Comments on: Buick LaCrosse to offer 2.4-liter four-cylinder

By: HS

HS — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:10:13 +0000

I drive a lot of highway miles on business and I like the idea of making the direct injected four cyclinder available in the new LaCrosse. My guess is that the car will shed 150 lb or more with the smaller engine and lower torque rated transmission. I bet with the 6 speed automatic it will move along just fine and will actually handle better than the 6 cyclinder models since it’ll be less front heavy. GM should also fit narrower 225 tires rather than the 235’s provided with the V6. This will have less unsprung weight for better ride response and further reduce the overall weight of the car. Another feature I’d like to see with this engine is electronic power steering for extra fuel economy. G.M. should make the 4 cyclinder available in the CXL model because I suspect I’m not the only one that is interested in good fuel economy and the extra luxury features.

By: carstuff

carstuff — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:48:59 +0000

The LaCrosse MPG has not been determined by the epa yet. GM is conservative on its internal estimates until the EPA numbers are in.

By: A.J.

A.J. — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:07:24 +0000

1115, you might be surprised – more people switch from T/H/N to domestics than you might think.

This is good. 2.4 for the CX, 3.0 for the CXL, and 3.6 for the CXS.

But, my question is: If the Equinox is capable of 22/32 MPG with the same engine, why would the more aerodynamic Lacrosse get less mileage?

By: sj79

sj79 — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:46:21 +0000

50% of Enclave sales were from other brands- many of them would be imports you jackass. If you go to edmunds.com and read comments from owners you will see that many owned and cross shopped imports. The Malibu also does well with conquest sales. Only in your mind do domestics not compete with import vehicles. Most Malibu owners who commented in the Consumer Review section at edmunds.com mention imports they considered. read it and weap.

By: tripleonefive

tripleonefive — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:46:19 +0000

1115, you can believe anything you want to.
- I know that and I do

I will trust the newer data which includes the Enclave sales (which I have seen quoted multiple times that it is bringing in 10 year younger buyers) until I see more up to date data.
-10 years younger for Buick realistically is still people in their mid 50’s. Its a start and I do think that the LaCrosse will get someone who wants to step up from a Chevy Malibu but cant afford or doesnt want a CTS. Just like the Malibu it wont have people trading in late model Japanese cars from Lexus or Acura.

By: sj79

sj79 — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:36:30 +0000

Titus:

Turbos usually require premium and this engine will not. Small turbos arent generally more efficient than NA engine of similar power. The DI ecotec is brand new for 2010 model year. The ecotec itself is only about 6 years old.

Good point about the Accord. The Automatic I4 gets 21/30 and weighs about 3400lbs vs 3700+ for the Buick. I’m more impressed by the Buick.

By: rt101

rt101 — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:08:49 +0000

I also had good luck with the GM trucks and Buicks I have owned, over the past years.

Also, like the new 4 banger engine. Wish they had different engines in their small pickups.

They have forgotten about them, period. And left the market for the foreign automakers.

Shame, Shame. on management without any vision of where they wanted to take their auto company.

Now, they have hit bottom.

By: Titus

Titus — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:52:03 +0000

Isnt’t this 2.4 liter engine kind of outdated?? In Europe, Opel makes 180 HP from a 1.6 liter TURBO. That sounds much better….

By: carstuff

carstuff — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:12:23 +0000

1115, you can believe anything you want to.

I will trust the newer data which includes the Enclave sales (which I have seen quoted multiple times that it is bringing in 10 year younger buyers) until I see more up to date data.

This is the company that gets the data for the industry.

http://usa.polk.com/Industries/Media/Analyze/MarketAnalysis/

By: CarsNut

CarsNut — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:17:38 +0000

This is another GM’s genius. 4 banger to drag 4000+ pounds . This will be as successful as the Malibu “Mild hybrid”.

By: HalGameGuru

HalGameGuru — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:50:25 +0000

the 4 cylinder accord gets this mileage, and its 500 pounds lighter. ANd the engine it has is about 10 HP lower and 15-20 lb ft lower.

You wanna know whats really sad? that 4 banger accord gets 30 miles to the gallon highway, and a buick from the late 90’s with a 3.8 liter v6 got 30 on the highway too. Which is really the bigger deal?

By: sharpie

sharpie — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 05:07:01 +0000

“Capable of 20 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway, General Motors says that the four-banger LaCrosse will be among the most efficient in the segment.”

30 mpg highway seems ok, but only 20 in the City for a 2.4L four banger with 182hp? That seems low.

By: tripleonefive

tripleonefive — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:40:23 +0000

Well carstuff I have a conflicting article and kicking tires sounds like it is incorrect and automotive.com sounds like more logical data therefore I will not look at the article suspect data

By: Architect

Architect — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:38:13 +0000

This is a stunning vehicle…one that I would consider as a second vehicle – this coming from a 40-year old 2006 BMW 330i driver. Suck it johnnycanuck, and the rest of you who refuse to review automobiles and manufacturers objectively and on their own merit.

By: Jax

Jax — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:32:11 +0000

If that powertrain is any good in this car, it’s too bad they are restricting it to the base stripped model. That makes me think they don’t plan to sell many and just want a low starting price and higher mpg numbers point to tout in ads.
Price “STARTS AT $XXXXX”
Mileage “UP TO XXMPG”

By: Jax

Jax — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:29:14 +0000

It really needs to be mileage better because I just realized 20/30 is actually worse than the new Chevy Equinox SUV with the same powertrain.
We will have to wait and see what the official EPA numbers are.

By: carstuff

carstuff — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:26:09 +0000

30 is GM’s conservative number until epa sends the actual. Most likely will be closer to 32.

By: Jax

Jax — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:13:16 +0000

I was excited until I saw 20/30 mpg. Not that great for a 4 cylinder and really close to V6 Camry and Accord mileage. Should be minimum 22/32 to be really competitive for the class.

By: carstuff

carstuff — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:57:33 +0000

1115, please reread all the articles. The Enclave has brought in all those younger buyers. Some stayed and bought the Enclave. Others saw the LaCrosse and bought it. And most likely the data change was not 6 months but from one year to the next and the Enclave would not have been included in the earlier data.

Kicking tires does not make up the data. They get the data from the same place Automotive.com does.

Polk.

Again, sorry the data does not agree with your misperceptions.

Of course I will change my perception if you find newer data.

Found this: “Of the nearly 80,000 Enclave sales, half are conquest with buyers an
average age of 10 years younger than the Buick average, she said.”

50% conquest on a solid old line brand like Buick is HUGE.

By: elviososa

elviososa — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:39:19 +0000

well….Buick is getting better in style….unlike Lexus and Acura….they are getting worse year by year.

By: save saab

save saab — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:25:47 +0000

Great idea, but I think GM should turbocharge the engine because look, the Saab 9-5 is a big car that most people may expect it to have a V6. But this car has 260hp (my car) from a tiny 2.3 liter I-4. And yet, it’s pretty fast 0-60 in 6.5 seconds and it get’s nearly 35 mpg if I don’t drive like a lunatic. This is what cars should have, small engines with a TON of horsepower, well except for sports cars and trucks. Perfect example, the 2008 Audi S4 with the 4.2 V8 being replaced for the 2010 with a supercharged 3.0 V6.

By: TL

TL — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:52:44 +0000

I actually for once, like this Buick. It’s stance is young, athletic and sleek. In fact, it somewhat resembles a BMW 5-series, especially the shape of the tail-lights. It’s quite encouraging that automakers are switching to smaller output engines, however, will the four-banger have enough to haul the weight of the car?

By: MasterYoda2005

MasterYoda2005 — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:03:50 +0000

Coco youre right about one thing GM hasnt made many good 4’s but their new engines are remarkable. You even recognize that with their new line of V6s and the tried and true Small block V8. Im sure they have designed a new 4 that will be just as good as their other engines and will be used in this plus various other applications. And so what if adding 4 cylinder engines to big cars is an ‘ad campaign’ as you say. Toyota has been doing it for years. Talking about how they are so green and efficient when they make just as many Gas guzzling oil burning rigs as GM (seqouia, Land Cruiser, Tundra). The retail sector is ALL about public perception. Example GM made ****ty cars for thirty years yet people still bought them in droves. It wasnt until the media started talking about how much better Toyotas were (because at the time they honestly were) and how bad domestics are blah blah blah…..youre average American is a jackass who doesnt research past what his neighbor has in the driveway. People listen to their TV. I am just glad that GM is producing good cars–I could give two sh*ts if its ran by the US govt, Bozo the Clown, or Michael Jackson. Lets look at the products and leave the red tape for the suits

By: A4

A4 — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:01:01 +0000

GM should stick the 2.0 Turbo 4 from the Solstice GXP into every car they make, including this one.

By: JakeK66

JakeK66 — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:43:01 +0000

I still don’t “hate” the Aztek’s styling, it’s better than some Toyotas that have came out, so you can count me out keldon.

By: tripleonefive

tripleonefive — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:28:27 +0000

According to Automotive.com from 6/07 the average age was 65. The Lucerne and LaCrosse clocked in with average buyer ages of 68 and 69. The article from above was from Kicking tires 1/08 so I find it more beleivable that that the first article sounds more accurate. Young people just dont drive Buicks sure the lacrosse may change that but I find it hard to beleive that Buick lowered their avg age in 6 months

By: keldon

keldon — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:05:38 +0000

Its hilarious how people on here get into arguments over styling and design. Has blogging totally turned your brains to mush? Arguments about facts like HP, weight, chassis platforms, and suspension setups I can understand, but how can u argue about styling? Give your opinion. If someone disagrees with it, shut up! That’s their right. Do we all have to love a BMW 3 series and hate a Pontiac Aztec? Okay that was a bad example, I think we do all hate the Aztec. But my point is, styling is purely subjective so why get into an argument over it?

By: carstuff

carstuff — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:01:33 +0000

coco, living in the past. Perhaps the new Buick interiors are not your old “average” Buick buyer interiors and are so nice they are bringing in newer and younger buyers.

By: cocojoe53

cocojoe53 — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:36:49 +0000

I will take a look….

By: carstuff

carstuff — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:32:03 +0000

Jake, how do you figure? Insignia is slightly smaller but if it came over as a Buick I would only see it as kinda one way, the OPC way.

By: JakeK66

JakeK66 — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:08:09 +0000

cocojoe53 – True, but I mean’t for the class – and I like it better than the Passat or CC’s interior. It’s actually built out of very nice materials too – something that I can’t say about the Malibu/Aura twins.

By: cocojoe53

cocojoe53 — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:55:32 +0000

Jake,
The best interior’s in the business belong to Audi. The average Buick customer would be happy with an interior from a 1958 Oldsmobile.

By: JakeK66

JakeK66 — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:53:23 +0000

This also means that Buick will NOT be getting the Insignia BTW

By: carstuff

carstuff — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:53:10 +0000

bigp, how do you know the others are better? Are we talking stying? Has anyone here even driven one to make such an analysis?

As a side note the 2009 IQS just came out and Lexus took back #1 spot. LaCrosse lost it’s midsize spot to the Altima/G6/Malibu. But the difference in scores gets tighter and tighter. Overall average improved by almost 10% over 2008!

By: JakeK66

JakeK66 — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:52:37 +0000

I do think they need to get rid of a engine option here – 3 is too many. I say just get rid of the mid-range V-6 and just have one or the other.