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Buick LaCrosse
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The Vibe outsells the Toyota Matrix, Solstice ordering is already almost filled up, going to have 8 g6 models. Yes they had a bad month in feb when all the rumors started but March sales were up 34% over Feb.
Stabilitrak doesn't have anything to do with the rear wheels being added to give AWD. Was that what you meant or do I misunderstand.
Stabilitrak (03 LeSabre version, I caught in an article there are other versions) tries to keep the car from losing control into a skid by judiciously applying the appropriate brakes to help keep from skidding or spinning, but that has to be at lose of ability to turn as sharply as driver may be intending to avoid something... but at the least the car may be under 'control' as the accident continues .
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
One is to be able to go thru deep snow using all 4 tires to push you through.
Another is if one, two or three tires are on a slippery surface (ice) the tires that still have some traction can get/keep you going.
Another is to increase handling by applying the right force at the right wheel as you do a manuever.
Stabilitrac will help in situation #1 and #2 and will do better than #3 due to use of yaw sensors, braking and computerized control of all 4 tires. AWD just is not that smart.
Stabilitrac will also greatly increase vehicle handling. Very few drivers will be able to handle a vehicle in various driving conditions as well as Stabilitrac. It is an unbelievable safety feature. It will be a much bigger jump in safety than ABS was.
it was probably not fair to knock the car for its interior space - i've always considered the lacrosse as mid size, not full size. but no matter, there are more appealing cars available in the mid size category too.
since i don't see hordes of peoples leaving their regals and centurys for a product outside of GM, sales should be fine in the short term. but one has to wonder about the long term.
Maintenance? Failures? These things really aren't an issue with modern all wheel drive machines. Do you buy cars without power windows because there's an off-chance the motors could fail? At least with manual windows you always know you can crank it up or down by hand, right?
Does that notion seem a little silly to you? The failure of an all wheel drive system needn't be feared any more than that, really. And even if the Haldex awd stopped working right on a Ford Five Hundred, the system would basically default to front wheel drive and you'd still be able to drive normally. Same for a Subaru.
Before I lived in Columbus, I had an acquaintance from there, and happened to recommend a Subaru to him as he was looking for a new car. His response was "Why do I need AWD?" I simply asked him "Does it rain in Columbus?"
I've never really understood this assumption that all wheel drive is only useful in snow. It's on all year round and provides extra traction all year round, including once the snow tires come off. If you've never driven an all wheel drive car on a dirt road, in the rain, or better yet on a dirt road in the rain, you have no idea of the benefits over a two wheel drive car.
Good tires too can make a difference in the wet on any car, but make no mistake, there are people who "know" awd that will swear by it on any future car they buy. For these people, it would be nice if the Lacrosse offered this feature. It's the type of thing that will get new people to consider a Buick and could help inject life into the brand, even if the Buick drivers of 10-20 years couldn't care less.
Mike
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
On that point I disagree. The 4-speed auto trans in our Buicks has been perfected matched to the performance of the engine giving a very capable car. Five speeds aren't needed, especially if they mean a higher cost or higher failure rate in the transmission over 150K. I saw several Mercedes with 4-matic on their trunk lid. Must have been okay for a 320...
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
~alpha
The Lexus has a cam belt that must be changed at regular intervals. If the cambelt breaks, the valves contact the pistons. The LaCrosse CXL has a chain to drive the camshaft. I have never heard of a chain failing. The LaCrosse has a light to tell you when to change your oil. I have never heard of a 3800 GM V6 having sludge problems. The ES330 has no light to tell you when to change your oil. They have had some sludge problems. Toyota has tried to tell more owners that they need to change their oil more often per the severe maintenance intervals rather than the longer standard intervals.
Mrs. Rogers drove the ES330, LaCrosse CXL, and Lexus RX330 for 24 hour test drives, and she bought the LaCrosse. The car was deliveried in January, and she loves it. She thanks me for insisting that she drive all three cars, because now she has no doubt that she made the right choice.
I'm certainly not saying that the ES is the car for everyone. But I am saying that simply because the LaCrosse was the car for Mrs. Rogers (must we call her this? Is she 85?) doesnt mean that its necessarily a better car than the ES. [Edmunds.com's test has shown that the LaCrosse doesnt really compete well in its own class, never mind that of the near-luxury makes]
~alpha
Am I wrong or is this a Detroit area thing? (no employee discount on either) Seems like the pricing was closer to a Camry XLE.
Full base MSRP is under $33,000 before options with no discount at all. After discounts, you could get some nice options and still pay little more than that and maybe less.
With it's good resale value, there are also decent leases available on the ES330.
What is the "Um" at the beginning of your statement for?
As to Mercedes having 5 or 7 or 9 speeds, that's not really germane to the adequacy of the T65E four-speed. In my cars it is a perfect match for the engine's broad range of torque and shifts smoothly and doesn't fail early in life as some other company's trannies seem to do.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I still think this car is a great value on the low end and even at the high end is not that bad once you factor in incentives now in place. I just wish GM would MSRP cars closer to transaction prices and loose the "incentive pads".
Really, GM's 3.6L DOHC is a spectacular engine, and I stongly feel that had GM been able to provide this motor in the LaCrosse CXL (the volume selling model), the press and consumers might be telling a different story. However, GM sealed its own fate by having the CXL range in price from 26-31K and not offering that powerplant. Similarly, the new Lucerne should have the 3.6L as its base, and not a 195hp variant of the 3800 as its standard- the rest of the car LOOKS phenomenal, it was a pleasure to view at the New York Auto Show.
To be clear, I think the LaCrosse is a good car with strong potential. However, GM betrayed the design with a poor choice of base engine (and restricting the better engine as optional only on the top model), not offering side thorax bags, choosing style over function with regards to rear seat headroom, and not offering Navagation. The biggest offense, though, is the incredibly ambitious pricing scheme that demands $26K MSRP on a volume selling model with ABS even standard. Naturally, this will result in high rebates, and poorer resale values. Similarly, the ES330 is far from perfect, and that otherwise excellent vehicle (with perhaps the best sub 40 grand interior in the industry) is let down by a dumpy transmission that doesnt think quickly enough in harder throttle applications, as well being suspended just a little too softly.
imidazol97- "Um" is a vocalized pause that simply means I was trying to think what to say. I was going to use the old "When you ASSUME, you make an..." saying, since assume is what you did regarding the Benz transmissions. However, I didnt use that saying, as I thought it might be considered rude.
~alpha
You can can always buy from another dealer if your local dealer says they won't discount.
Check Carsdirect.com for prices in different areas and even other states if there is only one dealer in your area.
Looks to me like it served the same purpose.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I do not understand the need for the 3.6 in the CXL.
The CXS is a CXL with the 3.6L engine. Does add needed 17" wheels/tires/susp upgrades, dual exhaust and foglamps. Oh yea includes every ones desired ABS. The CXL is higher volume because of its price point and, as can be read above, many buyers appreciaton of the 3.8L.
You will see in the future that side air bags will start being replaced by the new lower reaching curtain air bags except on the very expensive vehicles.
Navigation is still too expensive ($1500) and the market is showing it. The Camry offers it but it is running at less than 2% penetration. I am sure it is running higher on the ES330 but there goes your price over $38000. Most of the public do not feel they need it especially at the price it is being offered at. If it ever gets down to $500 then it will sell.
Just kidding. That is by far the best review I have seen for the LaCrosse. My brother has a 4 cylinder Camry and I never thought it was soo great. Very bland and boring.
Two points, re: the Camry vs. LaCrosse- 1) the Camry has 12-15 months of life left, where as the LaCrosse has what? 48-60? 2) Although the 5 speed auto and ABS were mentioned, the Camry LE V6 has several other items of significance standard that the LaCrosse doesnt. Among them: Split folding rear seat, 10 way power adjustable drivers seat, alloy wheels, steering wheel audio controls, and electroluminescent instrumentation. Buick does provide a telescopic steering wheel, however.
Also, you state: "You will see in the future that side air bags will start being replaced by the new lower reaching curtain air bags except on the very expensive vehicles." I dont think this is true, what evidence do you have to point toward this? I feel that lower-reaching curtains may materialize, but they'd have to go down to the bottom seat cushion to afford protection to the thorax/pelvis that is left completely exposed by the Buick's setup. The vehicles that score the best in the IIHS testing typically feature a seat-mounted bag as well as a head curtain.
~alpha
About 5 years ago ABS was standard on just about every GM car including the Cavalier. Someone was hired in and said GM cars have to much content compared to the competition (was true). Huge studies were made and content was taken out. At that time the Japanese (Camry, Accord, etc.) had ABS as optional only. Also southern climates w/o snow seemed to not want to buy the ABS. ABS was then made optional.
It's amazing what Google can do! :0)
Automobile"
Yes, everyone is waiting for the new Camry. I will not be surprised if they put some personality into it. No doubt it will be quite the contender.
You are right with the content, but if you were to do a content to content price comparison pricing would be surprising close. Most of the items you mentioned are available on the LaCrosse, just packaged differently.
On the airbags I can only reference what internal safety experts, and this is their job, tell us. I cannot any longer check what vehicles have what type of airbags but those with both the SIAB and curtain may not have the lower coverage curtains.
They said this new Camry was suppose to have personality. I've never driven a duller midsize car. Aside from extreme Toyota loyalists, I doubt anyone is "waiting" for the new Camry".
**Aside from extreme Toyota loyalists, I doubt anyone is "waiting" for the new Camry".***
Oh, I imagine the Toyota dealers are, and with great anticipation. Would that Buick dealers were as excited about getting the Lucerne (or were about the LaCrosse).
The LaCrosse is a good looking car. Just is not over the top like the 300 is. The mid size market big sellers are conservative (camry, Taurus/500, accord) as are most of the buyers. It is a conservative design that will sell well. (outsold total Century and Regal retail sales from a year ago in March).
Chrysler has always had more over the top styling due to its smaller, more niche like volumes. The "semi" looking Dodge ram when it came out was one of those love it or hate it designs. Same with the PT Cruiser.
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/business/11324401.htm
Separately, GM recently increased incentives on virtually every car it sells in the USA another $1000.
It seems, in general, that you have a hard time accepting that most of GMs offerings are not at the top of their classes. The LaCrosse is a good car with even better potential but GM cant realize it because of operating inefficiencies due to legacy costs, excessive brands, etc. The bottom line is that vehicles like this one dont move off of the lots without significantly more incentives than average because they simply arent great cars. They are good cars. Cars that top the segment in consumer and enthusiast appeal (think new Ody, 04 Sienna, Chrysler 300, Avalon, Mustang, Prius, TL, etc....) dont need the cash in the trunk that GM's average offerings do. GM, of course, knows this, and thats why the MSRPs on the LaCrosse are so high. (I think its funny that GM even slashed the stickers on its midsize SUVs by $1500-$2000 just to keep them in line with the competition, while still offering only slightly lower rebates).
Please don't think I'm anti-GM. Im truly impressed by Cadillac, and the newer designs are better. But there was a lot of talk about what this vehicle and the G6 would be and do for the company, and it hasnt really happened.
If GM is smart, they had better be pay attention to Hyundai, whose next Sonata will offer everything the LaCrosse CXS does.... for about $7 grand less (thats being conservative).
~alpha
G6 outsold the "sucessful" 500 for March.
G6 currently only has a V6 availble. Camry and Accord sell about 25% V6 and 75% 4 cylinders. The G6 is aimed directly at those same buyers. That means that the G6 "could" sell about 4 times what it is selling at when the 4 cyl. gets there. This does not count the coupe and convertible that are not out there yet either. Now you could say that they should have released the 4 first but you want to have the more profitable cars available first for those who want to have the first new car on the block. The V6 cars will be bought at a higher price point and therefore more proftitable. In fact the V6 G6 average selling price is $5000 more than the Grand Am V6 it replaced. Now that is a good story. It is also selling more than most of the other V6 mid size sedans out there.
Now why is the dealer stock so high as the press seems to think? It is not. It is within the range it is supposed to be before the huge spring selling season.
So it is actually a success story that no one wants to talk about. It is so much more exciting and therefore better to sell newspapers if you can talk about bad news. Like I said before, lets pile on GM. It is there turn.