I used to see so many beat-up rustbucket examples of this car that it seems unfinished and incomplete without rusted out body panels and a disintegrating vinyl roof. Beater Malaise Era Cutlasses were the most widely owned car among my high school classmates (late 1980s and early 1990s).
Lol hard starting when warm and pinging sound like the base timing was turned way up to make this test report car run stronger. Sounds like they got a bit carried away and went way over the factory spec that the under hood sticker would have indicated.
We had the '79 4 door version of this...Cutlass Salon with the aeroback....with the same 260 V8 and automatic as this Cutlass Supreme and experienced similar fuel economy and averaged 25 to 27 on the highway if the wind was right. We drove the car for 11 years and 140,000 miles and other than rebuilding the THM 200 automatic...nothing really broke on it.
I could sit down right down to write a novel, & it STILL would come even remotely close to describing my love for the Cutlass Supreme!!!! Yes, there WERE cars that were in production at that time that were more modern in their designs & more reliable, but the CS/CSB has a certain charm that I believe can only be matched by 2 other cars, the Golf & the Mustang. That charm of which I speak is the quintessential everyman's charm. The Cutlass was truly one of those cars that could be all things to all people. A stylish grocery getter, a luxurious touring car, a down-to-earth luxury car, a fire breathing muscle car.........the Cutlass did it all.
Had a 78 Cutlass years ago. That 260 engine was a dog. Installed a 350 engine in it from a 68 Cutlass. It would smoke the right rear tire for a block. The THM 200 transmission eventually gernaded. Installed a THM 350 in it. Trans held up until I wrecked the car. ☹️
Its funny i hear guys from today say how great cars from the 60s, 70s and 80s were, but this proves the big 4 ie (GM, Ford, Dodge, and AMC) produced JUNK JUNK JUNK!!! These cars were ready for the scrap heap at 60,000 miles.. I mean they rusted like crazy..
That's just how it was, folks - and people really didn't care that much. It wouldn't be acceptable now, but this is exactly why - reporters brought it up and the car manufacturers had to do better. Keep in mind that GM sold every single car they made back then - they rushed them down the assembly line and they missed stuff sometimes. They were victims of their own success. You could have just taken it back to the dealer and they'd have fixed it under warranty.
He only mentioned 3, if you count the flimsy trunk lid which was common to all of the downsized A/G body cars. I'll bet that starter hesitation was a flaw in the flex-plate; if it didn't destroy to starter in the first few months, it probably broke in and was fine after that. Still, it should have been considered unacceptable to let a car go out to the dealer that way.
Bad paint, engine won't start reliably, knocks under acceleration, body panels of poor quality, rattles in the interior, and hesitation upon throttle. Sounds about right for GM at that time.
These were excellent cars. The transmissions were the sore spot. The THM200 was a heap and the 260 V8 VIN code “F” Olds engine was no race winner but they ran forever with good upkeep. I think he meant “regular unleaded” as unleaded fuel was mandatory on these cars.
Shows how air-conditioning technology has improved; up north with minimal a/c use (often not equipped in the first place) these cars regularly got gas mileage in the low 20s.
@@robinatkins1292 Well that's a little bit generous, this is the time when GM could still build shit and serve it like a Filet Mignon. That would only work for a little while longer.
I always find it hilarious in the comment section of car videos where trolls claim there is no such thing as an unreliable car - just owners who don't do proper maintenance. Well, here's a new car with maybe 1,000 miles on it in perfect weather conditions - yet someone will seriously say the issues are the fault of the reporter.
People truly loved these cars. These were best sellers for years! There were SO many around until around 2000 or so. You saw them everywhere!
A WILDLY popular car for many years!
I used to see so many beat-up rustbucket examples of this car that it seems unfinished and incomplete without rusted out body panels and a disintegrating vinyl roof. Beater Malaise Era Cutlasses were the most widely owned car among my high school classmates (late 1980s and early 1990s).
Nice looking car.
Huge seller back in the day before crossovers and minivans
Lol hard starting when warm and pinging sound like the base timing was turned way up to make this test report car run stronger. Sounds like they got a bit carried away and went way over the factory spec that the under hood sticker would have indicated.
My grandparents had an ‘83 that burst into flames sitting in a parking lot, not running.
We had the '79 4 door version of this...Cutlass Salon with the aeroback....with the same 260 V8 and automatic as this Cutlass Supreme and experienced similar fuel economy and averaged 25 to 27 on the highway if the wind was right. We drove the car for 11 years and 140,000 miles and other than rebuilding the THM 200 automatic...nothing really broke on it.
I could sit down right down to write a novel, & it STILL would come even remotely close to describing my love for the Cutlass Supreme!!!! Yes, there WERE cars that were in production at that time that were more modern in their designs & more reliable, but the CS/CSB has a certain charm that I believe can only be matched by 2 other cars, the Golf & the Mustang. That charm of which I speak is the quintessential everyman's charm. The Cutlass was truly one of those cars that could be all things to all people. A stylish grocery getter, a luxurious touring car, a down-to-earth luxury car, a fire breathing muscle car.........the Cutlass did it all.
Clearly mechanics loved them.
Had a 78 Cutlass years ago. That 260 engine was a dog.
Installed a 350 engine in it from a 68 Cutlass.
It would smoke the right rear tire for a block.
The THM 200 transmission eventually gernaded. Installed a THM 350 in it.
Trans held up until I wrecked the car.
☹️
A 260 with 5 speed would have impressed him more...
thats 36 grand in 2023
G-Bodies are the best! Had an '85 Regal and now an '81.
Good looking Cutlass. The fit and finish was typical of the era.
no putrid smell from the exhaust in this one.
Its funny i hear guys from today say how great cars from the 60s, 70s and 80s were, but this proves the big 4 ie (GM, Ford, Dodge, and AMC) produced JUNK JUNK JUNK!!! These cars were ready for the scrap heap at 60,000 miles.. I mean they rusted like crazy..
I was thinking the same thing. These are basically brand new cars he's reviewing
So many issues with a new car. That was just shotty workmanship !
"Shoddy"... not "shotty". Your spelling isn't any better than the workmanship of that Olds!
That's just how it was, folks - and people really didn't care that much. It wouldn't be acceptable now, but this is exactly why - reporters brought it up and the car manufacturers had to do better. Keep in mind that GM sold every single car they made back then - they rushed them down the assembly line and they missed stuff sometimes. They were victims of their own success. You could have just taken it back to the dealer and they'd have fixed it under warranty.
@@sasz2107 it still exists unfortunately, and GM is actually worse now than it was back then ! We some serious cost cutting going on now !
He only mentioned 3, if you count the flimsy trunk lid which was common to all of the downsized A/G body cars. I'll bet that starter hesitation was a flaw in the flex-plate; if it didn't destroy to starter in the first few months, it probably broke in and was fine after that. Still, it should have been considered unacceptable to let a car go out to the dealer that way.
Bad paint, engine won't start reliably, knocks under acceleration, body panels of poor quality, rattles in the interior, and hesitation upon throttle. Sounds about right for GM at that time.
These were excellent cars. The transmissions were the sore spot. The THM200 was a heap and the 260 V8 VIN code “F” Olds engine was no race winner but they ran forever with good upkeep. I think he meant “regular unleaded” as unleaded fuel was mandatory on these cars.
Shows how air-conditioning technology has improved; up north with minimal a/c use (often not equipped in the first place) these cars regularly got gas mileage in the low 20s.
Such laughable quality control of cars from the past.
That's what happens when you're attacked by government regulations.
@@robinatkins1292 Well that's a little bit generous, this is the time when GM could still build shit and serve it like a Filet Mignon. That would only work for a little while longer.
Mobes Ford and Chrysler built shit as well.
Ralph…
I always find it hilarious in the comment section of car videos where trolls claim there is no such thing as an unreliable car - just owners who don't do proper maintenance. Well, here's a new car with maybe 1,000 miles on it in perfect weather conditions - yet someone will seriously say the issues are the fault of the reporter.