wildcat

Edmunds.com seems to think Buick will get a "smaller" crossover, after Cadillac and Saab get one in 2008. If so, I hope it truly is smaller, 'cause there'd be no point for Buick to have two 7-passenger crossovers, unless they're otherwise very different from each other. ehaase: Your post is logged in at 3:31 am (!) Get some sleep! ^_^

That's good news to me, because I thought the Centieme had an odd look overall. If I liked it at all, it was only because it was something fresh from Buick. So here's to the Buick Enclave!

lexcar: I thought many people feel that GM has too many brands now. (I think they should work with what they have.) So do you think they should bring 2 new makes over to NA and have to spend money acquainting the general public to them? Why not harvest whatever Saturn isn't taking from Opel for possible sharing, along with Vauxhall product, as NA Pontiac and Buick models?

In their "Car Briefs" today, Auto Week repeated that the Buick Enclave will be at the Detroit show in January.

Someone else initially said the 23rd, but when I watched last Wednesday's show, they said " . . . in two weeks . . . " I just turned on CNBC (I'm in Chicago), so if it starts to unfold as the Lucerne episode, I'll post back here immediately.

The Buick Lucerne episode will air Wed., November 30th on NBC. Tonight? Are you talking about re-runs on CNBC?

Is that when the Buick LaCrosse Super reveals itself?

If Buick were to be down to two models -- and that's IF -- what was all this wasted time about "Super" and "Reserve"? Buick doesn't need more trim names <_< , they need more product. Besides, some Buick spokesperson said only a few days ago that they were hoping that Lucerne would represent about 40-50% of Buick's sales, LaCrosse about 40%, leaving 10-20% for... ? Something's coming for Buick, it's just not crystal clear yet. Zeta / RWD ca. 2010? Who can tell us?

Is it possible GM will continue the Buick Terraza. Ted has it on his list, updated 11/5, as one of the new, I think, GMT-962s. Or, given GM's icnreasing use of global platforms, can the Chinese Buick Excelle come here as the next-generation LaCrosse? (Creating more distance in the overall sizes of LaCrose and Lucerne?)

ehaase: You've made clear how you feel, but I was under the impression the Torrent would be dropped, and Buick [ not GMC ] would then receive a (likely) rebadge of the Equinox, ca.2009. thegriffon: Is that being re-evaluated? Because if a smaller Buick crossover isn't coming, that will eliminate any hesitation for me to buy a Buick Enclave. Moreover, if there will be a smaller Buick crossover, is it more likely to be styled like a mini-Enclave or an Equinox with a Buick grille?

I think this is a very good, honest story. And that red Buick Lucerne looks... well... hot and cool B) in that picture! AFTERTHOUGHT: rivieraranch: GM's neglect was just what my signature used to address: "Buick isn't to blame for GM's problems, but GM is d*** sure to blame for Buick's!" But I wanted to be more positive, so I changed it to what you see now.

avant1963: Thank you for starting this thread. GM should do a fourth commercial, focused on Buick's quality attribute, including the news the other day that Buick tied for third place in the latest J.D. Power Sales-Satisfaction Index. But I think they're headed in the right direction, and I think that if people give it a chance, the Lucerne will please them. (Then comes the Buick Enclave!)

Thanks, Cananopie, for posting this. Here's a similar, but shorter story, from Brandweek magazine.

Tonight I saw a new Buick TV commercial, which showed (but did not come out and say) the words "Beyond Precision." It was a "Red Tag" commercial for Chicago-area Buick dealers, but I bet it's the basic commercial which will air nationally. The announcer had a hushed-type voice, mentioning the fine qualities of the car. And, to the effect of, while you're at the dealership, be sure to see the new Lucerne. I didn't get "fire sale" at all; it seemed very relaxed and upscale. ALSO: A few minutes later, I saw a commercial for the Dodge (I think) 1500 truck. One with a big Hemi engine, new suspension, interior, etc. I realize all the manufacturers typically show a really nice vehicle in the commercial, but give a lowball base price on the screen and then the fine print says "price as shown $XXX. The Dodge, after all allowances, was $14K-something, but priced as shown $38K! I never noticed such a big disparity before.

Besides this needing to be the new headline on C&G's homepage, GM's "Media Online" needs to write up a press release right away. Something good instead of gloom + doom. ( <_< Or do they have to protect Cadillac?)

Add in the good news today that Buick tied for third in the J.D. Power Sales-Satisfaction Index, and your armed for customer sales! And that Sharkskin CXS sounds sharp!

The Lucerne is, indeed, the next project on "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart," but they way they previewed it tonight, it sounds like it will air in 2 weeks, on November 30th (not tthe 23rd)

A new J.D. Power Sales and Satisfaction Index was released today, and BUICK was tied for third! According to the story from Automotive News, Jaguar topped the ranking for the second straight year. Lexus was second, and Buick and Porsche were tied for third. The Index measures "the satisfaction new-vehicle buyers express with the sales process." Are you proud of Buick, GM?

My point about the Rainier is it's a dead duck so don't devote any money to it, it's going to be dropped.

Quoting AH-HA, "No one is going to buy GM, there are too many liabilities and GM isn't going bankruptcy anytime soon either. If it were up to the media, GM would've been dead decades ago." Quoting ehaase, "I predict that GM does not declare bankruptcy and just continues struggling and treading water for at least the next 5 to 10 years. Wall Street won't be happy, because it wants GM to declare bankruptcy and shed itself of the pension liabilities, health care costs, and a couple divisions. Hopefully, the GMT900's, the Lambdas, and the Cadillacs generate enough cash to keep things going." Those two above posts are, to me, the smartest ones I've seen in this blizzard of bankruptcy / doomsday predictions and death wishes, and are worth repeating! Lastly, I'll quote from myself, " . . . I suggest that GM do the best it can with the brands it has now. I think if it hangs in there, it will not need to file for bankruptcy. Bankruptcy would be the easy way out. Anybody can start from a clean slate. Let's see GM right itself on its own and be loyal to the brands that helped make GM a major player to begin with." Isn't that what all GM fans would want?

According to comments by dfelt, if GM files for bankruptcy, it should drop Buick and Pontiac. Should that happen, I promise that I will be one customer who will NEVER buy any GM product again (and I have been a loyal GM customer up to now). In fact, I will hope for the day that whatever "new" (Buick and Pontiac-less) GM emerges will fall flat on its face. And I don't think I'd be alone; there are many long-time Buick and Pontiac customers. Also, I don't think GM can recover from the stigma of being bankrupt. Therefore, I suggest that GM do the best it can with the brands it has now. I think if it hangs in there, it will not need to file for bankruptcy. Bankruptcy would be the easy way out. Anybody can start from a clean slate. Let's see GM right itself on its own and be loyal to the brands that helped make GM a major player to begin with.

Cananopie: :) Thank you for posting this. But if there ever was an award for least meaningful news story, this should be nominated. The story says that "Buick will focus . . . nearly one-fourth of its budget on the new Lucerne sedan in the first quarter of 2006." :rolleyes: Well, yeah, since they only have 4 vehicles that need to be advertised, it would be a no-brainer if Lucerne gets 1/4th of the ad budget. (Rainier will be dropped in '06 so it shouldn't be allocated a dime). The story goes on to state, "The Lucerne is a 'very big part' of Buick's advertising budget for next year, Steve Shannon, Buick general manager, told Automotive News at a press event here." <_< I guess that's why they pay him the big bucks, for those cogent comments.

NBC announced yesterday that ''The Apprentice: Martha Stewart" will end its run Dec. 21, only months after it started. An average of 6.7 million viewers have watched it this season. I believe the November 23rd episode centered around the Buick Lucerne will go on as scheduled.

That avatar is gross! Especially above that beautiful Buick Lucerne. Signed, - Our collective conscience ^_^

An old adage says, "united we stand, divided we fall." Evidently, this time either way...