Buick LaCrosse

Let’s keep this introduction quick and easy. If you are looking for a well-built, gorgeous luxury sedan, and you’re ready to buy a Lexus..you might be ready to pay too much. Meet the Buick LaCrosse.

As near-death experiences go, General Motors was probably in the tunnel looking at the light when it was pulled back from the brink. That will put the fear of eternity into you, and the new products from the General’s stable seem to indicate, they get it. That’s because they are world class. I know, I know, they always say they are, but this time, they’re right.

Start with the shape, I mean, look at this thing for crying out loud.

Take off the badges and this car could be from one of the Japanese luxury houses or pass for an entry-level Mercedes. It is sharp, clean and so well screwed together, you’ll probably get out and double-check that badge just to make sure you are driving what used to be considered the official ground transportation for the A.A.R.P.

And inside, it is nothing short of a revelation. Graceful shapes and tight assembly is the order of the day. Real stitching on the dash and door panels is matched by lovely wood and the whole effect is of a vehicle that by all rights ought to cost north of 40-K.

But our top of the line CXS is a hair short of $34,000 and for that you get the smooth, 3.6-liter direct injection V6 with its 280-horsepower.

That will take this silver bullet to 60 miles per hour in 6.7 seconds. Just a few years ago, that was sports car territory. Handling is tight and the car is well planted, but won’t disturb that A.A.R.P. buyer who still wants a Buick.

And that’s the Buick LaCrosse. A lot of people have said, if America could build a car as good as any in the world, I’d buy it. Well, for those folks, the ball’s in your court.