1990-1991 Buick Reatta: Road Test

With either engine, Reatta feels energetic. However, the revisions for '91 make it the fastest and smoothest-shifting of the bunch. Fuel economy is ho-hum with one tester averaging 17.2 mpg in a '91 convertible and another just 16.5 mpg in a '89 coupe. Early models suffered from a jittery ride because of their hard tires. The switch in '91 to softer rubber smoothed the ride considerably. However, Reatta's short wheelbase and nose-heavy design result in a lot of body pitching on wavy surfaces, so the suspension feels firm most of the time, but occasionally gets soft and loose. Reatta feels athletic around corners, with well-controlled body lean and good grip from the tires. The standard antilock 4-wheel disc brakes provide short true stops and offer a firm pedal feel. Steering suffers from some torque-steer in hard acceleration but has a natural, neutral feel on the highway. Inside, the luxurious Reatta has a full complement of standard features. Passenger space is good and cargo room is better than most in this class. We could do without the multifunction control stalk and distracting Electronic Control Center. Thankfully, both were remedied for '91 with greatly improved interior controls and gauges. Cowl shake on convertibles is a problem on bumpy roads. Fit and finish of early models is suspect, possibly owing to the car's hand-built nature. However, construction improved over time and many feel that the final Reattas were some of the best cars Buick built.

Value for the Money
Reatta is an attractive two-seater that can sprint to 60 mph in under ten seconds and cruise comfortably among the country-club set. Its faults are limited production and relatively high used-car prices. Avoid the early models with the Electronic Control Center, and search out the much improved 1991 models.