At this time’s Good Value or No Cube Buick Regal presents an odd mixture of efficiency upgrades and manufacturing facility designer (Joseph Abboud) type. Let’s have a look at what this supercharged sedan is all about.
Centurion was the title adopted by officers within the Roman military through the early period of the Roman Republic. It was taken from the Latin phrase “Centurio,” that means hundred, denoting the standard measurement of the squad the officers commanded. Not all Centurions had been equal; positions had been decided by function and societal standing. All, nevertheless, ranked decrease than the Legion’s horse-mounted equestrian order.
The 1926 Ford Mannequin T pickup we checked out final Friday is sort of a century previous, and when new, it was designed to enchantment to far higher numbers than simply 100. At this time, Mannequin Ts symbolize a price range brass-era traditional for the lots. Our automotive, at $19,500, sits on the high of that market; nevertheless, its want for brand spanking new high cloth and wooden for the mattress calls its worth proposition into query. Finally, it pulled out a squeaker 52% ‘Good Value’ win.
Automobile of the century
Talking of Centuries, that is the mannequin from which at the moment’s 2002 Buick Regal GS initially sprouted. Within the early Seventies, Buick utilized the Regal title as an upscale trim stage on the model’s A-body Century coupes. These automobiles shared a roofline and whole underpinnings with different A-body two-doors, together with the Chevy Monte Carlo and Olds Cutlass Supreme.
Shift ahead 20 years and three mannequin revisions later, and nothing had modified, whereas all the pieces had modified. With the introduction of the fourth-generation mannequin in 1997, Buick stored the Regal within the household, sharing its unibody structure with its Normal Motors bandmates, Chevy, Pontiac, and Oldsmobile, however whittled down the out there bodystyles to a single four-door sedan. This technology of Regal, like its speedy predecessor, is FWD, providing a small spate of V6 engines and automated transmissions as its drivetrain choices. Additionally, like the sooner automotive, it shares its physique with the Century, however it’s a definite, separate mannequin somewhat than a easy trim-level improve.
Gran Sport
That is to not say there is not some trim-level shenanigans available with this Regal. It’s the fascinating GS (Gran Sport) version, which suggests it has the superior supercharged L67 3800 V6 below its hood. That makes it the quickest Regal because the Grand Nationals of the Nineteen Eighties. On this mannequin, the blown pushrod 3800 was rated by Buick to be good for a powerful 240 horsepower and a fair more healthy 280 pound-feet of torque. Backing that up is a four-speed automated operated by way of a sporty console-mounted shifter.
This automotive has a mere 81,000 miles on the clock and, based on the vendor, has benefited from over $4,000 in current upkeep and upgrades. These make it much more distinctive a proposition. That work contains new brakes and tires in any respect 4 corners, upgraded anti-sway bars and trailing arms, and a strut tower brace below the hood. And that is all been accomplished on a Buick! All the unique components will include the sale, the vendor says, simply in case the following proprietor needs to retrograde the Regal.
All aboard the Abboud
The automotive’s aesthetic points steadiness all that mechanical mischief. It is a Joseph Abboud version, an added-cost trim stage supplied by Buick on the LS and GS fashions, and designed by the American fashionista. Adjustments to the automotive for the Abboud version embrace two-tone chestnut over taupe upholstery, leather-based seating surfaces, particular 15-inch alloy wheels, and Joseph Abboud signature badging everywhere.
Being high of the road of the highest of the road, this Regal GS Abboud version additionally options such niceties as a moonroof, a Monsoon sound system with each cassette and CD participant, and dual-zone automated local weather management. The latter has by no means even had the protecting plastic peeled off its LED show, which reveals an unbelievable stage of restraint for anybody who has ever ridden within the automotive.
Based on the advert, this Regal has loved a pampered life, stored in a storage and used solely sparingly as a weekend automotive. Total, it seems to be in nice form, with no rust, no noticeable put on and tear, and clear, clear headlamp lenses, giving it an almost-as-new look.
Low-cost thrills?
A clear title cherry-drops the sundae on this Buick, which leads us now having to contemplate its $8,500 asking value. That value will get the following proprietor the automotive, the unique components, and a get-out-of-jail-free card from the smog tester. It ought to be famous, as properly, that these automobiles are well-known for being lifeless dependable and could possibly be thought-about day by day drivers even now, almost 1 / 4 century (there’s that phrase once more) from new.
What do you assume? Is that this seemingly well-kept, and remarkably for a Buick, upgraded, designer-edition Regal GS, a deal at that $8,500 price ticket? Or is it an excessive amount of of a throwback to throw down that a lot?
You resolve!
San Francisco Bay Space, California, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
H/T to Don R. for the hookup!
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