trinacriabob

It's a car that absolutely does NOT know what it wants to be. The only things I like are the angularity of the headlamps (instead of the current fish eyes) and the fact that the bars in the front grille aren't fully aligned, creating a little more motion and excitement in an otherwise conservative Buick grille. Other than that, everything else is horrendous. The ledges on the front hood say Chrysler Sebring. The thick roof rail says Saturn Aura. The rear deck says Maxima/Altima, with the taillamps themselves having vestiges of Toyota Corolla/Yaris in their proportions to the overall rear treatment. And the driver says "I can't see, I can't see"...what a ridiculously squatty roofline. Gee, I'm liking my '08 base model LaCrosse with my boring 3800 V6 more and more....

Yes, we already know.

This topic comes around every now and then... I was born in LA but lived in Seattle to be closer to my parents who were "equity transferees" to the Pacific NW from California (no longer possible to be an "equity transferee" because it's now expensive up there). I worked with a local a-hole in an architectural firm. He didn't like me, but all the other transplants did. I had to work late one night and told him I might have to call him at home with a question. Him: You didn't call me last night. Me: I didn't need to, Issaquah* Todd. (* = a suburb) Him: Fine, California Bob. Me: You don't like Californians? Him: (drawn out) No...I...don't At any rate, I always tried to get California Bob for e-mail accounts. It's always taken. I then wondered if Trinacria Bob, referring to my parents' native Sicily, would be taken. It never is.

Phoenix in August and my palms are sweating just reading this. LOL. I know you like Denver a lot. I have been, as you know, and like its western suburbs such as Ken Caryl Ranch, Evergreen and Conifer (but NOT Boulder because I don't like to be hit over the head with granolas). I heard that when you position yourself in the western suburbs, you will face an intense sun, which reportedly shines brightly in Denver, for both your morning and afternoon commute. Pittsburgh has always been rated high for numerous years in Q.O.L. surveys. The housing possibilities there seem to be very nice, per those housing magazines, and the hilly setting is likewise. However, I found it odd that a city which is always highly ranked in the surveys experiences a decline, albeit small, in both its city limit and metro area census counts as time marches on. If I ever moved east, it would be to the metro Atlanta area which is really the only eastern city I've lived in as an adult. I thought "the ATL" kicked some serious ass.

Cool! You're the only one that I know of on C&G. East Bay, Marin, Peninsula, Pleasanton/Livermore? It's all good. I drove down to the Walnut Creek area to go to dinner with someone who drove eastward from the city. She is constantly in a state of disbelief as to what comes out of my mouth. People I knew in LA just laughed. White trash is not good. Trans Am is good. White trash Trans Am tilts toward being good. LOL.

North Central Calif, about 110 miles N.E. of the Bay Area. Los Angeles, in my heart, will always be my home. However, all coastal California metro areas are too pricey. Even though SF is more scenic than LA, if I could afford to live WELL in either, I'd take LA in a heartbeat. SF is too politically correct and LA is more free-wheeling and whacked, so I fit in better. In fact, look how many colorful Southern Californians are on this site while there are NO Bay Area members that come to mind....they are too busy driving around their overrated foreign garbage while dating some intelligent granola or Asian chick who went to Berkeley or Stanford with her flawless SAT and works in tech or as a web designer. Re. my general area.... Pros: more affordable, at the foot of the Sierra Nevadas, proximity to Tahoe and San Francisco, cools down at night even when it's real hot during the day Cons: hotter than being within 25 or so miles from the coast, people are not as interesting as I'm accustomed to, people can be stupid... ...did I mention that people can be stupid?

Taxes all over the heavily populated NE population corridor are absurd, by and large, since I love to look at R.E. on the web. When the house/townhouse/condo ads tack on the property taxes, for example, it makes what was on the cusp of being tenable seem ridiculous. And this isn't just Bergen County NJ or LI, it's the Hudson River Valley, PA, Mass and that whole swath of the country. Indeed...people in your general area ARE interesting. A lady who sits down the hall from me struck up a friendship, largely based on me asking "is that a tri-state area accent?" Turns out she was born in Queens and Italian, need I say more. She's a hoot and said people out West are too "homogenized," even in the large West Coast metro areas she's lived in.

This is on the old 92 Regal, nearing 250,000 miles. I think this issue has surfaced. You note it when the engine is torqued. Questions: How many are there (3800 + 4 sp transaxle)? Are they hard for the mechanic to get to? How much is parts and labor for this operation? I heard, once you're in there, to do all of them at the same time. Any experience and facts/figures? It would be appreciated.

And they probably put on a complete lunch, almost like a picnic! As for credit cards, Moltar, they used to only take Discover and then, fortunately, switched to Amex. Unless you go for volume purchases, it's not that great, really. I only go in there to buy an electronics item or a $20 pair of brand-name jeans...that's about it.

Hey, have you ever been driving down the freeway on a road trip of at least a couple of hours and seen a Costco near an off-ramp when it's close to lunch or dinner time, preferably on a Saturday or Sunday? And your stomach is growling? Did it yesterday. The economy is clearly sputtering as there were FEWER people in the store on a Sunday at about 4 pm and FEWER tasting stands. If you are unobstrusive, you can manage 2 tastes at any station you like. It will fill you up some and you can sample foods you may not ordinarily buy or find something you will eventually buy. Obviously, I also look at their latest electronics to see if there is anything I need. I also usually pick up the $1.50 hot dog and drink on the way out. Have you done this? Or thought about it? Don't lie.

Haven't chimed in for a while and then saw this.... It's ugly, from what I can see. The roofline says Saturn Aura. The rear deck proportions say Nissan Maxima/Altima (whichever). Dashboards have been improving and have become more inspiring, so it may benefit...in this area. Drawing on another newly released car, everyone raves about the new Malibu. I see its virtues. The fit and finish are excellent. I didn't drive one because the salespeople have been too pushy (and I don't go in my new car, so they think a sale is in the making). However, the blind spots and high belt line detract. Especially the rear blind spots. Seeing this, and seeing that there were no worthwhile changes for 2009, make me glad I bought in 2008.

Purchase date. Order date was 3-9 Delivery date was 4-14 I was away at grad school so I picked it up in mid-May, hence it's birthday.

Today is my Regal's 16th birthday. This morning, it had 244,073 miles on the odometer (that's almost 400,000 kilometers!) In this period, other than stuff that normally wears out (belts, hoses, brakes, batteries), I've only fixed the following, in this order: - exhaust donut connecting manifold to tailpipe - water pump - alternator - thermostat by-pass - 2 front wheel bearing assemblies (different times) - tie rod ends - 2 sensors: O2 and knock (different times) That's it. I'll have to wax it soon. The 100 degree temps have arrived. I still like it but am not that attached to it. But it has been reliable (so folks, don't knock the W-body too hard). Do you remember your car's birthday? Do you celebrate it?

Someone needs to Google "New Madrid" and/or "1819" or something like that....

Yo, O.C., do keep your ties to So. Cal. Las Vegas's retention rate for transplants is very 50:50. Pick your suburb wisely, especially being spoiled by a South Orange Co. existence. Summerlin sounds good. What about Scottsdale AZ? Some of my friends who have done the PHX move seem to adjust to Scottsdale well and it only adds about 1-1/2 hour to the jaunt "back home" when needed. Good luck and keep us posted, bud.

Agreed. My first tank on the LaX with the 3800 on a very benign freeway trip at 62 to 65 mph with no A/C got me 30.34 mpg and not even broken in. Any 3900 I've ever rented never breaks 27 or 28 mpg, even with AFM but "baby brother" 3500 gets 32 mpg easily. In the end, even with high fuel prices, 1 or 2 mpg in 15,000 miles of driving is not that costly. About the changes, I can now exhale. I thought about waiting for MY 2009 and would have kicked myself if I was ready to buy and the 3800 was gone. It isn't, so I could have waited. However, what I would have waited for is some beautiful shade of blue (such as an ice or glacier version) which might have appeared...together with the 3800. The color didn't materialize, so I'm ok with the purchase at the time I bought it, even though I'm not even driving it that much. I would have liked to have seen the 3800 remain on the Lucerne. Wow, 3800 production or inventory must be down to a trickle, as I don't think they will be selling more than 100,000 LaCrosses for 2009.

I want you to be a cheap bastard like me. Don't buy it, PB.

Then or now? Well, once my Dad got a POS from Ford and Chrysler each, he switched to GM for the duration, preferring Oldsmobile and Buick. Funny thing, Borg, he resited Pontiac because ONE person told him they were crappy. He then had the 70 version of that 69 Pontiac Custom you own, but badged differently, with a 250 L6 and it was the BEST car he'd ever owned. Yeah, it was super simple with no power accessories and no A/C, but I still can't think of ONE time that it broke down. A true gem. So Dad passed the GM baton to me. Mom never learned to drive, though she has a 3-car garage...LOL. And, as for my brother, well...he's an ass...he drives a Volvo.

Nice! I don't know if you agree with or scoff at the "baby GP" comparison. For me, the similarities are many, though the G6 is more user-friendly, partly because of the size, seating position and the greenhouse. I've enjoyed the ones I've rented, most of which were V6 equipped. True to the Pontiac identity, their handling always inspires more confidence than that of its GM stablemates. Hey, I like your treed New Jersey neighborhood but must there always be a white Monte Carlo lurking in the background? Enjoy.

Hey, congrats! Funny how we all mention "baby's" birthday. The GP was a serious contender for me and about 3 weeks ago, I put slightly over 2,000 miles on a rented one. (They hate me, I know). I picked out the photos I like best. LOVE that dash - the shape, the in-dash ignition, the round vents....just the way it involves the driver. Also, kudos for getting the base 3800 V6 which will serve you forever, it seems. In the end, we all end up buying what fits us best...in my case I went LaCrosse. But the two cars are joined at the hip! Enjoy and may you get many years/miles of safe and dependable motoring!

I like the dash cluster the best. My friend who is an architect in Sacramento and has a little kid now, with another in the oven, bought a 2005 Tahoe. He has had good luck with it and really likes it.

Nice. I am sure I have your vehicle in the same brochure as my 1992 Regal (yes...yuck...I know...W-body). However, those are nice sleds. Still, my favorite in full-size GM rear-drive cars are the 1975 or 1976 Bonneville Brougham or Grand Ville Brougham in 2-doors with the oversized opera window, a landau top and rally wheels. I know you like them, too. Question: what does the SBC in 350 mean? I take it you have an all cast-iron 350 small block V8, but which division made it for Buick in that year? I'm sure it will do well. Isn't it cool to lift a hood to see this V-8 sitting in there PROPORTIONATELY and toward the rear near the firewall, facing you, and hopefully with all the spark plugs which can be reached with your bare hands? I will say this RWD makes the engine compartment LOOK and FUNCTION way better.

Thanks, bobo. Regarding colors, this year's selections bordered on the somber and I didn't like any of the dark colors. I tend to like blues, but they have to be the right shade....the Glacier Blue of 2005-2006 was, as one poster put it, anemic looking. It needed more punch. But there were no blues for this MY anyway. That left White Opal, Gold Mist Metallic and Platinum Metallic. White works wonders for an MC or a GP, but not on this car. The Gold was schizophrenic...a mixture of pimpy and Palm Beach wealthy retiree that changed with the light shed on it, sometimes looking rich and other times looking washed out. That left the silver, which worked well with all the chrome that was added. Now, if I could have gotten deep burgundy inside, I would have been as happy a pig in you-know-what. (where's the time tunnel?).

Sequoia

Tougher to stereotype in North Central California because of few discernable patterns. However, easier to do in Seattle and Portland where patterns are more observable. Judging from what is seen from a 5-mile radius of Seattle's "U-District": Gay men: Jettas Lesbians: Subarus