My Hooptie Pt II

Doesn't deserve its bad rep...

So yesterday I told you about my "city" car: a 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass GL. These cars have awful reputations and their depreciation reflects that: They are known for wafer-thin brake rotors that warp instantly, an HVAC fan switch that conks out, a leaking intake manifold,  and poor rear shock mounts that bust loose and leave you out of control.
I've replaced the rotors with Brembo blanks, added a performance street pad for better stops, and replaced the switch, which fixed those problems. The rear shock mounts simply can't take the rough NYC roads so they are fixed and break repeatedly. I'm now resigned to driving with little rear control, a fun exercise on the FDR at 80 mph.
But this thing has been ultra-reliable for me, racking up nearly 160,000 miles in the harshest of environments. The one time something went wrong, when an alternator died, the damn thing got me to a shop in plenty of time before shutting down. Amazing.
The only bad thing is, it's a wreck magnet: I've been hit four times this year, none my fault. From a $80,000 BMW to various NYC taxicabs, they just aim and crash. Some pretend not to have done anything and drive off. Others get out and share a laugh with me at the "damage" before being on their merry way.
I guess if it has to happen, better this pile than my performance GMs!
It may sound lame, but I'm proud of this thing. It's a budget GM sedan, but it has done me proud, and it has seen some of the worst that American roads have to throw at it. And the solid GM powertrain just keeps humming along. Will she hit 200,000? Very possible...