Topic: Test Drive: 2014 Buick Regal Turbo AWD

[Autos_Editor]

A small car with a big name; the 2014 Buick Regal 2.0 Turbo Premium II 4-Door Sedan AWD.

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[whaddaiknow]

"which supplies smart 18-inch alloy wheels"

Had to stop there for a moment.

Quirky NAV, quirky safety features, fake portholes, fake wood, fake metal trim at a genuine premium price. With 30+ recalls for GM this year alone, No thanks.
I'd rather have fewer premium quality features than a boat load of fakes and half-ass features with the premium price tag attached.

[mixmanmash]

Lol.  It's another Buick thread.  Let the fun begin.

[Jaeger]

Well at least it looks like the "what engine can we stick in this thing now?" roullette has finally paid off.  I've lost track of the engine bay variations on this theme that were previously offered in the Regal, but no longer.  Feels like and endless beta-test with consumers paying for the privelege of helping GM get it right.  But hey, at last, you don't have to get a GS (is that one still around?) to get decent power.  Took them long enough.  But better late than never.

[whaddaiknow]

.. endless beta-test

I think that's the best definition of GM in their last 10 or so years.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

So when GM improves a product it's "beta testing"? How long has the 2.Slow VW been around? Their 5 cylinder?

Here's a handy guide to axe grinding:

[Jaeger]

So when GM improves a product it's "beta testing"? How long has the 2.Slow VW been around? Their 5 cylinder?

When nearly every model year of the same generation vehicle brings a different power plant, that suggets to me that perhaps... just perhaps.... they didn't think things through fully in year one.  Or year two.  Or year three. Or.....

[Sir Osis of Liver]

So when GM improves a product it's "beta testing"? How long has the 2.Slow VW been around? Their 5 cylinder?

When nearly every model year of the same generation vehicle brings a different power plant, that suggets to me that perhaps... just perhaps.... they didn't think things through fully in year one.  Or year two.  Or year three. Or.....

They've had the 2.4L, the 2.4L with electric assist and two 2.0L turbo variants. Yes, the mind boggles at having used more than two engines.

[Jaeger]

So when GM improves a product it's "beta testing"? How long has the 2.Slow VW been around? Their 5 cylinder?

When nearly every model year of the same generation vehicle brings a different power plant, that suggets to me that perhaps... just perhaps.... they didn't think things through fully in year one.  Or year two.  Or year three. Or.....

They've had the 2.4L, the 2.4L with electric assist and two 2.0L turbo variants. Yes, the mind boggles at having used more than two engines.

So, three engines canned over how many model years?  4?  I'd say that looks a lot like figuring things out as they go along.  I wonder what next year's engine will be? 

You sure about there being only two variations of the 2.0t?  The engine-de-jour that is the subject of this article seems a midpoint between the initial (and very underwhelming)  2.0T and that which was previously reserved for the GS.

If so, that would be 3 variations.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

The initial 2.0L turbo had two tunes, regular and GS, but it was the same engine. The current 2.0L turbo is the same family as the one used in the ATS.

[dirtyjeffer]

The initial 2.0L turbo had two tunes, regular and GS, but it was the same engine. The current 2.0L turbo is the same family as the one used in the ATS.

i don't think that really helps your argument though.

and the fact they had (i thought it was 3) versions of the 2.0T used in the previous Regals bothered me...they gave you the same engine in a few trims, with varying amounts of power output...i even said before, why not simply have the engine put out what it puts out...don't put the engine in the base trim and neuter it for 200HP...then if you got the upgraded model, you get the 250HP version, then if you get the top model, it puts out 280HP...i get it if you had different engines as move up the trim line, but not the same damn thing, just tuned differently for each trim...that's just lazy and stupid.

[nlm]

Starting at $37k is an interesting proposition now that the LGT is no more (not that the Haldex is really comparable to Sube's AWD) and I didn't see anything on the premium upgrade that I'd want. I find the styling bland from the pictures though. Again with the fake hood/heat extractors?

[Sir Osis of Liver]

The initial 2.0L turbo had two tunes, regular and GS, but it was the same engine. The current 2.0L turbo is the same family as the one used in the ATS.

i don't think that really helps your argument though.

and the fact they had (i thought it was 3) versions of the 2.0T used in the previous Regals bothered me...they gave you the same engine in a few trims, with varying amounts of power output...i even said before, why not simply have the engine put out what it puts out...don't put the engine in the base trim and neuter it for 200HP...then if you got the upgraded model, you get the 250HP version, then if you get the top model, it puts out 280HP...i get it if you had different engines as move up the trim line, but not the same damn thing, just tuned differently for each trim...that's just lazy and stupid.

The Carrera S features a 3.8-liter engine producing 400 hp. A Power Kit (option X51) is available for the Carrera S, increasing power to 430 hp.

Lazy and stupid I suppose.

Lots of vehicles are available with optional tunes. Even the Crown Vic could be had with two power outputs depending on whether you sprung for the dual exhaust or not. For years Chevrolet had two or three power options on their 350 and 327in³ engines.

It's a marketing thing that's as old as the hills. Don't need the extra power, don't get the option. If you do want it, be my guest.

[mmret]

I'm with Sir O....its been happening for so long, who cares really. Oftentimes you get some extra bits though with the higher spec engine (BMW N52 "si" engines had an electrically actuated intake manifold and different programming that was somehow worth 35hp or something, and that's not even turbocharged).

While software-restricted detuning does irk me a little bit, its just a fact of life, marketing, product segmentation, capitalism, etc.

[dirtyjeffer]

The Carrera S features a 3.8-liter engine producing 400 hp. A Power Kit (option X51) is available for the Carrera S, increasing power to 430 hp.

Lazy and stupid I suppose.

yes, equally stupid.

[nlm]

I can think of lots of cars - some costing much more than this Regal that have fake portholes (vents, etc), fake metal trim, fake wood, fake leather, etc.

What other vehicle has OEM fake portholes?

[aquadorhj]

I can think of lots of cars - some costing much more than this Regal that have fake portholes (vents, etc), fake metal trim, fake wood, fake leather, etc.

What other vehicle has OEM fake portholes?

maserati quatroporte, bmw m3, range rover to start....  (granted, they are actual holes but non-functional)

[Jaeger]

"which supplies smart 18-inch alloy wheels"

Had to stop there for a moment.

Quirky NAV, quirky safety features, fake portholes, fake wood, fake metal trim at a genuine premium price. With 30+ recalls for GM this year alone, No thanks.
I'd rather have fewer premium quality features than a boat load of fakes and half-ass features with the premium price tag attached.

I can think of lots of cars - some costing much more than this Regal that have fake portholes (vents, etc), fake metal trim, fake wood, fake leather, etc.

Again, just because this is a Buick these things seem to be treated differently.

Nah, this isn't some group Buick persecution complex.  Those fake vents are as lame on the Optima as they are on the Buick.  Buick maybe gets singled out because it seems that they put it on just about every single freaking vehicle they make.  Hence the lameness is multiplied.

[PJ]

I've owned several GM's over the years including 2 Buicks and I want to like them and I do sometimes but mostly I'm disappointed.  They remind me of a "B" student.   They could do more if they tried but that's good enough so they called it a day. 

GM isn't the only one.  Ford gets a B+, Chrysler gets a B - ( up from a C-) and only Mazda gets an A right now. 

Just my way of thinking.

[Oldsguy]

I've owned several GM's over the years including 2 Buicks and I want to like them and I do sometimes but mostly I'm disappointed.  They remind me of a "B" student.   They could do more if they tried but that's good enough so they called it a day. 

GM isn't the only one.  Ford gets a B+, Chrysler gets a B - ( up from a C-) and only Mazda gets an A right now. 

Just my way of thinking.

Mazda's "A" only occurs in those who are on drugs that numb the senses to the NVH.