- sedan 116,925
- Steeleville, IL
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- autoshopper.com
1998 buick lesabre review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. And that's just what its cadre of dedicated drivers want. the car has changed over the years. Modern notions like front-wheel drive, an electronically controlled v6 engine, and traction control have crept into recent redesigns. lesabre owners, though, have not been clamoring for more major changes. After a major redesign last year, buick asked lesabre owners what they would like to see changed. They did not get a long list of demands. Instead, they were urged not to mess up a good thing. Buick listened. the most noticeable changes from 1997 to 1998 are new plastic moldings that keep errant grocery carts from dinging the doors and fenders, new halogen headlights and new end-release seat belts. There's a new transmission, less-powerful second-generation air bags, and an optional telephone system that puts help just a quick call away. But none of that changes the lesabre's basic character. it remains familiar, yet sophisticated, reliable and comfortable transportation. A chrome strip running all the way around the car accents the notion that this is well-to-do family transportation. This is a solid car, well assembled. One senses it is also a car with few surprises. the overall shape of the lesabre is reminiscent of traditional, full-size american family cars. The hood is long and with far less slope than more aerodynamic designs. The cabin is squarish with virtually no rake to the rear roof line. Prices start at $23,070. The tachometer and speedometer are placed in a long, narrow space between small gauges for engine temperature, oil pressure, and amperage. In a car designed for mature drivers, we find this surprising. Big, easy to read instruments would seem a must. Though the wipers and cruise control switches are conveniently located on the left stalk, the light switches, perched on the front edge of the drivers door, are not. higher up on the dash there's a narrow line of warning and status lights that extend all the way across the front of the car. This arrangement leads to a few anomalies. For example, when we engaged the cruise control and a green indicator light came on in front of the passenger seat. Buick product designers say they are responding to the stated preferences of current lesabre owners who are not enthusiastic, they say, about the trend toward bigger displays housed under rounded cowlings. however, the cabin design imparts a feel of comfort and reassurance. A lot of armchairs are not as plush and comfortable as the front seats of the lesabre. Three adults can be fairly comfortable in either the front or the back; the car really does hold six, as promised. Rear seat space is vast. the lesabre's list of standard features remains modest for a car in this price range: air conditioning, power windows and doors, tilt wheel and power driver's-side outside mirror. The luxury car touches extend to the interior with a strip of wood running all along the doors and dash. safety features are up to date as well with dual air bags, antilock brakes and daytime running lights. Small sliding switches on the instrument panel for dimming the lights feel less than solid. The mylar chrome plastic switches for the windows and power mirrors on the door blend less than ideally with the otherwise subdued interior. As a result, ride quality is very good, but handling is just average. the 3. 8-liter engine, though, has been widely praised as one of the finest v6s on the market. It shifts so smoothly it's nearly unnoticeable. On the freeway, the miles slip by almost unnoticed. It is a little less at home on twisting, secondary roads. This is no sports car. And that's the essence of the traditional front-drive sedan. summarybuick has modestly updated the traditional american family sedan without compromising the things its owners most admire. Its one concession to progress is front-wheel drive. The faithful are rewarded not only with what they like, but also with good value. Anti-lock Brakes✔ Power Mirrors✔ Tachometer✔ Power Windows✔ Power Seats✔ Air Conditioning✔ CD Player✔ Cruise Control✔ Leather Seats
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