Who still drives and loves their Lucerne? Worth buying used?

[Twomorestrokes]

Do you notice the drivers seat a bit wider on your 2006 verses the 2007? I test drove a used 2006 and a 2008 model and the seat was wider on the 2006. You could really tell! LOL

Center console or no?

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Bucket drivers seat cushion GM Part No.:15268886 fits 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne, so I'm not sure how much difference in size there could be. Maybe you got larger between drives LOL.

 

[Tony S45]

Our 2006 is CXL and the 2007 is CX with cloth seats. Neither has floor shift. Both seem to have the same "room" but the cloth seats are softer.

 

[falconator]

I found a nice '08 CXL with 108k miles that I wanna go look at. Looks really clean from the pics, lady says her husband is a mechanic and has all the service records.

I'm looking for a car to drive back and forth to work to keep the miles off my truck. It's about a 130 mile round trip, 80% interstate and the rest is back roads. Almost zero stop and go. How would this thing do fuel mileage wise? I know the government says 25 mpg on the highway, but I'm hoping in actuality it's better than that.

 

[Tony S45]

Welcome to the Forum!

We have been able to get a bit above 25 mpg when using ours on the interstate, cruise on, at legal speeds. Using a Lucerne for commuting without stop & go is a perfect tool for a very long life for the 3.8 and the trans. Just keep the maintenance schedule up to date. We have been driving the 3.8 V6 (Series I, II, & III) and four speed overdrive trans GM cars for slightly over 30 years --- will last a very long time with reasonable maintenance.

130 miles per day multiplies out to 32, 000+ miles pre year divided by 25 MPG = 1,280 gallons X $2.50 per gal = $3,200 for gas annually. If your truck gets 15 mpg, then you will save approx. $2,100 per year in gas alone not counting the depreciation on the truck and it's higher maintenance costs including tires. Moreover, I believe that gas prices will continue to climb over the next two years.

Good luck with your purchase.

 

[Twomorestrokes]

Most of my driving is country back roads between small towns with some in town and some expressway. I leave the "average mpg" reading on and it usually reads between 22-23 mpg over the winter. Curious what milage will be in warm weather as I just got the car last fall.

 

[falconator]

Welcome to the Forum!

We have been able to get a bit above 25 mpg when using ours on the interstate, cruise on, at legal speeds. Using a Lucerne for commuting without stop & go is a perfect tool for a very long life for the 3.8 and the trans. Just keep the maintenance schedule up to date. We have been driving the 3.8 V6 (Series I, II, & III) and four speed overdrive trans GM cars for slightly over 30 years --- will last a very long time with reasonable maintenance.

130 miles per day multiplies out to 32, 000+ miles pre year divided by 25 MPG = 1,280 gallons X $2.50 per gal = $3,200 for gas annually. If your truck gets 15 mpg, then you will save approx. $2,100 per year in gas alone not counting the depreciation on the truck and it's higher maintenance costs including tires. Moreover, I believe that gas prices will continue to climb over the next two years.

Good luck with your purchase.

My truck is a year and 2 months old and just rolled 40k. It used to get about 22mpg but I put some larger tires and a lift on it and that dropped it down to around 18. Thanks for the info.

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

As they say "Your mileage may very" so it's something to be mindful of. If you are looking for a constant high mileage vehicle and using the Lucerne best rating in perfect world conditions you may have to accept it may not always hit it.

Hopefully it's the 3.8L and not the Northstar CXL. If the previous owner did all his own maintenance or has records confirm that it at minimum has had the recommended changes on fluids, coolant, transmission, brakes and PS. Wires and spark plugs along with a clean TB should have been done, this is based on miles and year of the vehicle. Other items would be struts and shocks should have been replaced.

The type of tire, size and air pressure will be something to consider to what's on the vehicle as some people or shops will set it to the door card. Nice riding but if not oem tires most tires can exceed that while still being in safe limits and help in better mileage Ride may be a little less floaty but as you are currently have a lifted truck probably not high on the list LOL.

 

[Twomorestrokes]

My truck is a year and 2 months old and just rolled 40k. It used to get about 22mpg but I put some larger tires and a lift on it and that dropped it down to around 18. Thanks for the info

My truck is a year and 2 months old and just rolled 40k. It used to get about 22mpg but I put some larger tires and a lift on it and that dropped it down to around 18. Thanks for the info.

Understandable.you did have the speedo recalibrated right?

 

[falconator]

Understandable.you did have the speedo recalibrated right?

Tires have only been on for about 2 weeks. Tuner is in route to fix it.

And it does have the 3.8.

 

[Twomorestrokes]

Your milage will "improve" once the odometer story's to tick up the correct distance driven.

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

The series 3 3.8L is probably the best in it's history excluding it was still using the plastic elbows LMAO. Performance wise, especially the Lucerne, it's less than limited aftermarket parts so if looking to obtain better gas mileage through tuning or parts just be mindful that very little is available. If interested check ZZP Performance on what's probably the most available options.

 

[paul8539]

I have had my Lucerne with a V8 Northstar for about 10 years now. Major things that I have had to have fixed:
- New engine at about 250,000 miles
- Wheel bearings replaced several times
- Alternator replaced twice
- Cabin air conditioning fan replaced 3 times
- Hood shock replaced
- Engine mount replaced 3 times
- Belt pullys replaced twice
- Power steering unit replaced
- MAP and O2 sensors replaced
- Mufflers and exhaust replaced once
- Cat converter replaced
- Backup sensor replaced
- Outside door handle replaced
- Usual brakes, battery, belts, hoses, and tire replacement
- 3 blown fuses
- Power window system cleaned and lubricated
- Other routine maintenance

 

[G-925298]

Who still drives and loves their Lucerne? Worth buying used?

I am. I bought a 2008 Buick Lucerne with 60,000 miles on it a couple of years ago for $3,000. It has been 100% reliable, has a great ride and gets decent mileage on the highway. It has the tried and true 3800 V6.

 

[WalmartTech21]

Bought mine back in February for a little over $13k, and with only 53k original miles on it; and whoever bought it new ticked ALL the option boxes on it! It has all three of the option packages that were offered (Driver Confidence, Entertainment, and Luxury) in 2006, but opted for the 6 passenger layout and the V6 engine (not that I’m complaining about the power because my previous car had less than 120HP) only issues I’ve had in the month and a half I’ve owned it is the previously documented door locks and the thermostat. It’s also has a problem with the passenger low beam aiming towards the ground, but it’s because of a crap aftermarket headlight pod.

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Used vehicles have a lot of things to be mindful of and due diligence is required to have a good or bad experience. If it's going on the 3rd or more owner, maintenance history, condition, etc checking it out throughly is mandatory. Too many post blame the vehicle then the owner not knowing or checking into the vehicle. Buying a POS isn't the vehicle it's a owner making a poor decision no matter what vehicle it is.

The 3.8L series 3 is probably the best to look for with the 3.9L coming in 2nd and the Northstar being 3rd. The 4T65-E transmission was shared across the board on GM vehicles so it may have problems no matter what vehicle it's in. The Northstar isn't a bad engine but because of the engine bay realestate it is a difficult engine for repairs and related shop hours to cost.

List of problems can be found in the forum posts, just be mindful of poor maintenance and high mileage can be issues in any vehicle.

 

[Indybuicks]

My research informs me that the GM 3.9 V6 has lots of oil leak problems. I think you are correct. The 3.8 series 2 or 3 is the engine to buy or car with that is the one to buy. I am going to keep looking for an older 3.8 equipped vehicle with low miles. Even Scotty Kilmer said the GM 3.8 is one of the best V6 engines out there. Why did GM give up on the series 3? LOL

The 3.8 series 3 on the Lucerne is the one to buy. It avoids all the intake plenum gasket issues the series 2 has.

 

[BuickLover88]

I liked our 2010 CXL 3.9L Lucerne at first. We bought it at 84,000 miles on it. It did have like three previous owners, one it Florida and one in Pennsylvania. Then two different dealerships here in California. The only thing I noticed on the CARFAX was that at 74,000 the water pump had to be replaced, and that was at one of the dealers. Last year we had to replace the catalytic converter and two of the motor mounts. Our radio has a problem, probably a loose connection but on 810 am it wines and gets better or must likely worse with going over a bump or using other stuff in the car or closing the back door.

I thought it would be a newer version of the Park Avenue, which I loved and miss our 97. We got into and accident with it in 06, but I noticed the seats were wider in the Park Avenue then they are in our Lucerne. I’m sitting on the plastic side on the drivers seat. Now the inside driver door handle that was metal is broken, so I have to reach out to open the door. We just got the oil changed and they said we have and oil leak, and a transmission leak. Which I’m hoping isn’t anything major, we can’t keep putting money into it all the time.

Also I forgot the center console in the back seat the door that goes to the trunk is broken and doesn’t close when you use the console.

 

[Indybuicks]

I liked our 2010 CXL 3.9L Lucerne at first. We bought it at 84,000 miles on it. It did have like three previous owners, one it Florida and one in Pennsylvania. Then two different dealerships here in California. The only thing I noticed on the CARFAX was that at 74,000 the water pump had to be replaced, and that was at one of the dealers. Last year we had to replace the catalytic converter and two of the motor mounts. Our radio has a problem, probably a loose connection but on 810 am it wines and gets better or must likely worse with going over a bump or using other stuff in the car or closing the back door.

I thought it would be a newer version of the Park Avenue, which I loved and miss our 97. We got into and accident with it in 06, but I noticed the seats were wider in the Park Avenue then they are in our Lucerne. I’m sitting on the plastic side on the drivers seat. Now the inside driver door handle that was metal is broken, so I have to reach out to open the door. We just got the oil changed and they said we have and oil leak, and a transmission leak. Which I’m hoping isn’t anything major, we can’t keep putting money into it all the time.

Also I forgot the center console in the back seat the door that goes to the trunk is broken and doesn’t close when you use the console.

That’s one reason I’m looking at 2006-2008 models. The bankruptcy years and onwards are where GM quality nosedived.

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

GM was nosediving prior to going bankrupt in 09 and was cutting costs any place they could. One thing GM can do well is to make the best version of any model, correct any problems and then discontinue it all in the same year lol.