Motor Trend First Drive: 2008 Buick LaCrosse Super

[1957wildcat]

Motor Trend today shared its initial impressions about the 2008 Buick LaCrosse Super. Buick fans might be especially happy with the last line of Motor Trend's report, which states, "Way more to the point, at $32,605, it's a whole lot of Buick for $1980 less than a Lexus ES350." To read the entire "First Drive," click here
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...r_first_drive/

[78chevyman]

Wow! I thought they were going to eat that car for lunch...

Don't get me wrong...I am a HUGE fan of Buicks...but the LaCrosse Super is not as nice
as some of the other cars in it's $32K price range. I would put down the extra money and get into a Cadillac CTS...IMHO.

I personally like the car...but we all know how Motor Trend usually behaves...
So I was just expecting the worst.

My hat goes of to GM for putting a V8 under the hood!!!

Don't Worry.....GM will not let Buick die...they will be coming back in style....very soon!!!

[chevyboy88]

What were they thinking with the interior??

[61BelAir]

The interior looks sterile! not good at all!

[member12]

I still can't get over the fact that Hyundai's new Genesis is the exact car that Buick should be building....but doesnt.

A big, RWD cruiser luxury car for half the price of a Lexus LS (which is how the Lexus LS got started....by building a Mercedes SEL for half the price).

If the Buick LaCrosse Super were an independently sprung RWD car(with RWD car proportions)that handled well and had a nice, roomy interior, then I can see them easily getting another $4000 for this car and their sales would probably go up. Buick needs 1 car to replace the Lucerne and LaCrosse- and that is something alont the lines of what they build for the Chinese. I don't think Buick should build a front drive sedan.
Enclave is their mainstream people mover. The Park ave is the real Buick, and a new RWD Wildcat should be on the Camaro chassis with a DI Supercharged V6. All buicks should forgo the V8 in favor of a supercharged six.....I always thought that is what Buicks were about. I loved those Park Avenues with the subtle "supercharged" badge on the back. I loved how they were big, stately cars that looked slow....but they have that little badge that means attitude.

You can't charge those prices on a W body car and expect to sell them WITHOUT massive rebates. The torque steer, handling, ride, and HUGE front overhang just don't work for those prices, even if it's still a very good car.
This race-track ready W body buck should have been in showrooms about 15 years ago, then I'd understand. Otherwise, don't expect to sell many loaded LaCrosses at anything close to MSRP.

[yukonho]

My buddies dad (late 70's) just traded his 2005 Mercedes E300 for a new LaCrosse Super. He was tired of spending $1100/mo. for a lease payment and his Buick is only $400. His previous 8 cars have been Mercedes. Before that he had Cadillacs and "got tired of getting screwed." He said with the economy here in MI that he wanted to be able to live on his social security every month. He's a millionaire but you would never know! However, he is very generous.

[ericmvest]

The Buick LaCrosse Super has a 4 year, 50K bumper to bumper warranty and the Chevrolet Impala SS only has a 3 year, 36K bumper to bumper warranty. Their prices are close. Between these two choices, I think I would get the Super.

[Mikkoo]

Originally Posted by ericmvest

The Buick LaCrosse Super has a 4 year, 50K bumper to bumper warranty and the Chevrolet Impala SS only has a 3 year, 36K bumper to bumper warranty. Their prices are close. Between these two choices, I think I would get the Super.

I don't care if the Buick came with a 10 year warranty. I'd still pick the Impala SS over
that butt ugly LaCrosse. I can't deal with the extremely hideous looking headlights.

[Highlander]

Too bad this doesn't get the tire/suspention tuning of the GP GXP. I've driven two of those (a friend's and my brother's), and like my Comp G, the more you push through the twisty roads, the smaller the cars seem to feel. They seem a bit big and lumbering in casual driving, but get better when pushed... And there's no replacment for the quiet burble of a V8 under the hood. (which they've muted more with this iteration That's the nice thing about these babies though is that V8 is a beautiful thing in these cars.

I have to agree though, that dash is horrible...

[chakis24]

Originally Posted by Mikkoo

I don't care if the Buick came with a 10 year warranty. I'd still pick the Impala SS over
that butt ugly LaCrosse. I can't deal with the extremely hideous looking headlights.

yeah, it looks like a wannabe jaguar. which isnt a good thing. (the fact it resembles a jag, or that it wants to)

[dindak]

Great for Buick fans but it's not for me. We need an all new car ASAP.

[dagr382]

Pity it isn't trimmed with the Chinese interior.

[Olds88]

Originally Posted by 78chevyman

I would put down the extra money and get into a Cadillac CTS...IMHO.

The Super will eat the CTS in a drag race and rides smoother to boot. Not every one likes a sport sedan. This Buick is more of a muscle sedan, something sorely lacking in today's market.

Originally Posted by 61BelAir

The interior looks sterile! not good at all!

Originally Posted by chevyboy88

What were they thinking with the interior??

It's a Buick. The interior is supposed to be conservative and simplistic. Its not supposed to be flashy or sporty. And what with that space wasting console shift? It it ain't a stick put on the column and let me use that space for storage and such.

Originally Posted by Highlander

Too bad this doesn't get the tire/suspention tuning of the GP GXP. I've driven two of those (a friend's and my brother's), and like my Comp G, the more you push through the twisty roads, the smaller the cars seem to feel.

Again its a Buick, not a Pontiac. People buy Buicks for reliability and ride quality. Stiff suspensions and such aren't appropriate for Buick.

Originally Posted by dindak

Great for Buick fans but it's not for me. We need an all new car ASAP.

An RWD Zeta Roadmaster would enter the market with virtually no competition now that the Lincoln Town Car is dying (stupid Ford, killing the last real Luxury car focused on ride and comfort rather than sport).

[stevecmh]

surprising really.. i thought they would have bashed it... oh well.. the car does look nice from behind

[K Dawg ONE]

My bi-lingual side of me makes me laugh like a giddy schollgirl everytime you 'Mericans say LaCrosse...lol