mikesfastss
Club Member
amen brother take a little pride in your country
2012 regal gs
- Thread starter riche
- Start date
Except stat for stat the Kia and Hyundai rapes the Malibu or Regal.
I have a Malibu (2009 LT2) and while there's nothing wrong with it, there's nothing that great about it. Boring to drive, mileage isn't that great (sitting at 26 mixed), not much power (even the V6 model is weak compared to the competition and doesn't have the gas mileage), etc. Nice interior, comfortable, but it's pretty normal. Definitely not a piece of shit car but nothing to get excited about either.
I wouldn't get a Kia, but if that Hyundai wasn't so damn ugly it might not be a bad ride. Stomps the Malibu and Regal in mpg and performance.
CRASH
Drinking the LoLions Kool Aid
The new Malibu that was just launched is worlds apart from the style that you have in every respect.
dave89iroc
Club Member
However, the previous year models screwed the pooch so badly that GM lost customers to KIA, etc. I honestly can't recommend GM cars to anyone with the track record from the past 10+ years, if I was going to buy a new car, KIA/hyundai is on the list I would look at, as is ford, Honda, Toyota
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riche
Forum Member
I was raised on ford and gm. Dad worked for gm for 34 years, granddad, aunts and uncles work at the union hall across from ford livonia transmission. I have to say that the regal gs is an awesome car inside and out but comparing it to the optima sx, it isn't work the extra money. And the optima has cooled seats, a plus for out here in arizona.
Blu
Forum Member
GM vehicles are far better than they were 10+ years ago. You should judge a company on their current product. Most of the people building and engineering those vehicle from a decade ago are no longer there.
dave89iroc
Club Member
When I see a current model car that is worth a damn, I will change my mind, I haven't yet, every year I see more of the same crap, still using designs that have failed in previous years, etc.
I rarely see "imports" in for anything other then routine maintainance
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I rarely see "imports" in for anything other then routine maintainance
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While I'm going to contradict myself slightly with the previous statement. My mother in law has the regal turbo model, and I was very impressed with the way it handled and drove. If we were going to buy a domestic product this would win hands down. I've never driven a fusion, but I can't imagine it performs like the regal.
That being said, we're not in the market for a domestic, we were looking for an import, with much better reliability, and far superior consumer rating (acura tsx). From Honda, a manufacturer that has just as many models built in the USA, as any of the other big three. While they may be Japanese, they have a lot of r&d and manufacturing in the us
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Overboost
Forum Member
I'll be honest, I really like the Regal. Even the non-GS turbo model is sharp, and is finally getting away from the "old-person" vibe that hurt Buick for so long. I've driven a variety of 1st and 2nd gen Fusion models, and they are nice cars. I'd gladly take a Fusion Sport over most of the other midsize cars out there right now.
We're in the market right now for something to replace my g/f's '09 Mazda6 because her lease is up. Most likely we're going to buy the lease out, hold on to it for a year, and see what the midsize category has to offer. I really think the 2.0 turbo Fusion is going to be the way we go. As much as I like the styling of some of the other cars out there, I'd rather buy domestic (even though the Fusion is built in Mexico...for now), and support the local automakers. The new Malibu is warmed over styling of the last gen, with a bit of Camaro flare IMO, and it doesn't look right. Doesn't make it a bad car, just makes it blend in with the Camrys and Accords of the world.
Don't be fooled by Hondas though. I've had several friends with Civics who have had numerous problems. Broken seat sliders, clutches blowing up, and a motor that lost VTEC periodically. I seriously think they've lost their edge in recent years, but the problems I speak of are from 2003-newer cars. I know they've got a huge plant down in Ohio, and I believe a few other throughout the US.
Before i get blasted for making the above statement, let me explain my experience. I currently have 3 domestics in the driveway, (2 GM and a Chrysler). One of my GM products has been relatively pain free, but did make a few trips to the dealer under the 3/36 warranty. The Chrysler spat a water pump @ 80k which cost me plenty to fix, but at just shy of 100k it's still running strong.....knock on wood.
My Pontiac on the other has been nothing but problems since the day I purchased it. Buying the extended warranty was the best decision I've ever made in my life. While under the original manufacturers warranty (3/36), GM had spent more on warranty costs that I originally purchased the vehicle for. Furious, I called Pontiac Customer service to complain.....their response, and I shit you not, and I quote the rep, "Well, some cars are just like that. There's nothing we can do for you, you must have bad luck with this car". While there are statements that their quality has been brought up in the last 10 years, this was ~4 years ago. I can attest their quality is crap, and their customer service is even more laughable.
..and yes I have family that works for GM, on both sides (mine and my wifes)
On the other hand my parents have owned strictly imports as DD's, outside of a 'vette & 1937 Ford Truck. Never an issue with with any of the DD's. The imports have been phenomenal. My mom still DD's her Camry (bought new), with 220k on it. Outside of regular maintenance, the only thing to go on it has been the catalyst. Her previous car was an Accord with 180k on it. My parents sold it 10 years old with a slipping trans for $3800 (clearly described to the buyer at the time). Tell me any 1 domestic car that can be sold for nearly $4k, with a slipping trans @ 180k miles?
Long story short, reliability, resale, & most importantly customer service have driven me to imports. I'm tired of driving a car for 2 years, watching the resale get cut in half, and when there is an issue, get treated like some piece of shit because my vehicle is a flaming pile of crap.
and to be clear, I'll probably never own a European import in my life. They're in a totally different league of imports. I'd put them behind the big 3 in reliability & cost of ownership.
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I'll be interested to see what the new EcoBoost will do in the Fusion. The Buick turbo 4 banger is a pretty old engine, and has been around the block in Europe. I really hope the Fusion will beat the Regal out of the water, which will be awesome for competition amongst the US automakers. While i give credit to GM to be the first to launch a downsized turbo model in the US, I really hope the EcoBoost outperforms it for some good competition (and the Ford being likely developed in the US...unlike GM).
I know understand there's been some issues with the Civic SI's most recent engine. But compare that to all the other domestics that have all the exact same issues in practically every engine made in the lineip and it'll likely be night and day. First thing you see on any domestic forum is "what should I look out for in buying XYZ?" On the import boards you still get some of that, but not nearly the laundry list of well knowns that the domestics have.
Overboost
Forum Member
I think that's a lot of the old thinking still rearing it's ugly head. The domestics are coming around, and it was the foreign automakers that made them go back and look at their quality and practices. I do find it funny that in the few people I know that own Hondas, they've had more major problems than those who drive domestics. My parents Fusion was plagued by a Sync problem, but other than that, has been problem free for 40k miles. As someone else said, we probably should look at more recent examples or current trends, but the old habits are hard to break.
4 cam tbird
Club Member
The Buick Turbo 4 cylinder is old and has been around the block in Europe? What??? It's a derivative of the Cobalt SS motor and it's all new for the Buick, going in the ATS as well. When I say it is a derivative of the Cobalt SS motor, even that is fairly misleading, that engine was seriously reworked, it doesn't share much of anything with the old Cobalt motor.
On Kia and Hyjndai though, they are no joke. I bet you could do the above comparisons to damn near any car and the Kia/Hyundai will always come out looking real good. They are learning fast over in Korea. Especially the powertrains. They are getting more power out of the same displacement for damn near every displacement engine they make that is common with someone else (including the 5.0L) and getting better fuel mileage at the same time to boot!
On Kia and Hyjndai though, they are no joke. I bet you could do the above comparisons to damn near any car and the Kia/Hyundai will always come out looking real good. They are learning fast over in Korea. Especially the powertrains. They are getting more power out of the same displacement for damn near every displacement engine they make that is common with someone else (including the 5.0L) and getting better fuel mileage at the same time to boot!
Scooter70
Club Member
Agreed. Over here we've said for a long time that once they figure out how to style a good looking vehicle, they're going to take off. The last few years they've made major strides in that area. Some of their cars are obvious copies of competitors but the Genesis line has looked pretty good for a couple of design cycles. I agree with Steve that this is good for everyone because it keeps us all on our toes. The new Fusion should do very well if we can keep the buzz from the Auto Show going between now and Job1.
CRASH
Drinking the LoLions Kool Aid
Shame on me I guess for being a home team fan boi, that's my priority. Not saying that the Asians don't make fine cars (really), because they do, but as for me I couldn't for the life of me be caught dead owning one because we have three fine auto companies based here in Michigan that put out fine vehicles, regardless of what the haters say. The competition gap is so narrow now because of parity, that it makes me wonder why people, especially on here, wouldn't opt for the domestics over the Asians. I'd be embarrassed to own one, so I proudly now and till the end of time support the home team. Fuck Honda, Kia, Hyundai, Toyota, Nissan, Lexus, Acura, Scion, and Infiniti. We got great automakers here that make great products and should support them.
mikesfastss
Club Member
well said dan.