My uncle purchased a new Buick Lucerne, with the Northstar V8, loaded, with a 280 watt Harman Kardon stereo, and after taking a long drive to look at one of his construction projects with him, all I can say is I can't believe how much I absolutely love a [gasp] Buick!

I'm absolutely speechless.

 

I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.

 

I'd have said the same thing, but I'm telling you, the General is getting its **** together.

The car is uber-luxurious, without being the slightest bit floaty, and the materials and fit and finish are 2nd to none (better than the VW Passat I test drove earlier in '05).

Here's the shocker - I'm thinking of giving my 8 to my wife and getting one. I never thought it would be fathomable.

I cannot believe it.

 

RX8 Discussion?... I think not.

 

Well isn't that just ***.

 

No, ^here's^ the Shocker.

 

Excellent fit and finish on this one. Hard to believe that it came out of a GM plant. Way to go GM!!!

 

I know.

From what I understand, it's built on the same chassis as the new Cadillac DTS.

The car was the quietest car I've ever driven in, and the ride was plush without being wallowy. It didn't have the handling of the 8, but it would surely embarass most Lexus's (or, Lexi?).

 

My mother is a Buick person, from LaSabres to Park Ave's , I can truely say that for a low to mid luxury vehicle they are among some of the smoothest rides IMO, economically they get great gas mileage.

 

You've "made it" in China if you have a Buick, they think BMW, Mercedes is rubbish there. Can you believe it!

GM's biggest advantage in China, though, is its unsullied reputation. In the U.S., it still struggles to convince many young and middle-aged drivers that it is past the production gaffes and dull styling that marked the '80s and '90s. But newly minted Chinese executives equate Buick with prestige and quality. Hu Zhilong, 50, who runs the Shanghai Yongda Auto Puxi Sales & Service Co., says his best-seller is the Regal: "It is a symbol of one's status and very luxurious." Hu, who has an executive MBA degree from China's People's University in Beijing, hopes to become become a Cadillac dealer later this year as well.

 

admit it, you're getting old

 

Edmunds loved it too,

"We liked it and we're decades away from collecting a Social Security check."

 

My family has been driving, selling and repairing Buicks long before I was even born. Right now my mom has a '96 LeSabre, my Dad has a '01 Park Avenue Ultra, and my brother has a '68 Skylark GS400 he messes around with for fun.

They are great cars. I had 300k miles on a '91 Park Avenue before I traded it in back in '03. I betcha anything it made a good taxi. They are great cars and the 3.8L V6 is an awesome motor. You really never need to go over 2k RPM's because of how torquey it is. Aside from a Corvette or a full size truck, I think a Buick would be the only GM I'd pay money for right now.

 

I wish Buick would bring back the Reatta sports car.


.

 

Yeah, my parents have a Rendezvous, and as much as I hate to admit it, that thing's build quality is awesome. The interior isn't necessarily my style, but it's pretty darn nice either way. Only problem I really have with it is that stupid "unibrow" rear end. I just can't get over that.

 

"wouldn't you really rather have a Buick?"

yes I 'm old enough to remember those ads.

this does not surprise me at all. the general showed signs of life with the oldsmobile marque before they killed it. those last few years of olds were pretty damn good. they started with the aurora , and it's sponsorship of the indy racing league.

the general has had to make the changes slowly , to get the younger crowd whilst not pissing off the older folks that like the boats.

good for GM, when it's time for a new car for my wife - I'll have her look at Buick

she sure as f8ck isnt' getting my rx-8 though

that's whacked dude. no matter how good it is it's still a FWD isn't it?

 

I drove the DTS and STS4 with my Lexus GS-driving 60-ish father a few months back. He has an RX-8 as a second car. He greatly preferred the DTS because it was so much smoother, quieter, and more comfortable. But I still don't see him in it. I had him sit in the Lucerne at NAIAS, and it had some appeal for him. Not enough for him to seriously consider it, but this is far more than I can say for any recent Buick.

He did like the new MKS at the Lincoln stand. But when will we see it.

All of this said, how anyone could go from an RX-8 to the Lucerne is beyond me. Did you buy the Mazda for the right reasons? Or do you just want better fuel economy? (Sad that even a V8 Buick does better than the RX.)

Link to my review of the DTS: http://www.epinions.com/content_209422093956

 

My winter hooptie is 93 LeSabre. It has over 135,000 miles and still runs strong. I love it and will keep it till it turns to dust. The ride is unbilievable, especially on the ride back from Hunter Mountain NY after a day of snowboarding! LUV THAT DYNARIDE

 

did you drive it? I drove the car at a gm drive event....I thought it was a floaty POS...I drove a camry first then the lucerne...almost went through the cones before a turn, no handling and the tires were screaming in pain.....
guess that's why they make all different cars...right?

 

Taking the Lucerne through cones.... i'm not sure what you expected to get out of it.

 

Yes, I was not expecting the Lucerne to be a handler.

Having said that, a Toyota Avalon would certainly not handle better than the Lucerne, and the Lucerne delivered a remarkably compliant, plush and solid ride, while not being soft to the point of being wallowy.

 

^actually, one of them car mags (i believe C&D) reviewed an Avalon and was quite impressed with how it handled, given the original purpose of the car