The new Buick LaCrosse - any owners?

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I'm usually emotion-less when buying a car - but I found myself back at the dealership looking it over 5 times the following week, finally, I caved. So far, I love it - the Harmon Kardon radio has it's oddities (constantly having to adjust the bass, etc.), but the car puts me into a bliss when driving in congested traffic on the way home - my inner sanctuary. This car had more than the Mercedes E Class at $20,000 more, at those rates, I can purchase and burn through 2 LaCrosses for the price of the Merc. I originally didn't want to buy because of the "Buick" remarks - I'm 37, but after two test drives, I didn't care - the car is totally new inside and out, and I love the styling and comfort.

It also has a LOT of perks that they don't advertise, like auto A/C and auto seat A/C on remote start, auto rear and front defrost on cold days, auto rear window shade retract, led puddle lights (in addition to the door down lights, in cabin recirculation sensitive settings, ice blue downlights for the rear passengers, one-tap lane change (flashes signal 3 times), 36 station preset (via cool menus, including XM), iPod control (with or without nav), etc., etc....seems I find something new everyday.

danmantn++8-3-2011-22-42-8.jpg
 
A Beauty!

I too have wrestled with the stigma of driving a Buick.

They have come a long way in the past 5 years.

How about some interior pix.

Malcolm
 
I own

a 2008 LaCrosse that I bought new and love it to death. I have had no problems with it and it rides and handles like a dream. I like the new ones really well and drove one when I was getting mine serviced. Lot's of money but nicest car GM builds in my opinion. I would not get rid of Myrtle Mae for a new one tho LOL. The options are awesome and spoil you very much. Buy a Buick !!!
 
I am the proud owner of the 2011 Buick LaCrosse.

Previously owned a 2008 Buick LaCrosse, it was also a great car.

However, the new 2011 has gone beyond Buick comfort and moved to Cadillac and Lexus comfort.

Would I encourage anyone to own one...in a heart beat. It is quiet, plenty of leg room, 20 mpg city, 30 mpg hwy...fit and finish inside and out is flawless. More power than you need...and it also come in an all wheel drive version. Which in my opinion is not worth the extra money. If you know how to drive, front wheel drive will get your through anything.

Not the best picture...but I do LOVE the car.

Morgan

vinvac++8-5-2011-21-35-27.jpg
 
If you know how to drive, front wheel drive will get your through anything.

 

I have to disagree with you on that statement Morgan.  I have driven nothing but FWD cars for the past 25 years up until my most recent car which is AWD.  I've always put winter tires on my cars.  My driveway is long and uphill.  When there is a foot of snow on the ground,  even with winter tires, FWD just cannot cut it alone.  AWD makes all the difference in the world.  Since I've had my Lexus AWD with snow tires, I've not had a problem getting up my driveway after a big snow storm.  I know with my FWD cars I would not have been able to do it.

 

Gary 
 
Gary,

In almost 32 years of driving, I have never been stuck. My first car was a rear wheel drive and everything after that has been front wheel.

My neighbors across the street have all wheel drive vehicles and have been stuck in their driveway twice last winter..they did not want to shovel before they left for work...most of the newer cars don't have enough clearance to go through 12 inches of snow.

Driving reasonably and using good common sense, not driving through unplowed roads, I have never had reason for all wheel drive. My dealership suggested using regular snow tires on this vehicle knowing that I live on top of the hill here in Dubuque...almost straight up. Last year we had a lot of snow and not once did either vehicle have trouble making the hill. Steady foot...keeps this car on track and moving.

Morgan
 
@super32

You're right, it is just a matter of time.  There is a sense in which driving this car is a pleasure to all of the senses.  I have some other personal goals that I have set in place to accomplish, then after that I'll be putting one of those Buicks in my driveway!
 
Buick in the snow

My old Park Avenues that I had were absolute beasts in the white stuff.  I don't know what really gave those cars the abilities they had with all season tires but more than once I drove it with snow up to the bumper and it would just "part the way" without even so much as a slip of a tire.  I always tried to use good common sense and keep it geared to where the engine was in a hard pull.  I have a feeling the torque in those old 3800 engines was a great asset.
 
All season tires are practically useless in winter unless you drive on nothing but plowed roads.  Winter tires also make a big difference when it comes to stopping.  Fortunately it will be a few months before I'll have to worry about snow....hopefully!

 

Gary
 
These days the average tire width is 225mm and up and alloy wheels measure a minimum of 7.5" wide, for that fat beefy butch look with the larger rounder body stylings. SUVs really go overboard in tire width falsely advertised as a safety feature, to mimic the looks of Monster Trucks. Most SUVs and vans, if you look, have a shallow central tread pattern that is there for quietness on the road...the outer edges are chunky in appearance only and have no effect on snow & gravel grip other than hopefully making the consumer feel they have a true off road Jeep. The contact patch does the work, not the decorative piecrust knobbly edges.
Fat wide tires are a relatively recent phenomenon is basic consumer road cars...for the look.

This is fine in all season radials for most of the year but of course the wider contact patch, soft spring and strut rates and low tire pressures for that Barcalounger ride actually lower your fuel economy. But who cares? It's summer and the cruisin' is smooth. If they were really that chunky with tread blocks, channels and sipes across the whole patch the noise would be unbearable.

But winter snow, ice and rain driving needs are a whole different ball game/sport, as we who live outside the urban environment know all too well.
A thinner tire patch is the way to ensure the tire will sink in and bite better in snow & mud as well as secure straight line maneuvering. Great advances in block sipes and rubber grit compounds for ice conditions have come a long long way, too. Up here in Kanada (and no doubt the US border states, the rule of thumb is to put on snow tires that match the OEMs in diameter but reduce the width to 205 or less. A small difference of 10mm width makes a huge difference in performance and confidence in adverse conditions.

Older vintage rwd and fwd cars with bias ply tires were actually on the narrow dimension - check the sidewall information - and this can account for their nimble handling in winter conditions, for the reasons stated above.

All season tires are a misnomer when recommended for vehicles used north of middle latitude America.

Most folks I know swap their summer donuts for winter treads on their own dedicated winter rims. It's worth the small extra cost and garage storage for much higher safety percentage.
Employed this way in 6 months changeovers, new rubber tires are said to be good for 5 years before the rubber begins to deteriorate and wear down faster whatever your driving style and habits.

Dave
 
Having just returned from my fun filled gay weekend in Saugatuck with my friend oddly enough we were poolside looking over the fence at the parking lot and spotted this really nice red car parked in the lot which I mentioned to him. I don't notice cars much anymore.. anyways when I went for a gander it turned out to be a new red Lacrosse.. I was quite impressed with the look of that car, has to be the nicest out there imho.
 
Thanks Petek...it's funny when people look at my car for the first time - you watch them look at it, then they immediately try to find an emblem on the car to see what brand it is. I guess that's a good thing. :)
 
Guys!

How are things going with your Lacrosse's?  I've starting having some more problems with my Mazda 6 and I think I've had enough and am ready to sell my car and start shopping for my dream Buick!  It's a hard decision for me because there is nothing like owning a car that is paid for however, the price I could get for my used car has increased by about $2,500 in the last six months.  Part of me thinks I'd be a fool not to capitalize on that.  I swear, it's keeping me up at night.
 

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