Buick is Considering/Planning for a Flagship Coupe
#17
Lexus Fanatic
"Our customers are dying off. We have to carve a new image."
That is something that deeply, and seriously, concerns me at both Cadillac and Buick.....and also, to an extent, Lincoln. All three companies, in recent years, have virtually ignored their loyal, traditional, big-car customers. It probably won't affect me, since I'm pretty much a convert to Subaru, but I really feel sorry for the older folks who can't get the new cars they love any more.
#18
Lexus Fanatic
It doesn't concern me deeply and seriously that Buick is recognizing the fact that their declining business of geezer-pleasers needs attention quickly. It's about time, since the purpose of an automotive company is to make a profit. I give them credit for moving ahead instead of just looking back.
I don't buy into the notion that when somebody gets old, they want a car like their grandpa and grandma had, lol.
"Our customers are dying off. We have to carve a new image.", shows they are paying attention. Not only does this old client base tend to die, they buy fewer cars per decade, driver fewer miles per year, and tend to live on relatively fixed (no growth) incomes.
Sadly it took a bankruptcy before Buick took corrective action.
Back to the topic at hand, I like Buick's bold move with a flagship coupe.
I don't buy into the notion that when somebody gets old, they want a car like their grandpa and grandma had, lol.
"Our customers are dying off. We have to carve a new image.", shows they are paying attention. Not only does this old client base tend to die, they buy fewer cars per decade, driver fewer miles per year, and tend to live on relatively fixed (no growth) incomes.
Sadly it took a bankruptcy before Buick took corrective action.
Back to the topic at hand, I like Buick's bold move with a flagship coupe.
#20
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Yeah, I went through that nonsense as a teen-ager, too, with some fun-poking kids, although most of my friends liked me anyhow, no matter what I drove. I had two used Buicks before age 20.....one BY choice, and the other because it was a cream puff of a used car and a tough deal to pass up. I liked them both, but the first one a lot more, even though it wasn't in as good as condition as the second. I wasn't all soft, luxury cars, though....had a sporty Plymouth Barracuda as well.
While Buicks and young people generally don't mix well (except, perhaps for the 60's-vintage GS350/400 and the 80's-vintage Grand National), you and I (and others) are examples of why it is not as rare to see young people in Buicks as many think....and another friend of mine had a big Olds 88, another car that was considered "Grandpa" back then.
While Buicks and young people generally don't mix well (except, perhaps for the 60's-vintage GS350/400 and the 80's-vintage Grand National), you and I (and others) are examples of why it is not as rare to see young people in Buicks as many think....and another friend of mine had a big Olds 88, another car that was considered "Grandpa" back then.
I have always liked the styling of this Riviera. Don't know that I'd enjoy driving something with those dimensions though.
Good point. What price point do you see this flagship being introduced at?
#24
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Although I'd love to see a new Grand National (as long as it wasn't neutered or watered down beyond recognition), I'm not so sure that it's "flagship" level. If it comes out though, I'd be psyched.
#25
I think a flagship coupe for Buick is a very good idea. I like the car in the picture too and I think if marketed correctly they may have a good sporty car that doesn't (nor should it) scream Sports Car.
#26
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The car pictured looks like a Buick version of the Saturn Sky/Pontiac Solstice...
#27
Anyone else see SC430 in that concept, particularly in the front fascia and fenders?
MMarshall, all the baby boomers who are retiring have only known to be the car that the grandparents drove. As they retire the last thing they want is to drive something that makes them feel old. And if Buicks remind people of their grandparents what do you think that is going to do to their self image. Not to mention that baby boomers have only known buick to make absolute, and utter crap (for the most part). And just because it was pillow-y soft doesn't make the ride comfortable. Look at a Rolls Royce or a Bently - they waft, they don't bobble around as if they were on a mechanized water bed.
Say you are right and older folks want something soft....what forum are we on again? Oh, yes, a Lexus forum home to the very unsporty and soft ES. Buick is changing attitudes because NO ONE WANTS TO BUY THEIR CARS! Of course, the new models are miles ahead of what they use to make and they are even decent looking. But Buick of old will be gone for good.
MMarshall, all the baby boomers who are retiring have only known to be the car that the grandparents drove. As they retire the last thing they want is to drive something that makes them feel old. And if Buicks remind people of their grandparents what do you think that is going to do to their self image. Not to mention that baby boomers have only known buick to make absolute, and utter crap (for the most part). And just because it was pillow-y soft doesn't make the ride comfortable. Look at a Rolls Royce or a Bently - they waft, they don't bobble around as if they were on a mechanized water bed.
Say you are right and older folks want something soft....what forum are we on again? Oh, yes, a Lexus forum home to the very unsporty and soft ES. Buick is changing attitudes because NO ONE WANTS TO BUY THEIR CARS! Of course, the new models are miles ahead of what they use to make and they are even decent looking. But Buick of old will be gone for good.
#28
Lexus Fanatic
Compare cold-engine starts/warm-up, for example, on those cars to today's computer-engine-management systems, and the difference is simply amazing.
I have always liked the styling of this Riviera. Don't know that I'd enjoy driving something with those dimensions though.
Good point. What price point do you see this flagship being introduced at?
#29
Lexus Fanatic
MMarshall, all the baby boomers who are retiring have only known to be the car that the grandparents drove. As they retire the last thing they want is to drive something that makes them feel old. And if Buicks remind people of their grandparents what do you think that is going to do to their self image. Not to mention that baby boomers have only known buick to make absolute, and utter crap (for the most part). And just because it was pillow-y soft doesn't make the ride comfortable. Look at a Rolls Royce or a Bently - they waft, they don't bobble around as if they were on a mechanized water bed.
Say you are right and older folks want something soft....what forum are we on again? Oh, yes, a Lexus forum home to the very unsporty and soft ES. Buick is changing attitudes because NO ONE WANTS TO BUY THEIR CARS! Of course, the new models are miles ahead of what they use to make and they are even decent looking. But Buick of old will be gone for good.
Say you are right and older folks want something soft....what forum are we on again? Oh, yes, a Lexus forum home to the very unsporty and soft ES. Buick is changing attitudes because NO ONE WANTS TO BUY THEIR CARS! Of course, the new models are miles ahead of what they use to make and they are even decent looking. But Buick of old will be gone for good.
Buick indeed built some junk in the 80s and early 90's, but, unlike some other American makes, steadily improved in reliability after that, developing a reputation for cheapness in interiors but, unlike many other GM products, generally good overall reliability.
But the idea that no Boomers are going to want traditional big Buicks anymore; only BMW-type sport sedans, just isn't so. I see people my age (late 50s) all the time in LeSabres, Park Avenues, and Lucernes. Sure, there are those who shun this type of car.......but, not enough, IMO, to just give up on this type of car and do only BMW-like sport sedans.
Say you are right and older folks want something soft....what forum are we on again?
And just because it was pillow-y soft doesn't make the ride comfortable.
Last edited by mmarshall; 02-16-10 at 08:43 PM.
#30
Granted the west coast is much more import friendly than the rest of the country I have only seen a handful of Lesabres, one Park Avenue and no one wants to buy a Lucerne because it is a brand of dairy products out here.
The ES, HS, LS and to an extent all fulfill the desires of a luxury car without the BMW sports sedan "stigma." And whether it's fair or not let's not forget that prestige plays a roll especially in luxury/sports cars and Buick has close to zero.
The ES, HS, LS and to an extent all fulfill the desires of a luxury car without the BMW sports sedan "stigma." And whether it's fair or not let's not forget that prestige plays a roll especially in luxury/sports cars and Buick has close to zero.