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GM's 1988 Buick LeSabre, Oldsmobile Eighty Eight, and Pontiac Bonneville with 3800 V6 engine (its first year) were credited the very-first American cars you could drive for over 300,000 miles with minimal maintenance. Before 1988, American cars had carburetors, rust issues, and barely go above 100,000 miles.
Again with the "barely go above 100,000 miles?"
You would be surprised how many older American cars easily passed the 100,000 mile mark with the original engine and drivetrain.
You would be surprised how many older American cars easily passed the 100,000 mile mark with the original engine and drivetrain.
Yes, I agree with you that most old American cars can pass 100,000 mile mark easily if well-maintained, but rust, higher recalls, poor paint quality, poor emissions, and often poor workmanship, which were common in the boxy heavy metal RWD cars, prevent them to go that many miles, plus they tend to be more difficult to pass smog inspection today (especially in California). So, drivers decide to unload them early, most never reach 200,000 miles.
However, the 1988 GM large FWD sedans (Buick LeSabre, Oldsmobile 88, and Pontiac Bonneville) with 3800 engine (its first year of production and this engine lasted through 2008 in Buick Lucerne) were tremendous huge improvement in reliability, refinement, paint quality, emissions, easily passing smog inspection, so drivers hang on to them far longer and greater chance to reach 300,000 miles and even 400,000 miles.
Yep, like a 1965 K-code 289 V8 that has 365,000 miles on it and has only been rebuilt twice. The last time was for restoration and performance purposes only and it still ran fine.
365,000 miles in GM's 3800 engine with ZERO rebuilt were reported before. Do a Google search.
Before 1988, the next closest decent American car would be 1986 Ford Taurus with 3.0L Vulcan engine (its first year of production and lasted through 2008 in Ranger), but GM's 3800 had a better edge and clearer confirmation here.
Before 1988, the next closest decent American car would be 1986 Ford Taurus with 3.0L Vulcan engine (its first year of production and lasted through 2008 in Ranger), but GM's 3800 had a better edge and clearer confirmation here.
Yep, you're correct. I don't see 1986 Ford Taurus on the road anymore, but I still see some 1988 Buick LeSabre today. Check this one out for sale locally on Craigslist in my area, still going strong and in rotten shape with 265,000 miles now (owner refuses to dump it to the junk-yard, meaning it was pretty reliable):
Yes, you're correct. I don't see 1986 Ford Taurus on the road anymore, but I still see some 1988 Buick LeSabre on the road today. Check this one out for sale locally on Craigslist in my area, still going strong and in rotten shape with 265,000 miles now (owner refuses to dump it to the junk-yard, meaning it was pretty reliable):
Yeah they were one of the best domestics, especially for that time period. My aunt's '87 Olds 88 had over 200k when she got rid of it. The engine still ran great, but I think the tranny started slipping.
The 'A-body' cars were pretty good too (6000, Celebrity, Century, Ciera). The 3300 used in the Century was basically a smaller version of the 3800, and it was also a very good engine.
Yeah they were one of the best domestics, especially for that time period. My aunt's '87 Olds 88 had over 200k when she got rid of it. The engine still ran great, but I think the tranny started slipping.
The 'A-body' cars were pretty good too (6000, Celebrity, Century, Ciera). The 3300 used in the Century was basically a smaller version of the 3800, and it was also a very good engine.
And the oldest year I can find, safe to say. There were many great American cars before 1988, no doubt, but the carburetor design (before fuel-injection) can be quite troublesome if not maintained properly, plus poor emissions as well.
Your aunt's 1987 Olds 88 was the 3.8L V6 (LG3) fuel-injected before 3800 (it was decent, reliable, and looked similar), but less-reliable on the fuel-injection system than 1988. GM perfected the 1988 so very well, it officially marked the first year of the 300,000 mile American car.
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