Regalguy01

I too, as a 27 year old married, college-educated, home-owning, productive member of society am not the typical(read, stereo-typical) black male. Let me first adddress the topic: I find it to be a great idea that Buick wishes to market to blacks for it has been my belief for years that we(blacks) are its most loyal base. But, I would rather Buick cater in such a way that still suits its elegant, conservative history. Contrary to what most believe, not all black males under 30 want blinged out, chromed-out, pimped out rides. I would rather them appeal to those of us(blacks) like me, who appreciate a handsome design, housing a tasteful and sumptuous interior. Take the Enclave. I have been salivating over if for a couple years now and that is definitely something that Buick should be proud of. It's classy and tasteful, but has panache and looks substantial. It is, to me, a great balance of classic buick sculpture w/modern stylistic cues. So I say go Buick and while your at it, lose tiger woods as the spokesman. If I am the not-so-typical black man, Tiger Woods would be the antithesis of a modern black man. I'd rather see Shaq or Lebron James, two athletes who are superstars on the court, but present a very personable aura off the court. . As for the issue of race and the situation raised by cannonpie concerning kids and the saying 'acting black' or 'acting white'. This mentality dates back to slave days. Every black man who has ever attempted to navigate the American social terrain has had to balance his duties in a predominately white society against his allegiance to his black brothers and sisters. Its like walking a tight rope and you can't lean too much to either side. I am attempting said balancing act right now as I type this from my Fortune 500 company job. But, the smarter of us(blacks) are able to 1st realize that there is no 'acting' like a racial group, there is only the perception(be it founded or unfounded) that people have about a certain group and to acknowledge said bias would be akin to confirming it. The 2nd thing that we realize is that any person ignorant enough to dismiss us simply because of our race--based on whatever grain of fact or fiction-- is not one we would even waste time arguing with in the first place.

Now that's a cadillac!!!! That interior is sexy, sumptuous and inviting while the exterior emits a muscular, yet tasteful grace that says ''status''. Nice job cadillac. Makes me wish I was chinese.

That interior looks gorgeous to me. But what do I know, I'm a buick owner...................

Cause Its only got 2 more years on it and I want an Enclave!. Thats really been the only big issue with the car. My wife wanted to have something with a little more 'status' then my 01' regal and her ol' 97' altima so the ES appeased her. Father-in-law buys and sells used cars so we got it almost $5k under nada value. .....

My wifes ES, which I lovingly refer to as her 'camry dolled up for prom night' is one of the worst culprits of this 'jerking' from the electronic throttle. It scared her so much in fact that she was afraid to drive it for 4 days, until I had time to take it by the Lexus dealer. Once they issued the 'fix' via a Toyota service bulletin(read: service bulletin, not a recall for such a dangerous, widespread problem; wasn't that caring?) I was good to go right? Wrong, the problem was mitigated a bit by the fix, but still to this day not fully corrected. Are you kidding? The Aurora, when introduced in 94', was the talk of the automotive world! Its platform was praised as a ''paragon of structural rigidity''. Its looks were stunning for the time. I have never owned one, so I cannot attest to the reliability of the auto, but when has that ever been tied to resale value? Sure things like, # whorred out to fleets, availability on the used market, public demand/desirability are just a few of the factors, but not reliability. If that were the case, Mercedes wouldn't be able to GIVE its cars away. They have been plagued with reliability issues(especially electronics) across their product line for the past 5 years at least. But the guy at the dealer still demands top dollar for the benz so go figure! So True!!!

While I stand by any and all statements made by me, I do not wish to be disrespectful to anyone. I absolutely love this website and I do plan to continue reading and posting in the future. I was making a joke of your Milenia purchase for I truly have no clue what your financial situation is. If anyone was disrespected by the comments I made then I do wholeheartedly apoligize. Black, though we do differ on this topic, I respect your position though I think it is unfounded. I just didn't appreciate how my original statement, which listed my subjective analysis of DCX vehicles, was responded to with the backhanded comments concerning the Lucerne. Though you raised some points that I would love to counter, I will hold true to my last post and let your last word stand. I hope others will follow suit and get back to the topic at hand, the boatload of 06' DCX vehicles on dealer lots which surely will be whored-out by way of rebates/discounts and fleet sales soon.......... And Fly, quit calling me a God-damned newbie lol. I may be a less than six-month member here, but I was born, raised and probably conceived in Gm vehicles. My wife whined and moaned long-enough to get me to agree to the purchase of her Lexus, but other than that I have never had a non-GM vehicle grace my garage. GO GENERAL MOTORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fact: A Caprice IS a Chevy. And MY point still stands. You might be interested to know that my Dad owns a Lucerne, CXL V6 and I have had quite a bit of time to spend in it. You might also look on a website called CheersandGears.com in the buick forum and find a review I did on the Lacrosse when I did a test drive. So, unlike yourself I comment on things to which I have first hand knowledge of. I don't spout off senseless, unsubstantiated babble like a mazda owner or something Speaking of the 'zoom, zoom' bunch, no one gave two $h!s about a Mazda in 95 nor do they now. If YOU do YOUR homework, you will learn that the Milenia you covet was actually going to be apart of a Luxury marque for Mazda, like the other Asian marques did in the 90's with the creation of Lexus, Infiniti and Acura. But when Mazda took a step back and realized not many people were buying their mainstream cars, they ditched the whole damn idea and gave the Milenia, which they'd already spent money developing, to Mazda as a flagship model. Mazda owners are no different from Hyundai owners in my book. They might not want an American car and can't afford a Honda or Toyota so they settle on what their money can buy. Quit trying to pass off the idea to the rest of us that you actually set out to buy a 'Milenia' the day you purchased your car. I'll bet you walked on the used car lot and ol' Joe the Sales guy made you an offer you couldn't refuse right? Sure he did. And now you feel the need to tout your car as best thing that never came out of Detroit. But the jokes on you cause its the best thing that never came out of Japan, lol. I'm done on this subject and you are invited to have the last word. I hope you make a point this time. BTW did you get the clue I mailed you, I sent it priority mail......... LONG LIVE THE PREMIUM AMERICAN MOTORCAR!!!!!!!!!!

AGREED!!!!!

Funny, I have yet to see a 90's model 323 that has tricked out paint jobs, big rims, dual exhauts and banging sound systems . But those unreliable early 90's Caprice, Olds 98's(sedan) and 88's(sedan), Park Ave's and Lesabre's rule the damn road and most of the youth around here drive them. I guess we will take the word of esteemed Millenia owners like yourself on this one. All 7 of you. I don't think even the Lacrosse owners among us would agree with you on this one. Considering the Avalon is an established name and is losing sales to the Lucerne at a rate of at least 2 to 1, have you considered the fact that some Avalon intenders have wound up to be new Lucerne owners? I guess people enjoy spending $30k on a car with an interior thats inferior to those 'mazda' things you speak of. Long live the Premium American Motorcar!

I ain't splitting hairs with you Fly, but its as much a 'sport wagon' as the Buick Terrazza is a 'Crossover Sport Van'.In Fact, ask that 94 year old mumbling, rugg-$h!ting grandpa you refer to some time. I'll bet he'd call it a station wagon for sure!

Funny, I never mentioned the LX interiors in comparison to any other vehicle, just generally unimpressive on their own merit. You however compare them right to the Lucerne, which has been gaining momentum like a frieght train month-after-month with little or no incentives. Considering this thread is about the saturation of DCX dealers with LX cars and noting that Lucerne is kicking ass in the entry-luxury segment(you know, the one which includes the all-new 06' Avalon and 07' Es350?) I hardly see where you make a valid point. Point Taken. I guess I never looked at them long enough to make the differentiation. Mazda....Mazda.....hmmm oh Mazda, Yeah, I think I have heard of this car line before. They sold those bland ass 626's and Protege's in the 90's right? Are they still selling cars??? No $h!. I guess you DO learn something new everyday...

Hey Viper that is really not a bad looking car, but it begs for some a/m wheels or rims. That dark color looks very rich on that car but then you get down to the wheels and it kills it for me. The Milenia was/is the only Mazda I could have ever seen myself owning..

Well I had the pleasure of having an 06' Caliber in my garage for about 9 days while my wifes car was being fixed(some asshole sideswiped her on I-55) Anyways let me just get to the point. The car, while not necessarily terrible on any front, looked, felt and drove exactly like what it was: a RENTED Dodge. The interior attempted to impress but thats about as far as it goes. Everything was boxy and hard to touch, although the actual switchgear seemed fine for that segment. Whats funny is after all that fuss over their use of the word 'ferry' in the original commercial, and outcries from the gay community, I thought the car was decidedly feminine and felt a little less 'manly' while driving it. Seems that a gay man would have been the perfect icon to market this car.(I'm ragging on the car and not gays so don't get upset) And for the rest of the DCX lineup: The 300c still looks gangster when chromed out and sitting on big wheels.(a good thing) The magnum is a station wagon, a STATION WAGON for GOD'S sake. Who gives a damn if you order the hemi, it is a friggin mommy mobile!!!!!!!(Nissan can tell you about how little people care when you soup up a mommy mobile read: Quest Minivan The challenger has grown on me. The little boy in me sees a resemblence to the 'general lee'(dukes of hazzard) and that will always be cool. Still wouldn't buy one though. And as for that compass thing, I don't even believe I would let a person park that crap in my driveway. Dodgefan, I admire your passion toward your favorite brand. Folks rarely agree, but you do raise some good arguments. In this one though i'd have to say your assertion that the Chrysler interiors are 'quite nice' are a bit unfounded. I have not been impressed with what I have seen inside the LX cars.......

Yeah!!! I totally agree!!!!! :sign0200:

I'll admit, I really liked the first gen Altima which, stylistically, was like nothing else in its class at the time. Lest we all forget, in late 01' when the last gen altima debuted, none of the other mainstream, bread-and-butter cars had executed jeweled headlights or tailights quite so boldly and the altima did raise the bar.(until you got inside and the bar came crashing down on you, lol). As funny as its sounds my opinion has 'flip-flopped', if you will, for I now think the interior looks clean and modern while the exterior looks bloated and busy. The lines that I thought were so clean 5 years ago looks like they rounded out and the innovative 'jeweled' lighting is too busy and cluttered. The rear looks like they spent 2 weeks getting the brake and reverse beams just right and then they remembered they needed a t/signal so they just drapped it over the top. Nissan's powertrains always provide plenty of zip so, Like Fly, I too will rent one of these the next time I drive home to the midwest!

Yep, Saturn is definetly poised to shed its ''wallflower'' image! Thanks for the link.

........................Salivating......................................

Watch your mouth about the Enclave, buddy. lol I happen to think its the cream of the crop, but my opinion is probably a little biased. For the record I think anyone who likes one will like all these vehicles. The decision of which to buy will likely be left to the unique subjective tastes of the prospective buyer.

Wow! I have never been a Saturn fan but man all I can say is WOW!. Very slick indeed. I know this is off subject a little, but I did see one of those new Saturn sedans(aura, I think) Black, with chrome accents. I followed the damn thing about 2 exits past where I should have gotten off the interstate just to get an eyefull . It looked great on the road. With that car, this CUV and the sky, Saturn is poised to really turn some heads imo. Now the cars don't look like they came from, well, SATURN!

I appreciate your getting the info to support your claims. Very interesting and informative numbers also. I would have thought there were many more Lax rentals than just 1% of the Lucerne. I would also have to agree with your comments about C & D vs Automob and MT(have they gotten a clue, YET). I have had subscriptions to all at some point, but C & D is the only that I keep. Even though they sometimes piss me off too I appreciate your intelligent counterpoint to the article. I still feel good about GM though...................

Dford, a word with you my friend: Gm, last I heard, was still taking measures to curb this. It took decades of mismanagment to get as bad as it did, so it will take time to get it to a more managable level I would assume. Is this fact? I'd really like to see some documentation. The Impala not withstanding, I don't think 50% of Gm's ENTIRE product line goes to fleets. Certainly the ones you mentioned may wear the 'rental queen' crown, but surely not the entire product line. Documentation please to support these claims.# Its funny you mention that cause I just got my Car and Driver magazine yesterday and goffed at the same thing. But Car and Driver also failed to include ANY domestic vehicle. It is a known fact that these car mags are mostly foreign car biased. Take the lucerne for instance. All preconceived Buick perceptions aside, the car has hit a home run with consumers and the sales provide proof of this. Yet go back and read the C & G's take on it a few issues back. No genuine praise is ever really given and even compliments come across as back-handed or given in the same sentence with a mitigating comment. The only reason I even subscribe to the crap is because I love cars and you can practically get a subscription with any purchase $10 or more at the local gas station... lol Yes progress is slow for many of us, but try being a corporation who's operating income and assests total more than many small nation's entire economy and you may begin to fathom the gravity of GM's situation. I agree, GMs return to grace will undoubtedly be a long, tedious process. But I am 27 years old, owner of my 3rd GM vehicle(ENCLAVE will hopefully be 4th) and am in for the long haul. Go LUTZ! GO GENERAL MOTORS!! GO Buick!!! Long live the PREMIUM AMERCIAN

Articles as well thought-out and unbiased as this keep me comin' to this site. Great job man! Couldn't have said it better myself. If Bob ever finds his way to Mississippi, there are a few bars i'd love to take him to and show my apprecation for the job he's doing!

Amen to that!!!

Well let me start by saying Fly, you have put together a well thought out, myth-dispelling commentary yet again. As we southerners say, I 'preciate that. Now, let me get off the W-body discussion, since I currently own one I feel biased in my opinion towards the car. But I would like to look at the two of thevehicles at the heart of this discussion. 1st. Impala. This car went from the ultimate factory-built cool machine(90's SS version) To a blandmobile(starting year 2000) in order to appeal to the main stream, bread-and-butter segment. To that end, the car is spacious, competent and not bad looking when fully decked out. In current form, many have criticized its new looks as 'boring' or 'forgettable' but its funny, I don't remember falling to sleep with visions of the new 07' camry dancing in my head either. Call it what you want but with an array of color, engine and wheel choices as well as very reasonable pricing, its no wonder the rental agencies and car buying public pounce on this car year after year. 2nd. Sonata. Now on this I have to be honest, I am laughing my ass off and loving every minute of it. Why? Because Impala and Malibu, like most GM launch vehicles, were met with mixed press reaction. The Sonata though was praised almost by every member of the autmotive press I can remember. Oh I recall reading things like ''this is the company buick and general motors need to watch out for'' or ''in but a few short years, Hyundai has caught up and passed the domestics in closing the gap on Asian automakers''. Yeah, really, well these numbers show that the media saw something that the public doesn't. I met the Sonata and Azera with the same ho-hum attitude that I have of all their products. For sonata, looks like they took the ass directly off the 03-04 accord and shrunk it to fit their platform. As for the azera, I have said it once and I will say it until the car is automotive history: Azera = Azero . HYUNDAI AIN'T NO FRIGGIN PREMIUM SEDAN! At the end of the day what others have said is true. The W-body is an old platform and gm undoubtedly makes money hand over fist when they sell those cars at or near the sticker price. I would also say the time is drawing near to put them to rest. In the automotive world, profitability is tied to desireability and fresh product helps to increase the latter.

THIS is moving forward huh, Toyota. Yep, forward to the rental lot with the rest of its current generation corolla cousins......