Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

No, but it was higher 3.5L V6 286hp vs 3.2L V6 258hp (both 2008 numbers which were pretty on par with the rest of the industry)

mmarshall

Depends on what you're looking for. The GS, granted, is an excellent mid-sized luxury/sports sedan, but, at 20K, would be just that....a previously-owned car with a fair amount of age and miles on it. Brand-new Veranos, with a warranty that equals that of Lexus (6/70 and 4/50) run anywhere from 23-24K base to about 30K for Turbo models. The Verano may not have the room inside that the GS does, or (in non-turbo form) the same amount of power, but drive one, and you will see what it does offer.

Of course, the Verano is not for everyone....I'm not saying it is.

mmarshall

No. The Verano is not just a larger-block Cruze. I've driven and reviewed both (and own a Verano). The Verano's's interior was taken directly from the German Opel Astra four-door sedan (the dash is virtually identical) and is much different from the Cruze.....although both are well-finished inside. The Verano's chassis is also mostly Astra-based, though it shares some commonality with the Cruze.

mmarshall

Yes and no. The ILX, while somewhat disappointing, is not just a redone Civic. The interior is far better than that of the 2012 Civic it was based on, and the whole car feels somewhat more tightly-assembled. But, like last year's Civic, Acura engineers, IMO, did not do an adequate job of controlling the ILX's road/tire noise. That, IMO, is one thing holding up ILX sales.....along with the fact that the TSX is significantly more car for not a lot more money. The TSX has a nice Sportwagon option the ILX lacks....but the ILX, conversely, offers a hybrid that the TSX lacks.

MX5

I do like those TSX wagons.

I had an '06 TL and it was a great car - great quality.

Like I said I like the look of the Verano, liked them a lot more once the Turbo came out. But I think the Turbo should be a mid-$20s car. I was interested in them until I checked them out in person....I have 3 small kids, but they aren't getting any smaller and the Verano's back seat just won't cut it.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Buick is happy for you to step up into a Regal and then a Lacrosse for that reason

MX5

Oh the new Regals are sweet, but same problem with the backseat - seriously, look at them side by side - the Regal doesn't appear to be appreciably larger inside.

And the LaCrosse.....if it was RWD maybe.....

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

And that's what the new CTS is for!! Hah. Buick for FWD premium choices and Cadillac for RWD luxury choices. GM is covering both bases lol.

Actually that's part of most automakers schemes. Offer entry level then try to retain customers throughout their lives. Here's a nice example

A High school student with his beater 318i passed on through his family takes it to college and graduates. Get's a good job and wants to get something nice. He buys a 3 Series. It's great, sporty, has nice luxury amenities and suits his needs all through his mid 20's to early 30's. He gets married and starts a family. The 3 Series is now too small so he logically goes with a 5 Series. It's bigger and suits his family better as well as his image as a business man. Years go by, there are two more kids and now an X5 in the driveway for his wife. He's in his mid to late 40's now and suddenly a mid life crisis hits. He's stressed at work which is going through a reorg, he needs to save for the kid's college funds, and his wife pulled a Jane Jetson and took his wallet to the mall rather than the couple hundred he was going to hand her. Enter Z4. A fun sporty roadster that makes him feel young and gets him noticed. A few years down the road, he's starting to send the kids to college and he's recently been taking Centrum Silver for his aching body. Suddenly that fun sporty ride is really jarring. His wife won't even ride in that "damn red speed thing". So he goes to the dealership and finds a nice 7-Series which is comfortable and luxurious and just what he needs in his golden years!

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

^^ nice 'story' Hoovey, but with full time jobs dwindling replaced by more part time (thanks Obamacare), healthcare costs (particularly for young people) about to skyrocket, student loans, gas and other insurance prices and endless taxes, many people starting out will have a hard time getting from the beater to anything nicer.

mmarshall

Well, the Regals certainly aren't RWD.....although you might not miss it on the GS model. And, if you don't like the Lacrosse's FWD, it has an AWD option, though AWD versions can be pricey. And, IMO, the LaCrosse is not built as well as the Verano and Regal.

LexBob2

According to Consumer Reports Owners Surveys the LaCrosse, Regal and Verano have had reliablity issues and currenly aren't "recommended" by them.

My guess is that GM will address any issues and this will improve before too long.

mmarshall

True. And it makes you wonder if that had anything to do with the ILX's marketing.....and possibly the Verano's. Entry-level upmarket compacts like that obviously make it easy for lower-income people to get that premium-nameplate for not a lot of cash. It seems to have worked with the Verano. But it didn't work, though, for the Infiniti G20 (Infiniti introduced it twice, and dropped it twice), and certainly doesn't seem to be working with the ILX either. I have my reasons why I think the ILX is not selling, but I've already covered that in other posts.

LexFather

So its a gussied up Astra. We can't call out the ILX for being barely Civic plus and not do the same for the Verano sharing its Cruze chassis. Both based on 15k cars.

"as if on cue". lol, hilarious.....

mmarshall

As my post said, it does have an strongly-Astra interior and a modified Astra chassis. But it's also more than that....especially with the smooth 6-speed Buick powertrain and Quiet-Tuning. I know you are capable of good car reviews.....so go look at the car and drive it yourself. Only problem is that it might be a little cramped for a guy your size....I myself (at 6' 2" and my baseball cap) just barely fit in it, but it's clearly no Suburban.

BTW.....Top Gear has a very high opinion of the Astra, and (correct me if I'm wrong).....you seem to be one of Clarkson's fans.

"We" is not a factor here. I come up with my own opinions. And it not just opinion, but a fact, that, on most road surfaces, by actual decibel/sone measurement, the Verano is quiet and the ILX is not. That's not me...that is simply the way the two cars are designed. But that doesn't mean the ILX is a bad car....far from it. And it is likely to be more reliable, in the long run, than the Verano.

Again, my advice is to go see and drive them for yourself. Then, as with most of the auto-press reviews of these cars, you will see how, even with the ILX's road-noise, there are not just redone 15K Econoboxes.

I8ABMR

still dont understand how a buyer would want one of these unless they were die hard Honda people. Not feeling it in any way shape or form