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Oldsmobile Toronado

Scouzer

Scouzer

Lifer
I've located what appears to be a very nice 1989 Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo with all options...leather sunroof etc. They even have little onboard computers (Not like PC's...but you know...)

I really like the looks and sounds of this car by pictures. But does anyone have experience with them? Any opinions?

Its got 146,000km and is $4,000 CDN OBO. It hasn't sold for a few weeks, so I could hopefully get them down to 3k.

Car Domain page for a similar Toronado
 
the computer swayed my opinion slightly...😛

Hmm...thats not too good, jam. I can't say I liked hearing that...hopefully his car was an isolated incident, heh.

I expect electrical problems...lots of electrical goodies...tranny problems is what concerns me. A new tranny would knock me flat on my ass as far as my money situation is right now...

I'll definitely get a full inspection from my mechanic shop before buying it.

Sammy: Used cars here cost a lot more than the American used car market. $4k CDN here works out to $2k USD.
 
Yea, I live in Buffalo, I know that market.

You can still do better than that car.
 
Ergh...I'm arrogant and I just like these cars so damn much I don't know why. I've been in the market casually hunting for a couple months and nothing has struck me quite like this.

The other vehicles I was somewhat considering were: Chevrolet Beretta 92-94 GTZ, Ford Mustang (88-93 5.0), Jeep Cherokee 89-90ish, or a former cop car Crown Vic. I have some demented tastes in cars.

I couldn't decide but this car screams buy me like no other...I haven't decided for sure yet.
 
Originally posted by: SammySon
I would never buy that for 3-4 grand.
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Me neither, in great part because you know that car is going to be an absolute nightmare on reliability and repairs, especially introducing "ahead of its time" parts like that computer.

 
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Originally posted by: SammySon
I would never buy that for 3-4 grand.
Click to expand...
Me neither, in great part because you know that car is going to be an absolute nightmare on reliability and repairs, especially introducing "ahead of its time" parts like that computer.
Click to expand...

Well I don't think it'd be a nightmare. Electric crap like that computer I really don't care. It dies, I laugh. Power seats aren't powered anymore, meh. Its the crucial things like the engine and transmission that I'd worry most about. I thought I read the Buick 3.8 was bulletproof? A great engine? The transmission...I don't know about. Or brakes. But the brakes and tranny are regular oldsmobile ones...not ahead of its time...J.D. powers gave it a 4/5...
 
I recall alot of fuel and ignition sensor headaches with vehicles of that era. If any of that crap fails the thing will fail to start.
 
Dude, don't worry about parts. I checked Autozone and they've got tons of stuff for the 89 Toronado. You're also freaking out about transmission problems, well if those cars specifically had transmission problems I'd be wary. Check the web for reviews or recalls on those cars. If you don't see anything it's probably not a problem. The tranny can still crap out on you, but that can happen with any car thats 14 years old. It's just the risk you take buying an older car.
 
You're better off with the 5-liter Mustang you were considering. Mustangs are like assholes, everybody's got one. A lot of those people are contestants for the Darwin Award so there are plenty of donor cars for spare parts. And they're relatively inexpensive to hop up with aftermarket parts.
 
Originally posted by: huesmann
You're better off with the 5-liter Mustang you were considering. Mustangs are like assholes, everybody's got one. A lot of those people are contestants for the Darwin Award so there are plenty of donor cars for spare parts. And they're relatively inexpensive to hop up with aftermarket parts.
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I don't envy he who has to drive a rustang in the snow, but even still I'd much prefer a mustang over this car for the reasons you mentioned. Also, buying a car of age I'd strongly lean towards a manual transmission because if that transmission on the oldmobile goes, you're in for some costly repairs, and replacing a salvage standard transmission is hella-cheaper than an auto.
 
Originally posted by: huesmann
You're better off with the 5-liter Mustang you were considering. Mustangs are like assholes, everybody's got one. A lot of those people are contestants for the Darwin Award so there are plenty of donor cars for spare parts. And they're relatively inexpensive to hop up with aftermarket parts.
Click to expand...

Yeah I really wanted a Mustang. But there basically not possible to find in decent condition for sub 4k. Everything is 200,000+km or generally in poor condition. And I'm 16...5.0L Mustang, insurance company laughs at me... 🙁

I go and see it in a little less then an hour.

In a car I'm looking for what basically isn't possible...
- Decent interior. I hate crappy interiors. This means Ford. Uber interiors, like the Toronado's are BIG pluses.
- Not slow as hell. Doesn't have to be fast, but peppy.
- Reliable, obviously
- FEASIBLE! No 2 seaters.

But in my limited 16 year old budget, this isn't possible. So I have to make compromises, and the Toronado seems like one. The Mustang's are just too expensive...
 
You like that Olds interior and not Ford's interiors? Wow. And if the car is anything like my grandfather's '88 Silverado, that's not a "computer", it's just an LED readout that combines the radio and the HVAC controls. It may monitor a few things too, but I don't think so. It didn't in the Silverado anyway.

ZV
 
Ford interiors are so...damn...plastic. My mom owns a 92 Taurus and man that feels like a rickity piece of crap. Everything rattles. Only 190,000km too...

Don't get me wrong, I like Ford, but their interiors are...cheap.
 
I think many of the mechanical parts are shared with many other GM FWD models from that era, so you should be OK there. Body parts, OTOH....good luck finding any of those in a yard. Those Toronados weren't terribly common cars. I've always liked them for exactly that reason though 😛.

Don't even consider a 5.0 if you have to drive in snow. I have a 2.3l Mustang that's pretty good in the snow, but not excellent. A 5l would be hell. The ex-police CV would suck in snow as well, not to mention those are HEAVY cars...and they were police vehicles. The cops rag the hell out of those - it comes with the job.

I always thought the (91-94??) Dodge Spirit R/Ts were cool. Seats 5, not flashy looking, but they're small light sedans w/224HP turbo motors. You'd surprise a lot of other cars with it. The other Spirit models are just boring point A to point B machines, but the RT is pretty sweet. You might find one in your price range, but look it over GOOD before buying it.

Good luck.
 
I read about those sneaky Dodge mega turbo's, but I've yet to see any locally. The lesser turbo that was 145hpish I've seen a couple of, though.

Yeah, I live in Alberta, so snow is from right now until mid March. Winter driving ability is definitely crucial.

I'm leaving to go look at the car right now. Will report back.
 
Just got back. Wow, the car is in perfect condition. The front seat leather is aged and cracking, but he's got some very comfortable seat covers in their place. All the electronic doodles work, not the slightest fleck off the paint. Popped the hood, clean as a whistle. The car looks like its been taken care of like a baby. AND they goto the same shop as I do, so they've released all matinence records so I can look at them. Great matinence, it would seem.

Other then the seats, I've found nothing wrong with the car. But, he did say 'I'm not going to let this car go for nothin'...he knows what its worth. I'm going to be busting my wallet trying to afford this..
 
The big stuff will be cheap to replace (tranny, motor) because in 89, they used the same drivetrain in about 15 (really) different models throughout GM. I wouldn't worry about body parts with sites like car-part.com out there.

I worked with a guy who drove about and hour each way. He would drive the wheels off of olds 88's (very similiar to the Tornado). He'd typically replace tranny's at 160 to 180000 miles and motors at 220 to 240000 miles Really solid, powerful yet efficient drivetrain

I'd get them to knock the price down just a bit and go for it 😉

EDIT- actually, $4k CAN, isn't that like $3K USD? sounds pretty decent to me
 
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