VenSeattle

Most of the compact's positioning depends on the price of the 2010 LaCrosse replacement. A $23k-$28k Buick Compact could work if the LaCrosse Replacement starts around $27k-$30k. Remember the Cruze will start around $15k when it debuts in the US. The Astra will probably be similar, if not just a few k more (maybe $17k-$18k) There's plenty of room for a premium compact Buick firmly in the $23k-$28k range. A $7k-$8k increase in base price over the Cruze would allow Buick to offer a competitive premium compact. Selling a compact at the price of a current mid-large w-body LaCrosse would be a major improvement. As for internal competition... Buicks and SAABs will not be cross shopped and their styling will be polar opposites. I'd actually want Buick to offer one well equipped Buick compact (like just offering the available top-level Delta II engine, unless a hybrid form was available) with a limited price range... similar to Honda & Acura's strategy.

Funny you mention the green interior trim... My 1995 Chrysler Cirrus had a Silver-Fern exterior & interior color... Unique. I liked it. My main disagreements with ponchoman were about the bodyside moldings and the chrome strip along the rocker panel. I like the sweepspear-inspired crease without bodyside moldings. The chrome rockers dress up the profile too. It looks good on VWs, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, etc...

I know you were talking to Paolino... be me personally, no. I just don't care for the look of the Cruze. It's not ugly at all. I'm just not fond of it. Plus, take into account: GM can charge more for Buick & SAAB branded Delta IIs... profitability is more important than ever. Chevrolet & Saturn branded vehicles compete more on price. GM needs premium compacts that won't require discounts to sell. Plus, if anything needs standard Quiet Tuning, a compact does...

Well... I'm thinking along the lines of the premium 4-cyl FWD market. There aren't many left but it seems to be destined to grow considering the conditions. Regardless if Buick's 4-cyl compact isn't the largest in the segment, it still needs to be able to compete in style, features, and sophistication.

Funny about the opinions of the Cruze=Buick... I'm finding it hard to like personally. This Cruze is not a bad car. I'm sure it'll sell better than any compact GM car before it. It's bigger than the Cobalt and the interior appears to be stylish and high quality... great achievements... It's obviously engineered and designed to appeal directly to Civic & Corolla buyers... The problem is the Cruze doesn't begin to compare to a spec'd out Jetta or S40... let alone the new TSX or A4 1.8t... The Cruze sets the bottom line for Delta II (a very well accomplished bottom line.) The Buick Compact should be as comfortable, luxurious, and upscale as a FWD GM compact can get (Cadillac will not have one). SAAB’s 9-3 can be more about premium sport/performance with styling and luxury only Trollhattan can deliver.

+1

I can picture Infiniti reviving the J-series as their "4-dr coupe" to compete against similar cars like the CLS, new BMW 8-series, Audi A7 "Sportsback", and Jaguar XF... that would be very nice...

Infiniti may have done it with the new G37 sedan, coupe, and convertible. I really do lust for a modern J30 though... The G37 sedan has some of the same interior/exterior characteristics. So, I guess that's why I like it...

You want intelligent? We aren't talking retail... ---> Fact is you'll see almost 4 times as many Camries driving around with a rental scan bar than the LaCrosse. In actual quantity, you're just as likely to see a rental LaCrosse as you are a rental Accord... which is next to NEVER. Most Buicks on the road MY2005 to present are driven by the owner. That's the point here. I, of all people, want to rent Buicks when I travel and can't ever seem to get one... not even through Avis. That's how much of a "rental queen" they are. Enterprise has almost 6,000 US rental locations. National has over 3,000 US rental locations. HERTZ has about 1,900 US rental locations. AVIS has about 1,700 US rental locations. Alamo has around 1,000 US rental locations. Tell me my chances of finding one of the 4,xxx 2008 LaCrosses available that were sent to rental agencies so far this year?

I'm thankful I moved to the PacNW... Starbucks are pretty safe in this area... Not too many bible study groups... Most people up here seem to be intellectuals that lean towards science, technology, or nature (you'll never forget about a Solstice up here!)

There are 4 Lambda vehicles this generation: Chevrolet, Saturn, GMC, & Buick From my understanding, there will only be three Lambdas for the 2nd gen: Chevrolet, Buick, & Cadillac. GMC & Saturn will not get a 2-gen 8-passenger vehicle off of Lambda. There are only three Theta II CUVs planned also: Equinox replacement, GMC version, & Saturn VUE. There are currently only two TE CUVs planned: Saab 9-4x & Cadillac SRX

You came to this conclusion without: pricing, features, options, trim-levels, horsepower, fuel economy, dimensions, clear spy pics, production pics, etc... etc... etc... The LaCrosse hybrid is out in China now... trust me, there will be one (99% sure to be sold in both markets) to replace it.

Northstar... OMG... Buick Enclave runs between $35k-$45k (the price range of the new compact/midsize SRX) Cadillac Escalade runs $59k-$81k Oh yeah... I see the overlap if Escalade goes Lambda... Even if Lambda becomes a model between SRX & Escalade (which I doubt), there will still be a large gap in price, styling, and not to mention clientele.

I think they would also. The direction I'm going with my post is volume... percentages are deceiving. nearly four times as many Camries go to fleet than LaCrosse. Almost twice as many Avalons when to fleet instead of LaCrosse - Fleet total for mid year: Accord - 4,302 units LaCrosse - 4,546 units Avalon - 7,885 units Camry - 17,013 units The chances of getting a Camry at Avis or Enterprise are much higher than getting a LaCrosse. GM has allowed sales to drop for the LaCrosse as demand dissipates for this generation. GM isn't propping up LaCrosse sales by flooding rental agencies. The LaCrosse isn't a fleet queen. Never has been.

So, the Toyota Avalon, Audi A5, Volvo S40, Volvo S60, Chrysler 300, Hyundai Azera, and Jaquar X-type are at or above 20%. They're all fleet queens? I agree yes to most, but not all of them. Volkswagen Passat, Audi Q7, Infiniti FX are all around 15-16%... Are they under the threshhold of being a fleet queen? or are they considered to be whored out like the LaCrosse too? I don't think so.

IIRC, the LaCrosse was never fleeted like a "fleet queen." Even right now it's only at 21% just 6 months before being replaced. I've requested LaCrosses and Lucernes several times when traveling and they're never available. I always get stuck in a Ford 500/Tuarus or an Impala because I'm tired of all the Hyundais and Chryslers that I've had.

Agreed... I thought the exterior of the coupe/convertible looked fine... It's the interior that needed help. The only issue I wish they would have addressed on the convertible was to extend the chrome trim all the way around the passenger compartment when the top was retracted. They didn't...

Oh... come on... on a 4-month old post, you're gonna say this? Anyway... This isn't the Buick forum... now is it? If you weren't aware, Saturn has a relationship with GME... check out some posts by one of our members, PCS, to learn more. Feel free to blast away with your perspective/ opinion/ agenda on GME

I agree with Moltar and siegen... I could really fall for this car. Believe it or not, my current favorite hardtop convertible (other than the XLR) is the Volvo C70. I see a lot of them around here (especially at the ProClub) and really like it... This could replace the C70 as my favorite. I'm interested to see what Infiniti will charge for it...

There's always the alternative.... :rotflmao: :rotflmao: McCafe commercials are just annoying.... ugh. I voted now and then... I like Starbucks... their coffee and atmosphere. They usually have a couple of different coffees brewed so ask what they're serving when you order a drip. Try something different.

Uhm... they're not all on the same platform/architecture...

2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible Press Release 8/1/08 All-New Infiniti G37 Convertible Readies For Debut. Infiniti offers the first looka t the upcoming 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible, which makes its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. The new G Convertible features a fully automatic 3-piece folding top – providing a coupe-like silhouette and all-weather protection when up and exhilarating open-air motoring when in the down position. The G37 Convertible will be powered by a 3.7-liter V6 producing 320-plus horsepower. It goes on sale at Infiniti retailers nationwide in early 2009. For more information on the complete lineup of Infiniti vehicles, visit: www.infiniti.com.

Theta II vehicles and TE vehicles are separate... if anything, the 9-4x & SRX may have some similarities, but don't expect any similarities between them and the Theta models.

The Rendezvous outsold GM's Sales expectations to the point GM could drop the Pontiac version (AZTEK) and continue production without a platform mate. The Rendezvous was a hit for Buick. The Rainier outsold the Oldsmobile Bravada while sharing a showroom floor with the GMC Envoy (another surprise to GM). The LaCrosse was never meant to match Century/Regal sales because fleet sales were reduced when the LaCrosse came out. ---- Most models slow up right before being replaced because buyers are holding off for the replacement or remodel.

Happy B-Day 98!