The Fast Lane Car

Review: The 2012 Buick Regal GS is a fine European car in dressed in American style

One suggestion for Buick: Blindfold the cross-armed skeptic who’s dubious of the marque’s new, high-performing Regal GS, spin him around a bunch, tell him he’s about to test-drive a new Acura/Audi/BMW/blah blah blah and stick him in a logo-less Regal GS for a cruise. Then listen to him confess to the folly of making snap judgments, take his money, and notch another sale.

Today’s lesson, if I may say, is to avoid quick conclusions. I finally did. For instance, I wanted to like the square-jawed, imposing, and fast Buick right away, and now I do like it a lot. But the Regal GS has drawbacks. Geeks and knowing lead-feet will require precisely four seconds of logo-less drive time to rightly identify that the Regal is front-wheel drive, which means that the front wheels both steer and power the car.

Review: The 2012 Buick Regal GS is a surprisingly good alternative to foreign sedans

Buick’s fast 1965-74  GS (Gran Sport) muscle cars were far more luxurious than some rivals. The 2012 Buick Regal GS revives the “GS” name in fine style.

This time around, though, the mid-size GS is a fast, handsome rival to foreign sedans such as those from Audi and Acura.

The new Regal GS has a decidedly European feel because it was largely engineered by General Motors’ Opel unit in Germany. It thus has a taut, supple ride, confident handling and a refined demeanor.

Review: Does the 2012 Buick LaCrosse with eAssist make driving a hybrid cool?

Remember the furious phoenix (or was it a chicken) that adorned the hood of Pontiac’s Trans Am? Yeah you do. You’ve conjured up that image faster than I can type Smokey and the Bandit. Now, did the original angry bird also make you think of Buick’s 2012 LaCrosse with eAssist? The old Trans Am and its garish décor popped into my head while driving the new LaCrosse. Because the Buick delivers some of the current automotive era’s excitement—hybrid technology—about as quietly as the Trans Am’s beast was loud. But after 1,400-plus miles in the LaCrosse, I have mixed feelings about Buick’s stealth approach.

Top 10 reasons why the 2012 Buick Regal GS is the sweetest Buick – ever

I was pissed off. Roman Mica (TFLCar.com’s headmaster) told me he made arrangements for me to go to a “fun” Buick press event. I was dumbstruck.

What the? Fun in a Buick…was he kidding?

It’s not that I hate the brand. Buick has always been one of the best automotive branches for quality and reliability in GM’s tree. “Youthful,” “fun,” “energetic” and “cool” was never part of the Buick lexicon. That didn’t stop Buick from trying - hell, they had Tiger Woods drive a few – right?

I thought Roman was mad at me for making fun of Barry Manilow or show tunes.

Forget the image of the past. This new Buick is so impressive I wondered why Cadillac didn’t snap it up to build a baby brother to the CTS-V. Seriously, it’s THAT good and I have been eating crow since my first solo drive up in beautiful Northern Michigan. This car made me ask, “Why aren’t more GM products built this way?”

Review: the 2011 Buick Regal the perfect People’s Princess car for Kate Middleton

I have to confess, I’m excited about a royal wedding this spring. All the hullaballoo has been contagious and heck, I love a royal ceremony as much as the next person. But this attention laid upon Kate Middleton as the next “People’s Princess” made me realize that I have the perfect car for her (should she ever need to drive herself anywhere ever again). The 2011 Buick Regal would be a good car for Kate. Not pretentious, but pretty and sharp. Lean, and athletic but also graceful. Not over-the-top, but full of features. Big enough for a couple passengers, or just her and a ginormous wedding gown on the way to the Abbey.

The Buick Regal would fit nicely in the narrow streets of London, it’s not too huge. It is definitely European in styling due to its Opel rebadging, so it would blend in just fine. Of course it would probably have an entourage of epic proportions, so blending in may not be a reasonable expectation. Anyway, the car looks great from all angles and would certainly present itself well in any traffic situation.

Review: The new 2011 Buick Regal is regal again

Now in its fifth generation, but first year in the United States since 2004, the Buick Regal is back in 2011 to meet the stiff competition in the midsize sedan category.

Based on the Opel Insignia, the Regal re-emerged in China in 2008 as a 2009 model and is available in the U.S. in only a CXL trim level. It’s the latest offering of the midsize car introduced by General Motors for the 1973 model year.

Review: The 2011 Buick Regal is about as American as schnitzel and sauerkraut

The 2011 Buick Regal is like no other Buick you've ever seen or driven.

That's because the new 2011 Regal really isn't a classic American Buick at all, but a re-badged GM European Opel.

That means it drives, brakes and handles like a European sporty sedan but instead of your dad's American highway cruiser.

Video comparison Buick LaCrosse vs. Ford Taurus: Two iconic American cars go toe to toe

The Ford Taurus and the Buick LaCrosse are two Iconic nameplates from long time American car manufactures.

Both cars have been remade in the new youthful image of their manufactures.

Both are great American cars in a long line of American family sedans.

Both cars have six cylinder engines with a six speed gearbox and both cars come in all wheel drive.

Review 2010 Buick LaCrosse CXL AWD: If only Tiger had driven a LaCrosse

Let’s be honest here, Buick has not had the best of decades.

OK, the staid General Motors brand did survive this year unlike Pontiac, Hummer and perhaps Saab, but that doesn’t mean it is out of the woods…not by a long shot.

Sure in China Buick is one of the up-and-coming brands that hundreds of millions “yet to be wealthy enough to buy a Buick” Chinese long after, but that’s little comfort in the U.S. where Buick’s recent no longer golf playing pitchman apparently drives (and poorly at that) a Cadillac Escalade.

Review 2010 Buick LaCrosse AWD CXL: Not just for the AARP types any longer

What’s more out of place than listening to old-school punk rock using a powerful 11-speaker Harman Kardon stereo in a Buick?

Liking it.

I’ve never been much of a Buick fan as they tend to represent the doldrums of later life. I didn’t want to like this machine. But I did – just a bit. It has a sleek body (but, it’s a Buick) excellent fit and finish (but, it’s a Buick), excellent feature list (still, it’s a Buick) good handling (remember: it’s a Buick!) and all wheel drive.