| Oldsmobile Division
General Motors Corporation Lansing, Michigan |
| Engine |
250-hp, 350
cu. in. V-8 |
| Transmission |
2-speed automatic |
| Steering |
Power-assisted |
| Suspension |
Standard |
| Brakes |
Drum F, Drum R |
Check
list |
| Engine |
| Throttle Response |
Good |
| Noise Insulation |
Very
Good |
| Drive
train |
| Shift Linkage |
Very
Good |
| Shift Smoothness |
Very
Good |
| Steering |
| Effort |
Very
Good |
| Response |
Fair |
| Handling |
| Predictability |
Good |
| Evasive Maneuverability |
Fair |
| Brakes |
| Directional Stability |
Very
Good |
| Fade Resistance |
Good |
| Interior |
| Ease of Entry/Exit |
Very
Good |
| Driving Position |
Good |
| Front Seating Comfort |
Good |
| Rear Seating Comfort |
Fair |
| General |
| Vision |
Good |
| Heater/ Defroster |
Excellent |
| Weather Sealing |
Very
Good |
| Trunk Space |
Good |
|
This year's Cutlass
is bigger, more powerful, and understeers more than last year's
and although the new sheet metal looks good, the car as a whole
has suffered in the transition. Engine displacement has been
increased from 330 cu. in. to 350 cu. in. But a 3-speed automatic
hasn't yet replaced the old GM 2-speed so overall performance
is virtually unchanged. One difference that is immediately noticeable
is in handling where more designed-in understeer has resulted
from modifications to the rear axle suspension geometry. At
the same time spring rates have been lowered to overcome some
of the harshness last year's Cutlass buyers complained about.
The net result is that the '68 Cutlass is sluggish to respond
to commands from the helm-not what we'd call an improvement
over '67. The standard
4-wheel drum brake system is one of the best, but disc brakes
(which are optional) offer the security of greater resistance
to fade and we still prefer them and the consistency they
offer.
There's also a novel, you-squeeze-it-beeps,
horn ring incorporated into the steering wheel. It's a nice
idea most of the time, but whenever you're driving hard through
a corner, grabbing big handfuls of wheel in a forcible manner,
you're liable to find the horn going off unexpectedly-it's
unnerving, to say the least. |
