Buick Regal GS revealed... 6-spd MANUAL ONLY

[Vette73]

Yea this is more a Lexus fighter (i.e. Lux with performance) Not a straight out sports car

 

[PricklyPete]

Yea this is more a Lexus fighter (i.e. Lux with performance) Not a straight out sports car

Which works well as that is Buick's MO at the moment.

 

[LTC8K6]

People looking at a Lexus are going to look at a Buick? I wouldn't have thought so.

 

[PricklyPete]

People looking at a Lexus are going to look at a Buick? I wouldn't have thought so.

When the latest Lacrosse came out, nearly every comparison test was directly with the Lexus. Buick's ads specifically target Lexus like the following:

http://image.internetautoguide.com/...10-buick-lacrosse-sedan-car-advertisement.jpg

I'm not saying ever Lexus buyer cross shops Buick...but some do. One of those would be my Dad.

 

[amdhunter]

Nice to see that manuals are alive and kicking -- although I'd think the average Buick owner wouldn't care about manuals in the first place.

Is this car going to be FWD? Unless it's a GTi/Civic Si or something similarly sporty, boooo.

 

[PricklyPete]

Is this car going to be FWD? Unless it's a GTi/Civic Si or something similarly sporty, boooo.

How exactly does that logic hold? It is ok for the GTI/Civic Si to be FWD because they are "sporty", but somehow it is wrong in the Regal?

 

[amdhunter]

How exactly does that logic hold? It is ok for the GTI/Civic Si to be FWD because they are "sporty", but somehow it is wrong in the Regal?

Yes. Trust me. I don't think sedans (even my GLi that I owned) should be FWD and manual. 🙂

 

[DivideBYZero]

Wow, when did mid 6 second 0-60 become slow? I must have missed the memo.

 

[LTC8K6]

Wow, when did mid 6 second 0-60 become slow? I must have missed the memo.

For a sporty sedan, a while ago.

For a Regal GS, well, they were already in the mid sixes a while ago.

 

[PricklyPete]

Yes. Trust me. I don't think sedans (even my GLi that I owned) should be FWD and manual. 🙂

I'm not arguing FWD vs. AWD vs. RWD. I'm arguing your comment where you think it is ok in the GTI/Civic..but somehow because it is a sedan (I guess), it suddenly becomes unacceptable. I can't see how that logic holds up.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Google says the '12 Regal is around 3700 pounds curb weight. That's pretty porky. Since we are talking about Maximas...the '02 was around 3200 pounds.

That's quite hefty. Same weight as my Lincoln LS.

 

[LTC8K6]

•Acura TSX
•Audi A4 sedan
•Lincoln MKZ
•Saab 9-3 sedan
•Volvo S60

C and D's list of Regal competitors.

 

[Zenmervolt]

255 hp and 295 ft-lbs of torque and it's still marginally slower than my 12-year-old Volvo (237hp and 243 ft-lbs). Weight's a bitch.

The Buick's definitely not slow, but for a car with its hp and torque ratings it really ought to be faster than it is.

ZV

 

[DivideBYZero]

For a sporty sedan, a while ago.

For a Regal GS, well, they were already in the mid sixes a while ago.

I'm not buying it. For a 250'ish hp car it's bang on the money these days.

 

[Q]

Yeah I don't get how 0-60 in just under 7 is 'high performance'. A V6 Accord will get 6 flat (manual and launch it perfectly, of course)

 

[LTC8K6]

VW CC 2.0T is 200hp 3400lb and does 60 in 6.4 seconds with a DSG and is rated 22/31mpg.

The Regal is too heavy.

 

[exar333]

VW CC 2.0T is 200hp 3400lb and does 60 in 6.4 seconds with a DSG and is rated 22/31mpg.

The Regal is too heavy.

This looks miles better than a CC; the CC is really a "wannnabe lux" sedan. The car is a bit heavy, but pretty much in-line with the weight of other cars similar such as the Lexus ES.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I've seen 19/29. And that's under the new standards. I don't know a 3.5VQ Max owner that did better than 25-26 on the highway. It's a fuel pig.

I've never gotten 26mpg out of my Maxima on the freeway. Not unless you believe the trip computer which is notoriously optimistic. No, more like 24-25...if you baby it.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Well, the 220hp version is only EPA listed at 18/29 and the 255hp version is the same engine so I figure a little worse...

The old one is 16/26 under the new rules and 18/28 originally, but the 3800 is known to get good highway economy.

The old one could apparently hit 60 in 6.6 seconds, too.

Yeah I liked the 3800. My 98 Camaro would get 32mpg highway through the automatic trans.

 

[vi edit]

I've never gotten 26mpg out of my Maxima on the freeway. Not unless you believe the trip computer which is notoriously optimistic. No, more like 24-25...if you baby it.

Yeh, it's just not a really efficient engine. Is your '02 a 4 speed auto? Does it just suffer from horrible gearing that doesn't drop it into fuel sipping RPM range?

 

[DanStp]

This is the same running gear and driveline from the old Cobalt SS. I know the Cobalt sucked in the interior etc, but you would think they would at least update something?

 

[MikeMike]

This is the same running gear and driveline from the old Cobalt SS. I know the Cobalt sucked in the interior etc, but you would think they would at least update something?

you mean like, THE WHOLE VEHICLE, other than the engine and drivetrain?

 

[punjabiplaya]

you mean like, THE WHOLE VEHICLE, other than the engine and drivetrain?

so the Cobalt SS which is proven to be a great handling car/performance for cheap, and now you add a really nice Buick interior with a GM pricetag/warranty. I don't see what's terribly wrong with this car.

 

[LTC8K6]

This is the same running gear and driveline from the old Cobalt SS. I know the Cobalt sucked in the interior etc, but you would think they would at least update something?

If it's the LNF, maybe the turbo upgrade kit will still fit... :biggrin:

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/18/gm-releases-turbo-upgrade-kit-for-solstice-gxp-sky-redline-and/

 

[punjabiplaya]

If it's the LNF, maybe the turbo upgrade kit will still fit... :biggrin:

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/18/gm-releases-turbo-upgrade-kit-for-solstice-gxp-sky-redline-and/

I wish Mazda would give me something like that. That was/is such an epic deal for $650.