The Seville arrived in Denver, Colo. last month and is being enjoyed by the power-hungry Edmund's staff. After just a few days with the car, features editor Ingrid Palmer lauded the force and finesse of the Seville's engine and transmission. Palmer found that the Seville has power to burn even in the thin air of the mile-high city. Palmer also discovered that under normal driving conditions the Seville's sophisticated four-speed automatic transmission changes gears as smoothly as any automatic she has ever driven.

Editor-in-chief Christian Wardlaw was able to see just how much the Seville has evolved since its inception, when his father appeared in Denver driving a like-new 1978 Cadillac Seville with only 52,000 miles on the odometer. The elder Wardlaw had always wanted a first generation Seville, and couldn't pass on the one advertised in an Arizona newspaper for just $4,200. Wardlaw the younger was also impressed with the old Seville. Although he was not keen on the old car's mushy brakes, unsupportive seats, and lousy radio reception, he did take pleasure in driving the nearly mint Seville on the wide streets of Denver. The car's massive flanks and two-ton curb weight lent the old Caddy a quiet dignity not often found in newer American cars.

Despite our reverence for the past, we can't help but be thankful that Cadillac has made the new Seville more comfortable and capable than the original. The brakes, steering gear and suspension of our '98 Seville are light years ahead of what Cadillac buyers had to choose from two decades ago. Don't even get us started on the motor. In the intervening 20 years, Cadillac has figured out how to cut the Seville's engine displacement, increase horsepower by 80 percent, and reduce emissions. Now that's progress.

Despite the Colorado staff's enthusiasm for the Seville, several complaints have already made their way into the logbook. Palmer noted the following after spending a week with the Seville.

"So far, my biggest complaint is that the exit and memory buttons located on the door are in the exact spot where my arm goes when I push the door open. This means that I am constantly bumping the buttons without meaning to and messing up the seating position."

Wardlaw also noticed that the Seville is starting to have paint problems. There is now a faint leaf pattern in the hood of the Seville thanks to some wet leaves that blew onto the car during a rainstorm and ate into the Caddy's paint like Fat Albert attacking a plate of home fries. We've tried buffing and waxing the leaf impressions, but nothing seems to work. We plan to take the car to the dealer to see what they recommend.

Best Fuel Economy: 19.1 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 14.6 mpg
Maintenance Costs: $0
Problems: Paint on hood damaged due to corrosive effects of wet leaves.