Consumers
apparently were not waiting for the latest Consumer Report on what
vehicles to purchase. According to Don Hammonds of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the new full-sized Buick
Lucerne, which replaces the LeSabre and the Park Avenue; and Ford's new mid-sized Fusion, one of two replacements for
the Taurus (the other being the Five Hundred), are proving to be strong sellers for their respective automakers. Sales of the Lucerne, for example, went from a paltry 285 in October to 2,724 in November and over 6,000 in January and 7,327 last month. And the Fusion had over 5% market share among the mid-sized sedans last month, as well.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Mick @ Mar 3rd 2006 6:03PM
The man writes for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette! Have you ever driven in Pittsburgh? The roads are bad enough to knock the treads off a Sherman tank. You have to have something the size of a Buick just to stand a fighting chance in Western Pennsylvania. They cold turn the whole (pun noticed but not intended) into an armored vehicle test range.
Domestics Suck @ Mar 3rd 2006 6:09PM
Just wait till the 2007 Camry hits the streets. It will crush the sales of these "cars"
iQuack @ Mar 3rd 2006 6:11PM
That's good news.
It would be helpful to know what percentage of Lucernes and Fusions/Zephyrs were fleet cars.
Most of the ones I see around here have bar codes on their windows indicating that they're rental cars.
Jeremy @ Mar 3rd 2006 6:11PM
I'm a mechanic at a buick dealer and i gotta tell ya..they're just as nice to drive than look at! I prefer the 3800 V-6 to the Northstar but that's personal choice. And they don't even feel that big or handle like they're big. I am really glad that people are getting past the buick image and checking them out.
Jeremy @ Mar 3rd 2006 6:15PM
Why is it every time that something good is said about the domestics someone gets on here and starts the bashing? These are beautiful cars. As far as quality goes it depends on who you talk to. All I have to say is get past your prejudices and check out the Lucerne..you might be surprised....
Ed @ Mar 3rd 2006 6:15PM
While I have a sneaking suspicion that the sales will plummet when the new Camry comes out, I'm glad the Big Two are having SOME success - any success at all - in passenger cars. Good for them. It seems like a decade since either had a competitive entry in that market. The fusion is pretty cool.
Shifty @ Mar 3rd 2006 6:27PM
why do you guys think the new camry will be such a big hit, ive read a few reviews and they all basically say its about the same as before, still boring, bland, but a reputation for reliability. so i dont see how the new camry would cause sales of these two to plummet. personally when the 2007 fusion with the 3.5 and AWD is out i can see camry sales dropping.
also, ford is unleashing taurus's to fleets like woah, not fusions, they need to get dealers stocked with fusions before they start thinking about fleet sales.
max @ Mar 3rd 2006 6:29PM
"Most of the ones I see around here have bar codes on their windows indicating that they're rental cars."
Dude, you know that some toll booths use bar codes too right ?!?
Richard Warren @ Mar 3rd 2006 6:35PM
That's funny about the Lucerne-dairy thought.
There is of course anothe Lucerne, it's in Switzerland and it's beautiful. In fact it's so beautiful I rtrun every few years and I have a 7 foot long framed photograph I took on a trip there in my office.
But I digress, the Luceren is actually a very nice car and yes it is nicer in person than in pictures.
#5 says it well, the one I've driven (a friends) does not feel like a large car and it handles pretty well even when pushed, soft but not bad at all.
I agree also with #6's take
I don't think the new ugly Camry will have much effect on this, two very different cars and markets.
Good for Buick
samuel @ Mar 3rd 2006 6:37PM
#4, I don't know the specific fleet numbers for the Lucerne, but I do know that the Lucerne's retail sales were far higher than the LeSabres retail sales for the same period last year.
Jas @ Mar 3rd 2006 6:37PM
I'm with you jeremy.They probably hate there mother too!! I like my American cars and will keep buying.It is funny how people tell you how to spend your money.
Michael @ Mar 3rd 2006 6:38PM
Just wait till the 2007 Toyota Camry comes out. It will crush the sales of both the Fusion and the Lucerne. The redesigned Toyota Avalon is a much better car than the Lucerne, in my opinion. Neither the Lucerne nor especially the Fusion have things to bragg about. I prefer the Lucerne over the Fusion. Nothing good about the Fusion... period. But Buick... its ok.
Justin @ Mar 3rd 2006 6:38PM
The Fusion has 5% market share... WOW man WOW. So I guess Avis is replacing their Taurus fleet?
At the rate quoted in this article, GM is going to sell 87,000 Lucernes in 2006. WOW impressive. That only 345,000 short of how many Camrys toyota sold last year. In other words the Toyota Camry outsells the Lucerne by 5 TO 1. Thats PATHETIC! I love how you guys inserted the buick lucerne ad into this post. I think "Watch your back, Toyota" is a bit optimistic to say the least.
How much is GM paying you guys to post this story besides the ad revenue?
Gunnar Heinrich @ Mar 3rd 2006 6:46PM
Finally, some success stories for Ford and GM to pedal. At last. Some of us are tired of hearing how good Toyota has it.
Speaking of GM, I like their new Chevy Tahoe.
http://automobilesdeluxe.blogspot.com/2006/03/fortune-takes-shot-at-gm.html
Lucerne Lobbyist @ Mar 3rd 2006 6:53PM
My parents purchased a new Lucerne in February. They were recent Park Avenue customers.
I think the new Lucerne is an A-/B+ effort and that GM should be acknowledged for bringing out such a terrific vehicle. It is light years ahead of previous product and I think, with a few exceptions, it is extremely competent within its competitive set.
It is beautifully screwed together and very well engineered. The interior is tasteful and very modern. The ride is A+, acquiting itself of bumps extremely well and yet is somewhat sporty (not mushy like the Park or LeSabre).
I'd like to see the 3.6 DOHC V-6 and a 6-speed automatic . . . then the vehicle would be a winner. I imagine that that might happen in 2008 when the refresh comes.
iQuack @ Mar 3rd 2006 6:58PM
"Dude, you know that some toll booths use bar codes too right ?!?"
Well, not bar codes on rear side windows in San Francisco area.
Our FasTrak system for all local toll bridges uses a transponder that's placed on the windshield.
Barcode on a rear side window = rental car here.
Josh @ Mar 3rd 2006 7:12PM
How many of these "sales" were to rental car fleets?
jf @ Mar 3rd 2006 7:15PM
Just a quick comment for #13 (Justin)...stop comparing a toyota camry to a buick lucerne. they are both in different classes. the lucerne is a full size luxury sedan. the camry is a midsize sedan. however the fusion is also a midsize sedan (that is a fair comparision). so consequently there have always been a larger market for the midsize when compared to the full size/luxury. The midsize is for the common everyday person.
Adrian @ Mar 3rd 2006 7:23PM
#16, that's right. Same here in LA. We use transponders for the only toll road in southern California. I have seen a couple of Lucerne's around and they've all sported that bar code on the rear door... (including the one that's been parked on my street for a week or so.
Perhaps these cars are silling better in middle america than on the coasts?
I can say that 90% of new Malibus, Cobalts, Buicks, Tauruses around LA have barcodes on them. The Fusion seems like the first ford Midsize car in a while that people in LA might actually want to buy.... but even now, you see 10 redesigned Accords for every 1 Ford Fusion on the road.
Justin @ Mar 3rd 2006 7:38PM
jf
Hate to burst your bubble but click on the buick ad on this very same page. It comapres the lucerne with the camry. So at least GM thinks they are comperable.