Ordered my new car (2018 Buick Lacrosse)
04-21-17, 07:01 PM
#46
Lexus Champion
I would not be surprised to see Holden start to sell more and more badge-engineered Chinese-made Buicks and Korean-made Chevrolets.
04-21-17, 07:34 PM
#47
Lexus Test Driver
Well, folks, my shopping's over. I made my decision and ordered my new car today....a 2017 Buick Lacrosse (Preferred-Trim-Level), with a minimum of options.....just the all-weather floor mats. The base-trim model doesn't come with the Sirius XM satellite radio I wanted, and the more expensive Essence and Premium versions come with a bunch of added stuff that I can do without. I would have liked the Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, but that comes in a Driver Confidence Package that also includes NAV and a bunch of other things I don't need (and I'm generally very careful backing up, and all new cars come with a standard back-up camera). The Preferred trim-level does come with power tilt/telescoping steering column and the Satellite radio I wanted.
Out of all the exterior colors offered (like many upscale sedans, mostly funeral-home shades), I think the Lacrosse looks best in the "Pepperdust" metallic (and all of the metallic or pearl colors, except the Plain-Jane appliance-white and coal-black, carry either a $395 or $995 mark-up....you can thank the Germans for starting that crap, years ago). The Pepperdust Metallic, despite its being rather dull, IMO, is still attractive...and that is the color they the auto-show-tour Lacrosses were painted. It is an unusual combination of a rather light smoked gray Metallic, Moondust, and Champagine....kind of a nice throwback to the silver big Buick I had in college, but an even more interesting color.
Right now, delivery looks to be after the pollen season....about 6-8 weeks, so we're probably talking early-mid June. (just in time for big thunderstorms and hail in this area LOL......Hey, you can't win them all).
And, yes, Mr. Trump...I bought American...American-market Lacrosses are built in Kansas City, with American labor, though some previous-generation Lacrosses were built in Canada. (My last two cars, the Verano and Subaru Outback, were also built in American plants...the Outback in Lafayette, IN, and the Verano in Orion, MI).Steve will no doubt say "Ha Ha, I told you so".......but that is only partially correct. The truth, for me at least, was that this was a TOUGH choice between what I thought were four excellent sedans in this class (luxury or entry-level-luxury, depending on how you view it)...the Lacrosse, Lincoln MKZ, Lexus ES350, and Genesis G80, with the Chevy Impala and Kia Cadenza being two other possible options. The Lacrosse ended up being the choice for three basic reasons......First, excellent dealer service (which I believe in rewarding), Second, the Lacrosse's outstanding ride comfort and quietness, and, Third, my longtime attraction to the Buick nameplate, dating back to my late teens and college, though, from after the time I was in college till the time the Verano came out, Buicks, quality-wise, were mostly garbage, and I pretty much had to avoid them. You could (maybe) add a fourth...Buick's recent rise in Consumer Reports' reliability ratings to just behind Lexus, though that typically affects the Opel-based models more than the larger, American-based models like the Lacrosse and Enclave, which are generally average in reliability.
One update I'm looking forward to is to hear how you feel about the electronic shifter after you have lived with it for a week or two. Let us know if you change your mind about it.
04-21-17, 08:29 PM
#48
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Good luck to your in-laws....I think they made a wise choice.I've already gotten used to the shifter some, after several test-drives. GM, though, IMO, could have still done an all-electronic shifter, saving the same amount of space on the console, with a conventional PRNDL pattern and motion. They chose, however, to use a weird pattern where the joy-stick always snaps back to the center position, and some operations are exactly the opposite of what you'd expect.
04-21-17, 08:34 PM
#49
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
GM is NOT cutting ties with Holden. It is merely transforming Holden from a manufacturing subsidiary to a sales and service one. It will still be known as GM Holden but after this year, Holden will no longer build cars, just sell imported ones, including models from PSA Groupe-owned Opel.
I would not be surprised to see Holden start to sell more and more badge-engineered Chinese-made Buicks and Korean-made Chevrolets.
04-22-17, 01:54 PM
#50
Lexus Test Driver
I've already gotten used to the shifter some, after several test-drives. GM, though, IMO, could have still done an all-electronic shifter, saving the same amount of space on the console, with a conventional PRNDL pattern and motion. They chose, however, to use a weird pattern where the joy-stick always snaps back to the center position, and some operations are exactly the opposite of what you'd expect.
Think back years ago, when car companies (well--mostly American car companies) moved from column shifters to console shifters. How long did it take you to stop grabbing the wiper/cruise control stalk on your first car with a console gear shifter?
04-22-17, 02:25 PM
#51
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
I predict, BTW, with reasonable certainty, that a number of the old-timers who have been driving big Buicks for years are going to have at least some trouble adapting to this new shifter....and it may (?) affect the car's low-speed accident rate. These people don't have the sharp minds and reflexes they had decades ago.
You're probably wondering why I ordered one knowing that it has that shifter.....well, I was basically taken in with the car's cocoon-like ride comfort and quietness.....IMO superior to the other cars I considered. It also comes with a N/A V6 (which I wanted) compared to the MKZ's two turbo powerplants. I've wanted another big Buick ever since I left college...when their quality tanked in the early-mid 70s. Had an (old) Electra 225 in college, and simply loved it. Now, their quality is improving again.
Think back years ago, when car companies (well--mostly American car companies) moved from column shifters to console shifters. How long did it take you to stop grabbing the wiper/cruise control stalk on your first car with a console gear shifter?
Some old French Citroens, BTW, actually had a four-on-the-tree, but, of course, in the Gallic tradition, almost everything on their cars was unusual compared to American standards.
Last edited by mmarshall; 04-22-17 at 03:06 PM.
04-22-17, 02:42 PM
#52
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
I think Buick (now) realizes that at least some old-timers are going to have trouble with the shifter, especially in the complex car-wash mode (it's also used in the Cadillac XT5 and Chevrolet Bolt). They've hired a perky blonde to try and explain it in a video.
One nice thing about the new shifter (and I'll give it credit for that) is that, no matter where it is set, it automatically goes into Park when you shut the engine off and open the driver's door....an important safety feature. That, of course, came as a result of the roll-away incidents that happened to Jeep Grand Cherokees a few years ago with their E-shifter.....owners got out and walked away, thinking their vehicles were in Park, when they in fact were still in Neutral. Of course, when on anything but a level or very-near-level surface, I myself use the parking brake in addition to the the park feature to keep stress (and the whole vehicle's weight) off the small parking-prowl in the transmission.
One nice thing about the new shifter (and I'll give it credit for that) is that, no matter where it is set, it automatically goes into Park when you shut the engine off and open the driver's door....an important safety feature. That, of course, came as a result of the roll-away incidents that happened to Jeep Grand Cherokees a few years ago with their E-shifter.....owners got out and walked away, thinking their vehicles were in Park, when they in fact were still in Neutral. Of course, when on anything but a level or very-near-level surface, I myself use the parking brake in addition to the the park feature to keep stress (and the whole vehicle's weight) off the small parking-prowl in the transmission.
Last edited by mmarshall; 04-22-17 at 03:02 PM.
04-23-17, 07:16 PM
#53
Lexus Champion
And if you are old enough, you remember all the "blonde jokes". So, I guess they figure their demographic is a bit older and if a blonde can do it anyone can. Sorry to perpetuate the myth, but it is funny. :-)
http://www.laughfactory.com/jokes/blonde-jokes
http://www.laughfactory.com/jokes/blonde-jokes
04-23-17, 08:53 PM
#54
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
I read the cars.com review of the lacrosse. well written by the way.
https://www.cars.com/reviews/our-vie...1420691283730/
mmarshall, i'm sure you read it already, but did you get the awd package? I would have thought you would since you mention awd being so valuable in bad weather and snow, but i don't think you did?
i note how whisper quiet they say the car is with the 18's supporting your observation.
https://www.cars.com/reviews/our-vie...1420691283730/
mmarshall, i'm sure you read it already, but did you get the awd package? I would have thought you would since you mention awd being so valuable in bad weather and snow, but i don't think you did?
i note how whisper quiet they say the car is with the 18's supporting your observation.
04-23-17, 09:23 PM
#55
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
I read the cars.com review of the lacrosse. well written by the way.
https://www.cars.com/reviews/our-vie...1420691283730/
https://www.cars.com/reviews/our-vie...1420691283730/
mmarshall, i'm sure you read it already, but did you get the awd package? I would have thought you would since you mention awd being so valuable in bad weather and snow, but i don't think you did?
i note how whisper quiet they say the car is with the 18's supporting your observation.
.....as also did the Genesis G80.
Last edited by bitkahuna; 04-23-17 at 09:39 PM.
04-26-17, 02:52 PM
#58
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by GS3Tek
Congratulations on your new Lacrosse MMarshall
I probably will enjoy it....but how good my health is remains to be seen. So far, after that right-knee injury and operation last year (which healed up and recovered OK), it looks like I'm going to be able to dodge a bullet for an operation/replacement on the other (left) knee for arthritis. My surgeon, after X-rays, wants to replace it, but I can function and walk/swim with it pretty much normally and painlessly (it's actually better, stronger, and less-painful now than it was six months ago)....though running and long walks are out of the question. Right now, I don't see a need for a replacement, if it doesn't get a lot worse.
04-27-17, 06:35 AM
#59
Thanks, Gentlemen. I probably will enjoy it....but how good my health is remains to be seen. So far, after that right-knee injury and operation last year (which healed up and recovered OK), it looks like I'm going to be able to dodge a bullet for an operation/replacement on the other (left) knee for arthritis. My surgeon, after X-rays, wants to replace it, but I can function and walk/swim with it pretty much normally and painlessly (it's actually better, stronger, and less-painful now than it was six months ago)....though running and long walks are out of the question. Right now, I don't see a need for a replacement, if it doesn't get a lot worse.
I probably will enjoy it....but how good my health is remains to be seen. So far, after that right-knee injury and operation last year (which healed up and recovered OK), it looks like I'm going to be able to dodge a bullet for an operation/replacement on the other (left) knee for arthritis. My surgeon, after X-rays, wants to replace it, but I can function and walk/swim with it pretty much normally and painlessly (it's actually better, stronger, and less-painful now than it was six months ago)....though running and long walks are out of the question. Right now, I don't see a need for a replacement, if it doesn't get a lot worse.
04-27-17, 08:13 AM
#60
Lexus Fanatic
Thanks, Gentlemen. I probably will enjoy it....but how good my health is remains to be seen. So far, after that right-knee injury and operation last year (which healed up and recovered OK), it looks like I'm going to be able to dodge a bullet for an operation/replacement on the other (left) knee for arthritis. My surgeon, after X-rays, wants to replace it, but I can function and walk/swim with it pretty much normally and painlessly (it's actually better, stronger, and less-painful now than it was six months ago)....though running and long walks are out of the question. Right now, I don't see a need for a replacement, if it doesn't get a lot worse.
I probably will enjoy it....but how good my health is remains to be seen. So far, after that right-knee injury and operation last year (which healed up and recovered OK), it looks like I'm going to be able to dodge a bullet for an operation/replacement on the other (left) knee for arthritis. My surgeon, after X-rays, wants to replace it, but I can function and walk/swim with it pretty much normally and painlessly (it's actually better, stronger, and less-painful now than it was six months ago)....though running and long walks are out of the question. Right now, I don't see a need for a replacement, if it doesn't get a lot worse.