by 1of10K » Thu Apr 09, 2009 11:27 am
The Skylark was one of the 4 "X" cars GM made starting in 1980 (Chevrolet Citation, Pontiac Phoenix, Buick Skylark, Oldsmobile Omega, in general order of pricing and market placement). The Buick and Oldsmobile shared bodies, the Chevy and Pontiac shared their bodys, underneath all were about the same. The first year ones were extremely trouble prone, led to the X cars being known as the most recalled car in GM history, maybe ever, even more than the Mopar Volare and Aspen models. I have a relative that bought a new '81 Citation and it was really bad right from the start. I worked at a Buick dealer for awhile in 1985, almost every X car made was by then having bad steering rack problems, due to bad design, and the dealers were fighting, trying to avoid replacing hundreds of them under warranty. In cold weather, the steering would bind up or "catch" when turning, when warm, you only felt a slight grab. The X cars that survived to this day are probably the good ones, but a lo miles version would really make me wonder what problems are yet undiscovered.