Overview:

On May 22, 2001 I was at a Chevrolet dealership looking at a 2002 Chevy Malibu. I'm a Chevy guy, and I wanted to get rid of my 1991 Caprice because it was so heavy it sank into my rock driveway a few times(curb weight on those is like 4000 lbs) and i got tired of digging it out. The Malibu I wanted with leather came up to $22,130. Realizing I couldn't afford that much, and I'm such a cheapskate that I didn't wanna drop over $20k on a small car like that, I looked at the adjoining used car lot. Lots of cars and trucks caught my eye, but I saw a Buick Regal sitting in the corner. It was a 1997 Regal GS, complete with 2 tone paint (burgundy/gray), leather seats, and the acclaimed 240hp 3.8 liter V6. It had 32,xxx miles on it and the dealership was asking $14k for it, something more in my price range. I took it for a test drive and was in awe! The 305 cu inch V8 in my caprice was good, but this engine was awesome. It acted just like a regular engine, until you hit the gas. There's an Eaton M90 supercharger under the hood with a max 9 lbs of boost. That's what gives the car the "240hp" rating, which is smarter. Cars like the Chrysler 300M have 253hp, but you have to rev them to get any power out of them. The regal's 280 lb-ft of torque come in at about 2000-2500 rpm, not 4 or 5 grand like the 300M, so that power is always on tap for say, merging onto an interstate, or taking off from stoplights. I live in Springfield, IL, and you gotta hop on I-55 to get anywhere in town. I could usually hit 75-80 by the end of the exit ramp, which was nice because semis don't like to move for a car. A regular 3.8 V6, say in the Chevy Impala, makes 200hp. That's what the Regal GS is around town without using the supercharger. If I'm easy on it, I get 19mpg in town and around 32mpg on the interstate. The final drive is 2.73:1, which means I can cruise 85mph at 2200rpm on the interstate.

Exterior:

GS's come in 2 tone paint schemes, LS's come in a monotone scheme. My GS is burgundy with gray rocker panels. The gray trim isn't very flashy, but it's nice because it's hard to see scuffs and dents. Comes with 16" alloy wheels, not wheel covers. Wish mine had a spoiler like the newer ones do. I love the liftover height for the trunk. I have a 265lb speaker box for 3 12" subs, and the liftover is even with the rear bumper because the insight lights and license plate are attached to the trunklid :). When I didn't have the speakers in the box, my wife could easily lift groceries into the trunk. The trunk is average size, it won't swallow everything. I like the hinges because they're outside the trunk, so nothing crushes the cargo, and they're hydraulic, so it's not a pain to open. Rest of the car is pretty bland, no cheesy Pontiac styling here, just simple curves.

Interior

I love my leather bucket seats. They're kinda firm, and soft enough for road trips. I drive to St. Louis about 3 times a month, 2 hour drive from where I live. My back or butt are never sore. I love the auto-dimming rearview mirror, that's one less thing I have to worry about driving at night, that stupid Ford Excursion that stops 5 feet from your bumper and those 2 search lights are in your mirror. It's also got automatic headlights. There's a sensor on the dash, you can guess how it works. When I bought it, I thought it would get "confused" like if it was dusk, or raining, but it stays off or on, never flickers in changing light situations. That way you NEVER have to worry about turning your lights off. And I found another option out of my own stupidity. Have you ever left your blinker on for like 5 miles and then just realized it? Well, the Regal lets you go about 5 blocks with it on, and then beeps at you so you know you left them on. Steering wheel audio controls (although those get kinda warm at night). 2 retractible cup holders. Map lights, and the middle of the rear seat folds down (for subwoofer bass or the occasional 6 foot long set of miniblinds) sorry no 4x8 sheets of plywood will fit. Backseats are comfy, I've only been in them to work on my rear speakers, but my 6'2" friend says they're surprisingly comfy and enough leg and headroom for him. What else? Oh, the Oh Sh*t handles for the passengers :) My friends have used them a few times ;) I have fun with this car. Also adjustable seat belts, I'm short and have a gut, like a lot of America, and this car fits me like a glove. Seats and seat belts are fully adjustable so I'm never uncomfortable driving it. The a/c and heating are very good also. The air is ice cold and heating is, well, hot. It's got the auto climate control, adjustable between 60-90 degrees. And that car will make it 60 or 90 degrees if you ask it to.

Driving Impression :)

The engine is awesome. On the stock Goodyear Eagle LS's I can lay a tire smoking 10 foot patch of rubber on any road (with the traction control off). It's easy to smoke the tires. I have the supercharger to thank for that. The 240hp and 280 lb-ft of torque are because the supercharger forces air into the engine, so in turn, the engine has to force that much more gas into the engine. Superchargers don't have to spool up like a turbo does. 0-60 is rated at something like 6.6 seconds. I'm only 21, and I drive it like a 21 year old. I love to race this thing. People buy Mini's and BMW Z3's to get attention, which they do. But a Buick smoking the front tires will not only grab attention, but make a person's jaw drop when you beat their souped up Honda Civic or Mitsubishi Eclipse. When I'm not easy on the car, it gets worse gas mileage (I'd say around 14-16mpg). The supercharger is artificial power, but only rears its head when you ask it to. You have to lay into the accelerator for it to start boosting the engine. So, if you're a regular driver, you probably won't use it very often, and get excellent gas mileage. Except places like interstate exits. Punch it at, say, 35 mph and it downshifts into 1st gear and the supercharger kicks in with about 6psi of boost, and you go. I almost got a ticket when I first got it because I hit 97mph before I got onto the interstate. Ok, enough about the engine. It comes with a heavy dut 4sp auto transmission w/ overdrive. It's the same transmission as in the Cop Chevy Impala. The tranny also has a "performance shift" option that makes the engine shift at higher rpm, and reduces upshifting during 20-25mph traffic. I have no complaints about the rest of the drivetrain. In the pros/cons I listed weight under both, and there is a reason why. PRO: The substantial weight lets me know that if I get hit by another vehicle, my car won't crumple. The curb weight is 3567 lbs, not including passengers and cargo. For those people that think their suv is a tank, a Regal GS weights almost 1000lbs more than a Toyota RAV4 or Honda Cr-V, and it weighs within 5 lbs of a 2000 Toyota 4Runner 4x4. With dual airbags and ABS, along with the mass, it's a safe car. I don't feel intimidated by other traffic like I would in a smaller car (like a cavalier). Another plus is the ride. If you've ever ridden in a Buick, it rides like a Buick. It's got a "gran-sport" suspension, but it's not enough to offset the weight while cornering. One last thing is winter. The heft helps keep the car stable on snow and ice, so accelerating and stopping are relatively easy, and the traction control and ABS takes care of slippery conditions. Now, the downside of weight. The 3.8 V6 is enough to move the car, but you can tell the weight is there. Really push it into a corner, or on an exit ramp, and you can feel the heft of the car pushing on the tires. You can't just whip it around a corner like a Focus or Civic. There's a pretty good amout of body roll too. The sporty suspension tries, but can't tame the beast. One more thing to say about this car. Please don't stereotype Buick owners as older retired people. That's the image most people get when they think of Buick, so a person will nix that company out of their list of cars to think about. I'm 21 years old and work at a factory. It's now December 10, 2002, and I've already got 98,000 miles on my car, and I've only had it a year and a half. I've put 66,000 miles on it so far. That's how much I love driving it. I've only had to replace the battery and alternator, both because of my stereo. I've also replaced the tires. I went with Michelin X-One's that have an 80k warranty because harder rubber is harder to leave on pavement ;) It's been an awesome car for me and my wife. It handles 104 degree days as well as -20 degree days, sun and 4 inches of snow. This car isn't cheap, brand new it's close to $29k. I bought my 1997 for $14k w/ 32,000 miles on it, less than 1/2 the price for a broken in car. I wouldn't pay that much for a new car, but as a used car this is a bargain :) I hope this helps in your decision to at least think about a Buick instead of passing it off as a boring car for the Baby Boomers....Kyle W

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 14000.00
Condition: Used
Model Year: 1997
Model and Options: Buick Regal GS, 3.8 V6 Supercharged, Automatic, Leather