DOTS Local Dealer Edition

"Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness" (long-voyager-2nd-edition) 08/20/2018 at 07:13 • Filed to: Dots, DOTS WI

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Driving past my local dealer this weekend, I had to stop and check this out:

1985 Cutlass Ciera 2 door! 56k on the odometer, not a spec of rust anywhere I could see. The only flaws I saw was some paint chipped on the nose cone and one taillight missing an emblem, otherwise it looks showroom inside and out.

If one can trust the window sticker, it’s supposedly a 3.8L V6 as well. 

pip bip - choose Corrour > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 08/20/2018 at 07:30

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your name written all over it!

Stapleface > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 08/20/2018 at 07:30

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All things considered, that does look in really good shape.  Even the mud flaps are new looking.  

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > pip bip - choose Corrour 08/20/2018 at 07:36

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I don’t think it was priced too bad all things considered. He’s asking $2,995 for it.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 08/20/2018 at 07:36

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buy it!

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > pip bip - choose Corrour 08/20/2018 at 07:43

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Trying to buy a Transit Connect currently, so it’s out of the question.

Sovande > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 08/20/2018 at 07:53

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$3,000 seems like a lot for a car worth $1,000!

Here’s a good read:

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/1985-oldsmobile-cutlass-ciera-brougham-the-oppo-review-1615745328

404 - User No Longer Available > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 08/20/2018 at 08:36

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If one can trust the window sticker, it’s supposedly a 3.8L V6 as well.

I thought Cieras only came with the 3.3L? The 3.8L was destroked specifically for the FWD A-Body AFAIK.

someassemblyrequired > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 08/20/2018 at 09:01

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That’s awfully clean.   If someone does movie cars, probably well worth snapping up at that price.

LOREM IPSUM > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 08/20/2018 at 09:27

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Clean, but CP.

Nibbles > 404 - User No Longer Available 08/20/2018 at 09:51

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Buick 3.8 with an earth-shattering 125 hp :|

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Sovande 08/20/2018 at 10:04

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Eh, it’s a rare find around here. I’d probably be in around $2500.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > 404 - User No Longer Available 08/20/2018 at 10:09

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!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

In mid-1984, the 3.8 liter LD5 engine was modified for transverse-mounting in smaller, FWD vehicles, and equipped with multi point fuel injection (MPFI). 1984-1985 models used a distributor and a distributorless wasted spark ignition system was added for all engines produced in 1986 and later. In 1986, it received sequential fuel injection (SFI) and it was initially produced in two forms, the LG2 with flat lifters (tappets), and the LG3 with a roller camshaft and lifters. The latter was offered in various models through 1988. From 1986, the 3.8 had a revised, crankshaft-driven oil pump which eliminated a longstanding problem with pump housing wear and loss of prime. Power produced by this engine was:

VIN code B: flat lifters (tappets)140 hp (104 kW) at 4,400 rpm, 200 lbft (271 Nm) at 2,000 rpm

VIN code 3: roller lifters (tappets)125 hp (93 kW) at 4,400 rpm, 195 lbft (264 Nm) at 2,000 rpm (1984–1985 MPFI)150 hp (112 kW) at 4,400 rpm, 200 lbft (271 Nm) at 2,200 rpm (1986–1988 SFI) (LG3)

Applications

1984-1988 Buick Century

1986 Buick Riviera (LG2)

1987 Buick Riviera (LG3)

1986-1987 Buick LeSabre

1985-1987 Buick Electra

1984-1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera

1986-1987 Oldsmobile Delta 88

1985-1987 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight

1987- Early 1988 Pontiac Bonneville

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Nibbles 08/20/2018 at 10:10

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The HP doesn’t tell the story. The 200ft-lbs of torque at 2000 rpm is what makes them smooth, quick feeling cruisers.

Nibbles > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 08/20/2018 at 10:14

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Yeah we had one growing up. Traded in a Caprice for a 1988 International Edition. Didn’t take long before it was then traded for a Crown Vic.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Nibbles 08/20/2018 at 10:15

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Good old 305 Caprice?

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Sovande 08/20/2018 at 10:19

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I feel the review focused on the wrong aspects of the car. You don’t buy a car like this for handling/acceleration/braking. You buy it because you want cheap/comfortable/reliable/efficient, all of which they do very well.

Nibbles > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 08/20/2018 at 10:21

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Yup.  P sure it was a 1983.

WilliamsSW > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 08/20/2018 at 10:46

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Forget the haters, that’s a good price for a decent, if dull, car. My mom had an 83 with the Iron Duke for a long time. Good car, but terrible brake dive on those things. The rear drums were primarily decorative, I think.

Sovande > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 08/20/2018 at 11:50

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We have different definitions of cheap, reliable and efficient !

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Sovande 08/20/2018 at 12:03

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I could buy this car for under 3k. If it needs any repairs, parts are cheap and it’s insanely easy to work on. Cheap.

Generally if well cared, these have no issue going well over 200k. Reliable.

They will easily crack off low 30s cruising. Efficient.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Nibbles 08/20/2018 at 12:07

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The 305 was one of GM’s worst engines IMO. They weren’t really good at anything except running far longer than you want them to.