Automobile Makes and Models Buick - Articles - Zimbio

Help When Your "99 Buick Will Not Crank, Will Not Shift Out Of Park"

Tue, 9 Jul 2008 23:26:24 GMT

posted by Tony

Whether you have a Buick Lesabre, Regal, Park Avenue, or Century...it's helpful to have a sense for the best online forums and help desks within the Buick community.

Here's a list of 5 websites you should check out for help with your beloved Buick:

1. BuickForum.com : This is a messageboard community dedicated to Buick cars. Unfortunately many of the threads are getting stale (not many new posts recently) but there's still lots of good info to mine through. Here's a link to the active threads .

2. CarForums.net : Car Forums has boards for lots of different makes and models, including the Buick. There's active commenting, especially around Buick parts and replacements. Here's the Buick section of their site .

3. DIY Auto Parts : This site doesn't have advice forums, but it does come in handy when you are looking for replacement parts. Here's the Buick catalog .

4. Automotive Forums : This site has one of the best threads about Buick Classics. If you've got an older model or one of the true Buick classic cars, check out their Classics Board. (But watch out for all of the pop over advertisements...ack)

5. Buick Performance Group : This one is a little offbeat, but has a few good threads about Buick maintenance. Here's their messageboard .

MODEL ERASER - GENERAL MOTORS

Thu, 16 May 2008 19:45:00 GMT

posted by goodcarbadcar
Contrasted with mainstream media or even web-based automotive talk, GoodCarBadCar.net is not very old. With a year and a couple months under the GCBC belt and nearly 800 individual posts, GCBC and The Good Car Guy are actually quite young. Not young enough, however, to forget the pink eraser. Delete and Backspace are wonderful keys. But sometimes the world outside of Detroit seems to spend more time considering what could be erased or deleted than the executives themselves.
Let's cut to the chase: almost every automotive brand in the world could lose at least one model. There are so many companies (with new ones being added, see Scion, smart, Maybach) filling every possible niche (see BMW X6, Mercedes-Benz CLS) to the extent that the casual consumer with a degree of auto enthusiasm is overwhelmed.
So, starting with General Motors and quickly moving through the other domestics, The Good Car Guy hopes to find models ripe for erasing. Rather than being completely biased and erasing whole brands in order to save a single Ferrari or Porsche, one model per badge must go. Although not every vehicle that exits our worldwide GCBC market will be a bad car, it's very unlikely that more than a couple good cars will be forced out. 'Nuff said, the list begins.
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Buick Lucerne: As I was about to write the words, "large front-wheel drive V8 sedans are outdated", the realization dawned that large front-wheel drive V8 sedans were never in. Sure, the Lucerne is available with a V6 and actually squeaks out decent fuel economy for such a large vehicle. For the price Buick demands for a Lucerne, or for thousands less, there is just way too many better cars.

Cadillac XLR: Exclusive, high-powered retractable hardtop convertibles aren't supposed to find themselves on lists like these. However, the XLR is priced in line with superior vehicles and doesn't sell at a rate that demands retention.
Chevrolet TrailBlazer: Upon its introduction, this midsize Chevy SUV's inline-6 powerplant drew fans. Truck-based SUVs are struggling no matter their size, but the TrailBlazer is stuck in No-Man's land, almost as big as the Tahoe and not distinctive in any way. Fare thee well.
GMC Yukon Denali: $10,000 is a lot of money. Nevertheless, if you're about to spend some $50K on a huge SUV, find the money to find a similar vehicle that happens to come with more equipment, a loftier image, and more power. It's called the Cadillac Escalade, and it ought to make the Yukon Denali obsolete.
Hummer H2 SUT: Take one conspicuously impractical vehicle. Turn it into a 4-door pickup. Somehow manage to make it less useable on an everyday basis. Delete.
Pontiac Torrent: The Good Car Guy's drive of the Torrent GXP revealed surprisingly wicked down-the-road dynamics. No joking, the Torrent is a far better vehicle than many CR-V, RAV4, and Santa Fe buyers likely know. On the other hand, Chevrolet's version, the Equinox, came first and receives a much higher profile from parental control at GM headquarters. That's enough to erase the Torrent from Pontiac's quickly improving model range.
Saturn Sky Red Line: Huh? Isn't the Red Line the faster, turbocharged, sportier, better version of the Sky? Unless Saturn does something tremendous to improve the rigidity and overall strength of character in the turbocharged Sky, the only version that should remain is the base Sky. Unfortunately, the naturally aspirated Sky isn't quick or even useful on a vacation. But, it shows potential - with less weight. The Sky needs to meet a happy medium somewhere between itself and the original Opel Speedster.
Saab 9-7X: Badge engineering at its most prolific (or horrific), the 9-7X is so not Saab. Yeah, Saab can use some form of a crossover, but even the Corvette-powered 9-7X Aero The Good Car Guy drove at GM's proving grounds didn't make sense. Exclusivity can be cool, but Saab pricing shouldn't actually result in a vehicle that's rarely been seen in public.
Representing a generation of first-time new car buyers, The Good Car Guy puts words to their thoughts and feelings. The Good Car Guy is a guy all about the good car. Advance the good car - dethrone the bad car.

Part two: Buick Enclave Road Test

Sat, 11 May 2008 15:21:43 GMT

posted by Kayambi

by Kay Layne

A few years ago, if you told anyone that General Motors would have a SUV or CUV that would compete against Lexus, you would have been laughed at or place in a mental institution. Fast forward to 2008 and Buick is winning award after award for its Enclave.

The Enclave is a full size luxury crossover that seats seven to eight people. Built on the same platform as the Saturn Outlook and the GMC Acadia, it is a massive yet stylish people mover.

On the road, the CUV surprised me with its stability and handling. I was expecting “floaty”, “land-yacht” like ride but the suspension was bang on. It stuck well in the corners considering its size, and the electronic stability system was more than adequate. Uneven, pothole riddled roads were barely noticeable.

This Buick is powered by 3.6-litre DOHC V6 VVT engine that produces 275 horses and 251 pounds of torque. While that is nothing to sneeze at, this vehicle weighs almost 2 tons (2 172 kilograms) so for a lead foot like myself it was just a tad sluggish. However, compared to most vehicles its size the acceleration was quite sufficient. Transmission wise, the dual-overhead camshaft engine with 6-speed overdrive is extremely smooth.

With a fuel economy rating of 13.0 L/100 km (city) and 8.3 L/100 km (highway) for FWD models and 13.5 L/100 km (city) and 8.9 L/100 km (highway) for AWD models, this is one of the best ratings for any SUV you would find on the roads today.

The first thing my passengers noticed while being chauffeured was the complete lack of exterior or engine sound. In true luxury fashion, this large CUV is well built and insulated so that the sound system competes with nothing. (Unless you have passengers who like to sing along off key, like I did.)

Two posts ago, I featured an interview with Michael Burton, the man in charge of designing the interior of this vehicle. He claimed that when designing this vehicle a lot of time, money and effort was spent on creating a luxury feel. Now when talking about vehicle interiors, the words “luxury” and “North American” rarely reside in the same sentence. Well, when describing the Enclave’s interior and styling overall, the phrase “You have come a long way baby!” sums it up. I must admit that I am too young to remember Buick’s heydays but this is definitely a step in the right direction. Lots of chrome and wood tastefully clad the dashboard and gaps fit well.

Overall this stylish vehicle was an absolute pleasure to drive. It comes in two models the CX which starts at $40 895 and the CXL which starts at $48 295 (Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price).

Three Key Tips to Fuel Savings at the Pump

Fri, 7 Jun 2008 09:03:00 GMT

posted by askpatty

With gas prices approaching than $4.50 per gallon in most states, it is more important than ever for motorists to maintain their vehicles. To get the most out of a tank of gas, experts at Honeywell Consumer Products Group suggest that in addition to properly inflating tires and altering driving habits, motorists should be diligent about changing their worn and dirty spark plugs, replacing clogged air filters, and maintaining a clean fuel system.

"These three easy, low-cost routines can help motorists save quite a bit of money at the pump," said Jay Buckley, Honeywell's technical training manager. "The last thing we want is for our vehicles to work harder than they have to . . . it's just throwing money down the drain."

For example, the performance of a spark plug is directly related to how much fuel is being consumed. Research by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence shows that old, worn, and dirty spark plugs are prone to misfires, reducing fuel efficiency as much as 30 percent. "When changing spark plugs, consider upgrading to ones that provide a faster, more efficient burn," said Buckley. Buckley suggests plugs -- such as the Autolite XP Xtreme Performance spark plugs-- "ignite the gas and air mixture inside the cylinders more efficiently, resulting in improved throttle response and acceleration. This, in turn, helps improve fuel efficiency, thereby saving money for consumers."

Another way to improve a vehicle's fuel economy is by changing a clogged air filter. The U.S. Department of Energy claims that replacing a clogged air filter can improve a car's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. "Most FRAM air filters feature bright white fibers that make it easy to spot when a replacement may be necessary," said Buckley.

Research from Honeywell suggests that the motorist who changes the air filter when clogged can saves as much as $173 in gas annually.

Finally, if a vehicle has intake valve and fuel injector deposits, the engine has to work harder to run. Using a fuel additive like Prestone Complete Fuel System Cleaner every 4,000 miles helps improve acceleration and fuel economy by unclogging fuel injectors and cleaning intake valves and combustion chambers.

"Clean fuel injectors help ensure more complete combustion and maximum fuel benefit," said Buckley.

Maintaining vehicles with good quality spark plugs and air filters in addition to utilizing a fuel additive can help consumers increase their vehicle's fuel economy. For more information and gas-savings tips, motorists can log on to www.honeywellcpg.com.

By Brandy Schaffels
AskPatty.com editor

ML430 POPEMOBILE 3 TO BEAT - part II

Wed, 17 Apr 2008 23:29:00 GMT

posted by goodcarbadcar
Popes have passed slowly by many Catholics in a small selection of modified vehicles. GoodCarBadCar displayed a sampling in Part I of this 3 To Beat feature. Realizing upon first viewing that the ML430 Pope Benedict was using was a previous-generation Mercedes, a few years outdated, and that the first-gen ML-class Benz had always possessed an unfortunate minivan front end, it seemed important to me that the Pope be seen in something a little less soccer mom and a little more high-class.
Here are three vehicles ripe for modifying for Popemobile duty. ML430: your day is done.
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CONTINUING SOCCER MOM OPTION: Though the Buick Enclave is a classy; handsome; and desirable vehicle, Benedict's age and the Buick badge should combine to make this first of three the "Continuing Soccer Grandma Option". One way or another, the Enclave is a step up from the old Mercedes ML430 but does hark back to similar roots. What roots? Crossoverish and SUVish, without being assuredly top-of-the-class in anybody's books. Recommended for Benedict (and you) includes The Good Car Guy's review of the Enclave after driving at GM's proving grounds and this post regarding its sales success. The Lambda platform's stiff structure shouldn't be terribly affected by a chop job. Removing two rows of seats should leave more than enough space for a Pope perch.
See all GoodCarBadCar 3 To Beat Features (including the Enclave's own) with a click

EURO DEFAULT CHOICE: European police, funeral homes, taxi drivers - they all love Volvo wagons. The Pope needs to be a little different from the everyday cop or mortician. How so? Suit the times, Benedict. The Cross Country version of the V70, aka XC70, provides a higher ride height and some tough body cladding. It maintains the typical Volvo traits of safety and ownership enjoyment, with a speck of uniqueness. Remembering those slow Popemobile speeds, it's interesting to note that the XC70 has already capitalized by becoming GoodCarBadCar's favourite car for parking lots.

VEHICLE FOR PLEASING THE BASE: 51% of France's population labels themselves as Catholic. Perhaps then, the best choice is a vehicle built by such a staunchly Vatican-supporting country. Citroen doesn't strike most North Americans as obvious, but the C4 Picasso will be a sales success. If Vatican City wants to continue its push for environmental awareness, a diesel powered C4 Picasso meets well with the Pope's expectations. Ignore guzzlers like the old Benz, new Buick, or Swedish wagon. At Popemobile speeds, the C4 Picasso would more than likely achieve substantially better than 40mpg on the EU cycle. These days Citroens even look cool. That should marry well with Benedict's Prada shoes. Amen.

Representing a generation of first-time new car buyers, The Good Car Guy puts words to their thoughts and feelings. The Good Car Guy is a guy all about the good car. Advance the good car - dethrone the bad car.