1994 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight Regency By Professional Test Driver, New Car Test Drive .com

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.