Comments on: GM Unveils Buick LaCrosse, Chevy Beat’s Snout

By: supremebrougham

supremebrougham — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 05:39:02 +0000

For what it’s worth, I’m 33, and if I had that kind of money and wasn’t afraid of GM going under, I could see myself owning one of these. I’ve always liked Buicks, as well as Oldsmobiles. I remember as a young kid back in the 80’s that Buicks, Oldsmobiles and even Mercurys were looked upon as status symbols by many of my classmates (despite the bad quality issues, but hey, we were in middle school, what did we care about that?) My parents had an ‘86 Cutlass Supreme coupe, black with red leather and chrome “Super Stock” rims. Whenever I was taken to school in it, even the kids who like to bully me seemed to respect me when they saw me getting out of it. So my point here is that I still feel a little bit classier when I’m behind the wheel of a Buick, Olds, or the occasional Mercury, so this car could certainly work for me, if only finances permitted…

-Richard

By: mark93

mark93 — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:45:42 +0000

Can’t see why there’s so much fuss about a tarted up Opel/Vauxhall Insignia. What’s so great about that?

By: Robert Schwartz

Robert Schwartz — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:43:30 +0000

A Buick without portholes? Even Maserati has portholes.

By: Strippo

Strippo — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:10:11 +0000

It fails me as to why GM continues to bombard its Chevrolet buyers with that obnoxious, gaudy, oversized, gold bowtie. It’s the low-rent equivalent of the Mercedes pie pan. Yes, it’s a goddamn Chevrolet in case we missed it. Why not have the bowtie BE the entire grill? Reminds me of those clueless hacks with the bowtie-shaped exhaust tips.

At least they could use a more subdued silver and tone it and the size down a couple of notches.

Preach it.

By: NickR

NickR — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:59:30 +0000

I’ve caught salmon smaller than the headlight assembly of the Beat. What is it with automotive styling these days?

By: ponchoman49

ponchoman49 — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:55:49 +0000

Interesting the commentator didn’t even seem interested in the Buick. It’s styling is so derivative. Cover up the Buick badge and grille and it could be mistaken for the new MKS, Lexus whatever, Genesis or any bland boring Toyota. I fail to see how this car will do anything for sales of Buick.

By: 63CorvairSpyder

63CorvairSpyder — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:36:13 +0000

Ever since the GM slide began and they realized they had to eliminate brands leading up to scuttling Olds, I felt that the best course would have been to kill all three mid-brands(B.O.&P.). The best of the models of those brands could then have been retained as a Caddy or a Chevy……or maybe not even a Caddy or Chevy. This new model could simply be a LaCrosse not a Buick, no stupid fake portholes, no giant logo emblem on the Grille or Deck lid, just a small stylish slurvy “L” inside of an oval….maybe then they could attract some young buyers who might be confused enough to think they’re buying a Lexus.

By: AuricTech

AuricTech — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:48:21 +0000

The_Imperialist :
January 8th, 2009 at 12:58 pm

Will the Vauxhall version be called the English Beat? Sorry, couldn’t resist.

Please, have Mersey on us….

By: Richard Chen

Richard Chen — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:35:45 +0000

Chevy Beat is coming to theaters as a Bayformer in June. Just like with the movie and real life Camaro, add a couple of years.

By: RetardedSparks

RetardedSparks — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:22:21 +0000

I seriously doubt the Beat is coming to the US.
This is simply a “halo” vehicle (what’s the term for a halo vehicle at the bottom of your lineup? Hell-o? Hayl-no? ooh, I got it… Heel-o) that GM will dangle at all the shows as evidence of their “progress”, just long enough for Congress to cough up check #2,3,4 whatever. Then it will magically be killed for “logistical” reasons.
Obviously some marketing moron woke up out of his post Jet-gate coma and asked “Hey, don’t we have that little green thing lying around under a sheet in a warehouse someplace?”

By: mcs

mcs — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:34:30 +0000

It’s unfortunate that we’re not going to see anything really innovative shown at the show. Why can’t they do something like putting together an all-composite F-150 or Silverado with a forced induction diesel? We have composite bicycles and big composite airliners. Why not a composite pickup truck? Even it’s not practical for production yet, at least give us a show vehicle. Whoops – I see the problem. It would prove they could meet the CAFE standards. My bad.

By: davey49

davey49 — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:30:25 +0000

Is the Beat actually coming to the US?
The LaCrosse looks pretty good plus I think it will be more different than the Malibu than most people think, a lot more than the difference between a Malibu and the Saturn Aura
psarhjinian- remember that people are growing older and living longer by the day. I’ve been a fan of Buicks since a kid and have always planned on buying one when I was “older”
Some of us, regardless of our age want;
1. An American car
2. A relatively large or luxurious car
3. A car that isn’t aggressive or sporty
2 leaves out Pontiac and Chevy and Saturn
3 leaves out Cadillac
leaves Buick, Chrysler 300 or Lincoln
Besides better to be in a state of denial than a state of despair
Anyone notice that the reflections in the Beat’s hood make it look like a Chrysler Sebring hood?
I’m good with the big gold bowtie.

By: noreserve

noreserve — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:24:26 +0000

At least they could use a more subdued silver and tone it and the size down a couple of notches. Hold a contest to redesign some of those so-yesterday (not that there was a day) chrome wheels. As in don’t. I’m sorry, but their wheels need some work. Just hiring away one of the BMW wheel designers would advance the state of GM design immensely.

I agree with the LaCrosse naming wierdness. Buick can’t even figure out how to format and capitalize the name on their own website. On the same page, I find LACROSSE, LaCrosse, and a variant with the “A” in “La” capitalized, but in a smaller case. Get it figured out people.

I actually think they did a very good job with the 2010 LaCrosse. It makes the current one on their website look Amanti-ugly. Well, actually the current one does that all on its own in that ungainly front shot in gunmetal turd brown. The 2010 model can’t come soon enough for them. And you know, since everyone seems to be cribbing from everyone else in the taillight, trunklid, you name it area, at least take a look at some tasteful Audi or BMW wheels and come up with something similar.

By: TriShield

TriShield — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:06:24 +0000

Why didn’t they just name the LaCrosse back to Regal already? I guess the name doesn’t matter, GM isn’t going to move a tremendous number of them. It’s also kind of ugly.

For a company that’s broke they sure love to spend money on cars and brands away from their core, which is Chevrolet. The Beat is a vastly more important car to the company than the LaCrosse will be, and that money in that Buick could have went to improving Chevrolet products which is the bulk of their sales.

By: The_Imperialist

The_Imperialist — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:58:10 +0000

Will the Vauxhall version be called the English Beat? Sorry, couldn’t resist.

By: Michael Karesh

Michael Karesh — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:55:00 +0000

If they kill the new Aura, we’ll probably get it as the Regal. In China recently, I got to examine the new Regal up close–it’s a good-looking car. Much nicer than this new LaCrosse, in fact. The new LaCrosse looks bulbous. Similar to the MKS, but the proportions aren’t working as well, and there’s a bit much 1950s Buick in it.

By: shaker

shaker — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:40:20 +0000

At one time, Buick had its own engines, transmissions, and many unique parts – very few were shared with other divisons. When you bought a Buick, you had a unique machine, inside and out that commanded a premium over a Chevy.

Now, this is not the case, as styling is the main differentiator, and traces of Chevy creep into all “badge engineered” sister cars, so only a die-hard Buick devotee would spend the extra money.

This business model is doomed to die off as the Buick faithful depart this mortal coil – you need to have the upscale guts as well as just some extra chrome to truly gain a following that a real brand needs.

By: NN

NN — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:39:54 +0000

For what it’s worth; I think this Lacrosse looks way better than the Chinese Riviera…although I know they are close, and based off the same platform. This looks sharper, cleaner, more aggressive.

By: rpol35

rpol35 — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:29:30 +0000

psarhjinian:

What I am thinking is that LaCrosse is a short lived name that is not at all venerable or
respected and I believe has no brand loyalty. Century, Regal (sort off) Park Avenue, Electra, GS, Invicta, LaSabre et al. are all old, respected Buick names with a legacy of great success.

Thanks for your comments,

rpol35

By: psarhjinian

psarhjinian — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:20:01 +0000

As is “Beat”, at least in part.

Thank you. I was struggling to come up with an English example, and yes, that’s exactly it.

By: guyincognito

guyincognito — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:14:22 +0000

I think this is just the boost Hertz needs right now.

By: RetardedSparks

RetardedSparks — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:08:42 +0000

I think in an effort to be more hip Buick should change the name to the common shorthand for the sport, lacross – LAX.
Then the puns would really start to fly….

By: Strippo

Strippo — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:07:32 +0000

I think the fact that the phrase “It’s not your (grand)father’s Buick” has been used in almost every single piece of coverage on this car speaks volumes about the work GM has ahead of it.

Right, and its message should be that today’s Buick is the brand of quiet yet sophisticated refinement. In other words, Buick is the attainable Audi that you don’t have to worry about ending up keyed in the parking lot. But yeah, a lot of work. And from now on the interiors must be perfect (and I mean perfect, no matter the cost).

By: shaker

shaker — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:01:34 +0000

psarhjinian :

“Anyways, it (LaCrosse) is slang for masturbation, but it’s not common, universal, remarkable or even out of place.”

As is “Beat”, at least in part.

I sense an unintentional theme to this Today Show segment…

By: Axel

Axel — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:57:55 +0000

The wide-angle lens screws up any accurate sense of the styling.

The new LaCrosse looks like a Chevy Malibu got it on with a Mercury Milan.