My/Your Ideal Buick Lineup

[citric acid]

Originally Posted by AmericanRevolution

Would a name-swap between Riviera and Regal be good?

I think so.

[Wefakr]

Originally Posted by AmericanRevolution

Buick needs to get back on track w/ building awesome, powerful, luxurious cars like they use to...

That would contradict Cadillac's purpose. They're the ones who should be pumping out luxury sports sedans.
Buick should take up where 90's Cadillacs left off. As well as offering decent near-luxury sedans (similar to the current LeSabre and former Regal, but not such poor products), they should offer true luxury cars that don't pretend to sporty. I'd like them to build a car to compete with the LS430 and Town Car. Maybe even something FWD. If I was Lutz, the DTS would have definitely been a Buick. The President would be riding in something RWD.

[AmericanRevolution]

Originally Posted by Wefakr

That would contradict Cadillac's purpose. They're the ones who should be pumping out luxury sports sedans.
Buick should take up where 90's Cadillacs left off. As well as offering decent near-luxury sedans (similar to the current LeSabre and former Regal, but not such poor products), they should offer true luxury cars that don't pretend to sporty. I'd like them to build a car to compete with the LS430 and Town Car. Maybe even something FWD. If I was Lutz, the DTS would have definitely been a Buick. The President would be riding in something RWD.

Not saying build sports sedans... but be like it use to, like Caddy... luxurious cars with seemingly endless power... very comfortable, luxurious, simple, elegant, quiet, soft-riding...

[kain01]

OK, one more time, I'm throwing my mix into the hat. I think this would place them squarely in Infiniti/Lexus territory, only at cheaper prices.

LeSabre
Redesign, large Kappa. Hatchback LeSabre5 version.
GS: 2.8 215 HP/FWD/$22k

Lacrosse
Small Zeta or Beta (I believe smaller Zeta) platform car.
GS: 3.2 245 HP/RWD/$25k

Lucerne
Larger than Lacrosse, about a current Grand Prix/Impala size car also on Zeta.
GS: 3.6 280 HP/RWD/AWD/$29k
GNX: 4.6 330 HP/RWD/AWD/$33k

Rainer
Redesign with new Buick styling, and portholes.
GS: 3.6 280 HP/RWD/AWD/$40k
GNX: 4.6 330 HP/RWD/AWD/$44k

Rendezvous
Redesign, Equinox platform.
GS: 3.6 260 HP/RWD/AWD/$35k

Riviera
Full size Buick, made on Sigma platform.
GS: 4.6 330 HP/RWD/AWD/$37k

Wildcat
Corvette based Buick. The inspiration for Corvette.
GS: 5.0 Northstar II 375 HP/RWD/AWD/$50k
GNX: 5.0 SC 610 HP/RWD/AWD/$68k

All of these undercut Lexus and Infiniti by a bit, however if the new Velite styling theme is implemented, and the new "high tech" engines were added, it would elevate Buick to where Cadillac was before the CTS.

Edit:Lowered prices to more closely match current price range, instead of immediately jumpin into Infiniti/Lexus price range. Altered Northstar II, and kept current Northstar. Minor HP increases

[AmericanRevolution]

I've made some minor changes to each model, as well as added the Rainer. Unless there's demand, no Roadmaster wagon.

[Ming]

I like your line-up, but I think Buick would have a hard time moving up market so quickly, coming off the heels of value-priced Rental Car sales kings like the Century.

[AmericanRevolution]

Originally Posted by Ming

I like your line-up, but I think Buick would have a hard time moving up market so quickly, coming off the heels of value-priced Rental Car sales kings like the Century.

Yes... *grumbles and speaks under breath 'stupid rental cars!'*

[63RivRules]

Maybe the past is better than the present; so, let's go with the past.

Well, first the obvious:

'63-'65 Riviera--Scrap the '63 dynaflow and go with a '64 THM-400 switch- pitch/425 2x4bbl drivetrain; leather interior, kelsey hayes wire wheels (to get that Silver Arrow-look)

'53 Skylark--a factory Kustom, chopped-windshield classic

'59 Buick Electra 225 flat-top (those angled headlights are SO cool)

'58 Buick Limited--pure decadent excess, the American way

'50 Roadmaster-- well, my father had one, and I love the buck-toothed grille

Harley Earl's P-38-- the FIRST concept car; still looks modern

'76 Buick Riviera--I know the Buick managment hated the boattail, and created this car. They quickly wanted a restyle (even though the car was only 3 years into its 10 year scheduled restyle). It and the Toro are the first cars to have high-mounted turn/brake lights. May not be the prettiest Buick, but it drives like a dream---and isn't that what Buicks are all about?

[63RivRules]

Originally Posted by AmericanRevolution

Ok, here's my ideal Buick lineup...

Riviera $51,000-$64,000
A long-nosed, V8 powered (475 hp) luxury sports coupe (not comparative to any Caddy's, though similar to a STC or El Dorado) with true 2+2 seating. Extremely refined, with classy performance (think Continental GT)..

It's interesting that you note the Bentley Continental GT. Where I live in a small, gated, golf-course countryclub, I've seen at least five, and even more on the streets on Palm Springs. Usually, the owners look to be aged 70+. If this car would appeal to them, I'm sure that an UPSCALE Riviera would also appeal to an even wider age group segment.

[AmericanRevolution]

Originally Posted by 63RivRules

Maybe the past is better than the present; so, let's go with the past.

Well, first the obvious:

'63-'65 Riviera--Scrap the '63 dynaflow and go with a '64 THM-400 switch- pitch/425 2x4bbl drivetrain; leather interior, kelsey hayes wire wheels (to get that Silver Arrow-look)

'53 Skylark--a factory Kustom, chopped-windshield classic

'59 Buick Electra 225 flat-top (those angled headlights are SO cool)

'58 Buick Limited--pure decadent excess, the American way

'50 Roadmaster-- well, my father had one, and I love the buck-toothed grille

Harley Earl's P-38-- the FIRST concept car; still looks modern

'76 Buick Riviera--I know the Buick managment hated the boattail, and created this car. They quickly wanted a restyle (even though the car was only 3 years into its 10 year scheduled restyle). It and the Toro are the first cars to have high-mounted turn/brake lights. May not be the prettiest Buick, but it drives like a dream---and isn't that what Buicks are all about?

We're not talking about real cars here... I made this thread to say "Hey, this is what I want Buick to make" and took peoples suggestions... it's not a list of favorite Buick's from the past... take some ideas from the past, sure, but not rebuild them...

[AmericanRevolution]

Originally Posted by 63RivRules

It's interesting that you note the Bentley Continental GT. Where I live in a small, gated, golf-course countryclub, I've seen at least five, and even more on the streets on Palm Springs. Usually, the owners look to be aged 70+. If this car would appeal to them, I'm sure that an UPSCALE Riviera would also appeal to an even wider age group segment.

Ahh, you like PS? We go there once in a while... pretty nice there... ya, the Riviera would appeal to more people I think, especially with its price...

[AmericanRevolution]

Originally Posted by AmericanRevolution

We're not talking about real cars here... I made this thread to say "Hey, this is what I want Buick to make" and took peoples suggestions... it's not a list of favorite Buick's from the past... take some ideas from the past, sure, but not rebuild them...

63RivRules, sry if I sounded nippy... wasn't tryin to sound that way...

[AmericanRevolution]

bump for comments/views...

[yoblues]

Buick has the same problems that plague the other GM brands. Toyota has the Camry, it seems that car has been around for ever. They just keep refining it year after year. The name is familliar to everyone. Buick like all GM car lines loves name changes. The great old names like Wildcat, Roadmaster and Skylark go away in the wind to be replaced by the flavor of the month. I found it Ironic that the large Chevy passenger cars were selling poorly and then the IMPALA name returned and it has been a top ten seller ever since. Over the last 25 years GM ran away from it's storied past, name wise, design wise and quality wise and has paid the price ever since.

[MCGARRETT]

Well not exactly....


Skylark was in the line up from 1953 to 1954 as a limited edition convertible. Then it returned in 1961 as a highline version of the compact Special. It remained in the line up from 1961 to 1996. Longer than Toyota has been selling Camrys period.

Buick has had the LeSabre in the line since 1959 until 2006, perhaps it might be time for a new nameplate.

Chevrolet had the Impala in the line from 1958 to 1984, again longer than Camry has existed.

Roadmasted, though a well recognized name, was dropped in 1958, and it did not return to the Buick line until 1992.

But wait, what about the Toyota-Toyo-Van, Previa, Sienna, it seems that has changed names 3 times in the past 15 years, or how about the Toyota Starlet, Tercel, Echo? or maybe a T100, Tundra? How about a Cressida, Avalon? Realistically, besides Corolla, Camry and Celica(oh..wait they canceled that too), Toyota changes names pretty often too.