Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
It's the torque that counts for most of us unless you're driving a manual and downshifting at 5000 rpm to take a corner at 35 mph and accelerate out of the hot corner.
It's how the motor with its torque matches the gearing in the transmission, 3, 4, 5, or whatever speeds it has that makes the car feel strong and good and always in the right gear for you!
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Went down for a test drive today. Dealer had one CXS and claims there are 4 test drives scheduled for today.
The "White Gold Flash" paint is cool but I'm too cheap to pay $1000 for paint. Otherwise the car seems great. Mrs. Eric loves it.
Eric
As striking as the Lucerne is a few strong colors like BMW uses might get some buyers in for a "noticeable" color.
However the black with chrome v8 the dealer had in service when I looked was great. I had a black Olds once, but I'd do the frequent cleaning for the black again.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
There are several websites that will allow you to send in inquiry to several local dealers to try to get pricing, so I'd suggest going that route if you're really interested. That's where I received the quote of 200 over invoice, and they didn't know me at all.
1. Bring back a full sized station wagon. There is a reason there are so many Roadmaster Estate Wagons still on the road: they are indestructible and have more cargo space than an SUV.
2. A coupe and a convertible. When is the Velite coming out?
http://forums.autoweek.com/thread.jspa?forumID=235&threadID=19046&tstart=30
A real small nit pick with my new Lucerne - I wish Buick would go back to the 3-color tri-shield instead of all chrome. Just a thought!
The comments here have been generally favorable so far and that's good. This is a new car - with all the new car potential problems - and it seems to be doing well. It will remain on my list, and thanks to all who have posted their Lucerne experience to date.
Bonne GXP vs Lucerne V8.
As stated above, without any adjustment for tire rolling diameters, the powertrains are not exactly the same.
3.11 vs 3.70 (3.71?) final drive = almost 20% less torque multiplication in the Lucerne.
Significant.
Particularly given this LD8 Northstar’s Torque peak and Torque curve (shape).
The Grand Prix’s and Impala SS’s 5.3L V8 (as in my GXP) has both more peak torque and a broader \ flatter curve than this LD8 version of the Northstar. The 5.3 generates more Torque than this Northstar at every RPM from 2000 to 5000.
In fact, according to GM Powertrain, even the newest (normally aspirated, VVT LH2) version of the Northstar, as used in the new RWD STS (peak HP \ TQ = 320 & 315) – this latest and greatest iteration of the Northstar motor also generates ** less ** torque at every RPM from 2000 to 5000 than the (old tech., OHV) 5.3L V8.
Yes, the Northstar makes a few more HP at peak – and at a higher RPM (DOHC helps here), but torque is vitally important – particularly here, with 4 forward speeds in the automatic trans.
Please understand: I consider the Northstar (I have driven the new STS with this version of the motor) to be a very good V8 - it is technically sophisticated, expensive to produce and I certainly respect it
But I believe that it does not generate enough Torque, over a broad enough RPM range to work well with the 4 relatively wide ratios in the 4T80 trans. The Lucerne V8’s published weight is also about 200 pounds more than the Bonne GXP.
Again, not helping acceleration.
Cheers,
- Ray
Torque Addict . . .
Car is definitely quiet, and the stereo and XM radio sound very good. One person thought the car looked like a Lexus, but we'll see if that becomes a similar response or just someone who doesn't know what they're talking about. I'm definitely happy with the amount of room in the car, but I just can't figure out a way to get a hockey stick in the trunk without putting it through the pass through in the back seat.
I looked at the OnStar website to try to figure out the Verizon connection. From the web site, it seems you can add the car as a phone on a family plan (min $70/month) and pay the same fee as any other additional phone. Let me know if you learn different.
Eric
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Is the size of the car closer to LeSabre or to Park Ave?
I think that the Lucerne/DTS are a short time FWD large sedan product line. I expect both to be replaced in a few years (say 3 to 5) by something new. Probably a RWD, but a lot depends on how the current DTS/Lucerne product line does over the next couple of years.
LaCrosse, Lucerne
Anyway, I there is some history here I am not clear on. I thought that the current DHS (and the prior 2001-2005 Deville) was still the same basic chassis as the original 1985 "kiddie car" Deville. Are you saying that it's based on the original-before-downsizing Aurora which was a DIFFERENT chassis? Any info here would be helpful.
And also, again, who is going to spend $28,000 for a Lucerne if they were used to spending $18,000 for a LeSabre? I guess Buick will lose those customers to Impala or elsewhere.
I really doubt the Lucerne will go RWD in the future, same with the DTS. Too much going for FWD cars. Too many people like the FWD vehicles. The Town Car/Vic/Marquis were mentioned. These cars are only kept around for the fleets-taxi/airport/police, etc. W/O the fleet volume they would have been gone long ago. Hardly any retail sales anymore. When Impala went FWD they got all the fleet business and GM felt it was not profitable enough to sell to the fleets.
But, do not worry, GM will be coming out with more RWD models for those who want them.
As far as $18K LeSabres? I guess they will have to try and find something else if they cannot afford the $28K nicer Lucernes. Maybe they can afford a malibu? Impalas start at $22K.
GM moved the full size cars to FWD as a response to the 1979-1980 oil crisis. They were intended to be 1984 models, and were in the design phase in the early 80's when better fuel economy was a top priority. GM probably went overboard, but at the time (1981), it was a good plan. Ronald Regan was just starting to clean up the mess :P
I actually WENT AND SAW the Lucerne today. Nice, but as you guys point out, just a recycled '95 Aurora.
And thanks for the GM history lesson. I do find it interesting that Ford kept the large RWD cars long after GM quit. SUV sales, however, didn't take off right as GM shrunk their big cars in 1985, however. The original 1991 Ford Explorer was what started it all.
For what it's worth, speaking of downsizing, I clearly remember going with my father to the Oldsmobile dealer in the fall of 1976. We we both shocked that the '77 Olds 98 coupe that had just come off the truck was indeed a 98. We thought it was a Cutlass. And we couldn't believe that the public would ever accept such a small vehicle as their flagship vehicle. Cutlass didn't shrink until the following year so for model year 1977 both vehicles were very similar in size. In the end the public loved those 1977 thru 1984 big GM vehicles that lived on with the Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham into the 1990s (I think the original downsized 1977 Caprice bodystyle lived on longer than the rest, too. Not to mention the bulbous, short lived, attempt to update it starting in 1989 or 1990).
Anyway this trip down GM memory lane is fun. Aspiring to and getting a GM vehicle was truly the Mark of Excellence. It's too bad what it's devolved into. The GM vehicles are "good", but today "good" isn't enough to move metal. "Good" is just a starting point. Now that I see what Lucerne is...just more recycled GM parts bin...I can't imagine that it will be a major winner. Those who like that parts bin will love it, but it's a recycled Aurora from 10 years ago.
Just had to call the right person!
CTS station wagon exists. Called an SRX.