Topic: First Drive: 2011 Buick Regal

[Blueprint]

The sad thing is that the manual tranny offered in the US won't make it here 

With my wife having a crush on the Enclave, a Regal with stick could make us a two-Buick family (and I really never thought I'd say that one day !).

[Jaeger]

The sad thing is that the manual tranny offered in the US won't make it here 

Seriously?  Well, there goes the one reason I might have had for picking this over the Sonata.

Jaeger

[Blueprint]

The sad thing is that the manual tranny offered in the US won't make it here 

Seriously?  Well, there goes the one reason I might have had for picking this over the Sonata.

Jaeger

It was mentioned here a while ago, and GM's website only talks of the slushbox.  Sticks are fast becoming scarce ... Mazda 6GT 4cyl. and 2010 Passat are just about the non-base midsize sedans available with a proper transmission (the Legacy GT's price matches a 323i's  ).  Let's hope VW keeps a manual option for the upcoming, larger "American Passat".

[sirAQUAMAN64]

The sad thing is that the manual tranny offered in the US won't make it here 

Seriously?  Well, there goes the one reason I might have had for picking this over the Sonata.

Jaeger

It was mentioned here a while ago, and GM's website only talks of the slushbox.  Sticks are fast becoming scarce ... Mazda 6GT 4cyl. and 2010 Passat are just about the non-base midsize sedans available with a proper transmission (the Legacy GT's price matches a 323i's  ).  Let's hope VW keeps a manual option for the upcoming, larger "American Passat".

Fear not, the manual is coming for the Turbo, and available on all Turbo trims!

[Blueprint]

The sad thing is that the manual tranny offered in the US won't make it here 

Seriously?  Well, there goes the one reason I might have had for picking this over the Sonata.

Jaeger

It was mentioned here a while ago, and GM's website only talks of the slushbox.  Sticks are fast becoming scarce ... Mazda 6GT 4cyl. and 2010 Passat are just about the non-base midsize sedans available with a proper transmission (the Legacy GT's price matches a 323i's  ).  Let's hope VW keeps a manual option for the upcoming, larger "American Passat".

Fear not, the manual is coming for the Turbo, and available on all Turbo trims!

Let's hope you're right, as I have read the opposite.  IIRC, Buick's Canadian website mentions the turbo engine, but no sign of the manual.  It is, however, an "intro" to the car and some usual details are missing.

[CatsEye68]

And then there's the styling.  Or perhaps I should say, "And then where's the styling?"  Nothing offensive or ugly about it (that's good) but you could post an image of this car, inside and out, in the dictionary under "generic family sedan" (that's not good).  Again, a curious choice when seeking to appeal to the sport / performance-minded buyer in the midsize sedan segment.

You obviously have not seen one of these up close, as it is an extremely good-looking design. Muscular, wide stance, smooth lines with just the right amount of character. Hardly "generic". I'll take mine in Quicksilver Metallic, please.

[Bubba]

I can't wait to see a new Regal with a landau top and whitewalls.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

The sad thing is that the manual tranny offered in the US won't make it here 

Seriously?  Well, there goes the one reason I might have had for picking this over the Sonata.

Jaeger

It was mentioned here a while ago, and GM's website only talks of the slushbox.  Sticks are fast becoming scarce ... Mazda 6GT 4cyl. and 2010 Passat are just about the non-base midsize sedans available with a proper transmission (the Legacy GT's price matches a 323i's  ).  Let's hope VW keeps a manual option for the upcoming, larger "American Passat".

Fear not, the manual is coming for the Turbo, and available on all Turbo trims!

Let's hope you're right, as I have read the opposite.  IIRC, Buick's Canadian website mentions the turbo engine, but no sign of the manual.  It is, however, an "intro" to the car and some usual details are missing.

I'm sure any dealer would be happy to take your deposit next month for a Turbo Manual
Need to have more enthusiasts put their money on the manuals many claim to desire.

[Jaeger]

And then there's the styling.  Or perhaps I should say, "And then where's the styling?"  Nothing offensive or ugly about it (that's good) but you could post an image of this car, inside and out, in the dictionary under "generic family sedan" (that's not good).  Again, a curious choice when seeking to appeal to the sport / performance-minded buyer in the midsize sedan segment.

You obviously have not seen one of these up close, as it is an extremely good-looking design. Muscular, wide stance, smooth lines with just the right amount of character. Hardly "generic". I'll take mine in Quicksilver Metallic, please.

Or it could be that I have seen one, and the term "extremely good looking" never entered my mind.  There's certainly nothing in these photos brings that phrase to mind, either.  As for "character" well, we clearly have a different understanding of the term.  There is literally nothing I can see that, in terms of style and aesthetics, sets this car apart within it segment in any meaningful way.

If you like it - great - GM needs actual customers and will be very happy to sell you one.

I will check one out in person IF it turns out that you can get the stick with turbo.  That would help soothe the sting of giving up 50hp, AND dynamic / distinctive styling, to the 2.0T Sonata. Or maybe not.

Jaeger

[D70]

 Amended  conclusion  to my previous comments;

"In the mean time I'll stick to my roomier, just as quick, but slightly thirstier ( not by much ) already depreciated 10 year old low mileage orphan."

http://www.flickr.com/photos/d70w7/4441547250/

[Frontier1]

Really, numbers are meanless; it the feel in the seat of your pants is important

Your missing the point, if the author  cannot get this right then what else will he say?  I once saw a Nissan Rogue review with a 2.7L engine(Mr Graeme Fletcher, who else), I still looking for that model

[Frontier1]

And then there's the styling.  Or perhaps I should say, "And then where's the styling?"  Nothing offensive or ugly about it (that's good) but you could post an image of this car, inside and out, in the dictionary under "generic family sedan" (that's not good).  Again, a curious choice when seeking to appeal to the sport / performance-minded buyer in the midsize sedan segment.

You obviously have not seen one of these up close, as it is an extremely good-looking design. Muscular, wide stance, smooth lines with just the right amount of character. Hardly "generic". I'll take mine in Quicksilver Metallic, please.

Or it could be that I have seen one, and the term "extremely good looking" never entered my mind.  There's certainly nothing in these photos brings that phrase to mind, either.  As for "character" well, we clearly have a different understanding of the term.  There is literally nothing I can see that, in terms of style and aesthetics, sets this car apart within it segment in any meaningful way.

If you like it - great - GM needs actual customers and will be very happy to sell you one.

I will check one out in person IF it turns out that you can get the stick with turbo.  That would help soothe the sting of giving up 50hp, AND dynamic / distinctive styling, to the 2.0T Sonata. Or maybe not.

Jaeger

I saw one up close, does look good.

[Jaeger]

I saw one up close, does look good.

Debating subjective perceptions remains a pointless exercise.  Some people think the Honda Crosstour is "beautiful" and "extremely good looking", too.  They are welcome to their opinions.  Mine is different.

Jaeger

[Frontier1]

I saw one up close, does look good.

Debating subjective perceptions remains a pointless exercise.  Some people think the Honda Crosstour is "beautiful" and "extremely good looking", too.  They are welcome to their opinions.  Mine is different.

Jaeger

Agree

[Vanstar]

The road from Osoyoos back to Vancouver would tax pretty any powertrain that is not a V-8, it is extremely hilly. It is also a perfect place to test handling, too. Not a road where you can take your mind off the road for an instant. Highway 3 is one road I avoid in winter unless I absolutely have to drive it.

As for the four cylinder engine offerings, with the CO2 regulations of the Obama administration set for a fleet average of 250 grammes per mile by 2016, we are only going to be seeing large V-6 and V-8 engines in vehicles that command much higher prices than the Regal.

Best of all is, I believe, the Regal is slated for production in Oshawa in 2012.

[Mozeby]

This looks to me like a cross-breed between Infiniti G37 and Suzuki Kizashi - especially at the rear end and wheels. Great mimic job, Government Motors.

Way better than the previous generation Buick Regal, nontheless.
 

Yeah, GM ran out and copied the Kizashi, even though the Insignia which looks much the same, came out in 2009!!

[CatsEye68]

There is literally nothing I can see that, in terms of style and aesthetics, sets this car apart within it segment in any meaningful way.

Let me recommend a good optometrist to you then.

The problem with this car is not the car itself or the engine or the styling or the interior. The usual 70+ year-old Buick customers will find the 18" wheels, wide tires, and 4-cylinder engine a difficult pill to swallow.

[Jaeger]

Let me recommend a good optometrist to you then.

Or perhaps for you, sisnce you clearly didn't see this earlier post.

Debating subjective perceptions remains a pointless exercise.  Some people think the Honda Crosstour is "beautiful" and "extremely good looking", too.  They are welcome to their opinions.  Mine is different.
Jaeger

You are welcome to your opinion.  Mine is different.  Trying to convince me that I should see the car as "extremely good looking" is just plain silly.

Jaeger

[Wheelboy]

I test drove this car last week and wanted to like it SO badly.  But -

It looks much nicer in the photographs.
It's underpowered with the standard 4.  Of course there's no turbo to test yet.
As expected and feared - its handling is soft.
The seats feel like hard leatherette (ie plastic).

There was just nothing memorable or exciting about it.  Nothing.

Check the pics of the same car, the 2009 Opel Insignia here - all 111 of them -

http://www.netcarshow.com/opel/2009-insignia/

[safristi]

..PUT Lindsay LOHAN locked up in one fer 90 days and let's hear her side of the story..........