A history lesson will remind us that Buick revived the Roadmaster suspension nameplate in 1991, the automaker tapped into nostalgia for the fullthrottle, road-hogging prowess of the original Roadinaster that Buick retired in 1958. But the ’91 Roadmaster Estate Wagon’s 5-liter, 170-hp V8 engine-small for a 4,400-pound vehicle only kindled a sentimental yeaming for the engine muscle of the original. The styling of the Estate Wagon is definitely a throwback to the hefty land cruisers that predated the 1973 energy crisis. Simultaneously elegant, functional and substantive, this is the vehicle you would buy if you owned a ranch or a construction company. The slanted, wind-deflecting front hood and dramatically angled windshield of our Dark Cherry Metallic test vehicle revealed the extent of Buick’s aerodynamic impulses: The roof-support pillars blended in with the front doors, which yielded a cleaner line and visual continuity. The sunroof was so expansive, it looked like it belonged on a railroad observation car. The luggage rack was solid but compact. Another nod to bygone days was the copious amount of chrome that adomed the Estate Wagon-from the beefy bumpers and assertive side moldings to the ubiquitous door trim and inset door handles. One area of compromise, however, was the front grille, which was chrome-colored plastic.
Entry into our Estate Wagon’s cavernous front-seat area was aided by conveniently mounted leather straps that helped us close the wide doors. Easing into the wagon’s plush leather/vinyl seats was akin to settling into a favorite leather chair. The six-way power seats could be operated even after the key was removed from the ignition. Roadmaster active suspension befitting such a comfort-oriented layout, all of the necessary power assists were ergonomically displayed on the driver’s-door armrest-sparing the knuckle-scraping annoyance of reaching under the seat for such switches. The analog-numbered dashboard was easy to read. We also appreciated the armrest-mounted lights that, when the doors were open at night, illuminated the ground below and alerted oncoming traffic to our open doors.
Aside from its power improvement over earlier versions, the modified engine features a new power-train control module that opens the fuel injectos sequentially to smooth out the idle and beef up performance. The result was a thrust-happy but luxurious ride, with acceleration comparable to a 250-pound linebacker who runs the 100-yard dash in 10 seconds. When we hit the expressway, the Estate Wagon zoomed from 50 to 70 mph with velvety ease and still felt as though it had much more to give. Although the speedometer topped out at 120 mph, we felt this beast could hit a lot higher with minimal strain. The Estate Wagon’s standard heavy-duty suspension had us floating, even at high speeds. Hitting the brakes while traveling at 65 mph, we could feel the weight, torque and engine muscle, but we also felt confident that the standard antilock brakes were more than capable of bringing this massive vehicle to a controlled stop. The Buick Roadmaster active suspension Estate Wagon is a big, comfy throwback to the days when wagons were wagons, when gasoline was 35 cents a gallon and when carmakers didn’t let a little thing like gas mileage keep them from bulking up a vehicle with generous amounts of chrome and weight. That’s not to say the Roadmaster is a gas hog. For a wagon, the mileage is a respectable 17 mph in the city and 25 mph on the highway.
