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'85-'91 GM "N" Bodies - READ ONLY

22 messages,  Last post on Apr 24, 2002 at 1:15 PM

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Messages Page 3 of 3

#13 of 22 well......... by ghulet

Apr 23, 2002 (10:27 pm)

.....at this point, the GM 'N' bodies are in the 'just a crummy old car' stage of their lives, we see them every day and there's not a whole lot of reminiscing needed about them, IMO.
 
The Renault, while not particularly popular, is at least a car that many of us never see, and most of us haven't owned one for a long time. It has some interest at least because it's unusual.

#14 of 22 by jrosasmc

Apr 24, 2002 (5:13 am)

Compared to GM's full-size B-bodies, the N-cars were dogs and were built like crap.

#15 of 22 let's face it..... by ghulet

Apr 24, 2002 (5:23 am)

.......most '85-91 GM cars are not the best. This wasn't exactly a high point in automobive history, and GMs were among the worst. I don't think the Ns were particularly bad in my experience, but this whole topic really doesn't even belong in a 'Classic Cars' forum anywhere.

#16 of 22 Ghulet: by jrosasmc

Apr 24, 2002 (6:37 am)

What about 1992? I still consider that year a low point for all GM.

#17 of 22 same difference by ghulet

Apr 24, 2002 (6:57 am)

There's not much about 1992 GM that can't be said about 1991. '92 did have the new Bonneville/88/LeSabre, that's about it.

#18 of 22 by jrosasmc

Apr 24, 2002 (7:02 am)

Don't forget the Eldorado/Seville and the Reatta's cancellation.

#19 of 22 right, duly noted, or something (say it like Beavis) by ghulet

Apr 24, 2002 (7:30 am)

#20 of 22 1992... by andre1969

Apr 24, 2002 (7:52 am)

...was kind of a shakeout year for GM. The N-bodies had been selling pretty well up to that point, although the Grand Am had established itself as a stronger seller than the Skylark or Calais. In fact, I think the Grand Am broke into the top ten selling cars list in 1986, and to this day is one of GM's best selling cars.
 
However, when '92 restyle came around, it seemed all the focus was on the Grand Am. The Skylark and Calais (renamed Achieva) didn't go over too well with their funky restyles, although I always thought the Achieva coupe had nice lines. This year, Skylark sales plunged by something like 60%, and I'm sure Achieva sales were down similarly, compared to the Calais.
 
Also by 1992, the Park Avenue was beginning to establish itself as the C-body to have. When it bowed for 1991, it received rave reviews...even Car & Driver liked it! It was lauded for having nice lines, good fit and finish, and a well laid-out interior. Not so with the 98. It was a confused jumble of styles and shapes, and tried to look "cutting edge" and "old lady" at the same time! Sales withered, and before long the Park was outselling the 98 by something like 2:1. I believe the 98 was retired in 1996, atlhough they grafted its front-end onto the 88 for 1997 and called it "Regency" or "Elite" or something like that.
 
I think the '92 restyle of the H-body is also what sunk the 88 and the Bonneville. Somehow the LeSabre came out as everybody's favorite...JD Powers, Consumer Reports, the general public, etc. The 88 however, saw sales fall while the Bonneville enjoyed a few years of increased sales and then dried up pretty quickly. I never liked that generation of Bonneville...just too over-styled. Interestingly though, in its final few years, the Olds 88 had a nice grille treatment that kinda resembled a '59 Pontiac. In fact, it almost looked more like a Pontiac than the Bonneville did!

#21 of 22 by jrosasmc

Apr 24, 2002 (8:40 am)

In the last three years of the older H-body style (1989-91), the LeSabre was the best-seller of them all, simply because it had a better reputation for quality.

#22 of 22 it's kind of a shame... by ghulet

Apr 24, 2002 (1:15 pm)

.....what GM did to the Olds 98. I saw a late '80s (pre-91) last night in great shape in charcoal gray, with the lace alloys. That really was a pretty nice looking car, if boxy. They at least had the proportions done well.
 
I don't mind the '92-99 Bonneville so much if it doesn't have the cladding, rear spoiler or body-colored everything (which eliminates about eighty percent of them, unfortunately).

Messages Page 3 of 3

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