New (to me) TourX and Introduction

[nstiesi]

Hello all! My name is Nick and yesterday I took delivery of a 2018 TourX Preferred with just under 52,000 miles on the clock. By all accounts this was a bit of a "cream puff", so hopefully it's lived an easy life and will serve me for the requisite 10 years or so that I tend to keep my vehicles.

This is my 3rd personal car. I started with a 2004 Ford Focus sedan in college and got into modding a little bit. In 2015 I bought the Focus ST seen next to the Regal and didn't touch it cause it was perfect just the way it was! It's older now, but I kept it around since it is valuable to me, and it's not like I can go get another one.

Keeping the ST was why I went used (along with avoiding loans and interest). I have always loved euro style wagons. I admired the TourX when it first came out, but I had my ST and loved it. Since this is the last American wagon (built in Germany, lol), I think it was meant for me, even if I'm 5-7 years late to the party.

Anyway, I don't plan to do much to it, though a simple Opel re-badge is intriguing. Not looking for bumpers yet but grill, trunk, and wheel center caps logos would be nice. It just needs a splash of "weird" to make her mine (since its not bright yellow!)

Does anyone know if this grill would fit? (Photo attached). It's aftermarket, but the reference part number is 39106649. It's not among the part numbers I have seen recommended, but the year and the look appear correct. (My car does NOT have adaptive cruise).

So, hello and thank you!

 

[wagonlover56]

Welcome! Your car looks just like mine. Is your white the "plain" or the tricoat frost (sparkles)?
Mine is the white frost.
Do you have the "red needle" instruments or the white?
Mine was built in April 2018 and has the white needles and the shale cargo area (later they went to black).
My TourX has almost 31,000 miles on it and lives a sheltered life (in the garage whenever not in use).
My previous wagon was a 2003 Passat GLX with 5 speed manual transmission.
As you can tell, I LOVE wagons!

 

[nstiesi]

Welcome! Your car looks just like mine. Is your white the "plain" or the tricoat frost (sparkles)?
Mine is the white frost.
Do you have the "red needle" instruments or the white?
Mine was built in April 2018 and has the white needles and the shale cargo area (later they went to black).
My TourX has almost 31,000 miles on it and lives a sheltered life (in the garage whenever not in use).
My previous wagon was a 2003 Passat GLX with 5 speed manual transmission.
As you can tell, I LOVE wagons!

Thanks! Pretty sure it is the plain white. My wife wants to vinyl wrap it at some point. I wouldn't mind that at all but its an expense so maybe later.

As for the instruments, I have to be honest the color of the needles didnt even register in my brain. The cargo area is tan (shale?), definitely not black.

I have always loved the wagon aesthetic but this has been my first opportunity to grab one. I keep cars for at least a decade, so I don't get the chance to choose something new too often. I am loving this thing so far! Don't get me wrong I love my ST for its speed and agility, but damn if the TourX isnt just comfy, quiet, and refined even at 7 years old.

Is there a substantive difference between the "red needle" and "white needle" versions, other than simply the color of the needles?

I already have Opel badges ordered for the front, rear, and wheels. For the front I am just going to mod the stock mount to accept the badge, not interested in grill swaps at the moment. I saw another user do it and it looked good enough for me. That and maybe some seat covers will probably be all the mods I ever do, its a pretty damn good car as it is.

 

[Jack GS]

Is there a substantive difference between the "red needle" and "white needle" versions, other than simply the color of the needles?

There's lots of scattered info on the subtle differences between the two versions and they are mostly cosmetic. Apart from the obvious, here's the gist of it:

Red Needle Gauges (2018-2018.5)
"Buick" badge on liftgate (removed for 2018.5+)
Older GM QNX HMI

White Needle Gauges (2018.5+)
New Android-based Harman HMI
No "Buick" badge anywhere on vehicle

 

[nstiesi]

There's lots of scattered info on the subtle differences between the two versions and they are mostly cosmetic. Apart from the obvious, here's the gist of it:

Red Needle Gauges (2018-2018.5)
"Buick" badge on liftgate (removed for 2018.5+)
Older GM QNX HMI

White Needle Gauges (2018.5+)
New Android-based Harman HMI
No "Buick" badge anywhere on vehicle

Oh wow, thanks for the detailed reply! Mine is white needles. I definitely have the 2018+ HMI. However, I DO have the word "BUICK" on the bottom left of the tailgate.

 

[bollox74]

I think the Buick badge was deleted for 2019-2020 along with a warranty change

 

[94cruiser]

Just note this.

Red Needles are Faster.

(and welcome to the club by friend)

 

[nstiesi]

Just note this.

Red Needles are Faster.

(and welcome to the club by friend)

How so?

And, thanks!

 

[Jack GS]

Here we go again lol

 

[nstiesi]

Here we go again lol

Oh, whoa.....I'm not looking to start anything. I'm not dissatisfied with the speed of my TourX, lol. We dont need to go there, haha

 

[abizzle]

Here we go again lol

That’s what I said when OP said TourX. Another damn wagon! LOL!

 

[Jack GS]

Oh, whoa.....I'm not looking to start anything. I'm not dissatisfied with the speed of my TourX, lol. We dont need to go there, haha

Nah, you're good lol

There's this unsupported claim that the red needle cars are governed at a higher speed than the white needle cars (and thereby faster). A member who is no longer active on the site made it a point to mention it in damn near every thread on the forum.

Cruiser is just picking up the mantle. Kinda became a joke with the more tenured members at this point. I still don't think anyone has actually proven, or disproven, the claim though.

 

[nstiesi]

Nah, you're good lol

There's this unsupported claim that the red needle cars are governed at a higher speed than the white needle cars (and thereby faster). A member who is no longer active on the site made it a point to mention it in damn near every thread on the forum.

Cruiser is just picking up the mantle. Kinda became a joke with the more tenured members at this point. I still don't think anyone has actually proven, or disproven, the claim though.

Thanks for the clarification. Like I said I feel like im 5 years late to the party, but I'm having fun anyway!

 

[94cruiser]

Watch out, there is a shark out there...

(don't take it the wrong way, I'm happy we have one more TourX person here on the forum).
Welcome

 

[nstiesi]

Watch out, there is a shark out there...

(don't take it the wrong way, I'm happy we have one more TourX person here on the forum).
Welcome

Didnt take it wrong at all, no worries!

 

[DrFaustus]

I recently picked up an old hobby from my teens. Which was competitively racing radio controlled cars. I was heading home from the track last night and found a couple of the racers hanging out by the TourX trying to figure out what it was. That parking lot is actually full of cars that tend toward enthusiast owners.

 

[D2R]

I think the Buick badge was deleted for 2019-2020 along with a warranty change

Buick word badge gone from 2019.
Warranty cut short from 2020.