Buick Lucerne

[PricklyPete]

So my wife's parents are in town for a visit and drove their 2010 Buick Lucerne. It's the V6 model (I believe a 3800 series V6...but honestly I didn't pop the hood). GM needs to retire this vehicle now....like right now. I haven't driven the new Lacrosse or the Insignia...I mean Regal...but from what I heard, both are competent cars. The Lucerne feels like something from the 80's.

- Steering is vague and sloppy
- Automatic transmission is a fine example of why they call them slushboxes
- Seats have the same support as the Lazyboy in my parents garage that is waiting to go to the goodwill
- Brakes seemed to have an initial dead spot and then were lackluster at best.

GM really needs to just stop selling this. This is the kind of car that gave them a bad name. What really kills me is that this is their 3rd Lucerne is a row. They bought one the first year they came out (2006?), replaced it in 2008...and now bought a 2010. That's a whole other story..especially since they kept cars 10+ years prior to this...but not worth discussing.

 

[LTC8K6]

Yeah, the Lucerne is basically a legacy model. The 3800 is long gone though. It would have the 3.9L LZ9.

 

[PricklyPete]

Yeah, the Lucerne is basically a legacy model. The 3800 is long gone though. It would have the 3.9L LZ9.

You're correct...just checked and Wikipedia says they switched to 3.9L in 2009...so this one has the "new" engine. Honestly the engine didn't bother me...it was more than adequate to move the boat around...but the transmission was pretty poor.

And to top it all of, the suspension sucked. It wallowed like a drunk...but still a lot of road imperfections made it into the cabin. A quality 70's Cadillac this is not. I'm sure the upmarket suspension is better on this front...but seriously...this is a Buick...the only thing this thing is supposed to do well is ride comfortably...and it doesn't even exceed there.

The only way I could see someone buying this car is if they did not test drive any other car in the segment.

 

[CurseTheSky]

The only way I could see someone buying this car is if they did not test drive any other car in the segment.

I find that cars like that are mostly sold to people who don't do their own research. They walk into the car dealership and say "I want a car, I want it to be big and comfy, I want a V6, and it has to be blue or black." Then they let the sales rep take them out to a few cars, maybe test drive one, listen to the rep go on and on about the car's great features and the awesome deals they're offering, and sign the dotted line - all in the same day.

I test drove a Focus (2007), Focus (2009), Mazda3, Mazda6, Malibu, Altima (2.5L), Cobalt (lol), and some Kia POS that they insisted I try over the course of a couple weeks before settling on my Fusion. I should have tried an Accord and Camry, I suppose, but anything around the same year (2008) or mileage (~26k) as the Fusion went for $3-5k more. The Altima was the nicest of the bunch, but also far more expensive.

I digress...

 

[PricklyPete]

I find that cars like that are mostly sold to people who don't do their own research. They walk into the car dealership and say "I want a car, I want it to be big and comfy, I want a V6, and it has to be blue or black." Then they let the sales rep take them out to a few cars, maybe test drive one, and sign the dotted line.

Yes...I think that is true about a lot of people...especially as they get older. My wife's parents have been buying Buicks for a while (other than their farm vehicles that are all Chevy/GMC). Before Buicks...it was Oldsmobiles...and Chevy prior to that. Nowadays they just show up and ask for the largest Buick in the cheapest trim as close to the previous color they owned as possible. It used to be a navy blue color...but the dealership they work with was out last time...so now it is a gray color.

 

[desy]

Thats what old people like
quiet floaty boats
Its why the Camry and Avalon avg age of buyer is now 55

 

[LTC8K6]

Yeah there must still be enough folks around who like those old boats.

My dad would have liked the Lucerne, and hated anything even slightly stiffly sprung.

It's just what he was used to driving all his life.

 

[zsdersw]

If I ever get to that point in life.. where I want a car *without* a sporty suspension and handling.. someone please kill me.

 

[JulesMaximus]

We got one as a rental a couple years ago. Hated it. In fact, it made my son quesy just riding in it on the freeway and he never gets car sick.

 

[caspur]

The Lucerne if i recall is basically a lower spec DTS, although it can be equipped with the same V8. It isn't the most modern car, but I'd take it over an Camry or Accord.

CurseTheSky brings up an interesting point, because it works the opposite way too. I test drive several thousand cars a year. And the funny thing is, I'm perfectly happy with driving a Lucerne. It's like after a certain point in your automotive life, big, comfy cars are more appreciated. My preference for the Grand Marquis (and other panther-platform cars) are well known.

 

[Mermaidman]

Unfortunately for your parents, this is the last year for the Lucerne.

If I ever get to that point in life.. where I want a car *without* a sporty suspension and handling.. someone please kill me.

Most people aren't defined by the cars they like ^_^

 

[SearchMaster]

Thats what old people like
quiet floaty boats
Its why the Camry and Avalon avg age of buyer is now 55

This.

When my neighbor (in her 70s) was looking for a car last year, she LOVED the Lucerne as she was coming from a Town Car. All other cars were too "harsh", the Lucerne was cushy enough for her. However, they were expensive new (~$35K)...we found a 2 year old one with like 6K miles for low 20s but she was scared of buying used.

She ended up with an Altima and has grown to love it but she's absolutely the target market for the Lucerne.

 

[ElFenix]

So my wife's parents are in town for a visit and drove their 2010 Buick Lucerne. It's the V6 model (I believe a 3800 series V6...but honestly I didn't pop the hood). GM needs to retire this vehicle now....like right now. I haven't driven the new Lacrosse or the Insignia...I mean Regal...but from what I heard, both are competent cars. The Lucerne feels like something from the 80's.

- Steering is vague and sloppy
- Automatic transmission is a fine example of why they call them slushboxes
- Seats have the same support as the Lazyboy in my parents garage that is waiting to go to the goodwill
- Brakes seemed to have an initial dead spot and then were lackluster at best.

GM really needs to just stop selling this. This is the kind of car that gave them a bad name. What really kills me is that this is their 3rd Lucerne is a row. They bought one the first year they came out (2006?), replaced it in 2008...and now bought a 2010. That's a whole other story..especially since they kept cars 10+ years prior to this...but not worth discussing.

that's because it is.

my father once told me that GM designed a couple cars back in the 60s and haven't done anything since. i started looking at the lucerne's DNA and according to wikipedia it can trace its roots back to the 1959 C body

and i'd thought my father was being at least somewhat facetious

 

[Vette73]

Thats what old people like
quiet floaty boats
Its why the Camry and Avalon avg age of buyer is now 55

This. GM and other car companies makes cars for a segment. Like when people were mad at GM, Toyota, etc... for putting so much into trucks and suvs.

 

[PricklyPete]

Unfortunately for your parents, this is the last year for the Lucerne.

Yes...they will be heartbroken.

 

[PricklyPete]

This. GM and other car companies makes cars for a segment. Like when people were mad at GM, Toyota, etc... for putting so much into trucks and suvs.

I understand building something for a segment...but even for a segment...the Lucerne is pretty piss poor. An Avalon beats it in every possible way. The LaCrosse appears to be a huge step in the right direction putting Buick back into the game (and beating the similar Lexus in pretty much all the comparisons I've read).

 

[Bignate603]

that's because it is.

my father once told me that GM designed a couple cars back in the 60s and haven't done anything since. i started looking at the lucerne's DNA and according to wikipedia it can trace its roots back to the 1959 C body

and i'd thought my father was being at least somewhat facetious

Yeah, that's like saying that an LS series engine is derived from the 1955 small block V8. There are some similarities but very little of the original design is left.

 

[zsdersw]

Most people aren't defined by the cars they like ^_^

Neither am I.

 

[RU482]

GM really needs to just stop selling this. This is the kind of car that gave them a bad name. What really kills me is that this is their 3rd Lucerne is a row. They bought one the first year they came out (2006?), replaced it in 2008...and now bought a 2010.

Hmm, they should stop making it because it gives people a bad impression of GM....YET, you give an example of someone who has purchased 3 new in 4 years. interesting logic

 

[MikeMike]

$100 their next car purchase is a Buick Lacrosse

 

[LTC8K6]

By Buick’s math, before the Regal came along, the nameplate’s lineup of two rather large sedans and one behemoth ute competed in segments that comprised just 14 percent of the U.S. market, sales-wise. Come 2012, after a Chevy Cruze–based compact sedan and a small crossover are added, that figure will leap to 46 percent.

Even so, last year Buick astonishingly outsold Audi, Infiniti, and Lincoln in the U.S. To date, which includes no significant sales of the appealing Regal, Buick’s numbers are trending higher than all those, plus Acura. Surprising? You bet. Deserved? More than ever.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/10q3/2011_buick_regal_cxl-road_test

 

[RU482]

$100 their next car purchase is a Buick Lacrosse

my mom (68 yrs old) is so pissed they don't make the Buick Century anymore.

 

[exdeath]

Yeah, that's like saying that an LS series engine is derived from the 1955 small block V8. There are some similarities but very little of the original design is left.

Man they had pistons and shit back in the 1800s and everybody still uses them today, whats up with that?

 

[evident]

at a borders parking lot, some 70 year old lady driving that POS w/ a landau top opened her drivers door into my passenger door's rear view mirror, while i was sitting in it, and then said she didn't do it. the oblivious old driver is their target market, obviously

 

[jlee]

I drive a V6 Lucerne to and from Florida every year for an elderly couple...I would never want one. Ever.


Ever.


It's quite comfortable, though...gotta give it that - but it has no power and feels like jello.