Weird want of the day: Buick Lucerne CXS/Super.

Kinja'd!!! "not for canada - australian in disguise" (for-canada)
03/23/2016 at 13:44 • Filed to: None

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Call me weird, but a 275 HP V8 in a mid-2000s Buick sounds like the ultimate sleeper. I’d probably go for the later Super model, which had an upgraded version of the CXS’ 275 horse Northstar, which produced 292 HP. I’m betting you could get it a good bit over 300 with some mods. Supercharged Lucerne anyone?

And that purple looks fantastic, I might add. The mid/late-2000s Buicks have aged probably the best out of all the GM sedans from that era, save for maybe the G8. The interior isn’t even that bad for a GM of the era too! Blue gauges are a tad tacky though, but this is 2000s GM we’re talking about here.

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DISCUSSION (26)


Kinja'd!!! FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > not for canada - australian in disguise
03/23/2016 at 13:50

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Fwd transverse mounted V8 290 hp Buick from the mid/late 00s? Sign me the fuck up.


Kinja'd!!! sm70- why not Duesenberg? > not for canada - australian in disguise
03/23/2016 at 13:50

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I’ve driven the DTS with the 292HP northstar quite a bit. I would not see any reason to switch down to the Buick.


Kinja'd!!! Phillipsaur > not for canada - australian in disguise
03/23/2016 at 13:52

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Is that a velour roof lining? 9.9


Kinja'd!!! not for canada - australian in disguise > Phillipsaur
03/23/2016 at 13:54

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I think it’s suede, actually. Not exactly what I’d go for if I’m honest.


Kinja'd!!! Your boy, BJR > not for canada - australian in disguise
03/23/2016 at 14:02

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How about a lacrosse super with an LS?


Kinja'd!!! not for canada - australian in disguise > Your boy, BJR
03/23/2016 at 14:03

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Even better!

(Fun fact: The first-gen LaCrosse was called the Allure in Canada, because LaCrosse is a slang for jerking off in Quebec)


Kinja'd!!! Group B Enthusiast - Captain of the supercharged barge > not for canada - australian in disguise
03/23/2016 at 14:05

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You’re not weird, I have an ‘04 Park Ave Ultra and thought about getting one of these to replace it. But I’ve driven the Impala ‘SS’ of that generation, and it was.... pretty sloppy, even for a highway cruiser.

Granted, the later Super’s came with a version of the Vette’s mag ride, but idk how much it would really help.

Please correct me if I’m wrong!


Kinja'd!!! MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > not for canada - australian in disguise
03/23/2016 at 14:05

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Would definitely DD FWD V8 Buick


Kinja'd!!! PilotMan > not for canada - australian in disguise
03/23/2016 at 14:12

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I remember looking into them and they weren’t all that fast and got bad mileage compared to the lighter V6s of the time.

Go for this with a manual 6-speed, turn the boost up to 22-23 psi for 340 horsepower with tuning:

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Kinja'd!!! V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > not for canada - australian in disguise
03/23/2016 at 14:32

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Pardon me, I’ll just leave this here

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Kinja'd!!! shop-teacher > not for canada - australian in disguise
03/23/2016 at 14:32

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I can get down with that.


Kinja'd!!! deekster_caddy > not for canada - australian in disguise
03/23/2016 at 15:08

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Those are pretty sick cars. I like them a lot.


Kinja'd!!! Niko's Work Account > not for canada - australian in disguise
03/23/2016 at 15:20

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NorthStars do not take kindly to boost from supercharging


Kinja'd!!! e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > Your boy, BJR
03/23/2016 at 15:42

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My Wife has one. It is not a good car. Cramming that V8 up front makes it absurdly nose heavy(the balance point on the car is right around the forward edge of the front door, it almost fell off the lift when we found that out), but at the same time a light breath on the gas pedal causes the front wheels to spin, leaving the car totally incapable of using its power. The transmission is super-laggy to kick down. When you hit the gas its like it waits a second or two to see if you really meant it before it reacts. Because of the V8 up front, its a pain in the ass to work on, there is no free space to access anything and you have to unbolt the fuse box to replace the battery. You also have to stand a vented battery on its end to get it in. GM put 1 of 2 different types of brake calipers on the car(both front and rear), seemingly at random, and they use different brake pads; the shocks for the car cannot be purchased anywhere at a reasonable price; its gone through a full 2 sets of front wheel bearings before hitting 80k miles; and it eats its brakes like its going out of style. To top it all off, it gets pretty terrible fuel economy, she averages 17-20mpg.

My ZHP spots her Lacrosse 78hp and 80ish torques and will hit 60 faster and run the 1/4 mile in the exact same time, albeit at a lower trap speed while returning 25+mpg doing the same kind of driving. And its infinitely easier to work on.


Kinja'd!!! Your boy, BJR > e36Jeff now drives a ZHP
03/23/2016 at 15:51

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Your BMW is better to drive than a Buick? YA DON’T SAY!


Kinja'd!!! The Powershift in Steve's '12 Ford Focus killed it's TCM (under warranty!) > not for canada - australian in disguise
03/23/2016 at 16:04

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One of these, along with the better looking, but still Northstar-powered, Bonneville GXP will be really fun to look at a AACA show in about 15 years. I don’t think anyone will believe these existed by then, so having a sample or two to show them would be great just for shock value.


Kinja'd!!! e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > Your boy, BJR
03/23/2016 at 16:07

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I expect my BMW to drive better. That’s why I didn’t complain that my ZHP drives better. My complaint was that, despite having about 70% of the power of her car the ZHP is every bit as fast, gets better fuel economy, is easier to work on, and doesn’t eat itself.


Kinja'd!!! acarr260 > not for canada - australian in disguise
03/23/2016 at 16:10

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I had a Bonneville GXP as my last car, and it has a very similar powertrain (Caddy Northstar 4.6L and auto). You don’t want to squeeze any more power out of these because the stock transmission will break quickly. My wife has a Lucerne with the 3.8L. I traded in Bonnie for that car because the damn NorthStar was consuming a quart of oil every 110 miles.


Kinja'd!!! Flies With Thunderbirds > e36Jeff now drives a ZHP
03/23/2016 at 16:14

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Yeah, but then you overpaid for a luxury sedan and it won’t last as long as the Buick.


Kinja'd!!! e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > Flies With Thunderbirds
03/23/2016 at 16:17

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I’m at 190k and drive 30k a year(plus track days), she is at 80k and does 10k/year. Her car needs as much work throughout the year as mine. And we both bought the cars used for $11k each.


Kinja'd!!! IanZ - limited-slip indifferential > not for canada - australian in disguise
03/23/2016 at 16:42

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Why are the pillars and roof so fuzzy? It scares me...


Kinja'd!!! not for canada - australian in disguise > IanZ - limited-slip indifferential
03/23/2016 at 16:43

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Suede, I believe.


Kinja'd!!! JRapp: now as good as new again > not for canada - australian in disguise
03/23/2016 at 18:39

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I have an issue with those vents. And yes, I know Buick started it, but any exterior customization you do to the car will make those vents look like stick-on.

Case in point:

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Other than that, I do see your point.


Kinja'd!!! theuserformerlyknownasaluminumfoil > Group B Enthusiast - Captain of the supercharged barge
03/24/2016 at 08:30

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“I have an ‘04 Park Ave Ultra”

Color me jealous as Fahk.


Kinja'd!!! Group B Enthusiast - Captain of the supercharged barge > theuserformerlyknownasaluminumfoil
03/24/2016 at 08:45

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XD It’s probably not as glamorous as it sounds... It’s been a relatively good daily for the last 3 years, but I wouldn’t buy another one.

I put a sound system in it and threw some 18" AR Maverick wheels on it when I got it.

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Kinja'd!!! theuserformerlyknownasaluminumfoil > Group B Enthusiast - Captain of the supercharged barge
03/30/2016 at 13:46

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Love it.. especially in white.