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Buick Lucerne: Engine & Performance
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Comments
Off topic for those of you who ski - the skiing this year in the northern half of CO is outrageous!)
The 3.8 lags the 3.5, a failed design BTW, in NVH and HP, but excels it in oil consumption and low-end torque. Mileage is about the same, with a slight advantage to the 3.8 in city driving and to the 3.5 on the highway.
Owning cars with such different designs I wish there were an engine with the best virtues of both. I think I found this engine when I test-drove a La Crosse with the new 3.6. Now that I know that it exists, I'm not willing to compromise anymore.
But that's just me...
Well, that's what trucks are for. Instead, the domestic makers have been investing in trucks and I'm afraid they'll pay a lot in the coming years now that the truck market has shrunk, hopefully the start of the end of this dreaded fad, IMO.
When will the truck market shrink? Still selling well over 50% in this country with gas at $3 and now at close to $2. Sorry, trucks are not going away. They will change however.
My 01 Impala with the 3.8L has been giving me 15 mpg in the city during the winter months and 17 mpg in the summer. This isn't great fuel economy in my books.
I obtained 14 mpg in the city with a 300C with the hemi engine and that's with me flooring it every 5-10 minutes.
The Lucernes I'm seeing driven are by people younger than LeSabre/Park Avenue drivers in my judgement. The idea that most people car about a motor's build is like saying they care about FWD vs RWD. Most don't; a part do care.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
But unfortunately you're right, trucks won't go away and SUVs will only change.
I dread trucks because I'm tired of those slow behemoths on the left lane slowing down before even the gentlest curves. Darn, I don't use the brakes for hundreds of miles, traffic allowing!
For the record, my Focus 2.0 delivers just 25MPG in my commute, although it weighs 1000lbs less and has just 65% of the power of the Bonneville.
The 3.8 is a very fuel-efficient engine indeed.
I am disappointed with the performance of the V8 considering the 3.8L W-Body vehicles are generally 0-60 in 8 seconds and the V8 Lucerne is 7.5 Sec? Shouldn't it be 6-6.5 seconds since it has nearly 300 lbs of torque and the supercharged grand prixs/impalas with the 280lbs of torque were performing 6.5 seconds. I know it weighs more but the 20lbs of torque advantage should even things out.
http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=DATACENTER
trucks are down -10% for November and -1.3% for the year thru November. Trucks are still selling well over 50%. Trucks are changing though. Buick will be selling a crossover "truck" that will be a BUICK!! So Buick will have 2 nice cars and a crossover that will complement each other well.
Hopefully the LuCerne will get the 3.6 as base soon even though I think we will see a lot of 3.8's bought.
The speed to 60 miles per hour is not really germaine. They could raise the numerical drive ratio and the car would accelerate like a jack rabbit, but the car would lose miles per gallon at cruising and probably there are other reasons the overall drive ratio was chosen. Remember the 4.11 rear ends they put in cars in the 70s (60s?) with 14 inch wheels which multiplies power compared to 15/16/17 inch wheels used now. They were hot rods, but gas mileage was terrible.
If I recall correctly the touring model of LeSabres had a higher drive ratio which made them seem peppier at a slight loss in gas mileage.
Speaking of that awful, ridiculed 3800 motor in my 03 LeSabre: I got 29 mpg actual from Dayton/Nashville and return at 72-75 mph with a few bursts of power. 3 people on board and trunk full and back seat partly filled with coolers and junk. It did slightly lower than in summer with air conditioning on. I don't know if it's my driving or more oil resistance in trans and motor due to cool temps - 30s instead of 80s. Pretty good for a motor that hauls the thing from 0-60 in about 7 seconds based on my test.
Take both Lucerne types out and drive them to select the motor and drive ratio for you.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
You have to keep up with the competition and I hate to lose when I need the power to pass.
we i would love some pics! what color? ext/int?
i am excited someone has a CXS....i want one
You have to keep up with the competition and I hate to lose when I need the power to pass.
Yea, I see little trucks out there in the streets every day drag racing with Lucernes. :P
I know you are probably thinking why get this car if you are so concerned with power but I like large roomy cars with lots of power. Maybe a 300C is more for me.
I took a look at the Lucerne at my local dealer. Everyone was right, the exterior looks much better in person. The dealer only had a base CX with cloth and a column shifter. I bet a CXL V8 or CXS would be much nicer looking inside. The basic shape of the car is really nice. I would love to see one with that Glacier Blue they show on the Lucerne page off of buick.com
I think these Acceleration numbers are for mere bragging rights. My LS430 supposedly does 0-60 in around 5.8-6.3 seconds. I don't think I've ever needed to floor the gas pedal or drag race someone. My older LS400 has 250 HP and that is more than adequate. I can't wait for the 6 Speed Auto though. Mated to the Northstar that really ought to be something..
Sam
I still think that the big FWD sedan is going to be replaced by RWD.
Actually it could be used. They just use the powertrain computer to keep the torque down when it would be damaging to the tranny. Did this with the supercharged 3800 in the Regal GS.
Although, there is one photo from back seat toward dash in which the colors of the steering wheel and dash are much darker and deeper than actual.
Years back 150-175 hp were pretty common in a V8 sedan.
The S10 Blazers 4.3 engine when released was considered very powerful, and nothing could match it. Then within a couple years it was considered sluggish. The new Trailblazer with the 275 hp inline 6 was called a screamer among other praise when it came out, now writers say it is slow with a need for more power. This goes to show that no matter what the horse power is, someone will eventually claim that it is not enough.
Not true. GM makes European models in South America and no V6 is made locally. Older versions of the 3.1 V6 are made in China, but no 90° V6.
The only other country where the 3.8 is made is Australia, and it's being phased out there too. The Saab 2.8 Turbo and the Alfa Romeo 3.2 direct-injection variations of the 3.6 are made in Australia.
And many American models, like the Riviera and the Regatta, were never made outside the US. Most countries just cannot afford cars of that size and powertrain.
For instance, while automatic transmissions are predominant in N. America and in Japan, they're short of a curiosity elsewhere. Mainly because elsewhere small engines are the norm and they can't spare 5 or 10HP that it takes to run such transmissions.
Bottom line: due to different market preferences, the 3.8 is mostly an American market engine. Not that it detracts from its virtues.
You can read about it on media.gm.com
I looked on media.gm.com & don't see a reference - link, please?
Thanks,
- Ray
One of the unfortunate ( ? ) GM 5.3L V8 drivers . .
The Lucerne isnt perfect, but it's obvious that Edmunds didnt like the vehicle and no intention of giving it an objective review. The intent of that review was to prove to you that the Lucerne is a worse value than the Avalon and the Azera. They could care less about the Lucerne's postive features because they see it as a lame Buick and is was reviewed as such. They said the Lucerne wont do much to help the ailing brand of Buick while other magazines are saying that its the best Buick in years, maybe even decades. You do the math. Complaints about 4 speed autos and acceleration may be warrranted but the rest of that stuff is BS. Even C&D said the interior of the Lucerne was nice and that is significant considering their anti GM stance.
Aha!
Thanks.
Very interesting . . .
- Ray
Wondering if a 6T80 will be coming . . .
It makes no sense to up the HP on an engine that has been at 200 for years. GM is spending the money on the new engines, ie 3.5 and 3.9.
My guess is that they will probably replace the 3800 in the Lucerne with either the 3.9 or 3.6 around '08. They may also, due to powertrain manufacturing efficiencies, drop the 3800 in 2008 for the other cars.
Of course in a few years the 3.6 will bump up in hp to around 270 or so (see the buick Enclave).
I am hoping they make the 3.6 standard in the LaCrosse/Lucerne and the CTS. With today's HP war and the V8's in the Buicks and the premiumness they are going after in the Buicks I think they could take a hit in the base price. Also with the Buicks being replaced soon why develop another powertrain combo for the LaCrosse when the 3800 dies?
3.6: http://media.gm.com/us/powertrain/en/product_services/HPT%20Library/HFV6/2006_36- - L_LY7_LaCrosse.pdf
3800: http://media.gm.com/us/powertrain/en/product_services/HPT%20Library/90%20Deg%20V- - 6/2006_3800_L26_Buick_Lucerne.pdf
The basic difference is that the 3800's torque drops off above 4500 RPMs, while the 3.6 is still good till 5500 RPMs. If the LaCrosse V6 goes into the Lucerne with a six speed automatic, then that would be a big improvement, otherwise, not. However, if the Lucerne got the 3.6 with CTS tuning, or better still, the 270 hp tuning, then, with the six speed automatic, one could dump the aging northstar V8. I do not expect a VVT FWD northstar to ever see production.
CTS 3.6: http://media.gm.com/us/powertrain/en/product_services/HPT%20Library/HFV6/2006_36- - L_LY7_CTS.pdf
I haven't driven a Lucerne but I'd recommend a rental or a long tes drive to see if it doesn't serve just as well. Unless you want the hotrod torque or a quick motor and the decrease in mileage.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,