I've been checking the website over a lot today. Looking at the features and the pricing.

I can't find anything I don't like about it.

The styling is "smart" and refined. The available equipment is impressive (Nice touches like heated windshield washer fluid, heated and cooled seats, etc (I'd love to see a heated steering wheel here too! )).

Twelve, count them, TWELVE available exterior colors. It looks like some interesting color combos for interiors too (quickly I saw a beige and blue combo available with the navy exterior color... there may be more... still looking it over)


About the only two things I can see being complained about legitimately are the 3800 in this car, and the 4-speed auto.

The 3800 is an easy fix. Order the Northstar. For the majority of buyers looking at this car, especially the lower models, I doubt "gobs of power" is high on their shopping lists, though, and the Northstar is there for those that it matters to.

As for the 4-speed, I would expect it to be replaced very shortly as the new 6-speed automatic is rolled out across GM's portfolio.

Perhaps Lucerne can do for Buick what Escalade and CTS did for Cadillac....

 

I do agree.

I think the Lucerne is the beginning of Buick "pulling a Cadillac".

 

Yeah, that's unforgiveable. The Buick has hopes of chasing Lexus customers and they use the ironduke 3.8L. Don't get me wrong, the 3800 is a good reliable unit with great economy but the snobs will never consider a car with one of those donks in it. GM have the HFV6. They should use it in all Buicks at the entry level.

I hope the 3800 alone doesn't tarnish the car's integrity.

 

That is a fair point, but, like I mentioned, for those that care, they can step up to the Northstar for not a whole lot more.

The entry price on the Lucerne is FANTASTIC even with the 3800 at an MSRP of $26,xxx!!!!!! That is a pretty damn good value, even with the 3800!!

 

I think the 3800 is OK to offer, its homage to the old, crusty LeSabre buyers....a token piece of familiarity maybe?

Anybody coming over from another brand is going to order the Northstar anyway.

 

It has been said before that the 3800 in the Lucerne is just because of overstock and probably next model year will be using one of the HFC V6s paired with a 6-speed auto. God I hope so because the 3800 w/ 4-speed auto does NOT belong in an 'all new' design that costs 30-40 grand.

The Lucerne is poised much moreso to compete with the Avalon, albeit at a slightly higher price. I don't really see it competing with anything from Lexus. ES330? Kinda, but the Lacrosse is more comparable to it in size and market (and even buick said the ES3330 was the Lacrosse's target)... although the ES is getting a ground up redesign next model year with an all new chassis, interior, exterior, 3.5L 280hp V6, and 6-speed automatic.

Loaded to the hilt the Lucerne runs up to 40 grand... just 3 grand away from the Lexus GS300 (about to be GS350)... a car which nobody in their right mind would try to compare the Lucerne to.

 

The interior is about the only thing I like about the Lucerene. As far as Buick goes, their product is so lost from its roots its crazy.

I'm just praying that one day, that Buick will pull a Art and Science job like Caddy and make all its vehicles look something like the Velite. And Im not talking about a soft body line that is said to based on the Velites styling. Im talking something that looks like the Velite. You know? Edgey, stylish, good looking.

As far as Buick goes now, they are the king of the "Meh" mobile. Their two latest editions just dont do a thing for me. One is recycled 90's styling with a new grill and lights and the other one looks like a Ford Taurus. That is BAD.

Im so harsh on Buick because I like Buick and I wish they offered something with style and substance, instead of just Substance. They can make incredible interiors and quality, but if you dont style the car well its only going to keep selling to the old sterotype Buick plugs away at now

 

The 3800SII is the worst engine I have ever had. It gets me a mere 30mpg on the highway and I have had to replace the oil (and the oil filter!) about 15 times over the 50,000mi I have driven it!!1!!one!

Really the 4 speed seems more antiquated to me than the 3800SIII.

 

The problem is that they even offer the 3800. People (and publications) tend to focus on the base configuration of a car, not necessarily what the majority would order. How many times have you heard about the Solstice that it starts at under $20k? Almost every article you read. No matter that almost no one would ever buy a car without a/c or power windows, but the point is that it's offered that way.

If you're trying to position yourself as a new, modern, contemporary brand, you don't do it by offering a 1960s motor. Yes I know the 3800 is very capable, but people shopping the near luxury segment are looking for image as much as anything, otherwise they'd buy a Chevy or a Kia. That's the whole point of being an aspirational, somewhat upscale brand: you're selling the idea that you're better than other brands regardless of if the hardware supports it.

When every V6 available for sale in even the cheapest Kias and Hyundais is a relatively new, OHC design, what does it say about GM's second-from-the-top brand when they stick with an engine older than most people on this board? There's just no excuse.

 

Hey, I love the 3800...but overstock or not, that engine shouldn't be in a Lucerne. They should have used it as the base engine in the Impala or something, if they needed to use up excess engines.

The Lucerne needs the HF 3.6 now. The Torrent and Equinox need the 3.5 now, with the 3.9 optional. Other than those 2 particular cars, GM is pretty respectable engine-wise, as of late.

Although, I would like to see a 1.8 Ecotec Cobalt (they make the 1.8 for Europe) that could compete with the Corolla and Civic for MPG. If a 2.2 (and the new N/A 2.4 SS for that matter!!!) can both get 25/34, how cool would it be to get a base 1.8 Cobalt that got 29/37 or so? Talk about winning over some female owners.

I realize you'd then need to certify 4 engines for just the Cobalt, which adds up. But, with Pontiac adding volume with their own '07 Cobalt, who knows? Maybe it would work?

 

I've seen the Northstar version in person and I was impressed.

3800 and 4 speed won't be around for long. 3.6L DOHC V6 will be in the 2007 and I'd expect a 6 speed shortly too.

 

Well, seeing as how an alien gave the 3800 an "18 month timespan" from September, I would say either some '07s will have the 3800, or the V6 Lucerne will be a late debut...or they might run low on those precious 3800s and skip the Lucerne altogether

R.I.P. 3800. We loved you very much. Now here's to hoping mine can still run to redline with abandon for the next 7-8 years Wishful thinking? If January brings what I hope it does, something tells me I'll be durability testing my own 3800 for a long, long time while I pay off a 5th gen

 

If you truly want to begin to challenge Lexus, then the car needs the 3.6l. Remember when Lexus and Acura were little more than rebadged Toyota's and Honda's? Well, people laughed at them when comparing them to American luxury makes -- but something happened along the way. The amenities improved and suddenly it was a viable luxury brand. The Buick is a nice start -- it needs the 3.6l to incrementally improve. I agree that the 3800 is probably a stop-gap engine for the car -- probably being used to deplete remaining quantities -- and will be sold to the numerous, traditional Buick buyers (read: old) that have had problem-free 3800's in their past. As durable, fuel-efficient, and powerful as the 3800 has been over it's trendously long lifespan, it just doesn't have the image/technology that will garner many conquest sales.

 

Never paid much attention to the Lucerne till I saw this post. After taking a look on Buick's website, wow very nice car. Only problem I have is the northstar not being an option for the lower trim levels. Other than that I like what I see.

 

I was about to type exactly what you just said