chicagotribune.com's view

If you purchase a Buick Reatta convertible, you`ll find religion.

Take, for example, the reaction when you first look at the $35,000 pricetag.

“Oh, my God.“

Then, comes the realization that you just paid $35,000 for a two seaterbut have to deal with a manually operated convertible top rather than a power unit.

“Dear, Lord.“

And when you try putting the top down by hand and bringing it back up and scrape fingers and knuckles, the reaction is to again call upon the divine-at least that`s what we told the kids after Dad`s first round with the top.

The wife suggested that if someone recorded what was said in grapplingwith the top at least a half dozen radio stations would be playing it as rapand MTV would make it into a video.

The Reatta convertible we test drove was a really nice car that wasreally overpriced-by $10,000 to $15,000.

Base price is $34,995. The test car added a 16-way power driver`s seatfor $680 and a compact disc player for $396. With $570 for freight, you`re at $36,641 before tax, title and plates.

OK, it has lots of standard equipment, from antilock brakes to driver`sside air bag; to AM stereo/FM stereo with cassette, power windows, brakes,steering, seats and door locks; cruise control; tilt wheel; rear windowdefogger; and steel-belted radial tires.

The 3.8-liter, fuel-injected V-6 had some punch while delivering 18 miles per gallon city/27 m.p.g. highway, and the gran touring suspension systemcushioned two occupants from road harshness.

The reality is that when you hand over 36 big ones, you don`t expect tohave to use those now empty hands to get the top folded and hidden under thetonneau.

When down, the convertible is a pleasure to drive on warm evenings. Whenthe top is up, the size of the canvas wrapping around to meet the two frontwindows creates a massive blind spot that makes backing out the drive, moving into or out of the passing lane or parking a chore if not a hazard.

One last gripe about the top; it doesn`t fit snuggly in back along thesheet metal. There`s a slight gap, just enough to ask:

“For $35,000, why can`t the darn thing fit, for godsake?“