General Comments:
This car is still in overall excellent condition despite being 15 years old (by model year).
The Quad 4 engine has loads of low end torque and can get this light weight little car moving very quickly. It can outperform many accepted sporty cars, and with a few minor modifications, it could embarrass V-8 cars like Mustangs and Camaro's. I still manage 25-30mpg with the relatively wide tires I put on the car and the fair amount of stop and go city driving I do.
This car handles extremely well, due mostly to its light weight. Note: My car has the optional alloy wheels and I replaced the original tires with 215/60/R14 Cooper Cobra Radial GT's when I purchased the car.
This car is quite unique, featuring blackout trim (traditionally an option on sporty Buicks) and a Grand National style leather steering wheel. It also has bucket seats.
The leather steering wheel is a very nice touch and adds to the sporty theme my car was built/optioned with.
I bought this car as a fun little sports car, and it has served me very well. You really stand out from the crowd in a Buick.
The only complaints I have deal with long standing GM problems:
1) Poor paint quality-while my car is not rusting to pieces, the paint could be better.
2) Instrument Panel Durability-my speedometer broke once, and my trip odometer has never worked, not even after the whole gauge cluster was rebuilt by GM. Also, the fuel gauge does not accurately depict the true fuel level.
That said, I would recommend Skylark 2 doors to anyone who wants a fun little car with plenty of room, plenty of power, and a little touch of luxury. Like their old advertisements used to say, "Wouldn't you really rather have a Buick?"
3rd Oct 2003, 19:41
Sporty? Are you kidding? These things handle like floating boats. I've had the V6 version and they are very front end heavy. The 80's to early 90s compact Buick sucks in reliability. The brakes are also very dangerous. They never did stop well.