Paolino

Wow... wow. Just stupid. So everyone who wants to proudly say they're buying a G sedan or coupe now has to call it a Q and have every non-car fanatic say, "Q what?"

With numbers like 197/191... and the specs of the 3800 SIII in the LaX being 200/230... that's not really so darn close. Props to GM for recognizing the problem and actually doing something about it quickly. Hopefully they will seriously address the areas of concern. Next gen though must go on a diet. Can't play the mpg game with the big boys until you drop the pounds.

That Dodge interior is AWESOME! Not digging the "new" Chevy/GMC...

What do you think about the gray plastic moulding on the bottom of the Encore?

I won't lie, I kind-of like the idea of the Buick "David". I think something like that done right could really keep Buick's momentum going and drop the average buyer age even further. I'm dying to see what they do to the revised LaCrosse--it's a winner already--hopefully they won't screw it up!

I know it's a small detail, but I can't believe they didn't replace the old key/fob with the new one all other Buicks use.

Love this car. Haven't read a bad review on it. Until I can afford a LaCrosse, this will have to do. And as a daily commuter, I think I'll be happy.

Not to sound like a Debbie Downer, but how many times do we get our hopes up for something like this that's so far away, and then you get something lackluster? True, the ATS is loved by critics, but we're talking about the 2014 Auto Show... that's quite a bit of time away.

Update the tri-shield. Put back the color but don't make it a flat color. I don't think they can deviate too far from the current without causing some confusion amongst people who are finally starting to look at Buick.

Very true... my friend had a 99 turbo-four eclipse manual and that thing was a joy to drive. It was the first manual I ever drove.

They did nothing to make the Galant relevant with the current market... the eclipse was stuck with odd looks and again, not much that was competitive. I don't understand why they just "gave up" it seems.

The refresh seems nice... but I wonder why they couldn't update the steering wheel to the one used in the new sedans?

It's amusing because when I looked at this thread, I saw "Im-Paula" and I was thinking, "Who on earth would ever pronounce it like that?!" Then I read another comment on it depends on the region, and I realized being a New Yawker, people probably aren't saying "Im-Pawluh" like my brain is thinking...

You know Olds, I looked at your pics, and all of them I really appreciated because they helped support what you wrote about build quality/finish. There was a pic of the side of the center console... was there a particular part I was supposed to focus on? Was it all the things meeting in different places or that they could have had tighter tolerances when coming together? Frankly, I'm shocked at some of the things like the carpet having a gap and pieces not fitting properly. You think with a press car they'd make sure it was PERFECT.

I don't understand why they couldn't throw the DI 2.4L in the 2011/12 Malibus and held the release until it could be released properly in late 2012. This is inexcusable. In this segment you can't afford to make a mistake muchless several.

Everyone keeps mentioning the 2.5L being thrown in as the base engine... the GM order guide for 2013 still mentions the 2.4L as the standard engine. Anyone know if it's 100% definitely getting the 2.5 and if so, where did they hear it?

Well, I emailed them to see if it's still available. If so, I'll head over Saturday and drive it.

Thanks guys... maybe I'll make a trip this weekend to the dealer. We've bought several cars from this dealer since the mid 90's, so they know us well.

I hear you. I was thinking that was the sensible thing to do as well. Now, what do you think I can knock them down to on price?

Let's see if I can narrow these down clearly and consisely for ya: 2009 Buick Lucerne CXL Options include: heated/cooled seats, harmon/kardon radio, heated wood steering wheel, wood shift knob, bluetooth, chromed 17" wheels. It's a 2009 so it has the 3900, 4-automatic. Currently available with this package (which makes it enticing for me to try an "older" car). $18,995, 34K miles, could prob talk them down a bit. 2010 or 2011 Buick LaCrosse CXL Either the 3.0L or 3.6L V6. Satisified with what would be included on the CXL trim so I wouldn't need to shop around for a special package. For around $26,995-27,995, at approximately 13-15K miles. Situation: job is unstable, but secure for at least one more year. They love me, but education isn't really a priority anymore in NYS. Currently have $10,000 cash for a nice down payment. If I'm going to act on the Lucerne, I should probably act soon since that particular trim with those options aren't together often. If I'm waiting for the LaCrosse (and it has to have a V6 because I'm not dealing with a 4-cyl in a car that heavy, granted the used 4's take 1-2K off the price), then I can wait til the end of the summer. Need a car by mid-August. Opinions? Things I haven't considered? Thought about the Regal, but 2011's don't have remote start and they're honestly not that much cheaper than a LaCrosse, which I rather have for size/quiet/cushiness.

What year/trim?

Thanks black-knight. I can only hope these things don't plague newer GM cars, but after the few I've been in, they seem pretty solid inside-out. It's funny you mention that little cubby... I use the one in the Sonata for change. Other than that, I can't fathom what you could put in there. As for the mechanic breaking off that cubby door--I did something similar in the Lucerne. The light/dimmer switch sticks out a good deal. I got in before putting the seat back and bashed my knee in pushing the whole dimmer switch inside the dash. Fortunately I was able to fish it out and since springs were attached, I popped it back, but it feels very loose now. Thankfully it's not something you touch often since they're automatic.

I honestly didn't hear of anyone else having these problems either. One little detail about the 3800 that annoys me.. it's a premium vehicle, yet the grunt at launch (literally from 0-10 mph) is loud, intrusive and vibrates the steering wheel a tad. It just isn't as smooth as other V6's I've driven, Hyundai included. Oldsmoboi even suggested I try a 2009 with the 3900 V6. He told me that grunt at start won't be there. But truthfully, the quality part really concerns me. I mean, every last inch of this car is falling apart in some way! As for the headliner, the Buick dealer said their only solution they've been given is to put this gaudy/thick piece of moulding at the edge where it meets the windshield. That's ridiculous.

2006 Buick Lucerne CXL V6 Long-Term Review Pros: Quiet Roomy Numerous premium features Economical for size Cons: Build quality 3800 Launch note When my father retired in 2005, he was looking for something to replace both of his cars, a 1994 Buick Century and a 1992 Buick LeSabre Limited. Being both my parents were retired, they anticipated getting along fine on just one car. Something you should know about my parents: they’re very simple; they do not like gadgets and gizmos and shy away from them. My mother is the typical Italian mom who sits behind the steering wheel of a big car with the AM radio tuned to one speaker, because she grabbed the balance knob when adjusting the volume, and the fade when adjusting the station. After testing several GM cars including a 2006 Impala LS, they settled on a 2006 Hyundai Sonata GLS V6. They disliked the four cylinder at the time because it was weak, loud and after testing the 3.3L V6 with 5-speed auto, they were sold. After all, 235hp/226ft-lb was quite a jump from the 170hp/225ft-lb of their Series I 3800 V6 of the LeSabre and 160hp/185ft-lb from the 3100 of the Century, both with 4-speed automatics. It wasn’t long after owning the Hyundai that they noticed two problems: Firstly, they felt and heard everything. EVERYTHING. Ant hills were now speed bumps. Conversations had to be spoken at a louder volume. Secondly, they simply needed a second car. They missed their Buick. Enter the 2006 Buick Lucerne CXL with a Series III 3800 V6 and 4-speed auto. Large, quiet, conservative, and smooth. And with a ton of gadgets for them to complain about (they would have rather had a CX but they caught a bargain as Buick was trying to push these at the time). I’ve driven both cars several times for lengthy drives. The Buick does what it’s supposed to do which is provide a quiet, calm and serene environment for the driver and passengers. The car is built to be a cruiser. And it does it well.. I’ve achieved 32mpg on the highway, which isn’t bad for an out-dated 4-speed automatic and a car that’s 203.4” long. What disappoints me is the build quality of the Lucerne. The car currently has 75,750 miles on it, and so many things have broken down. Moulding around the doors has had to be replaced. The headliner is peeling away near the windshield. The engine mounts have been replaced. Currently the driver-side door panel is coming off. The plastic cover near the hood release is falling off. The carpet is pulling up in the back near the passenger-side door. There are so many rattles when driving. The bass on the radio (which truly isn’t up to par with the stereo in the Hyundai), rattles the doors. The plastics in the car are all hard, and some of them push in when touched (for example, near the radio and near the light controls). The stitching on the steering wheel is fraying slightly. Honestly, I’d love to own one of these as I’ve always been a big-quiet-car type of guy, but the build quality dissuades me. I would love to own a premium car, but with things constantly broken down, I’d never feel like I was in one.

I like the Verano, but if I'm going to spend $26,000 on a car, I rather invest in a 2010 LaCrosse CXL. Remember, I'm 6'3". Granted when I sat in one I had very nice leg room, I still felt as though I was in a small car. The major thing enticing me about the Verano is that gas is $4.21/gallon, for 87 self-serve here.