1 September

Best Vehicles For The Newlyweds

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“Something old. Something new. Something borrowed. Something blue.?This is a saying that has been around for years and for millions of weddings around the globe. However, did you know what this saying is also something that newlyweds should use and follow when purchasing their very first vehicle as a married couple?
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“Something old. Something new. Something borrowed. Something blue.?
This is a saying that has been around for years and for millions and millions of weddings around the globe. However, did you know what this saying is also something that newlyweds should use and follow when purchasing their very first vehicle as a married couple?

Americans Well-informed on Automobile Retailing Economics, which is commonly known and referred to as AWARE, is an organization that was built on the foundation that the members wanted to create a much greater understanding on the end of consumers regarding the whole process of auto financing. In fact, the group has been aiming at providing the market and consumers education on the previously mentioned topic.

And now, the group has a national consumer education campaign which they created as part of the summer wedding season. AWARE reminds all newlyweds to still follow the old wedding saying when deciding on purchasing their very first vehicle.

Eric Hoffman is one of AWARE’s spokesperson and he tells the public, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue is not just for weddings. It applies to financing a new car or truck, too. And since buying a car or truck is often a couple’s first major joint purchase, it is important they learn about vehicle financing and talk to each other before deciding what to buy or lease.?

Something old should refer to the old-fashioned family budget, according to AWARE. The group affirms that it is important to create together a budget. And they should also include other factors and other costs aside from the purchase of one vehicle. This could include gas, maintenance, repair, and insurance.

Something new refers to the couple’s updated credit reports. AWARE says that since they are jointly financing the purchase of the vehicle, everything on their credit reports would be important to see their worthiness when it comes to credit.

Something borrowed is AWARE’s term for shopping around for loans and other means of getting resources on the financial end. There should be hundreds and hundreds of trusted sources. It is important for the couple to go through the best organization that offers loans with the best interest rates.

Something blue is what AWARE uses to refer to not having perfect credit. The couple should not be immediately blue. Even if one does not have good credit while the other does, the chances of being able to show that you can finance a new vehicle would be much greater.

30 August

Advice On Dealing With A Defective Car Seat And Getting Help

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The automobile market can be intimidating, and if you are just starting out in the wonderful world of wheels you may need advice on buying your first car. There are so many options for car buyers: new or used, red or blue, sports car or SUV, two or four doorsÂ…and that is just for starters! Also, as a new car buyer you need to be wary of advice on buying your first car, because there are still quite a few snake-oil salesmen out there in the automotive market looking to sell yo…
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The automobile market can be intimidating, and if you are just starting out in the wonderful world of wheels you may need advice on buying your first car. There are so many options for car buyers: new or used, red or blue, sports car or SUV, two or four doorsÂ…and that is just for starters! Also, as a new car buyer you need to be wary of advice on buying your first car, because there are still quite a few snake-oil salesmen out there in the automotive market looking to sell you a lemon. Following you will find some solid advice on buying your first car.

The first consideration for anyone who wants to buy his or her first car is usually whether to buy new or used. Many first car buyers are young people who are just starting out, so the necessity of buying used is often present. Advice on buying your first car new from a showroom is fairly straightforward: buy from a reputable dealer, research the best type of vehicle for you, and seek out the best deals including free extras, low interest and rebates. However, if you plan to buy a used vehicle, where should you look to avoid getting taken advantage of? Most car dealerships also sell “gently used?cars, usually those that have been previously leased. When these are out of your price range, there are also many used car lots with lower-priced second-hand vehicles. Look for a car dealer who is willing to do all the necessary repair work to get your first car in top running condition, and who also has all the necessary certifications to be in business. Ask whether you can talk to other people who have bought cars from the dealer and find out if they have had major problems with the vehicle. Always test-drive a car before you buy!

When it comes to the car itself, there are a number of things you should check out on your first car. You can examine the tires, the body and the interior on sight and look for possible problems. When considering the tires, be alert for rips and gouges and demand replacements for poor tires or ask for a lower purchase price. Also, uneven wear on tires indicates an alignment or suspension problem, in which case you should tell the dealer to perform the repairs before you will consider buying. On the body of the car, a few dents and scratches won’t affect the performance – but several of them could indicate the car has been in an accident. Also, rust along the bottom of doors or on the frame can attack the structure of the vehicle. Excessive rust is a bad sign. Check the interior of the car thoroughly for missing mirrors, frayed seatbelts, loose knobs and switches that don’t work. Test the audio system as well. Any of these points can be used as a bargaining tool to lower the asking price!

With any used vehicle, you should always obtain a used car report such as those from CARFAX. This information will tell you whether there are any outstanding liens, holds, or fines associated with the vehicle, and whether it’s been involved in an accident.

What is the best advice on buying your first car? Take your time, and have fun. With some careful research and a bit of the right knowledge, you can soon say, “This is my car!?

28 August

Brand Dilution: GM’s Real Problem

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General Motors problems are deeper than financial. A dilution of brands has not helped and the automaker must distinguish its brands in order to compete successfully in today’s market.
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Throughout General Motor’s post World War II history, the company has managed to sell various products across its entire line up, thereby offering visitors to its showrooms a wide variety of models. This custom of “brand dilution” was an acceptable practice at GM, Ford, and Chrysler for several generations, but the practice has had its pitfalls.

More…The cost of rebadging models to cross the entire GM spectrum is much more than you might think be. No, I am not talking about the price of slapping a different name on various models to market them under different brands, instead I am talking about the “cost” to the brand: the consumer’s perception that there isn’t anything uniquely sold with that brand.

I, for one, am okay with General Motors keeping all of its brands, but I would like to see the company distinguish each brand from one another. Only Saturn and Cadillac seem to have a clear identity, with Pontiac and Buick being little more than divisions carrying rebadged versions of other GM cars. Chevrolet, with its broad line up, partially escapes the brand dilution problem but it is often their models which eventually migrate to Buick and Pontiac to be sold as rebadged versions of Chevy vehicles.

Word has it that now GM’s niche division, Hummer, may also branch out. This would be unfortunate as it is the brand’s “nichieness” which gives it an edge.

Here are my suggestions for GM: Keep Cadillac going as it is; don’t mess with success. Distinguish Buick as a true “near luxury” marque…the Lucerne and LaCrosse are both good sellers, but consider bringing back the Regal…yes, you read it right to spark interest.

Pontiac needs real excitement…invest in the GTO and really make it go. Drop all minivans, SUVs, and concentrate simply on sporty models. Chevrolet absolutely needs the Camaro. Also, a potent Impala along the lines of the Dodge Charger would be a big help. Is it too much to ask for an exciting Malibu?

Saturn must keep tapping its Opel relationship in order to affordably distinguish itself from its American counterparts. The SKY is a hit, the new Aura looks hot and the upcoming VUE replacement looks like it’ll sell well.

Leave Hummer alone. Not everyone can or should be able to afford one! GMC will probably plod along as reskinned Chevys. GM could consider dropping GMC and ramping up Chevrolet trucks as the real world leader that it is.

Saab. Pity poor Saab. Neglected and almost not worth keeping. Still, if GM allowed Saab to thrive as Ford has given Volvo plenty of autonomy, then Saab could also make a difference for the general.

I doubt anyone in Auburn Hills is paying much attention to my words. For GM’s sake, I do hope that they are examining this whole brand dilution practice closely and will put something into practice to get the world’s number one automaker moving again.

26 August

10 Good Reasons for taking Driving Lessons. A guide for the Irish Learner Driver.

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Taking Professional Driving Lessons, while expensive, will set the beginner on the right track to Safe MotoringLearning to Drive with friends or family just doesn’t cut it in todays Driving environment.
Standards of Tuition throughout Europe are being increased in an effort to reduce the Carnage on the Roads,and taking lessons form an Accredited Driving School is the way to go. In fact taking a Driving Test will not be permitted without a certifcate from a Professional School.
In a driving context, most of the decisions that you take and the techniques that you employ, will have both an economic and a safety impact. The decision to take driving lessons is really a simple one but one that will have far reaching consequences well into the future. Most, if not all, poor or dangerous habits in today’s drivers stem from the lack of professional tuition at the outset. In this second in a series of articles designed to assist today’s learner drivers we will have a look at the benefits in taking Professional Tuition.
1. Taking lessons will greatly improve your chances of staying safe and accident free since providing you retain what you have been taught, you will be probably better than many motorists who have been driving for considerably longer. Lack of sufficient training, or even no training at all which is common in Ireland, will inevitably lead to accidents at a very early stage in the driving career. Accidents are to be avoided at all costs. After all isn’t the safety of the driver, the passengers and other road users the paramount priority?
2. A course of lessons at the start of your driving career and not one month from your Driving Test, will give you the confidence you need to continue the learning process, and will form the foundation for safe motoring.
3. Taking a course of lessons will give you the chance to be accepted by an insurance company for your first Insurance policy. In fact most companies will insist on a minimum number of lessons completed by a recognised school, before a son or daughter will be admitted onto a Parent’s policy.
4. On a very topical note, the Irish Insurer Hibernian, in conjunction with the Institute of Advanced Motorists, has extended its successful Ignition scheme to provisional license holders since January 2005.Learner drivers that pass the one hour driving assessment, will be offered a 21% reduction on their insurance. This is a substantial reduction for any new driver, particularly young males under 25 years of age, and well worth achieving. Just being in the possession of a provisional license will not suffice to pass this test. A course of lessons will be needed in order to achieve the required standard and the test should not be booked until quite a high level of both competence and confidence has been reached.
5. Passing the Department of Transport Driving Test, sooner rather than later, will result in further reductions in already high Insurance costs. Lessons taken just before the Driving Test will not cut it in today’s Test environment; there is just too much to learn if one wants to be successful first time out.
6. The long waiting list for the Irish Driving Test is a great inconvenience for many learner Drivers and also their Driving Instructors. The long wait is accentuated by the huge numbers of learners who do not prepare adequately with a professional school and then are forced to re sit their Test sometimes several times over. Career aspirations can easily be affected if the journey to a full License is overly prolonged.
7. Obtaining a full driving license promptly will speed up the reduction in your insurance premiums via your annual no claims bonus, providing of course you are not involved in any accidents.
8. As a fully licensed Driver you will have much greater opportunity to shop around for a competitive insurance quote, since there are only a very few companies who will insure provisional license holders and then only at a huge premium.
9. As an addition to item number 4 as a fully licensed Driver, you may apply for the more advanced Hibernian Ignition course, providing you are in your first five years of driving .This is a full day course, the cost of which can be recouped, if you pass the practical driving assessment at the end of the day. The reduction in insurance premium for the successful candidate can be upwards of 30%, so again very worthwhile .Drivers in this category should take a refresher course with a driving school to ensure that any bad habits or techniques are eradicated. Once again it is worth pointing out that the length of your driving experience is not a guarantee of success unless you started on the right foot to begin with!
10. If, in the early days of your working life you are unlucky enough to find yourself jobless through either, takeovers, cutbacks or closures, a full Driving License will enable you to pick up an interim job very quickly while you regroup and examine your future options. There is a shortage of drivers to fill current vacancies in Europe, particularly in the commercial sector so there are great opportunities for young qualified drivers who have been well trained.

Both career and promotional opportunities abound for the fully licensed driver in any organisation. Faced with two candidates of similar qualifications, an employer will naturally favour the person with the full license pretty much every time.

24 August

1917 Woods Dual Power

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Did you think GM or Toyota invented the hybrid? Think again. The hybrid has been around a lot longer than you think.
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The first hybrid gas electric car did not come out in 1983, but in 1917. The Woods Dual Power was built by the Woods Motor Vehicle Company of Chicago. Because the gas engine was so rough, but supplied more power and electric cars were smoother, but had limited range, the Woods Motor Vehicle Company wanted to supply a car that gave you the best of both worlds.

The best part is, it was a full hybrid (listen up GM) with regenerative braking. The engine was a parallel hybrid that included a 12-hp, 4-cylinder gasoline engine as an auxiliary drive system in addition to the electric drive train. The electric engine could propel the car up to 20 mph. Together with the gas engine, the dual wood power could get up to mph.

The gas engine and electric engine were connected using a magnetic clutch. The gas engine became magnetized when activated (by a lever controlled by the driver). The copper disk was pulled against the flywheel connecting the electric motor to the gas engine.

Only the electric motor could be used while going in reverse. Why? Because the engine had no clutch and so the gas engine had no gears!

The car battery designed for this car was about half the size of the batteries in other electric cars of the time. Once the car got up to 20 mph, the gas engine could be engaged, allowing the electric motor and gas motor to work together. The battery could be recharged or discharged by another lever. Recharging was done by the gas motor (at speeds over 6 mph) or by braking on level ground or when coasting down hills. A conventional brake pedal was only used at speeds of less than 6 mph.

Available for only $2650 (remember this was 1917). Wire wheels were a luxury, costing an extra $25. Or you could ‘pimp’ your vehicle out for another $100 (paint and trim).

Ultimately, the first hybrid was a commercial failure. It was built only in 1917 and 1918. It was too expensive, too slow, and too difficult to service to be a commercial success.

22 August

Avoiding Distractions While On The Road

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Driving is an activity that needs not only the proper skills but it also needs the driver to have ultimate and great concentration on the road. Even experienced drivers still meet accidents when they become careless when driving. Avoid fiddling around with your car‘s controls. If you want to place a call, pull over first. Weird noises from your car could also lead to distractions.
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Driving is an activity that needs not only the proper skills but it also needs the driver to have ultimate and great concentration on the road. Being focused on the activity itself gives the driver and its passengers greater chances of not meeting any kind of mishap, collision, crash, or accident.

Even experienced drivers still meet accidents when they become careless when driving. Try to take your eyes off the road for just a couple of seconds. Doing such greatly increases your chances of meeting a disaster. That is why automobile experts and drivers suggest that the best thing to do would be to avoid distractions at all costs. By avoiding them, you are also keeping yourself safe along with your passengers, other motorists, and pedestrians.

Try not to eat in the car. You see, when you are eating while driving, you tend to fumble around for the food. You could drop it or even try to drive using just one hand. Doing these things actually could be the cause of a major problem.

Avoid fiddling around with your car’s controls. It could be your radio, your car’s heaters, the air conditioner, or its mirrors. Experts suggest that if you would like to change the status of these controls, it would be better if you pulled over first and do the adjustments once you are safe on the side of the road. When everything has already been adjusted as per your preference, then would be the time to go back on the road. You may be wasting some minutes while doing so but remember that you are keeping yourself alive by doing that.

Cellular phones should not be used while driving. If you want to place a call, pull over first. That way, you can concentrate on dialing the right numbers and listening well on the conversation.

20 August

2006 Passat Debuts as Newest Family Car

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Today, as gas prices are surpassing $3 per gallon, SUVs and minivans are not as practical to own.
2006 Passat Debuts as Newest Family Car
Today, as gas prices are surpassing $3 per gallon, SUVs and minivans are not as practical to own.

So what’s a family to do?

Enter the 2006 Volkswagen Passat 3.6L, the midsize sedan that may forever change the attitude of owning a “grown-up” family car.

In its most powerful Passat to date, the 280-horsepower arrives soon to dealerships around the country. Although considered a family car, it does not sacrifice speed. The car continues to perform in the spirit of a true Autobahn-bred sedan by going from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.6 seconds, aided by its narrow-angle, six-cylinder engine.

Buyers may not only fall in love with the way this car handles, but with its price tag as well.

At a time when most cars can’t leave a lot for less than $25,000, this all-new sedan starts at less than $23,000 with the standard 2.0T four-cylinder turbo engine.

As expected in a modern Volkswagen, the new Passat continues its pursuit to provide the most advanced technology available, while still offering uncompromising safety design and features.

The 2006 Passat includes eight airbags, front- and rear-side head protection, active front head restraints, adjustable headrests for all five occupants, and foot pedals that descend upon serious impact.

While its clean lines, sporty look and functional overall design are definite selling points, it’s what’s inside that counts.

Specifically, the new Passat 3.6L includes dual-zone automatic climate control, a standard eight-speaker sound system that is MP3-format compatible, premium sound with an in-dash six-disk CD changer, an optional DVD navigation system and several other features.

The new 2006 Passat is the sixth all-new generation of

Volkswagen’s midsize car line that traces its roots back to the Dasher and Quantum of the 1970s and 1980s.

18 August

BMW X5: For the Sporty Ones

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The BMW X5 combines the responsive and excellent performance that only a BMW can boast of along with space and room, flexibility, and the all-weather capacity of a sports utility vehicle.
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One of the newest members of the BMW clan is the BMW X5. It first made its public debut in the United States last December 1999. It has been manufactured as a sports activity vehicle, or SAV. Aside from that, the BMW X5 has been marketed to target those people who are pining and vying for a vehicle that would be able to match their active lifestyles. This sports activity vehicle has been designed and crafted so as to compete in the sports utility vehicle, or SUV, market. The BMW X5 combines the responsive and excellent performance that only a BMW can boast of along with space and room, flexibility, and the all-weather capacity of a sports utility vehicle.

Upon its introduction, the BMW X5 holds a 4.4 liter DOHC V8 engine with 32 valves. This engine has the ability to produce 2 horsepower. It can achieve 3,600 rpm with 0 to 60 mph in an acceleration time of 7.5 seconds. In 2001, the BMW X5 continues to utilize the tradition of the BMW vehicles in using inline six cylinder engine. Along with that, it also introduces a new powerplant which is the M54. This new source of power provides better fuel efficiency and lower emissions. The following year, the BMW X5 now featured a specially tuned engine that could provide and create an output of 0 horsepower along with 0 pound feet of torque.

The BMW X5 holds a number of options for its exterior colors. The non-metallic choice of colors includes alpine white and jet black. As for the metallic hues, the list contains titanium silver, sienna red, topaz blue, steel gray, pearl beige, oxford green, gray green, and black sapphire. The interior trims have leather color options like beige, pastel green, black, and gray. The leatherette feature comes in two color choices ?beige and black.

The BMW X5 also offers packages for those people who would like to upgrade and spruce up their sport activity vehicles. The sport package contains a sport steering wheel, a sport suspension, door handles that are painted in the vehicle’s exterior paint color, upgraded 18 inch wheels made of alloy, anthracite headliner, white indicator lenses, a shadowline trim, a black chrome exhaust, and a titanium-colored grill. The cold weather package features a ski bag, heated front seats, and headlight washers. For the rear climate package, the list of the features includes rear door sunblinds, rear climate controls, and a privacy glass. The premium package, meanwhile, adds up body colored door handles, a power glass moonroof, light wood trim, power front seats, rear seat back adjustments, a rain sensor, an automatic air conditioning, an on-board computer, and leather upholstery.

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16 August

Beneath the Volvo 940

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In the United States and the rest of North America, the Volvo 940 made its way to public knowledge as a 1991 model. This series of vehicles were in essence just a style and design makeover of the Volvo 740. People claimed this was so because the drivetrains one found on the Volvo 940 is also what the Volvo 740 used.
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The Volvo 940 is a part of the Swedish car maker’s line up of vehicles. Fact is, this vehicle is one of the last of the large rear wheel drive cars that is produced under the Volvo brand and name. In the United States and the rest of North America, the Volvo 940 made its way to public knowledge as a 1991 model. This series of vehicles were in essence just a style and design makeover of the Volvo 740. People claimed this was so because the drivetrains one found on the Volvo 940 is also what the Volvo 740 used. But not only that, for the Volvo 940 also has most features that the older vehicle had.

The sharing of components part was what led people to think that the Volvo 940 was just another Volvo 740. In fact, the Volvo 940 held the same dashboard, and the same choices for its drivetrain. Also the same was the sheetmetal from the A pillar forward. But of course, there were changes and distinctions between the two. If one would look at the brighter side of these two cars, he would be able to see that the Volvo 940 is more updated and was the car that underwent evolution.

This vehicle model from Volvo was made available in body styles that comprise of the sedan (salon), and the wagon (estate). The last of its kind rolled off the manufacturing plants in the year 1998. Going back to its humble beginnings, the Volvo 940 was actually introduced to the public along with its sibling, the Volvo 960. Both of these vehicles held seen petrol engines with four cylinders. There was also the optional turbocharged engine as well as the turbo diesel engine with six cylinders. And just like any other Volvo vehicle, the Volvo 940 came packed with safety features. The collection of safety features included a three-point inertia-reel seat belt, an adjustable head restraint in the middle of the rear seat, and an integrated child seat built into the rear sear’s middle armrest. The adjustable head restraint was actually a precursor to the world’s first. This leaps done by Volvo with the Volvo 940 as per safety was recognized well enough. And for that, Volvo received international awards that included the “Prince Michael Road Safety Award?as well as the prize for the best safety features from Auto Car and Motor.

14 August

2006 Buick Lucerne: Return of the V8

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Changes within General Motors has the world’s number one automaker repositioning the Buick brand. The result is several all new models, including the Lucerne, a car that replaces the aging Park Avenue.
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The venerable Buick Park Avenue is no more, having been replaced by the all new Buick Lucerne, a down market version of the Cadillac DTS. With a 275-hp Northstar V8 engine, the Lucerne becomes the first Buick car in nearly ten years to arrive equipped with a V8. The entire Buick line up is in the process of being overhauled, so let’s take a look at this make’s newest flagship and see how it plays a part in GM’s overall strategy.

If you are a fan of the Buick brand you have witnessed your fair share of changes over the past five years. Gone are the Park Avenue, LeSabre, Century, and Regal, and in its place are the Rendezvous, the Rainier, LaCrosse, Terrazza, and the Lucerne. All the changes are the result of General Motors?broad realignment strategy in the wake of retiring the Oldsmobile brand, lifting Saturn into the fold, and setting strategy to compete against the nonstop onslaught of foreign brands including Toyota, Lexus, Nissan, and Infiniti.

One look at the Buick and you will notice a strong resemblance to the Cadillac DTS. The Buick’s oval grille sets it apart from the Cadillac’s firm nose, but a cursory examination of the body lines tells you that these cars are in fact twins. In the past, Buicks were essentially “stripped down?versions of Cadillacs, while Oldsmobile and Pontiac were more luxurious or sportier versions of Chevrolet models. Clearly, GM is repositioning Buick to have a more distinct “near luxury?look without stepping on Cadillac’s toes, while giving the Buick division a much needed replacement for the aging Park Avenue.

For the car shopper, the Lucerne is value priced, arriving at in showrooms at just under 27K. With a standard 3.8 V6, the automaker can claim decent fuel mileage of 19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. In these days of hyped up gas prices, favorable fuel economy is a keen marketing tool, but expect many buyers to opt for the ultra powerful Northstar V8 instead. Why? Because, if they want to purchase a Buick, they likely will want the power to go along with the luxury. It remains to be seen how well the V6 operates in a car that is 203 inches long and weighing in at nearly two tons.

Standard equipment for the Lucerne includes the following: power windows, door locks, and mirrors; side curtain air bags for the front seat; theft deterrent system; OnStar; keyless entry; and more.

The optional equipment list is expansive and can easily drive the starting price of the top of the line CSX to over K. For that price you receive heated power seats with lumbar support; a memory package that adjusts the seats, mirrors, radio, and climate control to each driver’s specifications; sport leather steering wheel with built in controls; and more.

A fully loaded Lucerne is still several thousand dollars less than the DTS, making the Lucerne a value leader in the luxury car category. Still, Buick has its work cut out for it as competition from foreign brands including Acura, BMW, and Lexus continue to hammer away at GM’s “near luxury?division. Fortunately, quality levels for all Buicks remain very high so combining that level of success with a strong price may help the Lucerne compete admirably.