This evening, I was in my driveway, helping Santa unload some Christmas gifts from my Hemi powered sleigh and hide them in the garage.

Out of my neighbor's driveway a white Buick Lucerne pulls out. It looked like the top of the line version (CXS?) with the NS and those beautiful 18" wheels.
It was so nice! What an attractive car, I really love the styling, it's so clean and well proportioned. I'm telling you guys right now, this car is going to make a difference for Buick. And the V8 burble was was sooooo sweet.....and by-golly - so sporty.

I like this car alot!

 

I've seen a few Lucernes (most recently a red CXS yesterday) and they do look nice. The V6 models could use some better wheels, and the lower front fascia could use a little work too, but the CXS looks great for a large Buick.

I just wish that the V6 was the HF 3.6L to attract import buyers that don't want a V8, but overall the Lucerne is a very good car for Buick and should help to change Buick's image along with the Enclave and LaCrosse Super.

 

Uh...yeah. Charlie, how much Egg Nogg did you drink before? You are getting like Guy with the Maxx SS. The only image its helping is Toyotas.

 

Eggnog is tomorrow night, my man.

 

I wouldnt say its egg nog. My dad has been bumped up to 9 hour shifts and Saturdays starting 01/02/06 building the Northstar. The sole reason....the popularity of the Lucerne.

It's doing something right.

Personally? I think it's boring, but I'm also 21 and own a Solstice.

 

It's no Lambo Josh, that's for sure. But I find it to be a very handsome car. Actually, I think it's more exciting to look at than the Impala SS.

 

I also think the Lucerne is a sharp car. The marketing this car is getting is what I perceive as fantastic. Everything I've seen has focused on the PRODUCT. Beyond Precision seems to fit nicely. No cash back, no lease offers, no comparison to imports. I like it. I only hope that after a while being on the market they can sustain this without having to resort to the sell the deal marketing.

With what I know, have read, and have seen I really like this car so far. It would be nice to be able to get the larger nicer wheels on the base or near base models, but maybe that's part of the ploy, buy all this extra gear you really don't want and then you can get the "nice" wheels.

 

I really like this car too. I think it looks real sharp inside and out, especially in CLX trim. The only problem I see with it is the engine choices. We all know the V6 is weak but will probably be replaced very soon, but I am a bit dissapointed in the Northstars rating. 275 hp in a V8 like that is not good. It should be no less than 300. I have heard that it still performs very well but a high rating for everyone to see whould be nice too.

On a side note, I saw a beautiful Buick last night. It was a newer Park Avenue Ultra that was black with black tint and some nice 19" wheels. Very nice car.

 

Wonder how much power the rumored Lucerne Super will pack?

 

Especially when you consider that the 4.6 Northstar is capable of 320hp.

It is a nice looking Buick.

 

Yeah... the Northstar Lucerne doesn't manage to out perform the Avalon V6, yet costs quit a bit more and with worse gas milage.

 

Don't worry. We can switch around the numbers on Toyota too.
I'm just too lazy to go look anything up.

Saying that, I would take the Buick with its classy styling over the bloated Caddy-ripoff Avalon any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

 

I think the Buick's mpg is hurt by that old 4-speed transmission; and I do think the Buick's 8 absolutely destroys the Avalon's 6 in terms of torque. I wouldn't call 295ft-lbs vs 248ft-lbs even comparable. Most people can feel a 10-15ft-lbs difference -- so a near 50ft-lb difference should make a world of difference in the fun-factor. I really like the new Avalon (except the interior; some (not all) of the parts felt really cheap -- I think Toyota's getting a pass via their reputation here; next time you sit in one, play around with that little mouse-trap garage-door thingy that covers the storage area where the console meets the dash -- you'll see what I mean -- spend anytime playing with it and it comes unhinged -- it's more of a nuisance than anything -- it certainly doesn't work 'well'). I really like the Buick too, but that mpg gap is much too big, Buick needs to do something to address it; change their gearing, add the 6-speed, whatever.

 

Uh... what numbers would that be? I didn't look anything up. That's just what I've seen in general reading.

Ah, so the Avalon is bloated, but the Lucerne I assume isn't? To me all cars in this class are a bit 'bloated'... it's part of what their market wants in a car.

Should I be surprised that you'd want the Lucerne over the Avalon to such an extreme? I can tell ya why, too. It has a Buick badge on it. That's why.

Come up with something quantitative please.

I'm aware that the Lucerne has a very enviable feature-set including some features that the Avalon does not have... however most of those features don't come around until the Lucerne hits the 40,000 dollar sticker price mark, at which point I can't imagine anyone in their right mind woul consider the Lucerne with so many other incredible cars in the 40k dollar range (including others from GM!)

Give the lucerne a less generic old person looking interior, a 6-speed instead of a 4-speed automatic, and a V6 motor that actually belongs in a car in this price range and then I'll give it more consideration.

 

Hey, I had Merlot that night!


I haven't seen a Lecerne in real life yet, but I'll make sure I'm sober when I do.