Road Test: 2012 Buick Regal GS

[@tammyforbes2101]

I drove one of these with the ZZP intake and exhaust and trifecta tune and it was a rocket 🚀. I was amazed cause I was expecting a little 4 banger like the Cruze and when I opened it up I was like holy crap this little thing moves out in a hurry. I was highly impressed with it.

[@00boogie99]

I got a 2016 regal T u think the trifecta tune is worth iy

[@GODs_Son777]

Beautiful Car, but certainly not impressed with the 0-60 time!

[@TrinityAmplify]

"Twin port hood" LOL my friend has one of these things and they're not even functional. They're cosmetic pieces of plastic :l

[@-stzy-1261]

He prolly has the T instead of the GS

[@Dragunov302]

I'll take one in black and I don't even like buicks lol

[@knack225ahuytrt3]

this is the best review I have seen on this car! Thanx

[@bullseye1670]

I love this guy! He is one of the best hosts when it comes to car reviews!

[@t3chn0m0]

Hmm, in germany the car is called Insignia OPC, but it has a 2.8 l V6 Turbo with 325 hp and AWD.

[@mattstickney3057]

One of the most sensible cars of the modern day. Round of applause to Buick on this one.

[@RigginTheRod010]

That they didn't market....smh just GM things

[@wiggieest.8415]

I absolutely love mine

[@jshdwhite79]

I can't believe the EPA rates it so poorly. I recently went on a 1500 mile trip, 34 mpg without trying to hyper-mile.

[@paulcondie2520]

Any issues with your gs? I'm about to buy one, love the car!

[@erinfreize4717]

Me too- bought mine in the summer of 2017 with high miles, but it's been sporty, relatively efficient and a great highway car. Plus, it'll put smiles on your face once you get into the twisties!

[@nenadmomcilovic9133]

@@erinfreize4717 I'm looking at one now. My main question comes to the sport and gs settings, is it noticeably different than regular setting? And how are they reliability wise? I'm looking at on with 230000km.

[@a1awind]

so the sc 3800 regal was .2 seconds faster @ 0-60 in 6.6 sec! with a long geared tranny and no manual? i cant even imagine what it would have been like with a stick. the LT1 roadmaster was 0-60 in 7.0 an that car was 2 tons!

[@74camarolt]

I really think that GM should make a buick based off of the Camaro; use the same chassis, some of the same panels, but all together a different look. Place the same V6 from the Camaro, expect with a turbo, paint it black, and call it the Grand National! Would love to see that!

[@zachmeyer3164]

I love it but I really wish or maybe it's just the ipa talking but damn why didn't they do a turbocharged series two 3800 !?!!!? They supercharged it with an Eaton pos why not do a True throwback to the grandnational and offer a GNX package that's AWD, manual, and an enormous blast to drive .... oh and has a 3800 series two turbo!!!

[@calgarytek]

This, essentially, is the successor to Acura's TL. As the old TL's and TSX's ride off to the sunset with their front double wishbone's, Buick, of all, makes a true successor. The HipeStrut is what I like to think of as a compact double wishbone suspension with the strut mounted on the top control arm. No doubt the advantages are numerous - smaller scrub radius, reduced unsprung weight, lower complexity, greater camber change. This car should handle like it's on rails. Now if we can get Hiperstruts in the Verano...

[@biscuitninja]

I really like it, but for it to be a real player it needs to be 400lbs lighter or 40hp more. 270hp is sub par to most competitors. Torque is good, but it needs to be better than this. The v6 Genesis is still more powerful and gets decent gas milage, the cost is even cheaper. I like it... but wish it would have been a little bit mroe omph! Make it a 2.4L-T

[@superjta59]

It's really an Opel Insignia OPC or a Vauxhall Insignia VXR

[@Kevinplaystsb132]

195K and counting. With no issues. So, you're right not good car, a GREAT car.

[@daemontrigger3281]

twin port hood...... they are glued on plastic fakes....

[@torres3800]

Very nice, not bad... I was going to get one but things happen... Still would get one if I had the chance... Murdered out black with 20" chrome wheels like this one...

[@SmedleyDouwright]

Just build a new GNX with rear wheel drive and a hyper-boost turbo motor that will "melt" your brain. You can do it Buick.

[@kcm732]

I actually really like this car... I wouldnt mind having one with a 6 speed manual at all :)

[@markjwil]

This car shares alot with the SAAB 9-3 and 9-5. The powertrain is from Germany and is a higher output version of what's used in the 9-3. Typical GM badge engineering..

[@1mlb704]

Same with my 00 GTP! And still 28 mpg! Simple 3.8 V6 supercharged pushrod V6 all day

[@sekopiski]

Where's the Insignia OPC's 325 bhp V6 and four wheel drive?

[@chevyhighrider]

WTF how is a muscle car guy like me drooling over a 4 cyl buick? Oh thats right because this thing is freaking sweet!

[@IKhanNot]

@DruidB19 Those old Bucks with the SC 3800 were fast and the engines were torquey. If only they had a 5 speed automatic at the time vs that long geared 4 speed the performance would have been even better. I always liked those older Buicks, comfy and quiet but they had some balls too.

[@unknownuser1987]

Very true! I don't know how anyone in their right mind can justify paying such outrageous prices for such unreliable pieces of shit like BMW's, Mercedes', etc... Buicks are pretty luxurious, powerful, reliable, and don't cost an arm and a leg either.

[@hanks99]

Not many four cylinder engines making almost 300hp and 300tq out there and still getting almost 30mpg highway....sounds good to me It's also worth mentioning that, with 135 horsepower per liter, the new boosted Ecotec boasts the highest specific power output of any engine in GM's history. It's also the most power-dense rating the SAE has ever officially recognized. That's impressive stuff.

[@Sanpedranoazul]

It´s base on an Opel Insignia, Chevrolet´s counterpart in Germany for sale in Europe

[@maveric0738]

This is basically a Opel.

[@CarringtonHollister]

Or a Vauxhall

[@123andme]

Euro Buick

[@carotene2]

This is based on the Vauxhall Insignia VXR that we have in the U.K only ours has a 2.8 turbo V6 and 4wd so there's scope for a Grand National yet

[@76carmel]

This Ecotec Turbo 1-4 with 270 hp has more horsepower than V-6s.

[@redbuick]

i told a buick dealer when i drove up in my 98 green gs how can you guys sell a 4 cyl turbo for almost 40k that will get smoked by a "outdated" model that gets just about the same great gas miles on the highway. he laughed and gave me all kinds of excuses but i said no sale and peeled out of the dealership.. hopefully a gn/gnx will be alot nastier.and a v6.

[@misterjgl]

Nice I just hope they come out with a V6 and a V8 would be suicidal

[@sinusbradycardia]

Hopefully Buick builds on this and we see another monster, like the Grand National. It would be cool to have my 1986 GN setting next to a 2016 Regal GS.

[@charliesmash]

Never happened. 😢

[@aconfusedazn]

nice opel.

[@jgizzy]

WE LOVE YOU, JOHN DAVIS!!!!

[@StormAutoAdventures]

I love MotorWeek & have seen every episode, but I am curious as to why this Regal GS only trapped 94 mph in the 1/4 mile when this same car trapped 99 mph in the magazines? That is a huge, huge difference. I know every car, driver & conditions vary, but 5 mph? When I did my first mods to my car, it picked up 2 mph through the 1/4 mile & it was very noticeable. No offense to MotorWeek or anything, I'm just surprised.

[@erinfreize4717]

Yeah, their's is probably the slowest. I've seen low 6's 0-60 w/ quarter under 15 at much closer to 100mph.

[@KAGMVP7]

Just drove my moms new regal turbo, (with 50 less hp and a lot less torque than this gs) and it felt just as powerful and torquey as my 05 grand prix gtp comp g with the 3800sc. I'm an old school v6/v8 guy myself but give this car a chance guys, i wasn't expecting much but was really impressed with the powertrain

[@86shelbyzofdoom]

Black on black, stick, limited slip. Only reason I got it was because I have gigs from time to time and it fits my drum kit perfectly. It wasn't my ideal car, as I'd rather have a V8/RWD car of some kind, but I've grown to love the little "breadwagon"

[@quonsetthehutt3105]

Looks like a sabertooth tiger

[@ThePurpleGang]

Too bad they don't make this more powerful. A Regal GS from 15 years ago with the S/C 3800 would give this a run for its money and probably beat it in a straight line.

[@RigginTheRod010]

with a intake and tune it gives it 70 more hp/tq... I admit mine is slow now. too bad it weighs 3700lbs

[@pontiacGXPfan]

Well the G8 didn't offer one for the first year of production. We had to wait until the GXP was available. It was preferable to the Charger SRT8, which to this day still doesn't offer one.

[@kmac720]

@66soad The you are too young to remember they used to be fast cars. The fastest car from the muscle car era was a Buick...

[@pontiacGXPfan]

where did you get it? It's a pretty rare car where i live yet i see lesser HHRs by the dozens

[@RicanSoldierBoy]

15.2 1/4 mile??? :-(

[@TrailnTriggerTV]

they killed pontiac for this?? p.s whats the button on the shifter?

[@johnhenrymcmahon6878]

Oh man! I LOVE this Regal GS. Such a chunky werewolf and perfect for a guy who wants to kick some Audi butt. JV Johnny ⚾⚾

[@dulceypeligroso]

It's a friggin' Opel.

[@snowman4839]

Freakin buick man. They were on top of the world in 1970 with the GSX and in 1987 with the GNX. Now they're just another meh brand. They need to make a turbo sport coupe with 300+ horsepower and name it like the GRX or something.

[@adfasdfasdfluy]

Why not take the upcoming Chevy Caprice as a good platform and let Buick redesign it into an Electra or an Invicta. A 6.2L V8 with active fuel management (or a 3.5L V6), a 6 speed automatic (or 6 speed manual), make it available in RWD or AWD but give the AWD car the ability to stay RWD only with the touch of a button. The Caprice wont be meant for luxury, so this thing would be something unique and cool

[@BoberMcBoberson]

OK, don't give me the it's an Opel crap, I know. Its badged as a Buick and that's all that matters for the sake of the point I'm about to make. I love how when ever American car is quicker than an Import, everyone yells, So what the import handles better and has a better interior. Now that an American car does just as good if not better in some cases. They are yelling, well it's like .3 seconds slower than the import, Blah blah blah, F**king Hippocrates!

[@76carmel]

@Lambo6fo From what I know is this... the V6s that don't exceed 300 hp, Toyota's V6 for passenger vehicles (Camry, Avalon, Sienna, RAV4) - max hp 270hp. Honda's V-6 is 271 hp (Accord). Chrysler's Pentastar V-6 is 283 hp for the vans, 200, Avenger, and Wrangler; and 290 hp for the Grand Cherokee, 300, and Charger. Most of the 300 hp V6 or I-6 are ususally the German luxury vehicles; mainly BMW, Mercedes, and Audi (who is really shaking the luxury auto world right now).

[@carotene2]

McGangsta, it's just a money saving exercise Vauxhall and Opel have been partners for years and their range is identical, they're both owned by GM and were nearly sold when GM were going under, I suppose the only way they could justify keeping them was to save money and bring their cars to America as Buick's, not a bad thing surely?

[@hong99sm]

@peculiarmadman Well, sure, but wearing wider rubber on 19's will make a lot of cars put up good slalom and skidpad numbers. I just don't see the appeal of a "sporty" FWD Buick with a manual that costs close to $40k. For that price, why not just get a real sports sedan like an A4, 325i, G37, or even a Lexus IS?

[@Sanpedranoazul]

Excellent all-around car!

[@pontiacGXPfan]

Buick should go back to building gray-hair-mobiles and stop fooling people into believing this car can compete with BMW. 20 years ago this car would've owned the segment; now this car is the laughingstock of it. Buick: China can't make this car company less of an underachiever.

[@pontiacGXPfan]

HUGE disappointment! In what way is this better than the late Pontiac G8? I guess "future viability" at GM means more lame FWD cars in a landscape that is already flooded with them. At least Pontiac had V8-powered Bonnevilles and Grand Prix, but what does Buick have? Sorry-ass four-bangers.

[@Kevinplaystsb132]

I can understand that but the Camaro is a boat. It weighs 500lbs more than my GS. GM is looking at better fuel efficiency for the power. I get 31 MPH on the highway, and bust out a high 13 sec 1/4 mile. $500 worth of mods with a L67/32 will get you more pop than a 6.0.

[@TheHm3]

15.2 sec? That's messy cause the supercharged Regal GS could go well below 15 sec mark.

[@kupidzheart]

right, these numbers seem off. I mean the older GS had a bigger displacement and the supercharger for quicker take offs.

[@Messier87_M87]

I have a 2013 auto, completely stock, and ran two back to back runs at 14.8 @ 95 mph. Did not even try to launch it either.

[@Kevinplaystsb132]

Push-rod forced induced V6s aren't what they want to hear. Ultra low maintenance, outstanding low end torque isn't what they want to hear. All I want to know is when/if this Grand National will see the light of day.

[@BoberMcBoberson]

@BoberMcBoberson Oh and MW's driver must have sucked, because Motor Trend got a 0-60 of 6.3 and a 1/4 mile of 14.9. I wouldn't mention that but, A half a second seems to be a pretty big deal now.

[@DONNYBOYY28]

Gm should kill the brand, its a waist of time. What's the avg age of a Buick driver 65? The interior would have looked modern 10 years ago. Would anyone in there right mind buy this car over an Audi a4?

[@nmende00]

What is the purpose of using a turbo 4 cylinder engine that is slower and gets worse fuel economy than a v6 while also requiring premium fuel?? Altima V6, Accord V6, Camry V6.

[@MrShockandAww]

Looks nice, but agree if you can afford this car, you could afford a boosted V6 not V4. Should be 300+ and AWD. You can still get 20+mpg on a boosted V6 BRING BACK THE SY/TY!!!

[@pfflyer15]

why is everything eco-friendly now? that car should at least have a twin-turbo v6 if they are going to call it a "sports sedan" BMW has the idea, sorry buick you lose

[@76carmel]

The 6-speed automatic is now available, and it's still just as fast on a straight-line according to a publication.

[@basithph8958]

This is like the modern Grand National

[@QthAgR8]

BASITH PH I’d prefer a 2013 SHO all blacked out

[@maddog24637]

@blowersho but im sure you can't pull .90g on the skidpad or brake 70-0 in 160 ft. those figures are better than a cadillac cts-v

[@BoberMcBoberson]

@tbirdsport302 Motor trend got 6.3 out of it. I don't know what these people were doing. 6.3 is actually half way respectable.

[@hong99sm]

@peculiarmadman Not really, considering the price of the car and the fact that a Hyundai Sonata 2.0T would smoke this car.

[@aconfusedazn]

@wsmarines Actually Opel a majority-stake subsidiary of the American General Motors Corporation since the late 1920s.

[@Messier87_M87]

I own a 2013 automatic and ran a 14.8 @95 mph in 96° temps back to back, completely stock.

[@maybelive765]

HAHAHA did anyone else notice the cricket noises in the background??

[@GranTorino992]

do buicks now even have a v6 engine? the only thing they can race with are honda's then

[@Dragunov302]

I actually love this Generation, reminds me of a 3 series

[@MinimalistMotoLife]

@7477238 or a proper 5 speed manual. the 3800 supercharged regals were nice.

[@R3AL-AIM]

My 2011 Lacrosse CXS runs high 14's... 🤔

[@999lifegoes]

Which is a good thing. I'd rather have an Opel than a full on Buick honestly.

[@AlfaAsher]

I agree 2007deadeye1, I think it would of been very smart to refine the 3800 and keep it in mass production, it actually started out as a Buick engine, Buick created it in the 1960's I believe, correct me if I'm wrong, but the 3800 would easily get figures like 350 HP and 17/25 mpg and they sound great, the one we had in our grand prix GTP coupe was the l67 supercharged version, what a strong engine...

[@lincolnparc8897]

it's sad they killed their best V6 ever 😮

[@moealfaily1662]

@@lincolnparc8897 it was a good motor, pretty reliable, I’m no engineer but I’m not sure pushrod motors has much more potential for fuel economy and V6 engines didnt need 3.8l, my current car is an Audi S5 with a 3.0l supercharged V6

[@Underneaththegun27]

Yeah but this car is a 4 cylinder and its getting the same not more hp

[@dragnetstudios]

Did you say 15.2 1/4 mile? This car has 270hp, that is slow

[@Kevinplaystsb132]

Electra is a DTS in Buick form. A '69 225 is the host with the most.

[@chris92282]

Hopefully people will get past the name, like they did with the CTS!

[@KylePantano]

The old one with the supercharged engine is better.

[@litteringisfun]

Good to see a 6 spd Manual in it!

[@AlfaAsher]

In 1987, the fastest American car was the GNX, Chevy didn't like that the guys at Buick made a fool of their poster boy Corvette, that's the Buick I know and love, pods off other companies and burn some tires, have fun with the business

[@sevensinsvelocityshop7563]

AlfaAsher gnx was fastest on the planet

[@GranTorino992]

@Underneaththegun27 now all they have is 4 cylinder engines lol

[@cribs78]

And it's not AWD!!!!! Hell no GM y'all really messed up!!!!!!!!

[@krocialblack]

@snowman4839 You're insane. This car is spanking.

[@StormAutoAdventures]

@lesher27 "Most" old people aren't going to drive a GS version of this new regal unless they're going through a late life crisis LOL. The Lacrosse CXL or maybe even the CXS would be more to their liking if going this route. This Regal GS will be selling to people mainly in their 30's, 40's and some in their 50's for the most part.

[@eldridgederring9325]

This video pacifies me. The GS AWD 6-speed is *happiness.*

[@StormAutoAdventures]

@kylesvt720 I said some in their 50's. My brother is 44 and he doesn't look a day over 30. He has friends that are in their late 40's & early 50's. They all play ultimate frisbee together & their team won the state championship in last year. These guys scrimmage against the college teams and beat them all the time. If you saw how fast and athletic these guys are, you wouldn't think 50 was old. You can look up "ultimate frisbee" on youtube to see what it's about if you want. Awesome game :)

[@ErectkyleDysfunction]

There's a positive connotation affixed to buick; associated with quietly producing some ridiculous and legendary automobiles.

[@ΔοσόπουλοςΒασίλειος]

👍

[@XenomorphLV426]

Wow that's fucking slow for those numbers.

[@BigXSmoke1]

WTF is rock auto? i thought it was viewers like you :(

[@VermontMan]

its nice to see the target audience under 90 years old

[@JakeFromLateFarm]

@hong99sm Good point, but the GS "smokes" the Sonata in the slalom, skidpad and 60-0 statistics plus the Sonata doesn't even offer a stick. I'll agree the Sonata is a nice car, and yes the GS is $10,000 more, but when you consider the front drive premium sedans you could buy for that money (ES350, TL, MKZ etc) it competes pretty well. And finally GM sells a Buick (cough cough...Opel) that doesn't handle like a semi in the twisties.

[@carlosfuentes8737]

I wish that the 2000 buick regal GS had a 5 speed transmission. GM. Never thought about that. Super charged 3.8 liter would Be alsome and powerful as well.

[@chris92282]

Cool car... Unfortunately not so cool brand name.