Hmm...trade a Buick for a Buick? [Archive]

GS8

10-15-2013, 05:30 PM

Have a 15 year old Supercharged Regal GS that I was planning to build into a sleeper through the winter months. It's a clean one owner no accident car with 74,000 orig. km.

Browsing online ads today and came across a 2008 Buick Allure SUPER with the LS4 V8. 303hp & 330 lb/ft torque. 0-60 in 5.7 sec. Completely sleeper look. It has 98,000 orig. km

Two fun facts:

They only made about 2500 units in 2 years.

It's priced more like a V6 since the dealer doesn't seem to know they came with a V8. It's priced $3k under black book.

The transmission is the weak spot (same one as in my GS) but I'm thinking a trans cooler and a tune can help to minimize its need to overheat.

So I'm wondering if I should trade in my GS for the Super. The Super is 1 sec faster than my GS stock for stock but there's more aftermarket support for the GS. The Super just sounds good and has some aftermarket support including a turbo kit :ahwow:

So basically it comes down to fast and moddable FI 6cyl car or a rare and powerful V8 car. I'm conflicted and was wondering what you guys would do?

Footnote: I know both cars look homely as shit but that's the whole point. My G8 has the looks so I want something more stealthy to fuck with people.

Reference video on the Super:

2008 Buick LaCrosse Super (5.3L V8) Start Up, Exhaust, and In Depth Review - YouTube

Thanks

multicartual

10-15-2013, 05:52 PM

I think with some wheels that car would look great!

Personally I'd go with the LS package, get some wheels, maybe do the suspension, keep the power pretty stock until you know how to drive the car better

multicartual

10-15-2013, 05:53 PM

Just noticed it's FWD, damn

twitchyzero

10-15-2013, 05:57 PM

those faux fender vents just sealed the deal :ilied:

GS8

10-15-2013, 06:10 PM

those faux fender vents just sealed the deal :ilied:

They're not fender vents, they're port holes which were used (historically) to signify what was under the hood. In this case, there are 8.

kluk

10-15-2013, 06:18 PM

the first 4 seconds felt like a scene of breaking bad. Oh I will that show..

Holeshot

10-15-2013, 06:21 PM

Torque steer!!!!!!
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kunoman1

10-15-2013, 06:32 PM

There's no replacement for displacement

GS8

10-15-2013, 07:02 PM

Torque steer!!!!!!

Not really. I was surprised how little it squirmed when I floored it off a light. Definitely seen worse. I mean there are many cars, including tuners, pushing high horsepower to the front wheels. Just depends on what you want to do with that power.

meme405

10-15-2013, 09:03 PM

300+ HP and TQ through the front wheels trying to drag a decently heavy car behind it... Thats the difference between this and those tuners, a civic weighs a lot less compared to the buick.

Seems like a recipe for disaster...

jpark

10-16-2013, 10:36 AM

Those buicks remind me of hoodlums in Texas chopped and screwin on daytons with sparetire on the trunk

white rocket

10-16-2013, 10:58 AM

I guess it depends on the price difference between your current and the Super. That factor would help a great deal in terms of advice from us. I dig on the V8 action and it looks more luxurious.

Don't get too excited about current BB pricing; that book is a rough guide at best and the Buick product line is known to sell for under value due to it's lack of popularity.

Phil@rise

10-16-2013, 11:00 AM

Gucci Mane

10-16-2013, 11:38 AM

these fwd v8 cars from gm are such a fail. mercury marauder over the lacrosse super all day everyday.

keep the gs. ive always liked those cars for some reason.

The_AK

10-16-2013, 12:45 PM

stopped reading after buick, power is one thing but are these actually enjoyable to drive?

Those buicks remind me of hoodlums in Texas chopped and screwin on daytons with sparetire on the trunk

http://hotroddicus.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/img_3398.jpg

Mr.C

10-16-2013, 02:12 PM

I'd rock it.

GS8

10-16-2013, 02:48 PM

Id do the swap. Theres plenty of aftermarket support for LS archetecture. Plus its more power without even being force fed. The LS is also a very happy engine under boost. Yes the weak point of the car is the trans but I'll assume its probably not to different from a caddy trans. Keep it cool speed up the shift points and it'll last alot longer. Put a fan on the trans cooler to tho. They dont do much to keep a trans cool when airs not flowing thru them. IE burnouts.... yes you will be doing plenty do try to fool yourself.

Thanks for the post :)

Guys, this isn't a balls out performance car. It's more oriented for street / show with some strip in between (to put scrubs in their place).

Both handle great for their size and the GS has aftermarket suspension for it to make it track worthy.

There's something about sleepers that get my pecker all knotted up.

Manic!

10-16-2013, 03:04 PM

FYI: If you post about your car online it's not a sleeper.

GS8

10-16-2013, 03:11 PM

Touche :troll:

thumper

10-17-2013, 10:04 AM

eek. i hope that allure dosen't handle like this buick...

Riverhead Raceway Spectator Drag Crash - YouTube

GS8

10-17-2013, 12:17 PM

^ That's a Buick Park Avenue which rides on a stretched platform of my GS. Handling is on the weak side (tuned for comfort) and it has bicycle tires.

Looks like he tried to prematurely accelerate through that turn. Driver fail moreso than car fail.

The Allure Super rides on Billstiens and is more aggressively tuned. Not overly aggressive but enough to inspire confidence behind the wheel as it balances sport and comfort.

The team who build this car is the same team who built the Cadillac V series cars. They just didn't have much to work with in the former case.

thumper

10-17-2013, 05:06 PM

is this it?

2008 Buick Allure ALLURE-SUPER Sedan (http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/bnc/ctd/4063543766.html)

maybe i'll go for test drive before i give you my opinion. what's the best rpm for launching off the line? :D

GS8

10-17-2013, 05:31 PM

I test drove it about a week ago. Let's just say the tires will squeel off the line if you're a whee hard on the gas. I couldn't go for a real test drive because the salesmen (who looked 85) might have had a legit heart attack :okay:

too_slow

10-17-2013, 05:35 PM

I have a soft spot for the 2000/2001 Regals because my friend in HS had one. He peels out at every traffic light, and the sound system was pretty amazing from what I had remembered. I'm not sure what he did to his car, but it destroyed a Prelude Type SH (the stupid things ppl do when they just got their N)

Geoc

10-17-2013, 05:37 PM

My friend had one of these, the dials and knobs have chipped paint and the plastic trim paint is also chipping. Not GM's best work imo

GS8

10-17-2013, 05:57 PM

One of those pre-bailout cars, no doubt. Some people in the US were having warranty issues after the bailout because some dealerships were not honouring warranties under the 'Old GM' :seriously:

jlenko

10-17-2013, 06:02 PM

I'm a big GM fan.. but not the Allure. Your GS is much classier looking, but if that's your reasoning for the sleeper then I guess go for it?

I stuffed an L67 into my Cavalier... not as great a sleeper, as the 3" exhaust is a little barky.. but the idea is there. I was going to go with the LS4 but it meant tubing out the front. I'm still hunting for a nice condition Fiero to dump the LS4 into tho.

If you really want the LS4, then swap one in your GS! It'll fit easier in yours than mine.

GS8

10-17-2013, 06:40 PM

Yeah I've been told to just drop the LS4 into the GS since it doesn't weigh a whole lot anyway. Apparently if you want to install the $5000 turbo kit, you need to install the $4000 transmission to use that power.

But since the GS was born with boost, I gotta keep it that way. Just debating between monthly payments vs. mod money. Either way, I'm bled so which one do I bleed for? Allure is 1 of 2500 total made and the GS is a mint condition queen. Mods will be clean and tasteful. Want to pulley down so need to install the correct mods (already made a list). Both can be future collectibles but who knows.

Timpo

10-17-2013, 07:19 PM

Just noticed it's FWD, damn

:okay:

Timpo

10-17-2013, 07:28 PM

Don't do it. It doesn't matter if it's got V8. Those Buicks handle horribly and it really isn't performance oriented.
You'll probably feel like driving a boat.
If you wanna stick to GM, save some money and get a better option.

Cadillac CTS-V
http://www.roadfly.com/new-cars/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/cadillac-cts-v-testing-nurburgring.jpg

Pontiac G8
http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18riukwdo31v6jpg/ku-xlarge.jpg

If you really wanna stick to Buick, get a newer gen Regal.
Although I'm not familiar with this car, apparently GM refined the suspension by quite a bit.

http://image.motortrend.com/f/roadtests/sedans/1004_2011_buick_regal_us_spec_drive/33209202+w799+h499+cr1+ar0/2011-buick-regal-on-nurburgring-group-photo.jpg

Lomac

10-17-2013, 07:55 PM

http://images.craigslist.org/00606_6iRaPFsor7T_600x450.jpg

Man, they couldn't even properly colour match the interior. Three different shades of beige on the centre stack alone.

I'm allowed to diss GM. I owned a '99 Oldsmobile Alero back in the day. :p

Shorn

10-17-2013, 08:16 PM

Just find it kind of weird that the whole point of you buying these cars is to 'fuck' with people, as noted in this thread and the other sleeper thread.
Seems a little immature to me but hey whatever floats your boat. Reminds me of those people that buy crown vics and pretends that they're cops.

But I'd choose to stick with your old car. Since 240hp from a 3.8 FI seems pretty low and I'm sure it can be tuned to be faster than the v8..a g35 makes more than that NA with 0.3 liters less.
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Lomac

10-17-2013, 08:26 PM

Shorn

10-17-2013, 09:00 PM

But the LS4 in the Allure makes a ton more torque over the VQ. Pro's and cons.

I was comparing the VQ against the 3.8 supercharged in the GS, not allure.
VQ is around 280hp 270tq give or take and I think the GS is 240hp 280tq

Of course the technology in the Nissan is almost 10 years newer but just saying..

Lomac

10-17-2013, 09:29 PM

I was comparing the VQ against the 3.8 supercharged in the GS, not allure.
VQ is around 280hp 270tq give or take and I think the GS is 240hp 280tq

Of course the technology in the Nissan is almost 10 years newer but just saying..

Oh, whoops. I completely misread your post. :lol

My bad. :okay:

GS8

10-17-2013, 10:48 PM

The pic quality is terrible. The main centre stack is actually silver.

240hp stock is very low. These cars are restricted as hell from the factory. The PCM is also overly aggressive with timing so a tune is paramount to avoid detonation and potential piston chipping.

As for fucking with people, I say that so people know what I mean. I don't intentionally go after people to fuck with. I let them fuck with me first and believe me, they do. Not about to jeopardize my clean driving record to pull stupid shit. Just some fun here and there. Don't act like you never did it.

Comparing me to a fake cop crown vic owner is a low blow though :okay:

TIMPO: My other car is a G8, lol

Timpo

10-17-2013, 11:09 PM

TIMPO: My other car is a G8, lol
what the shit, son :okay:

ok I think you should get an LS7 Solstice

http://image.hotrod.com/f/thehistoryof/9291999+w799+h499+cr1+ar0/hrdp_0704_07_z%2BGM_performance_division%2Bhot_rod _LS7_solstice.jpg
http://image.hotrod.com/f/projectbuild/8944625+w799+h499+cr1+ar0/hrdp_0607_03_z%2Bv8_pontiac_solstice_road_test%2BL S7_Gen_IV_small_block.jpg

GS8

10-17-2013, 11:12 PM

Solstice is too much for me }:

Want to build something on a budget. My G8 gets me stares, glares and pussy flares.

I want something that blends in but can walk and talk with the best of them.

2 cars, 2 different goals. I guess I'm a car guy?

Timpo

10-17-2013, 11:40 PM

Then get a Chevrolet MW from Japan.
It's a 2000 model so you can wait til 2015 to import one. (if you can wait for couple years?)

http://www.carsensor.net/CSphoto/cat/CH/S002/CH_S002_F001_M004_1_L.jpg

Timpo

10-17-2013, 11:58 PM

ohh yeah better idea, get a Camaro and covert it into something else.
You'll have a unique daily driver :)

Pontiac GTO
http://image.highperformancepontiac.com/f/features/1306_2014_gto_commercial_teaser/48681958/1306-2014-gto-commercial-teaser-the-judge.jpg
http://image.highperformancepontiac.com/f/features/1306_2014_gto_commercial_teaser/48681955/1306-2014-gto-commercial-teaser-gto-and-mustang-exterior.jpg

Pontiac Firebird
http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr349/ndubs77/Michigan%20Stuff/IMG_6169.jpg
http://www.auctionsamerica.com/images/lots/FL11/FL11_r331_01.jpg

Pontiac Tran Am
http://maxspeedcarrera.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/ab-trans-am-2010-lingenfelter.jpg
http://allgentransams.com/fifth_generation_trans_ams/images/ASC_2010_concept_t_a_1.jpg
http://carguideblog.com/wp-content/uploads/HPP-TransAm-Camaro-conversion-1.jpg

jlenko

10-18-2013, 12:55 PM

Typical Timpo... not listening.

I'd stick with the GS, gen the Gen V blower (if you want to stick to the s/c option... turbo is much more fun... but you're right about the transmission..), do the typical bolt-on mods (LS1 TB, LQ4 MAF, intercooler, etc) throw some nitrous at it, and you're done.

kunoman1

10-18-2013, 12:59 PM

Just find it kind of weird that the whole point of you buying these cars is to 'fuck' with people, as noted in this thread and the other sleeper thread.
Seems a little immature to me but hey whatever floats your boat. Reminds me of those people that buy crown vics and pretends that they're cops.
/i][/size]

LOL I've always wanted to get a crown vic with the ram on the bumper and slam it to the ground. Cops would be so confused if I was one of their own

thumper

10-18-2013, 01:44 PM

LOL I've always wanted to get a crown vic with the ram on the bumper and slam it to the ground. Cops would be so confused if I was one of their own

CROWN VIC HITTIN SWITCHES...2010 - YouTube

Shorn

10-19-2013, 12:57 AM

actually maybe you should just get a ex-police crown vic and turbo that instead..

it would actually be pretty cool. and certainly sleeper since those cars are a bit of a pig.. but probably defeats your purpose since nobody will want to rip you at streetlights :lol

Klondike

10-19-2013, 06:24 PM

http://youtu.be/EUrfIW4zQmM?t=8m36s
Here's a sleeper Regal. Not bad.
Skip to around 8:45

GS8

10-19-2013, 06:44 PM

Yeah that video has created some controversy in the GS community. No doubt a fast car but the way the story is told is too sensationalist for my liking. These cars can be a bitch to tune especially if low quality parts are used. Since these cars are old, they can be picked up for cheap and people throw cheap parts, pulley down and think they're unstoppable.

:seriously:

One of my biggest reasons to not extensively mod a car is resale. I know guys in the G8 community who will throw on a Maggie, big cam, headers, the works and when they want to sell, price the car at a clear loss (severely undercutting FMV for a stock unit with similar mileage). Even if the car makes 500whp, nobody wants to pay $30k for something that is technically a mixed bag of parts thrown under a hood.

Whichever car I choose, I have to keep. Modding the Allure won't be anywhere near the effort as the GS. My GS is almost museum quality I shit you not. The joys of buying from old people.

dared3vil0

10-19-2013, 07:19 PM

In that video he claims he has "doubled the hp) so that would make 480, yet he BARELY pulls on a new edge GT. There's not way in hell he makes almost 500.

Klondike

10-19-2013, 11:18 PM

Everything's explained in his bonus commentarybonus commentary
He dun goof'd but at least he knows.

GS8

10-23-2013, 04:22 PM

So I found that today is the 40th anniversary of the Buick Regal :fullofwin:

Also, I found out that I might be losing my job :okay:

I'll have to give up my G8 in this case due to the finance. Could trade THAT for the Super and be done with everything :badpokerface: