Just went by my local dealer THAT USED TO SELL PONTIACS. They still sell Bufords and GMCs. Anyway they had 3 Regals sitting there still in the white plastic wrap. Decent looking car. However, I was turned off when I read the "origin" sheet. Assembled in Germany, that tells me it's an Opel. Tranmission from China, engine from US. 20% US parts. Nice to know our "bailout" dollars are really at work for the Global economy. Another reason my 09 Vibe GT will more than likely be my last GM car.
I was so damn excited for the Regal GS for 2012, but this is disheartening. I think I will keep to my original plan of driving my 2006 Vibe into the ground, and finding the nicest used 2010 w/low enough miles. I wonder what year that will be...
Buick Regal production is to be moved to Canada Q1 2011. They lose money on each one imported from Germany, but GM did not want to wait until 2011 when the factory is refitted to introduce the car.Google "Buick Regal Production Plants"
2009 Vibe 1.8L Carbon Gray AT Power Pkg 1/12/092003 Vibe 1.8L Neptune AT Mono Power Pkg 1/27/03 [sold 2/2/09]2007 T&C SWB 7/31/07 "Broke people stay broke by living like they're rich. Rich people stay rich by living like they're broke."
The Regal was an afterthought. Saturn had the Aura ready to go, which based on an Opel. But since GM pulled the plug on the brand, GM grafted a Buick grille on the front of the Saturn. When I saw it at the NY show, I checked the VIN to figure out where it was built. Took me a minute to remember where cars that started with 'W' came from, then I checked the door sill...Yes, they're moving production to Oshawa, the lady representing Buick made sure to point that out. The first year Regal will only be one trim, once they are building them in Canada they will add more variety.Didn't know that the transmission was Chinese. I hope they don't include that transmission on the NA built models,but since CAMI was churning out Equinox and Torrents in Canada with Chinese-built 3400's I wouldn't hold my breath on seeing domestically sourced powertrain components.I'll stick with my Korean stuff if I'm going to have something foreign, at least their QC is better than the Chinese. (removed)!
Attached files
03 Vibe base. Born 10/14/2002 06:07 AM
Auto, Moon & Tunes, power package. 143k
Neptune/dying clearcoat/primer grey.