Who Knew? Buick Having A Hard Time Keeping Up With Demand For Upscale Avenir Brand

The Enclave Avenir is a surprisingly nice product - it deserves to do well.

VW should take a page out of this playbook and produce a tarted-up, really fancy version of the Atlas SUV with a better color selection and much fancier leather interoir.

VW should consider making "Phantom" or "Luxus" their fancy designation - VW could call the fancy version the VW Pilot Phantom or the VW Pilot Luxus and if they can charge $60,000 for it but have it be as luxurious as the GLS450 they would have a winner on their hands. Even better, VW should put a bigger engine in that version.

I think other carmakers are still trying to process the fact that GM's larger CUV's are doing well. Throw in the pricer, nicer Avenir trim...a la Denali...you have a healthy boost in transaction prices - without the expenses to support a new model in the lineup overall.

Let's just say GM is very competitive with discounts. They aren't fire sale great, but getting 10% off is child's play. The new full-sized crossovers are pretty good. I cannot wait to see the new Explorer. I wonder what's taking so long? LOL

SInce it has already been established that the incentives that GM offers on its products are actually slightly lower than those of competitive models - the fact is - YOU can get 10% off the list price of virtually ANY vehicle out there with only a few exception - and it is not unusual for Hyundai to offer 25% off theirs. At one time - the MSRP was actually closer to an actual selling price by the dealer - today I am sure that they automatically include "incentives" when figuring out the MSRP - making it meaningless.

What GM is showing is that the combination of a HUGE group of COMPETITIVE dealers - and the ability of GM and those dealers to Market their cars - is simply - and pretty much has been for a long time - among its best assets. FORD - with its huge Network of FORD dealers shows the same with its Trucks - I am wondering why its cars did not sell - though. It shows that making cars that simply are packaged for the European market in the USA is not a slam dunk.

Local to me - we actually have TWO very large Buick dealers - family owned for a long time - among the largest sellers in the state even if they Physically are much smaller than the "Mall" stores - and offering a good relationship with their customers. And before his malady - MATT would have known that Buick still resonates with a group of consumers - looking for a better than entry level experience - but not enamoured by the Offerings of Cadillac and Lincoln. When you compare the LaCrosse Avenir to the Cadillac XTS - they are actually similar vehicles - based on the same platform - but the Avenir offers similar experience for quite a bit less money. For those who still associate the Buick as being the "DOCTORS" car - and prefer buying from an American Company - that is simply a built in audience.

Once again Mr. Aricept completely missed the point.

wow they sold all 4 Avenir's they produced. who says old people arn't brand loyal.

indeed. Who's buying them? Buick sales locally are horrible and we have LOTS of old-school American old people LOL

I can't remember the last time I saw a Buick on the road in this country.

lots in China, i still fume over the dropping of Pontiac to favor Buick because... China

Occasionally I see an Enslave, but that's rare.

carlos wrote: I can't remember the last time I saw a Buick on the road in this country.

All you see is Tesla's. Look hard and you will see them stockpiled in California. No, your eyes are not playing tricks on you.

carlos wrote: I can't remember the last time I saw a Buick on the road in this country.

All you see is Tesla's. Look hard and you will see them stockpiled in California. No, your eyes are not playing tricks on you.
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Try to stay on topic.

Around here I see a lot of MBs, BMWs, Audis, yes Teslas, Range Rovers, some exotics, a handful of Maseratis, some Alfa Romeos, lots of Hondas, Toyotas, Mazdas, Subarus, Volvos, Chevys, Fords, etc. But no Buicks.

Carlos, this is a rare moment when I agree with your assessment.