I worked at a Oldsmobile dealer back in the 90’s and I loved this car. I always wanted one. They were so nice and drove so good. The GM vehicles in the late 80’s to mid 90’s were really cool. They were really trying out a lot of new tech. Thank you for reviewing this beautiful car. Really brought back some memories. I’m sure anyone who has actually driven one of these will agree that you just can’t explain how nice it actually is without experiencing it first hand.
Why did GM move away from rear wheel drive for their mid-size cars in North America, yet *not* do so in Europe or Australia where vehicles like the Opel Omega and Holden Commodore persisted with rear wheel drive? 🤔 Did the emerging popularity of (old-fashioned?) rear wheel drive imports from brands like BMW, Mercedes and Lexus in the 1980's and 1990's in competition to Buick, Oldsmobile and Cadillac catch GM by surprise in North America? (With GM responding with the rebadged Cadillac Catera based on the Opel Omega, and Ford with the Jaguar-based Lincoln LS.)
Not many. My family had one and it just rusted to pieces. It wasl also hard to find certain parts. We had a 89 around. That one was from the future. Full digital dash with the vic center
The exhaust finishers (and probably much of the exhaust system) would always be rusted in so many of them. You can still find a lot of them if you go searching though. People who like these really like them, so you’ll find a lot of them as a second car for a nice weekend drive.
My buddy had one when he was a senior in high school ('02-03) I was a couple years older... It was a PHENOMENAL car! I want one to this day! That year, that color, that trim.
Greetings from southern Ontario Canada my dad had this as his last company car before retirement in 1995 and he kept it for many years after 1995, i have a 1987 cadillac Fleetwood hearse, with the 5.7 litre V8 and 4 spd auto
In 92 when I was a young GenX in college I saw this vehicle and other GM cars as granddads car. It’s a throw back to what the greatest generation drove. It’s why Lexus and Acura exploded in popularity in the 90s.
I completely agree!! I was absolutely astounded with this car. You're completely right, Lon! There were two owners manuals that came with the car, and the one for the Screen was at least 100 pages long!
Very nice review, James! In its time, Oldsmobile was definitely a trendsetter for GM. Over my lifetime I have had my share of GM cars, with four Oldsmobiles counted among them...'79 Toronado, '81 Cutlass Supreme Brougham, '85 Ninety-Eight Regency Brougham, and '87 Toronado. And all four were absolutely wonderful and very dependable cars! Thanks for this nostalgic trip down memory lane!
As a retired GM office employee, these are the stories I love to hear. It still saddens me that you can’t buy a new Olds today, let alone a comfortable luxury passenger car, but such is the reality. I’m glad you had your 4 Oldsmobiles.
My brother had one of the early iterations of the Trofeo--'87 or '88, I think. Suede and leather seats, basket handle shifter, fully digital IP with a DAZZLING light show of a systems check and great tunes. You could have the moon roof open at highway speed without any wind noise or buffeting whatsoever. The 3800 was, indeed, bulletproof. Oldsmobiles were great cars and my family had several we miss to this very day. Great episode!
I bought one of these when it was three years old , a 1990 Trofeo in 1993. No problems of any kind . Body alingnment was perfect and being in the rust belt , never showed any sighns of corrosion anywhere
Man, this car sure is a beauty! It definitely was ahead of its time, especially with that middle screen. I once had a 2002 Oldsmobile Alero and drove the wheels off of it. Always great content James! 🙌😁
Not gonna Nitpick here but the toronado started in 1966. My father owns a 66. Different look in the grill when it comes to 66 and 67. Love The video and you shedding light to the 4th gen toronados. As a owner of one (1986) I really admire your review! Keep up the great work!
Nice car, and way ahead of the times. It's always a pleasure watching Jame's reviews. A nice caveat to the video 26:49 vintage Olds Cutlass convertible turns at the corner. Thanks for the great trip down memory lane. The Toronado Troféo weren't common, I don't remember seeing very many of them on the road.
It really wasn't so much the fact that this generation of E-bodies were much smaller than the 1979-'85 models that turned off buyers, but the fact that the new E-bodies, with their upright "formal" C-pillars and backlights and stubby rear overhangs, bore a striking resemblance to the N-body coupes (Pontiac Grand Am, Olds Calais and Buick Somerset) that were introduced a year earlier and priced much lower. Eventually all three got reprofiled greenhouses and longer tails to make them look more "important," but the Olds was the last to get its makeover in 1990, by which time the damage was well and truly done.
Yes it is a great V6 engine, however like what he explained a V8 option should have been offered. GM overused their V6 engines. Certain models like the Trofeo deserve to have a V8.
Thanks for reviewing this car. I thought it ironic that a mid-70's Olds Cutlass (perhaps 442?) drop top passed you at an intersection with you at 26:50. Another classic from Olds.
My weird car guy friend had one of these for YEARS, probably about 2008-2015 or so. We used to share rides to work when we were working on the same jobs. One of the more comfortable cars I've ever ridden in, and I've had a lot of Buicks and Oldsmobiles and even a Cadillac. Cool old car.
Wow, what a clean example of this rare car! Red interiors often fade easily, and this one looks like new. That center screen was pretty amazing tech for the time. It reminds me of the electronic instrument panel on the 1980 Continental Mark VI (optional on the Continental and Thunderbird), with some different features. I'm glad that you've featured it on your channel. P.S. The reason that phone no longer works is that it is analog, rather than digital. The switchover occurred in the 1990s, starting not long after this car was made.
@@JW_Reviews great review. I remember getting shuttled to and from school in a Delta 88, and I owned one of the 80s 442s in high school. Funnily enough, didn't actually know I was related until a decade ago, when we were doing our family genealogy. My parents did, but they failed to see the significance (not car people).
@@BigTwigs1981 Even though you didn’t know you were related, it’s still neat that you were still close to the Oldsmobile brand. Being a car guy, if it was me I probably would have been upset at my parents for not telling me 😂
This was the last Oldsmobile my parents owned before switching to Cadillac when I was a kid, same color white on Red. Loved this vehicle. My 07 Cadillac XLR V doesn't even have a color touch screen!
That brings back fond memories. I had a white 1990 Trofeo with the navy leather. I tinted the glass, de-badged the car and replaced the "meh" factory mags. It's been 25 years since I sold the Olds and I still miss that car. Nothing I have owned since has dethroned my Troefo as the nicest driving automobile I have owned. Sigh ...
Honestly, this is very very impressive for 1992! I didn't even know this technology existed in the early 90's. The touch screen is very impressive for it's time. A true gem. The supercharger 3.8 was not in production yet. But might have been in testing?🤔
1992 was the first year for the Park Avenue and the 98 new design. They both had an optional supercharged 3.8 V6. I had and my parents had a 1990 olds delta 88 with it. Car ran great for 15 years.
That's awesome! Yes, I was thinking around this time is when the supercharged versions came around. That would have been a special thing to have for the Trofeo.
So look forward to your reviews of many GM brands. So sad that Oldsmobile was dropped, I had a 76 Cutlass Supreme and loved it. This example was awesome. Thank you Sir.
James, Fun ride down the Oldsmobile Road. I agree, they used a lot of cost cutting plastic that cheapened the interior look. My understanding is that the 3800 V-6 engine was a good reliable power source. Thanks for this review, nice one!
Thank you for the review. I did not expect to see this, but I appreciate you reviewing this Oldsmobile Toronado. I own a 1992 Oldsmobile Toronado and a 1996 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight. Thank you for your unbiased opinion and the effort you put into the video and review. It is appreciated. Some trim on the inside could have been better. I will agree with you there. The seats are the same in the Trofeo trim and regular Toronado. My Toronado does not have the seat controls on the console( it is not a Trofeo trim level), but it has everything else this car has except the sunroof. The trunk also is 15.7 cubic feet not 14 cubic feet. The first year for Toronado was 1966. It won car of the year as well. Thank you again.
You're very welcome! That's awesome you have a few Olds models, both of them very special! Thank you for watching the video and for all the details in your comment!
Awesome Video, James; I have always liked the Tornado. The 71 through 78 Olds Tornado had a set of brake lights under the rear window. The Trofeo is a sleek-looking car. Thank you for sharing. I'm looking forward to more of your videos. Be Blessed, Stay Strong, and be Encouraged.
This is a pretty sweet car. Can't remember the last time I saw a Toro...might very well be twenty years ago back when I was growing up in Florida, surrounded by retirement communities. If I found this car for sale in my area, I'd definitely give it a look. The toronado in this generation is definitely the most aggressive looking of its platform mates, the Riviera and eldorado. While this gen Cadillac is my favorite, the trofeo and Riviera are also pretty awesome. My favorite part of this car has to be the interior, in particular those big comfy seats! Color and comfort seem to be big no-nos in a lot of modern cars, especially in anything with a down to earth price.
Wow I remember this vehicle!!! It was very advanced and amazing!!!! I remember a friend of my friend had an early 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme , I thought it was a very nice car, !!!! My family was always a Honda / Acura family!!! Love it!!! Thanks for sharing it James
I had the same car, only it was a 91 with a grey interior w/o the phone and touch screen. I had had a touch screen already in my 87 Riviera T-Type. It even had Lucas County plates too. A very poor driver in GMC 2500 van at Madison and 23rd blew a stop sign and drove me into a streetlight. I crawled out of the Astroroof intact. This was a true testament to its build quality. It was a terrific car, it had the coldest A/C ever. It was not as sporty as my Riviera as it was a bit larger, but it may have been a better car overall though I didn't get to find out how reliable it was since its life was ended prematurely. The only major repair was a serpentine belt and water pump due to belt failure, $400. Eventually I had bought back my Riviera who I had sold it to and was able to own both at the same time. I just picked which one matched what I was wearing for the day. Life was good. The Riviera was local dealer George Ballas' personal car which had appeared in the 1987 Toledo car show. I sat in as a 12 year old and said that I wanted to own it. By 1995 I found it at a used car lot and was able to live my dream. I wish GM would bring back the Personal Luxury coupes. My last big American coupe before moving on to M-B was a 1995 Riviera which was a fantastic forward looking vehicle as well with more respectable performance to match its styling. Thanks for the great review, that was fun.
Back in the early 90s my mom looked at a dark grey Trofeo with the grey interior... it was one of the original 100 cars equipped with the TravTek navigation system that made that touch screen ever system ever so much cooler. It had the antenna on the rear quarter of the car that looked funky as heck... Stunning car it was ridiculously expensive . It was optioned better than my grandmother's 1991 ElDorado.
Like many GM cars of the era, I look at it and think “If only it were rear wheel drive.” FWD is fine for compacts but there’s a reason Mercedes, Rolls, BMW, Lexus as well as your high performance and super cars push through the rear wheels if not all four.
I gravitated to these as a used car need , living in Houston and being a New Home sales associate I had to drive a considerable distance daily . It wasn’t just one but 3 I ended up buying , I had this color white which was the favorite daily . A burgundy and gold were as my backup fleet and all had that dash issue in which the dash electronics drop its function , a $ 600 fix in which you sent yours into a tech and plugged in your new rebuilt one . Someone had a good side hustle for awhile with this rebuild supply chain . The super dependable 3.8 motor with plenty of power gave you all that you can ask of a powerplantv
Love it. I owned 2 of them. 1987 and a 1990 Trofeo's and I will be getting another one. Love them and the look. I got the 1987 one, because of Charles Bronson. He have one on the movie Death Wish 4 (Blue). That thing is fully loaded. Bad Ass look.
Oh my. Another hit! I love white forth gen Toronados. There is one with blue interior attending US Cars meetings here and I am dead envy. As beautiful from the inside as it is from the outside. Dimensions ok for European roads and streets yet still big enough for the feel. And in combination with the bulletproof 3800. Just perfect.
Thank you so much!! I'm glad you like these cars! Woah, blue is a very special and unique interior color. I'd love to see one of those! Where did you see this one at?
@@JW_Reviews Hello James. Well in the Czech republic. It has original cloth seats, blue interior and the touchscreen. Very weid combination but it looks great. You can see it in this video but live is much much better. I told the owner if he ever going to sell it, I am first in line:-) The interior is from 5:55 : ua-cam.com/video/gGRpMIFyKLY/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared
@@JW_Reviews Yeah go search on UA-cam. You’ll find a lot of different color combinations red with light grey or dark grey, maroon with light or dark grey, white with maroon, blue, light or dark grey, black with light or dark grey, etc. I’ve seen a few in the firemist blue color that had sort of pearl or color-change effect, one of gm’s many extra-cost fancy colors you’d usually see on a Cadillac at the time.
These cars are beautiful and treasured by those like myself who own them. As to the CRT whine you mentioned, that is an indication of the deflection circuitry inside the screen having issues, the owner may not realize that and it's not normal. As far as I know I'm the only person anywhere that restores the electronics from these cars and I know the inside of that screen down to it's resistors. When working properly there should be only the sound of the flyback transformer kicking in at startup and nothing else after that. But awesome review and glad to see another Trofeo here in Ohio as well.
That's very good to know about the TV! It definitely didn't seem like it should make that noise 100% of the time, but I figured that's just how it was for 1992 lol. You are quite the expert! Thank you for watching!!
@@JW_Reviews You may find it interesting that they did get GPS into these cars. Of course when GM killed the line in 1992, it also killed the multi million dollar project that did it. See links below. ua-cam.com/video/AGrxur7dMh8/v-deo.htmlsi=j7AgYEGphS8WYApv ua-cam.com/video/HCsGn4-uPHU/v-deo.htmlsi=pF0-u616nGfmzr7a These cars were so far ahead of their time.
I was around 19 or 20 when these came out and all I did was walk around the Olds dealer on weekends cause I couldnt get enough of these things and all the International Series models in their other line up.
I had a white with red leather Trofeo (this generation) as my assigned GM of Canada company car for 6 months. I loved it. BTW, I would ditch the aftermarket wheels on your test car for a set of factory rims. Personal choice.
That technology is so cool for the time. Honestly the clean no-nonsense information is kind of hard to find nowadays, what with everything being wrapped up in an online service with integrated advertising. I'm not a fan of the aftermarket rims but the rest of the car is actually really clean and cool looking for the time, and you did a good job filming it and getting the extra shots to illustrate what you were talking about. Well done video and cool subject!
That's some very creative camera work there! Nice review loaded with interesting details. Always enjoyed seeing this car on the road, remember going out of my way to drool over it.
I always wished we could make a current reproduction but with the finest of materials. All soft-touch leather with real stitching on all the panels. No hard plastics. Replace the black door handles and other pieces in real metal. Then add in stuff like seat memory, real cup holders, etc. I’d even want the original VIC. It’d be a super-cool one-off to do a grand touring road trip.
I absolutely loved this car when it came out and I tried to find a creampuff one in the early 2000’s but was not happy with the ones I did find. I loved the styling - heck, I love the stock wheels! And the tech - a touch screen for radio and hvac controls?! Yes please! Amazing! Ironically, I absolutely hate touchscreens in modern cars now, and will only buy cars with manual knobs/switches/buttons for the radio and hvac. But back 35 years ago, that sounded exciting!
I think that Oldsmobile (R.I.P.) managed to produce the best styling of the teeny tiny E-bodies, compared to the Riviera and Eldo... And yes, Olds was the "Invention Division". Don't forget the first front-wheel-drive in 1966.
I like to pick on General Motors for its size and that it is often more of of a marketing company than an auto manufacturer but you have to admit, they have produced some beautiful and sometimes remarkable automobiles. On top of everything else, Oldsmobile made some truly bizarre product decisions: This was supposed to be a mid-grade brand, so why did they get their own version of the Cavalier J-car called the Firenza? Then there was the four door S-10 Blazer based subcompact SUV called the Bravada when the GMC S-10 Jimmy was in the mix? Then there was their Dustbuster minivan called the Silhouette? Lastly, Oldsmobile's final product (the last to be discontinued before shutting its doors in 2004) wasn't the Aurora, or even the Cutlass 4-door. It was the Alero, Oldsmobile's N-body answer to the Grand Am? Saddened but not surprised that each of these marketing fumbles contributed to the downfall of a once great company.
I owned one of these. Mine was the bright red. I absolutely loved that car on the highway. It was a fantastic car and was very classy. It would just float down the road at 80+. Great review.
When GM didn't let the "bean counters" run everything and let the engineers do their best work this is the result. Well executed, well thought out, well built cars.
Despite its position between Pontiac and Buick, in some years Oldsmobile was actually a nicer car (and as expensive or more expensive) than Buick. The only real difference between Oldsmobile and Buick was mostly that of image (Buick generally had a bit more prestige, but price-wise was not that different, model for model, than Oldsmobile).
This was my first car in high school. Same year and color combo, although mine did not have the touch screen. It was a hand-me-down after my two older sisters beat it to heck. But I loved that car and thought it was really special. It lead to my interest in other personal luxury cars like the Buick Riviera, Lincoln Mark VIII (which I later owned :-P), and Cadillac Eldorado. Thanks for reviewing!
This is, by far, the most beautiful car ever made. And I say that with confidence and certainty. THIS is THE retro car number 1. An absolute beauty, timeless and supreme. They don't make cars like this anymore, and it makes me sad. This is truly a legend.
A friend of mine had one of these in high school but his spoke. The interior and options were just the same as this with minor differences like the voice greetings, voice calender reminders. The stereo was incredible with a 10" subwoofer that was an option on the factory spec sheet.
Yep, the smaller versions from 85ish-89 of these, the Buick riviera, and the Seville and El dorado did so bad, they enlarged them right back up to the size they were in 84.
Our plant manager drove a red Troféo into a display area up in the front of our Fisher Body (Inland Fisher Guide back then) plant. Yes, the car was gorgeous. I imagine a few of these have survived the rigors of time in good condition.
Thanks for highlighting one of the great brands in American automotive history! Right out of college, I ordered a 1980 Cutlass Calais (sport/luxury model) in all Claret metallic w/o the landau vinyl top so often seen spoiling the “Seville” roofline. Had beautiful, corduroy buckets & door panels. Pinnacle of GM styling on a classic rear drive V8 chassis. A great car I’d love to have now. Replaced with futuristic fwd 1988 Cutlass LS (another sport/luxury trim) very similar to Trofeo except roomier. Enjoyable and much better than remembered now. Last Olds was 1992 LSS (sport/luxury again) sedan in black w/tan leather. Exactly like photo in your video when mentioning first navigation system. Probably would’ve owned a couple more but gained company vehicle in 1995. All great cars to own and drive at the time and now a wistful memory of what GM once meant. However, have to say all my Chevrolet sedans since 1995 including current Malibu have been comfortable & reliable 150,000+ vehicles. BTW, pleasant surprise to coincidentally (?) see super 1968 Olds Cutlass convertible driving past at intersection. Thanks Agsin!
love these kinds of cars, They're recognizable to those who know them but also don't know them, Without looking like they have anything to proof. While still being interesting enough for me to want to learn about them
Northstar didn't debut until 1993, after the Toronado was discontinued. The 3800 was a Buick motor with roots back to the 1960s but used in many GM cars through 2010 or so the Chevy Impala for example.
I owned an all black one of these from '95-'05. Put tons of miles on it, great highway car. Wish they could have squeezed 250 horses out of that 3.8 however :) There were a few 'secret' button combinations you could use to access all kinds of diagnostics and other service codes etc.. on the touch screen. Never used the phone Lol Was at the Centennial in Lansing with the Toro representing 1992 in the '1 car from each year' show lot... Fun times then
Great review, thanks. I have big time nostalgia for cars like this. My grandparents had a 96 LeSabre and 99 Park Avenue. My dad owned a mid 90's Bonneville. I have owned a 95 LeSabre, 99 Grand Prix GTP, and 99 Cadillac DeVille. Build quality on the Pontiacs was the worst, for sure. I hope some time in the future you could review a Oldsmobile Aurora.
Excellent review as always. This is a car I've not seen in many years now. 90-92 I think was much improved. One point I do agree with you that other engine options should have been made available. The 3.8L was a good standard engine as a V6 option, but I also feel that a V8 should have been offered. I grew up with primarily Cadillac's and Pontiac's. We still have one Pontiac, a 1991 Bonneville SSE that my dad has had since the late 90s. But even with that car, it should have had a V8 option from Cadillac to really make that extra difference in trim levels.
There is a guy that sold a charcoal grey Touring Sedan on UA-cam. I wanna say it was an ‘89. I think he has three videos on it. You can tell he LOVED the car as everything on it was so well-kept and sparkling clean. I’d still buy it today!
Cool looking cars. Back in the day, I had a mint low mileage 86 Toro which had beautiful futuristic lines and a very comfortable leather interior. Unfortunately it was a lemon. The engine would just randomly stop... even while driving. It had Transmission troubles. And... after replacing the ECU several times, it was determined that it had so many electrical problems that it wasn't worth trying to repair.
I've had a 1985 tornado cliente, people thought it was a eldoradoz it had the digital dash and voice warning system...it was a great car with the 307 V8 engine...
The 3800 v6 was the best most reliable engine GM ever made, absolutely bulletproof
Yep, the older guys would tell me how good the 3800 engine is.
Thankfully the Northstar engine was not part of this cars legacy.
My Dad had the 3800 V6 in a Pontiac Bonneville when I was a kid. Incredible engine, so smooth and fast. Best engine GM ever made.
It’s great to hear it was such a good engine! It’s a good thing GM put it in a bunch of cars as well
I have an 2004 Buick Lesabre and 1999 Pontiac Firebird both have the 3800 V6 Series 2 engine. Reliable
absolutely, the rest of the car will fall apart before the 3800 fails.
I worked at a Oldsmobile dealer back in the 90’s and I loved this car. I always wanted one. They were so nice and drove so good. The GM vehicles in the late 80’s to mid 90’s were really cool. They were really trying out a lot of new tech. Thank you for reviewing this beautiful car. Really brought back some memories. I’m sure anyone who has actually driven one of these will agree that you just can’t explain how nice it actually is without experiencing it first hand.
You’re very welcome! I’m glad the video brought back some good memories
Me too, I worked at Cadillac-Olds dealer and those Trofeo's were my favorite along with the Alante's.
I strongly agree.
I strongly agree.
Why did GM move away from rear wheel drive for their mid-size cars in North America, yet *not* do so in Europe or Australia where vehicles like the Opel Omega and Holden Commodore persisted with rear wheel drive? 🤔 Did the emerging popularity of (old-fashioned?) rear wheel drive imports from brands like BMW, Mercedes and Lexus in the 1980's and 1990's in competition to Buick, Oldsmobile and Cadillac catch GM by surprise in North America? (With GM responding with the rebadged Cadillac Catera based on the Opel Omega, and Ford with the Jaguar-based Lincoln LS.)
Gm always makes the best cars, right before the model is discontinued.
100% there is quite a long list of cars that just got to be good, pretty much in the last year of the car.
Man this was new when I was in high school. I thought it was so futuristic looking back then. It’s aged well.
That's awesome! It certainly has aged well 😊
A fairly well preserved example of a rare car. I wonder how many Trofeo's survived? Thanks for sharing this James.
Thank you so much for watching!
Nice car. Hope you can find the original style rims specific to the Trofeo because the rims had a really nice design to them.
Not many. My family had one and it just rusted to pieces. It wasl also hard to find certain parts. We had a 89 around. That one was from the future. Full digital dash with the vic center
The exhaust finishers (and probably much of the exhaust system) would always be rusted in so many of them. You can still find a lot of them if you go searching though. People who like these really like them, so you’ll find a lot of them as a second car for a nice weekend drive.
@@nb7466 nice, it was rare to have the digital dash and the VIC. Lucky!
One of the most stunning Oldsmobiles from my youth!!!
My buddy had one when he was a senior in high school ('02-03) I was a couple years older... It was a PHENOMENAL car! I want one to this day! That year, that color, that trim.
Love Oldsmobiles, owned six but never a Toro. The 98 Touring Sedan was another favorite. Enjoyed your very thorough review of this car.
That's a lot of Oldsmobiles you've owned! It would be fun to review one of their sedans someday :)
Greetings from southern Ontario Canada my dad had this as his last company car before retirement in 1995 and he kept it for many years after 1995, i have a 1987 cadillac Fleetwood hearse, with the 5.7 litre V8 and 4 spd auto
My dad had this very same car in red with chrome wheels. I loved it. He use to always showcase it at many shows until he eventually sold it.
In 92 when I was a young GenX in college I saw this vehicle and other GM cars as granddads car. It’s a throw back to what the greatest generation drove. It’s why Lexus and Acura exploded in popularity in the 90s.
This car’s options are mind boggling for ‘92. I bet the owners manual was a couple hundred pages! 👍👍 on your review James!
I completely agree!! I was absolutely astounded with this car. You're completely right, Lon! There were two owners manuals that came with the car, and the one for the Screen was at least 100 pages long!
Very nice review, James! In its time, Oldsmobile was definitely a trendsetter for GM. Over my lifetime I have had my share of GM cars, with four Oldsmobiles counted among them...'79 Toronado, '81 Cutlass Supreme Brougham, '85 Ninety-Eight Regency Brougham, and '87 Toronado. And all four were absolutely wonderful and very dependable cars! Thanks for this nostalgic trip down memory lane!
As a retired GM office employee, these are the stories I love to hear. It still saddens me that you can’t buy a new Olds today, let alone a comfortable luxury passenger car, but such is the reality. I’m glad you had your 4 Oldsmobiles.
Thank you so much! I'm so glad that this video brought back some memories with the Oldsmobile's you owned 😊
There are some reviews of these cars posted on YT....they are good, BUT they try to compare them to today's vehicles....that doesn't work.
My brother had one of the early iterations of the Trofeo--'87 or '88, I think. Suede and leather seats, basket handle shifter, fully digital IP with a DAZZLING light show of a systems check and great tunes. You could have the moon roof open at highway speed without any wind noise or buffeting whatsoever. The 3800 was, indeed, bulletproof. Oldsmobiles were great cars and my family had several we miss to this very day. Great episode!
That sounds very nice!! They are certainly special cars 😊
I bought one of these when it was three years old , a 1990 Trofeo in 1993.
No problems of any kind .
Body alingnment was perfect and being in the rust belt , never showed any sighns of corrosion anywhere
Back in the day, a friend of mine had a '92 Trofeo, red with Grey leather. Such a fun car to drive.
Excellent review of a rare car. It has held it’s looks after 30 years. A very good looking Olds. I still miss Oldsmobile.
Thank you, Dale!! After spending time with this Oldsmobile, I can certainly see how special the brand was and how much it is missed.
I always loved these cars and its sister the Buick Reatta. Great cars and tech.
The pre 90 Oldsmobile 98 Touring Sedan was such a marvel of the time with many interior upgrades making it unique to GM.
Man, this car sure is a beauty! It definitely was ahead of its time, especially with that middle screen. I once had a 2002 Oldsmobile Alero and drove the wheels off of it. Always great content James! 🙌😁
I completely agree!! Thank you very much!
I had an 89 Trofeo as my 1st car in high school. Of course I put it through its paces. Best car I ever owned.
Such a beautiful car! Great video!
I sure miss Oldsmobile.
Once again, you hit it out of the park, James!
My neighbor had the red version of this car growing up and I always drooled over it. So cool and such a great design.
Not gonna Nitpick here but the toronado started in 1966. My father owns a 66. Different look in the grill when it comes to 66 and 67. Love The video and you shedding light to the 4th gen toronados. As a owner of one (1986) I really admire your review! Keep up the great work!
Nice car, and way ahead of the times. It's always a pleasure watching Jame's reviews.
A nice caveat to the video 26:49 vintage Olds Cutlass convertible turns at the corner.
Thanks for the great trip down memory lane. The Toronado Troféo weren't common, I don't remember seeing very many of them on the road.
Thank you so much! I'm glad you noticed the Oldsmobile I happened to drive past. it was very fitting for the video!
@@JW_ReviewsAh, I wasn't the only one who noticed the Cutlass! 😂
I loved these back in the day when they first came out. I still do. Great video. Thank you.
Extremely professional, well thought-out review!
The wheels added a lot to this car, public had a real hard time accepting the downsizing from larger platform cars in mid 80's
Good point, the last few generations were much larger than the older Toronado's. Thanks for watching!
I loved the original turbine-looking wheels though. They were originally made for the Ninety Eight Touring Sedan.
It really wasn't so much the fact that this generation of E-bodies were much smaller than the 1979-'85 models that turned off buyers, but the fact that the new E-bodies, with their upright "formal" C-pillars and backlights and stubby rear overhangs, bore a striking resemblance to the N-body coupes (Pontiac Grand Am, Olds Calais and Buick Somerset) that were introduced a year earlier and priced much lower.
Eventually all three got reprofiled greenhouses and longer tails to make them look more "important," but the Olds was the last to get its makeover in 1990, by which time the damage was well and truly done.
My first car in 2001, absolutely loved it!
That 3800 is one of the best engines GM ever made.
Yes it is a great V6 engine, however like what he explained a V8 option should have been offered. GM overused their V6 engines. Certain models like the Trofeo deserve to have a V8.
Thanks for reviewing this car. I thought it ironic that a mid-70's Olds Cutlass (perhaps 442?) drop top passed you at an intersection with you at 26:50. Another classic from Olds.
My weird car guy friend had one of these for YEARS, probably about 2008-2015 or so. We used to share rides to work when we were working on the same jobs. One of the more comfortable cars I've ever ridden in, and I've had a lot of Buicks and Oldsmobiles and even a Cadillac. Cool old car.
Great review James! I learned so much about a vehicle I knew little about. So proud of you and your talent.
Thank you so so much Dad!! That makes me very happy 😊
Wow, what a clean example of this rare car! Red interiors often fade easily, and this one looks like new. That center screen was pretty amazing tech for the time. It reminds me of the electronic instrument panel on the 1980 Continental Mark VI (optional on the Continental and Thunderbird), with some different features. I'm glad that you've featured it on your channel. P.S. The reason that phone no longer works is that it is analog, rather than digital. The switchover occurred in the 1990s, starting not long after this car was made.
Great points! It would be cool to have one of those Lincoln's on the channel someday. Thanks for watching!
I love these things. My great great grand-uncle was the founder of the company, Ransom E. Olds.
Wow! That is incredible that you're related to him!! Thank you so much for watching 😁
@@JW_Reviews great review. I remember getting shuttled to and from school in a Delta 88, and I owned one of the 80s 442s in high school. Funnily enough, didn't actually know I was related until a decade ago, when we were doing our family genealogy. My parents did, but they failed to see the significance (not car people).
@@BigTwigs1981 Even though you didn’t know you were related, it’s still neat that you were still close to the Oldsmobile brand. Being a car guy, if it was me I probably would have been upset at my parents for not telling me 😂
This was the last Oldsmobile my parents owned before switching to Cadillac when I was a kid, same color white on Red.
Loved this vehicle.
My 07 Cadillac XLR V doesn't even have a color touch screen!
That brings back fond memories. I had a white 1990 Trofeo with the navy leather. I tinted the glass, de-badged the car and replaced the "meh" factory mags. It's been 25 years since I sold the Olds and I still miss that car. Nothing I have owned since has dethroned my Troefo as the nicest driving automobile I have owned. Sigh ...
Honestly, this is very very impressive for 1992! I didn't even know this technology existed in the early 90's. The touch screen is very impressive for it's time. A true gem. The supercharger 3.8 was not in production yet. But might have been in testing?🤔
The Buick series 1 L67 SI Supercharged 3800 was in production from 1991 until 1995 so they could of used it as an option for the Trofeo!
The old school car phone is a nice touch. Beautiful car!
1992 was the first year for the Park Avenue and the 98 new design. They both had an optional supercharged 3.8 V6. I had and my parents had a 1990 olds delta 88 with it. Car ran great for 15 years.
That's awesome! Yes, I was thinking around this time is when the supercharged versions came around. That would have been a special thing to have for the Trofeo.
1991 model year was the first for the larger Oldsmobile Ninety Eight and Buick Park Avenue.
So look forward to your reviews of many GM brands. So sad that Oldsmobile was dropped, I had a 76 Cutlass Supreme and loved it. This example was awesome. Thank you Sir.
James, Fun ride down the Oldsmobile Road. I agree, they used a lot of cost cutting plastic that cheapened the interior look. My understanding is that the 3800 V-6 engine was a good reliable power source. Thanks for this review, nice one!
I'm glad you liked the review, thank you for watching!
Oh, wow! That exact car at 2:25 is the first car I ever drove, a 1904 Oldsmobile curved-dash Runabout...
Talk about fully loaded for the Nineties! Such a cool review. Well done!
Thank you for the review. I did not expect to see this, but I appreciate you reviewing this Oldsmobile Toronado. I own a 1992 Oldsmobile Toronado and a 1996 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight. Thank you for your unbiased opinion and the effort you put into the video and review. It is appreciated. Some trim on the inside could have been better. I will agree with you there. The seats are the same in the Trofeo trim and regular Toronado. My Toronado does not have the seat controls on the console( it is not a Trofeo trim level), but it has everything else this car has except the sunroof. The trunk also is 15.7 cubic feet not 14 cubic feet. The first year for Toronado was 1966. It won car of the year as well. Thank you again.
You're very welcome! That's awesome you have a few Olds models, both of them very special! Thank you for watching the video and for all the details in your comment!
Awesome Video, James; I have always liked the Tornado. The 71 through 78 Olds Tornado had a set of brake lights under the rear window. The Trofeo is a sleek-looking car. Thank you for sharing. I'm looking forward to more of your videos. Be Blessed, Stay Strong, and be Encouraged.
Thank you for the comment! I'm glad you liked the video!!
This is a pretty sweet car. Can't remember the last time I saw a Toro...might very well be twenty years ago back when I was growing up in Florida, surrounded by retirement communities. If I found this car for sale in my area, I'd definitely give it a look. The toronado in this generation is definitely the most aggressive looking of its platform mates, the Riviera and eldorado. While this gen Cadillac is my favorite, the trofeo and Riviera are also pretty awesome. My favorite part of this car has to be the interior, in particular those big comfy seats! Color and comfort seem to be big no-nos in a lot of modern cars, especially in anything with a down to earth price.
Thank you! I don't think I've seen many of these cars around. But I agree, the interior has got to be the best part about this car!
Wow I remember this vehicle!!! It was very advanced and amazing!!!! I remember a friend of my friend had an early 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme , I thought it was a very nice car, !!!! My family was always a Honda / Acura family!!! Love it!!! Thanks for sharing it James
Wow, you've expanded beyond Cadillac! I love Oldsmobiles, especially Ninety-Eight Regency.
I had the same car, only it was a 91 with a grey interior w/o the phone and touch screen. I had had a touch screen already in my 87 Riviera T-Type. It even had Lucas County plates too. A very poor driver in GMC 2500 van at Madison and 23rd blew a stop sign and drove me into a streetlight. I crawled out of the Astroroof intact. This was a true testament to its build quality. It was a terrific car, it had the coldest A/C ever. It was not as sporty as my Riviera as it was a bit larger, but it may have been a better car overall though I didn't get to find out how reliable it was since its life was ended prematurely. The only major repair was a serpentine belt and water pump due to belt failure, $400. Eventually I had bought back my Riviera who I had sold it to and was able to own both at the same time. I just picked which one matched what I was wearing for the day. Life was good. The Riviera was local dealer George Ballas' personal car which had appeared in the 1987 Toledo car show. I sat in as a 12 year old and said that I wanted to own it. By 1995 I found it at a used car lot and was able to live my dream. I wish GM would bring back the Personal Luxury coupes. My last big American coupe before moving on to M-B was a 1995 Riviera which was a fantastic forward looking vehicle as well with more respectable performance to match its styling. Thanks for the great review, that was fun.
Great review! I would love to find one in this shape. Even back in the mid 90's it was difficult to find a Trofeo. Thanks James!
Yes, there aren't many of them around anymore which is a shame. Thank you for watching!
I rode in one in the 80's. I didn't realize the trunk was like a lid. Very cool car.
Back in the early 90s my mom looked at a dark grey Trofeo with the grey interior... it was one of the original 100 cars equipped with the TravTek navigation system that made that touch screen ever system ever so much cooler. It had the antenna on the rear quarter of the car that looked funky as heck... Stunning car it was ridiculously expensive . It was optioned better than my grandmother's 1991 ElDorado.
Wow! I thought only internal testers got those. So cool!
Like many GM cars of the era, I look at it and think “If only it were rear wheel drive.” FWD is fine for compacts but there’s a reason Mercedes, Rolls, BMW, Lexus as well as your high performance and super cars push through the rear wheels if not all four.
Had one in Blue. Loved it!! When I moved from Nashville to Jersey no one could believe it was an Olds. Amazing car. I miss it.
I gravitated to these as a used car need , living in Houston and being a New Home sales associate I had to drive a considerable distance daily . It wasn’t just one but 3 I ended up buying , I had this color white which was the favorite daily . A burgundy and gold were as my backup fleet and all had that dash issue in which the dash electronics drop its function , a $ 600 fix in which you sent yours into a tech and plugged in your new rebuilt one . Someone had a good side hustle for awhile with this rebuild supply chain . The super dependable 3.8 motor with plenty of power gave you all that you can ask of a powerplantv
Love it. I owned 2 of them. 1987 and a 1990 Trofeo's and I will be getting another one. Love them and the look. I got the 1987 one, because of Charles Bronson. He have one on the movie Death Wish 4 (Blue). That thing is fully loaded. Bad Ass look.
Oh my. Another hit! I love white forth gen Toronados. There is one with blue interior attending US Cars meetings here and I am dead envy. As beautiful from the inside as it is from the outside. Dimensions ok for European roads and streets yet still big enough for the feel. And in combination with the bulletproof 3800. Just perfect.
Thank you so much!! I'm glad you like these cars! Woah, blue is a very special and unique interior color. I'd love to see one of those! Where did you see this one at?
@@JW_Reviews Hello James. Well in the Czech republic. It has original cloth seats, blue interior and the touchscreen. Very weid combination but it looks great. You can see it in this video but live is much much better. I told the owner if he ever going to sell it, I am first in line:-) The interior is from 5:55 : ua-cam.com/video/gGRpMIFyKLY/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared
@@JW_Reviews Yeah go search on UA-cam. You’ll find a lot of different color combinations red with light grey or dark grey, maroon with light or dark grey, white with maroon, blue, light or dark grey, black with light or dark grey, etc. I’ve seen a few in the firemist blue color that had sort of pearl or color-change effect, one of gm’s many extra-cost fancy colors you’d usually see on a Cadillac at the time.
These cars are beautiful and treasured by those like myself who own them.
As to the CRT whine you mentioned, that is an indication of the deflection circuitry inside the screen having issues, the owner may not realize that and it's not normal.
As far as I know I'm the only person anywhere that restores the electronics from these cars and I know the inside of that screen down to it's resistors.
When working properly there should be only the sound of the flyback transformer kicking in at startup and nothing else after that.
But awesome review and glad to see another Trofeo here in Ohio as well.
That's very good to know about the TV! It definitely didn't seem like it should make that noise 100% of the time, but I figured that's just how it was for 1992 lol. You are quite the expert! Thank you for watching!!
Ooh, were you the guy I’ve seen on UA-cam shoeing how you fix them? He had one hooked up and powered on his table.
@@EAS76. That is me, yes.
@@JW_Reviews You may find it interesting that they did get GPS into these cars. Of course when GM killed the line in 1992, it also killed the multi million dollar project that did it.
See links below.
ua-cam.com/video/AGrxur7dMh8/v-deo.htmlsi=j7AgYEGphS8WYApv
ua-cam.com/video/HCsGn4-uPHU/v-deo.htmlsi=pF0-u616nGfmzr7a
These cars were so far ahead of their time.
@@331letmein coool. I nerded out so much.
Great video! My Step Dad had one of those is silver with gray interior.
I was around 19 or 20 when these came out and all I did was walk around the Olds dealer on weekends cause I couldnt get enough of these things and all the International Series models in their other line up.
i had a black Trofeo, 92 as well. loved that car
I had a white with red leather Trofeo (this generation) as my assigned GM of Canada company car for 6 months. I loved it. BTW, I would ditch the aftermarket wheels on your test car for a set of factory rims. Personal choice.
On the non-touch screen models you could hold off and lower on the Hvac and get into a diagnostic menu that was mind blowing
That technology is so cool for the time. Honestly the clean no-nonsense information is kind of hard to find nowadays, what with everything being wrapped up in an online service with integrated advertising. I'm not a fan of the aftermarket rims but the rest of the car is actually really clean and cool looking for the time, and you did a good job filming it and getting the extra shots to illustrate what you were talking about. Well done video and cool subject!
That's some very creative camera work there! Nice review loaded with interesting details. Always enjoyed seeing this car on the road, remember going out of my way to drool over it.
Thank you very much! I try to do my best to get the best shots as possible. I'm glad you liked the car!!
Loved the Toronado Trofeo as well as the Riviera. Can't believe GM built this and then the shit that came after.
I always wished we could make a current reproduction but with the finest of materials. All soft-touch leather with real stitching on all the panels. No hard plastics. Replace the black door handles and other pieces in real metal. Then add in stuff like seat memory, real cup holders, etc. I’d even want the original VIC. It’d be a super-cool one-off to do a grand touring road trip.
The 89 I had was equipped with auto leveling air ride suspension in the rear. I didn't realize how nice it was until the pump failed.
This car lools good even by today standards. In fact it looks better than a lot of todays cars.
66 was the first Toronado not 67. The Toronado was also the first the first front wheel drive car for GM
Hey James, thanks for the video. Excellent!!!
I absolutely loved this car when it came out and I tried to find a creampuff one in the early 2000’s but was not happy with the ones I did find. I loved the styling - heck, I love the stock wheels! And the tech - a touch screen for radio and hvac controls?! Yes please! Amazing!
Ironically, I absolutely hate touchscreens in modern cars now, and will only buy cars with manual knobs/switches/buttons for the radio and hvac. But back 35 years ago, that sounded exciting!
I think that Oldsmobile (R.I.P.) managed to produce the best styling of the teeny tiny E-bodies, compared to the Riviera and Eldo...
And yes, Olds was the "Invention Division". Don't forget the first front-wheel-drive in 1966.
I like to pick on General Motors for its size and that it is often more of of a marketing company than an auto manufacturer but you have to admit, they have produced some beautiful and sometimes remarkable automobiles. On top of everything else, Oldsmobile made some truly bizarre product decisions: This was supposed to be a mid-grade brand, so why did they get their own version of the Cavalier J-car called the Firenza? Then there was the four door S-10 Blazer based subcompact SUV called the Bravada when the GMC S-10 Jimmy was in the mix? Then there was their Dustbuster minivan called the Silhouette? Lastly, Oldsmobile's final product (the last to be discontinued before shutting its doors in 2004) wasn't the Aurora, or even the Cutlass 4-door. It was the Alero, Oldsmobile's N-body answer to the Grand Am? Saddened but not surprised that each of these marketing fumbles contributed to the downfall of a once great company.
GM not olds
I owned one of these. Mine was the bright red. I absolutely loved that car on the highway. It was a fantastic car and was very classy. It would just float down the road at 80+. Great review.
I'm not much for the car, I will admit, but your Reviews are always Awesome JW and we appreciate them. Thanks....
When GM didn't let the "bean counters" run everything and let the engineers do their best work this is the result. Well executed, well thought out, well built cars.
Despite its position between Pontiac and Buick, in some years Oldsmobile was actually a nicer car (and as expensive or more expensive) than Buick. The only real difference between Oldsmobile and Buick was mostly that of image (Buick generally had a bit more prestige, but price-wise was not that different, model for model, than Oldsmobile).
I own a 1990 and I am putting it back on the road after a long slumber this week
This was my first car in high school. Same year and color combo, although mine did not have the touch screen. It was a hand-me-down after my two older sisters beat it to heck. But I loved that car and thought it was really special. It lead to my interest in other personal luxury cars like the Buick Riviera, Lincoln Mark VIII (which I later owned :-P), and Cadillac Eldorado. Thanks for reviewing!
Loved this car back in the day. Still a nice car. Good review.
This is, by far, the most beautiful car ever made. And I say that with confidence and certainty. THIS is THE retro car number 1. An absolute beauty, timeless and supreme. They don't make cars like this anymore, and it makes me sad. This is truly a legend.
Awesome review of a beautiful car James! Nice to see you with a new video!
A friend of mine had one of these in high school but his spoke. The interior and options were just the same as this with minor differences like the voice greetings, voice calender reminders. The stereo was incredible with a 10" subwoofer that was an option on the factory spec sheet.
Joking aside it's way better than the patterned pill box design of cars today. As I recall what turned away buyers was the interior and down sizing.
Yep, the smaller versions from 85ish-89 of these, the Buick riviera, and the Seville and El dorado did so bad, they enlarged them right back up to the size they were in 84.
Our plant manager drove a red Troféo into a display area up in the front of our Fisher Body (Inland Fisher Guide back then) plant. Yes, the car was gorgeous. I imagine a few of these have survived the rigors of time in good condition.
Thanks for highlighting one of the great brands in American automotive history! Right out of college, I ordered a 1980 Cutlass Calais (sport/luxury model) in all Claret metallic w/o the landau vinyl top so often seen spoiling the “Seville” roofline. Had beautiful, corduroy buckets & door panels. Pinnacle of GM styling on a classic rear drive V8 chassis. A great car I’d love to have now. Replaced with futuristic fwd 1988 Cutlass LS (another sport/luxury trim) very similar to Trofeo except roomier. Enjoyable and much better than remembered now. Last Olds was 1992 LSS (sport/luxury again) sedan in black w/tan leather. Exactly like photo in your video when mentioning first navigation system. Probably would’ve owned a couple more but gained company vehicle in 1995. All great cars to own and drive at the time and now a wistful memory of what GM once meant. However, have to say all my Chevrolet sedans since 1995 including current Malibu have been comfortable & reliable 150,000+ vehicles. BTW, pleasant surprise to coincidentally (?) see super 1968 Olds Cutlass convertible driving past at intersection. Thanks Agsin!
love these kinds of cars,
They're recognizable to those who know them but also don't know them, Without looking like they have anything to proof.
While still being interesting enough for me to want to learn about them
Northstar didn't debut until 1993, after the Toronado was discontinued.
The 3800 was a Buick motor with roots back to the 1960s but used in many GM cars through 2010 or so the Chevy Impala for example.
I owned an all black one of these from '95-'05. Put tons of miles on it, great highway car. Wish they could have squeezed 250 horses out of that 3.8 however :) There were a few 'secret' button combinations you could use to access all kinds of diagnostics and other service codes etc.. on the touch screen. Never used the phone Lol Was at the Centennial in Lansing with the Toro representing 1992 in the '1 car from each year' show lot... Fun times then
I got my ol lady one. I miss the car more than most. The phone was actually pretty cool for those days. It also had auto rear end leveling for loads.
Great review, thanks. I have big time nostalgia for cars like this. My grandparents had a 96 LeSabre and 99 Park Avenue. My dad owned a mid 90's Bonneville. I have owned a 95 LeSabre, 99 Grand Prix GTP, and 99 Cadillac DeVille. Build quality on the Pontiacs was the worst, for sure. I hope some time in the future you could review a Oldsmobile Aurora.
One of my co workers had one of those in the early 90’s I always thought that was a nice looking car.
Excellent review as always. This is a car I've not seen in many years now. 90-92 I think was much improved.
One point I do agree with you that other engine options should have been made available. The 3.8L was a good standard engine as a V6 option, but I also feel that a V8 should have been offered. I grew up with primarily Cadillac's and Pontiac's. We still have one Pontiac, a 1991 Bonneville SSE that my dad has had since the late 90s. But even with that car, it should have had a V8 option from Cadillac to really make that extra difference in trim levels.
Great review. I've always loved this generation.
You really should do a video on an Oldsmobile 98 Touring Sedan of the late 80's.
There is a guy that sold a charcoal grey Touring Sedan on UA-cam. I wanna say it was an ‘89. I think he has three videos on it. You can tell he LOVED the car as everything on it was so well-kept and sparkling clean. I’d still buy it today!
Cool looking cars. Back in the day, I had a mint low mileage 86 Toro which had beautiful futuristic lines and a very comfortable leather interior. Unfortunately it was a lemon. The engine would just randomly stop... even while driving. It had Transmission troubles. And... after replacing the ECU several times, it was determined that it had so many electrical problems that it wasn't worth trying to repair.
I've had a 1985 tornado cliente, people thought it was a eldoradoz it had the digital dash and voice warning system...it was a great car with the 307 V8 engine...