Surprise....2010 Buick LaCrosse. Don't laugh....GM maybe in big trouble but this upcoming LaCrosse shows they're going in the right direction. Other than the Caddy CTS, I think this is the most appealing GM car to come out in a long time. I really like the exterior and especially LOVE the interior design of the new LaCrosse. The outside looks something like a futuristic Audi.......very clean and modern. The interior's ambient ice-blue lighting looks really cool and the overall design looks really elegant and futuristic at the same time....I hope Acura incorporates some of these design cues in the 5G. This car is absolutely loaded to the gills w/features, many of which the TL doesn't have: 280 hp V6, AWD, ventilated/heated seats, panorama roof, blind-side monitoring system, dual rear DVD screens (the way they fold flush into the rear seats is really cool), voice-and touch activated NAV system, Heads-up display, etc. Performance is actually similar to the TL's. Fully-loaded, the price comes out similar to that of the FWD TL.

 

I saw an ad for this and couldn't believe my eyes. I explored further, and I must say, the car amazed me. My one complaint with American cars are the B-grade interior designs. They just leave sooooooo much to be desired when compared to Japanese and German cars. This, however, brings it right in line with those cars. This is certainly a step in the right direction for GM, and if they incorporate this styling across their line, they'll be back where they need to be in a few years time.

I've always wanted a US car, but could never overcome how atrocious the interiors were, even in something as top-end as a Vette. With the way it's looking now, this might be my new ride in a few years.

 

Looks OK I guess...kinda boring from the outside. The interior though...looks fookin great!

 

The exterior is GREAT! This is something I'm VERY surprised to be saying about ANY Buick product. If this car were RWD, it would be even better.

 

While I generally agree that this is a good direction for GM, I recall in a review I recently read, that the car comes in at over 4000 lbs. and that the 0-60 times were in the 6.8" - 6.9" range. That is not competitive in a car that has pretensions of running in the "sports sedan" lane. I agree, too, with the OP. The exterior is dull, dull, dull. The interior, however, is very, very nice.

 

I though 0-60 was not important to you guys or is that only true when the other 'sports sedan', G-37 etc, is quicker then the TL?

 

While 0-60 is not the "holy grail," a vehicle having 'sports sedan' aspirations had better be able to scoot along to 60 in under 6.5" Once you're close to 7" you're definitely not in sports sedan territory.

 

Motor Trend's preliminary test of the 2010 LaCrosse shows 0-60 times of 6.0-6.5 sec.....similar to the TL's.

The interior, in my opinion, just blows away anything from Acura or Lexus. I just LOVE that ambient ice-blue lighting. I never imagined the day when a Buick was able to out-feature an Acura.....heated/cooled seats, blind-spot monitor, HUD display, panorama roof, dual rear DVD screens, Touch screen and voice-activated NAV.....list goes on and on.....all for $36K!

 

I've seen two of these in Southern Cali, and they look fantastic on the outside with an aggressive looking line, but the inside is less than desirable for me. There's also the Buick factor, not even Tiger Woods can convince me to buy a Buick.

 

Definitely a step in the right direction. However, I could not buy a Buick. My reasons are a bit shallow because many still look at Buicks as an old man's car. I'd rather buy a Japanese or European luxury car.

 

Fit and finish look nice but I wouldn't touch any American brand for some time. The new Taurus also looks like a step in the right direction but I digress.

 

car is just too heavy (300lbs). more in RL/A6 class.
has strut suspension in front. I am sure it will not be pulling 0.91g. TL is atleast value/reliability. even with 6AT it is still not beating TL fuel economy/performance.

 

SSFTSX favors TL?!!..............Sure sign the world is coming to an end!

 

i am sure the tl is a better made car

 

I wonder how resale would be between the two....

 

I still don't trust GM build quality enough to spend over $30k on one of their cars. Even with the Buick's decent looks, I have a feeling that it may handle like a boat intended for the senior set.

 

i checked this out a few weeks ago, interior is BAD-ASS!! car, is still a buick

but it did come with a decent engine & awd capabilities.. it COULD compete with the 4G, but i doubt it

 

No one is going to cross-shop a Buick and an Acura. Just won't happen.

 

Just look at what you get compared to the TL and with much more rear legroom than the TL. If you Google 2010 Buick Lacrosse, just about every article on it compares it too or mentions Acura TL for its comparison.

I think it will depend on how GM does when it comes to marketing the Lacrosse. The TL is already cross shopped with the likes of the Maxima, VW CC etc so if they are aggressive in their advertising campaign I think it will be a huge success and will steal some sales from Acura.

 

it will depend more on how the manufacturer markets the model. Just because a magazine compares the two doesn't mean the manufacturers intended for two cars to compete, but it definitely stays in peoples' minds.

I think this car is more in-line with competing against the ES350. The TL definitely has much more sporty aspirations, as I doubt this will ever be available with a manual transmission. As far as reliability is concerned, I'd be much more worried about the TL. Faulty transmissions that were rampant two generations prior, and beginning to show up in the last generation also? Not to mention warped rotors that follow the same trend. Not to mention in recent reliability ratings, Buick has topped Acura. Just goes to show in this thread that GM has yet to shake the reputation of their infamously bad cars of the 80's, falsely assumed or not.

 

Here are some facts about this car:

- It's actually an "international car;" epsilon II platform and the engineering are from opel of Germany, exterior design is from the States, and interior design is from China
- The car is actually based on Opel Insignia
- it's 200kg (450lb) heavier than a E Class
- It's built in Canada and China

From what I've read, it looks nice in pictures, but the inside is full of hard plastic parts, fake leather, fake wood, etc. Fit and finish doesn't compare with other premium cars. Its interior has a lot of room. The ride is comfy, it's quite, and smooth. But it's not really a car for enthusiast - unresponsive tranny, numb steering, understeer.

 

This is what I was thinking as well. Has Buick ever made a sporty car?

 

CR is the main source that has ranked Buick reliability highly. However, the 3G TL has all good to excellent reliability ratings from CR, and CR rates Acura #2 overall for expected reliability. Although Buick is the best GM brand by far, it is still only ranked #18 overall.

Contrary to your claims, I haven't read anything about widespread 3G TL transmission failures. Obviously, some transmissions will fail, but there has not been any evidence of a systemic problem like with the 2G. A few of my family members have 3G TLs and have not experienced any problems with the transmissions.

 

The only version of this car that's a TL competitor is the CXS vs the FWD, and that may even be a stretch. As soon as you go SH-AWD, I don't really think there's a point in looking at the Lacrosse.

Per Motor Trend's review:
Sorry, but there's no way the 3.0L GM motor is going to be able to run with the 3.7L Honda motor with both cars having similar weight. The AWD Lacrosse is going to be in 4-cylinder Accord territory if the CXS 3.6L version takes 7.4 seconds to get to 60.

It's a pretty safe assumption that the stereo system will not be able to compete with the TL Tech's.

If you price this car out on Buick's web site, you'll discover that they're out to nickel and dime you to death with features as well. $395 for LED cupholder illumination. Wait, what?

If this car was built on the same platform as the now defunct Pontiac G8 with that interior, it would be a serious competitor, but as it is it's a flop.

Can you link this review? The review I found shows the numbers I posted above.

 

It looks nice, especially the interior. It will probably have the body roll of a Bonneville though. I bet the head restraints/rests are more comfortable than the TL's.

 

Different streets for different feets I suppose, but I don't have any issues with the headrests on my TL.

 

well up here in New England Buick=Old. i do like the interior of the car, but in that color it still screams old to me. Don't care for the exterior too much.

 

Buick Grand National. It was a torque monster. Handling wasn't good but the car was almost as quick as a 'Vette. It's a collector's item now and highly sought after and a used one in good condition can fetch a lot of money in the used car market.

 

A bigger threat to the 4G: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

Motor Trend Test:

0-60: 5.2 sec
1/4 mi: 13.7 sec@ 103mph
Braking: 60-0mph: 112ft
Lateral accel: .87g (avg)

Price as tested: $39K

Curb weight is over 4300+ lbs and is even longer than the TL but performance numbers are very, very good indeed.

 

I've read all the articles and this is good debate. The Buick is too slow according to the current tests, and it's a Buick for Christ Sake (and to think Hyundai has an image problem trying to sell the Genesis Sedan).

I think GM made a mistake killing Pontiac. I'm 57 years old and would have a hard time telling someone I bought a Buick.

Interesting though, I do have a Cadillac CTS right now - and I'm frequently embarassed to tell people I have a Cadillac. Most of my previous ten daily drivers have been Acuras and Infiniti's.

BTW, my next car - in about six months, will not be another CTS. They still need to smooth some rough edges on the car. Nice car, but lacking the tactile refinement of most foreign cars. Too bad.

 

pass.. might as well buy a Lexus ES.. I've just never been a fan of the big body sedan. I definitely appreciate the hand grip on the door panel as well, which is missing on the LaCrosse.

 

Pete, funny you mention this, I stopped by Buick a few weeks ago so look at one, they were not out yet, but I got the brochure, very impressive looking. I'm guessing build quality and interior materials will not match my 4G TL, but it is a nice looking sedan in and out!

 

I see a lot of TL in this design even the hood resembles that of the TL, still will not get noticed though because Buick reputation is ruined

 

Pete you are crazy look at those cheap looking seats blows away anything from Acura and Lexus you must be smoking and I wouldn't be surprised if those ice blue lights were not glow in the dark type lighting definetly will not be leds like Acura's lighting. Sorry but respectfully have to disagree with you, and it will not have acura's reliability

 

But that's pretty much the only good thing about the SHO - performance numbers. And a G37 would keep up, if not beat it at about the same price.

The AWD system in the SHO is quite plain, just a typical haldex awd system originated from Volvo, with no torque-vectoring. It only has 15% stiffer suspension, so body roll is well-contained, but it still pitches a lot. The brakes have not been changed from the standard Taurus, and if I remember correctly, they are not that strong to begin with. Even with the performance package, all you get are performance brake pads, no change in calipers and rotors. Also from what I've read, the AT is quite unresponsive.

Perhaps the most important fact that one should know is, the new Taurus still uses the same platform as the old Ford Five Hundred. I don't think I have to go on and talk about how "great" that car was.

 

Problem with the SHO is Ford interior materials will be sub par, form all my reading ont he Tarus, that is the area Ford needs to concentrate on next, making the interior appear more upscale.

 

Have you test-driven the car or looked at one in person? How can you say the seats are cheap or the LED's not real? My TL is only 8 months old and my drivers seat already has some hideous wrinkles. Don't be such an Acura fanboy to think everything else out there isn't good. In this global economy that we have today, cars are built to a much higher standard than they were 20-30 years ago. More than 70% of the TL is made Outside of Japan......like China, Mexico, Canada, etc. Now I'm not crazy to say that Buick has the track record of reliability or resale value of an Acura or Lexus, but the new LaCrosse shows that GM is capable of building appealing automobiles (besides the CTS and Camaro). Anyways, I think the LaCrosse interior in black surpasses the 4G's at least in design.

 

Well only time will tell, won't it?......you got to admit though, GM and Ford are bringing some serious hardware to the market lately. In particular, Ford's Eco-Boost engine is pretty impressive......hauling a 4,300+ lb Taurus SHO to 60mph in 5.2 sec while getting similar gas mileage as the TL.

 

One thing no one has mentioned, and it should be close to if not at the top of the list when considering a vehicle purchase is crash test ratings. Acura has made this a priority and that's huge IMO. Looks like the Lacrosse does not live up to Acura in this area either, http://www.iihs.org/ratings/ratingsbyseries.aspx?id=530

GM has not made the same comittment to it's line, in fact the 1500 series pick ups from Chevy have relatively poor ratings for a new vehicle line.

The new Chevy Impala actually did worse than it's predessor http://www.iihs.org/ratings/ratingsbyseries.aspx?id=348

I will not buy a car that is not designed and built well enough to protect me and my family in a crash. I guess 35 years on the fire department has a significant impact on my outlook, but I dont understand how most people will go on for hours about a few 10ths of a second difference in 0-60 times and not even consider the safety of a car they load their family in. Guess it shows how most Americans are brainwashed by corporate marketing.

 

I think it's great the TL received such a good crash test rating but c'mon, be real, who really places crash test results on top of their priority list when shopping for cars like these? If crash test results were all thats important, you'd be driving in a minivan. I would say that almost everybody who has bought the TL picked it due to features, performance, style, reliability and value. Official crash test results weren't released until months after it was introduced into the market. And even if the crash test results turned out less than perfect, I don't think it would have affected sales. (I mean the Inifiniti G 37 has a worse crash test rating than the TL, but it still outsells it by a wide margin).