GM's Buick unveils high-performance line

[Dave@Moon]

This news story was posted by CNN this afternoon.

GM's Buick unveils high-performance line

[NTX5467]

Thanks for that post, Dave!

Some interesting comments by Mr. Shannon. The "65 Year Old Buick Owner" of today might well have been a "fast Buick" owner about 40 years ago, with all due respect, and is still young enough to remember the fast Buicks of when they were first getting old enough to be interested in cars and paying attention to them (back then). Something of a "tapping" of an existing demographic that might well be "underserved" with existing Buick products.

Enjoy!

NTX5467

[Guest my3buicks]

Also, the 65 year old of today, seems to be the 45 year old of the past - older folks are staying much younger in mind, spirit and body than in he past.

[Reatta Man]

Keith,

To add to that, also remember that the baby boomer generation also has a LOT of disposable income to spend, but sales trends have shown they want more substance than just flash. These new Buicks may deliver both.

Joe

[Guest unclefogey]

These folks at GM have an incredible sense of timing in their news releases. They announce a 5.3, V-8 for the LaCrosse in the first part of the week and NBC news leads their national news on Friday with the story of ever rising gas prices. The report was buttressed by references to the over $4.00 a gal. price of gas in SF, Ca, the almost $4.00 rise in the price of a barrel of oil due to the Iran/Britain dustup and the stories of the ever present oil refinery fires, shutdowns, etc.

Doesn't that just want you to get on the waiting list for a V-8? A V-8 that based on my limited knowledge is the workhorse for the Chevy and GMC line of trucks. It would be like Toyota announcing that they would be putting the Tundra V-8 in the Avalon. That should really cause a lineup at Toyota dealers. But these prospective LaCrosse Super buyers are awash in cash and believe global warming is a Commie plot.

On the bright(?) side, the LaCrosse V-8 will probably be advertised as a flex fuel vehicle, which, with a combination of a very unobtainable by normal drivers EPA highway mpg, plus the multiplier bump given to this figure for its flex fuel status so that its CAFE figure will be somewhere near that of a Chevrolet Aveo. All this with the great possibility that 90 % of the LaCrosse Supers will never see an ethanol pump in their lifetime.

They just don't get it. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

John

[Guest BJM]

John,

There is no disputing your points. But, those folks who want fuel economy as the number 1 criteria for the purchase of a new auto will not buy these lines of cars. There is a limited market for them but they are just one component of the product mix. In order to get more folks in Buick showrooms, it is essential to keep coming with new and different product. I just don't see 4 cylinders in Buick's future. The V6 Lucerne and LaCrosse are pleasant vehicles but do not appear to be grabbing those that are looking at Toyota's and Honda Accords.

Also engine displacement can be offset by final drive ratio and if (big IF) Buick and cadillac can put a wide ratio 5 or 6 speed automatic transmission in their premium cars, then you can get the best of both worlds, along with cylinder cancel, and modern computer electronic controls - remember the LaCrosse probably doesn't weigh anymore with a V8 than a V6 (by anymore, I don't mean maybe 100 pounds at the most) The extra cubes are coming from bore and stroke not physical size and all of these modern powerplants are aluminum and plastic based.

So, I am the 1st to bash GM when applicable, although still VERY loyal (maybe to the bitter end) but in this case, if they engineer it right - you could have your cake and eat it too.

[page2171]

The Chevy Impala with the V8 is rated at 18/27 for gas mileage with the V8. Since the LaCrosse and Impala are similar in size and weight I would expect the LaCrosse mileage to be about the same. That isn't bad gas mileage for a car that size with that kind of power, so I doubt gas mileage will be an issue even with gas prices the way they are.

Brian

[Guest my3buicks]

Our Caddilac DTS with the V8 averages 20 in daily commuting, and 24-25 on trips. Can't complain to much about that

[billbuickgs]

I'm 65 years old and I do fit the profile. I currently own a 70 Buick GSX STAGE 2 iron head 4 spd ,a 68 Buick "SPORTWAGON FROM HELL" that runs the 1/4 in 9.90's to 10.0000 and others. If you can't afford the gas , you should not own a BUICK. Oh I sold Buicks form the early 90's to 2003 and the Lesabre would get over 30 mph highway in confort rather then the small cars getting that mph today and ride like a skateboard. Ive owned over 100 Buicks in my life and have enjoyed everyone. We have a new Rainer that rides super nice and it sucks on mph like other suv's. My 2 cents and not directed at anyone's comments !

Bill Lagna

[Dave@Moon]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> If you can't afford the gas , you should not own a BUICK. </div></div>

Nobody's spending the $2000-$5000 extra for a hybrid drivetrain because they "can't afford the gas". What you <span style="font-style: italic">can afford to do</span>, and what you <span style="font-style: italic">should do</span>, are different things. They will continue to diverge, even as gasoline gets much more expensive in the next 5 years than it already is.

Given what's predicted and what's known about the consequences, I can't imagine buying and relying on any car that gets less than 30 MPG overall (40 mpg hwy.) for the next 5-10 years unless I drove so little as to hardly need a car. By the end of this year there will be at least 6 or 7 mid-size or larger choices with that mileage available. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Guest my3buicks]

Dave, do you really think most people that buy hybrids do so because they feel they should and it's the right thing to do? I think it's really because they think it's the in kewl thing to do, the fad. Sure it will probably someday become mainstream, but for now, most(not all) buyers do so because of the fad factor.

[Guest BJM]

Personally, I think I will get to the point where I will get a high gas mileage daily driver and have my old cars (bad gas mileage). I live 23 miles one way from work. My 2004 Bonneville with 3.8 gets high twenties combined hwy/town but is that good enough at $3.00 per gallon gas? Probably not.

[Guest unclefogey]

Last night, my friend and I went to see a movie at a theater in a first ring suburb affectionally know as the home of the "cake eaters." The theater is known for showing first run 3.5 to 4 star on a scale of 1 to 4 movies that usually don't play in the usual megaplexes. As I slowly drove up the small 1/4 square block four story parking ramp in my Ranger 4 cyl, 5 speed, 2WD pickup, I could not help but take notice of the cars parked in the ramp on my way to the fourth floor. I would conservatively estimate that 75% of the marques were foreign manufacturers. And the number of Priuses in that sample was amazing. Three or four per floor. I don't know what the importance or significance of this observation is, but it kind of jumped out at me.

If it is necessary to come up with something different and appealing in order to get buyers into GM showrooms, why doesn't GM bite the bullet, pay the king's ransom in licensing fees to Toyota, and come out with a true hybrid? I believe we all can agree that hybrids are no longer a passing fancy. Then, if it was a Buick hybrid, the market appeal against the LaCrosse Super could be tested.

In interest of full disclosure, I own a 99 Chev Sub and the daily driver Ranger. I do not see myself in the market for any sedan because of my present lifesyle of hunting, fishing, transporting stuff for others and running "up north" with the rear of either vehicle filled with "stuff." If I ever purchase a sedan, it will be because the transportation costs of the things I love to do has become prohibitive. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> And I am really bad in attempting to back a trailer.

[Dave@Moon]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Dave, do you really think most people that buy hybrids do so because they feel they should and it's the right thing to do? </div></div>

<span style="text-decoration: underline">Unquestionably.</span> The Prius and the Insight have been on the market now for 7 and 8 years respectively. If you think this is a fad, just try and buy a reasonably priced used example. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

And being correct is always cool if you've been raised right! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

You spend a year with a hybrid and you'll wonder why they still make old-fashioned cars. It's that much better. I used to make an analogy to the first automatic transmission to describe the leap that has been made. Now I think it may be more like the introduction of the self-starter. In a few years you're not going to be able to avoid them. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Dave@Moon]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> If it is necessary to come up with something different and appealing in order to get buyers into GM showrooms, why doesn't GM bite the bullet, pay the king's ransom in licensing fees to Toyota, and come out with a true hybrid? I believe we all can agree that hybrids are no longer a passing fancy. Then, if it was a Buick hybrid, the market appeal against the LaCrosse Super could be tested.

</div></div>

GM is currently set to introduce 12 hybrids before the end of 2009. None to my knowledge are Buicks (yet). The next one in the pipeline is the 2007 Saturn Aura Green Line, which is due out next month and will be the least expensive hybrid on the market. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

[Guest BJM]

And to your point, why does saturn have to call it Green Line? It's like when they (GM) came out with their 1st DOHC 4 cyl in response to foreign DOHC 4 cylinders, whcih were common by the time GM introduced them. They called it the Quad Four and advertised it heavily. Whoo hoo look at us, we have a DOHC 4 cylinder, aren't we special! Whatever. The Japanese probably just yawned.

Now GM has to bally hoo a hybrid by calling it the Green Line? Just introduce it and move on.