1994 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight Review
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.
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.
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).
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