The new Buick LaCrosse - any owners?

[danmantn]

Well, after reading about a classic Buick Riv on here a week or so again, I found myself test driving the new LaCrosse. I have to admit, I think I'm in love...smoooooth as glass, quiet as a temple, and really great looks. The comfort and QuietTuning remind me of days gone by when your car was there to take you away from all the buzz of the world. Sigh. I liked it more than the Cadillac SRX, Buick Regal, and Mercedes Benz E class that I tested the same day.

Anyway, any owners of the new version on here? Thoughts? The thing that worries me is the reliability - suppose to be good even before this car, but I've really enjoyed the reliability in my current Japanese car, and would hate to buy a Buick and end up with all kinds of issues. But oh that buttery ride....I think I found where my Cadillac went. Heated and cooled seats, ambient lighting, all the whiz bang stuff and a "heaven above" moon roof. :: Sigh ::

While comfortable, the handling was really firm for such a big car (test drove the CXS). Also, I'm in my late 30s--didn't think I fit the demographic of a Buick, but apparently I am with their new cars. Go figure. Roll up the windows and let the world go away.

 

[mattl]

No, you are the new demographic.  Buick has been working hard to shift it's target market to a younger group, and it looks like the succeeded.  Latest reports had the 3 American companies slightly outperforming the "imports" on quality, so I'd say they are about on par.  I know the Japanese brands have had their share of recalls as of late so I don't know of any brand that is immune.

 

[swestoyz]

I cannot speak for ownership of either the new Lacrosse or the previous "big-car" Lucerne, I can say I have certainly enjoyed driving (and riding in) a good friend's 2008 Lucerne. I'll leave the opinion of owning either generation to those who have the keys in hand - but I truly enjoyed riding in the car more so than the new body CTS I test drove in 2009. I can echo the smooth feel sentiments stated earlier, and the effortless attempt Buick has made to make the driving experience a fantastic one. GM certainly is producing some top notch vehicles these days for this price range.

BTW - on the question of reliability. Recently I asked my friend how many miles his Buick has and if he has had any service work needed since he drove it off the lot. 42,000 miles later and the car has not hit a service bay, minus routine oil changes and check-ups.

GO GM!!

Ben

 

[norgeway]

I bought...

A 2000 Le Sabre new,....No more GM for me EVER! A great big LEMON!, I wish some car manufacturer would realize that not EVERYONE wants a sports car! If money was no object I would have a new Town Car, its the only thing I know that has a bench seat, lots of room and rides like a luxury car! And its all but impossible to find one now!

 

[westie2]

Hans I agree with you on the Town Car.  They are great.  My last was a 1993 and I got over 250,00 on it and traded it for a new Fusion when they came out as the 2006 in october of 2005.  The Fusion is a great car but I still miss the Town Car(s) we had. 

 

[xraytech]

Well, I'm a repeat Buick owner here, my most current being a late model Park Avenue, I have loved every one of them.

In 2009 I had test drove a Buick Lucerne CXS but didnt buy due to theGM dealer not wanting to give a fair trade on my Crown Vic. It h the smoothest ride an such a nice finish to it, far more refined than the prior Buick offerings.

 

A co-worker of mine just got a new 2011 LaCrosse CXL and really loves it, she is still after 5 months surprised she boughta Buick at 27 yrs old, as the LaCrosse had the refinements and luxuryitems she liked in the Cadillac but was in her price range

 

As fo reliability I wouldnt worry too much as Buick has been tied for #1 in quality and reliability since I believe 2006.

 

[petek]

I've only read good things about the new Lacrosse and Regal but I've never been for a ride in one yet. My last Buick was a then new 75 Electra 225 coupe which was like driving a marshmallow down a cotton candy highway it was so smooth, I loved that car. Like you my only fear is getting a lemon such as the 99 MB c230k I had. My one and only lemon car I've had in my life, but I seriously doubt this new Buick could ever ever ever be as shitty as that car was.

 

[supersuds]

A friend's '08 Buick Lucerne just had the water pump go out at 51,000 miles. It was replaced under warranty. This was the venerable 3.8 liter V-6 and it seems a rather poor showing for something so basic.

 

Other than that, it has been pretty reliable. There were a couple of recalls related to a heated windshield washer system which I think was eventually disconnected completely, for safety reasons.

 

I have a '09 Malibu which was assembled in the same Kansas City factory that makes the Lacrosse. It has been a good car.

 

[philr]

I'm not a big fan of anything that GM made after 1980... I'm not a big fan of FWD cars either. I had just one GM product made after 1980 (a FWD 1991 Park Avenue Ultra) that I got used in 1997 and despite some quality problems (like poor finish of the interior trim and rattles) it ran fine for the first few years, but then I had enough problems with it to stay away from newer GM products.

Things might have changed in the last 20 years but I told myself that I'd never buy a FWD GM car again and Buick hasn't made RWD cars in the recent past...

I'll keep my old ones for now...

 

[joelippard]

The Buick

I had 2 of the 80's era Park Avenue's.  An 86 and an 89 which was the rare Ultra model.  I wish to this day that I'd kept the grey 89 Park Avenue Ultra.  Both of those cars were so solid and needed a minimum of repair work.  I drove the 89 until it was at 225,000 and it was still in great shape.  Currently I have a Japanese car, a Mazda 6.  I can't tell you all the shit that's gone wrong on that car, and it will be my last import vehicle.

 

I'm in love with the new Lacrosse CXS and have been since day one (I'm 37 btw)  I have test driven one and it's the best car I have ever planted my ass in.  For 2012 the Lacrosse CXS will gain 20 hp up to 300 with a slight torque increase also.  I want one these cars so bad I ache for it but the overriding sense of staying out of debt keeps me away from it.  I'm considering that in a few years I may be able to get a used 2012 model, because I certainly want all the horsepower I can get.

 

Other Lacrosse models vary from the CXS in their features and tuning.  I personally would not give consideration to the lesser models and if it's within your grasp to get one then go for it.  I would however be sure to purchase additional warranty coverage with all those electronic goodies the car has on it, surely one day they will need servicing.

 

This is the one I want.  A White Diamond CXS with the touring package and Cocoa Cashmere interior.

 

[swestoyz]

89 which was the rare Ultra model.

@ Joe - your damn well right! Got any photos of it? Saw a clean red '90 Ultra the other day with the fantastic 20 way power seat option.

Late 80's H-body cars last FOREVER, or at least until the transmissions finally give out. Not uncommon to see 225k+ when you see them in the yards.

In fact I think the 2011 Lucerne is the last H body to be produced.

Ben

 

[danmantn]

I've owned a '79 Buick Regal (first car), 1985 Electra, 1985 Park Avenue Coupe (very rare), and a 1982 Buick Century. I owned them all in my late teens, early 20s, and then progressed on to other brands. I always loved Buicks for their comfort...and the fact they were NOT a sports car back then - I guess I was a different thinker.

PhilR--is the green car an Electra? My aunt and uncle had one of those - I still remember riding in the back seat of that car - and I was very young...the texture of the seat, the big car, the silky ride. Those were the days--and that beautiful green color. If you have more exterior and interior shots, I would love to see them!

I've been back to the car lot every night for the past 4 nights - and I keep trying to talk myself out of it. Sigh...decisions, decisions. Darn you Lucerne and you bewitching smooth ride!

 

[112561]

We had three Buicks here, '75 Century four door, '87 Century four door, and I had an '87 Skyhawk. The three cars were just clones of the Chevy, Pontiac, Olds, and Buick lines of course, the Centuries were fine cars, the '75 purchased used when my father was still here, and the '87 new at the end of the year sale. Mom swapped off an '82 Grand Prix and the '82 Cutlass Ciera that replaced the '75 Century. The Skyhawk was garbage, and it was not treated as such by me. Just a wretched car. I want one Electra 225 before I die.

 

[philr]

danmantn,

Yes it's an Electra, look at this link for more pics.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/770691/1975-buick-electra

 

[drewz]

2011 Buick

Looked at LaCrosse & Regal but being 6'2 and 230 both were a little cramped.  I guess I am too old both interiors had toys and buttons everywhere, also the dealer told me that some Regal's were actually Opals?

 

I just got rid of the 1999 Riviera with 57,000 miles on it with hardware, leaks, and other issues, and got the last Grandpa Car a 2011 Lucerne, (Lucerne & DTS both discontinued after 2011).  I wanted a DTS but was not going to pay $49k for the base model and also was not going to spend $46K for a "Super" Lucerne with V8 Northstar.

 

So no more Diamond White Paint & Leather Interior but now just a basic big ride GM product for as cheap as possible got a Lucerne CX (lowest trim level w/cloth seats) on Memorial Day weekend GM offered $4k off for cash, plus my bonus $ from my GM card, plus dealer incentives and walked out the door for $22k (did not trade Riv, sold outright $3500)

 

I must say for paying $30k for the 1999 Riv it was a big let down from the 1990 Riv on which it traded, fit, finish, and hardware sucked, both door handles broke off, door mech's also broke inside the doors, trunk had a mystery leak from the 2 year on, radio door speakers consantantly blowing out, cheap similulated wood veneer on console cracked and stuck me in the arm, half the time you could not open either door in freezing weather due to those damn frameless doors, etc, etc, etc.

 

The 1990 Riv you could not kill, never had issues and had close to 200k miles on it at trade, those little Riv's were some tight ass well built cars, I still see alot of them on the road.

 

2011 Lucerne has most of the toys that 1999 Riviera had and more, dual climate, 6 passenger seating, bluetooth, etc.  So far been ok, not into cars much anymore for me it is point A to point B and not much else.  It's been awhile since cloth seats but the way the last two Riv's leather seats cracked, we will wait and see, however still have my 1989 Caprice Classic Brougham LS, with 96k on it and those leather seats still look like the day the thing came down off the car carrier at the dealer, (must have been thick leather back then?)

 

So we will wait and see if this is my last GM product?

 

[danmantn]

PhilR - beautiful car - thanks for the links - brought back memories - especially riding in the back on night on the way to my doctors house - yep house - lived in a small town and you would go there late at night vs. the hospital if you were sick. Times have changed.

 

[mixfinder]

Electra 225 Park Avenue

My Aunt had this car in 1976 and I loved to drive it.  It had a color coded display letting you see what your fuel economy was, based on speed and acceleration.  On the tips of the front fenders hidden in a small hood of their own were lights that came on when the signal activated, the headlights were on or the running lights to be assured they were functioning.  The car simply floated, drove itself and regardless of the fuel econometer loved to sail along at 90.  It was a supreme and dependable ride.

 

[joelippard]

@swestoyz

I don't have any pics of the one that I had, least I don't think so but it looked just like this one except it was all Dark grey with the lower panel in the lighter silver that all the Ultras had.  I had many cars built off this platform.  My first car was a Oldsmobile Delta Eighty Eight Royal Brougham, it was dark blue.  Then I had the Medium Blue Park Avenue (at the same time I also had a '91 Eldorado) then I had the 89 Ultra -- it had those heavenly seats in it!  Following that I had a 95 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi with that wonderful supercharged 3800 V6.

 

[joelippard]

Ultra Interior