I had a Cierra Diesel back in the day. Got it from my bro-in-law. What a POS. It had a harmonic issue at 42 mph that nearly tore the car apart every time I got caught at that speed. Oof. Dirty, smelly and now there's one offered on BAT. It's nice. You should buy it. It has only 18,000 miles on it because that's all the owner could bring himself to drive. LOL

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...gham-diesel-4/

 

OOofff, I'll bet it is very leisurely off the line w/Diesel and 2.29 gears! I see the repair receipts complaint was "lack of acceleration- I'll bet! Nice lookin car though...

 

If I was into more doors, the FIRST thing I'd do is convert that to a gas engine car. Otherwise, it's a very nice car with little to do to get it ship shape.

 

That thing looks mint. Too bad nothing can really be done to keep head gaskets in place and add boost. Of course the current price of diesel is major deterant along with these motors head gasket blowing reputation. An gas Olds V8 is the easy answer to a nice cruiser.

 

The ad claims that ARP head studs have been installed, which suggests that the head gaskets have already been done once.

 

It's a Creampuff!

 

If that is done with a water fuel seperator, it could go a long time with reliability. Just like 0 to 60, a long time to get there.

 

All I know was the Cierra Diesel I owned was the worst car I had owned up to that point in my life. I was 24. Very young, plenty of time to buy a worse car. Well, I never bought a worse car in my life. I'm now in my 60s.

 

I'm surprised, considering the V6 had extra head bolts and was supposedly more reliable because of it. Of course still embarrassingly slow.

 

Other than being a diesel, that's a great looking car. Note the vinyl top and side moldings were dealer installed. That was popular back then.

 

Doubtful this could crack the 20 second barrier in the quarter mile. Great car, though. Though to find in this condition. Pull the diesel and place in an era correct 260 or even a 350 r motor and you've got something there. But if winning those massive AACA trophies is the objective, this one's a winner in a Junior class, or even in the original class. Thanks for posting this.

 

Yes, and the undercoating as well. Other than say, the bumper filler degradation having them fall apart, and missing a snake blinder piece behind the driver fenderwell, it's pretty much the way it left the lot and wouldn't be hard to put back in great shape. Although I absolutely hate vinyl tops and those horrid dealer installed side molding styles, I'd probably keep them since they're apparently verified to be part of the sale on the dealer "paperwork".

 

This thread tells me there truly is, "An *** for every seat." I don't get Monster Trucks either. What a great hobby we have. Car guys are car guys no matter what.

 

Yeah, every idiot here wants the big tires that sit way past the fenders with a lift kit on their trucks. I surprised any of them have any paint left. This Olds Diesel V8 was sign of the depressing times. Yeah, also do not care for rust hoarder top. The molding/snake blinder trim was to protect and fancy it up, which I get. This is a time capsule, hopefully someone actually drives it.

 

If they drive it, it will break down. The starter on my Cierra was $110 bucks in 1987. I changed it out in the parking lot of my apartment at the time. I've done pretty well in life so I bet I could now change it out on some milk crates in my front yard. Howdy!

 

You would be correct. Close to impossible for that car factory stock and correct to go sub 20.

Car & Drivers original road test of a 1982 Diesel 88 Brougham Coupe showed 21.2 seconds at 65 mph.


https://www.caranddriver.com/feature...iesel-beaters/

The 88 Coupe is 300 lbs heavier than the 1980 Cutlass Sedan putting the 80s 1/4 mile at 20.9 , so running a 19.9 showroom new would take a miracle.

 

😃 not surprised. It's a miracle US car manufacturers survived some of the disastrous missteps of the malaise era. What I will add is while acceleration was pathetic, certain models could make up for it a little, in other ways. I had a 79 Eldorado Diesel, slow as molasses. But ride comfort was incredible, very plush and quite interior especially considering the car was over 20 years old at that point. In a nutshell you could feel the cars original high value price tag of double the average new car price at the time. Engine was a pain in the you know what though, mileage was good.


https://www.carqualityinfo.net/relia...del-year-1982/

As you can see from screenshot above. The Ciera you owned is arguably one of the worst cars GM ever produced, going back to the testing phases prior to initial mechanical reliability being established in the 1920s. Funny thing is I have always heard the J2000 #10 on that list was the worst car ever produced. Shocked to see Olds had a worse vehicle.

Also notice the Eldorado for which I speak of is also on the list, just slightly better rated. But still classified as garbage. To put into perspective how bad an F rating and a 0.28 is. The best rated vehicles for 1982 a Toyota Pickup and Mercedes Diesel Sedan were both close to a 4.00 and rated A.

 

Sz it sold for $6800.

 

Just shows G bodies are finally not cheap anymore. About 10 years ago, I almost bought decent a 1985 442 for under $5000 Canadian! Like everyone is saying, the hobby is just too expensive now.