Regal TourX: Driven.

"mazda616" (mazda616) 10/30/2019 at 13:50 • Filed to: Buick Regal TourX

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I test drove a Regal TourX today. Follow the saga leading up to this here:

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I drove a 2019 “Preferred” trim...which must mean “base as can be.” This thing had cloth seats, no blind spot monitors, no heated seats, no XM radio, and no power liftgate. No sunroof, which isn’t a deal breaker to me, but my 6 has one and I like it.

Also, this car has been sitting. A lot. Upon trying to start it and test drive it, I was greeted with a flurry of clicking sounds and about 10-12 “service” messages on the information screen. A.K.A. De ad battery. Once the dealer got it started, with a jump,I t ook off in the pouring Kentucky rain  with my friend/mechanic.

The tires were flat spotted from sitting. So, the ride was quite choppy. They were starting to smooth out by the end of our test drive, though.

Overall, I liked the drive. Quick enough, solid feeling, responsive. It didn’t feel “luxurious” but didn’t feel “cheap”, either. It felt about the same as my 6, which is the problem with the TourX. My 6’s MSRP was $27,000 and this thing’s MSRP is $30-something-thousand. With discounts, it’s at $27,000, but still.

Overall, my interest is still piqued. I want to drive one that hasn’t been sitting the better part of two years, though. And one that actually has some options.

Oh, and the lack of a spare tire is silly. It has an inflator and a little jar of tire goo.

dogisbadob > mazda616 10/30/2019 at 14:19

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No sunroof? BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The TourX is available with an awesome panoramic funroof :o)

You can probably get a sunroof-equipped one for under 30k. And please no boring silver, either :p

mazda616 > dogisbadob 10/30/2019 at 14:21

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I can’t find any with a sunroof anywhere close to me. The one I’ve pretty much decided I want is this one:

https://www.johnjonescorydon.com/VehicleDetails/new-2019-Buick-Regal_TourX-Essence_AWD-Corydon-IN/3391078453

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > mazda616 10/30/2019 at 14:22

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Saw that interior, though you were trolling by posting the inside of a base Cruze. You were not.  Wow. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > mazda616 10/30/2019 at 14:22

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It really is a fine-looking automobile.

mazda616 > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 10/30/2019 at 14:23

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Right.

Chariotoflove > mazda616 10/30/2019 at 14:24

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That seems to be the weird Jekyll/Hyde thing about Buicks. It’s supposed to be a premium brand, and it is, as long as you get the higher trim. My opinion of the more base model is that the surfaces feel too much like a Chevy’s, and the design doesn’t make up for the lack of options.

You need to go drive that Essence trim.  Do it for me.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > mazda616 10/30/2019 at 14:25

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That makes a base model subaru outback seem luxurious .

Arrivederci > mazda616 10/30/2019 at 14:26

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For $22k that seems a steal.

dogisbadob > mazda616 10/30/2019 at 14:30

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White is a nice color, and that price is amazing!

Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast > mazda616 10/30/2019 at 14:31

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Here’s one by me I checked out. Didn’t drive it, but $10k off a brand new car is hard to ignore.

https://www.darcybuickgmc.com/VehicleDetails/new-2019-Buick-Regal_TourX-Essence_AWD-Joliet-IL/3395887893

mazda616 > dogisbadob 10/30/2019 at 14:38

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I think it might be a case of bait and switch. They’re saying via email that the car is $27k. I screen-shotted  this and sent it back to them.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > mazda616 10/30/2019 at 14:46

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It could be the price with a bunch of rebates you have to qualify for like military/ collage grad/ loyalty or  competitor trade-in/ I know the dealership I worked at did that stuff all the time 

Nothing > mazda616 10/30/2019 at 14:55

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The higher trim might make the interior appear nicer, but it doesn’t feel any better. If you were “ok” with this trim, you might be “ok-er” with a higher trim, but don’t expect a leaps and bounds difference.

In that sub-$25k price range though, it becomes a hard to beat option for a decent car.

Ash78, voting early and often > mazda616 10/30/2019 at 14:59

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I keep doing a double-take that a Buick is available with cloth. I’ve stalked these all over the Eastern US on Car Gurus and AutoTrader for a couple months. I think the smartest money is finding an Essence trim for right about $30k, or a wee bit less. A lot of them appear to be dealer demonstrators or courtesy cars, though (2k-10k miles).

I don’t mind the interior layout , it’s the monochromatic gray that’s getting me here.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > mazda616 10/30/2019 at 15:11

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Have you read my test -drive review? Just curious

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/buick-regal-tourx-the-test-drive-oppo-review-1826777806

Essense trim is the way to go, honestly.

Wacko > mazda616 10/30/2019 at 15:26

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No heated seats, everything has at least heated seats.

Nick Has an Exocet > mazda616 10/30/2019 at 15:31

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This makes me sad. I really do think that this car should have been a Buick. 

Vicente Esteve > mazda616 10/30/2019 at 15:36

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I don’t think getting in debt for another car you don’t truly love or has an actual necessity that only it can fulfill is a good idea. I’d say stick with the 6 until they drop in value more. 

Nick Has an Exocet > Nick Has an Exocet 10/30/2019 at 15:47

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*shouldnt

mazda616 > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 10/30/2019 at 15:58

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Yep! I read your review in part of my excessive searching of anything and everything pertaining to this model.

dieseldub > mazda616 10/30/2019 at 16:05

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I’ve sat in a couple of these at auto shows in recent years, but they were all higher trim level. I didn’t even know you could get one with cloth seats.

That said, the couple I sat in I found to be pretty comfortable and the space is crazy. Good leg room in the rear, but then you open the rear hatch and it seems like if you were to shout, you should hear an echo in return because it takes so damn long for sound to get to the windshield the thing is so long. Insanely huge cargo space.

Overall, I really like the looks of them as well as the head room, space and comfort , but haven’t driven one yet to get a feel for chassis dynamics or engine and transmission response. I do like what I’ve experienced of them so far.

Pibbs says once you go Swede > mazda616 10/30/2019 at 16:14

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Fully loaded Essence driver here. Settle for nothing less. That roof is the tits.

Mine also sat for  a year (it’s an 18, I took delivery in August 19). It’s been in the shop waiting for parts for almost a month.

BahamaTodd > Ash78, voting early and often 10/30/2019 at 16:16

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I think they tried to move it down-market a bit to fill some of the slot left open when the Verano went away.

Clunker Connoisseur - In Lucas we (don't) trust > mazda616 10/30/2019 at 16:17

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$27k for a base trim? That dealer needs to introduce some steeper discounts. If you’re willing to travel a few hours, you can usually find a top trim for at or below that if you look at the right dealer

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > mazda616 10/30/2019 at 16:42

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tell them you’ll do it for 24k out the door

Future next gen S2000 owner > Chariotoflove 10/30/2019 at 17:14

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I have an Essence trim. Worth it.

Chariotoflove > Future next gen S2000 owner 10/30/2019 at 17:15

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I believe you.  I wish they do what GMC does with the Denali trims and makes the wheel arch cladding body colored.

Future next gen S2000 owner > mazda616 10/30/2019 at 17:16

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One of us. One of us. One of us. One of us. One of us. One of us. One of us. One of us. One of us. One of us. One of us. One of us. One of us. One of us. One of us. .......

I really like mine.

mazda616 > Pibbs says once you go Swede 10/30/2019 at 17:17

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What’s going on with it?

Dbosullivan > mazda616 10/30/2019 at 17:39

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I bought an ‘18 R egal sportback about a month ago—silver w the black i nterior, p referred package as well. 28 miles on the odometer. $21, 500 out the door. Worth the trip to Virginia.

M y ‘13 F ocus ST was loaded, but cost about $8000 more. And that was the dealer demo. 

I own dead car brands only > mazda616 10/30/2019 at 17:49

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I personally prefer just above base because I don’t want all the driver aids or leather. I love my TourX which has just the moonroof and a banging stereo. I prefer the cloth because leather always scrunches up where your ass sits and looks unsightly.

I got mine for 25k brand new.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > mazda616 10/30/2019 at 18:51

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wagons look wrong without roof rails sticking out

Pibbs says once you go Swede > mazda616 10/30/2019 at 19:46

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Cold weather start causes all sorts of warnings to come up in the dash for electrical systems , transmission and AWD.

The delay was related to the strike, they are working on it at the dealership this week. I miss it every much. My loaner Acadia just isn't the same.

mazda616 > Pibbs says once you go Swede 10/30/2019 at 19:50

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Interesting. I thought maybe the car itself was just difficult to find parts for.

Pibbs says once you go Swede > mazda616 10/30/2019 at 20:22

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Nope, parts were in stock in Philly, they got them in last Friday. Body control module they think. Battery wasn’t the culprit.

I don’t know why people hate the leather in this car. Sure it’s not plush, but it’s easy to clean, which is great when you have a six year old.

I got the adaptive cruise package in mine, makes my 115 mile  daily commute a breeze.

Spencer Knight > mazda616 10/30/2019 at 21:44

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I couldn’t really afford all of the options, so I bought an essence model with zero additional upgrades for $28k. That gets you leather heated seats, power lift gate, rear release switches for the fold down seats, and that’s all! I love it.

I did talk my wife in to letting me buy a salvage TourX as well, so we have two. The salvage car has the upgraded headlights and the adaptive cruise control. The  one thing I wish I had was the adaptive cruise.  It's pretty nice to have the car handle breaking and acceleration.

Aero Engineer > mazda616 10/31/2019 at 00:14

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Hey, I’ve been getting a kick out of your posts. Especially enjoyed the one where the wife said “I guess”. Hilarious. So I own a TourX in the pearl white. It’s the essence package with both driver confidence package add ones. Basically the top of the line model minus a sunroof. I wrote a review about the car soon after i bought it. Thought maybe you’d be interested in reading it.

https://zoomzoomzooom.kinja.com/turned-40-bought-a-buick-1833533981?utm_medium=sharefromsite&utm_source=default_copy&utm_campaign=top

After a year of driving this car, i would absolutely recommend it to anybody looking for wagon in the $30- 35 K price range (which should be easy with all the GM discounts) . I read an article that something like 85% of all wagons sold in the US are Subaru Outbacks. I’m here to tell you that this car is better than the Outback in practically every way. Too bad Buick doesn’t know how to market it.

Svend > Nick Has an Exocet 10/31/2019 at 03:55

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The U.S. should of just sent the Astra, Cascada and Regal over as Opels, so there’d be none of this, ‘but it’s a Buick’, ‘It’s a Buick and supposed to be more luxurious’, etc...

These are rebadged Vauxhall/Opel cars , they are the same level as Ford. 

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Chariotoflove 10/31/2019 at 06:59

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I feel like the Essence was the same cheap interior, with some wannabe leather thrown in to try to class it up.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 10/31/2019 at 09:01

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I don’t know how other brands are, but GM seems to be big on that shit as of late. We went through the same thing with the Terrain, local dealer had a $43k one listed for $34k. I t turns out they arrived at that price by rolling  in every conceivable GM discount. Like I have to be active duty military but also a veteran? And a college student but also a graduate? And own a current GM vehicle but also be leasing a competitors vehicle? 

BahamaTodd > Pibbs says once you go Swede 10/31/2019 at 09:37

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Only thing I don’t like about the adaptive cruise is not being able to disable the following distance. When driving with more traffic around too many cars merge ahead of me and it slams on the brakes. I also think the smallest following distance could be closer. Otherwise, when traffic is moving and ever yone is staying in their lane, the adaptive cruise is great.

Spencer > mazda616 10/31/2019 at 11:14

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This was the exact same experience I had recently. Really p ut me off of them. I know  it was a base model but how different can a few features be? 

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > mazda616 10/31/2019 at 11:57

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go for a long ride to get what you want. I just drove 3 hours for my Yukon!

Chariotoflove > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 10/31/2019 at 13:51

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When I looked at them, I felt the materials were much better according to trim, but feel is one of the most subjective things.

Pibbs says once you go Swede > BahamaTodd 10/31/2019 at 14:30

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Yeah, I get that too, it is very conservative. But I also try to stay alert and involved when I'm driving, so I'm usually pretty quick on the brake or gas to keep it from jacking up when some jerk cuts me off (and outside of Boston that happens A LOT)

ctmeche > Chariotoflove 10/31/2019 at 22:23

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Aso am Essence owner here. Leather is not as supple as many luxury cars , but I mostly wanted it for durability, wipe-ability, and no winter static - so  I’m quite pleased.

Chariotoflove > ctmeche 10/31/2019 at 22:28

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I think that’s the most important thing in  what will usually be an upscale family car. Soft leather that wears off of isn’t an upgrade.

Chariotoflove > ctmeche 10/31/2019 at 22:28

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I think that’s the most important thing in  what will usually be an upscale family car. Soft leather that wears off of isn’t an upgrade.

Master Sparky > mazda616 11/03/2019 at 23:19

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I too must confess my fatal attraction to this stunning AWD technoc raft... which IMO is the most significant automotive invention of the second decade of this millennium. That says a lot!!!!

A decade for most of us reading will come and go without ownership of anything built 2010 or newer. What a fight we’ve won and we deserve this magnificent wagon.

My own love at first sight was in December 2017 at the LA Auto Show. Also there, were those bitchin’ Volvos and Jaguars including the new Sportbrake.

The 2018 Buick Regal GS and TourX were perpendicular. So close yet so far.

TourX pe rfection to me begins with the lighter “Shale” interior in cloth or leather. To match the headliner. The GS ( only in black leather) has a black headliner.

The panoramic sunroof is best in class. What other car on Earth has 12 panes of invisible solar tinted glass?

Carvana and Vroom may be the best “come and go” marketplace for 2018-2019 Regals.

I sold Buicks, GMCs and Subarus in the early 1990s at the same dealership in Westminster, California. Subaru was already selling UAW built wagons from Lafayette, Indiana.

This rebadged Buickfied Opel marks a turning point. The Buick name plate last appeared in   2018.

2019 and newer have only the tri-shield circular emblem. Unlike most nausiating Opel rebadged Saabs, Saturn’s and Vauxhalls, this is a handsome car! And it’s s exy in red!

Master Sparky > mazda616 11/04/2019 at 23:17

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I’ve been on two test drives. Which I was serious about buying vs. waste anyone’s time especially my own.

Both were “Preferred” trim. One with panoramic roof in black and one without the glass roof in silver. Both were retired courtesy vehicles.

Here’s where reality meets you, the buyer... Honest John Salesman is a needle in a continental haystack.

I respect your believing you’ll get 13 grand or more for your Mazda and knock down the price for a deal. But please don’t be offended if you get low-balled on everything from your trade-in equity to your FICO.

Submitting a credit application for any used vehicle (especially at a new car dealership) is allowing yourself to get a sex change, scalped, tarred and feathered all at once. They will submit your application to several banks (CarMax tries 50 or more).

A free subscription to Experian displays your “ FICO 8" Credit Score. GM dealers use “FICO 9". Another tool in their arsenal to low-ball you even further.

Ally Bank uses a fourth party credit reporting agency which knocks down your FICO 100 below your own radar.

Then there are stipulations or being “stipped” by the finance manager. They’re in it to win it and will stop at nothing to make even more money by having you revisit them with more redundant proof of income: pay stubs; bank statements; tax returns and even install a third party LTE GPS tracker slash ignition kill switch on your vehicle.

Need I say more? Yes! Whenever anything looks to good too good to be true, it’s exactly that. Too good to be true.

Most of us would agree... Everytime any of us ever financed or leased a new or used car, we got #©&@!!!!

Best advice. Before you go anywhere to buy a new or used car, truck or even a house... Talk to your bank.

Pibbs says once you go Swede > mazda616 12/04/2019 at 20:37

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Final update: just got my car back. Today, 12/4. They had to track down the electrical issue, which ended up being a bad connector running into the active safety module. Finally got replaced and shes back on the road.