Oldsmobile Silhouette Minivans | Wagons
Oldsmobile Silhouette Minivans | Wagons
[Feb 18, 2003]
Audrey
Model Reviewed:
Silhouette
Strength:
Excellent ride and traction control and ABS breaking work great. Great seating layout and fold-down rear seat is convenient. Rear AC/heating control and radio control with 2 headphone outlets great for kids. Now have over 90K miles and care looks reasonably well.e
Weakness:
Headlight lens fog over prematurely which I believe is a Mfg defect (in my opinion) that GM doesn't stand behind. Had to replace transmission at 90K miles (4 years) - had trans maintained at mfg suggested intervals and no trailer towing. Fuel pump was also replaced. Purchased the 100K-mile/5 year warrantee, which covered Trans and fuel pump replacement. Seams to go thru break pads too quickly. Breaks pads are not warranted. Tried to sell the 1998 and found that it has no resale value. Trade-in allowance offered by various GM dealers is laughable. Second Silhouette - different set of problems. Ride is very comfortable and seating configuration is ideal for our needs. Very versatile and nice creature comforts. Disappointed that Olds did away with the composite body construction and went back to steel panels. Similar Products Used: 1994 Olds Silhouette as prior vehicle - traded in to buy the 1998 Silhouette |
[Jan 08, 2003]
C Hamm
Model Reviewed:
Olds Silh.
Strength:
Fiber glass exterior is a great idea, no rust. Exterior still looks good. Excellent motor. Good gas mileage. Comfortable to drive (like driving a car).
Weakness:
Cosmetic things like cup holders (broke first week we had it. Had it replaced, it broke too. We did not bother again.) Window motor broke, door handles needed to be replaced more than once. Seat belts in back quit retracting. Amazing, but true. This is the only vehicle we ever bought brand new. It has been a very wonderful van. Engine wise, it has been run ragged to a big 250,000 miles. It now leaks oil & overheats. We are guessing it is the head gasket. It still looks good on the outside. If it did not have so many cosmetic problems on the inside, we would probably put in a new motor, or fix the old. We have not had to replace transmission or anything else major. Also, we are not religious oil changers. Very impressive. Similar Products Used: none similar |
[Nov 24, 2002]
Kerry
Model Reviewed:
Olds Silhouette GLE
Strength:
Handling (ABS & Traction Control) is good!
Weakness:
Dual power doors would be nice. I'm very happy with this van. We have no problems to report. Similar Products Used: fist mini van |
[Aug 29, 2002]
wayne amend
Model Reviewed:
silhouette
Strength:
roomy and nice design. drives like a dream.
Weakness:
brakes. acceleration. tie rods had to be replaced at 14000 miles. a nice ride. somewhat slugish on acceleration unless I really punch the accelerator. bad paint on door handles. no major problems with 35000 miles. Similar Products Used: 91 olds,96 grand caravan,98 grand caravan. dodges were horrible (chrysler replaced the 96 with the 98 at nocharge). still driving the 91 olds with 180000 miles. |
[Aug 27, 2002]
CNY Tim
Model Reviewed:
GL Silhouette
Strength:
Had a problem with the tranny shuttering in first gear sporadically once a week right after the end of my 90 day warranty. To make a long story short the van was a rental vehicle from down in Maryland. Even though the van was p[ast warranty by a month and a half they backdated the mileage on it and took care of it as a warranty. So i got a brand new S.R.T. A tranny with a 3 yr. 50,000 mi. warranty. Man when they put that new tranny in it was so quiet in the van I could not believe it. Being that the car was a a rental it probably had the snot beaten out of it. We love the Van rides nicer than the Caravan and with the cabin filters the interior air just feels so much cleaner. The compressor is very convenient. The motor is slightly undersized for the weight of the vehicle would have liked to seea 4.3 in that.
Weakness:
The dealer did not discover the tie rod failing on the right side but my mechanic noticed it and the dealer took care of replacing it. Interior plastic is easily breakable especially with kids. Purchased the vehicle because our family had out grown our 95 base Caravan. Got a great deal van had 34,500 mi on it and the dealer wanted $19,900 and I got it for $17,500 I traded in an 89 Chevy Celebrity wagon with a 139,00 mi. on it and it was rusty and rotten but it ran great. Similar Products Used: 95 Dodge Caravan, 98 Dodge Grand Caravan |
[Jul 09, 2002]
Dianne
Model Reviewed:
Silhouette
Strength:
Extremely comfortable and great quiet ride. Have enjoyed many trips to Florida in it. Excellent gas mileage and LOVE the load levellers for those trips to Home Depot. The luxury features that are standard and not necessarily even available in other minivans.
Weakness:
Only annoyances are cupholders (we bought van console and use that instead) and sliding "door ajar" alarm that goes off with no resolution. Wishlist includes heated seats and mirrors, driver sliding door and stowaway 3rd row seats (all available in the 2002 models we found out) Bought brand new, now has 180,000km on it, mainly highway driving. No major problems, just routine maintenance. Oil changes every 5,000km. Because of the rebates and 0% financing available, we are seriously considering trading this one in (although there's no other reason to) on a 2002 model, to get our "wishlist" stuff that's now available. We've already eliminated Ford Windstar (had one already...no thanks) and Honda Odyssey (we would miss the luxury features standard with the Olds)- we're very happy with the performance and reliability of our 1998 Silhouette. Similar Products Used: Ford Windstar, GMC Astro Van |
[Jun 25, 2002]
Anthony
Strength:
Engine, optional features like rear heat & a/c, rear stereo, good vision, good to drive
Weakness:
Moving parts. Sliding door has been recalled and the motor has just failed after 4 years. Repairman said if have kids and use it a lot it's going to fail. (Who does Oldsmobile think is buying vans?) The front window has failed to work at random intervals. Many squeaks, whistles, buzzes, and rattles. Poor quality in things that get used every day like the front window, sliding door, rear hatch, cup holders, CD holder, etc. Heating and cooling are only adequate. Very nice to start with. Good ride, good drive, and well-equipped. Similar Products Used: I wish I would have bought the Dodge or the Honda. |
[May 19, 2002]
Michael Kohler
Model Reviewed:
Olds-Shilloutte
Strength:
Every thing works.
Weakness:
Rear shocks and front struts had to be replaced For the price it is fantastic.We love it. Similar Products Used: OEM replace |
[Apr 24, 2002]
Dave
Model Reviewed:
all
Strength:
NONE, IF YOU GET SEVEN PAPER SIGNED SHOWING REPAIRS DONE THE ONLY WAY TO SEND A CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IS MAKE SURE EVERY TIME I REPEAT---EVERY TIME GET A SIGNED PAPER FROM YOUR DEALER SHOWING WORK DONE. HERE WHERE I LIVE IT TAKES SEVEN PAPERWORKS TO CALL IT A LEMON. |
[Apr 13, 2002]
tlwisner
Model Reviewed:
Silhouette GL Ext
Strength:
Roomy, comfortable and reasonably a good vehicle to drive.
Weakness:
Reliability. This clunker has been in the shop so many times for unscheduled maintenance that I wish I would have kept my old ''91 Voyager. Total POS (piece of fecal matter) for reliability. Wow, this is a nice looking minivan, as minivans go. It is roomy and confortable and holds all the standard family of four stuff with ease. If it had any shred of reliability I would be a satisfied customer, but this vehicle is a (sometimes) rolling poster child for the demise of GM''s Olds division. Similar Products Used: ''91 Plymouth Voyager |