RideLust

Car manufacturers are doing everything they can these days to sell cars. They’re offering incentives, using mass marketing campaigns and now trying to capitalize on using social media. For example, Ford just recently made an announcement about the Ford Focus Rally, an event that is entirely social media driven. The hope is to get younger 20 and 30 somethings to take a look at, and participate in an internet competition in the hopes of winning a new car. Now it seems that Buick is following suit with a social media blitz called, “Quest for the Keys: An Experimental Social Media Scavenger Hunt”. Set to roll out in seven different cities in the near future, the scavenger hunt provides clues on different social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.
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The 2012 Buick Verano. Photo: © GM Corp.

Buick is set to show their third new model in two years at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show. The Verano is Buick’s entry into the compact luxury segment (although I have a hard time writing “Buick” and “compact” in the same sentence), and will slot into their product line below the recently launched Regal sedan. John Schwegman, Buick’s VP of marketing, sums up their reason for launching a compact sedan as follows: “Verano expands our lineup, continues Buick’s momentum and gives us a great opportunity to attract a new generation of customers with a product that delivers on their expectations for design, performance and technology. It is a smart choice that delivers unexpected luxury in a compact sedan – and it will compete head-to-head with competitors from Audi and Lexus.”

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As I am sure all of you know, the Buick Regal Grand National’s built between 1984-1987 were some of the baddest rides to come out of the 1980′s. Clad in oil-slick black paint and packed with a 3.8-liter turbo charged 6-cylinder, these bad boy Buick’s wreaked havoc on unsuspecting sportscars on streets all over the country. It’s now 2011 and Buick has decided to release a new turbo Regal back into the automotive population. This time it’s front wheel drive, makes 220 hp (as opposed to 245 hp in 1987) and puts power to the pavement by way of a 6-speed automatic transmission. Recently Edmund’s Inside Line got a hold of a 1987 Buick Regal Grand National and a new 2011 Buick Regal CXL Turbo and decided to run a little drag race, the results of which are pretty impressive. They also went on to do a full performance review of both cars which you can read in its entirety here.
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Over the past year both Kurt and myself have done our best to bring you guys the best that the automotive world has to offer. We’ve attended shows, reviewed loads of cars and have even managed to have a little fun along the way. The best part about what we do though are the emails, comments and feedback that we receive from our readers. For instance, if for some reason we stumble, we know damn well that you guys are going to nail us to the wall for it. Same goes if we have strong opinions about certain subject matters or if we throw some humor your way. Our goal is to make Ridelust.com a place where you guys can come, hangout and enjoy everything that the mechanized world has to offer and for 2011 I promise that it’s only going to get better. Below is quick listing of 5 of my favorite highlights from 2010… enjoy.
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Image: © GM Corp.

There’s a problem with most conventional sport sedans: sure they’re fun when you’re blasting up a canyon road, and they give you a sense of confidence when you’re hammer down on your commute home, but they aren’t always a pleasant alternative when you need to eat up highway miles. The very things that make them competent on twisty roads (stiff suspension, precise and weighted steering), make conventional sport sedans uncomfortable for cross-country trips. Even those that allow you to dial in suspension comfort may not soften the steering or make the throttle response less harsh, unless you’re spending serious money for a BMW or Mercedes sedan. Isn’t there a solution for the budget minded enthusiast, who enjoys enthusiastic weekend drives but needs a comfortable weekday commute?

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In the mid-1980′s the performance car market in the United States was still in a pretty dismal state of tune. There were a few rays of light like the Ford Mustang GT and Pontiac Trans Am, but the only real shining star was Buick’s one year only 1987 GNX. Sure it was expensive, but it had the numbers to back up the price. Back then anything with horsepower numbers over 200 was a big deal, so when the GNX came out with its underrated 276 bhp and 360 lb-ft. of torque, enthusiasts couldn’t help but take notice. There was however one inherent problem… the car cost $30,000, around $10,000 more than a standard Buick Grand National. Collectors knew the car was something special and because of this most were sold immediately.
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Lila Sawvel and Leighton Kohn, in GM's Flint plant. Photo: © GM Corp.

Here’s something you haven’t heard in quite a long time: General Motors is looking to hire approximately 1,000 engineers and researchers in Michigan, in an effort expand their electric and hybrid vehicle development. GM’s CEO, Dan Akerson, wants to make the company the industry leader in electric vehicle technologies, including extended range EVs like the Volt and parallel hybrids like the upcoming Buick LaCrosse with eAssist. To date, GM has spent some $700 million investing in eight Michigan facilities that support Volt (and future EV) production.

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PROs: Beautifully sculpted body lines, great interior, awesome fuel economy.

CONs: Base 2.4-liter 4 cylinder is a bit weak, spongy brake pedal, cheesy blue radio controls.

FINAL THOUGHT: The 2011 Buick Regal CXL is a great looking, upscale and sporty sedan for those looking to get great fuel economy.

Not too long ago the mid-sized, mid-priced four-door sedan market was ruled by one of three automobiles. There was the Honda Accord, the Ford Taurus and the Toyota Camry. Nowadays though everything has changed and although the same players are still in the game, some new faces have decided to show up to the stadium. One such entrant is the new 2011 Buick Regal CXL, a car that I recently had under my wing for the better part of a week. Over the last 5 years Buick has been trying desperately to change the public’s perception about the brand. It used to be that Buick drivers were those born before 1935, had Q-tip styled hairdos and wore Totes rain hats on a daily basis. That was all well and good, but then something strange happened, you see everyone started to die off and with that Buick saw an opportunity to revamp their image.
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The 2012 Buick Regal GS. Photo: © GM Corp.

Buick is trying hard to shed their image as the official car of the Gray Panthers, and is proud that the median buyer age has dropped from 72 to 65. That’s moving in the right direction, but the division still needs to attract a younger buyer who’ll stay with the brand to ensure Buick’s growth in the luxury segment. Cars like the Lacrosse aren’t bad, but it takes more than build quality and ride comfort to attract buyers who’d otherwise shop Lexus, Infiniti or BMW.

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It was 1991 and at the time I was riding a 1990 Ducati 750 Sport motorcycle. It was red and silver, Italian, and had an exhaust note that was simply glorious. Why do I mention this at the start of an article about the new 2012 Buick Regal GS, well, I’ll tell you. One afternoon I was stopped at a light out on Long Island. I had on my black Vanson leather jacket, gloves and riding boots, as well as my Arai Vector Phil Read Replica helmet – in short, I was looking pretty bad ass. In the next lane pulled up a 1986 Buick Regal GN, a car that looked pretty sinister with its slick black paint. The driver was bald, had a mustache and was wearing glasses, he also looked to be an academic of some sort. I dropped the bike into first gear and proceeded to inch my way up to the line… the GN did the same. When the light turned green I hammered the throttle and ripped away from the light only to find the GN was right next to me. Second and third came in a flash, but it was to no avail, the GN was pulling away.
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