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Driving Impressions
Big Buicks have not been known as cars that excel in the handling department. Their suspensions have been designed primarily to provide a soft, cushy ride, where the car tends to float over undulations and provides little feedback to the driver. At slow speeds this is fine, but at higher speeds, or on a winding road, a soft-sprung car is not as stable as one with a firmer suspension.But when Buick redesigned the LeSabre last year, the engineers vastly improved its roadholding capability. As a result, the LeSabre now handles much better than previous versions. While you still cannot compare LeSabre's handling to that of a BMW, it is much improved over the old model. That floating sensation is gone. When you jam on the brakes, the nose does not dive the way the old one did. Our LeSabre Limited was equipped with the Gran Touring package, which helped give the car more road feel. But even the base LeSabre should offer good handling. The 3.8-liter V6 engine is one of GM's best. It performs well in the LeSabre, even though it has to propel a relatively heavy car. Likewise, the electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission provides smooth shifting between gears. Braking performance is good and, with anti-lock brakes acting on all four wheels, we never had any dramatic moments. LeSabre packs plenty of sound insulation for a quiet ride. Although not officially billed as a luxury car, it provides a more luxurious environment than most luxury cars of just a few years ago.
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