"Moves-Like-Senna" (moves-like-senna)
02/02/2015 at 11:40 • Filed to: AMA, Buick
0
21|
"Moves-Like-Senna" (moves-like-senna)
02/02/2015 at 11:40 • Filed to: AMA, Buick | 0
| 21 |
I just finished my 24 hour jaunt with a 2015 Buick Regal Turbo. It's been on my to drive list after driving it for just an hour previously and a possible candidate for a new car for myself.
Fortunately, I was able to get one for 24 hours and did just about anything you could imagine in one with a total driving milage of over 1000 miles in that period. I usually drive a different car every week or two for 24 hours to a week so I thought I may as well start an AMA for those interested.
So let's start, ask me anything about the 2015 Buick Regal Turbo
(car shown in image not the car driven)
Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
> Moves-Like-Senna
02/02/2015 at 11:42 |
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Is it worthy of the Regal name?
Diesel
> Moves-Like-Senna
02/02/2015 at 11:42 |
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When you go to a parking lot, can you find your own car?
Carl (@stuffcarlsays)
> Moves-Like-Senna
02/02/2015 at 11:43 |
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Does it have the proper transmission?
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Moves-Like-Senna
> Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
02/02/2015 at 11:44 |
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I've actually been lucky enough to drive the second/third/fourth gen regals (this being the fifth - still working on the first) but since the second generation, I have to say this has been in my opinion the most worthy generation of the name.
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Moves-Like-Senna
> Diesel
02/02/2015 at 11:46 |
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Haha, it's actually pretty darn unique in a parking lot but the key fob distance kind of sucked. I first drove up to the Snow Festival in Quebec city. The parking in the area was mostly indoors and I ended up in one of the fancier ones. It fit right in but I had to be within 20 feet for the fob to function at all to find the car.
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Moves-Like-Senna
> Carl (@stuffcarlsays)
02/02/2015 at 11:47 |
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I wish it had a manual but this example was an auto which was a tad slower than I would have liked but I still do enjoy how the manual mode tells me "Shift denied" rather than just not shifting.
Justin Hughes
> Moves-Like-Senna
02/02/2015 at 11:52 |
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Is it any good?
Vicente Esteve
> Moves-Like-Senna
02/02/2015 at 11:53 |
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Does it elegantly "surge" when you step on it, or does it feel jerky?
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Moves-Like-Senna
> Justin Hughes
02/02/2015 at 12:03 |
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I love the design but it's definitely not the car for me. It feels unique to other cars on the Epsilon II platform (Malibu, Lacrosse, XTS and Impala) but the car is not without it's issues. I'd give it a 48/100 if you were to buy it new. It does what it has to do. On the used market you could get a Regal GS for about 10-15k now (2011/2012) and for that price I'd have fewer complaints.
Some of the main issues I had:
Foot rest/pedal rest is too far to the right... there's about 3.5 inches between it and the panel to the left with a block there so you can't lean on it and if you're tall, you have to bend to fit.
The interior is cramped. I'm 6ft3 so most cars feel rather tight, but compared to the Malibu/Impala/XTS and Lacrosse, the interior felt significantly smaller. I had to duck to get in, let the wheel loose and move the seat back then redo all that once I was in.
Steering and brakes...Most of my driving was winter driving on snow, ice and frozen asphalt. The brakes were numb as can be, and Quebec city being covered in snow and ice, with very steep hills, I'd like to know what my car is doing. I found the brakes to be numb and twitchy just like the steering which I know we all joke the Malibu is like that but it's far better from my experience.
Traction control, again, it was numb and I never knew what it was going to do. I ended up having to disable it.
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Moves-Like-Senna
> Vicente Esteve
02/02/2015 at 12:05 |
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Definitely jerky and sometimes the turbo lag was painful. I got cut off on the highway doing 65mph, dropped to 40, tried to give it a go and it took 4 seconds for any real acceleration.
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Vicente Esteve
> Moves-Like-Senna
02/02/2015 at 12:18 |
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Ouch. I would've expected a more elegant acceleration.
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Moves-Like-Senna
> Vicente Esteve
02/02/2015 at 12:25 |
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I agree. It was zippy and quick but with the rest of the car so numb, it made no sense why the acceleration was so jerky.
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Vicente Esteve
> Moves-Like-Senna
02/02/2015 at 12:30 |
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The GS looks amazing great thoug, and are currently depreciating nicely.
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Moves-Like-Senna
> Vicente Esteve
02/02/2015 at 12:38 |
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Agreed! In the 10-15K range for the GS (2012) I think it's a solid deal.
PilotMan
> Moves-Like-Senna
02/02/2015 at 12:44 |
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Really, I love the GS and that's getting dang cheap. The six speed is pretty fun and comfortable for an old man's car.
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Moves-Like-Senna
> PilotMan
02/02/2015 at 13:01 |
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I'd say it's out of the Buick line, the Regal is more one of the young man's cars. It's pretty peppy and tight but the GS used is one of the best bargain for the buck cars for the age/price range in my eyes.
TopSirloin
> Moves-Like-Senna
02/02/2015 at 13:02 |
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Could you tell it was a Buick? People in their commercials can never tell it's a Buick.
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PilotMan
> Moves-Like-Senna
02/02/2015 at 13:21 |
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Matt Hardigree and I really wanted the AWD wagon but sadly it wasn't shipped across the pond.
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Moves-Like-Senna
> PilotMan
02/02/2015 at 15:22 |
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I want the wagon really badly myself. It's sexy as can be and would actually likely help the interior's cramped feeling. It wouldn't be exactly bigger in the front but even looking in the mirror and seeing that extra space should help. Plus wagons are just any auto enthusiast's dream.
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PilotMan
> Moves-Like-Senna
02/02/2015 at 15:26 |
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With the passing of the CTS-V wagon, we need something like this from GM.
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Moves-Like-Senna
> PilotMan
02/02/2015 at 18:03 |
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I wish those CTS-V wagon prices would drop just a bit more but any CTS wagon seems to be retaining ridiculous value. I think a Cruze and a Regal wagon would be nice.
Personally I love the Chevy Cruze and feel like it's not appreciated as much as it should be. I've never beaten a car harder. I'm still working on writing up my review but boy, the traction control system kept it on the road while doing 60mph or higher on rural mining roads, I managed to cross a 2 foot wide, 1 foot deep rock ditch, it got great milage, no troubles in rain storms with zero visibility, was surprisingly comfortable and had a good balance of handling, break and acceleration feel. I think a Cruze wagon would be rather popular.
Sidenote: One of the things I forgot to mention were the headlights. Some of the worst I've ever used. The only headlights I've complained about in the past have been in rough weather but in this case, they were just plain crap. The high beams were not effective whatsoever and the regular headlights were just enough to see.