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One of the many things I haven't figured out yet is why they put a plastic cover over the battery. It's probably something simple but if anybody knows how you can remove that plastic cover in case you need or want to give a jump to/from someone please let me know. Winter is coming.
On my '09 the owners manual states that you do not attach jumper cables to the battery terminals because of the danger of a spark causing an explosion. Instead they direct you to the fuse block under the hood that has a large positive terminal inside it that you connect the jumper cable to. I suspect the new Lacrosse is similar. That may explain the covered battery.
I ordered my pc 12 days ago and I still haven't gotten my tracking number. Also, It says my pc is still on level 1. Please help me.Here is a VERY INTERESTING site I found if you are looking to track your car being built. You will need your order number from the dealers build sheet. Then go to .... camarotracking dot com. Yes, the site was designed for tracking camaros, BUT it will work for any GM vehicle. Once you reg/sign-in and provide your order number the site will automatically send you an email once a week on the status of your car build. You will have to look at some of the postings in the site to find the page that list all the codes that will tell you were your vehicle is in the build process. I got an email once a week starting in Nov to tell me my car build was accepted, scheduled to build, parts being assembled in build area, and that the car was on the line being assembled, then I go an email WITH my VIN number. If you had a camaro, the site then actually tracks the car during shipping to the dealer. As I ordered a CXS, the site can not track the car pass VIN number assignment. At any rate, I drove to the dealer, two days later to tell him I had the VIN number, and did he know when the car would arrive - WELL, it was sitting there on the lot!! "he was just going to call me." And, how did I know know the VIN? The dealer did not even have the emails I got. I have had the CXS now since Christmas and LOVE it. I have never never had a vehicle that has gotten so many questions and looks. Hope the camaro site helps everyone to track their build. It is a great site. Sorry GM has not opened it all the way for other GM products to be tracked all the way to the dealer like the camaro, but at least it is great to track it to the VIN assignment - which means its on the way to our dealer..... here is the last email I got from the site. Enjoy😉😉😉
Your cars status
There was an update in your car(s) status,
Order# NQKJ24![]()
Vin: 1G4GE5EVXAF183046
Status: Unable to track non Camaro orders please contact your dealer
Shipped by
Notes: I am sorry but at the present time we can only track Camaro Vin numbers for Post Production information. If you get a railcar number we can assist you in tracking it to your nearest rail distribution center
Last Update(s)
December 17, 2009 - Current
The Roadmaster is one of the cars I've always wanted to own and drive - but never did get to. Though I can't complain as I did love my 1995 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham - which was basically the same car... There was something about the Roadmaster, though... Then again, I'd probably say the same about the Cadillac if I had owned the Buick... But none of the other cars that road on the same platform impressed me. I didn't really care all that much for the Oldsmobile or the Chevrolet - though nowadays I'd take one in a heartbeat...In the waning days of 1996, on December 13 at GM's Arlington Assembly plant in Texas, the final Buick Roadmaster rolled off the line - a wood paneled Estate Wagon wearing a special "Collector's Edition" hood ornament in place of the usual tri-shield. No fireworks, no farewell tour, just the quiet shutdown of the last full size, body on frame, rear drive V8 station wagon America would ever build in volume. The Roadmaster wasn't a sports car. It wasn't trying to be. It was a rolling living room with fake wood siding, enough room for a family, the dog, and a weekend's worth of luggage, and - by the mid-1990s - a Corvette derived LT1 V8 that could embarrass stoplight challengers while towing 5000 pounds. From its glamorous 1930s origins as Buick's flagship straight eight cruiser through a 33 year hibernation and a surprise 1991 revival, the Roadmaster embodied everything that once defined American automotive excess: size, comfort, style, and unapologetic utility. Even now, in 2026, three decades after the last one was built, clean examples (especially the LT1 powered wagons) command rising prices on the used market, star in family road trip legends, and make enthusiasts whisper the same refrain: "They don't make 'em like this anymore." This is its full story - from pre war luxury icon to '90s sleeper wagon cult hero.
The Spark: Pre War Glory and the Golden Age of Woodies (1936-1958)
The Roadmaster name first appeared in 1936 as Buick's top of the line series, riding on the division's longest non-limousine wheelbase and sharing structure with entry level Cadillacs. It was positioned as a step above the Special and Century - think chrome, power, and presence for the well heeled buyer who wanted luxury without the Cadillac tax. Early models featured straight eight engines (Buick's signature), overhead valves, and elegant styling that screamed "Detroit's finest." Production paused during World War II but roared back in 1946.
The real legend building years were the late 1940s and 1950s. In 1947, Buick introduced the Roadmaster Estate station wagon - the first mass produced wood bodied wagon from a major manufacturer since before the war. With genuine maple and mahogany panels, it became an instant status symbol for suburban families who still vacationed with actual wood paneling on the doors. Convertibles, sedans, and hardtops followed, all powered by increasingly potent straight eights (up to 320 cubic inches by the early 1950s) making 150+ horsepower - respectable for the era. The 1949–1953 models gained "VentiPorts" (those iconic portholes on the fenders), and the 1950s Roadmasters added tailfins, wraparound windshields, and enough chrome to blind oncoming traffic.
By 1958 - the final year of the classic era - the Roadmaster was a 5000 pound behemoth with a 364 cubic inch V8, Dynaflow automatic, and styling that defined Detroit's tailfin era. Sales were strong, but the nameplate was retired after 1958 as Buick streamlined its lineup. For the next 33 years, the Roadmaster existed only in memory and classified ads - prized by collectors for its elegance, engineering, and sheer presence.
The Revival: 1991-1996 - A Surprise Return on the B-Body
Fast forward to the late 1980s. full size rear drive sedans and wagons were fading fast, but Buick saw an opening. GM's new for 1991 B-body platform (shared with the Chevrolet Caprice, Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser, and later Cadillac Fleetwood) was the perfect canvas for a modern Roadmaster. The name was dusted off after three decades, and the car that emerged was pure nostalgia wrapped in contemporary engineering: body on frame construction, live rear axle, and a ride tuned for comfort rather than cornering.
The revival started oddly: only as the Roadmaster Estate station wagon for 1991. It was massive - over 220 inches long - with that signature fake woodgrain vinyl siding, seating for eight, and a tremendous cargo area that swallowed plywood sheets or hockey gear without complaint. Under the hood sat a 5.0 liter Chevrolet small block V8 (170 horsepower, 255 lb-ft) mated to a four speed automatic. It wasn't quick, but it was smooth, quiet, and capable of towing 5000 pounds with the optional package. A four door sedan joined the lineup as a 1992 model, powered by a 5.7 liter V8 making 180 horsepower and 300 lb-ft - noticeably peppier.
The big leap came in 1994. A mid cycle refresh brought the Corvette derived LT1 5.7 liter V8 (iron block version, detuned to 260 horsepower and 335 lb-ft) with sequential port fuel injection, stainless steel dual exhaust, and a new electronic four speed automatic. Dual airbags, a redesigned dashboard, and optional Gran Touring suspension arrived the same year. The LT1 transformed the Roadmaster from comfy cruiser to sleeper: 0-60 in under 8 seconds, effortless highway passing, and that unmistakable small block rumble when you cracked the throttle. Wagons got the same treatment, making the Estate one of the fastest, most practical family haulers ever sold.
Trims were straightforward: base and Limited for sedans; the Estate wagon was the halo. Options included leather, woodgrain trim (real on the dash), and every power feature imaginable. It rode like a cloud, isolated road noise better than most modern SUVs, and felt indestructible - perfect for long hauls, scout troops, or weekend boat towing.
Evolution: Subtle Refinements and the Collector's Edition
Changes were evolutionary. 1993 added sound deadening and minor convenience tweaks. The 1994 refresh was the highlight - new dash, LT1 power, and a more modern (yet still formal) look. 1995 brought bigger side mirrors, optional heated/memory seats, and updated radios. By 1996, electronic climate control became standard, and the final Estates wore special Collector's Edition badging. Styling stayed true to the "big Buick" formula: upright grille, long hood, and that unmistakable wood paneled wagon profile that turned every parking lot into a time warp.
Sales told the tale of a changing market. The 1991 wagon sold modestly; the full lineup peaked around 85000 units in 1992 (its first complete year). Production totaled roughly 201,000 over six years before sliding sharply as SUVs exploded in popularity. The Roadmaster wasn't flawed - it was simply in the wrong decade.
The Market Reality: Praise, Practicality, and the Inevitable End
Enthusiasts and fleet buyers loved it. Reviews praised the effortless power (especially post 1994), bulletproof reliability, and cavernous interior. The Estate wagon became a legend among families, hot-rodders, and anyone who needed to haul without sacrificing comfort. GM's decision to kill the B-body platform was purely economic: SUVs like the Suburban were far more profitable, and the Arlington plant was retooled for trucks. The last Roadmaster Estate was built December 13, 1996; the sedan followed days later. No successor. The full size American wagon died with it.
The Farewell and the Afterlife
Production ended without ceremony, but the Roadmaster refused to fade. In the used market today, low mileage 1994–1996 LT1 models - especially clean Estate Wagons with towing packages - have become cult classics. Values have climbed steadily; pristine examples now fetch prices that would have seemed absurd a decade ago. Parts are still plentiful thanks to the shared B-body platform, and the LT1 is a tuning favorite - mild mods easily push output past 300 horsepower while keeping the family hauler soul intact.
Social media still overflows with stories: cross country trips with kids and dogs in the back, towing boats to the lake, or surprising muscle cars at stoplights. The woodgrain wagons are the stars - rolling reminders of an America where station wagons ruled the suburbs. Collectors restore the genuine wood 1940s–50s classics too, but the '90s revival cars are the accessible icons for everyday dreamers.
Why the Roadmaster Still Matters - and Why We Still Dream
The Buick Roadmaster was never the sharpest handler or the most technologically advanced car on the road. What it had was SOUL: honest, roomy, comfortable, and built like a tank. It was the car that carried generations to soccer practice, vacationed at the beach with wood panels gleaming, and - thanks to that LT1 - delivered surprise performance in a package that looked like your neighbor's grocery getter.
In an era of crossovers, touchscreens, and electric everything, the Roadmaster stands as one of the last pure expressions of traditional American full size motoring. For those who've owned one, still own one, or scroll late night listings dreaming of a wood paneled LT1 Estate in Emerald Green, it remains the benchmark for effortless family transport with a wink of attitude. Somewhere out there, a well kept Roadmaster is gliding down the interstate, V8 humming, woodgrain catching the sun, owner grinning behind the wheel. And that, more than any sales chart, is its enduring legacy. Long live the Roadmaster - the car that proved big, practical, and a little bit outrageous could still be magnificent.
The Toyota Avalon is probably the closest experience you can get today - but not the last generation or two. They firmed-up as well (suspension-wise). And so did the Lexus LS - which is in it's final generation... What year is your Roadmaster wagon?I'll be keeping mine until im gone. I just cant find a new car that is like it, some of the recent past are similar, Ford/Mercury Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis, Lincoln Town Car, Chevy Impala, Ford Taurus.
Maybe a toyota Avalon.
New cars ride like donkey carts now. Too firm. Too harsh.
Thank you. Yes, the 2.0s seem to sound the same no matter which brand they're made by. I wish people would have latched on to wagons as opposed to CUVs. That way they'd have the versatility of a rear hatch without the increase side height and weight. It would be easier to drive a sedan if not everything else on the road sat so high.It can be raspy when accelerating but when at speed it is very quiet. I’ve also noticed that midrange power seems much stronger than from a standstill.
I came from a 2018 Regal GS which was without any doubt my favorite car. I think that I’ve decided that the Envision is a really fine SUV but I’ll likely go back to a low and fast car.
I've been seeing more and more Envisions on the road lately. So this does make sense! 🙂Very big news today with the Envision being named one of the best built top 5 vehicles for sale in the US and being named best in class by JD Powers. There can be no doubt at all that Buick has a winner with this model.
Glad to see you're loving your Envision! Sometimes just taking that seat is all you need to know. Especially when the brand you're buying from has such a solid history...I love the comfortable seats. My back was bothering me when I was shopping, sat in it and knew it was for me. Don't squirm around to get comfortable when in the car for a while. Also, the little things. 4-way lumbar, and head restraints. Side mirror turn indicators. When you're crawling along in traffic, and need to get over, people can readily see your intention. I like how when all 4 windows are open, there is virtually no annoying wind buffeting. So easy to park with tight turning circle.
When this happens do the interior lights remain OFF?Recently running into a bit of a strange issue with my 2019 Encore Preferred. Have had it for 3 years now and up until the last month, I never had any issues with the infotainment system. However, recently there will be instances where the infotainment system (screen, radio, etc.) do not shut off after the car has been turned off and the driver's door opens. It is not consistently occurring and the majority of the time the infotainment system shuts off as normal. Any ideas on what this may be or if anyone else has run into this issue? From what I've gathered, it seems like it may be an issue with the retained power accessory (RAP) or the body control module (BCM).
Guess is the switch in the driver's door latch is stickingYes, the interior lights stay off!
Thank you! That's the exact part I was looking for. Yeah most places arent selling it online, but I can try my local junkyards. Worse case, I can see if there is anything that would work with what is out there in non-unique parts.You can try searching by GM Part number 15225228 there may be a few floating around, but it's discontinued. Junkyard is probably the best route to locate any.
You know there are people who would buy this. 😛 The only reason I would not is because now I'm too paranoid about getting an upset stomach - or worse. 😛
I take it you are not a BB?You know there are people who would buy this. 😛 The only reason I would not is because now I'm too paranoid about getting an upset stomach - or worse. 😛
I came just a little bit afterwards to be Generation X...I take it you are not a BB?
Oh, no! Poor bar code! 😛 😛
Very depressing! 😛A Sad Post
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So in the last 6 months since you posted you haven't taken it to a shop to be fixed?I don't hear the beep.
Appreciate this info. I have a 2018 TourX and today while driving in the rain, the car started calling OnStar SOS over and over. Then the overhead console started dripping. I suspected a sunroof drain issue. Proving my better half right that a sunroof brings trouble!According to my dealership's Service Manager, the problem is indeed caused by some blocked filters within the sunroof drains. The filters were originally owner-serviceable, but the tale goes that owners felt that was not adequate, so they were changed to dealer-only serviceable filters. My dealership says I should just ask to have the drains checked whenever I go in for an oil change, which (so far) has not resulted in any extra charge. Seems like too long an interval: we'll see which comes first. Also seems a bit crazy, if I'm just waiting for the car to flood instead of having any warning it might happen.
HOWEVER, even without the pano roof, you will be astounded at the amount of debris that collects in the TINY crevice adjacent to the roof rails!Sorry to hear this about your sunroof clog, but glad you got it figured out. I had this problem in my '07 RDX (parked under trees in my driveway for 12 years of ownership)...and it is why I did not get the roof option in my TourX. Although I do miss it, I have to remind myself no sunroof is the price of trees for me! (That, and about 4-5 rounds of leaf cleanup in the fall, LOL!)
Update: I got my TourX into my local mechanic before the dealership could see me. He was able to clear the drains and it resolved the issue completely.Appreciate this info. I have a 2018 TourX and today while driving in the rain, the car started calling OnStar SOS over and over. Then the overhead console started dripping. I suspected a sunroof drain issue. Proving my better half right that a sunroof brings trouble!
Ha. Tell me about it. I blast all the crap from those channels every time I wash the car. 🤣HOWEVER, even without the pano roof, you will be astounded at the amount of debris that collects in the TINY crevice adjacent to the roof rails!
The only way to clear them out is with water blast or compressed air (or maybe a shop vac....)