Topic: First Drive: 2011 Buick Regal

[Wheelboy]

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

Pack it with a bunch of other parasites and push it off a cliff.

[safristi]

  wot she survived the first cliff fall............!!!!!.........................

[5 Wheel Drive]

Good on GM for bringing some of their European products over here.  It's about time!

If this car is as good as most of the reviews I've read say it is, then it should do well.  The only problem GM is going to have, is getting people's butts into the driver's seat to take it for a test drive.  Buick's typical customer is getting up there in age.  They don't want sporty anymore.  Somehow, they've got to get younger buyers to lose any preconceived ideas about Buicks, and get them into Buick showrooms. 

If it were up to me to reorganize GM during their "problems" in the last year or 2, I would have killed Buick, and kept Pontiac for the sole purpose of bringing these sportier European products to North America 

[vdk]

The main problem for GM at this time is the price. $33k to start? This thing competes with the Jetta both here and in Europe, and the VW is significantly cheaper.

[Dante]

The main problem for GM at this time is the price. $33k to start? This thing competes with the Jetta both here and in Europe, and the VW is significantly cheaper.

You mean Passat...
Astra competes with Golf/Jetta in Euro.

[Leviathan]

Blog: Buick Does It Again—2 Million Americans Won’t Even Know

If you’re thinking of spending $28-30K on a new sedan, you’ve got to look at the Buick, and that’s because of the sedans in this price range that I’ve driven recently, the Buick is the best. Yes, that’s right: the best. Better than the Camry, better than the Accord, better than the Altima, better than the Mazda6, and competitive with the Volkswagen CC.

[vdk]

The main problem for GM at this time is the price. $33k to start? This thing competes with the Jetta both here and in Europe, and the VW is significantly cheaper.

You mean Passat...
Astra competes with Golf/Jetta in Euro.

Yes you're right. But now the Jetta is the size of a Passat. I don't see the value in it without incentives, 33K and you get an anemic engine, while in the Passat for about the same money you get the nice 2L turbo. Amenities are almost the same.

[rrocket]

Blog: Buick Does It Again—2 Million Americans Won’t Even Know

If you’re thinking of spending $28-30K on a new sedan, you’ve got to look at the Buick, and that’s because of the sedans in this price range that I’ve driven recently, the Buick is the best. Yes, that’s right: the best. Better than the Camry, better than the Accord, better than the Altima, better than the Mazda6, and competitive with the Volkswagen CC.

But he's comparing a premium sedan (Buick) to non-premium, generic family sedans...in different price categories.  The Buick has a base price of $32,000 CDN.  The Honda and Toyota sticker for $7,000 LESS...the Altima and Malibu $8,000 LESS and the Mazda6 for almost $9,000 LESS.

Surprise...the $33,000 VW seems to be as good/better than the $32,000 Regal.

[diceman]

What an awesome car. You could compare it to the TSX or is250 but why bother. It would easily embarass both of them.

[vdk]

Okay the Vectra aka Regal is not a luxury sedan in Europe. Why would it be here?

[rrocket]

Okay the Vectra aka Regal is not a luxury sedan in Europe. Why would it be here?

Well it is here.  Comes loaded (including leather seats).  And, as I said before....Is up to $9,000 more than your typical family sedan.  And generally, Buick is the premium brand.

Are you disputing that Buick isn't a premium offering to Chevy??

[Dante]

The main problem for GM at this time is the price. $33k to start? This thing competes with the Jetta both here and in Europe, and the VW is significantly cheaper.

You mean Passat...
Astra competes with Golf/Jetta in Euro.

Yes you're right. But now the Jetta is the size of a Passat. I don't see the value in it without incentives, 33K and you get an anemic engine, while in the Passat for about the same money you get the nice 2L turbo. Amenities are almost the same.

Don't forget that now the Jetta has been cheapened out to compete with mainstream compacts like Corolla, Forte, Civic, Mazda3. Yes it is bigger, but still in a differnt class.
Buick is a premium offering more like Acura TSX. Don't forget that Acura TSX is mainly an Euro Accord hence not luxury in Europe just like Opel Insignia.
I agree that the 2.0 Turbo should've been the base engine on the Regal.

[Mozeby]

The main problem for GM at this time is the price. $33k to start? This thing competes with the Jetta both here and in Europe, and the VW is significantly cheaper.

You mean Passat...
Astra competes with Golf/Jetta in Euro.

Yes you're right. But now the Jetta is the size of a Passat. I don't see the value in it without incentives, 33K and you get an anemic engine, while in the Passat for about the same money you get the nice 2L turbo. Amenities are almost the same.

Don't forget that now the Jetta has been cheapened out to compete with mainstream compacts like Corolla, Forte, Civic, Mazda3. Yes it is bigger, but still in a differnt class.
Buick is a premium offering more like Acura TSX. Don't forget that Acura TSX is mainly an Euro Accord hence not luxury in Europe just like Opel Insignia.
I agree that the 2.0 Turbo should've been the base engine on the Regal.

I was just reading up on the 2011 Jetta and was surprised that VW is moving the Jetta downstream.  No more independent rear suspension (only on the GLI).  Back to torsion beam.  Less standard equipment, and they're still offering the 2 point slow 115 hp piece of garbage that would be embrassed by most hybrids.  This is progress?

[Not Convinced]

The baggage name "Buick" rebadge job....is the same old, same old GM.  Merely rebadging an Opel into many clones, just like the failed Saturn line, will fail.  We don't need a repeat of the past GM mistakes, or should we really say, we can't afford to bail out any more failed car companies.

[Jaeger]

I had no idea this thing was so pricey.  I'm almost scared to ask, but if it starts at 32 / 33k, where does it top out?

That 33k doesn't get you anything better than an overtaxed 4-banger?

Wow.

Jaeger

[Jaeger]

Okay - I checked - CXL model currently tops out at $38,850 in Canada.  The fully loaded Sonata Limited with Nav tops at $31,000 (round numbers).  Both normally aspirated 4-cylinder engines.

By choosing the Buick I get:

1) A vehicle that weighs considerably more (3,600 versus 3,200 - all stats from Edmunds) even though exterior dimensions are almost the same
2) And one motivated by an engine that's both significantly less powerful,
3) AND less fuel efficient 
4) which provides less interior room in almost every measured dimension (except rear legroom - and yes, that means it offers LESS rear headroom than the much-criticized Sonata)
5) and rides on a SHORTER wheelbase, but still requires a LARGER turning circle 
6) and one that provides a significnatly smaller trunk (14.2 v. 16.4 cu. ft.)
7) and for all that I get to spend $8k MORE  

I know they say they are gunning for the TSX and suchlike, but has GM even got the Sonata licked with this vehicle?

What am I missing here guys?

Jaeger

[Ex-airbalancer]

Jaeger

I think one has to physical drive the two before deciding if one is worth the increase

[Bubba]

Jaeger

I think one has to physical drive the two before deciding if one is worth the increase

I'm hoping to mentally drive one.   

[Jaeger]

Jaeger

I think one has to physical drive the two before deciding if one is worth the increase

I think that goes without saying.  However, there are some evident disparities - not the least of which is price - that have me scratching my head.  And the unfavorable power to weight ratio does not suggest that the Buick will provide a more scintilating driving experience than the Sonata.

Jaeger

[Dante]

Okay - I checked - CXL model currently tops out at $38,850 in Canada.  The fully loaded Sonata Limited with Nav tops at $31,000 (round numbers).  Both normally aspirated 4-cylinder engines.

By choosing the Buick I get:

1) A vehicle that weighs considerably more (3,600 versus 3,200 - all stats from Edmunds) even though exterior dimensions are almost the same
2) And one motivated by an engine that's both significantly less powerful,
3) AND less fuel efficient 
4) which provides less interior room in almost every measured dimension (except rear legroom - and yes, that means it offers LESS rear headroom than the much-criticized Sonata)
5) and rides on a SHORTER wheelbase, but still requires a LARGER turning circle 
6) and one that provides a significnatly smaller trunk (14.2 v. 16.4 cu. ft.)
7) and for all that I get to spend $8k MORE  

I know they say they are gunning for the TSX and suchlike, but has GM even got the Sonata licked with this vehicle?

What am I missing here guys?

Jaeger

Nothing other than the car is targeted to a different segment of the market. GM has Malibu to compete with Sonata.