2018+ Regal Age Demographic (Poll)

[-Regal-]

I once wanted to buy a Honda Accord until my dad told me I wouldn’t be allowed to park it on his property

Who could blame him; why would anyone want to blight their own driveway? FYI the Regal now is not made in USA.

 

[jeffcam1211]

Need to change my vote, 40 now. List of past vehicles

1987 S10
1992 K1500
1985 Toyota pickup
1989 Toyota pickup
1998 S10
1992 C2500 (still have)
2001 Jeep Wrangler
2007 Mazda3
2018 Buick Regal TourX

Add in the shared vehicles and wife's cars
2007 VW Passat (purchased new)
1997 Buick LeSabre
1998 Chevy Astro AWD
2012 GMC Terrain
2015 Chrysler Town and Country
2020 VW Atlas Cross Sport (purchased new)

I laugh because the current daily drivers are a domestic car (Buick) built in Germany, and a German car (VW) built in Tennessee. Proof that many of the foreign vs domestic arguments are stupid, and heard often living in rural Michigan. Caught a lot of flack when I owned the Mazda, despite half the parts on that car being marked/stamped/cast with the "FoMoCo" logo.

Not looking to start an argument but your logic is flawed if your concern is about helping the "home team" and you live in Michigan. I can understand a person in CA or NY not seeing any difference, but a person in MI is absolutely affected. Whether its reflected by housing values or your city/towns tax base, the health of GM/Ford has a direct impact on our lives. I know a bit about the auto biz, and as a Michigander, you're much better off with a strong GM/Ford than VW/Toyota/Honda, etc. Dont get me wrong, people are entitled to buy whatever they like, but in no way is it similar. By the same logic, I completely understand why people in OH would buy a Honda versus a GM/Ford. Honda has way more of an impact on the OH economy nowadays.

The amount of R&D money GM/Ford pour into the state of Michigan dwarfs any impact of the transplants. Thats a cold, hard fact.

 

[Scott in PA]

Not looking to start an argument but your logic is flawed if your concern is about helping the "home team" and you live in Michigan. I can understand a person in CA or NY not seeing any difference, but a person in MI is absolutely affected. Whether its reflected by housing values or your city/towns tax base, the health of GM/Ford has a direct impact on our lives. I know a bit about the auto biz, and as a Michigander, you're much better off with a strong GM/Ford than VW/Toyota/Honda, etc. Dont get me wrong, people are entitled to buy whatever they like, but in no way is it similar. By the same logic, I completely understand why people in OH would buy a Honda versus a GM/Ford. Honda has way more of an impact on the OH economy nowadays.

The amount of R&D money GM/Ford pour into the state of Michigan dwarfs any impact of the transplants. Thats a cold, hard fact.

Two things:
I would add to your analysis that many people fail to accurately assess the value of profits being taken out of the country. Mazda/Toyota/Kia may have local workers, but the profit for each car sold goes back overseas.
Second, as a Buckeye fan, I feel your pain. 🙄

Not to start an argument...........

 

[D2R]

Not looking to start an argument but your logic is flawed if your concern is about helping the "home team" and you live in Michigan. I can understand a person in CA or NY not seeing any difference, but a person in MI is absolutely affected. Whether its reflected by housing values or your city/towns tax base, the health of GM/Ford has a direct impact on our lives. I know a bit about the auto biz, and as a Michigander, you're much better off with a strong GM/Ford than VW/Toyota/Honda, etc. Dont get me wrong, people are entitled to buy whatever they like, but in no way is it similar. By the same logic, I completely understand why people in OH would buy a Honda versus a GM/Ford. Honda has way more of an impact on the OH economy nowadays.

The amount of R&D money GM/Ford pour into the state of Michigan dwarfs any impact of the transplants. Thats a cold, hard fact.

And we saw it first hand when the 2007 UAW strike against GM. The local business suffer immediately even though they are not directly related to automobile at all.

 

[kopek]

My dad instilled the “Buy American” value in me from an early age, even though he knew there was no such thing as a purely American car anymore. The idea of Buy American is much more than just what brand of car you have, but it’s the reason I only buy vehicles manufactured by “The Big Three”. I once wanted to buy a Honda Accord until my dad told me I wouldn’t be allowed to park it on his property. Ahhh… good times!

Buy American is almost impossible these days. Do you buy a FORD F150 made in Mexico, or a KIA Sorento made in the US? Which one helps the American economy more?

 

[abizzle]

Who could blame him; why would anyone want to blight their own driveway? FYI the Regal now is not made in USA.

I knew that already, and my dad knew it back then. In Post #142, jeffcam1121 pretty much summed up what I meant by "Buy American" being about more than just what brand of car you drive. And then Scott in PA added a bit more to it in Post #143.

Dad worked at GM and he knew those "American" S-10's they were building in Shreveport, LA had Isuzu transmissions that were built in Mexico. Speaking of Isuzu... the Hombre, which was simply a rebadged S-10, was also built at the Shreveport plant.

My dad wasn't so much worried about the name on the car, he was concerned with the impact to the local and state economy. He also realized where the majority of profit ended up when buying GM cars vs. buying Honda, Toyota, Kia, etc. He saw what was coming... globalization would eventually crush American manufacturing and the quality of American products.

 

[adam728]

Not looking to start an argument but your logic is flawed if your concern is about helping the "home team" and you live in Michigan.

But half these people look at the badge and never even think beyond that. They'd rather drive a Ram built in Mexico or a Buick built in China than a Honda or Nissan built (and largely developed) in the states. My point is, it's much more complex than just the badge on the vehicle.

 

[jeffcam1211]

But half these people look at the badge and never even think beyond that. They'd rather drive a Ram built in Mexico or a Buick built in China than a Honda or Nissan built (and largely developed) in the states. My point is, it's much more complex than just the badge on the vehicle.

Trust me that Ram built in Mexico is pumping A LOT of money back into MI. The physical location of an assembly plant is only one factor. As I said, the amount of money the domestics pump into the economy via R&D is substantial.

 

[LLninja]

What's going to be interesting is when engine and transmission companies that supply the auto industry get replaced with battery and electric motor companies. I guess is you are making other parts (headlights, tail lights, seats, interior parts) you will continue to make those no matter if the car is gas or electric.

 

[thesyguy]

Cars are meant to be driven. I'm the philistine who if given a ridiculous sum of money would buy something like a "no miles" Superbird and drive the shit out of it.

Growing up my Dad's best friend worked as a salesman at the local Buick, Chevrolet, Pontiac, and Cadillac dealer (this was back in the days before GM got really disciplined about what lines they wanted dealers to cover.) I got to ride in a Buick Regal T-type about an 86ish model, it was a trade in. I wish Dad had bought that instead of the Oldsmobile. We took it on a backroad blast until the digital dash started flashing "88" miles an hour while you could still feel the engine pulling and the acceleration happening.

I use my GMC Syclone to pick up stuff at Home Depot/Lowes and to make dump runs. I have had numerous comments from people that disagree with me doing this. My response has been, and always will be, it’s still a truck. Get over it. 135k miles and no intentions of stopping.

 

[adam728]

What's going to be interesting is when engine and transmission companies that supply the auto industry get replaced with battery and electric motor companies. I guess is you are making other parts (headlights, tail lights, seats, interior parts) you will continue to make those no matter if the car is gas or electric.

Many (most?) of the transmission companies are already jumping into electric motors, either as a hybrid solution, or as a drop-in electric motor/driveaxle unit. Aisin, ZF, Allison, GKN, etc have been showing these for a few years now.

 

[abizzle]

I use my GMC Syclone to pick up stuff at Home Depot/Lowes and to make dump runs. I have had numerous comments from people that disagree with me doing this. My response has been, and always will be, it’s still a truck. Get over it. 135k miles and no intentions of stopping.

Wow! A Syclone?!?! It’s been a long time since I’ve seen one, but I remember them and the Typhoon back in the day. I can’t believe you have one as a daily driver. They only produced about 3,000 of them.

It’s your truck and if you wanna drive it to the dump and Lowe’s it’s fine by me. You just don’t see too many collectibles being used in that manner. I hope it runs forever.

How is the exterior and paint? What about the engine and drivetrain?

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Regal LTD Coupe car was foriegn made in Canada, which is ok if you are Canadian, but still not made in the United States!

 

[thesyguy]

Wow! A Syclone?!?! It’s been a long time since I’ve seen one, but I remember them and the Typhoon back in the day. I can’t believe you have one as a daily driver. They only produced about 3,000 of them.

It’s your truck and if you wanna drive it to the dump and Lowe’s it’s fine by me. You just don’t see too many collectibles being used in that manner. I hope it runs forever.

How is the exterior and paint? What about the engine and drivetrain?

It is babied in many ways. But I drive it hard and use it often as a truck should be. Drivetrain has minor mods. Nothing I couldn’t remove in less than a day and return to completely stock.

 

[LLninja]

It is babied in many ways. But I drive it hard and use it often as a truck should be. Drivetrain has minor mods. Nothing I couldn’t remove in less than a day and return to completely stock.

(LLninja drools at the vehicular porn)

Once I build my barn addition and move all my tools over, I should keep an eye out for a Syclone or Atyphoon or both…I loved the way they looked.

 

[thesyguy]

(LLninja drools at the vehicular porn)

Once I build my barn addition and move all my tools over, I should keep an eye out for a Syclone or Atyphoon or both…I loved the way they looked.

Don’t wait too long. Prices are escalating quickly. A low mileage Syclone is running $35-60k.

 

[LLninja]

Don’t wait too long. Prices are escalating quickly. A low mileage Syclone is running $35-60k.

Yeah, I’ve seen the same thing happen to Toyota Supra after the Fast and The Furious 1 came out. No matter, if the 401(k) keeps growing like it did over the past 3 years, the “I just want it” and YOLO might win out over price.

 

[abizzle]

It is babied in many ways. But I drive it hard and use it often as a truck should be. Drivetrain has minor mods. Nothing I couldn’t remove in less than a day and return to completely stock.

That’s just crazy! A turbocharged, throttle body injected 4.3L V-6 with 280hp and a whopping 350 lb-ft torque. 0-60 in 4.6 seconds and ran the quarter mile in 13.4 seconds at 98 mph. 2,995 were made in 1991 and just 3 were made in 1992.

That 4.3L V-6 was a beast! I had that engine (minus the turbo) on my ‘94 S-10 LS and my ‘95 S-10 SS. The ‘94 model had throttle body injection and put out 195hp, while the ‘95 SS had central port injection and put out 205hp.

 

[adam728]

That’s just crazy! A turbocharged, throttle body injected 4.3L V-6 with 280hp and a whopping 350 lb-ft torque. 0-60 in 4.6 seconds and ran the quarter mile in 13.4 seconds at 98 mph. 2,995 were made in 1991 and just 3 were made in 1992.

That 4.3L V-6 was a beast! I had that engine (minus the turbo) on my ‘94 S-10 LS and my ‘95 S-10 SS. The ‘94 model had throttle body injection and put out 195hp, while the ‘95 SS had central port injection and put out 205hp.

And that 4.3 in my 92 K1500 it was like 160 hp and dog slow. Although I swear my 92 C2500 with a 350 is more gutless (14 bolt and 4L80E rob a lot of power). Had a 4.3 in a 98 Astro too, was ok.

And then in 2014 the new gen 4.3 (with zero parts shared w the old engine) made up to 297 hp and 330 ftlbs. No turbo. My how technology has come.

 

[LLninja]

And that 4.3 in my 92 K1500 it was like 160 hp and dog slow. Although I swear my 92 C2500 with a 350 is more gutless (14 bolt and 4L80E rob a lot of power). Had a 4.3 in a 98 Astro too, was ok.

And then in 2014 the new gen 4.3 (with zero parts shared w the old engine) made up to 297 hp and 330 ftlbs. No turbo. My how technology has come.

My 1995 C2500 Suburban came with a big block 7.4L (454 cu in) beast of an engine. Even though it wasn’t anemic, the fuel economy sucks. Filling the 40 gallon tank requires 2 credit cards as my local gas station limits you to $100 max per transaction and trying to use the same credit card twice seems to be blocked, I’m looking to sell this beast and replace it with something newer with a working AC and other creature comforts like CarPlay.