|
Buick Regal midsize coupe and sedan refined inside and out
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
|
Regal, Buick's midsize label molded into coupe and sedan configurations, looks tame, yet it's not.
With conservative exterior lines which include recent revisions for front hoodline and fascia, Regal makes an understatement, although a test-drive may persuade you that this Buick can be a capable cornering machine and, flat out, downright aggressive on a highway.
Inside, a new design for dash and cockpit emphasizes driver-oriented ergonomics and functional efficiency, while appointments for convenience and plush seats combine to make time spent in this car a pleasant experience.
Then blend in the factor of new Select Series models with extra features for lower prices, and Regal adds up to quite a nice car value.
Even so, it surprises me to admit as much.
Buick's reputation, you see, was never derived from sporty things or agile performers. Then, during the staid era of the 1980s, overall lines of various Buick models seemed to blur into unremarkable blandness.
Significant improvements in the 1990s have helped rescue the line, and consumers now rank Buick above all other domestic brands in terms of quality of construction and the satisfaction that Buick's products bring. Also, the current year has revealed dramatic new Buick shapes with stunning new designs like Riviera, the most beautiful car on the road today.
Regal shares these new Buick assets, and 1995 models stock more safety systems and new perks for passengers.
These improvements became apparent during tests of various Regal models. Last summer driving across northern Michigan, I tested pre-production coupes and sedans in several trims. Recently, I lived with a Regal Custom Select Sedan outfitted with optional V6 engine, sporty Gran Touring suspension and cushy interior comforts.
Field notes from these experiences highlight the sleek shape of Regal's tapered prow, an aggressive kick in throttle response, its playful attitude in curves and the softness and comfort of optional bucket seats.
Regal's power flows from one of two 6-cylinder engines, both familiar iron-block V6 plants. The base 3.1-liter plant produces 160 hp, while the 3.8-liter 3800 series kicks horsepower up to 170.
Each engine connects with GM's electronic 4-speed automatic transmission, which this year has a shift interlock with the brake pedal as a new safety element.
Regal rides on an integrated body-on-frame steel chassis rigged with a fully independent suspension system that puts MacPherson struts in front and a tri-link design with transverse leaf spring in back.
Built-in front and rear structural zones will absorb energy of a collision, and steel reinforcements show up this year in side doors and in the cage that surrounds the passenger compartment.
The power-assisted rack and pinion steering, working in combination with Regal's independent suspension, produces a quick feel at the steering wheel and enables the car to cut sharp turns in slalom maneuvers.
Brakes consist of a power-linked disc at every wheel with computer-controlled anti-lock system.
Both coupe and sedan ride on the same chassis with 107.5-inch wheelbase, so there's little difference in the way the two travel over bumps in the road. The ride quality seems firm in a sporty way, but still comfortable in the manner of a large car.
Regal's coupe appears in two trims, a base Regal Custom and sport-oriented Gran Sport. The sedan also provides these trim levels, then slips a third in-between with the Regal Limited Sedan. The base Custom packs the smaller engine and uses a split bench for the front seat. Limited gets the bigger engine, as does Gran Sport, which also installs bucket seats up front, then applies the Gran Touring suspension and larger wheels and tires.
Check out Regal's price structure and you'll discover yet another trim option arises in the form of a no-haggle bargain series called Custom Select.
Here's the deal.
A base Regal Custom in 2-door coupe or 4-door sedan lists for a few dollars less than $20,000 and contains significant content -- the automatic transmission, dual airbags and anti-lock brakes, power steering, air conditioning, power windows and door locks, analog gauges with tachometer, tilting steering wheel, tinted glass, AM-FM sound system and a clock.
But Select Series goes further with amenities, then lowers the price to pose Buick's sweetest offer.
With the coupe, a base Custom amounts to $19,600, but the Custom Select drops to $18,500.
For the sedan, a base Regal Custom comes to $19,900, while a Custom Select Sedan is $18,600.
Additional Select features begin with a larger V6 engine, which produces only 10 more horsepower but generates far more torque at lower speeds used in city driving.
Regal Select also builds on Custom features by adding an automatic climate control system with dual zones, along with 6-way power for the driver's seat, power controls for exterior mirrors, an overhead console with map lights, keyless entry with remote feature, rear window defogger, cassette deck installed in the stereo plus power antenna, as well as a power decklid pulldown.
This deal gets even more complicated if you want the Gran Touring suspension package, which is offered as a $745 option for the Custom Select. You also get the bucket seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, the same items found on Regal's Gran Sport edition.
The Regal Custom Select Sedan of my week-long test stocked the Gran Touring package. It also included leather seating for an additional $550, a compact disc deck added to the sound system for $225, and incidentals.
Despite the extra comforts, sporty hardware and leather seating, this test car topped out at only $20,340.
Shop around and you won't beat that figure in an import with comparable equipment. In fact, you probably can't come within $5,000 of Regal's special price.
By the way, Regal Gran Sport Sedan lists for $21,870, and all models carry a destination charge of $535 that was not figured in prices listed above.
1995 BUICK REGAL
|
| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 1995 BUICK REGAL Specs |
| Description: |
Midsize coupe, sedan |
| Model Options: |
Midsize coupe, sedan |
| Wheelbase: |
107.5 inches |
| Overall Length: |
Coupe: 193.9 inches
Sedan: 195.7 inches
|
| Engine Size: |
OHV 3.1-L V6
OHV 3.8-L V6
|
| Transmission: |
Auto/4 |
| Drive: |
Front |
| Braking: |
Power 4-disc/ABS |
| Airbags: |
2 |
| Gas Mileage: |
19/29 mpg |
| Price: |
$ 18,500 to $ 21,900 |
|
|
