x10 Home Automation - Control Lights, Irrigation, Appliances

2006 Buick Lucerne Review

Written By: MyRide.com
Reprinted under license.

Getting closer to precision, but not going beyond it

Introduction

Buick has wisely replaced its incredible "Dream Up" advertising campaign, which featured classic rocking sellouts Aerosmith in a potentially career-killing deal, after it did little to convince forty-somethings that they'd rather buy a LaCrosse than a Lexus. The new tagline is "Beyond Precision," which, if you ascribe any faith in the concept of truth in advertising, tells you that a Buick is an exceptionally well-made automobile. While our week-long test drive experience in a new 2006 Buick Lucerne did not lend credence to this claim, one thing is true: the Lucerne is a ringer of sorts, like the print ads for this new Buick flagship attest.

Ringers are dismissed as uncompetitive based on first impressions, then unveil hidden talents to rise up and surpass the competition for the win. These hidden talents are masked, intentionally or not, behind facades of mediocrity, and any new Buick has ringer potential thanks to decades of unremarkable product. Though the 2006 Buick Lucerne does not bubble up to the head of its class, it does possess distinctly pleasing attributes that will appeal to specific kinds of buyers - buyers that likely aren't listening to Aerosmith CDs produced in the past two decades.

Press materials for the 2006 Buick Lucerne promise "a fresh approach to the entry-luxury segment," and say that it "underscores GM's commitment to offer Buick customers a line of premium vehicles with elegant designs, finely crafted interiors, and exceptional levels of power, comfort, quietness, and quality." After driving a metallic red Lucerne CXS around the Los Angeles and Orange County regions, we'd say Buick's staff writers got it half right. The Lucerne is comfortable, quiet, and constructed with quality materials except for one glaring issue, but it is not elegantly designed, finely crafted, or exceptional in any way. And since it's a front-wheel drive sedan equipped with a standard cast-iron V6 engine that's among the weakest on the market or an optional V8 that barely surpasses a Nissan or Toyota V6 in terms of horsepower, the Lucerne is hardly a fresh approach to anything, let alone the entry-luxury segment.

Available in three trim levels - CX, CXL, and CXS - the Buick Lucerne's standard engine is a blast from GM's past, a heavy cast-iron 3.8-liter V6 engine with valves operated by pushrods. This so-called 3800 Series III V6 is, after decades of service, more refined and reliable than ever, but it makes just 197 horsepower. That's less than the much-maligned 3.0-liter V6 found in the Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Montego. Evidently, the trade for ponies is decent fuel economy, because the V6 is rated by the EPA to get 19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. Step up to CXL or CXS trim and you can benefit from a substantial jump in motive force thanks to an aluminum dual overhead cam 4.6-liter V8 engine making 275 horsepower. This engine marks the return of V8 power to Buick's car lineup (the Rainier SUV has one), and is a repurposed Caddy Northstar unit. Premium fuel is recommended but not required, and the EPA says you can expect 17 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. We averaged 17.3 in a mix of driving.

Continue to 2006 Buick Lucerne Review from MyRide.com

© 2008 Autobytel Inc. All rights reserved.

MORE ARTICLES:

Automate Your Work Using Macro System Module
Every webstore owner should take online store solutions for updating hundreds and thousands of products. They has to be edited quite often, thus making your store flexible and up-to-date. Large and medium stores have a lot of products with similar descriptions, however you have to go over each product separately and edit every piece of text manually. This is how it used to be. Now, you may automate this time-consuming operation using Macro System by MagneticOne. This module allows you to change similar parts of text in product descriptions just with one click. It is especially useful if you are the owner of a large store with lots of products: the module will help you to change parts of multiple product descriptions at once.

Automated Forex software review
For the time being automated trading in forex is the buzzword.

SmartLabs Introduces NetLinc - INSTEON Central Controller: Turns iPhone into a Home Automation Touch Screen
SmartLabs, Inc. announces the release of NetLinc, a plug-in web server that puts the power of controlling an INSTEON home automation network in the palm of your hand. This revolutionary new product allows communication from an iPhone, iPod touch, the internet or any mobile Wi-Fi / web-enabled PDA or cell phone to remotely control and set timers for INSTEON devices.

AlterPoint and Compliance Spectrum Partner to Automate Network Compliance Controls across Multiple Regulatory Mandates
AlterPoint, Inc., a leading provider of open network management software, today announced that it has partnered with Compliance Spectrum, a leading provider of governance, risk and compliance (GRC) solutions, to help enterprises ensure the continuous compliance of networks with multiple regulatory mandates. The agreement will pair Compliance Spectrum's in-depth policy controls solution with AlterPoint's automated network governance solution, enabling network stakeholders to proactively reduce compliance exposures and mitigate liability.

Skylink, Leader in Wireless Automation Products, Announces INSTEON Motion Sensor
Skylink unveils the release of the Skylink INSTEON Wireless Motion Sensor, a battery powered motion detection module for indoor and outdoor applications. It reliably communicates via INSTEON radio frequency (RF) to turn INSTEON compatible devices or scenes on and off. Skylink has assigned Smarthome (www.smarthome.com) as Master Distributor.

Autonomic Controls Announces Touch Panel Software For Home Theater and Whole-House Audio
Autonomic Controls, the leading provider of media integration software for AMX, Crestron and HAI systems has announced a new product that enables remote access to digital music and video media using UMPC's and touch panels.

Allied Home Mortgage Implements Automated Compliance Controls Across Hundreds of Branches with ComplianceEase Solutions
One of the nations largest mortgage broker networks automates its compliance risk management with state-of-the-art technology.

Control The Air Flow Of Your Home: Ceiling Fan Remote Control
If you market something that is effective but caters towards convenience then you are on a winner at the moment. People specifically buy convenient items for their household because they just want to unwind at home after a long and stressful day?s work. They do not want to be bothered with technical things anymore because their hectic lifestyle does not allow it. Take the TV remote control for example. Why get up to change the channel if you do not have to? They will pay anything for a little extra comfort, which is why the ceiling fan remote control has been such a hit!

SmartLabs Introduces HouseLinc 2 - INSTEON Desktop Software w/ USB Interface: Easy INSTEON and X10 Home Automation Control and Management from a PC
SmartLabs, Inc. announces the release of HouseLinc 2, the next generation of the award-winning the HouseLinc - INSTEON Desktop Software. Building on the original software designed for the management of INSTEON-compatible devices in the home, HouseLinc 2 includes new features like background link management, enhanced product support and an all new look. It is available as a kit for first time users or as a free upgrade kit for original HouseLinc owners. Each kit comes with a required HouseLinc 2-enabled INSTEON PowerLinc Modem.

Comcast Selects Approva to Automate Controls Monitoring for Oracle E-Business Suite
Approva® Corporation, the leader in continuous controls monitoring, today announced that Comcast Corporation has licensed Approva?s BizRights® CCM Platform and Enterprise Controls Suite to monitor both general computing and user access controls across its enterprise-wide deployment of the Oracle E-Business Suite.

Tomorrow Incorporated Lights Up the Holidays with Motion-Sensing Britepack(TM) Apparel
New consumer products company ushers in next craze in technology-forward and trend-setting school accessories.

Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP) and Thornberry Ltd Announce Automated Interface between Healthcare Software Programs
Web interface enables SHP clinician-level analysis of NDoc® clinical point of care patient data. New automated web interface speeds the transfer of data from the NDoc clinical system to Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP) software. Web services technology transfers OASIS assessments with clinician-level detail from NDoc to the SHP database.

Review Of Forex Killer - Automated Forex Trading Killer Review
We are all feeling the pinch today The word is out, the economy stinks and our "leaders' don't seem to have a clue

Ebay Auction Software: Automated Gold Mining For Auctions On Ebay And Elsewhere Using Software
You may already know how to grab great bargains on eBay and other auction websites because the titles are misspelled. In fact, you may spend a great deal of time hunting around for them, one by one. You may even know of a website or two that offers you a free list of these misspelt auction listings. Do you ever wonder if you're missing out on a bunch of them, just because it's too tedious to plow through them all by hand?

Motion Sensor Home Security Cameras
Many security cameras do not record well in the dark. This implies that a slinky presence can get away with any deed as long as the dark provides a shield. This is where a security camera with motion sensor comes in. The motion sensor triggers an automatic response as soon as it picks up a movement in its vicinity. Some of these cameras come equipped with floodlights that power up as soon as a motion is registered, flooding the area with light and catching the culprit in the act. This is further enhanced by the fact that a security camera with motion sensor often offers a connection to a TV or computer monitor. As soon as the sensor is triggered, images of the perimeter can be captured immediately.