It's been three months since I took delivery of the Buick Regal CXL with the NA 2.4L 4-cyl. engine. It was CPO, with bumper-to-bumper warranty still left, and up to 4 oil changes/tire rotations at any GM dealer.
Oil: Still a medium amber color with about 3K miles on it; I haven't needed to add any. The OLM is dropping at 15% a month even now that the weather has warmed unpleasantly, and I will probably change at 4300-4500 miles, in mid-May.
Fuel: Seems to have settled down at 23-and-a-fraction mpg over a two-week period, 70% city, the same routes on which I drove the PA. The Regal gets about 10% better mileage than that car did, also on regular.
Things I've done to it: Tan Hexomat floor mats; a tan Berber carpet trunk mat; a hood and roof repaint to get rid of the acne the previous owner let it develop from parking under trees; and I've painted bright yellow the tip of the black hood release lever, which I could never find easily in dim light or bright sunlight. Planned: modest SS exhaust tips in the style of the Turbo models; addition of the GS-styled pedal covers.
Things I wish it had: The rear parking assist which beeps at you as you back toward something; the Head-Up Display on the windshield, which on the PA was like a little green ghost riding out ahead of you at night; and a "gallons used" in the fuel readout menu. Deeper, i.e., softer-riding, tires (though I've gotten used to the slightly stiffer way it rides), and chrome wheels. And a bit more hp for get-up-and-go -- though I use the manu-matic transmission now and then for some zoom going up a ramp or for passing.
Things I'm glad it has: The chunk sound when the doors close. The USB port for playing mp3s. The neat and symmetrical layout of gauges and buttons. The heated front seats, without which Miss Linda would whine during bitterly cold temps -- i.e., to her, less than 70 degrees. The feeling of driving a vault down the street.
Overall: It's a good car for me, lots of fun to drive. Its predecessor, the venerable '03 Park Avenue, was fun as well, but a different kind of serene fun, whereas the Regal seems even more energetic and willing to rev and run. No rattles or creaks. I've managed to store my gloves and sunglasses in the console compartments, and the glove box is much roomier than on the PA.
Bottom line: I find myself purposely taking a slightly longer route to work in the morning, with a bit more interstate mixed in -- just for the fun of it. . . .
Review (and car history?): 2011 Buick Regal CXL
- Thread starter Benzadmiral
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Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
Bottom line: I find myself purposely taking a slightly longer route to work in the morning, with a bit more interstate mixed in -- just for the fun of it. . . .
My wife drives a 2011 Regal Turbo that we bought new in June 2011. Hers has the back-up assist and plenty of power for passing, on-ramps, etc. It's been a great car so far. I would agree that it is fun to drive, and has a very "sporty" feel. We really like it. It's been trouble-free so far (47k miles). People who dismiss this car because of the "Buick" stereotypes are really missing out.
Since this is BITOG, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the oil I use. I was on QSUD 5W-30 for the first 45k miles, with a 5-6k OCI. AC Delco (Hengst) PF457 cartridge filter. This last OCI, I went to MI 0W-40 European formula. If you look at the owners manual for the Euro version of this car (Opal Insignia), they spec 0W-40. My thought is that the Turbo DI engine might benefit from this more robust oil. Seems like the oil turns BLACK very fast in this car. I can never bring myself to run it all the way out until the OLM tells me to change it.
Well, mine is not the Turbo -- but I am concerned about possible fuel dilution in the DI engine. Going with a 0W-40, a 5W-40, or the famous almost-as-thick-as-a-40-weight German Castrol in 0W-30, might well be a good idea once I'm out of warranty.
The Regal's OLM has clearly had any software updates GM prescribed, or it would be pointing to a much more optimistic (i.e., longer) OCI than I'm seeing.
They're a nice looking car. I had a Buick Regal decades ago. It was a good car.
The new Regals don't appear to be sold in Canada with a manual transmission. That would be important to me.
What is their approach to a flat tire - a spare, run flats or sealant and pump? I'm often a long way from a major center (or even a place where you'd be likely to find a matching tire) and I fear having a flat or blow-out in the middle of nowhere. You can limp a long way with a compact spare, but probably wouldn't do so well with either run flats or sealant and pump. I end up carrying a lot of stuff so carrying an extra wheel isn't practical and it wouldn't do any good anyway unless you have a jack.
Ecotourist, mine has a compact spare -- instructions say to pump it up to 60 lbs. Though I hear that the GS model, the really sporty one, has no spare. I don't know how accurate that is.
Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
Ecotourist, mine has a compact spare -- instructions say to pump it up to 60 lbs. Though I hear that the GS model, the really sporty one, has no spare. I don't know how accurate that is.
Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
Ecotourist, mine has a compact spare -- instructions say to pump it up to 60 lbs. Though I hear that the GS model, the really sporty one, has no spare. I don't know how accurate that is.
True, flats are much less likely today. The last time I had a flat was in 1990 or 1991, on the '84 Ford Escort.
But if I were to have one of these spare-free cars, it'd bother me that I could get stuck.
I hadn't had a flat for years either but now I've had 4 in the past 10 years, 3 on trips, and one on my own driveway.
One started about midway into a 500 km trip. I heard a thumping noise followed by a metallic clatter. I completed the trip without incident, but then having visited with my family for an hour or so, went out and found a rear tire completely flat with the side walls well worn. I think in retropect I picked up some metal which thumped briefly then let go with a clatter. The driving characteristics of the car (a 2000 Solara) were completely unaffected by that deflating tire.
The second occurred after a 500 km trip. When I went out the following morning a brand new tire was completely flat, with a sharp stone lodged in a small cut.
The third one occurred when I pulled a small piece of metal out of a tire and it went flat over a few minutes right on my driveway.
In these 3 cases the tire went flat (or completed going flat) while the car was stopped.
Finally my daughter (who now owned that same Solara) had a flat in almost exactly the same way as I did. The almost completely flat tire was only discovered when we stopped for fuel. Again the sidewall had become well worn and the tire was unsafe for further use. In this case we were away from home but had a full size spare.
These are awesome cars Paul. Mine is a 2013(got in Dec of 13), I have the 2.0 Turbo with an automatic trans. Power is great, but mpgs will really go down if you make use of it. I changed out my oil early at around 1700. Sitting at 5300 miles now and oil is very dark. I used Amsoil Signature Series. I really don't want to take any chances with this engine as I Have to keep this car til paid for. My life time mpg is about 22mpg. I'm about 80% around town driving. The rear park assist is great, mine has it. I pretty much agree with all you've said. I will probably give a review on mine in a few more months. Have a possible transmission issue now(differential is noisy).
Originally Posted By: PTBH04
These are awesome cars Paul. Mine is a 2013(got in Dec of 13), I have the 2.0 Turbo with an automatic trans. Power is great, but mpgs will really go down if you make use of it. I changed out my oil early at around 1700. Sitting at 5300 miles now and oil is very dark. I used Amsoil Signature Series. I really don't want to take any chances with this engine as I Have to keep this car til paid for. My life time mpg is about 22mpg. I'm about 80% around town driving. The rear park assist is great, mine has it. I pretty much agree with all you've said. I will probably give a review on mine in a few more months. Have a possible transmission issue now(differential is noisy).
At the six month/48K miles mark, the Regal remains solid and fun to drive.
Oil: 1 change in mid-May at ~45K miles, done under the CPO program at the Buick dealer: presumably AC Delco synth blend 5W-30. Tire rotation done at the same time.
Warranty repair: replacement of seat heater unit.
Repaint of hood and roof, thanks to negligent previous owner who let bird droppings and tree sap eat through the clear coat. That was on my nickel, and I'm glad I did it. I also drained and refilled the power steering reservoir with the specified Dexron VI.
Gas: Averaging about 23 mpg combined, on regular. I've seen a hair over 30 on the open road. The A/C seems to lower mpg by about 5%.
Accessories: See the list above from 4/4. I've added the brake and go-pedal covers.
Planned: New tailpipes a la the Turbo models, a second OC in early August, tranny fluid change at 50K, and . . . actually, that's about it.
'Tis a fun car, and as yet has cost me nothing in repairs (other than cosmetic) and very little in maintenance.
Today marks one year since I purchased the 2011 Regal CXL. When I gassed up today, I had run out of pages in the record book I carry in the car, and had to pull a new one out of my stash.
The Regal remains a pleasure to have, to look at, and to drive. Costs have been astonishingly low: As it's a CPO car, the first 4 oil changes and tire rotations are covered, and I've used only 2. The seat heater control unit misbehaved last March and was replaced under warranty. Aside from gasoline, I have had only the repaint of hood and roof to get rid of the etchings in the paint caused by bugs and other contaminants; purchase of floor mats; and the 50K transmission fluid change. Perhaps $800 all told.
Gas? I've driven some 11,000 miles this year. (The extra 2000 or so came from my road trip to Amarillo, TX, last May.) At 23 mpg and 3.30/gal. average, I estimate I've spent some $1578 on that, or an average of $131.50 a month. Quite possibly the lowest cost in the first year of any used car I've ever purchased.
At 182 hp it is kind of underpowered from a standing start. But there is plenty of oomph once you are up to speed. In May, for example, on the open Texas highway, I found it a breeze to go from 70 to 82 to pass a slower car, and the Regal felt as if it had plenty in reserve. I've learned not to be afraid of revving it to 3000-4000 rpm when I need a boost. A turbo would be nice, and my next car -- possibly another Regal -- will have one. But it's not a problem.
Plans? I'd like to add chromed exhaust tips. An OC and tire rotation this month, then again around May or June, will use up my CPO services. After that, probably QSUD 5W-30 and whatever filter you folks recommend. A claying, glaze, and paste wax this month, and keep the interior clean. And pay it off, I hope, next February or March!
Originally Posted By: Lolvoguy
Benz...these cars are soooo underrated. It takes all my willpower from buying a nice CPO one from the local dealer.
At 18 months into my ownership, I have nothing much to report, except that the Regal is still aces with me. Still getting 21-23 mpg overall on 87 E10, with a lot of city driving and A/C use. I haven't done the chromed exhaust tips; the Turbo and GS models have a special rear valance that allows the twin tips to pass straight out from the muffler, a feature my non-turbo doesn't have. I'd have to buy that part and have it painted to match the car's dark gray, then get the tips. Never mind.
The fourth CPO oil change is coming up next week, and I plan to take an oil sample and send it to Blackstone. And the same after my first run on whatever oil I use in December.
Autoblog had some story about how the Buick Regal is the car most often traded or sold after only 1 year of ownership. A, it's possibly because GM has 12-month lease deals, and B, if you don't tell us WHY people are doing this, your article is a waste of electrons, and our time.
And C, I like mine, so st*f it, Autoblog.
Thanks for the update.
IIRC, when you initially got it, you were a little uneasy about the the higher RPMs that this engine turned, especially when accelerating. Did you get used to it by now? I guess you must have, or else you would have sold the car. 
I personally don't mind the higher rpms, but given the choice, I'd prefer a lower revving engine that could effortlessly accelerate without having to dip into the high rpms. Wife's Q5 is a lot better in that respect than my 530i. Her Q5 will also cruise at 75 mph with rpms still below 2k, while my 530i is around 3k rpm at that speed, but that's mostly because it's manual.
I personally don't mind the higher rpms, but given the choice, I'd prefer a lower revving engine that could effortlessly accelerate without having to dip into the high rpms. Wife's Q5 is a lot better in that respect than my 530i. Her Q5 will also cruise at 75 mph with rpms still below 2k, while my 530i is around 3k rpm at that speed, but that's mostly because it's manual.- Status
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