Caprice engine swap?

[kevm14]

So I think the Super does come substantially more loaded than the SS, which I'd expect. But cars.com lists the following this as "Optional" on the Super:
- Block heater
- Chrome wheels
- Front license plate bracket
- Power glass tilting and sliding sunroof
- Sunshade
- 1st row express open sliding and tilting glass sunroof (what's the difference?)
- 6-disc CD changer
- 12 performance speakers
- 12 premium speakers
- XM AM/FM/Satellite with seek-scan, 6-disc in-dash CD player

So for the most part, it does seem to come with just about everything. But there are a few key features in here that aren't standard, mainly the sunroof (I'd think just about all of these would have that though) and something to do with the audio. Which is annoying. Because it isn't even branded. Obviously I'd want the premium audio. It will be hard to find one of these the way I want it, where I want it, in the condition I want it, and at the price I want it. It's the perfect unicorn.

According to the 2008 brochure, here are the actual optional things on the 2008:
- Chrome wheels
- Six-disc CD player, AM/FM stereo, auto-tone control, speed-compensated volume and Concert Sound III nine-speaker, 240-watt premium audio system - what does this really mean? It means a CD changer. Everything else was already standard. This is great.
- Power sliding and tilting sunroof (hmm, I bet most of these have this anyway)
- Engine block heater

So it is as I thought originally. The sunroof is the only substantive option. Everything else is standard. This is good news. Except the 2009 Bluetooth thing, which I probably shouldn't plan on.

[kevm14]

2008 brochure and 2009 fact sheet attached.

[kevm14]

Options on the 2009 according to the fact sheet:
- Bluetooth. I'd want this for any kind of hands free phone stuff. I hope it has aux in for music.
- Sunroof
- CD changer
- Chrome wheels

So same as the 2008.

What's really weird is remote start is standard on the 08 but on the 09 it is listed under dealer installed accessories. Which also contains things like rear sunshade. What's even weirder is that the fine print says none of them are available on the Super.

[kevm14]

Updated the dimensions comparison post: http://forums.kevinallenmoore.com/viewt ... 085#p12085

[Bob]

Bang for the buck:

https://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/6002086833.html

[Bob]

I have to say this would be a bit of a project to demodify, but it seems like a lot of car for $2500. https://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/5997205285.html

[kevm14]

This landed with a dull thud: http://hooniverse.com/2012/07/29/the-gm ... llectible/

[kevm14]

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/26/in-t ... sse-super/

The nine-speaker Concert III sound system pumped out crisp sound, great bass, and was easy to operate with redundant controls on the steering wheel. XM satellite is standard on all Buicks, and it's a great addition to any road trip. While XM sounds great on a high-end sound system, the LaCrosse was impressed passengers more with the sounds it didn't make. The cabin is so quiet that your ears almost pop when the door is shut. The LaCrosse seems to be even quieter than the church-silent Enclave we reviewed in August.

The best aspect of the Super interior resides where your rear rests. The leather seating surfaces of the LaCrosse were so terrific, we found ourselves looking for excuses to sit in them. Soft leather is abundant, leg support is perfect, and lateral support keeps you planted just enough during spirited driving without being intrusive otherwise

With all these things on our mind, we found the LaCrosse Super to be a vastly different vehicle from the base LaCrosse, and were pleasantly surprised at what the Super brought to the road. The performance gurus took a pillow-soft platform and made it stiff and compliant by using much stiffer Bilsteing monotube struts. Steering was also tweaked, and the brakes were up-sized. The result is a Buick that can not only hit 60 in 5.7 seconds, but can also hit a turn at speed without feeling like it's going to tip. The Super is one of those vehicles that makes you think you're not going as fast as you are, so we had to really watch the speedometer while accelerating and cruising on the freeway. The LaCrosse Super's steering is also far more weighted and precise than what we're used to in a Buick, and coupled with four pinned-down wheels, this sedan was both more fun to drive and more luxurious than the V8-powered Impala SS we drove a year ago.

This is definitely the one to get over the SS. It's a better car despite sharing the same platform.

[kevm14]

http://www.topspeed.com/cars/buick/2008 ... 30710.html

Buick has rekindled a name from its storied 20th-century past to mark the beginning of a new level of refinement: Super. The badge is designated exclusively for Buick’s most premium, powerful models and returns to Buick vehicles after 50 years. It will debut on the 2008 model year LaCrosse and Lucerne sedans.
“We’re bringing back the Super badge to represent our most premium models,” said Steve Shannon, Buick general manager. “Our Supers are not just about increased horsepower; they represent an elevation in design, premium content and ride characteristics that are exclusive to the Super badge.”
The Supers are engineered for Buick by the GM Performance Division to inspire performance on demand.

The Lucerne and Lacrosse were the only Buicks to actually get the Super treatment.

[kevm14]

I found some old e-mails from mid-2013 where I discovered the Super for the first time. Same reaction I am having now. 4 years earlier, they were like $11k for the cheapest. This must mean something.

I was actually pitching it as a possible Malibu replacement at the time, which is kind of funny. Because that is one of the attractions now - a backup family car for Jamie.

Incidentally that is also when I discovered the CDM Park Ave with that awesome back seat.