30 - Friday, July 24, 1998 ~ North Shore News north shore news __ AU 10 Century has an air of sophistication IF you’re looking for a mid-sized domestic sedan like a Ford Taurus, Chevrolet Lumina, or Chrysler Intrepid, you might want to consider the Buick Century as well. _. Though Buick’s are con- sidered luxury cars, the Century is priced about the same or less than a typical, well-cquipped mid-size sedan. The six-passenzer, front- wheel-drive, V5-powered Century starts at $25,215. The Century shares its bodystyle with the Buick Regal, so don’t get the two confused when you visit the .—sShowroom. The Regal has a bigger V6 engine, a sportier suspension, and costs about $3,000 morc. The Century was redesigned last year, the first time since 1982. I find its styling clegant and understat- ed, yet contemporary. Classy touches include che finely fluted grille, the organic shape of the lights, fenders and roofline, and the everall lack of tacky add-ons. There is nothing trendy or flashy about the Century — it has an air of sophistication that’s lacking in its competi- tors. - Two trim levels, Custom and Limited, are offered, and both are a relatively good - value in the mid-size sedan ~~wmarket, The $25,215 Custom Motel includes a 160 horse- power 3.1-litre V6 engine, four-speed automatic trans- mission with column shifter, six-passenger seating with a 55/45 solit front bench seat, power steering, air-condition- ing, AM/FM auto reverse casseite player and clock, vari able intermittent wi power windows, loc mirrors, adjustable steering column, an air filtration sys- tem, and 205/70 R-15 inch radial tires. Standard safety features include dual airbags, front All wheel drive ABS Air bags REDESIGNED in April of 1237, the Buick Century offers a standard 3.1 litre V6 engine and 4 speed automatic transmission, 6-passenger seating, air conditioning, power conveniences and a huge 16.7 cubic fee? trunk. Base price is $25,215. Test drive the new Century: a at. Regency Pontiac Biick Cadilla: GMC on Marine Drive in North Vancouver. disc/rear drum brakes with ABS, remote keyless ctitry with panic button, coded PASSkey ignition ke}, rear door child Jocks, and a three- year roadside assistance pro- gram. A new feature prevents the doors from being locked when the key is left in the ignition. Limited models, priced at $26,515, add separate driver and passenger temperature controls, cruise control, vari- able-effort speed-sensitive power stecring, heated out- side mirrors, a rear armrest with storage and nwo cupholders, rear reading lights, and deluxe wheet cov- ers. The Century’s body is larger and more rigid than the previous model, with a new independent rear muiti-link suspension — a feature which improves ride, handling and steering control on bumpy or undulating surfaces. Combined with increased sound insulation and 2 stiffer body structure, the new Century is very quiet and comfortable on the highway. The suspension is on the soft side, leaning in the corners and wallowing over higa- speed dips — it’s more of a luxury sedan than a sports sedan. The standard and only available powertrain is a 160 horsepower 3.1-litre OHV V5 engine carried over from pre- vious models. Though the 3.1-litre overhead valve V6 engine is dated, it is still a smooth, torquey engine with proven reliability. It provides adequate but not overly pow- erful acceleration. The stan- Technical Data 1998 Buick Century Torque: 185 ft.-Ibs. @ 4000 r.p.m. Transmission: four-speed automatic Base price: $25,215 Price as tested: $26,515 Type: sedan Layout: transverse front engine/front- wheel-drive Engine: 3.1-litre OHV V6 Horsepower: 80 watt AM/FM cassette Keyless entry BS Fog lamps & sport rack 165 H.P. engine Power windows & locks - Power heated mirrors four-door, six-passenger mid-sized 160 @ §200 r.p.m. Curb wei From *30, 895 +P.D.L, t: 1525 kg (3,365 Ibs.) Trunk volume: 473 litres (16.7 cu. ft.) Fuel consumption: City — 11.9 1/100 kms Ce m.p.g.); Hwy — 7.5 1/100 kms (38 P-8- Warranty: three years/60,000 kms Ows984 freight & ose dard and only transmission is a four-speed automatic that shifts very smoothly, but it doesn’t have an on/off over- drive button. The transmis- sion features a “filléd-for-life” transmission fluid. To prevent driver's inad- vertently trying to start the . engine while it is already run- ning, the Century has a fea- ture called “grind protection” that disconnects the starter when the engine is running. This is a very usetul feature because the engine idles so smoothly, it is sometimes dif- ficult to tell if it is actually running (there is no tachome- ter). Fuel consumption is good for a mid-sized car, 1 1/100 kms (24 m.p.g.) in town, and 7.5 1/100 km (38 m.p.g.) on the highway. The Century’s curvy inte- tior is attractive and simple with a protruding centre dash area that contains easy-to- reach heating and radio con- truls. A column shifter for the four-speed automatic trans- mission leaves room for a cen- AYLOR B.C.A.AM. - A.RA. APPROVED CENTRE e —_ tre seating position up front — bur there is very little... legroom under the:protrud: ing center dashboard.. pe . The rear seats are ‘higher than the front seats.to give ° rear passengers a better.view of the road, but there’s stilt’ plenty of Readrooin arid ade- quate legroom front. and rear. The rear seatbelts are not - height-adjustable and ‘may ¢ across the necks of smailer. passengers, and the rear head restraints are not height, adjustable, «. But a fold-down rear seatback.” is not offered. . The Century is built in Oshawa, Ontario in the sa assembly plant as the new Buick Regal and Chevrolec . Lumina. This plant has a ce utation for producing well-. built, reliable vehicles. ‘ For the same money as a “regular” mid-size sedan, the. Century offers a little more distinctiveness and elegance, both of which can be consid: - ered added value. 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