 in a supposed sport coupe..inexcusable

[@kevinW826]

They did that with the Pontiac backfire in 2003

[@pgtmr2713]

So disappointing.

[@kevinW826]

@@pgtmr2713 I know

[@isaakwelch3451]

The 5 speed made for a better car anyhow

[@HowardDaduk]

@@kevinW826 and that was a base model car, but still that's 11 more years on. No wonder RPM gauges never used to be in GM cars..75mph in 3rd gear..probably pegging the poor engine

[@coltonphillips1]

The turn signals flashed erratically even brand new. Haha

[@kevinmcadams805]

It’s those little things that sent everyone to buy Japanese and Korean cars.

[@mediacritic]

There's a reason why Olds went extinct.

[@jsciarri]

Those are the older thermal flashers and worked off heat from two contacts. The warmer it is the faster they flash and vice versa.

[@Tennesseestorm76]

I think they flashed at a steady rate, just flashed a little faster than newer cars which can be a good thing imo. I think they flashed this fast on my moms '97. I have seen some cars of the same era have slow flashing turn signals.

[@Peter_Yachymczyk]

Maybe a lamp went out already as that is what happened when one went out

[@wayneheart7676]

Mine had a 3.3 l with a 3 speed auto in the floor . It was a runner . Dark maroon interior with white exterior. It won every race but the last one it threw a rod at 120 + mph . That xr7 was a little more than my lil olds could handle, lol. Good times

[@0utc4st1985]

A decade of uninspired design? Oldsmobiles were top selling cars in the US for most of the 80s. In fact the not your father's Oldsmobile campaign was a big reason for the brand's collapse. Personally I owned a late 80s Delta 88 and loved it. I wish I had the money for a proper restoration of one so I can go on road trips with it again.

[@robertriley1569]

"Your" fathers oldsmobile was the one to own. The plastic fantastic olds from say 93 till the end in 04 were mostly cheap crap i owned a delta 88 and an 04 alero, so i put my time in with the brand. I dated a girl in high school that had a black achieva with red interior. Beautiful color combo but cheap crap.

[@aarondwhat]

I owned the 4-door model of this car, and it lasted forever. Never had any serious mechanical issues and was very reliable for long road trips. I truly miss Oldsmobile and the Achieva specifically. Was truly a car like none other.

[@jasontylersloan8196]

I still find it odd that back in these days black painted mirrors were a sign of cost cutting and all around cheapness. But now people pay extra for black painted mirrors as part of a "sport package" or "black out package"

[@hellkitty1014]

Porsche charges $1000 to paint mirrors a "sport black"....🤣

[@Lookout4the3rdrail]

A car that dont track you 80s and them 90s you were appreciated

[@michaelnobles2643]

I was obsessed with these and the Buick Skylark when I was a kid.

[@ElectoneGuy]

You must have had a pretty weird childhood...

[@robertb5922]

I bought a new ‘93 SCX with the W41 and drove it for 5 years. It was a fun car to drive and very reliable. I do remember that it was the only manual at the dealership. They seemed relived to find a buyer who wanted a stick.

[@BreakStuffClub]

I have a red '93 SCX. You didn't buy it in Norristown Pa by any chance?

[@metop33]

If Oldsmobile kept similar the designs as they did up until 1985 they probably would by around but by 1986 the downsizing and cookie-cutter car design just absolutely killed them. What a pity, personally one of my favorite brands

[@fernandorocha901]

Oldsmobile cars 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988 is my favorotes. This Achieva SC is very nice car

[@steinravnik8692]

Passive restraints became mandatory by 1990. GM cheaped out and used those awful door mounted seatbelts to meet the requirement instead of putting an air bag in. I remember when this came out, thinking that was a rather ridiculous way to cheap out.

[@jaxandmore440]

Super unsafe too. God forbid your door pop open, even a little, during a bad accident. That door mounted seatbelt would serve no purpose.

[@Bartonovich52]

Yes, but that’s why they had to offer four wheel ABS standard rather than rear ABS or no standard ABS like most manufacturers at the time. I personally found GMs solution far more ingenious than the complex and annoying automatic belts that Ford, Mazda, Nissan, etc had. They met the standards, but didn’t force you to use them (they used the phrase, “we hope you’ll always keep your automatic seatbelts buckled”), and for coupes it meant you didn’t have to climb through or trip over the front belts to get into the rear seat. As for crash worthiness... if the damage is bad enough to pop a door it’s probably bad enough to bend a B pillar as well. Doesn’t make much of a difference.

[@A_Cowboy_called_JackRabbit]

"We appreciated the convenient cup holder." I wish they had added, "But passengers, needn't worry, for since they chose not to drive, can use either, or both, of the standard cupholders, they brought along for the ride."

[@keganmcguire868]

This was my first car. But mine was burgundy with a burgundy interior.

[@jcdenton4902]

Sounds nice

[@mitchellmcelhenney9445]

Thank you for posting these Retro Reviews!

[@davehayter312]

I almost bought this POS Oldsmobile new in 1993 but my Japanese friend talked me out of it and I bought a new 1994 Acura Integra GS-R. Wise friend! The Acura was ultra reliable and a blast and one of the best manual gearboxes ever! Long live Integra. Wish Acura would bring it back.

[@jsboening]

Think about Oldsmobile every time I drive through Lansing.

[@jcdenton4902]

whys that?

[@jsboening]

@@jcdenton4902 it’s where Oldsmobiles were built. Used to see train cars, and transport trucks full of them.

[@jcdenton4902]

@@jsboening oh

[@danielcastaneda7801]

I always thought these looked pretty nice, interesting front end. Man if this was RWD, it would be a fun car.

[@jaxandmore440]

It was a slick looking car back in the early 90s.

[@jessieharbinjr.6589]

Out of all the n-body GM vehicles; the Achieva’s interior had WAY better/sturdier interior panels.

[@celticsdude]

I had a '95 Grand Am for my 1st car, & I'll admit the Achieva's interior panels were way better than the Grand Am's. My Grand Am's interior somewhat fell apart over time. It was a good car though.

[@jessieharbinjr.6589]

@@celticsdude my parents had one also. All they did was hit a deer. It bent the fender but it also completely broke the dash from the firewall on the passenger side. We went to the junkyard and had to sift throughout several wrecked cars to find a dash that wasn’t already broken.

[@celticsdude]

@@jessieharbinjr.6589 Some of the knobs on the climate control started falling off, & I had electrical issues with mine. The floor would also leak water sometimes.

[@jessieharbinjr.6589]

@@celticsdude that’s a given with any early 90s to mid 2000s GM products. It seems like they subcontracted their interior parts from Mattel Toy company 😂

[@Tennesseestorm76]

We own a '97 Achieva SL 4dr with the 4-cylinder and 4-speed automatic. It was a great car until the head gasket blew at 198,000 miles. We still own it, but the car has been parked behind the house for 10 years. The only reason we kept it was for sentimental value as it belonged to my late grandparents.

[@WSNO]

Love the Achieva! my uncle had a 4 door Grand AM in this color from this generation, and I've always loved that car. He gave it to me, but i was only 14 at the time so my parents donated it to a veteran's organization. I'm glad it helped someone who needed it, but i've always wanted to find one myself. i saw an Achieva on the local listings page, but just missed it. Sold right out from me the day before i could get there. oh well. I love my Cadillac from the same era, but i'm still on the lookout for an Achieva! (and a Grand Am!)

[@seagrass7125]

I loved this car as a kid, thought it was a serious sports coupe.....For the time not bad:) That sound from the “quad 4” is sweet :)

[@camlife6930]

@4:42 “Airbags are NOT available” 😅🤣

[@TheMaddPCGuy]

In 1996 the Achieva received a interior redesign which included a new dash, with driver and passenger airbags...!!!

[@jasonrackawack9369]

I had a 91 grand am with the olds quad 4 h.o., it was a great 4cyl engine, a ton of power, reved like crazy, no issues. Would have been fun to swap it into a manual fiero.

[@TheTruth4313]

Sweet MotorWeek! Thx for posting. I got this same car but the SCX trim. Love it!

[@OGDACMAN86]

Yeah, I remem when a buddy used to swear this was faster than a ferrari. He was 12 y.o. Decent car for the fam.

[@basshead.]

He was right. The Ferrari Mondial is slower(0-60 in 8.7s).

[@OGDACMAN86]

@@basshead. That is interesting to know. Lol. Guess he was technically right. 🤣 🤣

[@Bartonovich52]

It was faster than lots of Lamborghinis, too. ;)

[@vossler360]

I still remember the promotional VHS video where the Achieva was benchmarked with the Accord and Camry of that era. Even back then I doubted that many folks would cross-shop an Accord or Camry with a GM N-body.

[@grunkohlaktionar7474]

4:59 yeah Simple Minds

[@BennyT_3434]

Alive and Kicking.....which is ironic coming from the stereo of an Oldsmobile!

[@2steaksandwiches665]

I have not seen one of these on the road in 10 years. And they are normally pristine old people ones. Loved my Alero. Also the Quad 4 doing 180 HP is impressive. The 3400 V6 did the same.

[@oliverrojas7117]

I agree the Acheiva was an achievement in GM automotive design and presentation. Unfortunately, I might add, GM was ahead of their time. Only 4 years earlier they produced their last Fischer Body midsize Cutlass Supreme and while today the Achievable styling still looks slick, compared to Fischer Body GM it was a stark contrasting reinterpretation of the modern automobile.

[@car-lo]

Good luck finding this exact specific model in a good condition. Those nice clusters where replaced at a later years to cut cost.

[@theroyalcrownedtiger2946]

The front of the Achieva reminds me of the 1992 Chevy Caprice Classic.

[@Doctor_Robert]

I had one; a blue 1997 with the 2.4 Quad-Four and a 4-speed auto (oooooh) and it was... fine. Terrible door panel that left my left arm in agony after a long trip, but the seats were more comfortable than most Toyotas of that period. It went to Canada from San Francisco and back without a hitch... but then it developed a rod knock (a cheap coolant system that needed service I wasn't willing to do at the time) and then a fire truck hit it!

[@henryovalles1163]

In the 90s Aqua green was the go to color for American cars 🚙

[@killercan10]

My first car was a 1997 Achieva SL sedan. Had the 2.4 LD9 Quad 4. I loved that car. If I could find another one but clean, lower mileage and maybe as an SCX I'd be all over it.

[@hartfischer5509]

I had a 1991 Buick Regal 3.8 Limited. If that was RWD, I would probably still own it today. My 2014 Cadillac CTS will definitely last me until 2034, unless I will need to switch to all electric before that. Love Motor Week:)

[@trump248]

I see a bright future for Oldsmobile

[@OLDS98]

Thank you for sharing more GM footage! I appreciate when you bring these things out. The Achieva never got the respect it deserved.

[@ElectoneGuy]

Why would anyone respect that POS when the Accord, Camry and 626 were dominating that segment with quality and reliability?

[@dlmd80]

There is a reason why you don't see these.

[@Trance88]

I still see an Achieva or two on the road once in a while. I love the color on this tester!

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

I had one of these bought a brand new and 95 two-door had the three-point v6 good motor ran like a top. where I bought in Chicago they had fancy pinstriping it was called The gold edition. black with black interior. it was a very solid runner.

[@Acejustforalaugh]

This is still a great looking automobile! Love the quad 4 also, looks like it came with a stock header manifold!

[@thekhakiobserver3128]

That's pretty good output for a small four in 92'.

[@jackjohnson7396]

The Quad 4 was hyped to the max back then. Slowly disappeared into obscurity! ☝

[@michaelmcwhorter8707]

If you think you hate this car, wait until you drive the Alero...

[@steveespinola7652]

Hey I drove an Oldsmobile Alero, it was a fun car to drive.

[@michaelmcwhorter8707]

@@steveespinola7652 I owned an Alero too. Bought it new. It was fun watching it self-destruct before it was paid off.

[@JacobPaul-ix7oc]

@@michaelmcwhorter8707 I had an 01 Alero coupe. It was without a doubt one of the worst cars I ever owned. Fun to drive if you ignore all of the rattling and chunks of plastic falling off every time you hit a bump in the road. Hell, even the damn steering wheel had large chunks of plastic falling off leaving the metal ring inside exposed. Absolute garbage and it's no wonder why Oldsmobile folded.

[@artistwithouttalent]

My grandma had one of these. I miss playing around and in it with my cousins.

[@kirkpatrick84]

Less visual puke on the exterior than the Grand Am GT of the same year.

[@povking1460]

Love the Grand am gt lol

[@snowleopardgarage]

The Oldsmobile Achieva is the Automotive Equivalent of a Liminal Space; something nostalgic and familiar that you know you must have seen somewhere before but you can't quite place where or when. This is why i own one as a runabout. Smaller than my preferred GM b-bodies and slower than my preferred V8 sedans but perfect for the vibes & closeness with the streets to find hidden treasures on photography outings.

[@ronhoover5516]

You must have the last running copy on the planet. I haven't seen one of these on the road in years, maybe over a decade.

[@jriley1992]

Oldsmobile UnderAchieva

[@JDMHaze]

2.3 4cyl N/A with 180hp in 1992!!!!! 2012 Camry had the same horsepower with a 2.5. gm was ahead of their time!!

[@cameronmiles645]

Honda was putting out 190 with their Preludes in 92

[@jaxandmore440]

In 1992, the Camry 3.0L V6 made 188hp.

[@jaxandmore440]

@@cameronmiles645 That was due to VTEC. The Quad 4 was dual overhead cam, but didn't have variable valve timing like the VTEC engines.

[@pgtmr2713]

Mazda 2.5l V6 NA 200hp, 7.5k rpm redline.

[@povking1460]

@@cameronmiles645 2.3L 4 same as this. They hade a gm version with over 190hp too.

[@quentinwooten30]

Nice jacket John

[@dante04srt]

I typically compare the Achieva SC to the comprable Beretta GTZ. GM's cost-saving, parts bin approach to these vehicles was very common. The running gear is identical to that on the GTZ. I think the only major differences aside from the width of rear axle is the GTZ had FE7 suspension, where ss this may have only come with FE3. I can't remember for sure. Cool cars, none the less. I think the dashboard layout on the Achieva was Superior to many of the other sporty compact from GM during this era. I will always have my 93 Beretta GTZ but if I found one of these in good shape, it would be hard to turn down just do have another little piece of 90s nostalgia.

[@OxBlitzkriegxO]

N body cars got FE7 starting in 92. my 92 GAGT had factory FE7 suspension. imo, the 92 GTZ, Achieva, and GAGT were the pinnacle of HO Quad4 cars. you got the best suspension and the best gear spacing available for a street car; 3.94 fdr and .72 od. Only a 92 SCX would be better than that, strictly due with the .81 5th gear. i never noticed much of a difference though, couple hundred rpm.

[@BreakStuffClub]

I did some minor suspension mods on my 93 SCX, z24 strut tower brace, addco rear sway bar, eibach lowering springs and koni yellows. It would really benefit from some better tires but I don't wanna switch the wheels out the factory 14's look perfect in them.

[@dante04srt]

@@BreakStuffClub sounds like we have the same mods on our cars. I also have Wilwood front brakes and rear disc.

[@042452]

I had a 1992 Oldsmobile Achievable SCX neat car

[@BreakStuffClub]

I have a '93 SCX

[@Life_of_A_Man]

Occasionally, I see someone driving this. If it's in good shape, it's usually an elderly person behind the wheel but I mostly see beaters. I've seen some look like they come straight from the junkyard but for some reason, someone found a way to keep them running.

[@GKMess42]

3:44 "...a wheelbase longer than a Toyota Camry" And yet today, the Acheiva would probably be considered a compact car. [That's just how large new cars have become.]

[@thejake8099]

Chevy Beretta over this all day

[@Vekurus]

Never liked the interior, but the exterior was pretty cool. Loved the "shark" commercials they used when it first came out.

[@MrTaxiRob]

Beretta with its leaky back windows? No thanks. Back then I lived where it rained a lot.

[@OxBlitzkriegxO]

the beretta is basically the same car underneath. the L body is a stretched n body. i liked my gtz as much as i did my i-series, the achieva SC, calais and GAGT

[@OxBlitzkriegxO]

@@MrTaxiRob i owned a GTZ for 6 years, it never leaked? it had the sunroof too. it was a FL car.

[@thejake8099]

@@OxBlitzkriegxO they may all share the same platform, but the Beretta was actually nice to look at, inside and outside, plus it did handle very well. Now the Corsica, 🤢

[@leesale98]

Nothing screams mechanical precision more than a tach in 500 rpm increments. ...as well as the rest of the gauges. For some reason though, I still would like to have the car. Especially with a manual. When I was a kid, forget saturday morning cartoons....it was Bob Villa ...and on Sunday morning...Motorweek!

[@NJW1973]

I have one of these w/under 18k miles. Sure, the quad 4 is noisy. It gets 28mpg w/o even trying. I get complements just every time I take it out. It's a fun little car.

[@nlpnt]

I'd forgotten how good the Achieva coupe looked. The 4-door was only let down by the flat-topped rear wheel arches shared with Buick, it's too bad they didn't use the fully round ones the Pontiac had.

[@Bartonovich52]

That was always a terrible GM styling cue. You still see it today in GMC vehicles and almost all their trucks.

[@angryshoebox]

I remember these cars. The name Achieva always sounded awkward to me; it made you wonder what might be next, the Oldsmobile Successa?

[@kirkcather3670]

Or the Oldsmobile Hasbeena?

[@knowbodiesfull5768]

How about the Wannabea (wanna-be-ah)? _(11/18/2022)_

[@Forge17]

For an early 90s American compact, it’s pretty attractive and sporty looking

[@ChapmanFilms]

Always wanted a black or white Oldsmobile Achieva. I'd still drive one today.

[@captainsledge7554]

This was my first car lol also the first engine I ever rebuilt (4 cylinder) with grandpa's supervision or course lol I broke a head bolt cuz I was using leverage and didn't know how they worked lol so he taught me how to use a torque wrench and remove a broken head bolt without removing the head lol It ran for years after so... it was successful despite me being 13 yrs old and doing most of the work. He did the timing tho... and torqued the main and rod caps. But I did the ring gaps, and installed the pistons and bearings.

[@airportlayovers3353]

I remember my parents looking to buy this or a grand am in 92, needless to say they went with the grand am

[@josephdunkle1152]

Easy to read, complete gauges, check. Simple hvac and radio controls, check. Low lift over height trunk, check. Looks like a MW winner!

[@SnepperStepTV]

The Achieva is the liminal space of cars and that's kinda rad honestly

[@Don.Ryan91]

The cutlass name shouldn’t have ever been dropped, the two door cutlass supreme coupes in the 80: s were a amazing

[@radudeATL]

“Proper sports coupe.” Gave me a good chuckle!

[@djkramit]

I remember this car. I liked the Alero coupe. I had a Ninety-Eight Touring sedan, black.

[@ramoncarter6585]

I liked these cars the 2 door was good looking and sporty. The sedan was bland when first came out but later after minor changes wasn't bad. I miss Oldsmobile these cars are rare now liked the Achieva/Skylark/Grand AM.

[@theodor12]

Mmmm that 60fps goodness. Yum.

[@thetreblerebel]

Junkyard specials. Quad 4 had big potential but the reliability couldn't handle vague maintenance. You won't see many of these on the road today in 2020

[@Boostlagg]

90's was great... best movies, music and cars. So many sports coupes that even Oldsmobile made one... even with a manual.

[@fantom5894]

You’re serious?

[@mr.c493]

This reminds me of an episode of Family Matters. Carl’sred new car and Urkles ’ duck calling device!!! 😂

[@boostedmaniac]

I remember when this came out. I thought it was fairly ugly like the Buick skylark. I remember olds was pretty proud of this, they had one advertised in my local movie theater where I saw it. In comparison to a Prelude, I thought it looked clunky, and the gauges looked archaic with its font on the speedo compared to Honda.

[@G0ZERIAN]

4:26 John finally gets voltmeter and oil pressure gauges. Doesn't say a damn thing about them.

[@TommioRS]

I wish Oldsmobile never got canned..... Their modern styling was top notch for their time! I drive a 1999 Oldsmobile intrigue and I still get people asking me is that a new car!

[@rjcolombe]

Those GM door mounted seatbelts were simply terrible. They put these in everything, but thankfully weren't around for long.

[@damieg82]

2:20 at first I thought the engine accessories were on the right, like in old Hondas, but then I noticed the alternator over on the left, with the drive belt spinning. So what then is that belt spinning at the back of the engine? I've never seen that before

[@BreakStuffClub]

Power steering pump was driven off the intake cam

[@clintonstubbs2319]

I love these retro reviews. I remembered seeing these cars pretty often 25 years ago. Was there a 4 door Achieva?

[@edewalt65]

Yes

[@TyEiraMarieMorrisonOsteen]

2:38 Whew I Miss That Sound ❤

[@RyRyWags]

There was a neighbor down from where I grew up, who had a new one in the early 90's I thought it was awesome...oh how cars have progressed in those years!

[@000TheZombie000]

Best looking N-body car by far.