Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais Coupe 2.3 16V (162 Hp)


Overall Rating

7.5 / 10
Safety N/A / 5
Not Rated
Engine 3.8 / 5
Value 4.0 / 5
Performance 3.5 / 5
Comfort 3.5 / 5
People\'s Opinion 3.0 / 5

Oldsmobile Cutlass:

The Oldsmobile Cutlass was a series of automobiles produced by the General Motors' Oldsmobile division between 1961 and 1999. At its introduction, the Cutlass was Oldsmobile's entry-level model; it began as a unibody compact car, but saw its greatest success as a body-on-frame intermediate. The Cutlass was named after Vought F7U Cutlass, as well as the type of sword, which was common during the Age of Sail.
Introduced as the top trim level in Oldsmobile's compact F-85 Series, the Cutlass evolved into a distinct series of its own, spawning numerous variants. These included the 4-4-2 muscle car in 1964, the upscale Cutlass Supreme in 1966, the high-performance Hurst/Olds in 1968, and the Vista Cruiser station wagon....(Read more on Wikipedia)

Calais Coupe Overview:

Oldsmobile Cutlass (Calais Coupe). With 210 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. Weighing only 1160 kg, it’s quite light. Front‑wheel drive delivers efficiency and easy handling. The top speed reaches 180 km/h. A two-door car with a fixed roof, known for its sporty design and dynamic performance. Seating for 5 makes it ideal for daily use.

2.3 16V (162 Hp) Verdict:

Rating 4 stars

Performance Verdict

The 2.3L 'Quad 4' engine offered impressive power for its displacement, making the Calais Coupe surprisingly quick for its era, though it could be a bit unrefined and noisy at higher RPMs.

Fuel Economy

Fuel economy was moderate, reflecting its performance-oriented nature rather than outright efficiency, typical for a high-output four-cylinder of its time.

Best Use Case: Spirited driving / Enthusiast appeal

reddit Community Verdict

This rating is based on comments found on Reddit, scanned using artificial intelligence, and may not accurately reflect reality.

Allowed: 45% Neutral: 9% Issues: 45%
rating
3 / 5

Based on AI analysis of 11 discussions

Read What Owners Say
👍 POSITIVE
I’ll take either the Bonneville or the Cutlass.
👍 POSITIVE
I had an identical one (though burgundy color), and this is the best condition one I've seen. Doesn't seem to be many of these still around, and glad to see a real survivor.
👍 POSITIVE
Those are beautiful. I personally want a Mexican Cutlass Eurosport with a 5 speed.
👍 POSITIVE
Nice! I had a 1988 XC special edition Cutlass Ciera, 3.8 FE3. Fun little car!
👍 POSITIVE
I had the four door version. My GT. Spun that thing like five times on the expressway home from work in a stow storm. Excellent ride. Forgot why I got ride of it.
👎 NEGATIVE
Not at all, imo. Every piece of rubber on that car is going to give up the ghost immediately if you start actually using it. I’ve had much better luck with average mileage old cars than low mileage ones. You’d be better off finding something that has been driven enough to have required maintenance.
👎 NEGATIVE
You definitely have to be a diy person. I drive 20+ year old car every day. Plan at least double on upkeep. Tires, belts, hoses,gaskets. A water pump or thermostat might not be bad, but the gasket might give. And at that point you replace the part if you're that far in for the gasket. And, look into parts, you might be getting into parts scarcity. Lots of hoses for vacuum and emissions will be cra
👎 NEGATIVE
How much has it been driven lately? Can you read the date codes on the tires? Also consider belts and hoses and fluids? If you're a DIY car person, it could work out.
👎 NEGATIVE
No. Every wire, connection, piece of plastic, hose and tube in that car is 37 years old. That many miles that often, and it will niggle you to death with little failures. Aside from that: it's tinfoil. No ABS, traction control, airbags, etc. Safety wise, it's a motorcycle. Finally, they're just not good cars. I had one for a couple of years and it was both boring and uncomfortable.
👎 NEGATIVE
As long as its got that true coat... you definitely have to be a like DIY kinda person. I drive an 84 volvo; I tinker with it like mostly every weekend. Haha. Though dont those have like the iron duke them? Thats a good motor.


Pros and Cons:

Pros:

  • • Variety of engine options, including a potent Quad 4 and smooth V6
  • • Comfortable ride quality typical of Oldsmobile
  • • Distinctive and aerodynamic styling for its era
  • • Generally good reliability, especially with the Iron Duke and V6 engines
  • • Good value proposition on the used market

Cons:

  • • Some engines (Quad 4) could be unrefined and noisy
  • • Interior quality and materials could be inconsistent
  • • Front-wheel-drive platform limited enthusiast appeal compared to RWD competitors
  • • Dated safety features compared to modern standards
  • • Resale value may be limited due to brand discontinuation

Specifications:

Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(Supreme Coupe: 1987 - 1997).

General:
Brand:Oldsmobile
Model:Cutlass
Generation:Calais Coupe
Modification (Engine):2.3 16V (162 Hp)
Start of production:1988
End of production:1994
Powertrain Architecture:Internal Combustion engine
Body type:Coupe
Seats:5
Doors:2
Engine:
Power:162 Hp @ 6200 rpm. Same horsepower
Power per litre:71.7 Hp/l [345mm less]
Torque:210 Nm @ 5200 rpm.
Engine displacement:2260
Number of cylinders:4
Engine configuration:Inline
Number of valves per cylinder:4
Fuel injection system:Multi-port manifold injection
Engine aspiration:Naturally aspirated engine
Valvetrain:DOHC
Engine oil capacity:4.3 l
Coolant:10.5 l
Engine layout:Front, Transverse
Cylinder Bore:92 mm mm
Piston Stroke:85 mm mm
Compression ratio:9.5:1
Performance:
Fuel Type:Petrol (Gasoline)
Fuel consumption (economy) - urban:15 l/100 km
Fuel consumption (economy) - extra urban:9 l/100 km
Maximum speed:180 km/h
Weight-to-power ratio:7.2 kg/Hp, 139.7 Hp/tonne
Weight-to-torque ratio:5.5 kg/Nm, 181 Nm/tonne
Space:
Kerb Weight:1160
Trunk (boot) space - minimum:375 l
Fuel tank capacity:51 l
Size:
Length:4555 mm mm [345mm less]
Width:1700 mm mm [105mm less]
Height:1330 mm mm [20mm less]
Wheelbase:2625 mm mm [105mm less]
Front track:1420 mm
Rear (Back) track:1410 mm
Powertrain:
Drivetrain ArchitectureThe Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the front wheels of the vehicle.
Drive wheelFront wheel drive
Number of gears5
Transmission typeManual
Front brakesVentilated discs [Best for performance and cooling.]
Rear brakesDrum [bad for performance and cooling.]
Assisting systemsABS (Anti-lock braking system)
Steering typeSteering rack and pinion
Power steeringHydraulic Steering
Tires size195/70 R14
Front suspensionCoil spring
Rear suspensionLeaf spring

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