Cananopie

Invicta would be a great retro-fitted name. It's good for Buick to show they have not forgotten their heritage. I might agree with you if Buick never made an Invicta before, but it's better than getting another name like LaCrosse that was just supposed to remind people of LeSabre in name.

As Autoblog goes on with its review to days 3 and 4 I have to say their criticisms are pretty fair, I don't agree with everything but that's only because interior is something that considers a lot of personal taste. However I really don't see Autoblog using pre-determined stereotypes to define Buick like Motor Trend and Car and Driver. I think the criticisms Autoblog leaves are done appropriately.

First review comes from Autoblog. They haven't assessed it in its entirety yet, but they seem pretty pleased with it and are looking at it objectively. Plus it's an in-depth analysis, not like the washover reviews that we usually see. Also he makes it a point to let you know he's not sitting in anyones financial pockets or siding with anyone in particular. http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/07/2006-bu...garage-day-1-2/ http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/09/2006-bu...garage-day-3-4/ Next is a short article on how well the Lucerne and the Fusion have been selling for Buick and Ford and what successes they are. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06054/659656.stm Lastly is a typical review from Seattlepi.com but another check for a really positive review from another reviewer http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/wheels/260470_road24.html

It's good to see more positive press for the Lucerne. It definitely deserves it.

I just really see Buick's future seems to be internationally selling the same cars which financially will streamline PLENTY for GM which is just what they want plus Buick's are revered in China and that definitely adds weight to the "Don't kill this brand" side of the scale. I don't see that for Pontiac. Isn't even the next gen GTO a sketchy happening?

Fair enough. It'll be interesting to see what happens. With Buick's massive popularity in China Buick could be getting near a full lineup again in maybe a decade or so. Since Pontiac isn't really an international brand I wonder what they plan on doing with that. Chevy makes enough to support themselves with NA sales alone. Cadillac does well enough with overseas as does Buick. I see Saturn and Pontiac bumping heads in product and since both are only confined to NA (unless I'm wrong I dont think Pontiac or Saturn sell outside of it) I wonder what will happen. The incorporation of the Buick, Pontiac, GMC dealerships might have been the first step to dropping Pontiac while giving Saturn, a place with dealerships of their own (and also there aren't as MANY dealerships either which is good for incorporating the lower volume of sales of just a NA company) a chance to become the new innovative sporty image. I just mean that Saturn got the Aura, Saturn got the higher end Solstice (Sky), and Saturn is going to be the first GM company that really utilizes alternative fuel sources (green line). Saturn is most definitely where Oldsmobile should be today at least stepping ABOVE Pontiac which is never has before in its history. However giving Pontiac GMC dealerships Buick to compensate for Pontiac if they were to get rid of it and giving Buick dealerships GMC to compensate for the cut-down on vehicles temporarily there should be no lawsuits if GM were to declare Pontiac the company they need to cut to stay profitable. I really think it makes perfect sense since Saturn has the perfect amount of dealerships for the volume that they'll be selling at and the proper image outside of GM fans. Because everything has pointed to GM needing to cut another major company and I think if they streamline Buick in to an international company then there is only one "damaged brand" left... and Saturn will make sure we're not missing anything that Pontiac could've offered.

Buick does need another car. Not another truck. Buick's have always been car-based and I think 2 is at LEAST 1 too short of enough. And there should no way be 3 sedans. Get a coupe/convertible in there to finally once and for all get rid of the old tyme Buick idea. For instance if the LaCrosse concept or the Velite concept were to be put in to production people will look at the production LaCrosse and the production Lucerne and even the production Enclave in a whole new light... because THIS is the same company that makes one of THOSE cars. Buick is in desperate need for the gimme-car. The Enclave is good for Buick's SUV image but not for the sedan image. Buick needs a coupe/convertible and they need it soon and it needs to be RWD.

In all seriousness could someone tell me the possibility of internationally streamlining Buick? I'm not asking for hunches, but has anybody seen any hints or proof that Buick is going to be an international brand with the same lineup in every country? I am not sure if this is a bad idea or a good idea or if it's really even possible. The standards (such as safety) for China and North America would have to be pretty similar for this to happen and I have no idea how the Chinese standards are. Plus would China and NA be interested in the same vehicles?

I'm not saying I definitely know it was faster, but it felt faster is all I'm saying. I didn't race them or anything. Their LeSabre is a 2000.

When I test drove the CXL I was very pleased with the pick up, especially for the size. It felt faster than my parent's LeSabre.

I'd like to see you in another Buick Riv, you got good taste!

Yes, thank you, I thought I was the only one.

The GTO was a respectable vehicle. Most Pontiac's I wouldn't buy but that is one that had a style I liked. I blame it on that popular sports cars today have to look like jokes in order to get anybody liking them. Or retro if American, theres literally no other choice whether there SHOULD be or not.

I think a lot of people are getting confused. THIS IS NOT THE NEXT LACROSSE. This is the Chinese LaCrosse. Not available in the United States. Nothing short of a miracle will bring it to the United States either. The LaCrosse is new enough that that design would be way out of style by the time it was produced here.

The Bel-air just reminds me of a really late Thunderbird rival.

I honestly am really surprised at the 2 threads on this (I started with this one so I'm just sticking posting on this one). The exterior screams unoriginality. Buick should not become the Hyundai of lower end luxury vehicles. The interior is very nice though. I agree most of the way it looks should be in a Buick. My gripe is not with that. But the exterior- come on guys- that says every other japanese company out there plus some Montego in there. This is honestly what this forum wants for exterior styling? It's already out there for you- go buy them.

I think the Chinese LaCrosse would not be the step-forward Buick would be looking for. If Buick were to come out with that now as the new LaCrosse everybody on here would be furious. It isn't a bad looking car but it is very imitative of other brands and I think below Buick's standards for being uniquely styled. I like parts of the interior though. I think some of that would look good in the next LaCrosse. But I want the next LaCrosse to kill this car. It's nothing very unique at all.

Airbags in any vehicle would not be safe if there weren't fracture points for the way the dash blows off otherwise having shards of anything coming at you at 100 mph, even your precious soft plastic, could be lethal. The way airbags work is nothing but the airbag is supposed to hit your face. If you still don't understand the way an airbag works is it senses the accident and the airbag deploys. The way the dash material is made BEHIND the exterior has certain break points in it because once the airbag deploys you'll need a new one anyway, when it breaks it will hit the break points making the dash blow off to the side leaving nothing but the airbag in front of the human.

Didn't you also "scrape your leg through jeans" on the interior? No offense but I have a feeling you tend to exaggerate since not one single other person has experienced these defects that make it sound like a poorly put together torture chamber. Maybe it was just your car but until someone else finds the interior plastic equal to concrete and able to open huge gaps when Buick specifically touts it has some of the tightest gaps in the industry you might be able to convince some people of its cheapness.

God's chariot, haha, I like that. Perhaps Toyota should just consider that as the new name for the Avalon with the next generation.

I agree. Josh is no worse than anyone else here and if it wasn't for Josh this site would not be nearly as good as it is. It must be real easy to wake up turn on your computer, make snarky comments and leave. If you think you're so much better at running an enthusiast site there are about a million domain names out there just waiting for your cash, time, and effort. Some people need to relax with Josh. I do appreciate every person who has spent money and time consistently to keep this forum in existence. Mistakes happen and Josh has always, always, always tried to keep this a reputable and credible site and has always worked so hard to care for it.

You have to admit Croc with all your cynnicism about the interior that for each thing you don't like about the interior (which seems to only be the level of hardness of the plastic) there are about 10 things you can find better about the interior of the Lucerne over the LeSabre. Even on the interior the LeSabre wasn't as stylish, wasn't as quiet, wasn't as tight, the leather is higher quality (even the cloth is cushier than the LeSabre cloth), the audio systems better, the fact they finally offer a 5 seater, and even where you rest your arm as a driver there isn't any hard plastic around that area. The only things you really touch in a vehicle are the seat, where you rest your arm, and the steering wheel and all of which are void of the hard plastic. I don't really expect to change your mind because you seem pretty set on this idea, I'm just saying in the grand scheme of the interior it didn't really 'regress' at all. Most people will not notice the dash material that they won't even be touching. And if they do I have owned cars with much worse plastic like my 97 Skylark. Personally when I'm inside a vehicle so long as the plastic doesn't affect my comfort I could care less how hard it is because I really am rarely going to be touching it and it effects quality little. I'd prefer to have tighter gaps and a quieter ride than a softer plastic on things I rarely touch. In fact aside from only a couple people in C&G I've never met anybody who bases their buying decisions on the plastic they rarely touch. It's not that soft plastic wouldn't be a good option for the CXS or CXL V8 or even a fine replacement for the current plastic. But don't beat Buick up over it, everything you'll be interacting with daily is so much better.

The article says "starts production in fall" and usually they start production a few months before they sell it (aka- put it in the showroom)... so I would say we will start seeing it in showrooms 12 to 14 months from now, not necessarily the whole 18 but thats a safe-bet in case something is held up... which usually something is at GM.

I like both Fly and Josh as admins and I think you both have done great things for C&G. I don't know exactly what duties Josh held as "chief" that he's relinquishing but I think Fly's explanation about how this is a site that has to take some chances in order to be so late-breaking is completely acceptable. It's not like Josh isn't obviously apologetic and I think the way Josh handled the situation only should make this site more credible. It's obvious both Josh and Fly commit very much to this site and anybody who is still upset after Josh reliniquished his title should relax a little. He obviously takes this even more serious than the rest of us so relax. I think both Fly and Josh are great admins and really keep this site running well. whoevers in charge will do a great job I have no doubt. Mistakes happen. Nobody is perfect.

I could've sworn the current grille classifies under "waterfall" but I could be wrong.