The O.C.

VUE isn't too bad....pretty nice. I've NEVER like the AURA interior, and Malibu isn't anything to write home about. However, it is decently stylish for a mainstream sedan. (I've already bitched about the cheap door panels, ragged and abundant cutlines on the dash, and generic "black-tie" controls.)

GREAT post....! Thanks! Oh....and...."boobies?" LOL

Frasier's another favorite of mine! Also own all seasons of that one too....... It's a very "gay-friendly" show.

Wow.....you mirrored my thoughts EXACTLY....! Everyone knows that I harp constently on interiors....and they make fun of me "fondling" a soft-touch dash pad. But your post perfectly explains my feelings on the matter. One good example of how GM can do it smartly is the Lambda's interiors. Excluding the plusher Enclave, the rest of the Lambdas have nothing but hard-plastic EVERYWHERE. But you know what? It works. Why? Because the entire execution of the interiors is at a higher level than I think they've done on anything else. Every switch feels expensive, seams line up, gauges look sharp, seats are comfortable and attractive, and there's tons of thoughtful touches throughout these vehicles. Plus the hard-plastic they DO use is, for once, nicely-grained, low-gloss, and substantial (re...not "hollow-feeling" like you get when you shut/slam the glovebox on a Cobalt...for example.) Plus, nothing seems flimsily-attached (like the console from the Grand Prix that you can wobble back-and-forth with your one hand.)

I think they do...... I seem to remember buying my ex a present one time....it was like a "Best of Designing Women" DVD....... (I loved Julia....she was my favorite....)

I bet you could almost lease a (bigger) Charger for as little as the Avenger.....doesn't Dodge have better incentives on the Charger?

I could go on-and-on about the Golden Girls...! I own all seasons on DVD even...... (Now that's a give-away to being gay if I ever heard of one.....LOL)

Well....I just KNOW you aren't talking about ME...... I've "voted" for GM way too many times with my wallet......some very recently even.......

I'm not necessarily a Lucerne-hater.....I am just really underwhelmed by the execution. For example, put a Lucerne side-by-side next to another closely-priced, FWD, softly-driving (re...no sport sedan) competitior....the ES350. I'm not necessarily an ES fan.....and I think the Lucerne has a more attractive shape. But compare the interiors. There really is no comparison in interior execution. The Lexus uses top-notch materials throughout and unique center stack switchgear that fits the flowing, angular dash design. Also, it's got a spunky, very smooth V6 that, I'm sure helped by it's 6-speed auto, blows the doors off the Lucerne, even when equipped with a V8....(MT 0-60 in 6.2, versus 7.5 for the Buick.) I'm not trying to make a case for the ES (in fact, EVEN WITH my griping, I'd still get a CXS myself over an ES350) but I'm trying to point out that with a bit more effort in the execution, or by instilling the Lucerne with better, more up-to-date technology (why didn't we ever get the 3.6L in this car?) they could have modernized the car dramatically and maybe even attracted some younger, less-traditional buyers.....and, this is key to your point, none of this would upset the traditional Buick consumers. You don't have to turn it into a "BMW-riviling sport sedan." Look at how many OLD people you see in ES350s.......

OK guys.....here's what I'm thinking...... Those that want to go see the car show, there's a Starbucks close by the PAG building where we can meet. We should prolly meet around 6:30-ish, and then head over to the PAG building. Most cars start pulling in between 6:15-6:45....usually by 7am, it's over-flowing. (Parking for personal vehicles shouldn't be an issue.) The show usually lasts until around 8:30 to 9am at the latest. THEREFORE, if we want to meet Croc for lunch down here around noon, we'll have to find something to bide our time for a few hours after the show. IF Croc wants to meet a bit earlier, say for brunch, around 10am, then that would work out perfectly. So Croc you need to let us know if you can make it a bit earlier....say meet around 10am. I suggest we go to Coyote Grill in south Laguna. it's a fun little place, overlooking the ocean.....they have a small bar where they do GREAT bloody mary's and mimosas....kind of a "thatch roof, surfboard" type of theme. They also do great breakfasts or lunch (mexicali-type food, or typical burgers, etc.) It's a nice drive down to Laguna, through town, and down to where Coyote is. Then afterwards, there's lots of places to kinda wander around back down in the village. Coyote is good because it's a "locals" place and because it's in South Laguna, you miss out on alot of the tourist jam. As far as the Starbucks, here's the address if you want to mapquest it or navigate it......(5 fwy south to Alton. At end of off-ramp, brief right on Enterprise then left on Alton. Next, left on Irvine Center Drive. Next right on Prism/Spectrum.) Starbucks 38 Prism Irvine, CA. 92618 If you guys want, we can PM each other our cell phone numbers.

"Not Lebanese Blanche.....Lesbian...."

We are the Gay Borg.....Resistance is futile.....we will add your gay biological distinciveness to our own. Your straight culture will adapt to service US.... :gay: (Yea! I get to use the gay emoticon for the first time.....)

LOL I'm a post-slut too....don't worry about it. It's what makes spending time on here interesting! I also tend to read posts in order and respond each time I think I have an appropriate comment..... And it is a totally interesting idea for discussion.....

<smooch> Love you too, hon.....

I'll just have to disagree with you Croc (surprise, eh?) Lucerne is old-school and way out-of-date for the market it's fighting for. About the ONLY thing positive I can say is that I find the exterior styling to be sharp. Other than that, the interior is beyond bland......everyone I sit inside....I find it so hard to be excited about it at all. We all know the powertrains are out-of-date....3800? Give me a break. Even the Northstar (fine engine still, but losing the race in DOHC V8s.) The only Lucerne that (barely) isn't a floaty boat like old Buicks is the CXS.....hardly the volume seller. I wouldn't call the car "crisp" to drive at all. The only Lucerne that has any sort of appeal to me would be a fully-loaded CXS....or a Super. God, when I think what $38K would get me elsewhere, it's scary.....and makes Lucerne look like an also-ran in my eyes. Now....the RWD Chinese Park Avenue we've all seen? To me....that's a totally different story.

You are right....they do drool all over the "L." Toyota isn't any smarter than GM. Or I used to not think so. So if TOYOTA can build a brand, from the ground up, not with any storied history, and can bring it to a point in less than 20 years that people blindly drool all over it..... .....WHY CAN'T GM do the same with brands that have had such storied histories? Because look at the products GM is trying to hoist onto Pontiac, Buick, and somewhat Caddy (STS, DTS, no 7-series competitor, etc, etc.) I don't think the Buick, Pontiac and Cadillac brands names are damaged to the point they can't be winners.....but GM is taking (has taken) way too long to address the issues.

I think it needed to be done yesterday.....not tomorrow. I think things would be very different, however, if the product were appropriate. Even I will admit that. You have strong product lines, that don't generally overlap across all your brands, I don't give a &#036;h&#33; if you have 8 of them. Look at Buick. Enclave: World-class....just like other Lambdas. Lucerne: The entire concept of this car is way out-of-date for a "premium" brand. (FWD, large car, with antiquated powertrains.) Where's the RWD large, premium Park Avenue? LaCrosse: We've all had the hash-out over the W-body....the next LaCrosse better be outstanding. Pontiac. G8: Looks to be world-class, and a great value. GM better be looking at how to increase production so that V6 G8 can become a mainstream Pontiac sedan G6: Old Epsilon....rental queen. When's the new G6 coming? Better be as good as the next-gen LaCrosse. G5: C'mon.... Torrent: Doesn't belong here....and way out-of-date. Solstice: Good selling in the class....but has some serious shortcomings. Trans-Am: Oh...that's right....they're not getting one. So my point is, you have basically one product in each brand that's fully competitive in it's respective market segment. And you have GMC which is duplicating a product on the same dealer lots (Acadia, Enclave) and the rest of it's line that basically can be had at the Chevy store (or Caddy store) down the street. As it sits now, that dog won't hunt for the long haul.

Am I the only one on here that is STILL flabergasted that we aren't getting the RWD Chinese Park Avenue? Yet the old FWD Lucerne keeps littering showrooms and dealer lots..... I'm not sure how the Park Avenue would be priced over here......but I'd have to say it would be damn competitive when you see how value-oriented the pricing on the similar G8 has been. I'd rather be driving a $40K RWD Park Avenue than a $40K FWD Lucerne...??

I didn't know "shat" was actually a word......

Reg, you're gonna make me tear up......

I too wish you well. Perhaps a loss to drugs is one of the hardest loss anyone can endure. We can only come out of our rough spots as stronger people. Don't ever forget that!

I TOTALLY agree.....I think the soul connection between Joe and I is what has made us so close so quickly. He truly is my "soul mate."

"Throat Yogurt" is gonna be a new favorite of mine!

Awwww.....PCS.....I could trim 'dat &#036;h&#33; up for ya..... ....and we could have fun doing it......