1997 Buick LeSabre Rewarding the loyalists. By Trish Robb, New Car Test Drive .com

The Buick LeSabre is a car with a loyal following. In the grand tradition of

full-size American sedans, the LeSabre offers lots of room, plenty of power

and a soft, quiet ride. It offers many of the same amenities as prestige

luxury sedans, but in a more affordable package: lots of pampering for

the price. Which is just what its cadre of loyal drivers want.

The car has changed a little over the years. Modern notions like front-wheel

drive, an electronically controlled V6 engine, and traction control have

crept into recent redesigns. LeSabre owners, though, have not been clamoring

for more major changes. Quite the contrary.

So when Buick designers and engineers, ready to redesign the car for

1997, asked LeSabre owners what they wanted changed, they did not get a

long list of demands. Indeed, they were urged not to mess up a good thing,

and they listened.

In fact, the most noticeable changes they could point to were the new

plastic moldings that keep errant grocery carts from dinging the doors

and fenders. New halogen headlights. New end-release seatbelts. Very cautious.

No one is complaining, however. The result of the update is familiar,

yet sophisticated, reliable and comfortable transportation. Buick likes

to say the LeSabre offers peace of mind, and it does exactly that.