USA Today: There should be more cars like the Buick LaCrosse

[Sal Collaziano]

Originally Posted by Ambalanche

Sal, while I agree with you that we don't want "yes men" extolling the virtues of every new car the General makes, I also don't want some auto writer blowing up some small item that will make the vehicle look like a dismal failure because of a feature, or lack there of, that he doesn't chide other automakers of using. That's my only point about Healy's comments. He spent an inordinate amount of his article whining about these things and barely mentioned any dynamics about the car which really makes me wonder if he even drove it. That being said, I too am surprised they didn't use the strut type hinges on this car. GM already uses them in many others so I guess this was a cheap-o solution. GM needs to not let things like this escape the bean counters offices in the future, everything from here on out should be class leading!

I know what you're saying and I agree.

[carart]

I thought that the rule, when it's raining, was that you use a shopping cart for your bags and then you just leave it there in the parking lot to roll off and hit another car.

[firefox]

If the statements about the tranmission are accurate then the that is a real concern that GM needs to address immediately. The thing about the trunk my thinking is that the leauge that Buick and even more so Cadillac wants to play in they need power lift trunks. They make power lift gates on suv's a system I think could easly be applied to sedan trunks.

[steve333]

Originally Posted by Bravada

I do - I hate touching the dirty trunk lid, I need it to pop up by itself and have a nice handle ON THE INSIDE that you can grab and pull it to close (this also requires good mechanics and hydraulics) without touching the dirty metal. And it becomes even more of an issue now that winter is coming.

Um, don't you have to touch it to close the trunk?

[A Bum In A Bus]

This writer is an ignorant *******, that's about all I have to say for the nut.

[ARCANGEL]

Wow it's amazing how tolerant you guys are when there is a slight air of negativity towards a GM vehicle

[GMJoe]

What is ment by the transmission is learning?

Do the shifts adjust over time or does the driver learn how to get the proper shifts?

Some other testers said the 6 speed transmission shifts nice and smooth.

[CheetahDC]

http://l.yimg.com/dv/izp/bmw_7_serie...ther_trunk.jpg
This is how you make goosenecks.

[Danko]

Trunk struts are good until they are not. Priced a replacement? You usually replace both and they are pricey!

[Sal Collaziano]

Originally Posted by ARCANGEL

Wow it's amazing how tolerant you guys are when there is a slight air of negativity towards a GM vehicle

We should not tolerate any negativity toward GM. :p

[Z16monte]

Originally Posted by Bravada

I do - I hate touching the dirty trunk lid, I need it to pop up by itself and have a nice handle ON THE INSIDE that you can grab and pull it to close (this also requires good mechanics and hydraulics) without touching the dirty metal. And it becomes even more of an issue now that winter is coming.

Umm, uhh, wow, Nancy.
Ed

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by Bravada

I do - I hate touching the dirty trunk lid, I need it to pop up by itself and have a nice handle ON THE INSIDE that you can grab and pull it to close (this also requires good mechanics and hydraulics) without touching the dirty metal. And it becomes even more of an issue now that winter is coming.

I can't even figure out how a handle on the inside would close a trunk. Yes, you can pull it down, but how does the trunk lock unless you apply pressure to the top of it and therefore touch the trunk? Unless it's something like a power trunk lift/close button.

And just keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in your car if you're that paranoid.

[ptviperz]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

I can't even figure out how a handle on the inside would close a trunk. Yes, you can pull it down, but how does the trunk lock unless you apply pressure to the top of it and therefore touch the trunk?

On my G, you pull down with the inside handle, let it go and it drops closed. Simple. The G is a strut design.

[doctsompdo]

I had the pleasure of a weekend test drive of an all wheel drive model. Coming form the AURA, the interior needs "getting used to" in that it sweeps you in and coddles you, as it should in a luxury car.

Drives like a charm, handled like a charm and received many looks and questions from people. The 3.0 L didn't feel as fleet footed as my 3.6L in my AURA but it had power when pushed. I think I would prefer the 3.6L for that extra zing. Yes the trunk hinges are big but the trunk space is adequate especially with rear seats down or pass thru. If I remember correctly, there is a handle inside to pull down the trunk.

Its ok to nit pick since I see myself doing that to competition as well. But the seats? They were terrific. A friend has a lexus and he loved the Buick better than his vehicle. The seats are comparable if not more supportive in the Buick. Probably subjective to most of us.

Overall, my definite next car once my lease is up (assuming there is any value left in my AURA by then.....).

[Neanderthal]

OK, I haven't laid eyes on the new Regal aka LaCrotch, but his comments about door handles, seat comfort, and interior storage are just so typical GM that I do not doubt them.

As the writer states, there is no shortage of excellent seats nor of design basics that would excuse anyone today from building a very fine chair. Yet GM seems still quite able to do this.
I had a 1966 Rover that had seats better than 90% of what's made today, I'd hazard, when you throw in the quality of the leather. All my Accords (2001, 02, 03) had excellent seats. All day jobbers.
In fact, my chronic back pain--largely induced by the shooty 02 Regal seats--disappeared within an hour of my driving off the lot in my '03 Accord. Those seats are absolutely therapeutic. The Regal's were almost criminally crummy.

NO EXCUSE FOR SUCKY SEATS.

No interior storage? WTF? There's no excuse for this.
Comparing my 2002 Regal with my 2003 Accord was a sad thing to behold. Accord had 8 cup holders, big pockets front and rear doors, and various nooks and crannies.
Buick? Glove box, console, two cup holders. IIRC, the cup holders were cheapie flimsy plastic things that popped out of the console.

Wake up, GM!

NO EXCUSE FOR NO STORAGE

Door handles hard to pull? Now that is simply stupid.

NO EXCUSE FOR POOR DOOR HANDLES. People will be irritated every time they get in the car. Brilliant.

Specs show this 197"-long tub weighs in @ 4000 LBS, has about 13 cu. ft. of trunk space about 102 cu. ft. interior space.

I hate to bring The Mighty Spectra into this discussion, but my book shows 97 cu. ft. and 12.2 cu. ft. passenger and trunk space, respectively, on a car 177" long.

As for struts vs. hinges, I don't care.


At least it handles well and according to the writer exhibits good dynamics. Hopefully the trannie issue is an adjustment disorder, not inherent in the 6-speed.