On Wheels by Brooks Peterson

Saturday, October 21, 2000

Buick Regal: It's naughty and nice

Now, I yield to no one in my affection for things Buick. Having learned to drive several eons ago in a real Buick (i.e., one with portholes in the front fenders), I harbor a deep and abiding affection for the brand even after all these years of corporate homogenization and depersonalization.
   Even one as smitten as I, however, must admit that in the great overarching scheme of things "Buick" is not the name that automatically comes to mind when you think "performance car."
   Solid? Yes.
   Dignified? Absolutely.
   Understated? But of course.
   But . . . "hot?" Well . . .
   Oh, sure, there have been Buicks now and then that are capable of soul-stirring performance: the Skylark Grand (or was it "Gran?") Sport coupes of the mid-to-late '60s, with their big ol' cast-iron V-8s, and of course the Grand Nationals of the '60s, clad all in black with heavy-breathing turbocharged V-6s.
   These, however, have been anomalies - infinitely rewarding ones, but off Buick's beaten track.
   These days, Buick has pretty much gotten all that stuff out of its system: The gorgeous Riviera, with its supercharged V-6, is now history, victim of a market that had lost interest in big coupes, no matter how intoxicating their lines; and while the supercharged Ultra version of the top-o'-line Park Avenue remains, that's definitely an iron-fist-in-a-velvet-glove sort of proposition.
   However, there is still a naughty Buick on the reservation, despite the care it has taken in covering its tracks.

Buick Regal GS Five-passenger front-wheel-drive sedan Base price: $25,300 Price as tested: $27,485 Drivetrain: Supercharged fuel-injected 3.8-liter V-6, 240 hp; four-speed automatic-overdrive transmission Brakes: Front and rear discs, power-assisted, with standard antilock (ABS) EPA mileage: 18 city/27 highway Web site: www.buick.com

   Behold the Buick Regal GS: To all indications, just another good-looking, up-scale, nicely turned-out mid-sized family sedan, right? Still very much in the stylistic mainstream, none of the curves-and-sharp-edges look we're starting to see from some other GM marques, not to mention Ford.
   Fact is, its shiny chrome wheels and slick lines notwithstanding, you probably wouldn't give it a second look.
   Too bad for you: If you let this one pass you by, you could be missing out on an improbably, almost startlingly rewarding experience.
   Brooks Brothers car
   What you got here, y'see, is a very Brooks Brothers car wrapped around a party animal of an engine: the same 3.8-liter supercharged V-6 you'll find under the hood of the big Ultra, generating the same 240 horses - but doing it in a significantly smaller, lighter vehicle.
   Begin to see where we're going with this?
   Yes, brothers and sisters, we're talking about a Buick that can seriously lay claim to a Yahoo Factor. No joke.
   Oh, all right: We're not dealing with an NHRA top fuel eliminator; neither are we looking at slice-and-dice competition for a 5-Series BMW. Still . . .
   As it happened, my relationship with the Regal GS had a chance to ripen over some miles. A lot of miles, in fact: a run up to Ann Arbor to deposit my son in the Land of Maize and Gold, followed a couple of days later by a run back to our city by the bay. We're talking 3,000 miles: Major Road Trip, in other words.
   Getting to know you. . .
   In such an experience, you really get to know a car. I mean, really. If the vehicle has any nasty little foibles - the sort of thing you'd miss just wheeling it out of the dealership for a quick jaunt down the expressway - you're going to have ample opportunity to get up close and personal with them.
   It is my pleasure to report that my 2000 Regal GS was at once a solid citizen and an entertaining companion. It's that supercharged engine that is at the heart of the story: Had you not been clued in ahead of time, you could be excused for assuming you were driving a car with a nice big V-8.
   Under all but the most bizarre demands, acceleration is seamless, almost effortless. You want to go fast? Coming right up. You want to go seriously fast? Done and done.
   All this with excellent fuel mileage: I was averaging 26 to 27 mpg (on premium) the whole trip.
   Happily, there's more good news down there where the rubber meets the road.
   Some Buicks purportedly equipped with "sport" suspensions have let me down in the curvy bits: They tone down the staggering and wallowing a bit . . . but not nearly enough.
   A capable, crafted vehicle
   The Regal GS, however, is a vastly more satisfying proposition in this department. It's not a sport sedan, exactly, but it's not just another sedan.
   What it is, is a capable vehicle, thoughtfully crafted to maintain its composure even as it coddles its occupants.
   In that connection, it's interesting to note that the Regal GS does a lot of the things last week's overtly sporty Olds Aurora does - but for a lot less green. ('Course, the Aurora does give you a choice between a V-8 and a V-6. And a lot more glitz.)
   About all we could wish for the Regal GS, in fact would be a tad more pizzazz: The interior, with its muted grays wherever you look, and its distinctly '90s instrumentation, is a bit too tranquil for this car's true nature.
   Posteriology
   Oh, and the seats: Buick has in the past made much of its commitment to seat design. Could we call it Posteriology?
   At any rate, there's room for a little improvement: How about some more lumbar support here, guys?
   But that's about it for the carping. Buick has long been celebrated for its successes in a specialized genre: the businessman's express. What we have here, I submit, is a businessman's express . . . with attitude.
   An appealing option: You might want to consider it for your portfolio.
  
  

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