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Automotive News & Views The Rebirth of Buick.........
421 messages, Last post on Nov 27, 2009 at 3:10 PM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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Replying to: hpmctorque (Mar 19, 2009 4:37 am) I'd say it's more the product itself. It just doesn't appeal to buyers of other vehicles, many of which are also reliable. I saw the new LaCrosse at the Philadelphia Auto Show, and while it is based on a solid platform (updated Epsilon), I thought the sweepspear effect on the side sheetmetal was placed too high, which made the car look too stubby. And the portholes should be on the OUTSIDE of the hood crease, so that people can see them when looking at the side of the car. Overall, it looked like a solid effort, and will appeal to current Buick buyers, but I prefer the new Taurus. And I'm not sure whether it will get new buyers to consider Buick. There is a lot of competition out there. If Buick does bring out a smaller car based on the Cruze, PLEASE don't call it the Skyhawk... 
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Replying to: grbeck (Mar 19, 2009 11:29 am) If it ain't broke, don't fix it! That 3.8 V-6 is a gem! ...and the age of its buyers, who tend to drive their cars rather gently... Girlfriend drives her LaCrosse like a NYC cab driver. Buick should use her as their spokesmodel. Any car that can hold up to her driving style has to be pretty awesome. Heck, my '88 Park Ave takes the daily brunt of Philly driving for me and I'm no doddering old geezer with the cruise set at 20. I can drive that Park Ave quite aggressively. If Buick does bring out a smaller car based on the Cruze, PLEASE don't call it the Skyhawk I agree. The best name would be the Special for a small Buick.
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Replying to: lemko (Mar 19, 2009 11:55 am) No way, NOBODY can drive a Park Avenue aggressively, it's not capable of it, unless you mean tailgating, which I am confident you don't. It has no handling to speak of, and I have driven PAs on more than one occasion. Great highway cars, I might add. Good for renting for a long trip when you have three or four people coming along to split the expense.
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"... I thought the sweepspear effect on the side sheetmetal was placed too high, which made the car look too stubby. And the portholes should be on the OUTSIDE of the hood crease, so that people can see them when looking at the side of the car..." Hmmm, I was quite impressed with the styling of the 2010 LaCrosse that was on display at the Washington Auto Show. However, as I respect your views, I'm going to evaluate the styling cues you mentioned more critically the next time I see this car. My main disappointment with it was the weight, 4,000+- 4,200+, depending on whether it's FWD or AWD. All things considered, though, I prefer this new LaCrosse over the Acura TL (my wife's current ride) and Toyota Avalon. |
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Replying to: lemko (Mar 19, 2009 11:55 am) I guess if you say it's white, I'd have to say it's black, cause IMO the 3800 is way past it's freshness date. What's weird is the 3800 in the Buick's can achieve impressive mileage, but in my wife's 07 GP even with the gingerly way she drive's it's never topped 25mpg even if it's all highway. I've logged many miles on late model Park Ave's and could get close to 30mpg out of it. I guess anything will get good mileage if it's geared tall enough. My reasons for not liking the 3800 are: it sounds crude, it feels crude, and it's doesn't have much power for it's displacement. Sure it produces enough torque just off idle to be quick to about 30mph, but from then on it's mediocre at best. So it's peppy around town, but annoyingly under powered on the highway, but with all the racket it makes over 3,000rpm, I guess one might think it sounds powerful. |
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Replying to: nippononly (Mar 19, 2009 12:42 pm) Wait a minute......Mine (an Ultra) goes good. One morning, at 4am (on my way home from work!!!) I was at a light w/ a Mustang GT. I wasn't planning on dragging him, but he goaded me w/ the way he took off, so I punched it.... and caught up w/ him. Had the road not gone from 2 lanes to one, and I not backed off, I'm sure there would have come a point where my engine "ran out of breath", as the 3800's do, and he would've pulled away, but up to 80, he couldn't shake me.
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Replying to: cooterbfd (Mar 19, 2009 3:19 pm)  In straight-line acceleration, of course, the PA would fall second to a great many different, fairly boring, V-6 family cruisers......now I'm not speaking of the Ultra, because didn't that one have a supercharger or something? Don't know the 1/4-miles for that one.
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Replying to: lemko (Mar 19, 2009 11:55 am) 
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Replying to: hpmctorque (Mar 19, 2009 1:52 pm) Styling is a personal thing, although the new LaCrosse is better looking than the new Acura TL (what WAS Honda thinking)?! I still prefer the new Taurus...although I don't think the LaCrosse is ugly. It just doesn't "wow" me. The new Taurus does in real life...especially compared to the current one. THAT is a car that makes me want to switch brands, along with the new Fusion. I even stopped at the Ford dealer last night to pick up a brochure on the new Fusion and Mustang. I have to say, the size and style of the new Fusion look pretty attractive right now, especially as the Accord keeps getting bigger.
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Replying to: grbeck (Mar 20, 2009 7:58 am) |
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