Talk:Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight

Proposed merge with Oldsmobile Touring Sedan
Oldsmobile Touring Sedan is largely an orphaned article about a trim package, not a stand-alone vehicle (can be integrated into section content) SteveCof00 (talk) 03:58, 9 June 2018 (UTC)

That may be a misnomer. The 1988-1991 Oldsmobile Touring Sedan was actually it's own Oldsmobile model those 4 production years. Like the Trofeo from 1988 through 1992. 1987 Touring Sedan was an option on the 98, Then in 1992 it went back to an option on the 98. I have owned 5 of these cars, 1987, 1988 (2), 1989 and a 1990. The 1987 is the only one on the title to say Ninety Eight. All the others stated Oldsmobile Touring on the titles.

If this were to be merged into the Oldsmobile 98 page, then it better be clearly stated that the Touring Sedans were different and were their own model based on the 98 for 1988 through 1991. (just like the 442 was an option on the Cutlass from 1964-65, and 1973 through 1980).

The actual assembly of the Touring Sedans in 1987-1988 were the precursor to how GM was going to build Saturns. (and Oldsmobile's demise) These were only assembled on Friday at one plant (KC), GM flew top rated assembly people in from other plants to assemble them, the assemblers gave feed back of what was more efficient for building the car. Only "A" line, highest quality parts, (including the engines and tranys) were used in assembling them.

In 1987, you could order the Touring Sedan option, 1/2 model year addition to the 98. With that, you could order the fiber optic light indicators on the fenders. That is one option you could not have with the Touring Sedan in 1988 and on, even though it was available on the 98's. Essentially in 1987 you had to order most of the items that would be standard issue in the 1988 Touring Sedan.

Starting 1988, the 3800 V6 was 180 hp for the TS and had a 3.73 gear ratio in the tranny, where the 98 had a 3.65 ratio. The stabilizer bars were slightly heavier (larger diameter) in the TS than the 98. Anti-lock brakes were standard issue; only an option on the 98's.

there is a mention of body color lower bumpers. The lower moldings were gray. There was a change. In 1987 and 1988, there was still chrome trim on the cars, door handles, the side molding along the upper body lines, trim around the windows, and bumpers; the mirrors were body color. Starting in 1989 all these items were painted gray, to match the lower body molding, the same time they changed to the 16" turbine wheels from the wire spoke looking aluminum from the previous year. (IE Trofeo and Touring Sedan homogenizing to save money)

The bucket seats were made by Lear and had an air pump with controls for the lumbar, head rest, sides (thigh), front part of the seat, besides the 6 way power found in most cars, plus electric recline.

There were only 6 options you could order: (note in 1987 it was older "Auto-Calc" if you ordered it) {good luck finding a "Touring Sedan" blank plate for the dash where these were installed}
 * sunroof (most factory ones were ASC)
 * engine block heater
 * CD player, instead of cassette (Dimensional Sound system)
 * Bose sound system,(instead of the Dimensional Sound system) either cassette or CD
 * in-car phone
 * Driver Information System (new for all 1988 Olds models) was an option in 1988 TS; this became standard 1989 on up for the TS.

An interesting note-Fog lamps (lower driving lights under the front bumper), in 1987 they had plastic covers over them that you had to manually flip up, most people forgot, and melted them. That went away very quickly after first few hundred TS's were set out with them in 1987.

I still have the black 1988 TS, built Dec 1987. 129.93.89.126 (talk) 15:27, 21 June 2018 (UTC) stu The brochure states it as the oldsmobile touring sedan not as a 98, but as a separate model. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Dartman2020 (talk • contribs) 02:52, 26 March 2019 (UTC)