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Oldsmobile Silhouette Premiere minivan adds sound and movies
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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FREDERICKSBURG, Tex. -- We're driving blacktop routes threaded across Texas hills on the way to Fredericksburg, but hands are not locked on steering wheel and eyes are certainly not fixed on road because for this chauffeured ride we're not in the customary driver's seat but instead tucked in a comfy back bucket of the new Premiere edition for Oldsmobile's 4-door minivan, Silhouette.
This top-flight vehicle -- stretched in wheelbase to add more leg room and trimmed in leather with fancy fittings -- has one more feature which makes it unique among minivans: An on-board video entertainment system with video cassette and compact disc players mounted in a front floor console plus an overhead rack with audio jacks and color TV monitor which folds down for viewing by those on second and third tiers of seats.
Controls at each rear post enable passengers to adjust headset audio volume and choose between video (recorded movies and television programs or games like Nintendo and Sega Genesis) or audio selections like CD music.
Picture quality from the small liquid crystal video screen looks stunningly brilliant, even in bright daylight, and the stereophonic sound quality derived from a compact headset rings true and clear.
Why build a minivan with entertainment gear added?
Any parent who has endured the task of steering the family car on a tedious road trip with frisky children in the back seat can quickly appreciate this high-tech way to entertain young travelers because at home children will sit for hours in quiet amusement watching video tapes of movies and cartoons or playing video games.
The new audio-visual system in Silhouette Premiere provides similar entertainment opportunities but in a convenient built-in package which eliminates a bulky video cassette player and television set. Driver or front-seat occupant operates video and CD players, while back-seat riders may switch between audio and video selections.
As the miles passed while tuned to an engaging movie, one viewer had to admit that adults can enjoy the equipment too -- you feel like you're riding in the first-class cabin of an airliner, with fingertip controls for video and audio, plus more buttons to adjust map light and climate system.
What a way to go.
In extended tests while touring the Texas hill country, Silhouette easily proved itself as a convenient family hauler, and the built-in comfort factor merited a descriptive as limousine-in-disguise.
Silhouette can carry up to seven people or, with the two back rows of seats removed, a lot of cargo -- loads as large as 4 by 8 sheets of building material.
From driver's perspective, Silhouette's bold windshield sweep combines with deep side windows to provide excellent outward visibility.
Driver sits in a comfortable bucket that stands high in front of an instrument panel with analog gauges. The padded steering wheel, column-mounted shift lever and handy switches and dials are all positioned within easy reach.
For back-seat passengers the floor slopes up toward the rear like theater seating so rear rows rise higher than seats in front and everyone gets a good view.
Silhouette installs two front doors and two rear sliding doors plus a top-hinged back lift gate for all issues, as based on two wheelbase lengths.
The regular edition rolls on a wheelbase of 112 inches and consists solely of the GS designation, while an extended version in three trim variations adds eight more inches of length to wheelbase, which translates to extra space for the cargo and rear passenger area rigged with second and third tiers of seats.
Silhouette GS in regular-length wheelbase places two form-fitting bucket seats in front separated by a walk-through aisle and followed by a 2-person bench with 60/40 split for center row and a rear 3-person seat split 50/50 -- with capacity for as many as seven.
Rear bench seats flip and fold in various ways to accommodate people or cargo, and aluminum frames make the benches easy to move when more cargo space is required.
Two optional toddler seats fit in the center bench.
For that limousine-like ride, the deluxe extended-length Silhouette GLS trim packs three modular captain's chairs in the second row, with all seats covered in leather.
An optional feature -- power operation for the right sliding rear door -- can be incredibly convenient, particularly for driver because all it takes to close the big slab is a simple tap to the control button mounted in the overhead console, or for passengers an auxiliary button on right B-pillar near the door handle.
The new Premiere variation builds on amenities in GLS by adding a touring suspension package plus the entertainment equipment with video console in front and an overhead console with fold-down LCD screen at the rear.
Conveniences extend beyond interior perks and comforts to Silhouette's easy-to-maneuver personality.
A turning radius of less than 40 feet allows driver to wiggle through traffic and park with ease in a crowded lot.
Ride quality feels firm but smooth due to Silhouette's ladder-type chassis which becomes a flex-resistant platform to support front independent suspension components with MacPherson struts and variable-rate coil springs.
Power rack and pinion steering responds quickly, and power-assisted brakes tied to a computerized anti-lock system contribute precise control for stopping.
Power's there when you need it too.
Silhouette's 3.4-liter V6 in every issue pumps 185 hp.
This is an excellent engine with instant response for passing, and it connects to GM's 4-speed electronic automatic transmission.
A 25-gallon fuel tank on the extended model and good fuel economy figures mean Silhouette has a driving range which far exceeds a passenger's need for rest stops.
Silhouette's price structure makes it competitive with other domestic minivans as skewed to the deluxe end of the market. The regular-wheelbase Silhouette GS lists for $25,370, including delivery fee to an Oldsmobile dealer, with the extended-wheelbase GL edition pegged at $24,990. The luxurious GLS reaches $28,665, while new Premiere with entertainment gear goes to $31,580.
1999 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVAN
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 1999 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE PREMIERE Specs |
| Description: |
Compact 4-door minivan |
| Model Options: |
Compact 4-door minivan |
| Wheelbase: |
Regular: 112.0 inches
Extended: 120.0 inches |
| Overall Length: |
Regular: 187.4 inches
Extended: 201.4 inches
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| Engine Size: |
OHV 3.4-L V6
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| Transmission: |
Auto/4 |
| Drive: |
Front |
| Braking: |
Power disc/drum/ABS |
| Airbags: |
2 (front) + 2 (side) |
| Gas Mileage: |
18/25 mpg |
| Price: |
$ 25,000 to $ 33,000 |
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