2012 Buick Regal GS Review - An Opel In Disguise

[@clappedfirebird4541]

I have one it’s a 6mt car. Nobody knows this car exist until they get ran by it. I’ve surprised a few 350s, g35s, civic si’s, a wrx, my own lt1 trans am even. It’s just my daily but it does a good job of being a cheap performance car that can stand up to its peers. It can turn, it is pretty quick when in boost, it’s a boat and comfy, it looks nice. Most people don’t even know it’s 9 years old. I by no means think it’s the fastest thing out there my camaro would slap this thing but compared to other 4 cylinder performance cars it does the job. And gets looks from all the grannys while doing it😎.

[@Neptune8]

I want one just for the sleeper effect.

[@Messier87_M87]

I had to upgrade mine to a 54mm turbo, down pipe and upgraded the intercooler. Kept everything appearance wise, completely stock for that sleeper effect. Unfortunately I have the auto, but still pulls nicely from a roll.

[@reginaldgarcia6699]

Never knew they had a regal stick. Love your reviews im allways learning from you about different cars

[@watchingitallhere]

I would love to see this guy in an original NSX.

[@Niro.C]

It's origin, the Opel Insignia, had a sporty AWD version called OPC with GM's 2 8L V6 twin turbo (which you could also find in the Buick Lacrosse ans last gen SAAB 9-5) with 325 HP (!!!) With a 6 speed manyal or a 6 speed automatic. And it looked awsome.

[@initialyeet3951]

That 2.8TT is also in the Saab 9-3 Aero and Turbo X. Beautiful cars.

[@niceperson6084]

Damn you must be the most consistent uploader on youtube nowdays

[@AgentFitz]

Good choice with the Buicks. Most folks in the States had no idea this car existed. I was pretty familiar with Opel by the time I moved back so this was nice to see on our streets (just not very often). I would go for the 2014 model with the Haldex-based AWD and throw on Opel/Vauxhall badges just to confuse people.

[@Jerry-rt6ut]

Power to weight ratio is great

[@bavers]

Awesome review. Here in the UK we have this car but it is not called Opal or Buick, but are Vauxhall. They are called a Vauxhall Insignia and our top of the range model is called the VXR and has a 2.7 V6 turbo. Which is very surprising as over here in the UK we tend to get smaller engines than in the US.

[@kevinvolk968]

Yeah, we wish we could have gotten that engine here in the US, but it doesn’t meet out emissions standards, so GM stuffed old reliable in it, the 2.0 turbo ecotec. Still, with a tune, it makes almost as much horsepower as the VXR. Still FWD though.

[@markhealey9409]

They were also sold as Holden Insignias in Australia & New Zealand,imported by GM's Holden division.

[@bwofficial1776]

Buick imported and sold most of the Opel lineup starting in the late 50s and ending in the mid 70s. The GT was the only one that had real success, if you could call it that. The Manta coupe probably came in second place. We returned the favor by rebadging the Pontiac Saturn Solstice Sky (built in my home state of Delaware!) as an Opel and shipping it out to Europe. Also, that 2012 blue OLED GM screen. Not so fond memories of my grandfather's Equinox with that screen. I'd love for a Buick Regal TourX to come your way. Buick took the Vauxhall/Opel/Holden Insignia wagon, a fantastic looking European wagon, and lifted it 3/4 of an inch and covered it in plastic cladding to pretend to be a luxury Subaru Outback. They're very rare because Buick made zero effort to sell them and they were neither offroady or quality luxury.

[@markhealey9409]

I think only small Opels were sold in The US from late 50s till the 70s....so not the mid size or large(in Europe) models. My Mum had a yellow 4speed 1973 Opel Kadett in 1974-1975 in rural Pennsylvania,a couple of years after we emigrated there from England....i remember the last generation of Opel Kadetts sold in North America in the mid 70s were sold as 'Buick Opels'! 🤣🤣 I loved Mum's Kadett,but i always loved GTs & Mantas even more! 😍😍

[@celsovera91]

Buick may not be cool here but for some reason in China it is. they view Buick like we view BMW or Audi. They even have a minivan called the GL8 which we never got.

[@5Dale65]

It's called Insignia in Europe. And it's popular and very good looking car. I live in Kraków, Poland and there are a few of them on my block, and a couple hundrets or thousands more in the city. Insignia is still being sold, but it now looks very different. That Regal you had in the video is based on Insignia A from the years of 2008-2011. My neighbour has one in snow white color and I really love how it looks. But however Insignias from those early years were prone to catastrofic engine failures. It had a 2.0 CDTI 170hp diesel which GM bought from Fiat and modified it "a bit". They put in different bearing which were too weak and it wasn't anything abnormal for these engines to seize up or even throw a rod. For the gasoline engines there were a 1.8 turbo, which was pure GM/Opel product I believe. It was much more reliable, but not that popular on the other hand. You know, people in Europe seem to love diesels in small cars (or just cars in general, cause even the big pick-ups are just called cars not trucks here; a truck is something you need a special higher-level license to drive). So sadly the Insignias started to be recognised as unreliable or even shitty cars, which only look nice and nothing above it.

[@kevinvolk968]

Also, you failed the mention the hi-per strut, which is how you funnel 270 hp through the front wheels with no torque steer.

[@mikel6989]

I just bought one and I friggin love it. had it just over a month and I still love driving it every day.

[@celsovera91]

Fun fact: right before Saturn got canceled, GM almost considered using the Opel Insignia for next generation Saturn Aura which the first one was rebadged Chevy Malibu

[@jacobyo99]

The original Saturn Aura was a rebadged and somewhat restyled Opel Vectra

[@celsovera91]

@@jacobyo99 in which the insignia also replaced

[@LigerZeroX]

Keep up the good work!! I’ve learned about so many interesting cars from your channel!

[@raaos5634]

I really like your vibe bro, funny yet informative and covering all the needed points. Forreal Keep it up and you'll be huge like Doug demuro💪

[@kevinvolk968]

I am 6ft, 230 pounds and I fit in the back just fine. Not much head room to spare, but I could easily ride in back for extended periods of time.

[@frankcarchedi737]

i had a 2012 gs for nine years front wheel drive, and loved it so much. i found a 2017 gs awd with 34,000 miles on it and bought it. the improvements are great. nice car. find one.

[@theoparker3404]

Love how these look. Did you do one before? Great review as always🙌🏾

[@ericyoung1478]

No one knows about them! Well, now we do! :P

[@c.c0820]

my opel insignia is pretty similar to this car, but start with key, automatic, 4wd and red lights, not blue or white. i really like it! edit: i do want to note regarding your comment about the car not being very popular or memorable. it is the same here in sweden. it is not a very popular car at all, a little bit boring to drive (not super resposive turning) but other than that no major faults overall. i dont really know why its not more popular. i hear its kind big in england though (sold as vauxhall insignia there)

[@apbt067]

I have always thought it was stupid to use the emergency brake on a manual when you park it. On a flat surface I don’t see the need if it’s in gear it’s not going anywhere.

[@22lbsboost]

Love it! Wish I could have swung the extra money for the GS but still love my 16' Turbo Premium II! Tune, drop in k&n, maybe even a downpipe and GVB diverter valve and they are some sleepers. Some people even build internals and toss a big turbo for 400-500whp which is hilarious. I agree the backseats on our vehicles are ridiculously small for the size of the vehicle! I hardly ever put anyone back there and thus deleted the rear seat and gutted the trunk for 230lbs in weight savings. My Turbo Premium II FWD weighed in at 3,560 after that

[@younghov283]

I have a 2017 GS Regal AWD with about 40k miles. I love it. It's quick. People always tell me it's clean, and ask if those rims came with it.

[@Comitis840]

In Germany we got the Opel Insignia OPC (Opel Performance Center) with a 2.8 Turbo V6 and All wheel drive. Basically a cheaper GM Nissan GTR. That would have been a hit in the US I recon.

[@gerv55]

Amusing how at one point he says it's a "big American car" despite it being designed and built in Europe.

[@damilolaakanni]

UK doesn't have Opel as well, so cars from Opel sold there were/are rebadged as Vauxhalls. So this car was rebadged as the Opel Insignia in mainland Europe and the Vauxhall Insignia in the UK.

[@johndoe2799]

I found this video by searching for reviews on this car. I'm just your average Joe with not alot of money but saw this car posted locally and thought to myself "dammm that is sick!" The design and rims and it being turbo is fkn awesome I think. It just looks super clean. If it didn't have Buick badge you would NEVER know. But Buick are phenomenal vehicles. They will last forever from what I've heard. The one I found has 140k miles but is listed for just $9,999. Seems like a great deal, no??🤔🤔🤔

[@pattyjay9999]

She is the perfect sleeper car, a bigger turbo injectors in a cooler and a tune she will put down 400 wheel horsepower easy.

[@taylorharrison8765]

Vauxhall

[@markhealey9409]

European Vauxhall & Opel Insignias were imported from Germany to North America badged as Buicks & to Australia & New Zealand badged as Holden Insignias.

[@jacobyo99]

I love these cars. Very pretty and rare

[@user-fg7vo1pu9r]

Agreed on the parking brake Keep em old school!👊🏼🇨🇦

[@Crypt_Thief]

There's a GS for sale near me for $12k. It's slammed on Caprice PPV wheels and looks mean as hell lol

[@denjhill]

I have the automatic version. The automatic is hardly "lazy". Couple of things I don't like about the car. The nav. system sucks. The programming touch buttons are so small and illogical that there is no way you can operate the system while driving. Another issue is the chassis height. While low is good, the front bumper fascia will scrape over parking lot bump stops and when you reverse the fascia will rip off. Gorilla tape currently holds mine in place. Not good.

[@bobcantstandzyobitz9778]

I saw one on the road today and had to look it up because I've never seen one before. I'm surprised it's manual. Us manual drivers are dying out.

[@bricegraham8256]

Bro I lowkey love these Buick Regal GS. Beauty cars.

[@camtabler5163]

It's nice it wont be remembered. Less of these on the road. If you dislike the outdated tech in the 11 and 12's, a 2016 or 17 will give you all the gadgets and tech you could ever want with the more updated looks. I drive a 16GS auto awd and it has a trifecta advantage tune which to me is necessary ( more power and better shifting from the lazy automatic ). It's not a rocketship, especially up top it loses a little steam, but it's alot of unsuspecting fun for a daily driver. You can also control the awd system with the traction button as it becomes more rwd bias with everything off and launches very hard when you brake boost and leave a light. Very quick off the line and to the 1/8th. If you don't like it being a Buick, you can rebadge it as an Opel or Vauxhall and throw people for a loop too. Great cars that go under the radar.

[@herbyderbys1629]

What are the reliability stats on this guy? I'm dying to pick one up for the wife but scared it's not gonna be worth the trouble. She has a 2008 accord 2.4 and it's been great for over 300k miles. Only issues were alternator water pump and some switches. Normal things. Does anybody have any experience???

[@caliban88]

I would recommend getting the revised 2014-2017 version. I own a 2016 GS, second owner, that currently has a little over 72,000 miles and it has been a great car to own. Apart from one of the ignition coils going out which was replaced under my extended warranty, no other issues have cropped up. I put a Trifecta tune on mine which according to Trifecta's website increased horsepower from the stock 259 to 320. A lot of the issues you see on the Buick Regal forums pertain to the initial run of the car. Issues like premature wheel bearing failures, leaky headlight/taillight housings appear to have been resolved on the revised version of which I attest to so far. But love driving mine. You would be hard pressed to see another one on the road which is a shame. It has all of the safety and performance that I could ever ask for.

[@RigginTheRod010]

I love the push to start though. Less wear and tear though

[@rngf_ashyxd860]

If only it was rwd it would be so popular

[@apbt067]

Def crappy infotainment center the one I drove came with a big touch screen.

[@RigginTheRod010]

Mine is still responsive for a 2012. My wife's 2013 ATS cue system is so so laggy and can't use it.

[@RigginTheRod010]

I'm just now seeing that this Regal doesn't come with the nav screen like mine

[@22lbsboost]

Facelift models had a much better interior imo

[@ginoasci2876]

it sucks that they didn’t put more power in it. at the very least. 350HP if they want to make a stand with it, it has to move

[@robdogracing]

I love these wheels!

[@georgesmith6017]

Don’t let them know about them, now they will go up in value

[@saidhussein2679]

You didn't show us how to open the trunk

[@eternallogic6394]

I remember the review you did on the manual GS two years ago and you didn't really like it. For example, you didn't like the shifter or the clutch and now you do? I'm confused as to what changed your mind on this car.

[@ShootingCars]

I think the first time I drove it I was expecting too much. Between those two reviews, I drove hundreds of cars, and so I was able too look at this car in a new light

[@realbeetlejuice]

do a Buick Verano Turbo review!

[@Darylrb1983]

I hope he finds the rare Verano t with the manual

[@emperor002002]

AWD option

[@bobavon6048]

Tell your friend Michael to dump the stupid K&N filter he has under the hood. Everytime I see these under the hood I think these people who installed that thing are soooooo ignorant because it allows the engine to suck hot air from the engine compartment, which is a no no. You want cool outside air to enter the engine because cool air makes more horse power.

[@SuperEman500]

5:37

[@watchingitallhere]

Factory twankys. Buick knows their market.

[@user-fg7vo1pu9r]

Mint!👌🏼

[@rkelley8475]

Its a saab trans .

[@marcnew7788]

I like it 💯

[@GS_2Slow]

ouch

[@RigginTheRod010]

Electric e-stops suck.

[@realbeetlejuice]

subbed

[@GreaseMonkGarage]

Thats a small amount of displacement for the power kinda

[@Schaems_du_disch_nisch]

Opel Insigna