Despite low sales, Buick LaCrosse Avenir is coming.
#61
Lexus Fanatic
I looked at the G90 (actually did a review of one). I agree it is impressive, and extremely well-built (yes, more solid than the Lacrosse) in its interior/exterior hardware, which feels like it was built and installed by Swiss watchmakers. But its sheer size would have been somewhat difficult for my condo parking spaces and general driving conditions, its little-brother G80 (IMO) had a better and easier-to-use control and shifter layout, there were just too many electronic and mechanical devices on it for my tastes, it probably would have cost twice what my 37K Lacrosse did, and my previous GM dealer gave me such excellent service and courtesy that I felt I owed them repeat ownership. It's true that you cannot take your money with you, but I'm also a firm believer in keeping a nice cushion in the bank for emergencies. You never know, from one day to the next, what can happen.....just this week, for example, I had to replace a worn-out heat-pump system. That, of course, was a good chunk of money...and came JUST in time for the cold snap that enveloped the Eastern part of the U.S. the last couple days.
And.....in the end, with the 18" wheel selection, I thought it was hard to beat the way the Lacrosse drove, especially for the money. The road and wind-noise suppression is excellent, and it glides over bumps more smoothly than most of today's vehicles, though maybe not quite as smooth as a Mercedes S-550.
And.....in the end, with the 18" wheel selection, I thought it was hard to beat the way the Lacrosse drove, especially for the money. The road and wind-noise suppression is excellent, and it glides over bumps more smoothly than most of today's vehicles, though maybe not quite as smooth as a Mercedes S-550.
#62
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Latest tankful with my Lacrosse was the best yet......just under 25 MPG average. That isn't bad at all on a 3600 lb. full-size sedan, with a N/A/ V6 and no hybrid gear, in suburban driving. I've been very pleased with this car's mileage..significantly better than I expected, and actually a little better, under the same driving conditions, than the smaller, lighter Verano I had with a non-turbo four. Of course, that mileage is due, at least partly (in addition to my conservative driving style worthy of a big Buick), to the V6's cylinder-management system, engine-shut-down at idle (if the conditions are met) and the efficiency of the 9-speed GM/Ford-co-developed transmission (though the jury is still out on the transmission's long-term reliability). Everything in the drive train, though, is warranted for 6 years/70,000 miles (the same warranty as you get with a Cadillac, Lexus, Infiniti, Lincoln, or Acura)....so GM, at least, stands behind it. The direct-injection system for the fuel, though, at those very high injection-pressures (which also helps with the mileage) makes somewhat of a tick/thrum sound on acceleration, audible even with the Buick Quiet Tuning, that generally gets softer and more muted as the engine gets hot.
I'm going out to Maryland (Aspen Hill) Thursday to be with some of my friends and ex-co-workers for Thanksgiving dinner (one of them is also a car enthusiast like me, and owns a partially-restored Smoky and the Bandit black/gold Trans-Am). It's not totally in mint condition, but close...close enough for a couple of trophies at the local old-car shows. Anyhow, that will be a nice little drive, and I'll see if I can get 30 MPG or better on the highway like the Verano did.
I'm going out to Maryland (Aspen Hill) Thursday to be with some of my friends and ex-co-workers for Thanksgiving dinner (one of them is also a car enthusiast like me, and owns a partially-restored Smoky and the Bandit black/gold Trans-Am). It's not totally in mint condition, but close...close enough for a couple of trophies at the local old-car shows. Anyhow, that will be a nice little drive, and I'll see if I can get 30 MPG or better on the highway like the Verano did.
Last edited by mmarshall; 11-21-17 at 02:13 PM.
#63
Lexus Champion
The Lacrosse, like a number of other sedans, has clearly become a victim of explosive American-market SUV sales. In addition, though they were ultimately not deal-breakers for me in my case, the quirky E-shifter and lack of a shut-off switch for the engine start/stop system has clearly depressed even more sales. With this type of car, you (usually) aren't selling it, brand-new, to today's 20-year-olds, who find complex electronics and video-screens easy to deal with. I had a big Buick, of course, at that age, and loved it......but that was back in a far different era, when vehicle controls and systems were relatively simple, and you didn't scroll through complex menus. The automakers do not seem to have learned that lesson......these depressed sales figures might do some teaching, though.
#64
Lexus Champion
Yeah the slow LaCrosse sales go deeper than these two items. I don't see GM, Buick or any other manufacturer going backwards on e shifters or start/stop systems to boost sales.
#65
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by LexBob2
Yeah the slow LaCrosse sales go deeper than these two items. I don't see GM, Buick or any other manufacturer going backwards on e shifters or start/stop systems to boost sales.
Last edited by mmarshall; 11-21-17 at 02:43 PM.
#66
Lexus Fanatic
Finally, it is just me, but I feel as though Marshall does not really gush about this car. Seems to be a little bit of a letdown in his comments and writing.
All that said, I like it. It was nice and pleasant and seemed to ride nicer than my parents ES. It can had with adaptive suspension or whatever GM calls it. Has loads of nice features. Lots of power. Easy to use controls. But, the ES makes you feel better.
Just my thoughts.
Last edited by Toys4RJill; 11-22-17 at 05:14 AM.
#67
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
I agree. I think it goes deaper as well. Although I thought the new LaCrosse was just sensational. I do question whether it is worth getting over a Lexus ES. The ES is nicer inside with a more luxury design and nice materials especially the feel of the leather and it comes with real wood trim. With the Buick, you are paying big money for a car that is not all that large. It's more of a midsize than it is a full size. .
Cadillac needs to be in this price point and segment
Finally, it is just me, but I feel as though Marshall does not really gush about this car. Seems to be a little bit of a letdown in his comments and writing.
All that said, I like it. It was nice and pleasant and seemed to ride nicer than my parents ES. It can had with adaptive suspension or whatever GM calls it. Has loads of nice features. Lots of power. Easy to use controls. But, the ES makes you feel better.
To tell you the truth, when I test-drove the MKZ, Cadenza, G80, Impala, and ES350 before I made my decision on the LaCrosse, they ALL felt good....except for the MKZ's somewhat loose build-quality. The decision on the LaCrosse was as much a factor of previous (excellent) experience with my local GM dealership/service advisor and, of course, my long wait for another big Buick, as it was for any other factor.
Just my thoughts.
Last edited by mmarshall; 11-21-17 at 05:50 PM.
#68
Lexus Champion
I disagree. The typical Buick buyer (especially in the LaCrosse's class) likes tradition, and is simply not comfortable with advanced electronic shifters and features. They were not necessarily deal-breakers for me....I was willing to tolerate them because I like the Lacrosse's ride, quietness, and seating comfort. But others aren't necessarily as forgiving as I am......as witnessed by the low number of LaCrosse sales. The top-selling Buick in the U.S., for example (the small Encore SUV) is essentially a re-badged Opel Mokka, far more conventional in layout and operation.
#69
Lexus Fanatic
And yet those Buick buyers after tradition have somehow managed to adapt from a bench seat and column shifter; and as those changes were rolled out, Buicks were selling well. There's just no data to support sales loss because of features every other car company is moving to.
Last edited by Toys4RJill; 11-22-17 at 05:20 AM.
#70
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
That remains to be seen. Americans, in this size and price class, tend to prefer sedans....and the Regal will only offer a hatchback and wagon in the U.S. And, the wagon version, particularly with the AWD option, has to try and penetrate a market that the Subaru Outback has clearly dominated for years.
#71
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
And yet those Buick buyers after tradition have somehow managed to adapt from a bench seat and column shifter; and as those changes were rolled out, Buicks were selling well. There's just no data to support sales loss because of features every other car company is moving to.
#72
Lexus Fanatic
That remains to be seen. Americans, in this size and price class, tend to prefer sedans....and the Regal will only offer a hatchback and wagon in the U.S. And, the wagon version, particularly with the AWD option, has to try and penetrate a market that the Subaru Outback has clearly dominated for years.
What is interesting to note is that the new Buick Regal is almost identical for inside dimensions. Starts at $8K less than a LaCrosse. Has pretty much the same design for the interior.
#73
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
You also claim that ihe Lacrosse is not a full-size car, but a mid-sized one. First, EPA ratings measure vehicle-sizes by interior volume, not exterior dimensions....I personally don't agree with that system, but that's what they use, and, because they are the government, we're stuck with it. Second, since the demise of the DTS / Lucerne and Town Car / Crown Vic, true full-sized cars are generally not produced any more under American nameplates, though some can still be found from Europe, Japan, and Korea. Third, by today's standards, especially in the U.S., the Lacrosse, Impala, MKZ, Continental, Cadenza, Avalon, Azera, XTS, CT6, and ES350 are considered pretty much on the borderline between mid-sized and full-sized...the ES350 maybe lightly less-so. Yet these cars, by exterior dimensions, are generally marketed in the U.S. as "full-size."
For a new design, the says there is something seriously not right.
What is interesting to note is that the new Buick Regal is almost identical for inside dimensions. Starts at $8K less than a LaCrosse. Has pretty much the same design for the interior.
But the Lacrosse excels in comfort. With 18" tires, it provides the seating and riding comfort, at a reasonable price in the lower-trim levels, that too many cars today simply lack. That was a big factor that sold me. The Verano had nice Cush-Tush seats and effective Buick Quiet Tuning, but the difference in ride comfort between it and the Lacrosse (especially with cold tires and shocks) is noticeable. The Lacrosse's new 9-speed automatic also lacks the occasional hiccups that you got with the old 6-speed. I understand the Regal is also going to get that same transmission.....in fact, the new Regal GS, the sport-oriented model, is going to have the same drivetrain, with its 305 HP V6, as the Lacrosse and Enclave.
Last edited by mmarshall; 11-22-17 at 06:12 PM.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Bob04
LS - 5th Gen (2018-present)
1
06-14-18 08:15 PM