Paolino

Happy Birthday! Hope it's not as cold by you as it is here!

The problem is that the equipment levels aren't exactly the same. The "base" Regal has a lot more at $26,xxx than the LaCrosse does at $26,995. Without looking it up, off the top of my head I know the Regal has leather, dual zone climate control, heated seats, 18" alloys... and those aren't standard on the LaCrosse CX... the LaCrosse CX has cloth seats, single zone auto climate control, and those horrendous 17" "Chevy" wheels with Buick center caps.

Differences... but maybe go into detail over things that matter like handling/power/etc. The interior is virtually the same and the exterior just probably has different wheels.

I'll put this out there... I have been really paying close attention to the Cruze in the past month or so... I've been seeing ads up the wazoo and the more I see, the more I love the little thing. The Verano may just win me over when I see it in person. I'm a Buick man at heart and like my little creature comforts. I would absolutely love a LaCrosse, can't afford one. Would love a Regal, but until I drive one I'm starting to have this impression that the suspension is firmer than I'd like (the car I drive now has turned me off to firm suspensions... no, not the Century).

Well, I could have sworn I read it's dead after the 2011 model year, but I can't find proof now. I can't imagine they're going to continue.

I will say this: I'm surprised at the amount of attention my Asian carowner friends are paying towards Buick. One has already said she'd like to replace her Accord with a LaCrosse when she's ready.

I love it but I must be out of the loop on a few details: I wasn't aware that there was an 8-speed coming and also I could have sworn the ATS was due before 2014?!

Thanks Knightfan

I see this as frustrating. I don't understand why it took so long to get these performance/economy enhancements to the 2.0L turbo. It's not like this is a new engine. I'm not sure how the Verano will fare. I want to know how "Verano" to them received a positive reaction. Did they have a panel of only Spanish-speaking people who love Summer? It's a horrible name IMO and they could have definitely chosen something else that is more in line with Buick's history.

General Motors' too General Website A Critique January 12th, 2011 Paul Guastella - Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com Almost anyone looking to make a major purchase these days will at least do a bit of research online. With so many things to consider when purchasing a new vehicle, a website is a vital source of information to a consumer. A positive web experience will definitely make an impression on the visitor. Conversely, so will a negative experience. This is a chance a manufacturer has to lure a consumer towards their product and hopefully into their showroom. GM knows this and has their websites packed with information. However, if a customer is shopping for an upcoming Chevrolet Sonic, the new Buick Regal, or a loaded Cadillac CTS-V Coupe, they should be awarded with equal experiences online: websites that are clear, easy to navigate, and highly informative. This is where GM misses the ball. GM's websites have many wonderful attributes, but some details need to be worked on. Cluttered product spec pages: When you compare trim levels, all trims are listed side by side, but it's overwhelming to look at as it appears to be a large block of words. If a feature is not available, a simple dash (-) would suffice. If a feature is an option, use an "O". Many other manufacturers use these abbreviations/symbols and their feature lists/trim levels are much easier to navigate through. Sometimes, model feature lists on the websites are repetitive. When looking at the Chevrolet Cruze feature list again, this time in the "Exterior" tab, the first feature listed is "Automatic Headlamps". If you read further down, that same feature is listed again. Looking elsewhere on the chart, why should there be separate lines for front and rear performance or all-season tires? This adds to the already existing clutter of words on the chart. An additional way to help the user read this chart is to either add lines or lightly highlight the background of every other row. This will clearly allow the viewer's eyes to scan left to right across the trim levels without dropping down or floating up a row. Labeling of features: Some features are listed using similar or identical names. An example from the Chevrolet website is: "Climate Control" is only available in the LTZ trim on the Chevrolet Cruze, whereas "Single Zone Climate Control", right below it, is available on all trims. Your average car shopper is not going to be able to discern between the two and will be unaware the former is referring to Automatic Climate Control and the latter, manual. Also, it could be better organized. If the Auto Climate Control is an option (or rather only available on the highest trim), why not have it featured after you've stated Manual Climate Control is available on all trims (other than the LTZ Cruze as you can't get it with Manual), which should simply have a (-)below it. Available colors. I applaud GM for placing the vehicles available colors and ability to view them in 360° views on each vehicle's homepage. However, this is only available for the exterior colors on the Chevrolet website. On other GM websites, only an interior swatch pops up instead of the full 360° view. GMC's website has the ability to see 360° interiors in any color—all GM websites should offer this. On many vehicles the interior images are limited to one color. Allow the viewer to see the car in other available colors from different angles in stills. You've spent a lot of time and money improving your interior style and making contrasting colors available—show them off. Incomplete imagery. One note to make aware is that the viewer is very limited to what they can see in some vehicles. For example, on the Cadillac website, there are only three images of the DTS' interior: a close-up of the floor shifter, the Driver Information Center controls, and one of the available illuminated door sill plate. Where are the images of the interior as a whole? "Build your own"seems overly simplified. When building a GM vehicle to price, you essentially have three steps after you choose your model: colors, trim, options. While the simplicity of the steps may make it easy for people to choose what they wish their vehicle to look like, the image presented while your building your vehicle is just as simple and at times inaccurate. Many manufacturers custom tailor the image while you're selecting your colors and options. GM appears to do this on their Chevrolet and Buick websites, but not with GMC and Cadillac. If I agree to pay $1,200 dollars for an optional wheel, I would like to see what that wheel would look like on the car. If I choose a base trim, I do not want to see what the car looks like in the top trim and vice-versa. Consistency is key. While GM websites can differentiate themselves in appearance, the information and experience offered should be consistent across the board. All of GM's websites should share the same ease of navigating through their pages, they should be informative yet simple to decipher, and they should offer the viewer a clear image of what the customer would see in person.

I'm aware of that... it just bugs me. It's like the Regal has red needles, but the GS will get white needles. I assume the same with this, red needles with the 2.0L turbo having white. It's the silliest thing for me to gripe about; it truly comes down to a preference but would never impact my purchase on a car.

Looks like there's an LED fan indicator which is a fancy little addition to the HVAC The stupidest beef to have, but I have it: Original photos had white needled gauges. These have red needles. I prefer the look of blue gauges/white needles. Still not lovin' the chrome eyebrows, but I like the car overall.

I don't understand why they couldn't use the Olive Ash or the wood they use in the Platinums for all Cadillacs... at the price you pay, I don't think you should be getting plood. Yes, I'm aware that in previous Cadillacs they used real wood and switched to plood based on reviews calling it fake-looking, but there are so many rich and beautiful woods and grain-styles out there, they could really spice up a dull interior with the correct choice. I'd also like to see different materials used--there are so many creative ways to decorate, why aren't they showing up anywhere even in our most-luxurious cars?

I agree... I've heard nothing but excellent comments in reviews about the plood in the new LaCrosse... they claimed they had to study it carefully to discover it wasn't real. I always wondered why they couldn't mimic real wood in cars... just don't make it form crazy shapes real wood couldn't conform to, and give it a nice grain/detail.

That was another point I was going to bring up... it's GM's photography which we've seen in many instances in the past tends not to capture the real beauty of its vehicles. I agree with you to a degree on knots... I don't like knots or burl in a car's interior... it doesn't look right. On actual wood furniture, a knot can be a thing of beauty in my eyes... but over a large expanse of space which wood in a car never seems to have. I say, see it in person before knocking it... only because you may be pleasantly surprised. I thought the plood/interior in the 07-09 LaCrosse was horrendous, but when I saw it in person, it actually looked like a very warm, inviting interior--it completely shocked me. It looked MUCH more upscale than in photos... and what shocked me most is that it was on a dated design.

Yes, I'm replying to my own. It also reminds me of the RL's wood before the refresh.

I would say the definition Buick originally set up for the Lucerne (then the LaCrosse Super), with the 6/8 ventiports has been gone since EVERY MANUFACTURER has tacked on airholes, including GM, and it's essentially lost all meaning. Hell, I've seen the 3 ventiports you find on a 2005 Park Avenue Ultra, on a Camry with those cloth roofs (whatever they're called).

Reg, would it kill you to wait to see the wood in person? And it kind-of reminds me of the tortoise shell accents in previous Chryslers.

This reminds me of George buying "John Voight's" LeBaron.

Interested in seeing the "Choccachino" color.

I really like the plood in the Verano. I think it looks quite handsome. I would be fine if it only came on the cashmere/cocoa trim.

You know me... INTERIORS INTERIORS INTERIORS with closeups of the gauge clusters and center stack.

I really like it... everything except the chrome eyebrows on the rear. But seriously, love the interior, plood IMO looks good, happy with offered features.. just hope lower trims of the car don't look too cheap.

This is good news to my friend who has a 2004 Impala and doesn't have an OnStar mirror but totally wants it.

John