I've always liked Oldsmobiles. I've owned several and have enjoyed them all. If you can get it I'd say GO FOR IT!!

Went to go look at it. Not too bad a car. Lots of interior niggles (missing buttons on radio and overhead lights, back seats faded, carpets a little stained, steering wheel controls non-functional, etc.) Exterior has a smack on the rear, already mentioned that, looked worse than I thought it would :( But he said he was quoted $200 to fix it. It ain't that bad, though; I could live with it until I could afford to get it fixed. other than that, paint is all right. A spot or two on the front looks like someone bumped something. Almost not worth mentioning. Underneath looks fine, hardly and surface rust (side note: anyone know if it has air bags in back? Didn't look like it when I looked...) Ride is okay, although it'* not as brawny as I expected, power-wise, especially considering it has 30 more ponies than my '93 Bonnie SE. Could this be because the traction control was on? Just wondering...

Anyway, for $3000, I'm going to pursue it. KBB in only Fair condition is $3780.

It'* worth it Assuming there aren't any serious mechanical things wrong, that is. My mechanic will check for that stuff.

Two questions, though:

First, how can I check for the intake plenum problem? Moreover, how could my mechanic check for it? Want to make sure that I won't be putting more money into it right after putting out so much (in relation to how much I have ) to buy it. Water reservoir looked a little low, he filled it while I was there. Of course, I didn't know how it was before, though...

Second, this guy is part of an auto liquidators company, and he has been using this car as a personal driver. He seems like a nice, honest old man (way older than I thought he was over the phone) but he IS a part of this company, although he said he was trying to be retired. Hehe :P But can I trust him? I was gonna get a CarFax, but what should I look for on the CarFax as a possible red flag? Is a CarFax report enough to protect myself against fraud? Feedback would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks again everyone for all the help

Maybe it wouldnt hurt to have a shop take a good look at the mechanical side of the car, brakes ball joints tie rod ends...that type of thing.
Those little parts are easily fixed, the carpet can be shampoed to look like new..use some leather treatment on the back seats and your in business, them LSS' * are nice cars!

I'd definately have a mechanic look at it for you.

hopefully the low coolant resevoir isnt' a sign of a bad intake manifold...

That'* what I'm thinking about...

Well, it was only down about an inch, inch-and-a-half. Still...

Is there even a way to check for a faulty plenum? I hope so...

And what about the tepid power? Would it be more forceful if I turned off the traction control? Just a thought...

Thanks again

yes, to check for a leaking plenum, get a coolant pressure tester and do that.

Look for seepage around the iUIM and LIM seams.....Generally on the TB side is where I've seen plenty of them go.

traction control won't make any noticable difference in the performance of the car unless you're spinning the tires.