trinacriabob

Thanks for the post and the link. That's right...in that year, the smallish FWD DeVille series and the big RWD Fleetwoods coexisted. It saddens me to know that the tufted cloth or leather interiors are gone from our automotive vocabulary. The feeling of a "living room on wheels" is a part of Americana that has "left the station." I once had a neighbor that had an 88 Coupe DeVille (no vinyl top) in that "mauvey" brown with a matching cloth interior. It was stunning. He told me it had 147,000 miles on it. I always wondered how 4.1 or 4.5 V8s with aluminum blocks and heads made for transverse mounting in Cadillacs would fare over the years. Actually, I still see a lot of FWD late 80s DeVilles on the roads. Apparently, these little aluminum V8s have held up.

machine

Right. This was worded very well. I wanted a LaCrosse that didn't invite comparisons to so many other cars. I've read several times that, when Buick first launched the Riviera coupe, there was nothing to compare it to. It set a benchmark. When Cadillac introduced the Seville, it also set off a trend that others followed. Yes, yes, agreed...the quality looks high, the attention to detail is obvious, and I'm sure it will be a very sound car; however, I'm a little disappointed. Like H.E. said, it's the "look" people want today.

awaited

intense

There is a very common term in LA "let's go to the snow"...every kid says it, or hears it. It means that the city will never see it, but adjacent mountains, from about 4,000 ft on up, can get it. I like it that way...no snow anywhere in sea level parts of California.

I will say that the interior is nice. The swooping form of the console from back as it meets the dash is great, as is the curve of the dash cowl and the placement of certain items, such as the A/C vents. However, I still think the outside is a "collage"...of all the cars that have been mentioned. I'm sure it will sell. I thought the bombastic Dodge trucks would flop but apparently there are a lot of "dudes" who work in construction and need an extra shot of testosterone that buy these. It'll be interesting to see who the market niche that is ultimately reached by this new Buick turns out to be.

Well, I would agree that the 2005-2008 LaCrosse is not particulary innovative, but the proportions are to my liking. It's well-balanced. I know people mention the overhang and I now see what people are talking about, but viewed in profile, the hood's relationship to the trunk lid seems better proportioned. I also like the rear view with the crease between the lamps and the C-pillar with the roof rails as well as some sense of verticality. Look at how the timeless proportions have sold cars. The 76-77 Cutlasses, the 81-87 Cutlasses, the 88-96 Grand Prix in coupe form, the 98-02 Intrigues, and others. Even the DTS which harkens back to a more notchback type of sedan picked up in sales over its predecessors...I would have never looked at a Cadillac and then, seeing them around, took note...that's a beautifully proportioned large car. I think the LaCrosse hasn't sold as well because of our crappy economy, the fact the more and more people think American cars are not cool, and, to a point, because the W-platform has been around for a long time. I think the vernacular of the new LaCrosse is trendy and won't be timeless. The roof that's gone through the flattener, the scrunchy greenhouse and the overly angled rear backlite that flows into nothing of a trunk lid will be a passing phase.

Exactly what I think. It's such an also-ran.

Well, as a 2008 buyer and one who likes more conservative styling, I give it an "eh." The two things I like are the front grille (nicer than mine) and the dash is kind of interesting, though I don't like the "strapped in" astronaut feeling. The things I don't like are the flattened roofline, and resultant shrinking of the greenhouse, and a rear end that looks like a combo of a Lexus and a Yaris. I like mine way better.

wino breath

A true minimalist and everything is organized into boxes / organizers / containers and hidden away so it makes my place look minimalistic. I like it that way.

martini

I like the front that is presented in the sketches better. Sportier and I like the even spacing of the grille slats. I like the rear of the actual production car better. I think the Corvette-ish 2 round taillamps has shown up on too many Chevys - Corvette, Cobalt, etc. and the actual configuration is unique to the Malibu. It's a good car. I like it in 4-cyl form just fine, from what I got to rent.

Why are these ladies so unhappy? They're rolling in fame and dough. Beer...maybe had a dozen beers...in my life. I'm probably allergic to the hops or barley, so that's a taste I'll never acquire. Poon is ok, as long as you don't have to maintain it. Maybe, if like beer, you can pay $5 and get poon and then walk away when finished, that could be a good thing.

Coca Cola

igloo

You ever made any pita pockets with pizza ingredients? That might be interesting...

push

pudding

QUOTE (Dodgefan @ Jan 6 2009, 03:58 PM) I dunno if I would take that as in insult. You know me, DF, I'm General Motors "to the bone."

jealous

A few people have said (the front of) the LaCrosse looks "kind of like a Jaguar." What an insult to my LaCrosse.

response to thread: good comeback

Yeah. I went from $1.53 at Safeway, with club card, to about $1.76.