The Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera is a mid-size car manufactured by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors from 1982 through 1996. It shares the popular "A-platform" body style with its sister models the Buick Century, Pontiac 6000 and Chevrolet Celebrity. It was named "Safe Car of the Year" by Prevention Magazine in 1992 and was considered at the time to be sturdier and more reliable than its counterparts.
The Ciera was available in three body styles; the 4-door sedan, 2-door coupé and the 4-door Ciera Cruiser station wagon, though production of the 2-door model ceased in 1992. The Ciera was also at the forefront of the switch from RWD to FWD for the A-platform. A convertible-top Ciera was available from 1983-86, though less than a thousand were ever produced, and as such were quite rare in their day and next to impossible to find today.
Powertrain options for the Ciera included the 3-speed automatic 2.5 L 4-cylinder GM "Iron Duke" for the base model, with 2.8 and 3.8 L V6 options available as well, and a 3.1 L V 4-speed automatic for the wagon. A 4.3 L diesel engine was available for a short time, but was plagued from the outset by major mechanical problems and lack of horsepower and eventually discontinued in 1986.
Professional and consumer reviews for the Ciera were generally positive, citing minor rough shifting problems and valve cover leaks in the 3.1 V6 as the primary concerns. Not bad, considering the Ciera and its ilk were a bit of a gamble at their inception, when full-size RWD cars had already set the precedent for the family car market.
Sources
http://www.carsandracingstuff.com/library/c/cutlassciera.php
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/oldsmobile-cars15.htm
http://encyclopedia.classicoldsmobile.com/cutlass/ciera/index.html
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/1990-to-1996-oldsmobile-cutlass-ciera-2.htm
http://www.a-body.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?1