Instead of the expected old person joke, I would have gone with something along the lines of keeping the kids from driving it.

Wouldn't that make it more difficult to put one through your living room?

Manuel transmission? Now they are giving away Mexicans with the cars? Government Motors is really getting desperate for both sales and for amnesty!

Old people and me are the only ones left who can still drive stick.

SomeoneDumb: Instead of the expected old person joke, I would have gone with something along the lines of keeping the kids from driving it.

This^

and..

Treygreen13: Wouldn't that make it more difficult to put one through your living room?

This^

/nothing else to add

OK, we're halfway there ... is it also rear-wheel drive? If so, I'll have to actually consider it.

Let's have a real Buick:

So they'll put a manual in a farking buick, but not in their pickups? Good move GM.

portscanner: Manuel transmission? Now they are giving away Mexicans with the cars? Government Motors is really getting desperate for both sales and for amnesty!

NIIIIICE!

Rapmaster2000: Old people and me are the only ones left who can still drive stick.

Me too! I've taught my niece since she finally believes me when I say, "Men think women who can drive a manual transmission are hot!" Weird but true.

ArthGuinness: OK, we're halfway there ... is it also rear-wheel drive? If so, I'll have to actually consider it.

No kidding. Teeny sounding motor though. Horribly wasteful V-8 snob here. Guess I'll need some more carbon credits. :-)))

Why does Buick still exist?!?

only useful for tansporting drugs

/they never suspect the old man's car

Who the hell buys a Buick?

/other than my grandmother, who as far as I could tell, thought they were the only brand of cars that existed.

CatfoodSpork: Why does Buick still exist?!?

China. The brand is huge there.

ArthGuinness: OK, we're halfway there ... is it also rear-wheel drive? If so, I'll have to actually consider it.

It's FWD standard with AWD as an option.

CatfoodSpork: Why does Buick still exist?!?

Because despite what you snobbish whippersnappers say, they actually built some pretty damn good cars. Ugly as sin and they probably smelled like moth balls and talcum powder right from the factory, but some of the most unkillable cars for the last 20 years or so have been Buicks with the 3800 V6 in them.

Toss in the fact that they're cheap as dirt used with low miles because snooty youngsters won't buy them for the looks and snooty old people won't buy them used, and Buicks are an absolute steal for people looking for practical, highly reliable, and cheap cars. I had one years and years ago that I bought for $1500 with 65k miles on it. I ran it to over 190k miles before I hit a tree after skidding on black ice. That damned car STILL ran like it was brand new, but I figured it was time to just give up and get something new at that point, seeing as the entire front end of the engine compartment was exposed.

That car was invulnerable.

/ please put more manuals in cars
// sick of not being able to find a used car worth buying because lazy Americans can't drive properly

Splinshints: CatfoodSpork: Why does Buick still exist?!?

Because despite what you snobbish whippersnappers say, they actually built some pretty damn good cars. Ugly as sin and they probably smelled like moth balls and talcum powder right from the factory, but some of the most unkillable cars for the last 20 years or so have been Buicks with the 3800 V6 in them.

Toss in the fact that they're cheap as dirt used with low miles because snooty youngsters won't buy them for the looks and snooty old people won't buy them used, and Buicks are an absolute steal for people looking for practical, highly reliable, and cheap cars. I had one years and years ago that I bought for $1500 with 65k miles on it. I ran it to over 190k miles before I hit a tree after skidding on black ice. That damned car STILL ran like it was brand new, but I figured it was time to just give up and get something new at that point, seeing as the entire front end of the engine compartment was exposed.

That car was invulnerable.

/ please put more manuals in cars
// sick of not being able to find a used car worth buying because lazy Americans can't drive properly

My wife and kids lives were saved because they were in a buick. Any smaller car, and I'd have had funerals to attend to rather than driving them home the day after the accident.

//loves the new buicks - the lacrosse and lucerne get me hot and bothered

Wow, a six-speed with a true stick? Make it RWD it you'd be pretty close to win.

Splinshints: Because despite what you snobbish whippersnappers say, they actually built some pretty damn good cars. Ugly as sin and they probably smelled like moth balls and talcum powder right from the factory, but some of the most unkillable cars for the last 20 years or so have been Buicks with the 3800 V6 in them.

Toss in the fact that they're cheap as dirt used with low miles because snooty youngsters won't buy them for the looks and snooty old people won't buy them used, and Buicks are an absolute steal for people looking for practical, highly reliable, and cheap cars. I had one years and years ago that I bought for $1500 with 65k miles on it. I ran it to over 190k miles before I hit a tree after skidding on black ice. That damned car STILL ran like it was brand new, but I figured it was time to just give up and get something new at that point, seeing as the entire front end of the engine compartment was exposed.

That car was invulnerable.

Also this. 3600 Series II equipped Buicks are always my recommendation to people in the used car market. Bulletproof, and without the price penalty of a used Camcordima.

pudding7: Who the hell buys a Buick?

The Chinese love them. They are selling really quickly over there.

Splinshints: Because despite what you snobbish whippersnappers say, they actually built some pretty damn good cars. Ugly as sin and they probably smelled like moth balls and talcum powder right from the factory, but some of the most unkillable cars for the last 20 years or so have been Buicks with the 3800 V6 in them.

That 3.8L V6 is a hell of an engine. Old school pushrod style engine with not a ton of power, but I had nothing but good luck with them. Easy to work on too.

I caved in this year and bought a Nissan Maxima, if the new Lacrosse would have been available when I was looking, I would have seriously considered it.

undflickertail: pudding7: Who the hell buys a Buick?

The Chinese love them. They are selling really quickly over there.

I say this in all honesty:

The styling of your average Buick really *does* remind me of the decor in your average Chinese restaurant. Ornate, fake, tacky, and cheap. It doesn't surprise me at all that the Chinese love those things. I wonder if Mexicans like them, too?

CatfoodSpork: Why does Buick still exist?!?

And they're killing Pontiac!

pudding7: Who the hell buys a Buick?


If I were in the market for a new car I would seriously consider getting a LaCrosse.

This is very good news. The Regal is the Opel Insignia, a damn nice car, and to hear that it will be available with a manual gives me a little faith that GM might be on the right track. I just wish they hadn't chosen to call it the "Regal." Why not "Opel Insignia?"

Suomi: This is very good news. The Regal is the Opel Insignia, a damn nice car, and to hear that it will be available with a manual gives me a little faith that GM might be on the right track. I just wish they hadn't chosen to call it the "Regal." Why not "Opel Insignia?"

Haven't you heard? GM's specialty is badge engineering. They weren't gonna give that up just because nobody was buying their cars.

Desquamation: pudding7: Who the hell buys a Buick?


If I were in the market for a new car I would seriously consider getting a LaCrosse.

In between table dances in Montreal?

Just this once, I'm saying this is a smart move by GM.
More choices = more happy customers
shifting yourself = more sporty, more fun, more youth-oriented
80 year old tech = GM won't get it wrong.

If it was the flappy paddle gearbox, I would disagree. I don't trust GM to get that right. Bonus points - one usually gets slightly better fuel economy when shifting yourself. Double Bonus points - when your GM electric gremlins drain the battery, you now have the option of push-starting the car.

I always saw it as evidence of GM's incompetent boobery through the 70's-90's that Buick's Riviera or Reatta did not have sporty manuals as an option.

icebergcomics: //loves the new buicks - the lacrosse and lucerne get me hot and bothered

THIS. Although I would do shameful, shameful things for the Caddy CTS-V.

Elvis Da King: Desquamation: pudding7: Who the hell buys a Buick?


If I were in the market for a new car I would seriously consider getting a LaCrosse.

In between table dances in Montreal?

I don't get it.

/hangs head in shame...

Pentaxian: icebergcomics: //loves the new buicks - the lacrosse and lucerne get me hot and bothered

THIS. Although I would do shameful, shameful things for the Caddy CTS-V.

You and me both.

Desquamation: Elvis Da King: Desquamation: pudding7: Who the hell buys a Buick?


If I were in the market for a new car I would seriously consider getting a LaCrosse.

In between table dances in Montreal?

I don't get it.

/hangs head in shame...

's ok. you just missed the meeting (pops)

I hate to support GM, but I recently rented a "premium" car from Enterprise which was a brand new Buick LaCrosse (aka, the Wanker). At first, I thought "Oh, man, that's the best I can get?"

It really was a beautiful car; I was very impressed. Everything felt perfect. If I actually needed a car, I might even have bought one. Felt like a Lexus or something.

It might be an old man's car, but it sure doesn't drive like one.

/They're probably losing $2,000 apiece on 'em.

JustGetItRight: Let's have a real Buick:

Absolutely sweet car, one of my favorites... NOT a manual

TeddyRooseveltsMustache: Haven't you heard? GM's specialty is badge engineering. They weren't gonna give that up just because nobody was buying their cars.

Opel is a GM brand...

Have been for something like a century now...

Splinshints: TeddyRooseveltsMustache: Haven't you heard? GM's specialty is badge engineering. They weren't gonna give that up just because nobody was buying their cars.

Opel is a GM brand...

Have been for something like a century now...

They're not going to call a car an Opel and sell it under the Buick marque. That's not how they operate. Chrysler on the other hand is going to sell the Fiat 500 as a Fiat 500 at Chrysler dealers.

Hey now, stop the hate. When I was 15 I got my first car which was a 1980 Buick Regal. I had some amazing times in that car. Indeed.

This seems like an excellent idea. It may be a car for old farts like the Crown Victoria, but that's generally a good thing in terms of overall reliability. I might try to learn stick just so I can get my hands on one without it becoming a 3000-lb paperweight.

/What's the Vegas line on GM screwing the pooch on this and turning it from their Crown Victoria into their Homer?

TeddyRooseveltsMustache: They're not going to call a car an Opel and sell it under the Buick marque. That's not how they operate. Chrysler on the other hand is going to sell the Fiat 500 as a Fiat 500 at Chrysler dealers.

My old '71 Kadett says they could.



/ hot

Lawnchair: TeddyRooseveltsMustache: They're not going to call a car an Opel and sell it under the Buick marque. That's not how they operate. Chrysler on the other hand is going to sell the Fiat 500 as a Fiat 500 at Chrysler dealers.

My old '71 Kadett says they could.



/ hot

Uh huh. They have a car for nostalgic guys like you already. It's called the Camaro.

WorldCitizen: Hey now, stop the hate. When I was 15 I got my first car which was a 1980 Buick Regal. I had some amazing times in that car. Indeed.

The bench seat is nice... when you're on a double date you and your buddy don't need to take turns using the car.

pudding7: Who the hell buys a Buick?

/other than my grandmother, who as far as I could tell, thought they were the only brand of cars that existed.

Have you ever driven a Buick? Okay, the model may make a difference, but most of the ones I've driven had more pickup than even the old Suburban I used to drive with a 454 under the hood.

Putting a manual transmission in one is as natural a fit as teenagers and drugs.

I do miss the Grand National...

We used to have a Buick Regal, they're pretty nice cars. Doing maintenance on them kind of sucks, the oil filter and battery are a pain to get out.

jsmi:
No kidding. Teeny sounding motor though. Horribly wasteful V-8 snob here. Guess I'll need some more carbon credits. :-)))

Bear in mind that the turbo 2 liter makes more power than the Grand Nationals did...