When the Buick Lucerne made its debut in 2006, the sedan made sense. Being a full-size couch on wheels, there’s no way around the fact that the Lucerne is the definition of your grandpa’s Buick (no offense to any grandparents out there, of course).
Initially, the Lucerne sold well after its launch, recording 96,515 deliveries during its first year on the market. But sales slid to 31,292 units in 2009 and are down 12.5 percent so far this year.
Today, Buick is in the midst of a Renaissance and the Lucerne doesn’t seem to belong.
“Lucerne is still part of our portfolio; it definitely fills a need right now,” Buick marketing manager Roger McCormack told Ward’s Auto. “We still have traditional Buick buyers, where the Lucerne is a great vehicle for them – big, quiet and comfortable.”
That traditional Buick buyer is exactly who the Tri-Shield brand is running away from: Buick wants to become more youthful and hopes to drastically lower the average age of its customer.
Last year, Buick unveiled the 2010 LaCrosse – the brand’s first all-new sedan since the Lucerne. The new LaCrosse has been selling like hotcakes since its debut. However, given the similar size of the Lucerne (203 inches long) and LaCrosse (197), it no longer makes sense to keep both vehicles in the Buick portfolio:
“We have the LaCrosse and Lucerne both competing in the large-car segment,” adds McCormack. “Do you need two cars in the same segment? We’re going to expand our portfolio, and in the long-term it is not going to include two cars in (that) segment.”
That expansion is coming in the way of the midsize Regal sedan, compact Delta II-based sedan (the Verano, sold in China as Excelle GT) and Theta-based compact CUV (Encore). Both are expected to bow in 2012. It’s also rumored that Buick will get a full-size flagship sedan based on a premium version of GM’s Zeta platform. But until that happens, the LaCrosse will become Buick’s flagship.
Today, the Lucerne is built at GM’s Hamtramck plant. That facility, however, will soon begin manufacturing the revolutionary Chevy Volt, at which point the Lucerne will cease production.
Will you miss it? Is Buick making a mistake? Do you welcome Buick’s movement from “floaty” and “boaty” to “sporty”? Sound off in the comments below.
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Comments
I have a 2007 lucerne. it is the best car i have ever owned. you have to consider all reasons for buying such a car like size, shape, reliability and speed, And for what i paid, yo cant beat what comes with this car. Its fully loaded and and has never had a problem for as hard as i drive it. I’m going on 70000 miles. It would be a shame to not see this car evolve. It has everything and only more to offer in the future. I cant fit in a lacrosse and only weigh 190 lb.
In March 2006 I bought a 2006 Buick Lucerne CXL. This is the worst car I have ever owned. With only 125,000 km, I had to replace two sets of wheel bearing, the motor mounts, the water pump, the door lock mechanism on both front doors, the lumbar mechanism on the driver car seat , left bearing bearing/speed sensor assy, front and rear rotors (on two occassions), tie rod end, rack pinion purger, under the engine shield, and the driver door handle. Never again, bring back the Park Avenue. I traded my Park Avenue with 375,000 km; hardly any problems and a much better on gas consuption.
Nice car….people just love it as they do Impala
I have the Buick Lucerne CX
I have owned a 2007 Lucerne CX since in was new. I have driven it over 50000 trouble free miles. It is good looking,
very reliable (no major problems at all), has a very smooth ride, engine, and transmission, and has adequate
acceleration (zero to 60 in 9 sec.). It is easily the best car I’ve ever owned. I don’t like the new Lacrosse at all. For
one thing it is not a prestiege car compared to the Chrysler 300, Acura, and Lexus. The Chinese have a Park Ave.,
why doesn’t Buick sell one in the US?
Actually 0-60 on the cx is 7.8 seconds. Way quicker than the 9 seconds you have stated, which puts acceleration at very acceptable for a large size sudan.
Big mistake!! Love Buick Lucerne cxl 2010 I have, comfort, class, style,smooth,looks, you can’t beat it.
Buick la Cross, hard drive, sits low, small,
not classy at all.One thing in mind if you ate in accident, you have a he’ll of a better chance in
Lucerne, than La Cross,Verona,Regal.
I have owned a 2007 Buick Lucerne since it was new and have had over 50,000 trouble free miles with it. It is a good looking
car, very reliable (no problems at all), has a very smooth engine and transmission, and a very comfortable ride. I don’t like
the looks of the new LaCrosse at all, and it is not even close to being a prestiege car, like the Park Ave., Roadmaster, and
Electra were. The Chinese have a Park Ave., who doesn’t Buick have one for the American market?
I have a 2010 Buick Lucerne, I love the car so comfortable to ride in, my step son has a 2010 chevy Malibu, it is nice but not comfort ,at all ,I feel Buick will make the same mistake Pontiac made, trying to appeal to a younger crowd, , but they just cannot give us Americans what we want. Remember everybody does not want a Toyota.
I have a 06 Lucerne CX. For 60,000 kms ive owned it and replaced drivers door handle, reverse lights, and all four wheel bearings. @260,000 kms on the odometer now it still rides great doesnt use a drop of oil and gets 35mpg on the highway. Great car although im looking forward to getting a next generation Buick eventually because it is a bit boring driving a comfortable land yacht down the road some days.
Im 26 and love Buicks. I know im in the minority of people that do but the lucerne’s are beautiful. Also Bring back the Roadmaster sedan! lol
I bought my very beautiful 06 lucerne v8, with all black interior, just under 50,000 miles at 25 years old. Came with no problems..almost 2 years later, I’ve replaced 1 wheel bearing, the Body Control Module (which is very expensive), fuel pump, power steering hoses and whatever else is currently wrong because it’s leaking fluid everywhere in my driveway. I am a very light driver, and i keep up with the maintence which seems to be neverending. I avg only 15k miles a yr. I would hate to let this beauty go but way too many problems!
I have owned a Park Avenue LOVED IT best by far!!! then a 07 Lucerne CXL nice car not as nice as the Park Ave but nice had an accident and insurance only gave me enough to get an 06 Lucerne CXL I have test driven many cars Buick and otherwise and I want them to make a Lucerne better yet a Park Avenue again!!! I am sorry the Lacrosse C XL just doesn’t compare we test drove 2013 & 2014 CXL nope not going to buy it….. Come on Buick we bailed you out give us the quality we deserve!
Give the Quality we deserve? GM is a great American brand but you do know they’re in it for the money like everybody else is right? They made arguably the greatest engine(s) of all time in the 3800 Series and ended it because they last too long. Why, to keep up buying cars and I don’t blame them. However, I personally hate the fact that they’re selling out rather than staying true to traditon. Buick’s were always known and Grandparents and old people cars and with that new Buick coupe they made, I wanna drown myself. Bring back the Roadmaster, LeSabres, and Park Avenues along with the bench seats and get rid of those blasted SUV’s.
Give the Quality we deserve? GM is a great American brand but you do know they’re in it for the money like everybody else is right? They made arguably the greatest engine(s) of all time in the 3800 Series and ended it because they last too long. Why, to keep up buying cars and I don’t blame them. However, I personally hate the fact that they’re selling out rather than staying true to traditon. Buick’s were always known and Grandparents and old people cars and with that new Buick coupe they made, I wanna drown myself. Bring back the Roadmaster, LeSabres, and Park Avenues along with the bench seats and get rid of those blasted SUV’s!
Hey,my name is Craig&I’m saleing my Buick lacern.I really don’t no how to go about it because it has a bad transmission and I still owe 1500 on it.I could really use some help with this. I don’t no what steps to take from here,any help would be appreciated.Thank you
I own a 2010 Buick Lucerne. Love my car, but had to replace transmission at 110,000km. GM would not do anything about it. Not happy about the service. I would probably think twice before buying a GM product. And To you Craig Davis. Did you try to get GM to replace it or help at all. Can you let me know.
My 2010 Buick Lucerne CXL has 38,000 only just put on 4 new tires, had to replace battery
I love this car, drives like a dream, luxury, smooth, beautiful style, oh yes and I just updated the gps dvd.I don’t like the Lacross, rides hard, small.Nothing like a Buick Lucerne CXL, love, love, love mine.
My 2008 lucerne is a true war horse. 175,000 miles and lots of punishment and it still has the original transmission. It has one of the best engines ever made by GM, the 3800 series 3 and I just replaced the battery which after 8 years was still the original. What ever you may say this is a great damn car, and doesn’t have to be stigmatized as an “old man” car. With many possibly upgrades and the engine easy to work on it can be modified with a supercharger for a great speedboost. Great car.
Have beenn driving Park Avenues for years. Went through of them and loved them all. 22 year old grandson is now driving my last one and loves it. Am now driving an ’07 Lucerne with over 100,000 mi. Minimal problems – like just replaced the door handle -no big deal!!!! LOVE THE CAR!! However, we have an elusive, intermittent transmission “thunk” that we can’t identify.
Sort of a gentle hesitation with a small noise. Anyone got a suggestion? Bottom line – love Buicks and have no desire to acquire anything else. As for the “old man” label – Grandson ,22, drives the aforementoned, His girlfriend, 21, drives a 2006 Lucerne. These kids have good taste in cars, too.
Jan,
That elusive “thunk” in the transmission could be a regulator inside the transmission. I just sold a 2011 Lucerne that had that issue. I don’t think they have to pull the transmission to fix this.
I picked up a ’09 diamond whit CXL with 42k on it.
I have a 2010 Lucerne CX I bought new. Has a 154,000 miles and no problems. So comfortable. Trying to decide what to buy next. What will compare to the comfort. Sad they don’t make it anymore.
Replaced my 01 Park Avenue with an 06 Lucerne. My 30 YO son is still driving the Park Avenue with 190+K miles on it….I’m ready to look for something more robust than the Lucerne. Heater core went out – $900 estimate to fix??? Now something is clogged and water is filling the back seat floor boards. Nothing but trouble so far and I’ve only had it 3 months and put about 3K miles on it. Bought it with 78K. Google seems to think you can blow out the A/C condenser drain, but I haven’t been able to find the drain hose – any suggestions? OTOH – it drives and rides like a dream and has the split bench seat which I greatly prefer.
I bought a 2007 Buick Lucerne CX new. For the first 55,000 miles (till 2016) the only problem I had was I needed new brakes. In November of 2016 I began getting a strange message on my dashboard “engine has reduced power” with the engine light on. I took the car to my local mechanic and he first changed the throttle body, but the message came back, he then changed the accelerator sensors, the message came back a second time, finally he fiddled with “the wires between the gas pedal and the throttle body” and that seemed to solve the problem. Well, the message came back last March and my mechanic went through the same rigmorole, costing me over $500. The car was fine over this past summer but now the dreaded message is back! Tomorrow I am taking it to a Buick dealer and I hope they can permanently fix it. Funny thing is my son is driving a 1997 Buick LeSabre Limited that belonged to my deceased father and it had only 18,000 miles on it in 2013, and he’s still driving it every day to work! The problem is GM no longer knows how to properly manufacture automobiles! Take this new “Stop/Start” technology, which shuts the engine off every time you stop and then restarts when you step on the gas???? That sounds like a host of engineering problems to me. If you get a new Buick you have to get this stop/start system and I simply won’t do it. My next car will be a Toyota Camry. GM is Dead!
My 2007 Buick Lucerne CX was finally properly fixed by the Granite Run Buick Dealership in Media, Pa. The “engine has reduced power” problem I had been having off and on turned out to be the wires from the wire harness to the Accelerator sensors and throttle body had been “improperly connected’” by my incompetent local mechanic. The Car now has over 66K miles on it and I plan to keep it indefinitely. All the new Buicks except the Envoy have that absurd “stop/start” technology which I refuse to have anything at all to do with. People on the internet all hate it and complain about it and want it shut off.
I have finally traded in my 2007 Buick Lucerne CX. It was a shame, but in the past four years I have had at least four very expensive repairs, the “engine has reduced power” message came on three times, which was the throttle body sensor, the accelerator sensor, then the wire harness, and then the throttle control unit and the power control unit were malfunctioning. Altogether I shelled out over $6k in repairs, so I just couldn’t afford to keep it any longer. I wouldn’t buy aother GM car because of the “start/stop” technology, which I would totally abhor.
This past June I bought a new 2020 Toyota Camry SE in a beautiful bright red color. It has a 2.5L 203 HP Four cyl. engine which gives great gas mileage, mid 30 mpg’s on the open road. It has an 8 speed automatic with sport shift. The car is very quick, zero to sixty in under 8 seconds, and I can pass a car easily on a two lane road. The Suspension is very firm and I can get easily negotiate sharp curves, but not too firm, the car has a nice ride. I love it! No turbo, no stop/start!
I own a lucerne cxl v6. It is the most quality luxury car for little money u can buy. The ride quality is superb especially once you put some high quality luxury tires on it (goodyear comfor-treds) It’s quiet, the transmission shifts amazing, It’s downright soothing to drive! It’s super reliable because all the technology is old tried and true and never needs repairs. Pushrod engines are fantastic, Lots of satisfying torque. You can cruise 45 miles per hour at 1200 rpms! Satisfying much? Sure it uses a little more gas up front however you still save tons of money with the fact that it never needs repairs. It evens out. All GM had to do was make a lucerne with a 4 cylinder turbo engine version And it would be an absolute masterpiece machine. The lucerne literally has no disadvantages besides stop and go gas mileage, ( IT IS efficient on the highway) It’s the fact that the vehicle is just so soothing in every operation it does. Its a fantastic machine