2005 Buick LaCrosse CX from North America - All Comments

Parking brake is a bit too low, tires could be better, all else excellent. Unfortunately ABS and side airbags not standard for 2005 models.

This is great improvement vs. older models: comfort, style and handling are better, suspension and breaks especially. Quietness is superb, controls, material quality and interior design very good. This car runs like a dream, take home price was also very attractive with all incentives, I would not consider anything else for that value/quality. We did not ask for racing car, reliability and build quality were main criteria and I was familiar with bullet-proof 3.8 L engine. Highly recommended as family sedan if you ask me.

Why do people keep buying Buicks? I had a '98 Century for 5 years that my son (Who is a foremost expert in the field of cars) told me to get rid of. The Buick wasn't giving me any trouble, but he told me to get rid of it before it does. He had me purchase a new 2003 Accord to replace the Buick. The brakes needed replacement twice, and the front driver's seat came loose, but this pales in comparison to the troubles I would've endured had I kept that Century. My son is right. Buicks are garbage, and he says the LaCrosse does not improve that situation any.

Re comment:

Are you trying to compare 98' Century with 03' Accord? During my car research I read a bunch of consumer, not "expert", reviews and I did not find anything convincing for Accord or Camry or Altima 03'-05' models. However a lot of them reported problems with engine sludge, breaks, transmission or rattling interiors. The funniest thing: most of these complainers rated car "5 star" besides hard seats, poor fuel economy, road noise or cheap interior. Go figure! I will stick to my review, I had 1991 Regal before with 160k and it worked just fine. That's why people buy Buicks, they are not expensive, overrated, uncomfortable and plain ugly as CamCorders.

I'm sorry, but I think the the first comment is a little warped. It is impossible to predict what kind of problems you "might" have in the future. I would say that after five good years of ownership, the car deserved better comments. In the SIX years and 140,000 miles that we have owned our Regal, I can say that it is the best car that we have ever owned. Buicks are NOT garbage. This experience seems rare anymore. I am constantly reading about people who are having nothing, but problems with their brand-new cars that we have never faced in our Buick. I still think that Buick puts a much heavier emphasis on quality than many other brands.

This is in response to the first commenter who's son is supposedly a "foremost expert" in the field of cars. If he possesses all of this knowledge, how come he told you to get rid of a car that showed no signs of trouble, and was still serviceable after 5 years of ownership? And to top it off, you're claiming that the car he recommended to you has needed brakes twice, and also had the driver's seat come loose in 2 years time. These things are very serious issues that could even result in death! Yet, you still feel that this Honda is a better car than the Buick you had. Deranged is an understatement. By the way, I also have a '98 Century, and in 7 years and 140k, no trouble at all. Just routine maintenance. I would not call Buicks garbage either, everyone I know that has a Buick (myself included) find them to be very reliable cars. I know my next car will be a Buick!

If this "car expert son" in the first comment knew anything at all, then he would know that the JD Power Reports state that Buick is above, in problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan in all of the respective vehicle fields. Buick has fewer problems than any of these competitors; and Buick has not had any recalls that involve it's mainstream vehicles. The Century also took the "Total Quality" award for the "Premium Mid-Size" vehicle segment in JD Power's report also; it had fewer problems than it's counterparts, and even showed that a three year old Century exhibited fewer problems than many vehicles that were NEW! Also, according to the NHTSA. gov (National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration), a non-biased government department, the 2004 Accord and 2004 Camry were recalled twice; the Accord involved over one million vehicles. The Chevrolet Impala and Pontiac Grand Prix (which was a first-year model) had only one recall each. The Buick Century and LeSabre had absolutely no recalls at all that year. So this obviously biased car "expert" has shown that he has not done his research at all. This perceived notion that GM produces vehicles of inferior quality is absolutely not true.

Bulletproof 3.8? HA! That's a joke. The 3.8 is total junk.

I have the 3.8 in my LeSabre 110k miles and counting.. no issues..and yes among mechanics the GM 3800 as it's called is considered a bulletproof design. Very reliable, long lasting engine... matter of fact it's one of the top 10 engine according to Wards automotive.

So if you're thinking about buying a LaCrosse, go with the 3.8 engine.

Some times these bad reviews seem like the come from an asian competitor.

The GM 3800 V6 is one of the best engines ever built. My best friend's dad drove his 1995 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight 300,000 miles (no lie, I saw the odometer when it had 285,000 on it) without any engine work. He went through two transmissions, but he never had problems with the engine.

All you have to do is read the magazines like Car and Driver and Consumer Reports to tell you that these cars are the worst. Buick, and GM as a whole couldn't produce a decent car if they tried. I don't own one, but I have enough common sense to stay away from them also.

It's one thing to cite experiences with a car as a basis for disliking it. But saying, oh, I read this magazine or that, and it said...

Funny how the Buick owners in the preceding review and comments don't say that they read some magazine article bashing Accords or Camrys, and so the Japanese brands could never build a good car. They have their cars, they like them better, and that's that. But then again, they're not mad from buying a lesser car.

If you're wondering, I do indeed drive a GM sedan, 3.1L with over 100k miles, but I don't hate foreign brand cars. I'd take an Accord, but this is what I have now. I don't bash other cars, but that doesn't mean I have to hate my own.

OK Guy I did as you said "just read the mags"

I don't have a subscription to Consumer-guide, but I checked out Car and Driver on-line...

Their (consumer) rating for the Buick LaCrosse was an overall 10. 1 Being worst and 10 being best...

Edmunds.com gives the LaCrosse a 7.5 out of 10 so tell me again what mags are you reading?

IF GM is so bad then why do they still outsell Toyota and Honda?

The GM 3.8 has EARNED the reputation as one of the best V6 engines available. Ask any professional mechanic, GM or otherwise. You don't have to love or even like GM products to understand that even GM gets it right once in a while. They got this one right.

No, Buicks are not garbage. I have a 1999 Le Sabre which just hit the 100,000 mile mark. The only item I had fixed was a fuel system component that GM recalled and fixed for free. Other than that - just drive it and change oil. No, I didn't replace brake pads yet.

How many of these overrated Japanese cars run for 100,000 miles without having the owner pay for at least 1 repair - not even brakes?

My first car was a 1992 Buick Lesabre with the 3.8 engine. It was the best engine of any car that I have owned. I owned the Buick since 1995 with 28,000 miles on it, and just recently traded it in with 135,000 miles on it. Never any problems with the engine itself. I traded it in for a 2002 Ford Taurus which is OK, but I have already had a few problems with.

"All you have to do is read the magazines like Car and Driver and Consumer Reports to tell you that these cars are the worst. Buick, and GM as a whole couldn't produce a decent car if they tried. I don't own one, but I have enough common sense to stay away from them also."

You have a pretty high opinion of a magazine that "rates" cars alongside dishwashers.

The 3800 may be a little low-tech, but it's a fantastic motor.