The Morning Call and Mcall.com's view

When it comes to going fast, driving enthusiasts don’t always have it right. They’ll take their chances in a flashy sports car bedecked in spoilers that screams, “Hey! I’m speeding!” They’ll never look twice at a sports sedan like the Oldsmobile LSS.

But then, that’s why they have insurance premiums that resemble the budgets of Third World countries.

The good Olds guys have turned out a nifty little sports sedan that remains unnoticed by most people, including the boys in blue. Not that you could tell it apart from its soggier brother, the Eighty-Eight. Aside from wheel covers straight from the Aurora and discreet LSS badging, you really can’t notice the difference.

The look is conservative, but not so bland as most Asian imports in the same class. This year, a new nose and a generally cleaned-up exterior help freshen its appearance. This year, too, it’s closer to the Aurora — more import than domestic in its look.

But the best part is what’s under the hood. Be sure to order the supercharged 3.8-liter V-6. Although the 205-horsepower non-supercharged version has sufficient power, the extra 35 horses transform the car. That means the next time some snotty driver smirks at you for driving this mom-and-pop mobile, you can wind out this puppy’s 240 horses and watch in amazement as you do 0-60 in the seven-second category.

The same screaming engine resides in its cousin, the Pontiac Bonneville, but here it’s easier to appreciate apart from the gimmickry that fills the Bonneville’s cabin. Clearly, this is an engine that thinks it’s a V-8. It just doesn’t eat like one.

Torque steer is well-controlled in hard takeoffs, which is a good thing. Throttle response is quick and immediate, and the four-speed automatic seamless, offering downshifts in a hurry. The front disc, rear-drum anti-lock brakes work well, with minimal nose dive in hard stops. The standard traction control helped tame this caron slippery surfaces. The steering is GM’s new magnetic variable-assist rack-and-pinion steering. It’s a little loose on center, but commendably quick as you turn the wheel. The suspension is much firmer than the standard Eighty-Eight, although a bit of float is still evident.

All of this makes this car fun to drive.

The interior is one of GM’s best. From the first moment you sit in the LSS’s newly designed leather buckets, you’ll be glad you skipped over the base car’s bench seats. The buckets are comfortable, supportive and look like they’ve been pulled from the Aurora. Otherwise, the inside is the same as last year’s. A simple arc covers the instrument cluster and flows gracefully across the dash a la the Cadillac Seville. A very realistic strip of test-tube wood accents the interior.

The semi-automatic climate control is easy to reach and made quick work of warming the interior. Once you set the temperature and fan speed, it will automatically com e on when the car warms up. Other conveniences include a trunk pass-through, automatic headlamps and an auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass.

Of course, all the power goodies are here. In fact, aside from the engine there are only four options: cloth trim, a CD player, an engine-block heater and a power sunroof. The whole package is here, a very European approach to selling this car.

There’s good space front and rear for large corn-fed Americans. That’s something most imports don’t offer. The ride is quiet, with little wind or road noise to interfere with the business at hand. The trunk is large and well-shaped for cargo. A cargo net helps keep your week’s supply of Ho-Hos from splattering across the trunk.

The only downside to the car was the windshield washer. Attempting to clean the windshield releases a blinding 30-second torrent of washer fluid that resembles nothing if not the first gusher in Texas. It lasts too long and blinds the drive . A system that can be regulated b y the driver would be more helpful. But it did leave the windshield spotless.

On the safety front, the Olds excels. Dual airbags, anti-lock brakes and traction control are all standard. The front seat belts are height adjustable. This car also features GM’s daytime running lamp system, which turns the headlights on at low voltage during the day.

There’s little lacking in the LSS’s broad range of abilities. This is a transition car for Olds. As it tries for a more international image, this car accomplishes an understated grace and agility that few past GM products had. It has a feel that imported-car lovers should try, because it easily matches some of the best machines in its class, foreign or domestic. Add that to Oldsmobile’s no-haggle price policy, and this is one auto worth checking out.

Just don’t tell the police how good it is.

1996 Oldsmobile LSS Standard equipment: Dual airbags, anti-lock front disc brakes, pass-key theft deterrent system, 3.8-liter V-6, four-speed automatic transmission, analog gauges with tachometer, four-wheel independent suspension, high-capacity cooling, Twilight Sentinel, 16-inch aluminum wheels, dual eight-way power leather bucket seats, electrochromatic mirror with compass, AM/ FM-cassette stereo, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, fog lamps, power door locks, power windows with auto down, power steering, tilt wheel, rear defogger, keyless entry, traction control, touring suspension with load leveling. Options: Supercharged 3.8-liter V-6. Base price: $26,010. Total: $27,622. EPA mileage: 18 mpg city, 27 mpg highway.