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I remember driving one of those Lacrosses when they came out in 2010, but it was loaded up with the 3.0 V-6 (no 3.6L until the next year IIRC), beige leather, and White Diamond paint. Just a really nice car, though I wasn't a huge fan of the styling.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2010-buick-lacrosse-cx-drive/
That actually doesn't sound too bad...I thought it would be worse. But I wonder how it would act if you had a few passengers on board weighing it down more, or when it comes to a passing maneuver at highway speeds.
Still, it's not anything I'd want. Back then though, the LaCrosse served a different market. It replaced the old W-body LaCrosse, which itself replaced the Century and Regal. And while it definitely moved upmarket, it had the lower trim levels were still catering to people who would have bought one of those more basic W-body LaCrosses, or Centurys before that. And I'd imagine some of those lower trim levels went into rental fleets.
I think we can all appreciate each other's tastes, especially for older cars, as many cars become "cool" in some way once they hit a certain age, if only just for surviving.
That lowline Lacrosse screams rental car to me.
Just Googled it and a 2019 Chevy press page came up that said it was 197 hp.
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a15113788/2014-chevrolet-impala-25-lt-test-review/
They gave it a pretty good review. And it seems like a nice car, overall. I guess it's just that a car like this is begging for the V6, so the 4-cyl just seems like you're settling. Even if it's still a nice consolation.
Looking at that review reminded me of just how far cars had come. For comparison, my 2000 Intrepid had a 2.7 V6. It had 200 hp, and 190 ft-lb of torque. Just a touch more than the 2.5 Malibu's 196 hp and 186 ft-lb. The Impala's also heavier, around 3700 lb, whereas my Intrepid was around 3400.
But, I've seen 0-60 times for the 2.7 Intrepid ranging from 9.0 to 10.0 seconds. The 9.0 was actually for a 2000 Concorde with the same engine, a heavier car; I remember C&D or MT comparing it to a 2000 LeSabre, but I figure if a Concorde can do it with that engine, so can an Intrepid. The 10.0 was a C&D comparison test of 2002 models (December 2001). I can only find the text to the article online, but no detailed data tables like they normally show. In the text, they mention the Intrepid hit 82 mph in the quarter mile, but didn't list the time. Here's that C&D comparison test.
I think it's pretty incredible though, how despite having less hp and torque, and having to move a heavier car, the 2.5 Impala does better than the 2.7 Intrepid. It also gets better fuel economy, with an EPA estimate of 21/31. For comparison, the window sticker on my Intrepid stated 21/29, IIRC, but when the EPA revised their ratings, it went down to 18/27.
I guess you can chalk some of this improvement up to the Impala having a 6-speed automatic, versus a 4-speed for the Intrepid.
Adjusting for inflation, even the pricing is close! The MSRP on my 2000 was $20,950, including freight. Putting that into an inflation calculator, I'm getting $29,294 in 2013 dollars. I'm comparing the years 1999 to 2013 here, because I bought my Intrepid in November 1999, and that C&D article was posted in October 2013. The base MSRP for a 2014 Impala was $29,785, although the one they tested was $34,795. My Intrepid did not have ABS, and only had two airbags, and I'm sure was missing a lot of other features that even the cheapest 2014 Impala had standard. Yet in real dollars, was only $490 less.
Now, I don't know if the prices C&D mentioned included freight or not. The Intrepid price I mentioned was with freight. Without it, it was $20,390 ($28,512 in 2013 dollars).
Despite the improvements on that 2014 Impala, over my old Intrepid, I'd imagine that the typical 2022 car has leapfrogged even further, when it comes to the combination of technology, performance, features, and price.
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
LKW
https://gmauthority.com/blog/gm/gm-engines/lkw/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Ecotec_engine#2.5
Much like the 3800's 4-speed transmission worked well with it, the 6-speed transmission gearing makes it feel like a V6 IMHBO. I love my 2014 Malibu with the 2.5. I recall our friend's talking about his son using his 2014? Impala when his car had troubles telling his dad the Impala really came into it's own when you hit 100. (The son was an adult in charge of security for some stores of a known box store. I suspect he traveled between stores and I-75 was handy as he "circled" between stores for problems.)
IOW, if I were someone shopping for a moderate mileage Impala and I found one with the 2.5L, I'd sure want to consider it. I'd maybe drive a few used Impalas locally that you really weren't interested in buying, but just ot experience the 2.5L.
BTW I think someone here likes dark greens, and our friend's Impala
wasis a dark green that was mistaken for black unless the light was fairly good. His widow kept the Impala and passed on the 2013 Malibu.2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
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I still have a tough time believing that our XC90 is a 4cyl. It moves along that beast with ease. Turbo and supercharged for over 300HP. Only thing is it requires premium.
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport 2020 C43 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I've ridden in a couple of the late MB 2 liter 4s, at low speed or startup there's a little telltale noise, but hard to tell once moving, and no vibration.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I own two turbo fours now. I'd prefer a V6 although I know they are passe now.
I have read so much online about turbos really requiring premium fuel for durability, despite the manufacturer doing things to make them accept 87, that I put premium in both our cars. I will say that in my Cruze, my MPG is significantly higher with premium, but I'd rather not have the added complexity of a turbo. But that is the wave.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
I had three vehicles with the GM 3.6. I never felt a lack of power when I needed it, even when loaded up. Good engine, only knock is that it’s thirsty.
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
I guess eventually, I'll end up with a vehicle with a small, tech-laden, high-powered 4-cyl. Probably go into it, kicking and screaming, but once I get used to it, I'll probably wonder how I ever got along before!
And, at the same time, while I do like the relatively simple Hemi and 6-speed automatic in my 2012 Ram, I'm sure I'm fooling myself if I think those components are going to be cheap to repair, if they do break! EVERYTHING is expensive, these days!
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
Next time I brought it in they said they could fix it for $250.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
1972 Buick Electra Limited hardtop coupe.
It's not the most exotic color combo in the world (white with a beige vinyl top and a light brown vinyl interior) but it looks like a nice car, overall. I guess I've gotten used to the later models where "Limited" would sort of imply thick shag carpeting, leather or crushed velour, and an armrest in the back seat (unless that was just for the 4-door models?) so its interior doesn't seem all that extravagant to me. Still, it's nice.
Oh, Cars.com also recommended this 2006 Monte Carlo LT to me. It's nothing fancy, basically a Monte Carlo rental car, but I guess I kind of like it for the obscurity factor. I'm still going through sticker shock, though. The idea of paying $6000 for a 16 model year old car with 111,000 miles just doesn't sound appealing to me. It's 3 years newer than my Regal, but has about 8,000 more miles, so in my mind it doesn't feel like a step forward. It just has the 3.5 V6. I found a Motorweek article where they mentioned a 3.5 Impala doing 0-60 in 8.3 seconds and the quarter mile in 16.7 seconds @ 86 mph. So a bit of a dog by today's standards, but in range of my Regal.
I would not buy a GM car with the 3.5, but that's me. Always really disliked that engine.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
I would've thought it would've had a rear-seat center armrest too. Coupe De Villes of that year did. I do know that Grand Villes and Centurions only had the rear-seat center armrests in the sedans that year (and in the Grand Ville only with the optional Custom Interior).
That Monte looks in decent shape, but to me, the '02 is the best-looking of that gen in the minor details. The 3.5 is supposedly a better engine than the 3.4 though.
That Monte Carlo needs a body side molding. You heard it here! N/A from the factory at any cost though. I think the 2003 or 2004 was the last year with them. That side is too plain without them IMHO, although as I say here often, most '60's through '80's cars look better without them I think.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
My friend, trained as a mechanic, told me maybe a decade ago that the dealer's price for replacing his sister's Acura's headlight was $1,200.
Timing belts that need replacement strike me as something that was originally pretty Asian-maker specific but have crept their ways into certain domestic makes. Most people would consider a $1,000 repair a PITA. When the manufacturer says "Maintenance", the mood becomes "meh".
I can't imagine what the labor rate would be on something like that, at the mechanic! but worse, the way the thing was designed, I remember one of the bulbs, when you went to put it in, met with some resistance, where it felt like if you turned it too hard, it would break something. He was having trouble figuring it out, and I tried to help him some. I told him he might want to look it up on Youtube and see if there was an actual video. I remembered a few years back, I had to replace something in one of the toilets at my new house. It's one of those fancy Kohler toilets, so everything's more complicated than it needs to be. Anyway, I remember this one part just twisted into place, but seemed like it would take so much effort that I'd break it first. Well, lo and behold, there was a Youtube video! And in the video, they even mentioned something along the lines of "even though it feels like it might break, twist it until it locks".
Anyway, rather than try looking up a video, he simply heard the "twist it until it locks" part of my advice. And did it, and, damn if it didn't work! Well, this time, at least. It does make me wonder though, what's going to happen, as that plastic headlight assembly ages and gets brittle? Headlights don't burn out like they used to, but I can imagine a scenario where, by the time it does burn out, the cluster gets broken trying to replace it, and then you're out Lord-knows how much money to replace that!
I know I've told this story before, but back in 2004, my Panther-loving friend bought a new passenger side headlight cluster for his '95 Grand Marquis. The existing one had gotten brittle, and not only fogged up somewhat, but actually had cracks in it. It was getting water in it, and retaining it, yet had cracks along the lower part. I jokingly said well maybe we should just drill a hole for the water to drain out, and see how long it lasts
Anyway, he brought the car and the headlight cluster to me, figuring I'd know how to put it on. But, it was the first time I'd ever tried to deal with that type of headlight. Even though I had my 2000 Intrepid almost five years at that point, it hadn't had a headlight burn out yet. I couldn't figure it out, on his car. So, he ended up taking it to the dealer. In addition to the $225 he paid for the headlight cluster, they charged $75 to install it. I guess, on the plus side, it came with new bulbs! But essentially, $300 to replace that headlight cluster.
And then, within a month, he decided he wanted a newer car, so he traded that Grand Marquis on an '04 Crown Vic LX at CarMax, and they gave him all of $600 in trade! I'm sure he would've gotten the same $600, whether he'd replaced that headlight assembly or not. I also told him hell, I'd give him more than $600 for it, but he's one of those strict "never sell a used car to friends" type of people. That Grand Marquis had about 175,000 miles on it, smoked a bit on acceleration, and you could tell it was getting a bit tired, but it still had some life in it. It was also rusting a bit at that exposed seam at the top of the C-pillar, on both sides, but that could have been sanded and painted, at least. It wasn't that bad, yet.
Oh, and eventually I did have to replace a headlight bulb on my Intrepid. And was able to figure it out. It was just two REAAAALLLY long bolts that you had to take out, and then you could pull the cluster forward enough to get behind it and change the bulbs. I wonder if the Grand Marquis was similar?
I had the truck towed to my mechanic. From his explanation, the brake hose failed somehow, and caused the caliper to lock up. That messed up the pads, warped the rotor, and the heat messed up the caliper itself. And, because when it comes to brake and suspension work, they like to replace everything in pairs, I ended up with two new front rotors, pads, calipers, and hoses, and the total came up to around $1200. My mechanic said all that was because Chrysler decided to save a few pennies up front by using "cheap Chinese hoses" when they built it.
Oh, the other big expense, in 2019 the radio stopped working. The CD player worked fine, and I think satellite would have worked, if I subscribed to it. But it would only pick up radio stations intermittently, like there was a short in it or something. Well, the solution for that was to replace the whole radio, at the dealer, for around $600. But, all things considered, maybe that isn't *too* bad. I can remember back in the early 90's, getting an aftermarket radio with a tape player in it, was probably close to $200, unless you want with something cheap like a Craig or Sparkomatic. So adjusting for inflation, that would probably be close to $400 these days. Plus installation.
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
On the 95 MGM the headlight housing is only three or four clips but they are a royal PiTA to get out and usually break. They also aren’t easily seen and you can miss them and think you have to take the studs out.
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
I think a new set of OEM multibeam LED lights for my car are at least $3K. I have to believe the assistance components nicely located in the front clip are also expensive - a minor front end shunt could hit 5 figures with ease, I suspect.
On the car subject, saw a no fender skirts 90s Caprice, burgundy, at the supermarket this morning, also in the lot was a red Tempo, things once everywhere that are now getting rare.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport 2020 C43 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
You're not wrong about that! One of my headlights on the Q7 finally burned out at about 123,000 miles (good life span on those!), and I had to pull the full light assembly out of the car in order to replace the bulbs. The process itself was pretty easy, but all of the parts are plastic clips, and most of them broke. Rather than worry about it, I just shoved the units back in, dropped some tape on them in strategic locations, and called it good. So far, another 1,500 miles later, and you'd never know.
I tell ya, Audi comes up with some very clever clip designs, but I don't think they ever stop to consider the durability of those clips should the connector ever need to be removed. So far, I'm probably at about 30% success when it comes to not breaking a clip on that car when trying to remove it.
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
I have at least a passing interest in a handful of older Japanese cars, that's one I like - if I happened upon an estate sale or similar and there was a nice one at a reasonable price, it would be tempting. It would almost be expected to be a non-runner, I bet.