Buick Cascada Getting Axed, Will Be Missed By No One
02-16-19, 07:07 AM
#1
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Buick Cascada Getting Axed, Will Be Missed By No One
The Opel Cascada is slated to go out of production later this year and Buick has finally confirmed its version of the car is also going away.
https://www.carscoops.com/2019/02/bu...uction-summer/
Even when Buick declined to confirm the Cascada’s death after Opel announced it was axing its version, it was clear that the Cascada was living on borrowed time. Thus, the announcement wasn’t too surprising.
“The Cascada has played its role in the portfolio perfectly, outselling many other premium convertibles while bringing in buyers from outside GM”, Buick told Autonews. They added that the model will be discontinued at the 2019 model year and dealers should have enough inventory to last them until then.
The Cascada was launched in early 2016 and became Buick’s first convertible in 25 years. Featuring a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder producing 200 hp (149 kW / 203 PS) and up to 221 lb-ft (300 Nm) of torque, the Cascada was billed as an affordable alternative to the Audi A3 Cabriolet.
Despite being cheaper than the Audi, the Cascada was far from a hit, and sales peaked at 7,153 units in 2016. They’ve fallen every year since then and Buick only managed to move 4,136 units in the United States last year.
While the Cascada wasn’t exactly an exciting model, it’s sad to see another convertible getting axed. Nevertheless, GM already offers a similarly priced, and much more enticing, drop top. It’s he t2019 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible, which starts at $32,495, while the Cascada retails for $33,995 (including destination fees). That isn’t much of a difference, but the Buick comes standard with leather upholstery, heated front seats and a 7-inch infotainment system with GPS navigation. Most buyers, though, are inevitably going to opt for the Camaro, so that’s that.
The death of the Cascada is the latest blow for Buick, as GM has already announced that North American production of the LaCrosse will cease on March 1st.
https://www.carscoops.com/2019/02/bu...uction-summer/
Even when Buick declined to confirm the Cascada’s death after Opel announced it was axing its version, it was clear that the Cascada was living on borrowed time. Thus, the announcement wasn’t too surprising.
“The Cascada has played its role in the portfolio perfectly, outselling many other premium convertibles while bringing in buyers from outside GM”, Buick told Autonews. They added that the model will be discontinued at the 2019 model year and dealers should have enough inventory to last them until then.
The Cascada was launched in early 2016 and became Buick’s first convertible in 25 years. Featuring a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder producing 200 hp (149 kW / 203 PS) and up to 221 lb-ft (300 Nm) of torque, the Cascada was billed as an affordable alternative to the Audi A3 Cabriolet.
Despite being cheaper than the Audi, the Cascada was far from a hit, and sales peaked at 7,153 units in 2016. They’ve fallen every year since then and Buick only managed to move 4,136 units in the United States last year.
While the Cascada wasn’t exactly an exciting model, it’s sad to see another convertible getting axed. Nevertheless, GM already offers a similarly priced, and much more enticing, drop top. It’s he t2019 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible, which starts at $32,495, while the Cascada retails for $33,995 (including destination fees). That isn’t much of a difference, but the Buick comes standard with leather upholstery, heated front seats and a 7-inch infotainment system with GPS navigation. Most buyers, though, are inevitably going to opt for the Camaro, so that’s that.
The death of the Cascada is the latest blow for Buick, as GM has already announced that North American production of the LaCrosse will cease on March 1st.
02-16-19, 07:12 AM
#4
Dysfunctional Veteran
It is a nice looking car, from the outside.
Sit in and drive one though, and you will see why its going away. Panel gaps are horrific, and the interior looks and feels like it was pulled off the assembly line for a chevy sonic and plopped into the "buick".
If they had sold it as a chevy, say "cavalier", they would have sold a million of 'em. But selling them under a "premium" namplate just to justify charging more? Bad business IMO.
Sit in and drive one though, and you will see why its going away. Panel gaps are horrific, and the interior looks and feels like it was pulled off the assembly line for a chevy sonic and plopped into the "buick".
If they had sold it as a chevy, say "cavalier", they would have sold a million of 'em. But selling them under a "premium" namplate just to justify charging more? Bad business IMO.
02-16-19, 07:15 AM
#5
Lexus Champion
I think I’ve only ever seen 2 or 3 of these in the wild.
02-16-19, 07:29 AM
#6
Lexus Fanatic
02-16-19, 07:43 AM
#7
Lexus Fanatic
When I a test-drove one, I noticed almost no cowl shake on rough roads, even with the top down....the Opel engineers also did a good job addressing that, especially compared to some rubber-band convertibles I have sampled in the past. And the ragtop is thick and well-insulated.
What this car does lack, IMO, is traditional Buick comfort. Though it has the aforementioned well-insulated top and some Buick Quiet-Tuning touches, the seats are too firmly-padded for my tastes, and the standard 20" wheels (there are no options...you are stuck with them) and rubber-band tires are a joke. On anything but glass-smooth pavement surfaces, the ride is definitely un-Buick.
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02-16-19, 07:52 AM
#8
Lexus Fanatic
What Jill did not mention (but what I think she would agree with me on) is that the Cascada is not being axed because it is is s deficient product itself, but because of the current soft market for ragtop convertibles. Unlike the Mustang, Camaro, Corvette, and Miata convertibles, the Cascada lacks a dedicated enthusiast base...perhaps because the car itself is not really an enthusiast machine, but a simple, well-built way of getting a sun-tan. That, and the well-known fact that it is difficult to secure a true rag-top, because, usually, all one needs to break into it is a sharp knife.
02-16-19, 09:59 AM
#10
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
as the tree fell in the forest... no one noticed.
02-16-19, 11:36 AM
#14
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
02-16-19, 11:44 AM
#15
Lexus Fanatic
Can't speak for the whole country, but, in the D.C. area, based on the numbers I've actually seen on the road, I'd say the Cascada, hands-down. Even though the G90 is (admittedly) a lot of car for the money, one can get two typically-equipped Cascadas for the price of one typically-equipped G90. That's a lot of extra leftover money in the bank.