A glaring display of wrong-minded solutions conjured up to
save a model that should have been taken out behind the barn and
shot more than a few years ago. That’s the best way to describe
the 2008 Buick LaCrosse Super. Rather than admitting the LaCrosse
has lived past its prime, GM engineers and product planners
decided they would try to eke a few more years out of this
decrepit sedan by shoehorning a larger V8 engine under the hood
and making a few changes to the exterior. That’s a good idea only
if you’re trying to capture a buyer who 1) doesn’t care about the
image they project of themselves or the perceived quality of the
product they buy, and 2) can be convinced to pay more than any
right-minded individual would for a 20-year-old vehicle.
Based on the W-car platform first seen in the 1988 Pontiac
Grand Prix, the LaCrosse platform was updated in 1995, but the
guts are basically the same. That’s called getting your money’s
worth out of an investment. Unfortunately, the LaCrosse hasn’t
kept up with its competitors – or even cars within the GM family
like the Chevrolet Impala – in terms of quality and
craftsmanship. The interior appears dated, especially its flat
and boring instrument panel which lacks character. Likewise, the
layout of the climate and audio controls are confusing and
require the driver to bend to reach some of the radio presets.
Has anyone at Buick heard of ergonomics?
In an effort to try to keep the LaCrosse fresh, designers
slapped on a new grille, portholes and a revised rear fascia to
create the Super, but ended up with a solution akin to slapping
lipstick on a pig. The Super also gets a 300 hp 5.3L V8 engine in
place of the base LaCrosse’s 200 hp 3.8L V6. This power boost may
seem like a good thing, except that it displays the platform’s
main weakness: overly aggressive torque steer. I found myself
having to grip the wheel and turn it to the right just to keep
the tires straight when jumping on the throttle from a traffic
light. Undoubtedly, this won’t be a problem for those for whom
the Super’s compliant, comfortable ride – perfect for highway
cruising – is its most important feature. However, in their
attempt to sneak up on cruising speed without triggering torque
steer they’ll come face-to-face with another problem: the abrupt
shifting of the four-speed automatic transmission. Why GM is
still using 4-speed automatics? It’s for the same reason the
LaCrosse still sits on the W-Car platform, saving money.
If the Super was a stellar bargain, I could understand people
buying it on a value basis, however, the Super’s base price of
$31,855 places it above much better cars like the Infiniti G35
and Audi A4. Get real, Buick.
Vehicle as Driven:
Engine: 5.3-liter 8-cylinder
Horsepower: 300 @ 5,600 rpm
Torque: 323 lb-ft @4,400 rpm
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Wheelbase: 110.5 in.
Overall length: 198.1 in.
Height: 57.4 in.
Width: 73 in.
Curb Weight: 3,770 lb.
