Buick Lucerne Super: $39,395

[wescoent]

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/04/b...per-at-39-395/

[TheGeneral]

My opinion I would take a 2008 Cadillac CTS 3.6L Direct Injection for $35,790 and keep the the difference.

[megeebee]

I suppose this and the LaCrosse Super are meant to get a little press for Buick while they prepare the replacements. But can anyone here imagine they'll sell many? This kind of vehicle, large FWD luxury cars, are a shrinking market.

[wescoent]

The Buick Lucerne is not a perfect car, but as far as large, comfortable cruisers go, it's hard to beat.

The Super isn't that much more expensive than the normal V8 model, and you do get a lot of nice stuff. I'm not the hugest fan of the grill, but 300hp, some very nice interior trim (stitched dash, real aluminum around the radio), and lots of standard goodies make up for it. Plus, the CTS just doesn't have the interior and cargo room of this cruiser.

[CobaltSScrazy]

different strokes for different folks for CTS/Lucerne in any trim level. No problem.

CobaltSS

[Sal Collaziano]

I guess they're using the weaker Northstar engine because it's quieter and smoother than the 300hp 5.3 they're using in the LaCrosse Super.

[autofan]

I noticed when looking on Buick's website that the Lucerne CXS trim level is gone (now Super) as is the LaCrosse CXS trim. That's unfortunate because now there is no LaCrosse available with the 3.6. If you want to step up to a LaCrosse with a better engine than the 3.8, it will have to be the V8 Super. I hate when they take away choices!

[caddycruiser]

Originally Posted by autofan

I noticed when looking on Buick's website that the Lucerne CXS trim level is gone (now Super) as is the LaCrosse CXS trim. That's unfortunate because now there is no LaCrosse available with the 3.6. If you want to step up to a LaCrosse with a better engine than the 3.8, it will have to be the V8 Super. I hate when they take away choices!

This was a recent thing for the Lucerne, but happened a long time ago for the Lacrosse. I'm quite sure they only made '08 Lacrosse CXS models for a couple of months at most, then as with the Lucerne, the Super came and va-moosh.

Still should be a choice, but they so SO few, it's understandable. Same with the Lucerne. I think I actually prefer the CXS or at least in some regards, but it and the Super right next to one another--with their minor differences--wouldn't be worth it. So, recently, nixed it got too.

Neither of these Supers is going to do well, and GM knows that, but were more sort of a last little way to play with both cars using essentially nothing new aside from a few bits and pieces.

As with the Lucerne CXS, I have a strong feeling most will sit around for a while until the big discounts hit and also that a lot of them you'll see will be ex GM exec cars, driven for a few thousand miles and then passed off at auction for almost half price to a variety of GM dealers' certified lots. People just don't have much of a draw to Lucernes with anything higher than a $34/35k sticker.

[ksr]

Sounds like a ton of money. But it's a nice car and a lot cheaper than the DTS. I take the Lucerne over the DTS.

[GMfan1111]

heated steering wheel and harmon kardon sound are pretty cool features but I'll take a current gen or previous generation CTS over this anyday

[Ghracula]

I can't imagine they'd have brought back the 'Super' badge just to do a couple of low-run options on the Brothers L for a couple of years. There will be new Supers, and I think they'll be important to Buick's survival almost as much as the Enclave.

I'm not an expert, but aren't most of the CXS's perks available in a CXL, other than the engine? If that's the case, then the CXS really isn't that huge of an option anyway - I wasn't terribly concerned with which engine mine had, and I don't imagine many of those buying the LaCrosse as it is right now are, either. Dropping the CXS might prompt more to look at the Super, if they don't go there then they're getting the same stuff on a CXL anyway. I would guess that the people they WANT to get into the Super will be impressed with the engine difference, but they'll need to see the difference in trim as well. That CXL is what dad drives, the Super is what -YOU- drive. That kind of thing.

Personally, part of the draw of the Super for me is that it's NOT a car that you're going to see a lot. Around here, Ghrankenstein and I can't play in traffic for more than a couple of minutes before getting sideswiped or at least honked at by a CTS.

[ral1960]

Not enough rear seat headroom for me.

They have never put the OHV V8 in this platform, so it's likely cheaper to continue with the more expensive Northstar for a couple more years.

[caddycruiser]

Originally Posted by Ghracula

I'm not an expert, but aren't most of the CXS's perks available in a CXL, other than the engine? If that's the case, then the CXS really isn't that huge of an option anyway - I wasn't terribly concerned with which engine mine had, and I don't imagine many of those buying the LaCrosse as it is right now are, either. Dropping the CXS might prompt more to look at the Super, if they don't go there then they're getting the same stuff on a CXL anyway. I would guess that the people they WANT to get into the Super will be impressed with the engine difference, but they'll need to see the difference in trim as well. That CXL is what dad drives, the Super is what -YOU- drive. That kind of thing.

Kind of. The key differences are the Magne-Ride (usually a highly acclaimed difference on any vehicle it is on), Magnetic Variable Assist steering, 18" wheels, and buckets/console only layout. That said, though those things did attract some younger buyers...not really many.

So a Super with all of the same stuff but also some unique styling and trim details too, could maybe do a little better than the CXS did vs. a CXL.

[Hitman1970]

Originally Posted by caddycruiser

Kind of. The key differences are the Magne-Ride (usually a highly acclaimed difference on any vehicle it is on), Magnetic Variable Assist steering, 18" wheels, and buckets/console only layout. That said, though those things did attract some younger buyers...not really many.

So a Super with all of the same stuff but also some unique styling and trim details too, could maybe do a little better than the CXS did vs. a CXL.

Maybe Buick will do to Lucernce what is did to LaCrosse and essentially kill the CXS trim. If you look on Buick's website you can only search for CX,CXL, and Super LaCrosses.

The CXS hasn been "built out" for the year, which is corporate speak for "We have better vehicles to stick the 3.6L engine in right now."

[megeebee]

Originally Posted by ral1960

Not enough rear seat headroom for me.

You have tall friends.