Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais 2.5 i (106 Hp) Automatic


Overall Rating

7 / 10
Safety N/A / 5
Not Rated
Engine 4.2 / 5
Value 3.0 / 5
Performance 3.5 / 5
Comfort 3.8 / 5
People\'s Opinion 4.0 / 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 Overview:

Oldsmobile Cutlass (Calais). With 183 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. Weighing only 1185 kg, it’s quite light. Front‑wheel drive delivers efficiency and easy handling. The top speed reaches 180 km/h. A four-door car with a separate trunk, ideal for families and daily commuting. Seating for 5 makes it ideal for daily use.

Safety Rating
Not rated
Euro NCAP Year N/A
Adult Occupant N/A
Stars N/A
Expert Note:
The 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais was produced before the establishment of Euro NCAP (1997) and therefore was not tested under its protocols. Safety standards of the era were significantly different from modern vehicles.

2.5 i (106 Hp) Automatic Verdict:

Rating 3 stars

Performance Verdict

Adequate for basic transportation, offering modest acceleration suitable for city driving but feeling strained on highways. The automatic transmission further dulls responsiveness.

Fuel Economy

Decent fuel economy for its era, though the automatic transmission can slightly reduce efficiency compared to the manual version of the same engine.

Best Use Case: Reliable daily commuting, city driving, or for drivers prioritizing simplicity and low maintenance.

reddit Community Verdict

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

Allowed: 50% Neutral: 50% Issues: 0%
rating
4 / 5

Based on AI analysis of 10 discussions

Read What Owners Say
👍 POSITIVE
Modifications include: S&S headers, Upgraded throttle body from an Oldsmobile Intrigue, Borla catback exhaust, Front/Rear strut braces, Canucks lowering springs (2” drop/ front/rear), 2001 Camaro front brakes, Intrigue gauge cluster swap, Front seats from my old Final 500 Alero, 2 piece 18” ATS Planet 2 wheels sitting on 225/40ZR18 tires.
👍 POSITIVE
First shot looks like its straight from a magazine
😐 NEUTRAL
I'm shocked that it hasn't rusted to smithereens up here yet. Also, is your username in reference to ace combat?
👍 POSITIVE
After more than 20 years I finally get to see someone do something cool with an Alero. Props dude
😐 NEUTRAL
I was guessing this thing at least had a 3800...shame it doesn't, guessing this is the 170hp 3.4 v6?
👍 POSITIVE
Ive seen this on insta. Beautiful car. Im glad you were able to save it from being rear ended
👍 POSITIVE
I find it so much more interesting when people put in the effort to maintain a relatively common vehicle like this rather than plop down the money for a new sports car. Awesome ride.
😐 NEUTRAL
Nice. I had a 2001 Alero GLS back in the day, good car except the brakes on this era era of Olds seemed to come with practically pre-warped rotors.
😐 NEUTRAL
There’s some good options hiding amongst all the mediocrity. For me it’s between the Impala, the Camaro and (if in SSEi trim) the Bonneville
😐 NEUTRAL
Roadmaster wagon, Impala SS and/or a two door Tahoe.


Pros and Cons:

Pros:

  • • Distinctive styling for its era
  • • Available high-performance Quad 4 engine option
  • • Comfortable ride quality, typical of American sedans
  • • Relatively spacious interior for its class
  • • Good highway cruiser with the V6 option

Cons:

  • • Outdated safety features by modern standards
  • • Interior quality could be inconsistent and prone to wear
  • • Some engines lacked refinement (e.g., Iron Duke)
  • • Front-wheel drive platform limited ultimate sporty potential
  • • Fuel economy could be poor on performance and V6 models

Specifications:

Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(Ciera Coupe: 1981 - 1991).

General:
Brand:Oldsmobile
Model:Cutlass
Generation:Calais
Modification (Engine):2.5 i (106 Hp) Automatic
Start of production:1984
End of production:1991
Powertrain Architecture:Internal Combustion engine
Body type:Sedan
Seats:5
Doors:4
Engine:
Power:106 Hp @ 4800 rpm.
Power per litre:42.9 Hp/l [worst than previous generation]
Torque:183 Nm @ 3200 rpm.
Engine displacement:2471
Number of cylinders:4
Engine configuration:Inline
Number of valves per cylinder:2
Fuel injection system:Single-point injection
Engine aspiration:Naturally aspirated engine
Engine oil capacity:4.3 l
Coolant:10 l
Engine layout:Front, Transverse
Cylinder Bore:101.6 mm mm
Piston Stroke:76.2 mm mm
Compression ratio:8.3:1
Performance:
Fuel Type:Petrol (Gasoline)
Fuel consumption (economy) - urban:14 l/100 km
Fuel consumption (economy) - extra urban:8 l/100 km
Maximum speed:180 km/h
Weight-to-power ratio:11.2 kg/Hp, 89.5 Hp/tonne
Weight-to-torque ratio:6.5 kg/Nm, 154.4 Nm/tonne
Space:
Kerb Weight:1185
Trunk (boot) space - minimum:375 l
Fuel tank capacity:51 l
Size:
Length:4555 mm mm
Width:1700 mm mm
Height:1330 mm mm
Wheelbase:2625 mm mm
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 gears3
Transmission typeAutomatic
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 size185/80 R13
Wheel rims size13
Front suspensionCoil spring
Rear suspensionLeaf spring

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