More Than We'd Bargained for

All we intended to do was get some cat food and check out the DVD's at Walmart. However, they were having a used-car "tent sale," and we just decided to take a look. They had a 1980s-era convertible Mustang for $100, running, but it was spoken for. My wife wanted a Toyota RAV, but the engines in those looked like lumps of coal, and they had around 80,000 miles. Next to the Lincoln Continental, the Regal was the next most enticing.

We sat in the Regal and immediately felt that this was "the one." The sweeping dash and comfortable, roomy interior seemed to promise a high-tech "Eden" once the ignition was turned. The test drive proved the car to be adequate, and we were desperate to replace my wife's 1991 Nissan truck which, though reliable, just did not seem safe enough to survive a crash. This seemed to fit the bill. However, we were still thinking "cat food and DVD's."

We sat down with the salesman just to run some numbers--we were still "just looking," and I was determined to walk out without buying anything. However, the monthly payment, combined with the down, was irresistible, so we actually drove home in 2 cars, cat food in tow (but, sadly, sans DVD's).

My other car is a beloved '95 Nissan 200SX SE, but my first (and still favorite) was my mother's 1983 Olds Cutlass Supreme with the 3.8L V6 and TH-350 turbo- hydramatic trans with lock-up torque converter. This Regal has the series II of this engine, so I felt I was returning to my roots, the reliability and smoothness being a foregone conclusion in my mind, though I always had preferred Oldsmobiles to Buicks. This car hasn't disappointed, with at least twice the gas mileage and more power, though the trans doesn't compare, which is somewhat expected with an almost doubling in power and consequent weight gain.

This car has been very reliable. The first tune-up is scheduled at 75,000 miles--that's a good thing, because the dealer charges about $800. However, we got away with a $140 Tune-Up Masters job with a fuel filter change. We also opted for the fuel injection cleaning service. A rear brake job 10 months into ownership and routine oil changes and tire rotations have been the only other issues--the car even automatically balances the tires and will let you know if one is low in air.

That's another thing--this car is "smart"--very smart. It's literally a "no-brainer." Remote, keyless entry, automatic headlights, auto driver's side window roll-down, and so many other things, yet all this technology is very subtle and hidden. You can program the remote to turn on the interior/exterior lights upon activation, or not to, so get used to people telling you "you left your lights on." It's very smart, but low-key. It was exciting at first, but it can grow boring after a while, especially if you are used to looking at bright, vari-colored lights, and/or digital gauges. But we have the base model without the optional all-digital stereo/CD-player, trip computer, and digital compass--my grandfather's Park Avenue has that, and it does tend to keep things exciting. You could soup things up by adding a digital aftermarket stereo, in-dash DVD, or upgrading to the higher-tech package.

The engine is gorgeous. It has a large plastic covering and everything is well laid-out under the hood. However, it's mounted so close to the passenger compartment, that it makes a subtle "whoosh" sound when you accelerate, and we had an intermittent rattle from the left side of the steering wheel near the headlight control. The dealer replaced the steering wheel shaft, or something or other, and this happens much less often, and is not as loud now. It has a lot of power, with maximum torque coming in at 4,000 rpm. You can add a K & N filter for a few more HP ($50), for those so obsessed (it's on my wish list).

The transmission is, not surprisingly, designed for comfort and fuel economy. Depressing the gas pedal will bring about pretty immediate downshifts, however. Aftermarket "sport" chips that will reprogram the shift points and other characteristics are available.

Handling leaves room for improvement (but keep in mind it was a used car). We have cheap Pep Boys tires right now (and the 15 inch wheels), which squeal easily, but will be upgrading to more appropriate T- or H-speed rated performance tires. To their credit, though, these tires have not noticeably worn in the last year. I also plan to acquire more sporting shocks--maybe Tokico or Monroe Sensa-tracs. This car seems more like a boulevard cruiser than a highway machine, and it's definitely out of its element on the twisties. I will update this when I upgrade the suspension.

The interior is more than adequate. The seats are soft and comfortable, but I prefer the more side-supportive and sportier-type seats of my Nissan. The driver's side of this split-bench has a 6-way power adjustable seat (my count) that elevates. My wife, now 8 months pregnant, likes the seats, though, and passengers have commented favorably. The rear seats have raised, stadium seating, fold flat for a trunk pass-through, and there is a handy rear armrest with cupholders. The front cupholders are illogically placed, however--several times my wife and I both accidentally pulled cups out by their handles and incurred spills. Some have complained about the cavernous storage space under the radio, but it makes quick work of concealing anything short of several bottles of wine. The dual map lights are a real treat, and the dimming dome lights are a nice touch, but make a bigger impression on passengers down the road.

In summary, this is a great car--a lot of brawn and class for the price. I have seen several 1-3 year-old models on dealer lots in the $13-15K range, including the supercharged model, so I have considered trading in my Nissan so we can have "his and hers" Buicks. I've heard that the supercharged model's 0-60 is in the 6-second neighborhood, and the suspension is sportier, of course. Some minor modifications to the suspension, intake and exhaust on this model should yield a buttoned-down pavement-pounding monster, but you won't be disappointed with the base offering, especially if you take advantage of the rebate(s) or a good used one. My long-time mechanic has also praised this model.

Five Years Later...

We found out, the hard way (after 5 1/2 years of ownership of a total 6 1/2 year-old car), that a common problem with this model is the dreaded "Maximum Shift Long Adapt" code, coming from the check engine light. Apparently, the transmission will begin slipping, and the computer(s) can no longer compensate for this. Our reckoning came whilst trying to follow a friend up the mountain leading to Big Bear. When the road became too steep, the Buick alarmingly couldn't do it-it'd slip out of gear too much-so we turned back. We were told that most of these were fixed under warranty. Our bill came to $2300. Insist on OEM parts--make it CLEAR that third-party parts are NOT ACCEPTABLE! Still a great car.