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Mine have worn about 2/32s in 40K. I am not a hot
rodder.
Only negative I've noticed is a tendency to slip from dead stop on wet pavement when turned, as in pulling out _quick_ at a stop sign to beat an oncoming car... When the tire's turned it tilts, less pressure must be on part of the tread.
Tread is QUIET. Use lower air pressure and the ride is floating, but I run about 33 instead of 30 recommended.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
So far, I am truly please with how quiet these tires are. Good traction dry and wet. As for hard cornering, those teen-ager days are long gone. But when compared to Michelins & Bridgestones, the value on these tires were too good to pass on.
Michelin's are good tires. But highly overpriced. There are better tires at there on a price vs performance ratio.
I think I am buying a Honda next time.
It comes down to the dealer and the service department.
The accords have poor braking, grabbing, bad rotors, rattles, and auto trans problems. The pilot has strut and shock mount noises and other problems.
Somebody just bragged that their I4 accord gets over 30 on the highway and 22 around town driving. My trip to Nashville in 03 LeSabre with 3800 at 75 + with air on gave 30.5 and 31.5 on return. Around town is 22. Returning from dealer Monday, the car gave 35 mpg on flat level road at 55mph.
I'll take the comfort without the rough honda ride and snotty dealers, read the threads! They pay more, they have to have maintenance done at the dealer, and feel they've come out ahead.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Apologies to all if this link has been previously posted. The link leads to a rendering of the upcoming 2005 Buick Regal coupe.
with your honda theads, accord problems PART 2 already cause they have some many problems.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I have had a good dealer for those cars. His service manager figures things out and gets them fixed. Sounds like KDAWG79 may need a different dealer.
What I have noticed through 3 decades is that people who had hondas and toyotas never talked about their problems. But when questioned, they had had major problems on the cars. They just never want to lose the image that their car is the most wonder thing since sliced bread since it's imported from Japan or Europe. Often things were fixed by dealers while the car was in for the required high-priced service at regular intervals that were recall items and the customer never knew they were done (helps the image if you don't publicize the problems on your brand).
My cost of owner ship has been less because I can take my car to any of 15 GM dealers in the greater area and who knows how many competent other shops. I'm not limited to 3 honda dealers who have me on price if I want competition to sell me the car or repair the problems they do have.
If you like the rought ride of a honda or camry, power to you. I'll take the high gas mileage my 3800 gives with comfort and mass if in an accident. There are people on the accord forum asking when their mileage will increase to advertised; is it at 5 k or 10 k.
My car has 1500 on it and I got 30 to and from Pigeon Forge TN, did better at 4 k on trip to Nashville, and shows 33.5 on short interstate trips around home. I recall honda running the ads sometime in 93 or around then of a honda driving past gas stations; truth was the Century in my garage got better gas mileage with a 6 and automatic and was a lot more comfortable, but advertising image had people believing only hondas got good mileage...
The 03 accord I looked at has popping noises, brake rotor warping problems, hard starting on some engines. If you buy the 6 the car is nose heavy, if you buy the 4 it lacks power especially with air compressor load turned on. Don't have any of those on my Limited.
-- just my opinion.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I have a 1998 GS with 86,000 miles on it and I have had to replace 3 power window motors(3 different windows), the climate control display/control unit has been replaced twice, the pan gasket three times, the oil pan and one valve cover gasket replaced due to oil leaks, driver's side seat heater, combination switch that directs power to turn signals, and the supercharger belt tensioner and the cup holder. Also had to spend $400 on the cooling system because the supposedly 150,000 mile Dexcool coolant gave up before 75,000 miles and left my cooling system corroded and full of junk. I complained to Buick and got $200 back on the cooling system issue. If I didn't have an extended warranty that I bought this junker would have been gone long ago. As it is I have spent about $1200 on the warranty and $500 on deductibles and the extended warranty company is out about $8000.
This list doesn't include all the rattles and squeaks that I share with pinnetted.
Now tell me how great these cars are. Maybe Honda and Toyota aren't perfect but they can't be any worse. I use to be a big defender of GM cars too but with this car and my Mom's 98 GS, I have come to know everyone in the service department by the first name including the guy who takes you to work after you drop off the car and the guy who sweeps the floors. I am sick of that and determined to try and find something else.
By the way, my neighbor is still waiting for his 2002 LeSabre to start getting the gas mileage it is supposed to get.
Have a nice day.
Love the engine, ergonomics are terrific, trunk space is good...but otherwise, I'll be looking at Lexus or Acura for my next car.
I am a retired Special Agent US Army Military Intelligence and a Private Investigator: research is my life and my game. Trying to eliminate emotions as much as possible, I have reached the following conclusions:
1. Buying a new Regal is a bad option. You spend about $23,000 and after 12 months, the vehicle is worth about $9000 less on a good day.
2. The Regal drivetrain (engine and tran) is superb and about as bullet proof as GM can make.
3. However, the ancillary systems (power windows, oil pans, seals and gaskets, interior buttons and knobs are tacky/unreliable and may blow out at anytime.
4. The GS is the only Regal to buy. It's throttle response is instant and it is the cheapest power thrill on the market (IF YOU BUY IT USED).
5. The LS is an ordinary car offered in better versions by many manufacturers. Buying an LS is buying a non-special car with problems and shamefully poor resale value.
6. The Regal interior is a mixed bag: seats are great, even Winston Churchill would be comfortable in those fat seats. The Gauge cluster is nice, but the radio knobs and other knobs are shockingly cheap and silly. The lettering on the window controls are painted on and will wear off in short order. And this on a 27,000 dollar MSRP car!!!
7. The exterior design is understated and okay. But it's like a pretty woman who very likely will cheat on you.
8. A used GS is the only way to go: buy one with low miles, 2 or 3 yrs old, buy a solid all-systems warranty, dont pay more than $10,000.
9. Do not heed the praises of anyone who bought one new and has had it for 2 or 3 months. Every new car 2 or 3 months old thrills its owner. This goes for any car.
10. Remember that the GS uses Premium fuel, you will pay 20 cents more for every gallon.
Folks, this admission takes honesty and courage and kindness. There are no excuses, he is trying to save you from pain. And today I can confirm in part his TESTIMONY:
Today I test drove a 1999 REGAL GS, 43,000 miles, Green color, one owner trade-in from Elgin (Illinois) Mazda. Here is what happened.
1. The young salesman pulled the GS to the front door, turned on the Air and opened all windows and sunroof. It was very hot outside.
2. I got in, closed the sunroof and the windows. Except the DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE SWITCH OR THE MOTOR WAS SHOT!!!
3. The front panel A/C and heater display was blank and would not turn on.
4. Think about it folks, really think about it.
I keep my Mercury Sable for a little while longer but I developed the mind set about a trade in the near future. I'll take all the opinions I read here into consideration.
It was raining when I sit inside the car. I noticed the there is no rubber seal at the bottom of the door window frame. I mean the rubber is close tightly to the window glass. It is not just on one window. All four windows are the same. The rain water flowed down into the sponge between the window glass and rubber. I guess the water evatually flows inside the doors. If it is the case the door frame and other parts inside the doors will get rusted soon and fail.
Is the door window supposed to be lke that or a problem. I will go back to the dearship to find out but if any expert have the answer please advise.
Thanks.
On my new Regal LS, the door windows are not rubber sealed at the bottom. By rubber seal I mean the rubber rim of the window is not against the glass tightly. In fact the rubber rim is about 5 millimeters from the glass and the sponge-type material can be seen easily. The sponge material is pretty rigid. I think it is used for protecting the glass from vibration.
When it is raining, the rain water flows down along the glass to the sponge and goes inside the doors (not inside the car). I think it is a bad design if the water is allowed to flow inside the door. When I went through the postings in this group I saw a few of complains about the window motor failures. I checked another Regal in our parking lot and saw it is the same as my car. So I am sure the window is purposely designed this way. On my 2000 Camry V6 the windows are completely rubber sealed when the glasses are rolled up. There is no chance for water going inside the door.
My question for those who own a Regal: Do you see this as a potential problem? Did you have a bad experience in this?
Thanks.
Sounds to me like some of the issues I have mentioned hit home with you JackA.. I mean Jack44. I am sure your Regal regularly beats Corvette's and Viper's and Porsche's yeah it will pass everything but the repair shop.
By John DiPietro
Date posted: 08-28-2001
From Edmunds site
Our test Cobra ran these events in best times of 5.5 and 14.0 seconds, respectively. We expected slightly quicker times, but our test driver noted that our test car was wearing Goodyear Eagles (which are fitted to the GT models), not the stickier BFGoodrich Comp T/As the Cobra is supposed to come with. Our acceleration figures were, however, close to Ford's claims of 5.4 seconds for the 0-to-60-mph run and 13.8 seconds for the quarter-mile blast.
Some times of comperably equipted Regal GS's I know...1/4 mile in 11.852 @ 114.88... 12.874 @ 111.99...and 12.892 @ 107.93...Just a couple...Mine about stock, 14.283 at 97.89...
Regular Mustangs turning in low 15's high 14's...Watch them at track all the time and keep thinking, 'they should be turning better times.'
Problems...Car only 8 months old...Zero...
A note for those of you who have fairly new ones: I would recommend that you keep a close eye on your cooling systems for the coolant jelling problem. In fact I would probably disregard the recommended fluid change intervals for the cooling system and transmission and get them done about every 30,000 miles or so. Hopefully that will allow you to at least avoid the $400 cooling system repair I had to have that is not covered under warranty.
I am going to try an V6 Accord or something like it next time. As far as performance goes the 4 door is pretty close to the GS while the 2 door is a bit faster than the GS and it burns regular gas and the EPA rates the gas mileage a bit better. I am ready to try to find a car with quality. That is the most important performance factor I am looking for right now.
As I'd mentioned before...Told my wife, if I ever mentioned I was thinking of getting an Accord or Camry, she has my permission to take meoutside and shoot me...
Good banter Dan...
As for Camry of Accord being bland or boring, is all subjective. Neither model excites me. However, Honda and Toyota have consistently been making a profit, at times hefty, and have also been gaining market share. That says something. They don't offer rebates but domestic manufacturers give enticing cash back amounts.
I don't want to go back to getting a Camry. But my 91 lasted me for 7 years without a mechanical glitch. My 2000 Sable has visited, for the past 3 years 3 months, the shop so many times that it practically drives itself to it. My hope is that Buicks don't waste their owners' time with constant repairs. The mixed comments I gather about them make me doubt getting one.
"Thats great that you have not had any problems, but you have to admit if you had the problems I and many other Regal owners have had you would not be so up on your Regal either."
Can you name for me a car whose owners would say "yeah, I'd love this car even if it were a total lemon". I mean, way to point out the obvious. If someone's car was a piece of crap, they probably wouldn't like it as much... Wow...
It's a shame that you have had problems and are not happy with your car, but it doesn't make the car line bad. You are trying to use your one bad experience to impugn the Regal, GM, and even JD Powers. That's just absurd...
The facts are these cars have been lemons and that several other owners here have related similar types and amounts of problems. GM's reputation is impugned by the building of low quality automobiles not by me relating the facts of my experience. Up until now 8 of the 9 cars I have owned have been GM products and the other one (my first car) was a VW. I would love to have a great experience to report with this car but I don't. The fact is the last 3 GM cars I have owned, all of which I bought new, have had sub par quality. I wish it weren't so because I prefer the size, price and power of GM cars but the quality is driving me to try to find something better.
You can tell me about your great ownership experience with your GM car and I will respect and envy that but when I have to do the opposite don't accuse me of trying to impugn Regal's, Buick and GM. I don't have to because the facts speak for themselves.
Its obvious that I am partial to Fords because they have treated me better. My current 96 Ranger is screwed together much better than the Regal. Has it been perfect no. Has it been more reliable than the Regal, yes.
I guess all the folks that don't have problems are out driving around...
And if you are having problems and need help there are other RegalGS sites that you can go to to find help...
As I said, I am sorry that some of you have problems, and I know it sucks to have a car that breaks a lot. However, this is possible with any car line. Pinetted, you said to look at the Intrigue and Impala boards. Maybe you should look at the Honda, Acura, Lexus, or Toyota boards. You will find plenty of people with problems. In fact, if you read the Intrigue board, you must have read about that one guy's continuing problems with the tranny in his Type-S Acura. Acura's final solution? Reprogram his PCM to limit the engine's power to save the tranny. Yeah, it's too bad Buick isn't more proactive like that...
Speaking of proactive, Kdawg, you alluded to cooling and tranny problems (I'm not searching back for them) and suggested people change them more regularly to avoid your problems. I have to wonder if you checked these regularly then. Nowhere in the service schedule does it say not to bother to check anything until you finally hit the change date. Those are recommended intervals, and the service schedule explicitly includes checks of those systems. If the coolant started to look bad or the tranny fluid looked bad/low, one should have that corrected and not just wait the 5 years or the 100,000 miles...
You also said "the facts speak for themselves" and the facts about your car problems do. You have had problems, and that is a fact. It's a shame you have had them, and you shouldn't have problems like that with a car. However, every car maker has those types of problems and that is also a fact. You say "The facts are these cars have been lemons". I'm afraid that is not a fact... That is your opinion (which you are entitled to, but being entitled to it and being right are not the same thing). Posting your unfortunate experience is fine, but trying to stretch that experience to encompass every Regal, or every car GM makes, or quality surveys, is to redefine the word "elastic" (ok, I stole that line...)
Hey Jack, there is still a good group of people over on the Aurora board, but I'm always looking around Edmunds... I think the Aurora board will stick around for a while in spite of Olds' demise because it is pretty much Aurora-philes and it never was a lot of new people saying "I'm looking at an Aurora and a Lexus/Infinit/whatever". Once people discover Aurora, there's really nothing left to ask...
My Dad ordered his '97 fairly early on when the model came out, and he had ordered a sunroof. It arrived without one (dealers fault, or they intentionally did it because they do business with some sunroof place?) Anyway, he had them take it to ASC and install one and it is much nicer than the factory one was at the time. You can set it to close automatically when you turn the car off, and it has soft backlighting to the buttons. I think it's pretty neat.
Heh, I know what some of you will say "See Buick dealers suck too". Well, it turned out that dealership did sort of suck, but they folded some time back. And Buick isn't the only one to have some crappy dealerships. I remember reading AutoWeek (or was it Motor Trend?) when they took delivery of their long-term Mini Cooper. They ordered a car specifically, waited a few months, and when the car showed up it was a different color, had the hard-riding sports package that they didn't want, and was substantially more expensive. They were told to take it or leave it, and this was an auto magazine! Imagine how you or I would have faired! They tried to rationalize it like that's sort of what they wanted anyway, but I think they just didn't want to admit they got screwed...
Here is a link to the ASC site:
http://www.americansunroofcompany.com/moonroof.html
Click the Model 840 button to view information on it.