| Oldsmobile Division
General Motors Corporation Lansing, Michigan |
| Engine |
375-hp, 455
cu. in. V-8 |
| Transmission |
3-speed automatic |
| Steering |
Power-assisted |
| Suspension |
Standard |
| Brakes |
Disc F, Drum R |
Check
list |
| Engine |
| Throttle Response |
Good |
| Noise Insulation |
Excellent |
| Drive
train |
| Shift Linkage |
Very
Good |
| Shift Smoothness |
Very
Good |
| Steering |
| Effort |
Very
Good |
| Response |
Very
Good |
| Handling |
| Predictability |
Very
Good |
| Evasive Maneuverability |
Very
Good |
| Brakes |
| Directional Stability |
Fair |
| Fade Resistance |
Good |
| Interior |
| Ease of Entry/Exit |
Very
Good |
| Driving Position |
Very
Good |
| Front Seating Comfort |
Very
Good |
| Rear Seating Comfort |
Fair |
| General |
| Vision |
Fair |
| Heater/ Defroster |
Excellent |
| Weather Sealing |
Excellent |
| Trunk Space |
Good |
|
It's been two years
since Oldsmobile introduced the Toronado and proved to a skeptical
public that it is feasible to build a big, big-engined, front-wheel-drive
specialty car. Last year Cadillac's Eldorado stole some of the
Toronado's thunder, but Olds still has a good thing going.
For '68, engine displacement
has been increased to 455 cu. in. on the standard Toronado.
As in the past, the big car understeers, but no more so than
most other Detroit full-size sedans, and it's a lot better
than some. Trouble is, Toronado isn't sold as a full-size
sedan, and somehow you expect more from it.
The brakes, a continuing sore
point with road testers, are still not up to the job of hauling
this behemoth down from high speeds without a lot of slewing,
but there is a disc brake option that is a considerable improvement.
The strange thing about the Toronado
is that it does not feel like a front-wheel-drive car. The
only time you'll probably notice any difference is on wet
roads. The advantages of fwd are negated by poor brake modulation;
you become uncomfortably aware of the car's unconventional
drive system when you find it pivoting around itself on the
front wheels whenever you hit the brakes too hard and the
wheels aren't aimed dead ahead. |
