Looking at a 2009 Lacrosse CXL

[HilarityEnsues]

Hey all, I took a 09 Buick Lacrosse CXL for a test drive Thursday morning. I really liked it, 17k miles for $14k. It was leased to a salesman who brought it back after his lease was up. Anyways, I've talked to my co-signer and let them know I was interested. Her main issue is she has an 06, and it doesn't get the gas mileage the dealership said it should. It supposed to get 28mpg, and when she took hers on a trip from virginia to illinois she was only getting 22mpg. They want me to have something fuel efficient for college. 66 miles a day round trip, 4 days a week. Work 3 days a week at 10-12 miles round trip. Does anyone own a Lacrosse CXL 3.8L that gets what the dealership and EPA say it should, or is it a gimmick?

 

[HilarityEnsues]

I will add I am only 23 but have decided I want a Buick for my next car. I currently own a 94 Century I love, but I just repaired a bunch of stuff on it in the past year. 1st was the intermediate pipe, then the fuel pump, Lower intake manifold gasket, outer tie rod end, and drive axle. Things were great for a few months, then electrical started going out. 1st the instrument panel lights died (Yes all 15) so my grandfather had me take it to a buddy of his whom thinks he's a mechanic. Idiot hooked 2 fuses together with an insulated wire, and I thought he bypassed it via the clusterf**k of wires under my steering column. I didn't notice until both of my front windows died, and was at the point where the only money I'm putting into is is for gas. It also will not pass inspection now.

I test drove a Buick Lacrosse Super Wednesday, but it was at a shady dealership that was selling it with quite of bit of repairs needed to be done to the engine. I noticed smoke steadily pouring from the driver side tailpipe, and I assume the heater core is on the drivers side of the vehicle, because an orange fog was covering the inside of the drivers side windshield. I believe it was dex-cool leaking from a cracked heater core. I test drove the Lacrosse Thursday morning before going to class, and it was perfect. Then last night I found another Buick Lacrosse Super and did a lengthy test drive on it, but the dealership was shady as hell. I asked for a copy of the contract and warranty info and got this:


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

I also was searching the internet last night and found out the 4T65E HD transmission used in the Impala and Monte Carlo SS, Pontiac GXP, and Lacrosse Super was rated for 280 ft lbs of torque while the 5.3L LS4 kicks out 323 ft lbs of torque, and the transmissions are failing like crazy on those models.

Anyways, Most people find it odd that a young guy like myself wants a Grandpa car instead of something like a Honda or Volkswagon, when Buick's are just as dependable as any Import on the market today

So back to the main question, what kind of highway mileage are you getting out of your Lacrosse CXL's?

 

[H_Charles]

I can't speak to this model, but generally speaking EPA numbers are a rule of thumb. Although the EPA modified its calculation a few years ago to better reflect real world conditions, in reality I'd always expect a bit less unless you follow every gas-saving rule in the book every time you drive the car.

I'd see what other posters here may get, but perhaps more importantly ask the prior owner what he got.

I'd also do your own math by taking the car for the day and see what you get in your "world." That's perhaps the best gauge of all

 

[pogster]

Question; if fuel efficiency is important why are you looking at this car? Why not something smaller with a 4 cylinder? Lots of those out there. As mentioned you probably are not going to get the govt. rated milage no matter what the model.

 

[HilarityEnsues]

Question; if fuel efficiency is important why are you looking at this car? Why not something smaller with a 4 cylinder? Lots of those out there. As mentioned you probably are not going to get the govt. rated milage no matter what the model.

I was considering the Verano but I'm trying to keep my payments around 350 a month.

 

[H_Charles]

I was considering the Verano but I'm trying to keep my payments around 350 a month.

Pogster has a great point. If fuel economy is enough of a concern that you need this kind of confirmation, you are probably better served looking at hybrids, diesel, or 4 cylinders.
The 3.8 isn't an economical engine. There are tons of good late model vehicles with room that will give you much better highway mpg than a 09 LaCrosse.

Accords, Camrys, newer Sonatas, Passats all fit that bill.
If you are highway more than city, diesels become options (Jetta or Passat).

Obviously, tons of factors go into a purchase decision, but serious fuel eco concerns and the 3.8 choice may leave you disappointed. Kind of like going to a Hummer forum and asking if the 0-60 time quoted by the dealer is accurate.
Accurate or not, it's slow.

 

[pogster]

I was considering the Verano but I'm trying to keep my payments around 350 a month.

Can I offer you a suggestion? If you considered the Verano have you considered a Cruze? Basically the same car as the Verano only packaged in different wrapping paper and starting around $6000 less which is close to the Lacrosse you are asking about. No idea of your financial situation to get to the $350/month budget but since you are in college a new Cruze would give you a bumper to bumper warranty to avoid unexpected repair bills and compared to the Lacrosse your everyday fuel costs would be almost cut in half. Now that they have been out for a year you might even find a good lease return.

So considering the total cost of ownership what do you think about that?

 

[mmadden2]

So considering the total cost of ownership what do you think about that?

I've been tracking my expenses over the past month of ownership (actually I'm @ 22 days since purchase on 1/5).

3 black iPhone charging cables (2)
5 replace dealer licence plate bracket with a plain one
7 1-quart m1 ep oil
10 upcoming mcdonald's breakfast while waiting for molding repair
20 mcdonald's breakfasts while waiting for repairs (2)
22 m1 ep oil filters (2)
25 homemade trunk tool kit
25 wheel locks install
30 5-quart jug m1 ep oil
36 car washes (3)
40 torque wrench
40 cleaning supplies
55 extra key
70 extra key programming
94 mud flaps
95 extra set of floor mats
99 install mud flaps
100 additional insurance cost/month
110 wheel locks & extra parts
240 4 tanks of gas
250 fleming's celebration dinner
360 wheels recon'd (2)
389 window tint
500 first month's payment (upcoming)
??? stuff i can't remember / week 4's unforeseen trials & tribulations
--------------------------------------
$2625 in 3 weeks with 1250 miles on the odo = $2.10/mile. If I was in college I'd go with the Cruze or just take a cab everywhere 😀

 

[pogster]

LOL The bright side is Marc most of those items on the list aren't recurring! (At least I hope. 😱)

 

[HilarityEnsues]

Naw I still live at home. I managed to score a job at an independent shop doing oil changes and disk brake jobs, they're paying me $13 an hour and also paying for my Automotive Tech courses. Income is somewhere around 1100 a after taxes.

 

[HilarityEnsues]

So, all the funny guys aside. What kind of gas mileage is everyone getting from their Lacrosse 3.8?

 

[HilarityEnsues]

Nice to see folks are on here for something other than sh!ts and giggles. /sarcasm 🙄

Took it upon myself to look up real world gas mileage. Best match I could find was a 2007 Buick Lacrosse 3.8L, 100% highway was 24.1 to 26.1 mpg at 70mph. The 2 mileage difference is due to road surface (hills), how heavy people were on the gas, and how often A/C was used, including having it on low or high.
http://www.truedelta.com/fuel_econo...ve_style=&mix_ht=&mix_sub=&mix_city=&mix_hwy=
I'm gonna go look at a 2010 Elantra on Monday. 36k miles, $11 with a $3k down payment.
Got the answer myself once again, mods feel free to close the thread. 😎

 

[HilarityEnsues]

The dealer let me drive the Lacrosse to and from school today, and I'm sold. Just got back from the dealership, I put 4k down, and my payments are $219.14 a month including extended warranty, with %3.5 interest.

 

[pogster]

Congrats. Good thing the mods didn't close the tread.

 

[mmadden2]

That's awesome man, good deal.

**** Good lookin' ride, I'm sure you'll love it.

 

[HilarityEnsues]

Here it is:

 

[Buick Customer Service]

The dealer let me drive the Lacrosse to and from school today, and I'm sold. Just got back from the dealership, I put 4k down, and my payments are $219.14 a month including extended warranty, with %3.5 interest.

Congratulations on your purchase! It looks nice sitting in your driveway. Please feel free to contact me in the future with any questions that may arise.

Tricia, Buick Customer Service.

 

[Super LaX]

Congrats on the purchase! You will enjoy the "vault-like" quiet due to Buick using double-pane front windows and extra sound-deadening material throughout. If gas mileage was a concern you made a wise choice by avoiding the Super version.

I've owned two 3800 powered vehicles and got mixed results with my fuel economy observations.

Car #1 - 1994 LeSabre Series I V6. Heavy car but the V6 would pull it around smartly. Average consumption was about 24-26 mpg during mostly mixed highway conditions.

Car #2 - 2000 Regal GS Series II Supercharged V6. Great all-around car with power on demand and economy when driven rationally. I would average 28 mpg mixed highway and pull down 32/33 on long interstate drives (A/C blasting, 72-75 mph). The car would just get in its stride and go. The only lick of trouble I had with either engine was the valve cover gaskets had a slight tendency to leak.

I've heard complaint from various owners not getting the gas mileage that they were expecting out of the 2005-09 LaCrosse cars with V6. Maybe it's their driving style, underinflated tires, or "winter gas" or who knows what else.

There's no reason why your 2009 LaCrosse shouldn't be able to attain 26-28 mpgs during highway driving.

Put some miles on the car and let us know how you make out and don't go by the DIC reading. Calculate between fill-ups.

 

[HilarityEnsues]

Does anyone know how to setup the vehicle to sync with my cellphone's Bluetooth chip? Oh and BTW, its a CX, not a CXL.

 

[pogster]

Does anyone know how to setup the vehicle to sync with my cellphone's Bluetooth chip? Oh and BTW, its a CX, not a CXL.

Have you checked your car's owner's manual? No idea what kind of phone you have so you are on your own for that.