GRM does Buick

After many, many years, Buick sent a test car our way. No, it's not a race car and it's certainly not eligible for the $2010 Challenge, but we liked it: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/new-cars/2010-32-lacross-cxs/

Consider this post as a public thumbs up.

Ah, the new Buick Masturbation. I've heard it's a very gratifying drive...

Interesting. The interior looks more VW than the last Buick I rode in.

Good to hear some good news for GM. Not a car that appeals to me - I just don't want a two ton four dour front wheel drive family car, especially at nearly $40k.

Seems like if I were to for some reason want to spend that much money on this type of car I would be more interested in a 328i sedan, with less options, but about the same price.

53 buttons within reach of the driver, not counting switches or knobs. Too much going on I'll leave it for the astronauts.

unk577 wrote: 53 buttons within reach of the driver, not counting switches or knobs. Too much going on I'll leave it for the astronauts.

Seriously. I have....

6.

93celicaGT2 wrote:

unk577 wrote: 53 buttons within reach of the driver, not counting switches or knobs. Too much going on I'll leave it for the astronauts.

Seriously. I have.... 6.

Yeah but the Buick only has 2 pedals. Oh wait...

I think this statement sums it up quite well: "Better than: most every recent Buick."

My mom bought a rendezvous a few years ago. I was pleasantly surprised by that vanlet. I hate to say it, but with her increasing age and decreasing eyesight (she recently got new glasses thankgod) I feel better about her being up high.. especially with all the rain we have had this year.. that puts her up above most cars wheel spray.

If the New Buicks are even nicer and better... I say two thumbs up

"Has more teeth than anyone else at the meth clinic."

I hate to contribute to any GM bashing. They are definitely turning out a solid product these days.

My apprehension comes at the thought of plocking down $33k on a Buick.

Even if it is the BEST luxo barge out there for the money, there is the intangible/image aspect for car buyers. It still says "Buick" on the trunk.

Reputation follows you forever.

If you get drunk at a college party and stick your wang in the potato salad, people are going identify you with that act. (Just a random example.)

GM should have killed off all of the name plates and rebranded when they had the opportunity.

Tyler H wrote: (Just a random example.)

Sure it is.

I have to disagree Tyler, I feel like the Buick nameplate has a certain rep with middle aged people. I think a younger generation will see these as what they are - a domestically made alternative to increasingly more boring Lexi and Avalons. Do I think it will compete with Acuras? No, but its a HUMONGOUS step in the right direction. It definitely helps warm that dying ember of hope I have been holding on to for Gubment Motors.

I do not know.. a couple of good models with some younger demographics and people my not think so poorly of owning a Buick.. look at Caddy and what the CTS did for them?

4cylndrfury wrote: I feel like the Buick nameplate has a certain rep with middle aged people.

I agree, it seems like the older folks around here want the luxury but are too humble to buy a Cadillac. Also, Caddy has been marketing towards a much younger demographic.

Edit: What mad said.

unk577 wrote: 53 buttons within reach of the driver, not counting switches or knobs. Too much going on I'll leave it for the astronauts.

Since when was more buttons a bad idea? I like buttons. You press them, and the car does things. I'd rather have eleventy-billion buttons than some sort of toggle-knob in the middle of the console (I'm looking at YOU iDrive)

Buick does well in China and I think that was the main reason it still exists as a brand.

Of course we don't like it, but it isn't a car designed for anyone that reads GRM or posts on this message board. It might be a nice comfortable car to tool around in with your hat in the back window. That's the question here that matters to all of us - since GM is ours. Will this appeal to those who really like Avalons?

Buick has a strong presence in China (I saw them everywhere along with the Rebadged mark II VW Jettas).

that is what saved it. Selling to onlty the top 1% of china is like selling to EVERY person in the U.S.

(I see that someone else may have already mentioned all this information about China)

Big fan of that car.

I didn't realize Buick had such a crappy rep. I always thought of them like Cadillac minus 1.

Of course, the most expensive Buick I've ever had was my $1200 Roadmaster, which was preceded by three $350 Roadmasters. All of them were fantastic.

Do you think the Lacrosse will be a $350 car in 14 years? ...Yeah, neither do I.

Even when you're a "one in a million" kind of guy, in China, there's still 1600 of you.

mad_machine wrote: I do not know.. a couple of good models with some younger demographics and people my not think so poorly of owning a Buick.. look at Caddy and what the CTS did for them?

but the Caddy has rear drive and a manual trans....

This may just be a Lexus ES fighter but it looks like Buick will actually be making a car that apeals to our type of car buyer.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/23/2011-buick-regal-first-drive?icid=sphere_blogsmith_inpage_autoblog

Not so much the base Regal but I'm holding out for the Insignia OPC Estate. Wicked looks, practicallity of a wagon PLUS a six cylinder twin turbo AWD WITH a 6 speed manual! Audi S4 anyone?

Granted it wont win any autocrosses but for a really fun daily driver/long distance road tripper I think it will be hard to beat.

I want to like it. I do. My tastes at this time would lead me to purchase the SHO though.My Pop...I'm sure he would rock that like his Lincoln and Accord.

Car in the pic looks like it needs to be lowered 2-3 inches.Then again...maybe that's why I would opt for the SHO.

IF, if, it were just a case of ES350/Avalon or a Buick....I'd go with a Buick just to be different. However, GM/Buick is going in the wrong direction when they insist on building limosine alternatives (catering to Chinese customers who are often chauffered) YET passing them off to the rest of the world as competitive with BMWs and M-Bs lower priced sedans.

In the '70s my VERY conservative uncle traded from a Chevy 4 door sedan to a 2 door Buick Regal, it was the only car he ever owned that I ever thought looked cool. My sister owned a late '80s/early '90s 2 door Buick....by then, the brand was dead to me.

MadScientistMatt wrote: Interesting. The interior looks more VW than the last Buick I rode in.

The front quarter panels don't look buick enough, either. Somebody needs to use a hole saw to make some portals....