How much of a social outcast would I be if I was to

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tornado
  • 46 comments
  • 3,024 views
Tornado

Tornado

Messages
41,183
Buy one O' these:
1991-Buick-Reatta-191476.jpg


Because I was on my way to school today, and I saw one of these for sale. Not the red one whose history with me has been well documented in the DYSAGT thread, but a black one of the slightly older vintage.

Now, obviously, terrible car. Stupid brand, stupid idea, stupid execution, stupid marketing, and stupid thing for a college kid to buy. But more terrible than a 1994 Chevrolet Blazer? That I don't know. I mean, it ticks all of the right boxes. Flip-up headlights. Digital speedometer. Swoopy styling. Flip-up headlights. (Vaguely) reliable drivetrain. And flip-up headlights.
Its slow, I'm sure, but I can't imagine it is slower than the Blazer already is; and I'm guessing it wouldn't be that hard to swap in a supercharged 3800 into it if I really wanted to. And its a 1990 model, so it doesn't have that loathsome, too-1980s-even-for-me interior that it had in 1988 and 1989. The mileage is probably quite a bit better, too. He wants 3 grand for it.





And no, I'm not really that interested in buying it, but I figure I'd toss the idea around anyways, at least for a laugh.
 
Last edited:
old mate
is it front wheel drive? if so, no deal.
Click to expand...
You know, this is in another universe in regards to "reasons that I wouldn't buy this." My dad owned a Neon ACR. He replaced it with a somewhat highly-modified Volkswagen Cabrio. I have absolutely no bias in this regard.
 
If it's in good condition go for it. Good style and will be something different. :D
 
For practicality's sake, considering this is a secondhand car:

Automatic: -1
Electric Pop-up lights: -1
Digital Display: -1
Consider that all of the above are over twenty years old: -1,000,000,000

Go for it. You may regret such a foolish purchase years later, but it'll make a good story to tell your (eventual) kids. :lol:
 
xNEVER-ONEx
What is it?
Click to expand...

It's a Buick Reatta. Nice little car in the looks department, but unless it's been well taken care of it'll have its issues. I'd get it - that would be an awesome first car! I bet you'd be the only one in your area with one! You should go for it if you can afford it!

old mate
is it front wheel drive? if so, no deal.
Click to expand...

What's wrong with front drive? My car is front drive and I quite like it....
 
xNEVER-ONEx
What is it?
Click to expand...


hahaha best post ever.

He may have provided your answer. If a car is so obscure you are asked what the heck is it by people interested in cars, and obscure enough for people that are interested in cars AND who know what it is to tell you that it's cool even if it's unpractical and will explode if you even turn it on, well... what are you waiting?
 
AMCNUT
What's wrong with front drive? My car is front drive and I quite like it....
Click to expand...

FWD = no fun. Torque steer, understeer, nose heavy...

There's nothing wrong with FWD in a daily driver, but it doesn't belong in sports cars.
 
An MR2 would do everything 10x better than this car and for a similar price if you stuck with NA models.


Plus its not American so you know it was built right. I for one have never had my headlights not work.
 
niky


Go for it. You may regret such a foolish purchase years later, but it'll make a good story to tell your (eventual) kids. :lol:[/B]
Click to expand...

That was my motto that made me stick to buying the MR2. :lol:
 
I wouldn't really trust an American car that old. I went through hell with the Ranger. I always will miss that truck though.

The safest bet is to go Japanese. People are suggesting an Midship Runabout. You could look into that. Or an old 240.

Or, a Mia... Well, I'll let Yssman announce that one.
 
FWD doesn't matter on this car, because it's a grand tourer, not a sports car.

While I enjoy my noisy, twitchy, fart-can equipped rattle-mobile immensely, I can appreciate the finer side of life. I've actually been looking at Lincoln Town Cars and Toyota Crowns in the classifieds. :D

I'd hit it. And do the sleepy-eye conversion. :D
 
Look at it this way...

It's not a Jaguar XJS. It's not a Maserati Biturbo. In fact, rarely have I seen a Reatta rusting away.

For a car with a Buick V6, it's not huge, either, so I can't imagine it'll weight that much. However, it's a pre-'2010 Buick, so it may be a bit floaty...or not. dunno how they managed to tune the suspension, since they were experimenting with euro-centric syling with this car. It will be comfortable. I'm more than betting that long trips will be a breeze. Mind you...it was also hand-built, according to Wiki, because of the shortened platform. And, they made less than 10,000 a year, so it's a collector's item.

and, finally, you can pay the whole thing off with cash. As a college student, the last thing you need is a car payment.

Drive it. Test it. Take it to a mechanic. If no issues, spring for it.
 
actually, it should be put in a baggie with an Acid-Free cardboard backing, and sealed away from sunlight. that car is a major collectable, now, and will be worth more in that state.
 
Do it. It's got the early 3800 so at least that will never die, ever. Electrical issues may eventually become a problem but c'mon, Reattas are awesome. Pop-up headlights!
 
Jim Prower
For a car with a Buick V6, it's not huge, either, so I can't imagine it'll weight that much.
Click to expand...

170hp. Heavier than a 3000GT. Might look like a sports car, but it won't perform like one.

On the plus side, it looks alright, it is different and relatively rare.

I'd would have also mentioned that they're probably mostly owned by old folk, but i won't since people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. ;)
 
Last edited:
CarreraGT
FWD = no fun. Torque steer, understeer, nose heavy...

There's nothing wrong with FWD in a daily driver, but it doesn't belong in sports cars.
Click to expand...

Ooh, I don't know... that Reatta likes like a fun car to ride around in. I know my car is! Mine's not a sports car, but it is sporty. It's the same with the Reatta - I can't see it going toe-to-toe with thoroughbreds, but it'll be fun in its own right.
 
Ticks all the right boxes you say?

Except the box that says "Does the car tick all the above boxes while also being something anybody might actually want to own?"

It doesn't tick that box. The crazy idea of buying a conversion van was better than this thing. Stop being so American and get yourself a decent car, man.
 
CarreraGT
FWD = no fun. Torque steer, understeer, nose heavy...

There's nothing wrong with FWD in a daily driver, but it doesn't belong in sports cars.
Click to expand...

GTI, Mazdaspeed 3, Cooper S, any other hot hatch, Cobalt SS etc. Just because the front wheels do the driving doesn't mean it's not fun. If you don't think those cars are fun to drive I don't know what to tell you. You're the only one that called it a sports car anyway.

To the OP, it looks crazy, definitely buy it. 👍
 

Latest Posts

Back