|
New Car Test Drive - 1994 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight Regency
|
|
| Updated |
Jul 7, 2004 20:17:21 |
| Rating |
 263 ( 22 +8.36% ) |
|
|
Description:
Think Oldsmobile Ninety Eight and you never think of a delicate little butterfly or a thinly
disguised GT with twitchy handling and a European pedigree. It is a large, solid machine that doesn't make a lot of trade-offs for comfort.
The Ninety Eight comes fully equipped with standard features such as air conditioning with rear ducts, an anti-lock braking system, a pass key security system, child-security rear door locks and power everything. The standard power train is General Motors' workhorse 3800 V6 with tuned-port fuel injection, coupled with a four-speed automatic transmission.
On top of all that, the Special Edition package on our test car gave us steering wheel touch controls, a remote lock system, dual-zone air conditioning, an eight-speaker sound system and more. You really get a lot with the Special Edition. Of course, for a price of about $25,000, you should.
Walkaround
In an age where every new car looks like every other new car, the Ninety Eight Regency's styling is a standout. The well-chiseled top half of this sedan looks as though it were straight out of the 1950s, and the classic eggcrate-style is reminiscent of coaches of old.
But look closer: Along the sides of the car there's a curve at the top of the fenders and just above the door handles. And there's another distinctive crease just above the plastic cladding that covers the bottom third of the vehicle.
The cladding, which presumably protects the body from road debris and the doors from dings, is grooved, and it looks like the chrome work on some pre-war Cadillacs. Front and rear bumpers are styled right into it. In the right light, it's a neat, stylish effect.
Up front, the grille is plastic, not metal. Thump it and it feels a little tinny. Headlights and taillights wrap smoothly around the fenders to compliment the graceful styling.
If you buy this car, you should find basic maintenance a snap. The hood on our test car opened without a hitch, and the oil dipstick and reservoir were easy to reach.
Fuel fill was on the driver's side, which is our preference. When we removed the gas cap, we found a metal holder for the loose cap-a well-thought-out idea.
The Inside Story
When we opened the front doors of our Dark Cherry Red Metallic Ninety Eight, lights came on to warn cars approaching from behind of the potential hazard. These were not mere reflectors; they were bright lights. The rear doors had red reflectors plus white lights that illuminated the doorways a bit. All were nice touches-over and above what we expected from this car.
All doors had that nice GM "clunk" sound when they closed, indicating the Ninety Eight's solid structure. The car was very easy to get in and out of. The front seats were spacious, even for a 6-footer. There was also a lot of window area.
Our radio's volume, seek and program controls were on the right side of the steering wheel; on the left side were temperature and fan controls. All controls were conveniently placed and easy to use.
As with every GM car we have tested, the cruise-control switches were on the left stalk, crammed in with the turn signals, a feature we would dislike on any car.
Seat controls were on the door, which we thought was a nice touch. The front seat was a 55/45 split bench with separate power controls, including lumbar adjustment. The console between them moved with the driver's seat, and a storage area offered ample room for cassettes and coins. It also had fold-out cupholders for 12-ounce containers-we assumed that Ninety Eight owners don't go for super-size soft drinks. Trouble was, these cupholders jiggled; we didn't trust them.
When we pulled out the ashtray, a small lid popped up to protect the dash. Next to it was a lighter, and next to that was another outlet for a portable CD player, a car vacuum or other similar accessories.
Front passengers had their own temperature controls. And if there was too much sun for them, the visors had extra flaps for blocking out glare from nearly every angle.
Although the Ninety Eight is billed as a six-passenger car, we found that having more than five people in the vehicle made things a bit cramped. There was plenty of room in the back with four. We had about three inches of extra legroom even with the front seats all the way back. And like those riding in the front, rear passengers had heater controls.
The trunk had a cargo net, but the carpet was cheap-looking. Nevertheless, it was a big trunk with enough room, we estimated, to carry four sets of golf clubs without having to stack the bags on top of each other. The spare tire was a compact with a jack stored beneath it, which means we would have had to empty the trunk in order to change a flat.
Ride & Drive
When we put the Ninety Eight in Wear, the doors locked. This was supposed to be a safety feature, but we weren't impressed, because it made quick exits impossible.
On the road, the Ninety Eight's grand touring manners were noteworthy, providing us with a nice, comfortable drive. For a vehicle its size, acceleration was adequate, and our four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive shifted without event.
Even on dirt roads, our car handled like a big boat. We weren't bounced around on rough terrain, thanks to the suspension's automatic load-leveling feature that helped to sustain an even ride. The brakes were firm and smooth, just the way we expected a car like this to stop.
The Ninety Eight wouldn't be a bad vehicle in which to ride out a traffic jam. In this car, we were comfortable and safe-and undisturbed by outside noise. When an 18-wheeler drove up next to us, we could barely hear it.
As far as parking goes, we found that even in a relatively small space, the Ninety Eight was not difficult to dock. In fact, this car turned in a surprisingly small diameter (39.4 feet).
Final Word
In terms of styling, the Ninety Eight is, in fact, your father's Oldsmobile. And a lot of people like it that way; with the current penchant for jellybean styling, the Ninety Eight is downright noticeable.
In terms of maneuverability, the Ninety Eight doesn't turn on a dime, but it's a nice-handling car. It's a car for comfortable driving. It's elegant. You won't see many compromises made in room or comfort.
But at this level of vehicle, would you really accept any? |
|
