The Oldsmobile Connection

[Olaf]

Hello, folks!

Currently I have the two models listed above, though the 88 will probably be sold soon.

Background: Mom bought the 88 new, it really was owned by a little old lady, kept in a garage, but unfortunately that also means the car has had certain disagreements with the garage doorway as Mom got a little more wobbly. So it has a few scuffs and Senior Dings, through the drivetrain is solid and the interior is fairly clean. Also, it was wrecked about 10 years ago, and we bought it back under a salvage title.

The 2002 Silhouette is under my name, but it's really Linda's daily driver. It's in fairly good shape but it's getting old enough to need maintenance. That's one of the main reasons why I went looking for a owners' board, to pick up on issues and ideas for this platform.

BTW my name is Alex, Olaf is the car's name.

Let's see if I can hotlink within the board...

[87Delta]

Welcome to TOC! That car is in mint shape for a 1989. I too have a salvaged title. It sucks in a way, but people never know unless you tell them (or try and sell it)

[Olaf]

The funny part was, after that went into the records, Mom started getting junk mail catalogs from hot-rod building outfits.

She has decided to sell it since she's not driving anymore. I want to ask the Ohio BMV people if the salvage title changes anything in the selling process.

[87Delta]

Doesn't really change the sale. It really effects the value by ALOT. Not alot of people want a salvaged car.

[88delta88]

welcome to TOC! Very nice car, got one just like it.

[88 Coupe]

Hi Olaf, hello everyone,

Welcome to TOC.

Quote: ........ Mom started getting junk mail catalogs from hot-rod building outfits ........
No surprise there. DMVs have been selling everyones personal information for years, incuding notice of a "Salvage title", to those businesses who might "be of service".

Helps keep our Taxes down.

Quote: ........ if the salvage title changes anything in the selling process ........
It's only practical use, is to advise all perspective buyers that the car has been written off, by an insurance co, as a total loss. If repairs are done correctly the car is, as if it was never wrecked. But, how does a buyer know if it has, or hasn't?

Few people will want a rebuilt total wreck and the sale price falls to a level where it will sell. Many times a perfectly good car is sold for the price of a generic driver. Upside is, one who cannot afford the price of anything other than a "driver" might be helped.

You might want to reconsider selling it.

Regards, Norm

[Olaf]

Having looked around at some online prices for similar 88s, I'd guess we could get 750 - 1000 on the general market. I'd just prefer it would go to someone who can appreciate a strong-running car, and not treat it like a wastebasket. Or, someone with a fondness for Oldsmobiles, which is why I am discussing it on this board.

I'd love to stash it away in a barn for another few years and pull it out then, but we have room for only two of the three cars in this house. The Legacy and the Outback we have can do anything this car can, except perhaps take a T-bone from an SUV running a red light...

I like the way I can drop it into gear without hitting the brake, it's really not very different than operating the 1970s Buicks I learned to drive in. No OnStar, no nav screen, no GPS, no onboard black box, no ABS, no SRS, no VDC, heck, no CD even.

I'll really miss it in another ten years or so when you'll have to provide a palm print, retina scan, breath and DNA samples, Homeland Security clearance, and type in your age, IQ, sperm count, shoe size, and number of teeth you have, just to start the car.

[88 Coupe]

Olaf wrote: ........ it's really not very different than operating the 1970s Buicks I learned to drive in ........
You might be one of the few that would understand why my primary transportation is a '70 Cutlass.

Norm