Ask the Car People.SM


2010-2011 Buick LaCrosse

2053 messages,  Last post on Mar 30, 2013 at 6:18 AM

You are in the Buick LaCrosse Forum.

What is this discussion about? Buick LaCrosse, Sedan

Messages Page 166 of 206

#1649 of 2053 Re: Catastrophic Engine Failure at 26,000 miles [e_net_rider] by crankeee

Jun 10, 2011 (2:15 pm)

Replying to: e_net_rider (Jun 10, 2011 6:44 am)
Rider: I believe I read in Motor Trend or Automobile Magazine that the 2012 Malibu would be built on the Epsilon II "platform" that the Lacrosse is on and that would result in a larger vehicle. I would think the "body" or sheetmetal would be somewhat different. From a manufacturing / economies of scale standpoint it makes sense with the e.assist I-4 in both cars. Chevy vs. Buick vs. Cadillac will show different skins regardless of the platform they are built on. Still can not believe the Lacrosse is 10% heavier, wider track and higher than our old Bonneville. Beautiful body lines and glass area from a designer standpoint. As I stated before -
THANK YOU BOB LUTZ and Semper Fi.
Crankee

#1650 of 2053 Re: Catastrophic Engine Failure at 26,000 miles [e_net_rider] by ab348

Jun 10, 2011 (3:15 pm)

Replying to: e_net_rider (Jun 10, 2011 6:44 am)
Had a 2011 Malibu for a rental this week and have driven the Regal earlier. I really like the styling of the Regal much more than the Malibu and of course it is much more exclusive. Also like the Regal wheels much more. Expect the Regal would handle better but didn't put that to the test; both seemed fine that way to me.
 
However I too find the Malibu more appealing in other ways. Car felt zippier than the Regal despite identical engine/transmission. Seemed quieter too, as you noted. Liked the leather Regal seats better than the suede in the Malibu and it also had more gizmos, but I liked the room in the 'Bu. Also didn't care for the all-black interior in the Regal.
 
Will be interesting to see if GM addresses the sound deadening issue when production moves to Oshawa. But if I am paying with my own $$$, it is hard to justify the extra $ for the Regal despite the nice styling. If the redesigned 2013 Malibu keeps anything close to the current price gap between the two models it will not be a hard choice as the new car is very nice.

#1651 of 2053 Re: Help me Decide [bwia] by bobbob2

Jun 11, 2011 (10:23 am)

Replying to: bwia (Jun 10, 2011 7:56 am)
bwia,
 
I'm at same decision point and can t convince myself the OnStar is worth the cost. i think I used it only 1-2 times since MArch.
One advantage may be that if you are in an accident OnStar can send help. I think air bags have to be deployed and you fail to answer their inquiry on status.
Another item is map downloading from Goggle. Twice I used my office computer to create a route and then had it sent to my 2011 LaX CXS. However, I did not find it waiting conveniently for me. I recall the first time I called OnStar and they downloaded to car. The second try I didn t bother. Now I admit this may be pilot error on my part becuz I am still not up to snuff using both the Nav and OnStar.
I too am confused by Traffic Alerts. I don t know if Nav, OnStar & Sirius work together or separate to produce the same result or are independent. I ran into an ugly traffic snarl on US 1 Interstate and wud have loved help and info. None came unsolicitied. Maybe I don t know how to ask??

#1652 of 2053 Rear Window Lock Out Button '11 LaX CXS by bobbob2

Jun 11, 2011 (10:39 am)

Here's a sales tip Buick may not have thot of.
 
I was riding merrily along with my A/C on and windows closed when all of a sudden the back window powered down. I thot oh brother wot's going wrong now. I raised window from my door only to have the incident occur a second time. Now I am really getting worried if I am controlling car or vice versa.
 
Then it hit me. My yellow lab in back seat who loves to hang her head out had figured out how to lower the window. I activated Lock Out. Problem solved.

#1653 of 2053 Re: Help me Decide [bobbob2] by dslong

Jun 11, 2011 (4:06 pm)

Replying to: bobbob2 (Jun 11, 2011 10:23 am)
My OnStar has not been renewed and I still get traffic as well as weather alerts, it has to be the radio subscription. $299 a year is just to much.

#1654 of 2053 Reply - Onstar: Help me Decide [bobbob2] by crankeee

Jun 11, 2011 (7:46 pm)

Replying to: bobbob2 (Jun 11, 2011 10:23 am)
bobbob & bwia: You can negotiate with Onstar for the price as I'm sure you know. $150 per year for the accident reporting and the backup phone in an emergency is pretty cheap IMO. We had tornadoes in May here and many cell users lost service due to no power. Also land lines worked in some cases but many did not. Onstar was a great backup in a power outage.
Biggest advantage is the backup if you or wife do not have cell, the system defaults to Onstar. That and the safety factor make it worth the cost for us with the skinny safe and sound package. We do not need or use the nav option so do not need the deluxe package.
Just some thoughts.

#1655 of 2053 Re: Reply - Onstar: Help me Decide [crankeee] by bwia

Jun 12, 2011 (12:09 pm)

Replying to: crankeee (Jun 11, 2011 7:46 pm)
After reading these convincing comments from several forums I am now inclined to renew but hopefully at a discounted price.
• The OnStar phone works better than any consumer cell phone. OnStar uses the 4 watt transmitter, where hand held cell phones are limited to 3/10 of a watt. After the hurricane in New Orleans, OnStar was the only cell service that would work because of it's increased range.
 
• I just did an online renewal of my OnStar coverage for a year. I paid $149 for 1 year of the Safe & Sound plan. It's $14.95 if you pay monthly.
The Directions & Connections plan is $249 for 1 year or $24.90 paid monthly.
 
• I very much appreciated getting a call when I went straight into the side of a
stop sign blowing pickup last may. My airbags had gone off and I was unconscious
for several moments. Had something really bad happened I would have wanted
it for sure. Thankfully nothing really bad happened but they certainly helped in
getting the police their faster and just nice to know someone was alerted to
my misfortune incase I needed help
 
• Also, the remote location door unlock feature.. I've used it 2 or 3 times.. Once just because I could.
It's a nice service, and I like having the peace of mind knowing that I am safe.
PLUS, yesterday when my Aura wouldn't start (starter went.) it was nice to call a tow truck, the service was impressive.
 
• I firmly believe OnStar is worth the cost of having. First off, it's a theft-deterrent system that can track your car if it is stolen. Second, OnStar can remotely unlock your car should you lock your keys in your car or lose your keys. Third, the emergency assistance you can activate or is automatically activated should you have a medical emergency or an accident. These things are about your PROTECTION rather than simply the convenience of having hands-free phone service and turn-by-turn directions. It's about keeping you and your vehicle as safe as possible. IMO, many people often focus way too much on "convenience" features.
 
The VALUE of anything / system is knowing what it can do and needing the features it provides. It's kind of like homeowner's insurance. The day you need it and don't have it is the day you'll curse yourself for not having renewed the policy / service.
 
I'm guessing the VAST MAJORITY of automobile insurance companies provide a discount for having OnStar as a theft-deterrent and tracking system. Why in the heck wouldn't they? I KNOW you won't receive a discount from them for having hands-free calling or TBT directions
 
• I have never renewed Onstar in any of my previous vehicles, but since I now have the 2011 that allows remote start from my cell phone, I now can't live without it! I love being able to remote start my car from my office while it is parked in the lot across the street and not visible to me! Makes Iowa winters a little easier.
 
http://www.enclaveforum.net/index.php?topic=7447.0

#1656 of 2053 Re: Reply - Onstar: Help me Decide [bwia] by rainman5542

Jun 12, 2011 (1:16 pm)

Replying to: bwia (Jun 12, 2011 12:09 pm)
You cite a lot of good reasons for paying for OnStar.
 
I did not renew because
 
1. In 45 years of driving, I have never lockled myself out of my car
2. My CXL has a theft alarm
3. My CXL has a NAV system
4. I no longer work and drive just 8800 miles per year.
5. Cell reception is fine with my Blackberry connected by Bluetooth
6. Cost

#1657 of 2053 Re: Reply - Onstar: Help me Decide [bwia] by cooleydd

Jun 12, 2011 (1:17 pm)

Replying to: bwia (Jun 12, 2011 12:09 pm)
I too love the OnStar and it is available on the four GM cars that I own. The problem is having to pay for each of them without any consideration of a discount. They also now have an App for certain cars, however it is not available on the 2010 LaCrosse. I called this morning and was offered, after some discussion, the $149 per year with 100 free minutes of phone use. The cost would be the same for each vehicle. At about $600 for all 4 I decided it was not worth it especially since each of us have cell phones with navigation. I did not even renew it for one car. If the price for all 4 cars, including 100 free minutes for each car, was around $300 it would be doable. To me, considering the price for cell phones, it seems to me that OnStarr has priced itself out of the market - especially for multiple cars.

#1658 of 2053 Re: Reply - Onstar: Help me Decide [cooleydd] by e_net_rider

Jun 14, 2011 (5:50 am)

Replying to: cooleydd (Jun 12, 2011 1:17 pm)
Replying to the entire thread.
There are some good points as to having it.
The cost is a big issue, especially for whole package.
And the same is true for XM with the weather and traffic.
I assume they use same antenna and if I'm getting dropouts all over this city, I'd assume the same for GM/OnStar. Many vehicles have this problem with XM and many do not.
The extra power thing sounds bogus. It might transmit with extra power, but reception depends on the power from the other end. Have you ever gotten a "no transmit"? It is "no reception".
 
On the whole, I think the business model for GM/OnStar and XM is defunct. That is they will be going the way of Blockbuster, unless they make big changes.
GM/OnStar needs to add SATCOM back into its system so that if you are somewhere where cell service is not working, you can drop back to the other, and viceversa.
GM, OnStar, XM (and/or) needs to figure a way to keep navigation, weather, traffic, etc., all current. And the quality of music stream, along with the audio system in many cases, needs improving. XM does not seem to be CD quality and with the improved quality of other sources, via lossless compression such as ALAC (Apple lossless audio codec), XM will need to step up. I'd guess the issue is satelite bandwidth and being able to modify what exists.
But if they don't, they will be very minor players.
Example, how long will it be before cell phones integrate inertial accelerators or some other method of detecting a collision? You can already stream music through the cell service or download high quality.
The obvious answer is that they need to improve services and cut cost to discourage any competition.

Messages Page 166 of 206

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement