We're behind the wheel of something very special. Our retro review is on this 1996 Oldsmobile LSS, a Supercharged full-size sedan designed by GM to take on the German luxury brands.

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Chapter Summary
00:00 Introduction of LSS
00:22 1996 Oldsmobile LSS Reveal
01:07 3.8L Supercharged V6 Information
02:32 Exterior Features & Options
04:05 Interior Features & Options
07:01 Driving Impressions & Road Test
15:48 Performance Testing
17:20 Buyer's Guide & Common Problems
21:06 Final Thoughts & Wrap Up

Andrew, a subscriber of ours reached out to us a week ago to ask if we wanted to feature his 1996 Oldsmobile LSS, and as you can see by our video our immediate response was YES! Our Spotlight is on this extremely well maintained model, where we go over the history of GM's H-Body (FWD) platform, the specifications of this 10th Generation Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight, and some information on this car itself. We got to spend the better part of a week with this beauty and found out how it was to live with on a daily basis.

We discuss the heart of this car, the 3.8L L67 3800 Series II supercharged V6 engine, an optional upgrade for the top-trim LSS. When new this engine could do 0-100km in about 6.9 seconds with 240 horsepower, and 280 lb-ft of torque. At the time, MotorTrend reported this Oldsmobile was faster than any current production sedan from Acura, Infiniti, and Lexus, and did a good job beating many German cars from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi. Wheels.ca wrote in 1996 that the Olds was priced well against the competition and offered excellent performance and value.

We go over the features found on this 1996 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight LSS including the keyless entry system, anti-theft alarm, automatic headlights, fog lights, 16" alloy rims, power-actuated trunk release, dual-zone automatic climate control, Oldsmobile Aurora-styled leather bucket seats, power everything, and a 6 speaker audio system. Optional extras for this were a power moonroof, Guidestar navigation, a CD player, 16" chrome rims, and cloth seats should you prefer them.

We discuss the interior design and layout of this Olds LSS including how the materials and build quality have held up over the past 25 years, our thoughts on the space and comfort, and the functionality of this interior. Some design elements like the passenger's heating control being located on the door were strange to us, along with the weird opening measurements for all windows. This Oldsmobile has ample storage space including two under-armrest compartments, a large ashtray, centre console, and generous glove box.

We've searched on YouTube and this is really the only review available on the 1996 Oldsmobile LSS. Some outlets featured the Olds Eighty-Eight back when it was new, and some owners over the years have uploaded short video clips on this car, but we seem to be the first to produce a full-length review, tour, and buyer's guide on this car.

We then take the 1996 Oldsmobile LSS on a real-world road test to talk about our overall impressions about this full-size sedan. Things like the exterior design, and this being the final year before the new Rocket logo was adopted. Our notes on the interior as well, such as how quiet the cabin is compared to new cars, or how cushy the seats are. We discuss the drive and ride of the Olds LSS including how soft the suspension is, despite being firmer than a normal Eighty-Eight at the time.

We also try a light off the line test with this vehicle to see how well the Supercharged V6 engine performs 25 years later, and how we feel the car performs today based on modern driving standards. We discuss our thoughts on owning a car like this, and what our experience has been with the time we've been driving it.

We head back to our studio to go over a brief, yet informative buyer's guide on the 10th generation Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight, with information about the Buick 3800 Series II V6 recalls, what was fixed on them and what to look out for, and the common problems we've found about this car. Other notes we've discovered about the reliability of this vehicle are discussed, along with some of our suggestions on what to do if you're in the market for this type of sedan.

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