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Comments
Nothing particularly wrong with one. If I'm renting and that's what turns up it's OK but I wouldn't be shopping one at all these days.
The laCrosse is on a different platform from Mal/Aur/G6. The Toyota ES350 and Camry are the same platform. And the Toyo Avalon is based on the previous Camry platform.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Am I incorrect that its just a revised platform? If not the naming is stupid. The Malibu/Aura/G6 are Epsilon the new LaCrosse is Epsilon II. From what I read the next Malibu will be E2 and the new Regal will be as well. Just an evolution and all midsize models will use it.
The Toyota ES350 and Camry are the same platform. And the Toyo Avalon is based on the previous Camry platform.
The 05 Avalon was the first Toyota on the new platform (also first with the new 2 GR engine and you are correct that it was derived from the previous Camry) from there all models used it. The Av/Camry/ES/Highlander/RX/RAV/Sienna are all the same basic platform.
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
That was my impression, too. This reminds me of past times when GM has done things like this, such as how they'd tend to not update all the W-bodies at the same time. For instance, in 1997 the Grand Prix/Century/Regal were redesigned, while the Lumina/Monte Carlo dated back to 1995, and the old Cutlass Supreme was still hanging on, dating back to 1990 for the sedan and 1988 for the coupe!
And then it happened again more recently, with the Grand Prix getting re-done for 2004, the LaCrosse coming out in 2005 and phasing out the Century/Regal, and then the Impala's update for 2006.
It does get confusing. I wish they'd just go back to some simpler naming convention like A-, B-, C-body, etc.
Toyota does the same thing. I did a bad job explaining my point above, but what I was trying to say was that the '05 Avalon was the first "new/revised" platform and then all the next redesigns (Camry, etc) were based off of it. I guess its better to get all the kinks worked out on one model rather than several.
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
http://www.edmunds.com/apps/vdpcontainers/do/vdp/articleId=105147/pageNumber=5
I recall someone telling me the Avalon was completely different and didn't have a single part in common with the then current Camry. But check Rockauto.com showed many, many parts. So I recall the fact that Edmunds stated it was based on the older Camry platform.
As to the newer Camry, is there anywhere it says it was based on the Avalon rather than being "All new" as edmunds states.
http://www.edmunds.com/apps/vdpcontainers/do/vdp/articleId=109049/pageNumber=1
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Do I have it backwards, though? Maybe the Avalon would come out and then the following generation of Camry would be based on it?
couple quotes:
Though the current Camry platform served as the basis for the Avalon, Toyota says that the entire platform has been reworked to accommodate the longer, wider Avalon (1 in. taller, 1.5 in. wider and 5 in. longer than the current Camry.)
Terashi says that the next-generation Camry will use a shortened version of this platform and the new 3.5L V-6, most likely with reduced horsepower.
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
Yes, at least for the 05+ check out my respone to Imid. That pretty much explains it all. The '05+ Avalon was the base for the current crop of Toyotas. I am not sure about the prior years.
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
Is that why I like both so much???
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
GM May Boost Output of New Models (Wall St. Jorunal)
I wish one were.
I was trying to see how the new LaCrosse has picked up the style of the Wildcat of that year. I don't see the curved crease styling on the side of the 2010 in that Wildcat.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
4 homeruns look good, until you see that you lost the game 14-4.
Some site this week was questioning whether GM would in fact be able to keep Buick going as a separate brand. Probably just a comment at one of those links I skimmed and can't find again.
That is a political question since GM's existence is only guaranteed as long as the U.S. government continues to pay for it. Until GM is able to make profit on a regular basis, then GM (and Buick) remain in danger of being the target of anger of the population who may see the U.S. auto industry getting preferential treatment.
People who are running out their unemployment, underemployed, foreclosed on, or seeing their Medicare and SS potentially cut, are not going to be too happy if they are made aware by the press that the government is continuing to provide money for more brands and cars then we need or can sell to other countries.
There is no "Rebirth of Buick" if the rebirth is paid with tax $, and it continues to lose money.
You or I can "rebirth anything" if the government gives us start-up money, development money, and supports our operating losses each month! :P
Thanks. I was browsing back through suggested models influencing the laCrosse styling. Like you, I prefer finding a classic car as original as possible. From the 60s and 70s certain wheels of the era fit the image, but I don't like the classics having silly wheels put on.
The 4-door Wildcat (1965) is a stately formal style with the 4-door hardtop.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
This is a close second--all it needs is Catherine Hepburn driving with a long scarf blowing gentle back from shoulder in the wind...
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I think the new LaCrosse is nicely styled too. While it's not as impressive as those earlier Buicks were when they were introduced, it's far better than competitors such as, say, the Acura TL and Nissan Maxima, and as nice as the Lexus ES350. My main objection is its rather porky weight. Also, for my taste, I'd prefer if it were a little trimmer. I prefer the size of the ES350.
Then you just should buy a Camry.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I dunno, I still think the ES350 is a much nicer car than a Camry, even if it's just a guzzied up Camry. It feels roomier inside to me, too. Although if I really wanted a Toyota like that, I think I'd just get the Avalon over the ES350. Or do they still make the Avalon? I heard rumors it was getting canceled.
The Ford dealer had a Taurus SEL and Taurus SHO. The Buick dealer had a LaCrosse CXL. The sticker prices of the Taurus SEL and LaCrosse CXL were very close - within $1,000 of each other.
I have to say that the Buick just doesn't look "right" to me. The hood is too short, and the ventiports should be placed on the outside of the hood crease, not on the inside where they can't be seen very well from the side. The headlights look too much like those of the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze. The front of the car just looks too truncated.
The back of the car is the best part - very fluid taillights and a shapely trunk. The interior, however, looked very nice. It was stylish, well made and had what looked like high-quality materials.
The Taurus looks like a more "substantial" car. It is definitely "boxier," but that makes it easier to place in the Ford lineup. I believe that people will have an easier time placing this car in its proper price and size slot than they will with the LaCrosse.
The Ford had chromed wheels, while the Buick had polished alloy wheels. The polished alloy wheels look much better, in my view. The Taurus SHO did have polished alloy wheels - and they look great.
One good thing for GM is that the LaCrosse and Malibu do look very different both inside and out. They won't necessarily appeal to the same customers. The LaCrosse really does look like it is a step above the Malibu.
Although, if the Buick is cross shopped against Lincoln MKZ, the Buick is the one that looks more "substantial." Also makes me wonder how easy it will be to sell Lincoln MKZs when the Taurus is sitting in the same showroom, and usually with a lower sticker price. Our two Lincoln Mercury dealers were closed last year and combined with the largest Ford dealer. A potential buyer only has to walk across the lot to compare the Lincolns to the Fords.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I recall that you mentioned that the LaCrosse doesn't look right to you before. I agree with you on the ventiports. Also, now that you mention it, the headlights do bear considerable resemblence to those of the Cruze. Maybe I hadn't noticed because the grilles are very different. Regarding the LaCrosse's hood being too short, I'll look more carefully when I see one on the street. I think the last time I saw a '10 LaCrosse was at the DC auto show.
I'll take this opportunity to correct a mistake in my message #301. I had said that Ford's entry level luxury candidate is the Lincoln MKT, but it's really the MKZ. The MKT is the Crossover, of course. In Lincoln's sedan lineup, the MKS is the step up from the MKZ, which means that the "entry level" designation doesn't apply to the MKS. Therefore, I see the LaCrosse as more of a direct competitor to the MKZ than to the MKS.
I hadn't really noticed it before, because to me, most cars have too short of a hood these days. With the large passenger cabins, steeply raked windshields, and relatively short overall lengths, it's just not space-efficient to make a car with a long hood anymore.
However, I just looked at two side pics, one of an ES350 and one of a 2010 LaCrosse. The LaCrosse is definitely more "cab-forward" than the ES350, as its A-pillar actually extends far enough forward that it's over the front wheel opening. (warning, BIG picture!) The A-pillar itself reaches so far forward that they had to put a little spacer piece ahead of the front door to connect the chrome trim, and that enhances the "cab forward" look, to me.
In contrast, the A-pillar on the Lexus ES350 is much further back. The front door extends ahead of it, and the front wheel opening is fairly far forward.
The new Lincoln MKZ is more attractive than the LaCrosse - I like the new Lincoln "face". But if viewed side-by-side, I believe that most people would view the LaCrosse as being the more "substantial" vehicle, as well as having a more spacious interior, which is probably very important to both Lincoln and Buick buyers. Plus, most buyers will not have trouble accepting the LaCrosse as a Buick, but I'll bet that more than a few people, when looking at the MKZ, will say, "That's a Lincoln?!".
It seems as though this generation GS has been on the market forever.
But yeah, back to the GS, just like the last one it always seems like each generation sticks around forever. I think it's because Lexus does very subtle changes to their MMC and the model runs for 6 years before replacement.
So either they built an awful lot of those two models, and/or they're rugged, durable, long-lasting cars, or the other models are out there, but just seem to blend into anonymity with all the other cars?
Buick Recommissions Regal Name (AutoObserver)
I think the problem is that a lot of these names were cool back in the 1970's, and early 80's, when Buick was still in their prime. But in the later 80's, Buick's demographic started to shift. It went from being a more broadly appealing car to one that catered to a more mature, elderly crowd.
They've helped turn that tide a bit in more recent years, starting with, oddly enough, the Rendezvous. IIRC, its median buyer was around 45 or so. Contrast that to around 57 for the early '00's Regal (my Dad bought his when he was 57, and I teased him that he was finally old enough to buy a Buick), something like 67 for the LeSabre, and 70 for the Park Ave and Century.
I think the first LaCrosse and Lucerne also helped lower the age demographic a bit as well, and I'm sure the Enclave helped out tremendously.
It seems to me that they are aligning the North American Buick line more properly with the Chinese lineup, where smaller cars are preferable, but I'm not sure this is an improvement for North American buyers.
Maybe when they bring a proper premium small car to market, we will see some real change? Seems like there is room for 3 cars in the Buick lineup.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Name alignment is probably a smart thing, as it simplifies marketing startegy as worldwide name recognition increases. I would agree about the car size, as Americans generally prefer bigger, more versatile vehicles. It appears that the spike in small car sales w/ $4/gal gas was directly related, as many of those buyers are becoming more dissatisfied with those cars as gas hovers around $2.50.
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/06/report-consumers-increasingly-shying-away-fro- m-small-cars-owne/
Based on looks, I would probably go with the Taurus.