The Buick Motor Division of the General Motors Corporation
is in transition, much like the rest of the venerable auto company. Old models
have been canceled, new models added, and the current line up is radically
different from just three years earlier. Now down to five models, the remaining
vehicles in the Buick line up are all winners. Let’s take a look at each model
and what they have to offer to you, the consumer.
Lucerne Buick’s Roadmaster and LeSabre are both gone, but
the full size Lucerne have taken their place. Featuring V8 power and luxurious
appointments such as heated and cooled seats, liquid heated windshield fluid,
and leather appointments, the big Lucerne is based on the Cadillac DTS, but the
car sells for more than $10,000 less than its up market Caddy cousin.
Lacrosse This five seat sedan is sleek, aerodynamic, and
quiet. With starting prices in the low 20 thousand dollar range, the car
competes against the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.
Rainier The larger of two Buick SUVs, the Rainier comes
standard with a 275hp I6, Stabitrak suspension/steering system, eight way
driver powered seats, leather seating, and more.
Rendezvous As Buick’s first SUV, the Rendezvous has
succeeded where its Pontiac cousin, the Aztek, failed. Available in two or four
wheel drive, the Rendezvous features seating for five [with available seating
for seven], four wheel disc brakes, and a host of sought after outdoorsmen
desired accessories.
Terraza Is it a minivan or is it an SUV? The Terraza is part
of a family of GM crossover vehicles introduced in the 2005 model year. This
seven passenger vehicle comes equipped with a 3.5L I6 engine and is available
in either front wheel drive or all wheel drive. As GM considers getting rid of
its aging and unpopular line of minivans, the Terraza and its cousins will
likely step in and fill the hole.
General Motors has been
fairly silent regarding the future of the Buick division. Some have been
concerned by the steady depletion of models while others are seeing Buick make
a clean break from its past which has included several uninspiring models such
as the Century and the Roadmaster.
In spite of everything, the Buick Enclave, featured at the
recently ended Detroit Auto Show received rave reviews. The Enclave is yet
another crossover vehicle and it should hit Buick showrooms by 2008.
Clearly, Buick could use a wider variety of vehicles to
ensure its long term success. Perhaps the type of success the division had when
the Regal was part of the fold would reinstate the division to its past glory,
if a car matching the Regal’s caliber was developed.
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