- sedan 181,010
- 3,995 overpriced
- Memphis, TN
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- autoshopper.com
- sedan 181,010 gasoline white automatic
1998 buick century review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Restraint is a virtue. introductionin what must be something of a conundrum for company management, the very values that give buicks much of their appeal to repeat customers conspire to make them nearly invisible to potential customers looking to switch from other brands. Those familiar with buicks will instantly understand when we say these cars are understated almost to a fault, so quiet and conservative that they attract attention only in locations where automobiles normally aren't seen. Otherwise, they blend into the background as unobtrusively as a finely crafted piece of furniture in a palace. to some people that's a flaw, but not to others. The current model, totally redesigned last year, took the place of a car that sold well even at the end of a 15-year production run in which it faced such worthy opponents as the ford taurus, toyota camry, honda accord, nissan maxima and the chrysler cirrus and dodge stratus, all regularly updated while the buick soldiered along without apparent change. the same cars are lined up against the new century. The century is not startling or new from any angle, but it looks well-balanced and clean, free of the kinds of dramatic tweaks that can make a new design look old in short order. its overall form follows current gm design philosophy, being made up of long, unbroken surfaces, soft corners and a subtle wedge form rising from nose to tail. Roof pillars are thin, giving driver and passengers plenty of visibility. In short, the century is attractive--in a quiet way. to some, the century's appearance may be a little too quiet, and it may carry too many hints of other gm products. For a modest base price, the custom comes with power windows, mirrors, door locks, and front seat adjustments; it comes standard with remote keyless entry, air conditioning, antilock brakes (abs), a tilt-steering column and tinted glass. for not much more money, the limited is available., which adds magnetic variable-assist power steering, stripes on the body sides, dual-zone air conditioning and fancier wheel covers. It takes more than a casual once-over to tell the two models apart. the options list is short, and includes an upgraded audio system with cd player, a power glass sunroof and alloy wheels. Also available is gm's onstar system. Using a cellular telephone and onboard global positioning system sensors (gps), onstar allows the driver to communicate with a dedicated center that can offer roadside assistance, route advice, stolen vehicle tracking and other information. interioranyone who has ever spent time in a buick or any other six-passenger gm sedan will feel right at home in the century. Full-width seats front and rear hold six full-size adults on soft cushions covered in smooth, attractive cloth. But that's up to individual taste. All control buttons and switches are large, well-marked and properly located for easy use. Instruments are clear, too, though there are only three. Warning lights and chimes will alert them to any problems. driving impressionthough a midsize sedan when judged by pricing and dimensions, the century feels more like a large luxury car from behind the wheel. Buick knows its customers aren't looking for the firmness of a german autobahn-burner. And that's what they get. ride quality is the century's outstanding feature. It is soft and compliant over any road surface. Bumps, dips or ridges on the pavement are seldom heard or felt; instead, there are smooth up-and-down movements that indicate, in a muted way, that the century has been driven over something, with little indication as to the nature or size of the obstruction. Road and suspension noise are absent. we'd prefer the century had slightly stiffer springs and shock absorbers as we found the dyna-ride century a bit too soft. The body rolls in corners and the suspension rocks after hitting dips in the road. It seems like a small amount of tightening wouldn't detract enough from the century's ultra-smooth ride to bother buick aficionados. at the same time, some fine-tuning of the magnasteer electronic power steering would be helpful. The century has been developed with a razor-sharp sense of what its customers want. Few, if any, owners will ever drive a century down a canyon road at anything above a modest speed, and fewer still would want the car's steering to have sports car precision. the bottom line is that the century is quite pleasant to drive. No flash or frills here, just a good, solid car equipped with all the features necessary to make it seem a member of the luxury-car crowd. no surprises, either, except for the price. It's easy to climb in and out and the interior is attractive and user friendly. Power Windows✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ CD Player✔ Air Conditioning✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Alloy Wheels
3,995 Memphis, TNMemphis, TN at autoshopper.com