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The 2004 Buick Rainier is the vehicle the famed golfer touts in
television commercials
2005 Buick LaCrosse CXS
Sitting on the powered leather driver's seat (standard) of the CXS, however,
it occurred to me that there is everything and more than you'd expect in a
midsize sedan. The steering wheel offers tilt and telescoping. Magnasteer
variable-assist steering. The vanity mirrors both have lights. Power locks and
windows. An array of buttons across the middle of the center console that allows
you to check all manner of fuel efficiency and functions (with the messages
appearing in the center gauge). There is traction control. The exterior, while
too derivative of a Ford Taurus of the generation before the current one, is
sufficiently non-disturbing so as to be okay in its way. There is a 3.6-liter V6
with variable valve timing that provides 240 hp and 225 lb.-ft. of torque which
is sufficient to move the vehicle around in a responsive manner (no
head-snapping in a Buick).
And the options that are loaded on the vehicle as-driven—all $3,755 of
them—really made this car seem like it had lots of stuff. Consider the leather
wrapped steering wheel that not only has audio controls, but temperature
controls, as well. That is a good thing. The passenger's seat gets power, too.
There's rear park assist (you can see three lights when you look into the
optimal auto-dimming rearview mirror), which strikes me as being the sort of
thing that is a consequence of spreadsheet thinking more than practical value. I
mean, the vehicle has a length of 198.1 in., which is long, but it's not like
you're commanding a freighter. The 17-in. aluminum wheels get covered with
bright chrome (for $650), which is a nice look when tied into separate
"chrome appearance package" ($295) that puts chrome-color inserts into
the bodyside molding and fascias (wouldn't you think that the whole chrome thing
would be wrapped together?). Still, while the $32,750 vehicle seemed to have
about everything someone would want (and things that someone wouldn't want, like
the extensive use of plastic wood trim on the interior that looks remarkably
unrealistic), I got the feeling that there was something missing. I don't know
wh
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