Look here for how all this started ----> http://pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=25206

We ended up picking it up earlier around 7pm. Got a few pictures when we got it home. It was storming so bad at the dealership and around here I could only get a few crappy night pictures before pulling it in the garage. It's a 2007 Buick Lucerne CXS and it's fully loaded with 42,000mi. Guess how much we paid! I think we paid a fair price. I'll chime back in with the price tomorrow. But here are some more pics till i can get some better ones when Dad lets me take it for a cruise on Thursday. Let me know what you think...








Mom's 05 Buick Terraza in the background






Northstar 4.6 V8


Navigation, Harmon/Kardon Radio, Heated/Cooled Seats and Steering Wheel


By the way this car is flawless. Only thing is 1 small stone chip.

_________________
I'm backkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!

Nice! I like the interior on those better than that year of LaCrosse, but I love the LS4 way more, LOL.

Oh, my guess for price is $12,500.

_________________
Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

Thanks! As much as I like the LS4 power wise the Northstar is just so smooth, I'm sure your Dad will agree. As he has a Northstar too. And a little bit more then that, these cars are quite rare around here. Only CXS within 150 miles of my house.

_________________
I'm backkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!

Northstar has its benefits, but it has definite draw-backs. This is the first and last we'll probably ever own.

_________________
Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

Join the Northstar club It's a fantastic feeling powertrain. Keep up on your coolant changes!

_________________

Jerry /// Past: 95 SSEi (June 2010 COTM) -- 04 GXP (July 2011 COTM)
91 Honda Civic Wagon DX 2WD (fuelly) -- 208,000km -- 92hp -- Autocross Warrior
09 Lexus LS460 AWD -- 94,000km -- Daily Driver
09 White Hot G8 GT -- 155,000km (fuelly) -- LS3 Cam -- GM LS3 CNC Ported Heads -- Kooks 1 3/4" Long Tube Headers -- Solo Catback Midsection -- Hooker Maxflow Mufflers -- Pat G Tune -- Rotofab Intake -- Tein S-Tech Springs -- GXP FE3 Dampers -- BMR Subframe Cradle Inserts -- BMR Subframe Connectors -- Forgestar F14 Gold 18x9 +40 -- Michelin Pilot Super Sport 245/45/18 -- Maverick Man Carbon Fiber Spoiler

Nice ride! My parents have a 08 CXL, with the Series III 3800. It is a solid car. Your's has way more options than theirs though, they have the basic radio, no chrome grill, etc.

The CXS must be a step up from the CXL? I'm not real familiar with the trim level on Lucernes

_________________
-Tom

2003 Silverado Ext. Cab - Charcoal - 128,000 miles - Stock...for now.
2000 SSEi - Gone, but not forgotten.

Yup, CXL is base, CSX is mid level and Super is the highest. A majority of CXS's had the N*, even though it was the optional engine.

_________________
Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

Actually, IIRC the CX is the base, the CXL is the mid-level and the CXS is the up-level, until the super was released which replaced? the CXS, there may have been some overlap on that one though. The CXL was available with the N* as an option too from what I remember, But I believe the Northstar was the standard engine for the CXS.

_________________
Will
88 Cutlass Ciera Brougham International | 120k mi | White w/ Dk Claret Int. | Roller to be S2 L67/4T65E-HD | 1 of ~5100 3.8 FE3 Int'l series
91 Riviera | S2 L67 Swap/4T60E | 127K mi | Antelope Met. w/ Tan Int. | Saved From Death By Crusher
92 Bonneville SSE | L67/4T60E | 77K mi | Med Slate Grey w/ Two-Tone Grey Int. | Low Miles Time Capsule
92 Lumina Z34 | LQ1/4T60E | 177k mi | Torch Red w/Grey Int. | Rusty In Odd Spots
99 Tahoe LT | L31/4L65E | 276k mi | Spiral Grey Metallic w/Grey Int. | Truck for Truck Things and Portable Concert Hall
03 Park Avenue Ultra | 212K mi | White Diamond Met. w/ Shale Int. | Southern Time Capsule
05 Acura RL | 155K mi | Carbon Grey Pearl w/Ebony Int. | The Super-Hooptie Daily

That sounds more familiar, their CXL definitely isn't a base car, and I know they test drove a CXL with the N*.

_________________
-Tom

2003 Silverado Ext. Cab - Charcoal - 128,000 miles - Stock...for now.
2000 SSEi - Gone, but not forgotten.

Thanks! And my father and I don't have much knowledge on these engines so any tips you might have woul be great!

_________________
I'm backkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!

Change your oil, keep your coolant clean and it should last a long time.

_________________
Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

It will be a solid car.

After a little research, the Super was introduced in 2008. so 2006-2007 trims were CX, CXL, and CXS, with the N* being an option for CXL and standard on the CXS. In 2008 it went to four trims, adding the Super, and the N* was more powerful than previous versions. (however, the 08 CXS and Super had the same version).

/hijack

_________________
-Tom

2003 Silverado Ext. Cab - Charcoal - 128,000 miles - Stock...for now.
2000 SSEi - Gone, but not forgotten.

Yepp CX is the base. CXL is the midrange. CXS was the top of the line through 2007. In 2008 the top of the line CXS model was replaced by the Super. And this CXS is fully loaded. It has a few things that were optional. Such as the Navigation and the Harmon Kardon sound system, I don't know if the cooled seats were an option too. Have to check the sticker.

_________________
I'm backkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!

Okay, thanks! I'll deffinetly tell my Dad to keep that in mind. I'll be doing most of the maintenance anyhow. Haha.

_________________
I'm backkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!

2004+ Northstars had a revised head bolt thread type (coarser thread than years past IIRC), so it SHOULD help the problem where the bolts strip out of the block and prevent head gasket sealing. In the event that you DO have to pull the heads, use this solution:

http://www.northstarperformance.com/main.php

My motor has this after it broke a valve spring on the original owner and the heads needed to be replaced. It got the stud kit as a preventive measure.

_________________

Jerry /// Past: 95 SSEi (June 2010 COTM) -- 04 GXP (July 2011 COTM)
91 Honda Civic Wagon DX 2WD (fuelly) -- 208,000km -- 92hp -- Autocross Warrior
09 Lexus LS460 AWD -- 94,000km -- Daily Driver
09 White Hot G8 GT -- 155,000km (fuelly) -- LS3 Cam -- GM LS3 CNC Ported Heads -- Kooks 1 3/4" Long Tube Headers -- Solo Catback Midsection -- Hooker Maxflow Mufflers -- Pat G Tune -- Rotofab Intake -- Tein S-Tech Springs -- GXP FE3 Dampers -- BMR Subframe Cradle Inserts -- BMR Subframe Connectors -- Forgestar F14 Gold 18x9 +40 -- Michelin Pilot Super Sport 245/45/18 -- Maverick Man Carbon Fiber Spoiler

So you're saying that 2004+ N* should be much more reliable or just less crappy?

_________________

Less crappy is a better way to put it....

_________________
Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

replace the dex right away so you have a base, and then every three years. Run it like it should with a WOT once in a while, and you will enjoy the Northstar. I have had mine since 08 and no real issues, except repair of a gasket that was leaking coolant... Ohhh, time for me to think about changing mine...

_________________

Steve
Was - 1998 SSEi - 128,000 mi. ---- SOLD----
Was - 2003 Cadillac DeVille DTS - 91,000 mi. ----SOLD----
Is - 2008 Cadillac STS AWD Luxury, Black/Black.
2008 Ford Fusion SEL, - Midnight blue - Black leather int.
2005 Buick Lacrosse CXL, Silver - Black leather Int.

Yup, drive it like you stole it. I've done this since new, and the car likes it. Turned 150K miles today!

_________________
2012 CTS-V Coupe, 4k miles and counting.



2005 Bonneville GXP, 200k and SOLD!

DEFINITELY WOT that baby! I don't know about newer Northstars but my '01 Caddy had issues with carbon deposits (like any Northstar) and it wasn't uncommon for me to see that baby dusting quite a bit when I got on it. Hell, during a period of time where it was having serious misfire issues and was driven on two partially-dead cylinders, I eventually changed all the spark plugs, boots, and rear coil pack/ICM and when I started the car, the dead cylinders fired to life and the exhaust just smoked up the work bay I was in until the motor cleared itself out.

_________________
1992 Chevrolet Lumina base:TOTALED (died at 110k)
1989 Buick Reatta:SOLD (sold at 105k)
1991 Pontiac Bonneville LE:SOLD (sold at 225k)
2001 Cadillac Seville SLS:SOLD (sold at 140k)
1998 Pontiac Bonneville SE:CURRENT (bought w/ 145k)