Let us step back for a moment and run the figures: a 24 year old car with 184,000 miles on the clock for $5,000.
The owner claims the car has no driving issues, no rust and is getting hard to find. It really does look nice.
The wheels are right and the paint looks good from a distance. I always thought these looked better from the side than their other stablemates. The lines work. The body cladding looks fluid. You know what it is.
The seats seem to be in good shape. That’s a plus. I can’t tell if it has an aftermarket radio or not.
I had an ’89 Regal along the line so I’m very familiar with these heavy doors. Those automatic seatbelts were especially obnoxious. My concern with the doors centers on the outer handles. I snapped two, due to the car’s age and the fact they were so dinky they couldn’t match the weight of the doors.
The ad doesn’t say whether the engine is a 3.1 or 3.4. I’d have concerns about either of them at 184k. Same for the transmission, since this is the mileage where my carefully maintained ’95 Regal started falling apart.
I think $5,000 for a Cutlass convertible in great shape might be reasonable. For this, meh. I know these W bodies have a decent following but would even the most devoted GM-head even try?
This is a $1000 car on it’s best day. Nobody wanted them new, nobody wants them now. I drove a number of these… the older digital clusters with Oldsmobile’s 50-button dashboard control treatment, all created out of the cheapest plastic this side of a K-mart – was pathetic even by late 80’s standards. And those seats… the worst ever. A comfortable position just couldn’t be attained with any amount of searching. I dont pan GM stuff often – but this and the Regal were just plain awful in comparison to the marginal Lumina and Grand Prix.
These sold pretty briskly in their day, at least back in the southeast, the roads were peppered with them. All thru the ’90s if you pulled alongside a W body coupe there was a solid chance it was driven by a younger pretty girl.
She’d only be younger if you were pushing the century mark yourself… 🙂 I’m kidding, sort of, but in California anyway W-body coupes seemed like sales poison to anyone under AARP age. It never ceases to surprise me the way that different regions are so different as far as desirability of a particular car is concerned.
I turned 21 in ’95. But i guess that shows how radically different CA and sleepy west TN really are. And these ladies wouldve been the 2nd/3rd owners on the W bodys. Actually a few Grand Prix GTPs were owned by younger guys too.
This. My parents divorced in 1995, and our big pimped out Chevy Van got repossessed in the aftermath. My 28 year-old mom, barely scraping by but prettiest lady this side of the Blue Ridge (this was in Virginia), got an ’88 Cutlass Supreme just like this one, but silver. Aside from the fact that all the silver paint was flaking off faster than a week-old sunburn, it was in great shape, and 6 y.o. me got a kick out of that digital speedometer. It didn’t last long until we were in a ’92 Grand Am, Mom’s self-described “worst car ever”. She’s a Mazda convert here in the new millennium, but I still look back on those days with the Cutlass pretty fondly, considering the circumstances.
Good looking, well cared for car. The early dash has so much more period charm than the later blander version. $5000 is way too much for someone who is just going to run it into the ground, but maybe someone can get seller down and just put the car away. Personal luxury coupes have faded to nothing and a nice period piece from a later period of the trend will be interesting has more time passes. Thanks!
$5K no, nothing more than $1K and that won’t be coming from me.
At $5k, sounds to me like they don’t want to sell it to badly!
Put me down for $1000 too. $5K is DELUSIONAL.
I think this is a better deal:
http://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/5061786383.html
$15k and its been sitting comfy in the weeds.
Does that include the tow truck?
That includes the right to look at the tow truck!
That looks like the 5 key is sticking.
And the 0 key. $150, I might look at it.
I’d say no more than $2500 for both the Cougar and the Cutlass
$5k?!?!?! Ill have whatever he’s having!
Granted, this is a very clean car. $2K is about the limit. If it had the 3800 V6 (G.P. Couldve had that engine…these, Im not sure) and leather interior then all else being equal it might be a $2800 car. I wouldnt trust the trans in this either, and Ive experienced the 3100 in a W body coupe. Ummm..yea, NO.
This is a very nicely-preserved example, but by no means is it a $5,000 car. Even in the top 3rd percentile for condition and 143,000 miles (the “typical mileage” for this car and year), a 1992 (as far back as KBB values go) Cutlass Supreme coupe’s value is only $1,200.
Still, it’s a nice car. I like the coupe and convertible W-body Supremes far more than the sedans. And it’s refreshing to see burgundy over burgundy.
C’mon, Brendan
You wouldn’t trade your Acura for this? 😉
To borrow a turn of phrase from another site, “crack pipe.”
This is a very nice Cutlass Supreme. Probably one of the better preserved ones left, based on the photos alone. Worth more than 1200 easily, I’d say, but nowhere near $5k. I’m guessing the seller is wildly optimistic, or just delusional.
As a sidenote, is this actually a ’91? I thought the “squinty”/six-light nose came on the scene later than that. It did have a nice, slightly aggressive look compared to the original nose styling.
“To borrow a turn of phrase from another site, “crack pipe.””
Beat me to it. BTW +1
I am no fan of these cars, but in its condition and mileage, I could be convinced that it is worth maybe $2000-2500 IF the owner can document a laundry list of recent replacements (like tires, water pump, a/c compressor, brakes, etc.) If the car was a genuine low, low mileage original on which EVERYTHING operates like friggin new, then maybe I get north of $4k for someone who really likes these.
But this car at this mileage, uh, no. I suspect that the owner set his price based on what he wants to buy next.
Somebody’s wife wants that car gone. If Barnum really was right, seller’ll go down a few hundred and gleefully pocket double what the car’s worth. If not, he’ll tell her “honey, I tried”.
A few hundred? Try a few thousand!
My wife had a 1990 z 24 Chevy Cavalier and a 1997 Pontiac Coupe Grand Am, both 3.1 V6, auto. Both cars had failed miserably, either engine or trans, around this very mileage.
I think the seller is ether very delusional in thinking this car is going to sell for $5000. Or he does not really want rid of it. While it is a very nice looking car and is one of the better looking of this generation still running around, it has high mileage with a tired engine and transmission.
There is nothing special about it. No convertible or special edition.
It is a 1000-$1500 car at best.
I just bought a one owner 1995 Cadillac Deville 4.9l with 111,248 miles on the clock for $1000 and everything works on it(including the antenna, trunk pull down, tape deck and all power amenities) The interior while needing a decent detail is in tact and has no rips at all and the seat leather is pretty good looking. Besides the price of the car, I am into it for another $500(which is mostly for taxes, tags , registration, brake pads/rotors and plugs and wires. My Deville is a much better car then that cutlass and yet I got it for a grand.
And you got an airbag, ABS, a lot of other bits, and a dashboard that definitely owed something to Audi. City fuel economy is a bit much, but cruising on the interstate not so bad and what this car would do best anyway. Plus, a nice looking post – cube shaped Caddy.
the door handles on these always break..however they are easily available aftermarket. Yeah 5k is nuts for this…being front drive and V6 it doesn’t appeal to me as a fun driver but better to start high and go down if you are selling….
That’s a big, tall glass of NOPE right there.
If this car had 184 miles, I might not laugh at the price.
It would still be $1500 too much
This is your father’s Oldsmobile.
Can I have my grandfather’s, then? 🙂
And yet another ‘barn find’…
Living in Maine where doors freeze shut, on any used car with fragile pull handles I spend 3 bucks on handle at the hardware store and bolt it right on the door. Lift the factory cheap handle and pull on the one you installed. This has saved my but many times.
Thanks, but no thanks.
Based upon condition and rarity while subtracting demand, it’s probably worth $2000-$2500.
Try finding replacement outside door handles when those originals finally snap. I had a 2 dr Lumina and I was working as a Parts Consultant at a GM dealer in 2003. I ordered both sides, because they were becoming scarce even then. Soon after they were discontinued. I later worked at a wrecking yard, and they would sell a complete door and not remove the handles. So..yeah..good luck to the sucker who pays 5 large for this.
This is one for Jalopnik’s Nice Price or Crack Pipe.
I’m thinking this is yet another case of “Kelly Blue-Book syndrome”, people look up their cars KBB, go for “very good condition”, and assume thats the cars value.
This is why you see ancient Town Cars and such going for $3k, big yank tanks that hardly anyone wants.
Also, MORE GREAT VALUE!
http://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/5072633728.html
Nice T-Bird, but I’d be suspicious of the mileage. Turbo Coupes came from the factory with a speedo that stopped at 80 mph but had blank hash marks up to 95. This car has the somewhat rare 140 mph Ford Motorsports unit that could be ordered at the parts counter. There better be an official odometer document showing the speedo swap back in the ’80s with 3000 miles on it or I’d run like hell from that deal!
Oh, and plenty of folks would pay $3K for an old Town Car. Never underestimate the Cult of Panther.
I like early Ws but this is not worth $5k. It’s not even an International!
Also, the facelift ruined the second. At least it’s got the early, nicer interior.
I just don’t miss the first generation W bodies at all. I didn’t like them new, I didn’t like them when they were 10 years old (how I most remember them), I don’t like them now. I don’t think it’s one of those cars where the passage time will make them seem any better, either.
The A bodies at least had a traditional, nostalgic redeeming solid-ness too them. These were just cheap and ugly and had wayyy too much brittle plastic, inside and out. The Cutlass Coupe was the best looker, but good god was the Lumina an awkward looking number. The Regals were pretty badly proportioned too.
When I look at the picture of the open door all I can think of is the flappy, plastic-y, rattling noise it makes when you slam it, I can feel the brittle B-pillar mounted handle in my hand… I can even hear the ear-splitting CREEEAAAK of the plastic cladding getting caught on the front fender as you slowly opened the door after 12 years of it sagging on its cheap hinges (seriously, almost all of them did this by the early-00s)
I can’t think of a single W-body where the 2nd generation redesign cicra 1997 didn’t improve it dramatically. The Intrigue was such a pleasant car compared to this, which is saying a lot.
I’ll stick with my new Oldsmobile.
With the exception of the rally wheels, that’s the twin of the Custom Cruiser my buddy Jason had when we were in high school. Nice period-correct DARE bumpersticker also!
Living proof that the right wheels can bring out the attitude in nearly ANYTHING. J.T, im pretty sure yours is the first of this generation of wagons to look this good….at least to my eyes.
Nice Custom Cruiser… Woulda been nice if they made a RWD sedan version of the Delta 88 in that generation, not just a wagon.
It would’ve been a lot better than that FWD, 1992- 98 POS, they called an 88.
Always hated that car, it was trying(but failing) to imitate the 1989-94 Nissan Maxima… Even right down to the unidirectional alloy wheels. Pathetic. That thing was like the Anti-Brougham.
Hard to say what that would sell for here rarity might add some value but lack of any parts will take it away again, I wouldnt buy it but others might.
I woundn’t personally buy this car either but is asking1/3 what it originally cost for a car that has been well taken of for 24 years really crazy. It is old enough that many trends have come and gone in it’s wake. The fact that it is still here after 184k is a testament that it was put together properly and used quality materials. The Cutlass name is storied and been covered well here by a many chaptered chronicle.
I know some of you are having fun and showing attitude or whatever, but I think all this crack cocaine talk is over the top. This car is not for everyone and everyone is not required to like it. But the owners of this car deserve our respect not ridicule.
In case you haven’t seen it before, one of the other automotive-oriented web sites has a periodic feature called “Nice Price or Crack Pipe?” where the subject is an old car listed for sale for a questionably high price. Users can vote on whether the car is worth it or not, and comment. That’s what I was referencing as were, I’d assume, most of the other commenters who mentioned it. No disrespect intended.
(Okay, maybe a little. But not as much as you’d otherwise think…)
You’d have to knock a zero off the end of this price for me to even look at it. And then I’d still walk away.
……..pass…….
I’m thinking the “0” on their keyboard is a might sticky. Just saying.
Roofline never looked right to me. Like it came from another car and was just hacked on.
Drove one with the Quad 4 in it and was impressed with the ride and quiet and room in the back seat for a 2 door. Still didn’t like the roof. Didn’t buy it and kept my 86 Calais for a few more years.
Price is too high for the mileage. 2000 would be better as you’ll spend another 4000 replacing things that have worn out by 184,000 miles. Unless it comes with a book of receipts that would allow you to plot your refurbishment.
Agree about the roofline on these. It looked lifted from a same-year Ford Probe or Toyota Celica liftback, grafted onto a much larger car.
They were trying to bring a little concept car magic to the production line. You know how us enthusiasts are always complaining “the actual car looks nothing like that cool concept design.” Well, Oldsmobile actually listened this time, at least a little, and got all creative with the c-pillar.
All I can say is between the Supreme’s Lumina Coupe and Regal Coupe stablemates, I do like the Olds styling best overall. But I’m not in the market for a 24-year-old GM personal luxury coupe. Strange but true.
I think they added TOO many 0s… More like $500. Lol
This is like the next to the worst iteration of the Cutlass nameplate, the worst being the ultra bland 1997 Cutlass sedan… The FWD Malibu’s indistinguishable clone.
If this were a mint or nice driver 84-85 Hurst Olds Cutlass or 84-87 Cutlass 442, then $5000 would not be off the mark. Give or take $1000.
When they made the Cutlass Supreme nameplate FWD, is like they castrated it… True Cutlasses are RWD.
I owned the 1995 version of this Cutlass coupe in dark green with the open 5 star alloy wheels, leather buckets seats and the 3.4 Dohc and really enjoyed the car overall. I kept it well over 100K with the only two items being replaced being the alternator and timing belt which a good friend did that used to work at a BOP dealer for a very reasonable sum. It was quick, the engine sounded really neat with the hammer down, the 4T60 never gave a lick of trouble and I found the seats all day comfortable. Never broke a door handle either. Would I pay 5k for a 1992 3.1 liter lower trim Cutlass? Hell no. You can usually buy a newer 1996-97 example with the 3100 in good shape for 1500 or less with much mower mileage. We still sell these cars every now and then at our dealership but they are starting to get a little harder to find in this shape and most every example usually needs an intake gasket on it’s 3100 if the miles are over 100K.
The owner of this car must think it’s collectable like the older 1978-88 G-body version in mint shape which it’s not.
The early W-Body was far from a great car, but at least the Cutlass Supreme was the best-looking version to me. The Grand Prix was second (somewhat tacky, but coherent overall), while the Lumina and Regal managed to be a combination of ugly and boring at once. I rarely saw anyone younger than 70 driving a Regal of this era, especially the coupe.
RIP, to Dick Van Patten…
Who endorsed a lot of Oldsmobiles from the 1970’s-90’s. 🙁
“We’ve Had One Built for You… Oldsmobile. “