2014 Regal Comes Standard With Turbo POWAAAA

"Tom McParland" (tommcparland)
11/15/2013 at 10:12 • Filed to: Buick Regal

You guys remember the Regal right? You know, the Opel import that was supposed to give Buick a legit contender for entry-level luxury. It was a nice looking car, but ended up being too small, too heavy, and eventually cannibalized by its Verano brother. Yeah, they made the GS (which is now a pre-owned bargain) but also was too heavy and wrong wheel drive. Anyway, for 2014 the Regal comes standard with the 2.0T putting out 259 hp and 295 tq. And you can also get AWD! Not too shabby, and you can still pick one up with a 6MT for less than... Just checked Buick's website, you cannot get a 6MT Regal unless it is a GS. And of course the GS is still FWD :(

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Buy why bother?

DISCUSSION (17)

Reigntastic > Tom McParland
11/15/2013 at 10:16

I don't like this trend of proper drivetrain packages being limited to automatics, this is just like the top trim taurus.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Reigntastic
11/15/2013 at 10:18

Yeah it really is a bummer. I do not, however, regret getting my SHO. It does actually have an excellent automatic transmission (6F55).

oldirtybootz > Reigntastic
11/15/2013 at 10:18

The Taurus doesn't let you row your own at all though.

PS9 > Tom McParland
11/15/2013 at 10:19

So they finally caved on the Halidex system the OPC gets in Europe.

They're still being sheepish on the power though. We need a 300+ HP AWD GSX, and we need it yesterday.

Reigntastic > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
11/15/2013 at 10:19

Yeah, the technology is definitely improving, it's just disappointing considering that the parts are already designed and made (manuals for lower trim are an option) but they just decided not to use them. I guess at least it isn't a all or nothing kind of deal.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Tom McParland
11/15/2013 at 10:21

The GS is a pre-owned bargain? Last I checked I was taken aback a little bit by how high they were priced.

Reigntastic > oldirtybootz
11/15/2013 at 10:22

You're absolutely right. I believe it's the Fusion that does.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Reigntastic
11/15/2013 at 10:25

Yeah, I think currently a car from Ford I would consider would be the MKZ in AWD trim with the 3.7 V6. It's just so so sad that it isn't available with a manual either. Or even the 2.0T Fusion isn't... You have to settle for the 1.6T to get the manual. Ford unfortunately doesn't seem to be bothering with manuals in their higher trim, higher power sedans.

Reigntastic > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
11/15/2013 at 10:26

I guess there's always the used car market, but that's only going to be good for so long. Demand just really isn't there, I'd imagine.

oldirtybootz > Reigntastic
11/15/2013 at 10:27

Correct. The 6mt only comes with the 2.5L and 1.6T. The 2.0T is autotragic only.

Reigntastic > oldirtybootz
11/15/2013 at 10:30

This makes me realize more and more often what a gem my 2.0T '10 Jetta with the 6MT was.

oldirtybootz > Reigntastic
11/15/2013 at 10:37

And why I love my 1.4T 6mt Dart.

AMC/Renauledge > PS9
11/15/2013 at 10:46

Trouble is, the OPC's 2.8t is an ancient gas guzzler in that level of tune. The last vehicle to get the 2.8t in America was the 2010 SRX, which was so temperamental, GM canned it after less than a full model year and replaced it with the now standard 3.6.

And putting the 3.6 in the AWD Regal would push it over 4,000lbs. Plus, GM doesn't have a manny transaxle for the transverse 3.6.

I'm glad they kept the lighter 4cyl in the Regal GS. I just wish it made more than 259hp. And that the manny tranny was available with AWD.

PS9 > AMC/Renauledge
11/15/2013 at 10:51

The regal as it is now is 3600-3700 lb. The engine is second heaviest part of the car, but two extra cylinders isn't going to = 300-400 more pounds. That's almost what a whole LS1 weighs.

AMC/Renauledge > PS9
11/15/2013 at 11:21

Look at the Insignia OPC's curb weight. It's over 4,000lbs with the V6 and Haldex.

PS9 > AMC/Renauledge
11/15/2013 at 12:47

I'm going by the car we actually get from Buick, which is 3700 in AWD trim right now. I would believe a few hundred more for a V6, but there just isn't going to be a whole LS1 sized weight gulf between a 3.6 and the 2.0T we get today.

AMC/Renauledge > PS9
11/15/2013 at 13:07

The Buick website says the FWD manual GS is 3,725lbs. It doesn't give the additional weight of the Haldex system, but it adds 150lbs to the LaCrosse when it's specified.

So it stands to reason the Regal GS AWD would be 3,875lbs with Haldex. Add the weight of the 6AT, which is standard with AWD, and you're looking more like 3,950lbs.

Add, not just 2 more cylinders, but pistons that are 20% bigger for the 3.6 than they are the 2.0T and it'd pass 4,000lbs easy.

The Insignia VXR runs 4,015lbs with a manual transmission and without dozens of pounds of "QuietTuning" sound-deadening or Federalized bumpers. It also has lighter Recaro seats.