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Detroit, 6:17 AM
Fri Nov 27
1 posts in the last 24 hours

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    Dsmvwl  Admin  Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×
    Image of that ain't the way to have fun, son that ain't the way to have fun, son
    11/23/09

    In reply to Opel Insignia OPC: First Drive
    I'm gonna save my GNX wants for a two-door, black-as-night, coupe...with the CTS-V's engine, after it's been upped to 650+ HP.

    Grand National, though...I'm good with this.

    Personally, I want this package in an automatic, and I'm not anti-Jalop, or anti-manual, just can't do it, long-term, any more.

    Caution, the really fun hobbies can kill you...if you're doin' them right.
     Reply
    that ain't the way to have fun, son was starred that ain't the way to have fun, son was unstarred
    Image of bmoreDLJ bmoreDLJ
    11/23/09

    In reply to Opel Insignia OPC: First Drive
    The Acura was uglified, while the Mazda 6 was blobified and softened. So yeah, there isn't much else out there to match the Regal's blend of FWD, sportyish pretensions, midsize space, and handsome looks. I tip my hat to GM, this is a legitimately good car, and I hope they make a performance version.
     Reply
    Edited by bmoreDLJ at 11/23/09 12:48 PM bmoreDLJ was starred bmoreDLJ was unstarred
    Image of FTGDWolverineEdition'09 FTGDWolverineEdition'09
    11/23/09

    In reply to Opel Insignia OPC: First Drive
    Does it guzzle at OPEC levels?
     Reply
    FTGDWolverineEdition'09 was starred FTGDWolverineEdition'09 was unstarred
    Image of Braff Braff
    11/23/09

    In reply to Opel Insignia OPC: First Drive
    Is this similar to the AWD system in the 2010 S4? I know they talk a lot about vectoring as well...
     Reply
    Braff was starred Braff was unstarred
    Image of jafoca jafoca
    11/23/09

    @Braff: From all knowledge of other audi products, not specifically the new s4...

    No. Not the same system. Audi generally uses TorSen AWD system, which apparently has been vectoring all along. The exceptions to the audi=torsen rule are the A3 and TT.

    Haldex (which is the system in this opel, and also in my new audi A3) is used mainly on vehicles with transversely mounted engines, platforms originally intended for FWD.

    Sidenote: most people say that TorSen is superior. I can't say yet as I have only had my car for 1 month, and no snow yet :) Also, Bugatti Veyron supposedly uses a Haldex system.
     Reply
    Braff promoted this comment jafoca was starred jafoca was unstarred
    Image of KinOfCain KinOfCain
    11/23/09

    @Braff/Jafoca: Sort of/not really. This is a transverse-mounted, FWD car with a power-takeoff unit sending power through a clutchpack between the front and rear axles combined with a clutchpack-operated lockable rear diff, as opposed to the Audi which has a true torsen center differential with a rear-biased torque split on dry pavement, coupled with two clutchpacks on the rear half-shafts for torque vectoring.

    The "vectoring" of the haldex rear diff is a bit misleading (just like all the other marketing BS from haldex). It's a good system, but it's basically just a rear diff that can lock up. It has a single clutchpack on the rear diff that can lock the two halfshafts together, as opposed to something like the (heavier, more expensive, more complicated) tw0-clutchpack system used on the Audi and some (not all) of Acura's SH-AWD systems.

    The Audi uses a system with a clutchpack on each of the rear half-shafts, which lets you disengage one of the halfshafts progressively. Because of the way differentials work, this effectively "vectors" torque to the other wheel.

    The Haldex system progressively locks the rear axle, which prevents the inside wheel from spinning, but it doesn't technically vector torque to the outside wheel. Any situation where one rear wheel has a different torque split than the other would require one to have more traction than the other, and indeed, Haldex's examples show one wheel on ice, which is intentionally misleading, IMO.

    That said, this system is better than having an open rear diff, and is cheaper and more compact than a system with a true center diff and two rear-axle clutchpacks.
     Reply
    Braff promoted this comment KinOfCain was starred KinOfCain was unstarred
    Image of Braff Braff
    11/23/09

    @KinOfCain: wow, great reply - thank you.

    #tips
     Reply
    Braff was starred Braff was unstarred
    Image of vwminispeedster, pronounded Si-trow-in vwminispeedster, pronounded Si-trow-in
    11/23/09

    In reply to Opel Insignia OPC: First Drive
    You down with OPC?

    Yeah, you know me.
     Reply
    vwminispeedster, pronounded Si-trow-in was starred vwminispeedster, pronounded Si-trow-in was unstarred
    Image of Das ASHloch (achtundsiebzig) Das ASHloch (achtundsiebzig)
    11/23/09

    In reply to Opel Insignia OPC: First Drive
    Change the wheels, black out the brake intakes and exhaust surrounds, de-chrome the grille and trunk, and do something with the tails (tint?). It's a nice foundation, but I'm just not loving most of the finishing visual touches.

    And 4,000# for a sedan this size with manual transmission? That's just incredible.

    I'm still down with OPC, just saying.
     Reply
    Edited by Das ASHloch (achtundsiebzig) at 11/23/09 12:18 PM Das ASHloch (achtundsiebzig) was starred Das ASHloch (achtundsiebzig) was unstarred
    Image of camp6ell camp6ell
    11/23/09

    @Brimful of Ash on the 78: incredibly heavy or incredibly light?
     Reply
    Brimful of Ash on the 78 promoted this comment camp6ell was starred camp6ell was unstarred
    Image of Das ASHloch (achtundsiebzig) Das ASHloch (achtundsiebzig)
    11/23/09

    @camp6ell: About 600# higher than I would have guessed, even with AWD.
     Reply
    Das ASHloch (achtundsiebzig) was starred Das ASHloch (achtundsiebzig) was unstarred
    Image of Maymar Maymar
    11/23/09

    In reply to Opel Insignia OPC: First Drive
    This is about as deserving of the GNX mantle as I am of valedictorian. I'm not bothered by the AWD 4-door bit, but it won't embarrass Corvettes. I'd accept the Grand National badge though. Or, really, however I can get it - throw Daewoo badges on, and I'd still drive the crap out of it.

    But still, clocking in at a small dog shy of 2 tons is disturbing.
     Reply
    Maymar was starred Maymar was unstarred
    Image of snapoversteer 'bout to get told snapoversteer 'bout to get told
    11/23/09

    In reply to Opel Insignia OPC: First Drive
    You calm down, Ben. No need for blasphemy. Take not the name of the G_X in vain. Maybe more of a Wildcat.
     Reply
    snapoversteer 'bout to get told was starred snapoversteer 'bout to get told was unstarred
    Image of If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face
    11/20/09

    In reply to 2011 Buick Regal: First Drive
    You know, now that there's a manual option, this thing's kinda tempting, if i was in the market for a TSX, Passat or Volvo. But I'm not. Nor will I ever be.

    They should have called it Insignia, though. This is a nice car, and the Regal name is only going to remind people of a car that was decidedly not nice.
     Reply
    If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face was starred If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face was unstarred
    Image of spuy767 spuy767
    11/21/09


    @If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face: Yeah. That car is shit.
     Reply
    If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face promoted this comment spuy767 was starred spuy767 was unstarred
    Image of If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face
    11/21/09

    @spuy767: Okay. But, outside of the enthusiast community, when people think "Buick Regal." They're more likely to think of this.
     Reply
    Edited by If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face at 11/21/09 1:36 PM If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face was starred If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face was unstarred
    Image of If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face
    11/21/09


    @If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face:
     Reply
    If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face was starred If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face was unstarred
    Image of spuy767 spuy767
    11/21/09

    @If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face: @If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face: Touché, but 97+ GS was pretty swell too. Not terrible looking either.

    #tips
     Reply
    If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face promoted this comment spuy767 was starred spuy767 was unstarred
    Image of If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face
    11/21/09

    @spuy767: When it came out? Yeah, it was a nice, clean design. And the supercharged 3800 was and still is a great powerplant. Unfortunately, the interior was wretched and Buick let the car hang around unchanged way too long. Basically, GM did everything they possibly could to kill the Regal name from 1988 until now and all of a sudden it's a world-beating entry-level luxury/sport sedan. I've come to expect this sort of thing, but it's still hard to swallow.

    This car should be the Insignia and the LaCrosse (a name that is 10x worse than Regal) should be the Invicta or Electra. Oh, and both models need a Gran Sport version.
     Reply
    If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face was starred If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face was unstarred
    Image of Ford Tempo Fanatic Ford Tempo Fanatic
    11/20/09

    In reply to 2011 Buick Regal: First Drive
    It sounds, looks impressive. However, it is not a Buick damn it!
     Reply
    Ford Tempo Fanatic was starred Ford Tempo Fanatic was unstarred
    Image of brandegee brandegee
    11/20/09

    In reply to 2011 Buick Regal: First Drive
    It's relatively attractive, but gorgeous? No. I really don't see anything remarkable with this car, except that it does a nice job of filling in the gap where GM used to want Saab to be.
     Reply
    brandegee was starred brandegee was unstarred
    Image of Ben Wojdyla Ben Wojdyla
    11/20/09

    @brandegee: The situation did not allow me to capture the car properly. The only one that didn't have camouflage on it was the one above, which was not allowed out on the drive. Leave it to GM to put a great new car in the shadows, next to a pillar, under sodium lights.

    On the road, it's a damn nice lookin' ride.
     Reply
    Edited by Ben Wojdyla at 11/20/09 7:28 PM Ben Wojdyla was starred Ben Wojdyla was unstarred
    Image of Mobius Mobius
    11/20/09

    In reply to 2011 Buick Regal: First Drive
    This is a future 500hp week article.

    In the USA, there's so much backlash against the old man image of Buick, but in China, it's a pretty luxurious midrange brand and somewhat energetic with their lineup.

    That said, China didn't get a chance with the land barges of yesteryears.
     Reply
    Mobius was starred Mobius was unstarred
    Image of that ain't the way to have fun, son that ain't the way to have fun, son
    11/20/09

    In reply to 2011 Buick Regal: First Drive
    Interesting, but it should have been the VXR8.

    Then again, the GTO worked so well....

    Sigh.

    /the concept of flying-under-the-radar is lost on most people
     Reply
    that ain't the way to have fun, son was starred that ain't the way to have fun, son was unstarred
    Image of pauljones pauljones
    11/20/09

    @that ain't the way to have fun, son: Amen.

    I wish we did have more sleepers.

    On the other hand, the reason that we don't have them anymore is that people didn't buy them because they looked like, well, sleepers.
     Reply
    pauljones was starred pauljones was unstarred
    Image of that ain't the way to have fun, son that ain't the way to have fun, son
    11/20/09

    @pauljones: With the proliferation of stick-on portholes and 24" wheels, I guess I shouldn't be surprised subtle doesn't sell well.

    This is why I like the 300C SRT, and cars like it. Haul-ass sedans just have appeal to me.
     Reply
    that ain't the way to have fun, son was starred that ain't the way to have fun, son was unstarred
    Image of YankBoffin YankBoffin
    11/20/09

    In reply to 2011 Buick Regal: First Drive

    Let us hope this sells better than the last rebadged Opel.
     Reply
    YankBoffin was starred YankBoffin was unstarred
    Image of Jagvar Jagvar
    11/20/09

    @YankBoffin: But it's the Caddy that ZIGS!
     Reply
    Pessimippopotamus promoted this comment Jagvar was starred Jagvar was unstarred
    Image of flyingstitch flyingstitch
    11/20/09

    @YankBoffin: I actually saw one of these in the wild a few months back. Without the badging, I would have been hard pressed to ID it. In hindsight, it was almost as heinous as the Cimarron. Almost.
     Reply
    Six Flags Over Tomsk promoted this comment flyingstitch was starred flyingstitch was unstarred
    Image of that ain't the way to have fun, son that ain't the way to have fun, son
    11/20/09

    @YankBoffin: And I almost had the Catera excised from my memory.

    Ack!!!!
     Reply
    that ain't the way to have fun, son was starred that ain't the way to have fun, son was unstarred
    Image of Six Flags Over Tomsk Six Flags Over Tomsk
    11/20/09

    @flyingstitch: Nothing a couple more cylinders won't fix.
    [www.pbase.com]
     Reply
    Edited by Six Flags Over Tomsk at 11/20/09 2:47 PM Six Flags Over Tomsk was starred Six Flags Over Tomsk was unstarred
    Image of tonyola tonyola
    11/20/09

    @YankBoffin: I was almost tempted to pick up on a 2000 Catera a few years back as a daily driver. The massive depreciation made the purchase price cheap, it doesn't look that bad, it's sort of sporty, and there's lots of goodies. A little digging around for info convinced me that would have been a dumb move.
     Reply
    tonyola was starred tonyola was unstarred
    Image of flyingstitch flyingstitch
    11/20/09

    @Six Flags Over Tomsk: Wow. Can you say 'sleeper'?
     Reply
    flyingstitch was starred flyingstitch was unstarred
    Image of YankBoffin YankBoffin
    11/20/09

    In reply to 2011 Buick Regal: First Drive
    How does it compare with the Malibu in ride and handling? I was very impressed with a rental Malibu a couple years back and have since hoped the General would apply the same level of engineering to a smaller sedan. Perhaps this is why they hadn't.
     Reply
    YankBoffin was starred YankBoffin was unstarred
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