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From the ordering guide: http://eogld.ecomm.gm.com/NASApp/domestic/...p;divisionID=10 ------------------- 2008 Aura Deletions Exterior paint colors (25U) Midnight Blue, (41U) Black Onyx and (63U) Berry Red New Features (DD0) Heated power-adjustable, driver-side auto-dimming, body-color manual folding mirrors available on XE Sedan with (PCM) Preferred Package and (LZ4) 3.5L Variable Valve Timing V6 engine Exterior paint color (37U) Deep Blue Exterior paint color (58U) Black Mist (extra-cost color) Exterior paint color (80U) Red Jewel Tintcoat (extra-cost color) Changes (223) Morocco Brown interior trim now includes embossed on door trim, steering wheel and shift knob (in addition to the seat inserts)

Yes, same with me too! We once had a new 2002 LeSabre Custom rental for a month while our 300M was being rebuilt, and that car was one of the smoothest, quietest, and most solid feeling vehicles we ever had--and it impressed us enough to actually plan on trading the 300M for one after we got it back. We didn't, but years later this past summer we considered a Lucerne as a gas saving measure. Being familiar with the platform and also the 3.8L, I expected the same level of refinement and solidity but taken to an even higher level and with a massively better interior. The style and interior were out of this world in comparison to the LeSabre, but the weirdest thing of all--the 3.8L was actually quite loud and very growly in comparison to any other vehicle I had experienced it in. Cruising, it was fine, but I'd take off from a stop and it was just a growly roar that you could feel and hear, and it didn't fall into the category of a pleasant sound by any means--it sounded like an old GM car with a worn exhaust, but only really from a stop. Same thing with another CXL V6 we drove later in the week, though it was a tad quieter and didn't strike me as much. So, it's definitely something weird, especially now that I've seen other people experience the same thing. Generally, it always had a bit of growl just due to nature, but even in cars like the LeSabre it generally seemed smoother and quieter somehow. Then again, not everyone is having this reaction to 3.8L Lucernes, so it very likely is just a semi common build issue, whether it be mounts, exhaust, or what have you. The first car in question also had a nasty front end vibration at certain speeds, which IS a common hit or miss G-body issue (and still ongoing ever since '95, in a variety of them), so who knows. Still love the car, and probably would stick to a 3.8L if I bought one for the great gas mileage, but I'd be curious to check out more examples to compare the noise.

The day a domestic maker (hopefully GM) has a typical sedan, coupe, or hatch that has an extremely efficient diesel available will be the day I'm in heaven! Right now, without a doubt, I wish I had an efficient and torquey diesel in a stylish package that wasn't overly expensive, and would LOVE if that kind of deal would ever be available in something like an Astra, etc. With the latest gas hike, I guess it's just my further lack of passion for a larger V8 (or even V6) vehicle, so I hope by the day I'm due or ready for a new car, there are actually a nice range of smaller diesel choices. So true. In reality, for years my Suburban driving mother had sworn she'd never drive a diesel just because they're too noisy and she always only thought of them as being in big trucks. Then a friend and co-worker bought one of the last '04 Jetta TDI's and she's not only seen the light, but has said how much she likes that car and how--if the day comes when she ever doesn't need the Suburban space--she'd love something just like it, both because of the style and the diesel. It's still a big perception thing, for sure. If amazing cars like the MB E320 CDI BlueTec were more widespread (quiet as could be, with loads of power and 35+ MPG on the highway all in a heavy luxury sedan), or VW could meet the emissions to get their diesels back sooner, and advertise the heck out of them, maybe they'd make a difference. ------------- But if it could be done, yes, sign me up for a diesel Astra too!

Peeled the trunk sticker and front plate off my '95 Fleetwood (it was big orange letters for a used car lot, so not the best look, and screamed USED LOT, like Frybrian mentioned), my dad scraped the black dealer name decal off his Roadmaster, and we also peeled the dealer sticker off the tailgate of mom's Avalanche merely because not that it looked bad but more that it had an air bubble and was already loose. On the other hand, we've kept the dealer logo on the corner of the tailgate of mom's Suburban for almost 3 years now, and I'm not sure why really. Probably because it's the local dealer who does all the service and it's actually very small and classy (if that's possible for a sticker), and was put on well. At least makes it more recognizable to the dealer, when it would go in, that it was bought from them. Either way, it actually looks good and is small, so we keep it. Otherwise, it all depends. Most of the time I really can't stand them--especially when it's like some local dealers who have a big supply of cars out where it looks like they had a toddler slap all the stickers on slanted or in weird places. Just depends. Oh! Just thought of a good one, though. One of our neighbors has a new Kia Sedona van. The dealer it came from uses stick-on molded blacks that are silver and black 3D's of their name and Kia. The WEIRD part? There's one in a normal spot on the tailgate, then another identical one 6 inches above it. Not usually something I'd even notice, but it just looks so strange and they've kept it like that for over a year, I've always been tempted to just peel one off when I'm out or at least ask them why it's like that...if they even notice.

I don't think so, and just as in that pic (which is a pretty ugly, but thorough chop of an Outlook with the Cheyenne grille and Tahoe wheels), it's just another mishmash guess. That said, I would HOPE it's differentiated like the Enclave is differentiated, but am having a strong feeling it's going to be another along the lines of the Tahoe-Yukon, Silverado-Sierra...essentially an Acadia made into a Chevy with some new pieces. Then again, this chop would be pretty close in that aspect. But we'll see.

Well, at least it's mostly better in a positive way, unlike the Buicks. The extra detailing inside and out helps change it quite a bit, actually, and the nose does look very fitting, plus the interior is a lot better--same shapes and such, actually, but the revised trimming (once again) helps a lot. Overall, the styling inside and out isn't nearly as cohesive and stunning as the new CTS, but it doesn't fall into boring either, just in between. Should be better, but until a more thorough re-do, hopefully it'll do. Plus some of the new features are nice, and the DI 3.6L & 6-speed should give a nice new bump to lower models.

Still the same in most. Well, unless you get a Toyota or Honda, then you're set--they ALWAYS give the digital clock it's own little rectangle somewhere separate, and not related to the stereo. I think a few new Ford products are also like this.

Great question, and one I too have been wondering, since although they don't look too bad, nearly everything else about them is a joke in comparison to other competitors.

Yeah, seriously, even with an objective view, these tiny little things really will do no benefit. Just along with your rebate and nice dealer discount, you'll have a somewhat more pleasant center stack finish in some models and a new color...hopefully enough to keep you from thinking about the grille point.

Aside from a grille and V8 option, whoop-dee-do, nothing at all it really needed.

Ok, I guess not all the center stacks are silver. So, again, why the hell did they keep this terrible one? And aside from color, nothing else looks different inside.

Love the Lucerne, and always thought *maybe* it'd be even better with a more detailed nose...but that grille with a point just looks like a mishap. The larger size and better detailing is nice, but it'd be better with a more appropriately curved lower side. Otherwise, like the Lucerne, they tried to mask the black center stack syndrome with silver, which is actually an improvement. Not huge, but still better than the terrible black. So now Buick is on grille overload...guess getting away from all their horrendous wheel designs for the past decade and a half had them chomping to screw something up. Then again, with the worst in world GM photography, it could be a lot better in person.

Hmm. Grille shape not bad, but actually doesn't jive as well with the rest of the body before, and it makes that atrocious and gawky front overhang seem even stranger. And onto the interior, aside from coloring, WHAT THE HECK IS THAT BIZARRE CENTER STACK STILL THERE FOR?! It never made sense in the first place, being unique of any other GM vehicle and bad at that. Then again, the silver is a pretty big improvement from the black, even if it remains weirdly different and lacking compared to every other GM car. Oh well. Hopefully it'll be dead before long, and replaced with something with properly svelte body proportions (not just a few), and a much more cohesive interior. Every time I see this view, it's like Pinocchio just lied...again...

Me either, because it is still a big, blocky, and heavy pig with bad aerodynamics, but as is, with the extra power and updates of the 6.2L plus the 6-spd that helps it better use every bit of that power, there should still be a small increase. And with an H2, anything is better than nothing. As for the H3, I've always wondered what it could do with a 5.3L, as previously and even now it's still a case of revving the 5-cyl's guts out, which doesn't help any mpg matter, so we'll see what the DOD 5.3L does. It's still not that astounding with mileage in a lot of the GMT-900's so far, but maybe with a different trans and the different vehicle dynamics, it will be here, at least again marginally like the H2. If not, power will at least get a strong boost.

Very likely better, just as people with 6.2L/6-spd Denalis and Escalades are consistently and/or more frequently and easily getting better MPG numbers than people with either 2wd or 4wd 5.3L/4-spd and 6.0L/4-spd other GMT-900's. SO, I think, a great move. It seems like they're best truck powertrain combo right now, and the H2 certainly will benefit from it.

I still love everything about the 300, and even more so, the past 2 years of auto shows I have come to the conclusion BOTH times that it was my favorite vehicle on a basis of style, price, comfort, and just "gotta have it". But, that's to me, and I completely understand people thinking otherwise, just as I can't stand other vehicles people love. To keep it going, it could definitely use smaller updates on the front and rear, not so much to wreck what made it so popular, but just little nips and tucks to keep it fresh--looks like they did just that. And beyond that, not that I've ever thought it was at all bad, but some smaller upgrades to certain interior materials and also to some basic design lines and such (like outside), just to freshen it up, and all is good. I really don't expect much, and probably not enough that even a lot of people will notice the difference, but that's not all bad. Just refresh what's doing well, and go from there.

Well, we'll see, especially when the 3.8L is done...the 3.6L is really the only logical choice, along with a 6-speed. From that then, should also be a new 6-speed mated to the Northstar which could use it the MOST, to properly apply the extra power and natural reviness of the engine.

Haha, I would let you know on that. Usually I get the dirty thoughts once every couple of months...but I'll leave that for another discussion :AH-HA_wink:

Yep, and actually, it's turning out to be another big selling point, especially since they really DO get those numbers. Somehow, GM just hit it out of the park with the Lambdas, in more ways than just about any other of their recent vehicles.

Yep, a fantastic car, and this summer I almost had my mother trading in her Suburban for one when gas was really high. Not overly done or "wow" on the outside, but clean and classy, feels built like a tank, and the interior layout and finishes are wonderful. I drove two CXL V6 models, which I generally loved, and really enjoyed the 30+ mpg the readout gave on my normal speed running, but wasn't too impressed with the strange roar (compared to past 3.8 experience) and tad sluggish 3.8 punch. Still, would probably choose that engine for its durability and economy, but also have never tried out a Northstar model. It has most of the core essentials right, and doesn't suffer from extra awkward proportions like parts of the Lacrosse or cramped and less well done interior of that smaller car, and if they give it some nice updates, it will be REALLY good. Namely, drop in the 3.6L and 6-speed in some or all of the V6 models, give the nose a more luxurious detailing, and a few other little things, and all will stay strong.

True, at least partially. What a lot of people have noticed is a strange lag or hunting that isn't overly noticeable, but still seems out of character given the general power and refinement of the drivetrain. I noticed it a bit on an early Acadia I drove, for instance. However, as most all early buyers who noticed a weirdness have found out, GM also recognized a bit of an issue and before too long sent out a revised program for the transmission that any dealer can and will do as part of a TSB. Still not sure why it wasn't dead on from the start, but on both Outlook and Acadia boards I frequent, everyone who has had the dealer re-flash theirs agrees that it is a completely different beast afterwards and not only does the lag disappear, but gears are selected and held more appropriately and it feels "right". All, in effect, just a simple programming bugaboo that either slipped through or GM had second thoughts about once more consumers and reviewers started giving feedback. It was mainly the first couple months of production vehicles that were affected, and again a lot don't notice a thing with the original calibration, but it now should be how every one rolling off the line is programmed and the Enclave should also certainly be fine when it starts saleable production in about a week.

Uh, no, that really doesn't fit at all with the curvaceous lines and would make the rear window/hatch area very awkward. Due to the shape, there's no way that could be done and have it come out looking correct. The lines just don't flow like that. I KNOW! Beyond anything, and even aside from semi-geriatric overall design lines and themes, the one thing that has always been so bad at Buick in the past decade or so is their absolutely atrocious wheel designs--especially, even, with "upgrades" that look worse than what you'd expect of Walmart hubcaps. Anymore, though, with the recent introductions it looks like there's finally a designer on board who has taken charge of the matter and wheel designs finally look appropriate, fitting of the vehicles, and most all quite attractive. Just that one big Buick design sin alone being rectified makes a huge difference.

Love it, and especially as a real world CX model, love it even more. The lines are completely different and I think I like them more than either the Acadia or Outlook. And that first pic...holy hell is it in a different world than the ancient minivan based Rendezvous! Has great road presence, and doesn't seem to have any gawky or weird proportions or otherwise now outside of GM photography. Looks "Buick" in a great way. Again, make ours a White Diamond/Cashmere CX FWD...

Exactly If something is well done and/or you like it, who cares what the brand is? Only something I wish others thought, including my parents. Love my big Caddy, but anymore I'm having dirty thoughts about just wanting a newer, smaller, and much easier to toss around car. If I could afford one, I'd gladly drive an Si.

Unlike some vehicles (especially a lot of the new GMT-900's) the Lambda crossovers actually seem to be getting very good real world fuel economy numbers. They're still pretty large and heavy, so no 30+, but a lot of people are averaging 23-26 on the highway and right in the 18-21 range in general and around town. That may not seem stellar, but it's better than just about any larger SUV or crossover out there aside from the Ford Freestyle (still mpg king), and a TON better than something like a new Tahoe. The 3.6L 6-speed combo is a sweety, and is just about a perfect match to these ute's in terms of performance, refinement, and economy--all without cylinder deactivation tricks. Just as with the Lambdas in general, they seem to have gotten just about everything spot on, throughout.