1991 Buick Regal Gran Sport | Retro Review

What more did you need in the early 90s than a sporty leather interior and a 3800 V6?
Show 1016 | Original Airdate 01-12-1991
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[@thebuttcutter549]

my wifes 94 GS is still running today with 250k miles and still gets 34 mpg on the highway!! these were some of the best cars that GM ever made!!

[@Viper81766]

Beautiful high quality cars brother

[@landyachtfan79]

Of course it is!!! You CAN'T kill a 3.8!!!!!!

[@a.person7825]

The 3800. One of the best things to come out of Detroit. Did you write a check for that milk? 😎

[@thebuttcutter549]

​@@a.person7825haha yes!!😂

[@Skyhawk1987Turbo]

Oh wow that’s impressive

[@palebeachbum]

A great car with a great engine. A friend had a 1992 Regal. I got many rides in it. Extremely plush, smooth, roomy, and quiet. This was back in the day when GM actually made some solidly built vehicles with good dependability. Boy, do I miss those days. GM vehicles nowadays fit squarely into a category of "Is it actually American or is it Korean, and does it have an unreliable tiny turbo 4cyl. or crappy V6?" It's interesting they compared it to an Acura Legend. The Legend was and still is perceived as the superior car. Japan was at the top of its game in the early '90s. The thing is, the Legend was a more expensive car, and as history has shown, the 3.2L V6 in the Legends would eventually develop an expensive oil consumption problem. The 3800 V6 wasn't as refined, but it was actually a more solid engine that could last several hundred thousand miles.

[@chriscornelius2518]

I don't understand the Legend as a competitor. Acura is a premium brand. The Regal was a competitor to the Taurus, Spirit, Accord and Camry, etc. I think even those days it was probably a 3rd or 4th place among those. The Accords and Camrys of those days were just reliable plane Jane cars. I believe when Camry went large in 92 or 93, it just was levels above the competition in refinement.

[@milfordcivic6755]

Acura Legend was the TLX of today....a fancied up Accord.

[@beb1527]

Believe it or not I had both a 92 Legend LS (5 speed) sedan and much later I had a ‘93 Buick Regal sedan with the 3800 engine. I definitely will say they were not comparable. But the Buick was much better than I expected it to be. I bought mine with 70k miles and 8 years old as a train station car. I ended up keeping it for 6 years and 40k more miles. Mostly trouble free I might add. As a bonus, the regal with its skinny tires and weight mostly up front made it unstoppable in the snow.

[@palebeachbum]

@@chriscornelius2518 Buick was a "near luxury" brand, as was Acura. What Buick was to Chevy, Acura was to Honda. Even though the Legend was Acura's flagship car, it competed more closely with an entry point Lexus ES300 than it did the flagship Lexus LS400.

[@carzak]

@@milfordcivic6755 The Legend had its own platform and a completely different powertrain layout from the Accord. The Vigor used the Accord platform.

[@rodmunch69]

Man, that Pepsi product placement was so perfect, I thought you guys were doing it in the vein of Wayne's World, but that didn't come out until the next year. Great video, like always.

[@nb7466]

I drove that exact car in highschool and it was almost 20 years old. It was a great car. Tough with a good ride lots of power. Went well over 200k miles. It's a shame they don't make them that well anymore. Buick made good cars

[@Trance88]

In my opinion, this is the best looking Buick they sold at the time. I like the look of it. It still holds a sort of modern-ish appearance that I believe doesn't stand out too much in modern traffic. Fuel milage is blah, but the 0-60 is pretty darn good.

[@OLDS98]

Thank you for this GM review. It is appreciated. They kept upgrading this model until 1996. The 1993 facelift helped. It was redesigned for 1997 model year. I recall when they had spy photos of this model in the magazines back in the day. They really had to dress this car up. The other interesting thing this was the only GM-10/W Body that got the 3800 V6 initially. The others did not get the 3800 V6 until 1997 model year. I preferred the digital gauges on this car. It is interesting the Regal had one more generation on the W Body with thje Century and then it was replaced by LaCrosse and then came back based of an Opel and lives today in China at Buick there. Thank you so much.

[@rickreid81]

GM wouldn't make this car today. Because its too good of a car that lasts too long & hardly ever breaks down.

[@metop33]

Such shame what Buick has become. These cars were great with quality, style and unbelievable ride!

[@NFSMAN50]

This was the car that everyone's grandma would pull up in at church the 90s and early 2000s! These cars were good vehicles, comfy and well built. Grandma rode in style in the 90s and 2000s! The 3800 Series was bulletproof.

[@RoadCone411]

I was not generally a fan of GM in this era - but I always found this car's styling very appealing. It was SO much better than it's GM10 stablemates, especially the awkward Lumina and starting to get tacky Grand Prix, and it even looked better than the Regal Coupe to my eyes. This car was a bit of an enigma, because as nice as it was to look at from the outside, the cheap old-fashioned dashboard didn't work as well, although I don't think any competing Ford or Chrysler products were as comfortable to sit or ride in than this Regal. Performance was ok, not amazingly sporty even back then, but the car did everything it was supposed to do, and it really wasn't meant to be an aggressively macho or sporty car anyway. I just don't know who was cross shopping this car with the Acura Legend. That car was in a different league and I doubt too many Regal buyers found themselves in a Honda showroom, never mind an Acura one. If you could afford the Acura, it's not even a choice is it??

[@jamieshields9521]

Interesting my Holden VR 93 Commodore with 3800 V6 RWD does 29 mpg

[@jamieshields9521]

@JDns-we4fw interesting, Commodore is large size here but probably similar size as mid sedan in US? I reckon if US got our VP, VR rest of series you love GM brand more? Don’t get wrong I don’t mind square looking, high spec interior features but GM US cars were showing their age compared to rest GM world cars.

[@troynov1965]

My nephew got one of those used ( same year color and all ) , It already had many miles on it but had a slight head leak. My brother took to a mechanic friend of his and they put some kind of quick fix on it to stop the minor leak. The mechanic said it could last a few months to a few years. Well my nephew put many more miles and a few years on it before he got rid of it. It was still running fine then as well. Was a really reliable car. Not a fan of GM FWD cars but that was a great model.

[@bobcarlino7280]

I had a '95 Regal Custom (not a GS) with the 3800 engine and all options. I bought the car new and kept it for 9 years...longer than any of the other 25 cars I've owned over the years. My Regal was an outstanding car! It handled really well; had more than enough power for me; and was a terrific-looking car. The only issue that I had in 9 years was the automatic power antenna stopped retracting all the way when the car was 8 years old...but that was pretty much par for the course with GM automatic antennas.

[@RaymondHaley-tz4do]

Of the early W body cars, the regal was the only standout, and the only one that came with the biggest V6engine❤.

[@knifeyboy82]

I miss these cars so much 😢

[@303nitzubishi4]

Who knew that 3800 engine would continue to evolve and remain relevant for another 15+ years. Even in 91 it had quite a history behind it

[@jiggity76]

Digital cluster was still available on a GS up til 1992. The Regal sedan was also the only W body sedan to offer rear bucket seats and console from 91-92. They are very rare.

[@Geforcepat]

We had one of these back in the early 00's. It was smooth wasn't a gs model. Though ours had the digital gauge? It was a 92 or 93 model. Was a good car for about 4 years. Good times.

[@Butchcub75]

jeez John you get full instrumentation and still complain about it LOL. love it. Love digital gauges lol.

[@RaymondHaley-lv2mo]

It was a front wheel drive version of the belated rwd regal T type not grand national,if anything the 91-96 regal GS was a watered down version of the previous Riviera/ Electra T type from the 80, s better than those, but should've been more, the engine alone was the best reason to amp up the luxury performance factor even higher.

[@martyweeks7594]

I had a '91 Regal 3800. BEST car I've ever had

[@a.person7825]

To compare this car with the Acura Legend is interesting.

[@jmans093]

Love the "W-body" cars. Still rocking my now long-gone GTP as my profile picture. Wish they still made cars that good.

[@Carvania]

Just a few years later and the gs was pretty solid with the supercharger

[@theKevronHarris]

At 2:10, The door sounds like a cheap screen door when the guy closes it!!!

[@metop33]

It was a heavy solid door. The seatbelt was inside the door itself so that gives an extra sound. Nothing cheap about these cars man! Three times the quality back then compared to now.

[@redneck630]

I have the newer model, an '02 with the supercharger. It's the best car I've ever driven, 279k miles, doesn't burn any oil, original transmission, original supercharger. And it still floats down the highway at 80 with ease.

[@milfordcivic6755]

My uncle had one of these in the same color. It was a GS but had the bigger slotted wheels and lower profile tires. I remember the night he drove over to show us. We thought the digital dash and equalizer were so cool. Most people still had very basic cars back then....no power options and a basic radio, so owning a car like this was a big deal in 1991. Today, they come with all the features, not much choice in the matter.

[@carexpertandy]

My grandparents used to have a turquoise 94 Regal sedan. I didn’t get to ride in it much since my grandfather smoked in it, but it was overall a piece of junk by the early 2000s. I remember things like the fuel gauge and front passenger power window quit working.

[@sassiqua]

i’ve always loved the look of these! could you guys post the review for the 1990 geo prizm? my mom used to have one so i wanna see what it was like ❤

[@Doobie1975]

While these are nice cars I prefer the 1993-96 taillights over the 1991-92's, I wish GM can go back making cars like this today.

[@mwp1088]

3800 was the best! Supercharged version was a great platform and still is.

[@bobbydavenport8941]

The interior of this Buick reminds me of the interior of the Chevy lumina euro sport I love both cars

[@glx68]

The 3.8 litre V6 engine is one of the best powertrains ever. Power (torque) enough to move big landyachts and midsize cars from the mid-70s to the mid-80s. Later in it's career it had also a sporty turbo-touch with engines up to 270 HP!

[@FoDaddy]

The later ones were supercharged. The turbo 3.8L didn't make it past 1989,, though it was an underrated engine that GM didn't like to use much after the Grand National/GNX went away.

[@glx68]

@@FoDaddy Yes that's right!👍

[@allentoyokawa9068]

LITER***

[@thecoreelementsmoto]

I had bought a used one in late 2018 and it was a great car for me. Had barely 100k and nearly 30 years later it was still a highway champ

[@RA-wl1vt]

GM was on a roll back in 1991. My entire family bought new GM cars that year. I bought a Camaro RS Convertible, my sister bought a Firebird T-top, my mom got a Caprice Classic, dad got an S-10 Ext. Cab pick up, my aunt and uncle bought a Cutlass Supreme sedan and they bought my Cousin a Grand Am 2 door with the Quad 4. All of the cars were very good except the Grand Am which had headgasket issues. If only the cars had continued to be that good because by 1995 when my mom bought a Blazer LT 4wd things had really gone downhill.

[@richardstevenson1346]

The sound of the door closing did not exude quality.

[@MS3DALE]

3:35 Those were NOT Goodyear Eagle GT+4 tires, but rather Goodyear Eagle GA Touring tires, it probably would've handled a little better with the GT+4's.

[@prplcncrd83]

In 1991 for a luxury car to be lacking an airbag standard let alone to not even be an option was a huge omission!

[@toddbruce9752]

Hindsight: It was a good car priced right for the times, the 3800 was an excellent engine, at the 2:10 mark the door shutting crash belies the quality issues GM had at the time, and around 5:45 it refers to the "growing luxury sedan market" which grew, matured, and disappeared within a few years as America embraced the SUVs. The times, they (always) are a changin'.

[@jjjcmo]

I always felt this was a really nice looking car.

[@user-ki7nn7eb9t]

2:04 please name of this guy On most motorweek videos from 1991 to 1996

[@bobwalsh3751]

Hey kids! Grandma's here!

[@marvinmurakami8828]

I mistook this for the Buick Grand National. I hope they did a test on that one too.

[@ctom8299]

Crazy at the time didn't notice but has same shape as my 91 grand prix. Unfortunately John that was Buicks best ever. 😂

[@topofidahotravel]

Sure liked the 2 door version

[@michaelcoffey7362]

Nice😀

[@devinhiggison1198]

i have a 96 gran sport, 3800 series II, pretty reliable, its got a little over 180,000 on it now

[@jamesmoran8294]

Good to know the 3800 whine at idle is normal and not age. 2:59

[@humm_vee_wusky6273]

I love how they forgot to say that the gages are still digital just look analog. I have a 92 and the gage set has intermittent problems there was a gage set Recall in 92 obviously mine didn't get the replacement but other than that I love the car. Only has 103.000 on it also.

[@1234krise]

Never seen one of these

[@sammsw1]

Buick Regals were kinda the first American high performance sedan, like a BMW or Mercedes. You still see them running the roads!

[@theodor12]

The side profile is very NSU Ro80.

[@davidbaron6647]

wow cd in 1991

[@jmc6000]

Cheese cutter grill, lol 😆

[@ricepony33]

Apple got their inspiration here 😮

[@stoveguy2133]

Buddy had a gs. Got in accident and totaled at 2 yrs. Got a new bonne ssei

[@mattpierce1795]

The awful sound that door makes when it closes is why the imports stole the show and haven’t let up

[@no1zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz]

You've clearly never touched one of them doors. Much more solid than imports of the time

[@no1zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz]

My father's regal was sidestepped on the freeway when I was a boy in the backseat. All it needed was paint! I remember the woman who hit us showing up at our home with her husband later, her car was crumpled all up the side. Very solid body for its size

[@Skyhawk1987Turbo]

I prefer the coupe

[@joec1774]

Price of this Regal in Sept 2023 $$$ is $48,200.

[@user-cj4sm8hv9y]

It’s All In The Genes

[@pmafterdark]

Damn those gauges are tiny. What were they thinking? 🙄

[@mumwifeteacher]

Some things never change. A Buick based on a crappy lower cost Chevy model. The last good Buick was the 91-96 road master.

[@petrovicmotors3775]

Never like the quality of the GM-10 body’s The C-H-bodies where beter overall. And last longer.

[@Lexrolla-1]

Hmm disagree 🤔

[@ThomasRoy3r]

What in the world was up with that seatbelt 😂

[@topofidahotravel]

All seatbelts on GMs were door mounted

[@fv7765]

I am from UK don't know much about USA cars, the engine is 3.8 V6 Northstar? Suppose to be the best engine ever made in the USA?

[@a.r.austin4053]

No Buick V6 not Northstar, It is a derivative of Buick/Rover V8.

[@RobertSmith-le8wp]

It’s a very simple understressed engine that has a cam in block and not much to go wrong. I believe it’s been produced in one form or other since the early 60’s. Anyone I know who’s owned one only had praise for them

[@christopherconard2831]

​@@RobertSmith-le8wpOriginally developed by Buick for a downsized (By 60's standards) engine. It was rough and didn't sell well so they sold the machining to Kaiser-Jeep. Who used it in their trucks and Jeep Wagoneer. I think they also built and sold the engine for other manufacturers. When GM wanted to build a new V-6 some engineers went to an auto salvage yard to pick up various engines for testing. They found an old Jeep 231 V6 and realized it was their old design. Eventually GM bought back the tooling that AMC, who owned Jeep at the time, had put away in storage. The original 3.8/3800 prototypes were built using that equipment. I assume GM eventually made new tooling when it was approved for mass production. It should be noted that the GM 3.8 shares displacement and many parts with the 3800, and have a common lineage, there are enough improvements that the 3800 is often considered a separate engine. It was the next generation 3800 (1995?) when it really began to show it's potential for both smoothness and to withstand upgrades in power.

[@googleuser3007]

The competitor is most definitely NOT an Acura Legend. Let’s be reasonable and say a Mercury Sable or those Chrysler Corporation cabin forward things.

[@evelynbaker6715]

My CR-V is in the process with my cousin to be in town for the next two weeks and then you can get a chance to go through it with your own life insurance.

[@4HBirtcher]

A Buick Regal is a rebadged Chevrolet Lumina!

[@runoflife87]

What's grand sport about that typical "family saloon"? Lotus Omega is sportier lol.

[@user-rd3bv7qu3i]

It only gets worse from here this was it.

[@Lexrolla-1]

No the second gen cars were far better...I had both

[@Logan24855]

Looks like a Chrysler Concorde

[@akr01364]

Another, 80's gawdawful GM rustbucket with a chintzy interior and a poorly sorted chassis.

[@gumbie007]

The dark ages of American automobile era……🙄🤨🤔🤦‍♂️

[@gumbie007]

@JDns-we4fw So true…🤔🤨