by "bwp240" (bwp240)
Published 04/05/2017 at 15:34
by "bwp240" (bwp240)
Published 04/05/2017 at 15:34
Tags: Regal TourX
STARS: 0
The Regal TourX is a pretty brave direction for Buick to venture. There is already a lot of skepticism in the product and confidence is mixed.
If the Jalopnik comments could be symbolized in images, this post would be NSFW. But, for every three posts praising the design and the fact that Buick is actually doing this, there is one that lays out the truth. People need to actually buy these wagons. There is no incentive to make the product if no one buys the product.
A lot of people are concerned that the TourX may go the way of the Chevy SS, an enthusiast car that was not purchased by enthusiasts. However, there are two major differences.
The Regal TourX is not a luxury high performance full size sedan
Buick actually gives a damn.
We are already seeing some shades of common enthusiast car issues
“It is what I have been waiting for for years. Finally, somebody listens to me and builds a product I actually want.”
“Are you gonna buy it when it comes out?”
“No.”
Well this sparks worry that the TourX will not sell well, Buick will cancel the model after 3 years. The wagon will be gone forever and crossovers will be solidified.
But fear not, there is one demographic that could be very interested in this car and save the wagon from oblivion. Old people.
That’s right Buick’s bread and butter market in America. Yes, the Regal wagon is the perfect vehicle for older Americans that find their Enclave a little too difficult to get up and into. The Regal promotes a favorable ride height for egress, it should ride similarly, and it sort of looks like an Enclave in the back end. The power lift gate and truck height are very old people friendly. If the starting price of this car is too high and young enthusiasts are required to wait on the used market, then old people are the answer, and with their love of buying or leasing luxury cars, the used market will be flooded.
Help us old people, you are our only hope.
"CB" (jrcb)
04/05/2017 at 15:37, STARS: 0
My mum wants a new car, and also wants a Buick. Maybe I could show her this, because the Envision is currently the apple of her eye.
"Ash78, voting early and often" (ash78)
04/05/2017 at 15:41, STARS: 0
My parents (in their late 60s and currently in a Q5) won’t even consider going back to a non-crossover. My mom started it with a couple of RAV-4 models back in the 90s and she won’t go back — because honestly, for 99% of driving, you’re giving nothing up in dynamics and offering easier ingress/egress and visibility. That’s a win/win. Boomers are why crossovers are running the market now. And as much as I’d like to go for Buick’s wagon, I think the cladding and Faux-by-four looks truly kill it for me. If I’m shopping this size, luxury, and price for a vehicle, it would likely be a Mazda CX9 for me.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
04/05/2017 at 15:48, STARS: 0
How is a Buick version of a Subaru Outback not a mainstream car?
"bwp240" (bwp240)
04/05/2017 at 15:49, STARS: 0
I agree with he Faux by four. It looks silly. One of the interviews with the Buick Rep stated “Yes, we went with the rugged look.” What? Why! It is a Buick, not an Escort or an All-Track, you aren’t taking this on dirt roads for fun.
I understand that they did it because the lifted height projects more crossover characteristics and people may view it as such, but it still is kind of silly.
"bwp240" (bwp240)
04/05/2017 at 15:51, STARS: 0
I think it’s main stream-ness will be based on the MSRP. I would not be surprised if they start in the mid 30ks and crest 40k fully loaded.
Plus Buicks are not known for the characteristics Subarus are known for.
"Nothing" (nothingatalluseful)
04/05/2017 at 15:55, STARS: 0
Much like the annoying Chevy Real People ads, Buick needs to stop with the annoying synth music “That’s a Buick?” ads that simply reinforce that it’s an old people car.
"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
04/05/2017 at 15:55, STARS: 0
Except all the old people I know would rather the crossover height, for the exact reason you think they would prefer a wagon. You “get in it” as opposed to “get down into it” or “get up into it”.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
04/05/2017 at 16:14, STARS: 2
Station wagons currently available in the US, and whether or not they are a Subaru Outback:
Audi A4 allroad ($44,000) - Subaru Outback
BMW 330i ($42,950) - Not a Subaru Outback
Mercedes E400 ($62,300) - Not a Subaru Outback
Subaru Outback ($25,645) - Subaru Outback
Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen ($21,580) - Not a Subaru Outback
Volkswagen Golf Alltrack ($25,850) - Subaru Outback
Volvo V60 ($36,150) - Not a Subaru Outback
Volvo V60 CC ($41,700) - Subaru Outback
Volvo V90 ($49,950) - Not a Subaru Outback (but only available by special order)
Volvo V90 CC ($55,300) Subaru Outback (and the only V90 you’ll see on a dealer lot)
The Regal TourX has a 250 hp turbo 4 with awd and is a Subaru Outback. This is roughly equivalent to the Audi A4 Allroad and Volvo V60 CC. Assuming it is priced reasonably lower than either one, it should have a decent chance at success.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
04/05/2017 at 16:15, STARS: 2
I see what you’re saying, but in fact, the opposite may be true about the height. Older people often look for something higher up that means they don’t have to bend their legs as much. My wife, who is not old I must stress, has arthritis that makes her love her Sedona, whereas normal car height gives her trouble. She can slide in and out easily. That said, this wagon is raised a couple of inches, and that could do the trick.
I’ve gotta believe for my own faith in humanity that there must still be enough folks in the US who need to move stuff but want a car instead of a CUV.
"TahoeSTi" (tahoesti)
04/05/2017 at 16:36, STARS: 0
To bad old people are lazy and don’t drive manuals.
"bwp240" (bwp240)
04/05/2017 at 16:36, STARS: 1
Yeah, in my experience one of the easiest cars to get in and out of is the HHR (it is one of few things they did right on that car). The floor, seat, and roof height is just enough to horizontally slide in and out of with little need to bend up or down. If the added height to the TourX facilitates that, it may be a selling point.
I have tried the All-Track, but I honestly cannot remember any major differences between the ingress/egress of that vs the regular Sportwagen.
"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
04/05/2017 at 16:40, STARS: 1
I agree. My 5 foot 4 inch tall grandfather bought a first gen Ford Escape because he couldn’t easily get into anything lower.
"bwp240" (bwp240)
04/05/2017 at 16:52, STARS: 1
With the possibility of bringing wagons back to more mainstream and encourage innovation and performance trims in the future, I am willing to make that sacrifice.
"TahoeSTi" (tahoesti)
04/05/2017 at 16:57, STARS: 0
I’m not willing to own and automatic transmission yet.
"bwp240" (bwp240)
04/05/2017 at 17:03, STARS: 0
I am willing to have an auto, but I want to have a manual mode. Sometimes I just feel like driving to WalMart.
But damnit, put the sequential gear selector in the right way
"Maxima Speed" (maximaspeed)
04/05/2017 at 17:10, STARS: 1
I know what you mean about the gear selector. My Solara is frustrating, who ever heard of pushing forward to go up a gear. That’s not how Rally cars work.
"TahoeSTi" (tahoesti)
04/05/2017 at 17:11, STARS: 0
No, I want a clutch pedal. No flappy paddle or fake shifter thing.....I actually have never owned and automatic nor has my wife. And put in an SMG box already not just a stupid selector.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
04/05/2017 at 17:56, STARS: 1
The Boomers are definitely a big factor, but it’s not the whole story. A look around the parking lot of the middle school I work at shows the other part of the story. A substantial portion of our staff are females between ages 23-39. Married or not, kids or not, about 75% of them drive a CUV. Maybe 10% have a minivan (all with kids, of course), and 15% have a car (some with kids, some without).
Women are driving more and more of car purchases, and they like that bit of extra height from a CUV. Like you said, for 99% of driving nothing is sacrificed in terms of dynamics.
I think the Regal wagon has a solid chance of surviving. Were I in the market I would have to chose between it and the CX-9. I don’t think one would go wrong either way.
"Ash78, voting early and often" (ash78)
04/06/2017 at 11:23, STARS: 0
Very true — I do believe there’s a bit of chicken & egg in the market, ie many Gen Xer and Millenials are also choosing crossovers because they offer a good compromise of everything, but the boomers were always (often secretly) the test market for most of them. Even when Honda first brought out the Element, and Scion the xB, they were pitched as “youthful” but were bought in droves by middle-aged people. I think that sort of proved the marketing possibilities for small crossovers, so now they’re widely adopted by everyone.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
04/06/2017 at 12:37, STARS: 0
Yeah, I think that’s about right. The boomers proved them to be a viable segment, and now they’re what almost everybody wants. I think the thing that very few people are willing to admit, is the reason CUV’s are selling so well is that they are actually quite good. Very few people give one tenth of one shit about the driving dynamics that make a wagon “better” than a CUV. For them, the CUV is easier to get in and out of, easier to see things at an intersection, and a lot less awkward buckling kids into. They also drive perfectly fine and get reasonable gas mileage.
"Ash78, voting early and often" (ash78)
04/06/2017 at 14:08, STARS: 0
As soon as I learned how to squint properly, I started seeing most of them as wagons. It’s very pleasant, and only a mild delusion.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
04/06/2017 at 14:20, STARS: 0
That’s really all they are, mildly lifted wagons. It amuses me that most everybody around here loves AMC wagons, and hates CUV’s.
Several years ago there was a Miller High Life commercial about the fact that SUVs are just lifted station wagons, it always cracked me up. I’d search for it, but I’m at work.