| I pulled into an angled side street parking spot and | | | | dial scheme is not as visible at night when compared |
| two gardeners | | | | to other S.U.V.s |
| began to stare at my vehicle with puzzled looks. Did | | | | with multicolored patterns. The controls and |
| I park over the line? | | | | switches are well- |
| Did I not see a fire hydrant. Did I miss some other | | | | positioned, however, and the comfort and |
| restricted parking | | | | convenience features are |
| designation?"Hey, guys, anything wrong?" I | | | | plentiful.Consider: tilt, leather-wrapped steering wheel |
| asked."No, nothing," one replied. "I just haven't seen | | | | with radio and climate |
| that car before. That's | | | | controls, cruise control, leather upholstery, |
| Tiger Woods car, isn't it? It's really a great-looking | | | | eight-way, power front bucket |
| S.U.V."True enough. The 2004 Buick Rainier is the | | | | seats with driver-side lumbar adjustment, heated |
| vehicle the famed golfer | | | | power windows, power |
| touts in television commercials. And with Buick's | | | | door locks and four interior map lights, among many |
| trademark front grill | | | | other features. The |
| style and my test car's deep black exterior, 2004 | | | | power sunroof is an $885 option and with a $685 |
| VB Rainier is an | | | | destination charge, |
| impressive sight.But the exterior is further | | | | the price of my vehicle reached $40,315.While side |
| complemented by a well-designed interior, a | | | | and window curtain air bags might be expected as |
| 5.3-liter engine and a host of standard features that | | | | standard |
| sets it apart from the | | | | for a luxury S.U.V., the side front-seat airbags are a |
| GMC Envoy, Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee | | | | $350 option and |
| and Mercury | | | | curtain side window airbags are not available.One |
| Mountaineer, the comparable offerings in its | | | | unique feature is the included one-year emergency |
| category.As one example, the Rainier has a standard | | | | service |
| 6-cylinder engine, but | | | | provided by OnStar. I accidentally pushed the small |
| there's an optional V8, albeit a $1,500 option. As | | | | button located on |
| such, it's the only mid- | | | | the bottom of the rear-review mirror and the |
| sized, five-seat SUV with a V8. The Rainier is only | | | | operator answered in what |
| available with a four- | | | | seemed like a nanosecond. I apologized for the |
| speed automatic transmission, but options include | | | | inadvertent call and |
| rear-wheel drive with | | | | received a pleasant response. Still, it was nice to |
| traction control or the all-wheel drive my vehicle | | | | know the system works |
| included.It's nice the Rainier is marketed as a | | | | so efficiently.The Rainier's one drawback is its |
| five-passenger vehicle and doesn't | | | | estimated 15 mph in city driving and |
| claim to be larger as is often the case with other | | | | 18 mph in highway conditions. It's an issue prevalent |
| manufacturers. Head | | | | in much of the |
| and knee space in the front and rear seats is more | | | | S.U.V. category, but one likely not considered by |
| than adequate.The Rainier couldn't drive more | | | | Tiger Woods.2004 Buick RainierSafety features -- |
| smoothly, particularly considering its | | | | Dual-stage front air bags, auto daytime |
| power and versatility. While exceedingly quiet and | | | | running lamps, integral fog/cornering lamps, OnStar |
| stylish, a towing | | | | Emergency System.Fuel Mileage (estimates) -- 15 |
| package and wiring harness is standard for more | | | | mpg (city), 18 mpg (highway).Warranty -- Bumper to |
| rugged needs.But when driven as a passenger vehicle | | | | bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; corrosion, |
| and not a working car, the | | | | 6 years/100,000 miles.Base price range -- |
| Rainier's quietness is the result of 2004 model's | | | | $35,295-$38,295.James Raia is a syndicated journalist |
| thicker laminated glass | | | | in Sacramento, California, who |
| in the windshield and side windows. Likewise, | | | | writes about sports, fitness, travel and lifestyle |
| sound-reducing material | | | | topics as well as the car |
| has been added into the body.The console and | | | | review colum, The Weekly Driver. |
| instrumentation is attractive, but the monotone color | | | | |