Buick Regal Wagon is Dead

Whatever.

Who cares?

SON-OF-A-BITCH!

Or something.

I'm really more interested in Buick offering the Regal sedan with a decent engine than a wagon with a feeble engine.

I'm really more interested in Buick offering the Regal sedan with a decent engine than a wagon with a feeble engine.

It is very important that GM NOT include any interesting body styles on it's newest cars.

Toyota got huge building boring cars and GM is determined to follow in it's shadow.

FUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@ louiswei

I care, dammit!

Verano wagon?

Instead, they can just bring out another overweight, high center-of-gravity crossover thing. We can't ever have too many of those.

My neighbor works for GM in the Detroit area. He is currently driving a mid-sized Opel wagon. This makes me think someone is still thinking about placing one somewhere in the US lineup.

This is actually good news for me. Now I don't have to worry any more about whether the Buick wagon will have a manual transmission-- the same transmission they probably put into the European Opel version.

So, goodbye Buick stationwagon and the unlikely manual. Acch, we hardly knew ye.

I agree.....who cares? The market for wagons is deader than dead anyway....why waste any effort even worrying about something you can't control?

because some car guy on the internet says they'll buy a wagon as long as its stick and diesel.

LOL...good point!

Boooo.

Why efficient utility and decent driving dynamics are so loathed by Americans I'll never understand.

I don't understand. Who in North America cares for a wagon??? Buick, great choice!

"Why efficient utility and decent driving dynamics are so loathed by Americans I'll never understand."

Now who is using a straw man argument? "loathed"? Come on. SUVs or Mini-vans are far more efficient in the use of space than wagons. The higher floor removes the tunnels that steal room from the interior. But yes, that height makes them handle worse....something that most Americans view as a comprimise for being a more efficient package. There is no "loathing" about anything.

im getting so fucking tired of GM saying that they going to make a new upcoming vehicle but axe it the next day,BTW this buick wagon go hard

It is always interesting seeing people applaud a reduction in consumer choice.

Example - I tend to hate CUV's but I am happy they are there as a choice.

As for economics - one has to explain to me why the European market can support mulitiple body styles, 3-5 engine choices per bodystyle, and 2 or more transmission choices and the very large North American market can only support sedans with 1 engine choice and a single auto transmissions.

It costs money to certify each engine/trans combo for American use. And there would be more choice if the market wanted it, but why spend all that money on something that would not be cost effective. The European market is much more class based.....and much more severely taxed. There is demand for cheap small cars because they are taxed so much less...the bigger the car the more it is taxed. The American market is a much different place. There is no reason to sell a 1.2L diesel wagon....nobody would buy one. Our tax structure is much more fair. No certain engines size or fuel choice is taxed more than any other.

Could the weeezy 2.4L handle the extra weigth? or the 2.0T 220hp? The car's slooow as it is. As for 1 engine choice in the US... not true. The Regal offers 3 pwrtain combos... 2.4/auto, 2.0T/auto & 2.0T/manual and 2.4 e-assist/auto. That's 4 choices.

bobyblue: After reading your comment, I am of the mind that European tax system is actually more fair. We spend tax dollars maintaining roads. Bigger, heavier vehicles require bigger roads and more maintainence to those roads. Therefore, it seems fair to tax them more. Pollution causes health problems, corrosion, etc. etc. We spend tax dollars to deal with those problems. Therefore, it seems fair to tax higher polluting cars more. It also encourages people to think about their vehicle needs, not just thier wants (or ego). It also apparently leads to more options for the consumer to choose from. I say that sounds fair. On the other hand, America tries to solve the same problems by passing CAFE averages. Which means the automakers are forced into building certain vehicles. This limits our choices, a.k.a. someone else the choice for me to not drive something. That doesn't sound very fair. Especially because many of those people that made that choice for me are single mom's with 1 kid, who drive an Escalade or minivan.

"SUVs or Mini-vans are far more efficient in the use of space than wagons. The higher floor removes the tunnels that steal room from the interior."

Tell that to my dad's former SUV - a GMC Envoy, and our wagon - a Ford Taurus. We've fit objects in the Taurus that just wouldn't fit in the much larger Envoy because of poor packaging. No tunnels in the back of our wagon, just a flat load floor with a third row/lockable storage area below it. The lower floor is much easier to load cargo onto as well, with a lower lift-over height. I'd sacrifice a few cubes for that anyway, but I don't even have to make that compromise.

And the thing I don't get is you slam people here praising or encouraging wagons, diesels, and manual transmissions because those aren't things the American market, in all its pure, perfect widom demands, but at the same time you (rightfully) slam the new Jetta, decontented and cheapened out exactly because of that same American taste, as being horrible. So you have to admit, there are things Americans like that are just wrong.

In other news, Haagen Dazs has confirmed cancellation of spinach from among their soon to be released new ice cream flavors. Popeye was reportedly quite distruaght. And nobody else.

It cost money to certify cars for use in all countries. I always here that is cost so much more in the US, but I have never seen the actual numbers. Can someone please post real numbers on what it takes to ceritfy a auto in the US vs. a few major European countries.

"I am of the mind that European tax system is actually more fair. "

If you think a tax system designed to force people into cars they would not usually buy then we are not even speaking the same language.

"It also encourages people to think about their vehicle needs, not just thier wants (or ego)."\

In other words you want other people (government) to make your choices for you. That makes me sick to my stomach. It is called the FREE market for a reason.....FREEDOM of choice .....not having things rammed down your throat by government apes. Feel free to move to Europe and have half of your paycheck taken away in taxes BEFORE you even buy a car....then add in the VAT and other taxes......you will be right back.

"So you have to admit, there are things Americans like that are just wrong."

Wrong in your opinion about cars...BUT the market decides, not some pointy-headed European Union agency. VW did what they had to do to get more market share....I dont blame them. I trash the Jetta because it is far more bland and boring than the Camry which is derided all over this board and love pointing out double standards. Oh and just because an old Ford has better packaging than an Envoy in no way proves your point. Does your Taurus have more usable room than a Caravan....say from the same year as your Ford? Nope...of course not. The Caravan was called "The Magic Wagon" when it came out for a reason.....it was a marvel of space efficiency. That is what killed the regular wagon.....a superior product....not "dumb" Americans.

If Europe truly cared about its citizens then it would have the guts to slash taxes AND the VAT and let the PEOPLE decide.

Well, I can't say I'm surprised. GM (and the rest of Detroit) doesn't have the balls to build a decent wagon. It seems that only VW, Audi, BMW, and MB will do the job.

I stopped waiting two weeks ago. I got a 2011 328i sport wagon instead. At least I'll have one of the most unique rides in Texas..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rboyett/6067491426/in/photostream/

I agree with the person who said they would rather have the regal sedan with a good engine than the wagon with a feeble one. I think the Regal engines in the smaller Verano would be a good choice, but with the cars they want the Regal to compete with, they need a more powerful base engine and a more powerful engine for the GS. Following Cadillac's lead with what they did with the CTS would be a great start. As far as numbers go anyway, the CTS competes on paper with cars in a price class above what it actually is priced to compete with, going against the 5 series and E class on paper.

For the price of the Regal GS, I think I would prefer an Altima 3.5 SL. In spite of the age of the 3.5VQ engine, it is versatle and still pretty competitive for it's class, and I like that I would not have to change the timing belt since I run my cars alot. With the Altima, I would have more than 250hp in a heated leather seats with Bose 6disc DC changer, dual automatic climate control, push button start, so pretty much all the important stuff the regal offers except for Onstar which I can get at Best Buy, for under 30 grand without negotiating at the dealer.

If the regal is going to be successful at conquest sales of TSX and IS owners, the base engine should be the one in the Turbo and a 300Hp V6 should be the GS engine. Otherwise a new Altima that will be more refined than the current one is right around the corner.

Too bad. Fortunately, over the past few decades, GM has displayed market leading product design and marketing coupled with strong financial performance. Who am i to second guess them?

Besides i'll probably be buying one of their electric vehicles. Have you guys heard of it ? It's called the Volt and it has a range extender. That means it runs on electricity but has unlimited range. It's awesome.

(heh heh. i kid (but only a little))

I want a wagon, that is all suv are is wagons on stilts but I am the only man in the u.s I think that wants them back.

Maybe wagons are unpopular now, but I wonder if that will change as fuel economy requirements and fuel costs climb. I guess I'm one of the minority that is interested in something wagon-like for my next car. I've got kids now and could use the easy access cargo space and some useable roof rails for bike racks, etc. Problem is I like to drive and don't really want to sacrifice handling, relative economy and reasonable performance to get those things. I'd love an A4 Avant but can't afford it. Mercedes and the CTS Wagon are out of my price range too. Actually it's scary how many "average everyday" cars can now easily get up into the $30k range. I saw a Ford Fusion at an auto show this year with a $34k sticker, and I don't think it was even the most heavily optioned available. Really?

Am I the only one who thinks a Chevy Malibu wagon with AWD (and a properly tuned chassis of course) could be pretty nice for a mid level car? Probably. I liked the last generation Subaru Legacy wagon (especially with the turbo), but we don't get that anymore in the US and the Outback is getting more SUV like. Still a good car but getting closer to purely a bland appliance.

@bodyblue

- The US market, thought touted as one, is not a "free" market. Especially the car market. The market is not the ultimate in deciding what cars are old here. We have things like emissions restrictions, safety standards, and gas guzzler taxes, fuel taxes, and sales tax to name a few. All of these are decidedly not "free market".

Our system may be better than some European countries when it comes to cars, but it is is not free market as you would say.

Example - I know there is a demand for the European Porsche GT3 seats in the US. But, we can't get them do to safety restrictions nobody cares about in this style of car. Tell me this is free market and I will eat my shoes.

Start eating........compared to the entire EU, the US is indeed a free market. Different fuels and different sizes of engines are not taxed at different rates in order to FORCE people to buy smaller cars. Now with our current socialist leaning regime in power, things have been changing a bit that is for sure. Regulations for safety etc are just the way things are. Want to sell in a free market like the US, then you need to comply with the regs, period. Europeans car buyers are not smarter....just more repressed.

bodyblue
I ate but regurgitated as you make some blatantly false statements. Examples:

1. US diesel and gas tax rates are vastly different. Doesn't this push consumer useage of one over the other?
2. Safety regs aren't "just the way it is" just as someone from the UK couldn't make this statement, neither can you. And for what it is worth, we have two very different safety regs for consumer cars - why is that? Doesn't that push the market?
3. Our CAFE standards favor a certain type of vehicle (hint - it is the one that proliferated in the 90's). And CAFE isn't new.

I never said Europeans were better or smarter consumers. I said they have more choices in a small market yet remain cost effective. We could learn something from this. All Americans should promote consumer choice. It improves everything.