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Comments
As do Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Toyota, etc. for certain paint colors on certain models. This isn't anything new, and hardly a "GM-only" phenomina.
I do see there is an error on the base price and have sent a message to get it fixed.
GM does not charge for standard paint. However many overseas companies charge for metallics (GM does not)
Saab of GM does.
I really like those 17" charcoal rims on the Lucerne. They should really make those the standard. I saw 2 with the base 16" wheels and they look really small, create a larger wheel gap and give the vehicle a "cheaper" feel.
Just my thoughts.
Saab of GM does.
Just went to the Saab site. They do not charge for standard paint. BUT they do charge for metallic just like most of the other Euro companies do. But you got me there since I still do not see Saab as a GM company. ( I know they are)
Next time I will take a Lucerne out for a spin. I did sit in one and was very impressed. Interior seems of high quality and leather seats were very soft and comfortable. Still love the charcoal 17" wheels:)
Thank mr. Lutz for this. the engineers said it couldn't be done. Bob asked "who says?". those that said it found they could sharpen their pencils a little more and the tires moved out and filled up the wheel opening more.
GM had a lot of specifications put together by all kinds of smart engineers who just wanted to make sure nothing ever went wrong. Add all that conservative engineering and you get a lot of compromises to styling among other things.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
http://www.buick.com/byo/byoSelectStyle.bk?noType=0&make=Buick&zip=48226&originatingBrand=- lucerne&subModel=&makeId=004&model=Lucerne&subModelId=298&year=2006&modelId=095&pvc=421&iP- i=1&fPi=4&&newVehicle=true
base price is $26,999, I chose the CXS which bumps the price to $35,990. Go to next page. Price jumps to $36,985 for no reason on a black car. This as I said before is an error and it is being investigated today. If you keep going though it stays at $36,985 for a black car. However if you pick one of the two special paints (red tintcoat or white pearl) you get a $500 rebate. All part of the error. Thanks for pointing this out and let me know if it does not get changed.
By the way the driver of the car has the CXL with V8 and is very impressed with it. Like the LaCrosse it does not ride like the Buicks of old (OK last years Buick's ) and loves it. It does not have the magnetic ride control.
I will check how the lack of tele column is. I am 5'10. But I will say that I know how GM sets the steering wheel position and with the manual tilt it is almost always perfect for my driving taste.
I've sat in a few, and they seem fine for my 6'-3" body. I'm even able to sit in the back seat if the front seat is all the way back, although I don't think 3 adults my size would be all that comfortable.
You may mean Buicks before 2000--the 2000 LeSabre is much different in ride than those before it. I have an 03. It's built on the same base as the Sevilles and ParkAvenues were. Completely different than the 98 LeSabre I have, even after Monroe strut replacements which improved the 98 greatly.
Telescoping wheel:
I sat in a 500 and Fusion with their version of telescoping wheel. They were odd because they pivot somewhere way down by the firewall so when tilting the wheel changing angle with the driver oddly. The telescope feature wasn't worth the odd steering wheel angles.
In fact I don't recall that the 500's wheel telescoped. Maybe just the Fusion's.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Most foriegn cars tilt at the firewall. This is a much cheaper way of building them and you will see the newer, cheaper GM cars do it this way (G6). This is not the kind of wheel you tilt up every time you get out of the car. You set it once and leave it.
million to $200 million each year to advertise Buick models in major media.
The campaign is to begin on Monday with television commercials for the 2006 Lucerne sedan. Executives at Buick hope the Lucerne, which replaces two models, the LeSabre and Park Avenue, will steal sales from competitors like the Toyota Avalon.
The initial commercials for the Lucerne take a confident tone, playing up features like quieter interiors and heated windshield-washer fluid, which are intended to woo the finicky target audience: affluent drivers ages 40
to 60 with "high expectations," as Margaret Brooks, marketing director for Buick in Detroit, put it, "who demand proof to consider any product" before buying. (Currently, the average age of a Buick sedan driver is 63).
On a more positive note, I think the Lucerne looks great in the flesh - I haven't had the chance to sit in or drive one yet, and look forward to everyone's mini-reviews. My dealer is indicating that they are only ordering the bench seat version because "that's what the LeSabre customer wants". Oh my.
The shape of the car is beautiful without the piggish look of the avalon since it's built on a narrower-looking base--it looks like a Camry again with a larger car plumped up on top of it. The weird taillights look strange on avalon. The taillights on Lucerne look great. It just doesn't look like Buick taillights anymore!!! Guess it's the new Buick.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Everything I've read about the Lucerne has been good so far. I only have one question: When will it have the 6 speed? It's great to have people on this board sharing their first hand experiences!
I wish I could get one, but my wife will kill me. I just bought a Ls430 last year, and there is no way she's going to let me get another car! I probably could post on the chronic car buyers anonymous board too!
Looks like GM has given us a winner this time!
SV
Take care guys!!
bob
How is the audio system with those Harman/Kardon speakers?
Is there any wind noise at highway speeds?
Congrads on getting a Lucerne!! I too own import cars at the moment. It would be great if you could let us know about your Lucerne experience when time allows. I don't blame you for being excited! This is the first American car that has caught my eye in a long time!
Hope the Lucerne treats you well!
SV
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Buick may have a winner here. Drove many of them for 25 years, up to 1990. Then went foreign like a lot of other people. Thanks.
I would want to test drive all three levels or at least the lower two to see if there's a difference in control I care about.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Quiet tuning much more effective than in LaCrosse - wind and road noise almost non-existant. 3800 V-6 seems smoother at idle than 2002 LeS. Fuel economy on 70 mile highway trip at 68-70 mph showed 28.9 - but I am curious to see what the mileage will be after a few thousand miles. Previous Buick V-6's owned (2002 LeSabre and 2003 Park Avenue) were excellent. Cloth upholstery is much higher quality (both feel and fit) than before. Color combination is beautiful - in fact, after seeing my car come off the truck (I ordered it early Oct) - the dealer put in orders for 3 more identically equipped. Havent had a chance to try CD in Harmon/Kardon system, but stereo/XM sounds great, and feature that shows presets is neat - combines all 3 bands. Only one detraction - steering wheel seems bigger than it has to be, tho I can tell they made it that way so one could see instruments. Exterior quality fit/finish is superb - Buick is correct in that regard. Even 16-in wheels look great. Trunk space is down a little from LeSabre, although the trunk is not as shallow as the Park Ave's was. Controls feel substantial - especially climate controls and power windows. More to come as I put some miles on!
bob
Anyway, I was very impressed. I'm sure the guy driving just took delivery, it was very shiny and clean.
Next step for GM, reduce the size of your steering wheels!
I've been unable to see a loaded Lucerne in person and the brochure confuses me a little. One of the cool new toys I want is the Radio Data System (RDS). The brochure implies that if you upgrade to a 6-disc changer, you lose the RDS. Can anyone confirm or contradict this interpretation?
Thanks.
Eric
The lacrosse just needs a new platform, though. This way it would be big on the outside AND inside. The Lucerne should help buick alot. They need to make sure its not just a lucky car, but that the whole buick line gets the attention the Lucerne got.
AND, how about some wood like trim on the Lacrosse sterring wheel!
Ok, thats all for my rant. Sorry
now before i really get into it i must admit, i am 24 years old and when i think Buick i think of AARP, wipser 2000, prunes and their juice. i have never ever ever said, "wow, thats a nice Buick."
from the onset, this one was a "wow, thats a nice Buick" i test drive cars almost religiously. if its new and out, i have prolly attempted to drive it. i am n the market for a new car in the near future and have been looking at the Acura TL, Infiniti G35 andthe new Chevy Impala SS...all somewhat sportier vehicles then the Buick, obviously.
i have been reading a lot of Buick new push of quality. "fine French stitching," "1cm gaps in sheetmetal" etc,
well this def looked veddy veddy nice. the black paint with all the chrome accents was stunning. the grille, while big, was nice looking (as nice as a Buick logo can look to a 24 year old). the back end was almost the most impressive thing to me. it looked so "un-domestic" looked great imo. i did not realize the air vents were different for the the models. 4 for the V8 and the rest have 3. the wheels looked nice and not cheap looking like the Chrysler 300C chrome coated wheels look and feel. the chrome trim really was luxurious and stunning.
upon the saleman coming over i asked to take a ride. the first thing i always do is sit in the drivers seat, adjust to my liking and then get out and sit directly behind me to see what kind of leg room i will have. i am 6'0 and 250lbs...i want comfort and i know there will always be more room behind my wife then me, so if i am comfortable behind "me" most should be. well, i was. nice room in the back and the first thing that took my attention away was the leather.
the leater was the nicest leather i have felt on any of the previous models i have mentioned thus far. most are to "thin" feeling or too "waxy". these seemes plush and soft. two thumbs up here. i wasnt a huuuuge fn of the leather design on the seats, but that is minor.
well back to the front and i must say, i am really lovin GM's push of the remote starters. for some those are needless, but i love it. here in Nashvegas, TN we get a taste of all weather. so if i can get a remote that will heat my seats and defrost my windown in the morning and cool my seats and crank up the AC in the summer, i am impressed.
the dash is nice. still not quite European, but as far as a domestic goes, its as nice as i have seen. the wood is nice, fake or not. the guages could be better, but still no complaints. the steering wheel is too big though. not a fan. another complaint is, and to some this is no big deal, but it bothers me--the center radio controls and such just look out of place for me. you have all this nice wood on the dash, and on the shifter, and then this black plastic board plugged in with knobs. to be fair, this design is leaps and bounds better then the previous GM interiors that cross over on so many vehicles, but there really and truely is no difference in this and the Impala SS stack that is much less $$. it still "works." also of note, the seats had great lumbar support, plus the very nice leather made it enjoyable. i am sure this would be a nice "trip taker."
the Northstar V8 has plenty of punch, but i do wish they had used the same engine the SS got. 303hp would be great, but i know to the target buyer this is not needed. it would def help bring in the underage crowd (underage typical Buick owner). the car coners decently, but again, this is no BMW 3series, and it does a great job of being what it is--a moderately luxurious car, that look and feels good for a pretty good price. i know they are trying to compete with the Avalon and ES300. i think it can for any open-minded individual. it looks better then both of those, imo. sure some will want Lexus' unheralded quality but Buick is right behind them according to JD Powers.
again, as a 24 year old with a wife and child, this is a car i would consider, much to my suprise. it has almost every feature i want (remote starter, plenty of leg room, good stereo, aux for ipod, good looks, V8)
2 things that are lacking for me personally, that i want, HIDs (bi-xenon headlamps) and at least a 60/40 split in thebackseat. there is only a console pass through.
but as i have seen there is no perfect car. everyone that i have driven and considered has its plusses and minusses. this car is a winner.
you can bet that i will be considering this car in about 6 months when ready to buy. my father-in-law is a GM employee and i have been looking and waiting for a GM car that catches my eye enough to actually own and use the discount. i will be so bold t say this is the best looking GM sedan i have ever seen besides the CTS-V (and i know the differences are slight but the CTS-V to me looks light years better then the CTS). i never imagined that i would come home and tell my wife, i like a buick, but i did.
Buick has themself a winner
i apologize for all the spelling and grammar mistakes, been up all night with my 6 day old , and sorry to continually ramble on about this car, but it has me excited. go drive one for yourself.
I saw a black CXS at my nearest dealer, looked good.
I am 26 years old and the Lucerne is better looking than the 300 and Avalon in my opinion. If I had more power I would really want one, but it needs to be faster at this price point. That said, most potential buyers wont care.
Thanks.