Comments on: Buick Regal 2.0T Review

By: Gerald

Gerald — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 03:33:25 +0000

soon2b, thanks for the hint – I think I get it now. And congrats to you too.

I’ll reserve further judgement on the Regal until I get a chance to get close to one in person, but I can see how that sloping roof would present problems for rear visibility and headroom. And I must say the lack of backup sensors is very surprising indeed.

As for the styling, while seeing one doesn’t turn my head anymore I wouldn’t quite put it in the bland bucket yet – that’s reserved for the likes of Toyota Corolla, Honda Fit, Hyundai Sonata, Chevy Epica, etc.

Anyways, I’ve enjoyed your comments and I hope we’ll be hearing more from, CCT Sr.

By: A soon2b grandfather..

A soon2b grandfather.. — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:35:22 +0000

Gerald,Ask Ash about the soon2b bit. Car reviews should not wax lyrically to the vehicle, this makes an expectant punter easy prey in a car showroom, waiting for the salesman hovering round with vulture like intent. It should also point out the worst bits and therefore produce discussion and, or debate.
Take a look at the photo’s enlarge them.
There is more padding in Norah Batty’s surgical stocking than in the back seat of this vehicle.
The sloping roof line means there is a limited amount of glass in the rear quarter adding the large rear pillars means a large blind spots.
I notice you said “it has started to grow old in my eyes” which in an adjective phrase means Bland,Mild,Tastless,unstimulating, insipid.
Which is what I said in my first thread, Apocalypticly Bland.

By: Gerald

Gerald — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 07:12:32 +0000

Interesting comments, soon2b. I’ve never been inside the new Regal so I’ll have to take your word for it. Being an owner of a MkIII Mondeo, I don’t mind your “dissing” of the Regal.

As for the the exterior styling, it has started to grow old in my eyes. Perhaps there are just too many on the road now. Though I wouldn’t call it “bland”.

By: A soon2b grandfather..

A soon2b grandfather.. — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:08:53 +0000

The buick is apocalypticly bland.There is many other manufacture’s out there with the same product.Ford Mondeo,Renault Laguna just to name but two. Its a balding middle aged rep’s car.Just to give you some idea,I have seen better upholsted park benchs than the rear seats in this vehicle and thats just one of my gripes.
On the plus side the Vauxhall Insignia,a inbred cousin of the Buick has the n-cap 5star rating,which brings me round to Janette’s thread about the placing of offspring in the trunk,very insensitive, you should always place a baby monitor in there to.However what begs the question to glow in the dark trunk release switches inside the trunk,really baffels me,what does she do in trunks or is this the general norm for Buick drivers.

The Buick is expensively bland at 230,000rmb for around 100,000rmb you could buy a Brilliance BS4. Pinifarina designed and large enough to carry everything a young family could need. With the change well the man about town could buy the
http://www.ultimasports.co.uk/Content.aspx?f=gtrintro.

I’m to old to die young, yet to young to buy a Buick……..

By: Clive Goldthorp

Clive Goldthorp — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:58:45 +0000

Ash,

Many congratulations on your impending fatherhood!

However, I thought that you were planning to give the MG6 1.8 Turbo some serious consideration… Mind you, I have yet to see any shots of the MG6′s boot so guess that may not, in fact, now be as fit for purpose as the Buick Regal/Opel/Vauxhall Insignia.

By: dogtucker

dogtucker — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:19:24 +0000

Of course thats why I was wondering why you were so concerned re o-110km, top speeds and etc etc

By: CCT

CCT — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:26:32 +0000

Both, I still need to carry mountain bikes at the weekend, push chair, tubby wife, and a lot of other baby related things.

By: Gerald

Gerald — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:09:31 +0000

Oh, so you’re a wagon man? If so, do a search for Insignia OPC Sports Tourer – this will really have you drooling.

By: Gerald

Gerald — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:03:14 +0000

Not to mention it’s hard to find (97 gas that is) in the more rural areas.

A friend was telling me about his buddy’s brand new A8, who drove it waidi one weekend and couldn’t find any 97 gas.

By: dogtucker

dogtucker — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:18:28 +0000

Is this going to be a baby carrier or a speed mobile CCT?

By: CCT

CCT — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:37:51 +0000

Fuel economy is probably* good, if you dont hammer it (impossible)

Another car I am thinking about is the Suburu Outback 2.5L, also just been launched but will only use 97 gasoline in China, which just keeps getting more and more expensive.

By: Gerald

Gerald — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:36:05 +0000

Hi Rick, I believe the body is the same as the non-T models. The only difference I can see being some “T” badging on the sides and rear.

By: CCT

CCT — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:35:26 +0000

That is brilliant, Its just gone up in my estimation.

Now if they only did a 2.0T Wagon, like in Europe.

By: Rick in China

Rick in China — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:22:13 +0000

Great info Gerald, thanks.

One other think I forgot to ask, is the external body exactly the same on the new turbo models as the previous non-t?

By: Gerald

Gerald — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:04:48 +0000

Ugh, formatting got wrecked…

Anyways, the “SM Power” package brings power up to 281ps @5370 and torque 440 N-m @1970. This is what I call beastly!

And it appears to be just a chip upgrade.

By: Gerald

Gerald — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:01:56 +0000

Sorry, just realized the link doesn’t work. You have to go to the main page (www.che168.com) and select the make and model from the drop-downs.

By: Gerald

Gerald — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:01:12 +0000

Another thing, since the 2.0T is the same engine that’s used in the Pontiac Solstice/Opel GT, I was thinking about what it would take to get the Regal up to 264ps spec. I have a feeling it’s not too much, based on the following:

Pontiac Solstice GXP/Opel GT:
194 kW (264 ps) @ 5300 RPM
353 Nm (260 lb-ft) @ 5300 RPM

Buick Regal/Opel Insignia 2.0T:
162 kW (220 ps) @ 5300 RPM
350 N·m (260 lb-ft) @ 2000-4000 RPM

Notice the max torque ratings. It’s probably as simple as a chip remapping and intake/exhaust to get the torque to stay flat up to 5300 RPM. And the tranny should be able to handle it as long as the max torque stays the same. I wonder if any Insignia owners have tried this?

Oh, it looks like I asked too soon. Check this out:

http://www.smchiptuning.com/auto/opel/insignia/2.0-turbo/220

Original SM Optimum SM Power
Snaga (KS/rpm) 220/5300 259/5340 281/5370
Obrtni moment (Nm/rpm) 350/2000 414/1980 440/1970
Cijena (euro) 500 650

Sign me up for an “SM Power” please!

By: Rick in China

Rick in China — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:51:16 +0000

Thanks, exactly what I wanted.

By: Gerald

Gerald — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:27:27 +0000

You can find pricing and specs here:

http://www.che168.com/1319/

For your convenience, here is a summary:

2.0L: 179.9k/199.9k RMB, 0-100 11.4s, top 197km/h, 147ps
1.6T (6-spd manual): 199.9k RMB, 0-100 9.2s, top 215km/h, 180ps
2.4L: 199.9k/225.9k/245.9k RMB, 0-100 9.8s, top 205km/h, 170ps
2.0T: 255.9k RMB, 0-100 7.7s, top 232km/h, 220ps

By: Rick in China

Rick in China — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:39:41 +0000

Are there pricemodelspeed comparisons available? For example, I like the

260k rmb 2.0T 1-100 7.7, top 232kmph @ 220bhp

information, but what about the non-turbo versions…comparing price & power?

By: Gerald

Gerald — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 08:27:30 +0000

Congrats Ash on the good news (on being a dad and impending purchase of new car)!

The Regal “T” appears to be a sweet ride. I’m a bit surprised to hear how cramped it is in the rear, though this is not unexpected judging from the exterior. I guess this is one area where the Regal differs from the new LaCrosse. But based on the photo of the instrument cluster, it looks like fuel economy is not a strong point of this car (or maybe the reviewers were having a bit of fun).

By: CCT

CCT — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 06:47:12 +0000

If they make a Wagon version, Id buy it RIGHT NOW, but I think only the Astra-Excelle XT is likely to come in wagon form

By: dogtucker

dogtucker — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:48:31 +0000

And a very well built car – GM still admit that their Chinese built Buicks are way ahed of their USA built models.

By: Janette

Janette — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:45:44 +0000

Congrats on becoming a new father!

Please do not make a reference to putting children in the trunk of a car. (because they are crying) This may seem so trivial to you; but many children have died in the trunk of a vehicle.

Do the Buick’s (and other vehicles sold there) have the glow-in-the-dark trunk release inside the trunk compartment?

By: Rick in China

Rick in China — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:59:14 +0000

Congratulations.

Sounds like a good review, surprised with the power for the cost, seems like a very good value if you can get past the branding – I’d much prefer the package with a little lightning bolt instead of what my grandparents used to drive.

By: Head Honcho

Head Honcho — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 08:01:47 +0000

Not sure New Buick can recover from its name in the US.

By: CCT

CCT — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 04:57:57 +0000

This is new Buick, not old Buick.

New Buick is awesome, old Buick is dire.

By: CCT

CCT — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 04:56:37 +0000

thanks.

I drove an A4L 2.0TSI, Magotan, BMW 320, Merc C200.

I personally prefer the Regal out of all of them on power, price, and luxury level. The A4L wins for rear leg space and boot space, Merc for best front end, but I cannot afford the V6 version with the brilliant grill, instead its the 1.8T with the so-so grill.

By: Head Honcho

Head Honcho — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 03:35:14 +0000

You have peaked my interest in driving this car. But I could never say I drive a Buick. Tiger Woods was paid how many million by them and doesn’t even drive one.

Woods was injured when his Cadillac SUV struck a fire hydrant and a tree just beyond his driveway at 2:25 a.m. Friday. Police said his lips were cut and blood was in his mouth when officers arrived. Police chief Daniel Saylor said Woods’ wife, Elin, smashed the back window with a golf club to help get him out.

By: james

james — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 01:48:10 +0000

Mozeltoff on your pending fatherhood!

Yep, that Buick is one of the few GMs I would buy…Have you ever driven the 3 series Ash? How would you compare the two ?

By: Go Red

Go Red — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 23:20:26 +0000

Congrats on being a dad CCT. I am sure you will be happy with the Regal which is really a German car. A good German car at that.
I see what you are saying about the cramped seats. I am 5 foot 5 inches also 32 waist and drive a 2001 Mercedes C240 which I sometimes find a little cramped. I always wondered how “Americans with larger rears” feel driving in some of the smaller European cars.