Cheap wheels at $2800. The 3800 V6 a plus. Split bench seat and column shift were rare in this generation Toronado. 1988 OLDSMOBILE TORONADO - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle... (craigslist.org)
Dude. I remember these cars when they were new(er). I had a Buick with the digital dash that had about half as many buttons but I can still feel their tactile sensation, how that tape player functioned, and even sort of smell the electronics smell of the interior. That computer display setup was more at home in a Lincoln, I don't think many Cadillacs were even that fancy with their features. I do think that it was neat that GM was trying to push new technology at the time, but geez they haven't aged well. The digital dash was just annoying in the sun - which being in the desert southwest was most of the time.
Yeah, I couldn't figure out why the interior engineers didn't talk to the body engineers, get tinted glass and a sun brightness sensor for making the display brighter when the glare hit the lens. Having to hold your hand so its shadow would allow you to read the display was annoying to say the least.
Oddly enough GM did NOT scrimp on these displays. They were an amazing piece of technology for 1982-1983 (when they were designed). The biggest problem with them is, as we said, the sunlight issues and some of the chips they used being obsolete for years making repairs difficult. There are folks out there who have figured out how to fix these clusters - I had a former coworker and his son who actually legit reverse-engineered some of the cluster circuits and found modern parts to fix them with. They are conformal coated which makes repairing them a challenge at times, but it also means they aren't all corroded and nasty unless the car had a major water intrusion issue. I still remember my '86 Buick being super cool in my teenage mind (until the sun came up or went down).
Down to $2000. I'd be seriously tempted if it were closer to me. 1988 OLDSMOBILE TORONADO - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle... (craigslist.org)
