2011 Buick Regal: would you buy one?

[GT_Prologue5]

Decent looking, but looks more luxury than sport. I'd drive one if I was 40+, but since I'm not, I'd probably only drive it if someone gave it too me.

Just my 2 cents.

Wow, I'm suprised you weren't offended by that last line.

 

[Jondot]

I know that the Euro isn't the same, no offense Famine. European cars are built to a higher emissions standards, so many have diesel engines that can produce astounding mpg and range in excess of 800+ miles. The Insignia OPC has the 2.8T V6 From the Saab 9-5, Cadillac SRX, among others. And I hate to be mean, but chill out Famine. Just cause I asked doesn't mean your opinion is gonna change my thought. The Turbo doesn't come out til September, so there's a lot of time. Yes, you are a super moderator and I repect that but please man, chill. And for the last time, me no care for Vauxhall.

I'd say you're the one that needs to chill Famine's more bored than anything else, I suspect.

And to answer your now painfully specific question, no I would not. On top of the Opel paraphernalia, there's something about saying 'I drive a Buick Regal' that makes me die a little inside.

 

[Famine]

You know what? Never mind. As I canm see people can't answer a simple question based on what they think of a car.

Except for all the people who've given their opinion based on what they think of a car.

If you lived in America, would you buy a Buick Regal!?

No. I'd buy a Mazda6.

I know that the Euro isn't the same, no offense Famine. European cars are built to a higher emissions standards, so many have diesel engines that can produce astounding mpg and range in excess of 800+ miles.

No they aren't. Californian emissions standards are the most stringent in the world - well above EuroV standards. The HC/NO emissions permissible in California are a quarter than of Europe - and diesel is rated by a completely different standard.

The 2.0 turbo Regal is the exact same car as the 2.0 turbo Insignia.

And I hate to be mean, but chill out Famine.

I am always chilled. You, however, seem a little... tense:

You know what? Never mind. As I canm see people can't answer a simple question based on what they think of a car. And for the last time, I live in America, so I don't give a -beep- about Opels or Audis.

Just cause I asked doesn't mean your opinion is gonna change my thought.

If you're not going to listen to anyone and plough ahead anyway, why ask? If you're only going to listen to the praises and not the criticisms, how does this thread benefit you or anyone responding?

Yes, you are a super moderator and I repect that

What does that have to do with anything?

And for the last time, me no care for Vauxhall.

Then don't buy a Buick Regal. It's the same car as the Vauxhall Insignia. The Vauxhall Insignia is dull, bland crap.

 

[niky]

If you lived in America, would you buy a Buick Regal!?

I'm surprised you haven't actually understood our answers. I think I mentioned the Mazda6, myself... as have a few others.

 

[hairyboid4]

Just no. My grandmother doesn't even drive one.

 

[X-Power]

The Buick Regal is the exact same car as the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia, regardless of slightly different engines. Trying to say they are different is daft, that's like saying that a Mondeo Zetec is completley different to a Mondeo Titanium.

By the way, am I the only one who thinks the Buick grill makes the car look worse?

 

[Jondot]

The Buick Regal is the exact same car as the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia, regardless of slightly different engines. Trying to say they are different is daft, that's like saying that a Mondeo Zetec is completley different to a Mondeo Titanium.

I'd say it was worse. At least the Zetec & Titanium come with different alloys

Though I reckon it suits being a Buick better. I loathe the new design direction Vauxhall have based on the Siggy. The Astra, for example, turned from a handsome angular hatch into a creased lump. Bleugh.

 

[Small_Fryz]

This is the only cool thing ive ever seen a buick do


Slight language

 

[YSSMAN]

If you want some more credible opinions from American drivers I'd suggest reading these two articles:

2011 Regal Second Drive: Car and Driver

2011 Buick Regal Third Drive (On American Soil): Autoblog

* The Autoblog post goes into far more depth than the C/D article


Generally speaking, its what you'd expect for a German-engineered (and built), entry-level luxury sedan. Its quiet, refined, and has a few more sporting credentials than your regular choices from Honda, Toyota and so on. But, this car is shooting straight for the Volkswagen Passat, Acura TSX and to some extent the Lexus ES350. The Buick will win on content for money, and I'd be willing to bet that, aside from the Acura, it will most likely be the best to drive sportilly as you please.

So, getting back to the question: Would you buy one?

Probably, but it depends on a few things. First of all, the engine package decides a lot of this. While the 2.4L DIG would be more than enough to keep most people happy, I'd need the 2.0L Turbo to keep the juices flowing. As soon as that is equipped, with all of the goodies that come with it, the price starts to go up quickly. Considering that the basic CXL starts at $27K, you're in a pretty wide field there. Bump up to the Turbo CXL, and you're about to cross the $30K threshold. Then things get really interesting.

Having only seen and sat in one for mere moments, I can't make a fair call without driving one. This is probably the first time in a long time that I really, really would honestly want to own a Buick, so that has to say something. But to make it be enough to entirely forget about my general preference toward Volkswagen, that will have to be seen.

TL;DR - Make it a CXL Turbo and I'd have it over most of the cars in its class, but its the lower-priced competition that might take my attention away.

 

[Joey D]

Would I buy one? Not a chance, I think it looks awful in terms of styling, especially the GS model with those stupid chrome fangs. Plus Buick's still have an awful stigma about them so I don't really want to deal with that either. Although I really don't care for most of the cars in the under $30k entry level sedan range. I guess if I had to get something I would look at an Acura or maybe a Passat, but really I would rather spend a few more thousand and get something like a BMW 3-series or a Infinti G37.

Is it a good car though? Probably, just not for me.

 

[GT_Prologue5]

Can some one just close this down? It was an epic fail

 

[X-Power]

Epic fail? Not really, you asked us if we would buy an Opel/Vauxhall Insignia and we gave our opinions. If you can't accept our opinions on this Opel/Vauxhall, then why did you ask?

...and it is not a Buick.

 

[YSSMAN]

... but really I would rather spend a few more thousand and get something like a BMW 3-series or a Infinti G37.

I think that's the biggest problem right there. I mean, this awkward spot that the Regal sits in has been carved out pretty well by the Passat, TSX, S60 and 9-3. Those people who choose those cars typically have had previous versions, or are just "brand loyal" to begin with. Buick doesn't have that (generally speaking). But, for just a little more, you can get the "starter" luxury models. The 328i and G25 will be very strong competition for the Regal, and I'm not totally convinced that it is up to the task.

 

[Murcie_LP640]

Can some one just close this down? It was an epic fail

It was made an epic fail because you refuse to believe that the Regal is bland and boring and made the topic useless in the first place.

Buy a Buick Regal going by the few people (what some would call "the minority") who actually like it if you want. Nobody is stopping you.

 

[homeforsummer]

You know what? Never mind. As I canm see people can't answer a simple question based on what they think of a car. And for the last time, I live in America, so I don't give a -beep- about Opels or Audis. Yes, I know they have cars from other manufacturers-there is no car class that only has one car in it- and yes I'm somewhat biased but jeez I don't want to here of Sporks and Vauxhalls and whatever else you Europeans drive. If you lived in America, would you buy a Buick Regal!?

We have answered, repeatedly, the question you posed.

No, I wouldn't drive one. Even if I lived in America. There are far better options out there. Clear enough for you?

If you don't like the answers, don't ask the questions.

 

[GT_Prologue5]

Sorry I was having a bad day the other times.
I didn't mean to offend anyone.
According to what I've seen, I'm either going for the Buick or a Mazda6

 

[YSSMAN]

Well, the Mazda 6 is significantly larger from what I could tell. The Regal is batting in a strange league that exists between size segments, price points, and luxury content. You could easily get an optioned-up VW Jetta , or do a stripped-down Infiniti G25, and still walk out the door at roughly the same price.

 

[niky]

Too bad there's no Speed6 yet, for this generation... though that big V6 is an epic engine.

The 2.5 is fun, if not very fast (still, quick enough with a stick), and it's very light on its feet for a big car... it weighs significantly less than many of its competitors, and actually about 300 pounds less than the four-cylinder Regal. It's sleek looking and sounds nice, as well.

And the inside lights up like a Japanese strip-club at night. What's not to like?

 

[Famine]

Well, the Mazda 6 is significantly larger from what I could tell.

Insignia/Regal
Length: 4.83m (15ft 10.2in) - of which Wheelbase: 2.74m (10ft 11.8in)
Width: 1.86m (6ft 1.1in)
Height: 1.50m (4ft 11in)

Mazda6
Length: 4.76m (15ft 7.2in) - of which Wheelbase: 2.79m (11ft 1.8in)
Width: 1.84m (6ft 0.4in)
Height: 1.47m (4ft 9.9in)

It's not only not "significantly larger", it's 3" shorter, 1" narrower and 1" lower. And at 3258lb (1,478kg) it's also considerably lighter than the 3,600lb (1,633kg) Regal - which gives the entry level 170hp Mazda6 a 4hp/ton advantage over the entry level 182hp Regal.

 

[homeforsummer]

Well, the Mazda 6 is significantly larger from what I could tell. The Regal is batting in a strange league that exists between size segments, price points, and luxury content. You could easily get an optioned-up VW Jetta , or do a stripped-down Infiniti G25, and still walk out the door at roughly the same price.

False. In the UK the Insignia competes in exactly the same class as the 6, Mondeo etc. There may be small differences in size but they're basically all the same.

 

[YSSMAN]

Keep in mind that in the US, we have a bigger Mazda 6 based on the rather large Ford Fusion...

C/D Link
Length: 193.7 in (16.14 ft)
Wheelbase: 109.8 in (9.15 ft)
Width: 72.4 in (6ft)
Curb Weight: 3,388 lbs

So, the Mazda is a bit bigger (dimensionally) here. Perhaps not "significantly," but at least to my eye, the Mazda (and the Fusion for that matter) appear to be much larger than they actually are, especially when compared to the more European-sized Regal and TSX (Euro Accord). Its quite strange how big our mid size family sedans have become as of late, especially as many of them start to reach 200in or more in length. God bless America!

 

[niky]

At 3,388 lbs, it's still significantly lighter than the Buick Regal, and only around 80 lbs heavier than the European 6.

 

[YSSMAN]

Which is impressive nevertheless. For a car that big to be that light, its some kind of black magic on behalf of FoMoCo.

 

[GT_Prologue5]

Did I see Infiniti G25? Sorry, but they only made G35 and G37 in the U.S.
an dwith the Nissan-Renault Mercedes-Benz teamup, we'll see a G22 in 3 years

 

[astrosdude91]

Did I see Infiniti G25? Sorry, but they only made G35 and G37 in the U.S.

Are you sure about that?

 

[YSSMAN]

Japan just got their 250GT (Skyline) a little while back, and I believe the G25 is still on track to be here by the end of the year. Apparently the sacrifices between them aren't as big as once expected, and the assumed savings would probably make it a pretty reasonable choice in the segment.

 

[Zenith]

Nah. Seems like a cheaply made, overpriced, boring car. Styling doesn't do much for me anyways...

 

[GT_Prologue5]

Hope they bring a G25.