TEST DRIVE: 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme convertible
Base price: $20,995Price as tested: $24,162
I have received a high-voltage shock twice this year from an unexpected power source: Oldsmobile.
Who would have thought that the rugged, luxurious all-wheel-drive Bravada, Oldsmobile's first truck in nearly 60 years, would be just a few minor improvements away from being a legitimate challenger to the British-built Range Rover? I didn't, but I learned otherwise after testing both vehicles.
Now the GM division has generated some electricity with a new dynamo: the convertible version of the Cutlass Supreme.
Olds hasn't built a ragtop since the Delta 88 died in 1975. But the company hasn't lost its touch. By any standard, the Cutlass convertible is a terrific automobile.
ENGINE, PERFORMANCE: Olds has decided to use only one engine and transmission in the Cutlass Supreme convertible, GM's 3.1-liter, 140-horsepower V-6 and four-speed overdrive automatic.
This drivetrain is great for the 3,602-pound Cutlass. Performance is smooth; acceleration is quick; and fuel economy is good at more than 23 miles per gallon in combined city/highway driving.
The four-speed automatic, used in many GM cars, is probably one of the best on the market. Not only are the gears spaced so that the engine's torque is used most efficiently, but theshifts - up and down - are so smooth that they are hardly noticed. It's obvious a lot of testing and tweaking went into the car to produce the refined and balanced drivetrain.
STEERING, HANDLING: I liked the Cutlass Supreme convertible immediately. It felt great right from the start. From the moment you turn the key, you feel confident that the car is well-engineered and well-built.
The Cutlass impressed me with its solid, quiet ride, soft suspension and excellent road manners. The car's weight gives it a big-car feel, yet the power rack and pinion steering and four-wheel independent suspension make sporting maneuvers possible. It was a pleasure twisting through curving roads with the top down.
Brakes are a power four-wheel disc affair with antilock available as an option. The test car came without anti-lock brakes, but the brakes were excellent.
There is no torque steer or any other negative traits associated with front-wheel drive cars.
FIT, FINISH, CONTROLS: Leather seats came as a part of a $1,540 option package. They were comfortable and supportive. The driver's seat is power-adjusted in six directions. One gripe: Unless the door is open, the switch to adjust the seat is hard to reach because it is located on the lower side of the seat. Visibility - front, rear and sides - is superb, even though the convertible top has only one large window.
Oldsmobile engineers did a superb - make that supreme - job with the rest of the interior. It has innovations one would expect to see in an expensive import:
-A unique two-section glove box conceals the cup holders and provides ample storage room.
-A full-length "structural top bar" has built-in lights that solves the problem of lighting up the convertible's interior.
-The electronic dash features a full complement of gauges, is nicely laid out, resistant to glare, and easy to read.
-The power convertible top can be raised and lowered without the driver leaving his seat. Two latches and two buttons control the entire operation.
-Steering-wheel mounted switches control the radio and air conditioner, allowing the driver to keep his or her eyes on the road.
Rear passengers have ample leg- and headroom. This is one midsize convertible that easily can haul four adults comfortably.
Compared with other convertibles, both import and domestic, nothing can touch the Oldsmobile in price, performance and features. The Cutlass Supreme convertible is another major surprise from Oldsmobile, and it clearly tops my list of favorite cars I've driven this year.