FINALLY THROUGH WITH MY 8: Part 2; the trade in
 

Well I pulled the trigger and traded in my 8. I just couldn't deal with it for another winter. Winter of course being the time when it gives me the most trouble. Plus I was just tired of driving around without heat.

Anyway i picked up a 2012 Buick Regal GS, pearl white, 6 speed manual. It had 8316 miles so that's pretty new and the price was right. I was actually looking at getting a new one. I already have a 2010 Buick Lacrosse nat my wife uses. It's really nice. I had a 2000 Regal GS before i bought my 8 and feel that I've come full circle. Maybe I can even set a pattern if a new rotary comes out in a few years and go back to a rotary. It'll be like ping pong.

Good luck with the new ride... ;)

That's quite an elegant car. Enjoy it! :yesnod:.

meh

It's always fun getting a new car. Enjoy!

After a weekend with the Regal here are my observations.

It's a lot more sporty than i anticipated and much more sporty than the 2000 regal GS i had. That one was quick but couldn't handle for spit. The new one has excellent steering. The wheel is just right. Thickly bolstered with a flat bottom. Handling is very good in regular mode. In sport mode it gets even better, and in GS mode it's very nice. Ride and handling IMO is almost the perfect balance of sportiness and luxury. The 6 speed at 1st felt too light but I have the feel of it now and it's real nice. The seat is what I think is the biggest improvement. The old regal just had a flat seat back. I was all over the place. The new one is really nicely bolstered. Too much at 1st but I was able to adjust it.
The car has no body roll. The RX8 had way more. I can't believe it. Overall you can see and feel where they added performance and handling, like it was dialed up to the nth degree. It's more overt than the 8, almost like it's trying to be sporty. The 8 didn't feel sporty. It was just natural with the 8, almost to where it wasn't exciting. The regal is trying to excite you. Initially it feels more composed in a curve because it doesn't have the initial body roll the 8 has and the steering feels more direct.

The turbo is where the car kinda lets you down. Unless you're full on the engine is not very responsive, then bamf! it takes off. This is my 1st turbo. I had a supercharged car (the old regal GS). Overall because the car is so smooth, you don't feel like you're going fast but when you look at the speedo, you're doing 85. I might get some tickets in this car.

check out ZZPerformance | 3800 Performance Parts | Largest Aftermarket Supplier! for some mods for it! Same engine as the Turbo Cobalt SS

Beautiful car, I find myself driving my wifes 2013 turbo optima alot more lately due to injuries overseas with my knees but I don't think I'll ever give my 8 up. Turbo on the optima is alittle slow at first also but it does move and 80 feels like 55. Get a radar scanner and have fun.

Only on rx8club will you read about someone buying a buick and raving about it's improved handling, smoothness, and road feel compared to a world class chassis like the rx8.

:scratchhe

My grandpa drove a Buick! Was pretty scary driving with him.

as did mine... I always preferred riding with him over my grandmother though. He owned a garage and trucking company and pulled a 5th wheel trailer until his late 70s.

My grandmother was a different matter entirely... god rest her soul... but she had a thing for :beer:

Well at least you got some rotor shapes in the wheels, looks very close to the R3 wheels

...less body roll? :Wconfused

Guess I bought the wrong car.

my thoughts exactly, LOL

http://0.tqn.com/h/humor/1/H/m/M/-/-/Wat.jpg

That is the right year GS to buy (newest ones they took away HP) and it's a decent car (for a Buick) but man it was time to sell your 8 if you think it didn't feel sporty.

I didn't say the Regal had improved handling. I said it was trying to be overtly sporty. The 8 is the better handler but doesn't have to try. The regal definitely has a smoother ride, and it does have really good steering. I owned my 8 and lived with it for almost 11 years and one of the main issues I had was that i thought everything else would be boring to drive. That's not the case. The current Buick regal GS has very good handling, unexpected for a Buick. The 8 gets an 87 on the skidpad, 65.4 on the slalom (Road & Track), the GS gets a 92 skidpad, 68.6 slalom (edmunds). So yes, one could say by the numbers handling is improved on the GS. Does that make it a better chassis, no. I still think that the RX8 is the best chassis around, period. perfect balance (a little too much body roll IMO though). It doesn't have to try and be sporty.

The 8 wasn't trying to be sporting. It's just natural. Like Michael Jordan. it just comes easy and feels easy with the 8. I was just saying that the buick is trying to be sporty, almost too hard.

The new ones also have awd as an option, with a rwd bias. if I had awd, I'd tune the heck out of the motor and would have a classier EVO.

Not a huge fan of Buick, but as long as you're enjoying it mate!
Have a blast!

I love the LNF (my DD is a Cobalt SS/TC), but the Regals are too heavy for my taste. Glad you like your new acquisition though :D