| A history lesson will remind us that Buick revived | | | | knuckle-scraping annoyance of reaching under the |
| the Roadmaster nameplate in 1991, the | | | | seat for such switches. |
| automaker tapped into nostalgia for the | | | | The analog-numbered dashboard was easy to |
| fullthrottle, road-hogging prowess of the original | | | | read. We also appreciated the armrest-mounted |
| Roadinaster that Buick retired in 1958. But the '91 | | | | lights that, when the doors were open at night, |
| Roadmaster Estate Wagon's 5-liter, 170-hp V8 | | | | illuminated the ground below and alerted oncoming |
| engine-small for a 4,400-pound vehicle only kindled | | | | traffic to our open doors. |
| a sentimental yeaming for the engine muscle of | | | | Aside from its power improvement over earlier |
| the original. | | | | versions, the modified engine features a new |
| The styling of the Estate Wagon is definitely a | | | | power-train control module that opens the fuel |
| throwback to the hefty land cruisers that | | | | injectos sequentially to smooth out the idle and |
| predated the 1973 energy crisis. Simultaneously | | | | beef up performance. The result was a |
| elegant, functional and substantive, this is the | | | | thrust-happy but luxurious ride, with acceleration |
| vehicle you would buy if you owned a ranch or a | | | | comparable to a 250-pound linebacker who runs |
| construction company. | | | | the 100-yard dash in 10 seconds. |
| The slanted, wind-deflecting front hood and | | | | When we hit the expressway, the Estate Wagon |
| dramatically angled windshield of our Dark Cherry | | | | zoomed from 50 to 70 mph with velvety ease |
| Metallic test vehicle revealed the extent of Buick's | | | | and still felt as though it had much more to give. |
| aerodynamic impulses: The roof-support pillars | | | | Although the speedometer topped out at 120 |
| blended in with the front doors, which yielded a | | | | mph, we felt this beast could hit a lot higher with |
| cleaner line and visual continuity. The sunroof was | | | | minimal strain. |
| so expansive, it looked like it belonged on a | | | | The Estate Wagon's standard heavy-duty |
| railroad observation car. The luggage rack was | | | | suspension had us floating, even at high speeds. |
| solid but compact. | | | | Hitting the brakes while traveling at 65 mph, we |
| Another nod to bygone days was the copious | | | | could feel the weight, torque and engine muscle, |
| amount of chrome that adomed the Estate | | | | but we also felt confident that the standard |
| Wagon-from the beefy bumpers and assertive | | | | antilock brakes were more than capable of |
| side moldings to the ubiquitous door trim and inset | | | | bringing this massive vehicle to a controlled stop. |
| door handles. One area of compromise, however, | | | | The Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon is a big, |
| was the front grille, which was chrome-colored | | | | comfy throwback to the days when wagons |
| plastic. | | | | were wagons, when gasoline was 35 cents a |
| Entry into our Estate Wagon's cavernous | | | | gallon and when carmakers didn't let a little thing |
| front-seat area was aided by conveniently | | | | like gas mileage keep them from bulking up a |
| mounted leather straps that helped us close the | | | | vehicle with generous amounts of chrome and |
| wide doors. Easing into the wagon's plush leather | | | | weight. That's not to say the Roadmaster is a |
| vinyl seats was akin to settling into a favorite | | | | gas hog. For a wagon, the mileage is a |
| leather chair. The six-way power seats could be | | | | respectable 17 mph in the city and 25 mph on the |
| operated even after the key was removed from | | | | highway. |
| the ignition. | | | | Stylish and well-appointed, the Roadmaster Estate |
| Befitting such a comfort-oriented layout, all of the | | | | Wagon will be a pleasure to drive, especially for |
| necessary power assists were ergonomically | | | | everyone who remembers those carefree, |
| displayed on the driver's-door armrest-sparing the | | | | energy-rich days. |