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But that's the problem. As jackjt said, you can't tell the difference. Most will never see both a Regal and Century, the exact same color, at the same time except at dealerships. But I was disappointed to see how hard it was to tell them apart.
That being said, if I can't get another Intrigue in the 2002 model year (I've got a 98), the Regal GS is my 2nd choice.
As far as the differences btwn the engines goes, you have to make an apples to apples comparison. If you have the Regal LS, give the Ingtrigue 3.5 a whirl. Go uphill and pass someone. I did this and was at 85 and climbing. Didn't feel it and didn't realize how fast I was going. I put a K&N in my Intrigue (mine is the 3800) and it has improved throttle respone at high speeds and pulls better. But it doesn't compare with the 3.5
I also drove a SC3800 Regal GS. To be honest, all else being equal, I'd probably pick the SC3800 for obvious reasons. BUT, since everything isn't equal (like gas prices), I'd take the 3.5. Uses regular gas and at the high speeds performs on par with the SC. Not the same, but close enough considering the cost btwn regular and premium gas. I used to down the 3.5 just like a lot of Regal owners. But I took it for an extensive test drive and I have to say, once it's gets past 1500 rpms, you won't even be thinking about a supercharger.
Most of our friends did not notice we bought a new car till we told. They thought this is our 98 Chevy Malibu of the same color. And, after looking on the both cars, a neighbor asked if we bought a second copy of the same. Even a mechanic, when we changed oil (not at dealer), did not realized what engine have the car till he opened the hood.
Though, what you like and dislike in the car appearance is very personal. My wife and I like our dark-red Regal for its modest view as much as for its power, comfort, and auto-dimming mirrors. Do not like attracting attention. I would even prefer it to be delivered without the "GS" letters, not "Supercharged" plaque. We know the difference, and it is enough. Why advertise it, except to the closest friends and relatives?
By the way, it is rather easy to tell Century from Regal from the rear: the tail lights of Century are enclosed in a chrome frame. But if people cannot see the difference between Regal and Malibu...
Against a SC3800, there is just no comparison I can see. I don't drive over 80mph, and the SC3800 gets there from any speed faster than the 3.5 based on my test drives. I'd like to find some comparitive numbers on this.
Also, I still think the 3800 in either form will always be more bullet-proof in the long run. The more times the crank turns, the more potential for wear. The 3800 is very forgiving in its old age.
When I was in college, my best friend's mother had an Aurora, and her dad had a DeVille Concours. I used to love to go to her house for a visit. She drove everywhere!
Happy motoring!!!
I bought the 98 aurora w/56k, heated seats, and power sunroof for $13k. I thought it was a good deal. With oldsmobiles demise approaching there are great deals on Olds cars right now.
I was driving recently when a younger guy in a Grand Am GT flew by me w/ his girlfriend. When he drove by I think he realized I was a teenager and slowed down to qait for me. He must of dropped his car ind 2nd cause he kept flooring it and slowing down trying to get me to race. I p[ulled up even with him and mashed it. Kepp in mind we were already doing about 35mph. There was no comparison. All I could hear was this noise that sounded like p!ssed of bumble bee in a tin can but it was drowned out by 250hp flowing out of my dual exhaust. Theres nothing like mashing on the gas pedal of an aurora at 35mph.
Mostly the same, only not with 4-cylinder Civic, but with V-6 Camaros and Mustangs. Though, the 8-cylinder ones are so much faster...
We will see what the service department determines Monday. They told me that the last few cars that had this problem was caused by a poor wire connection in the seat area and related to the seat belts.
Ron
'04 Regal, and production rear-drive LaCrosse coming, Buick will soon lose its image of being "old people's cars". I don't have a scanner or digital camera but anyone that has access to this week's Automotive News magazine can see it. BTW their website won't have the spy photo because they want the print edition to have many exclusive contents.
Is anyone having a problem with warped brake rotors on their Regal? My 1999 LS warped the left front rotor at 30K miles. I had it re-surfaced, but it came back quickly. I then switched to Raybestos rotors (they are slightly thicker than stock), and they warped too. I don't think that I have a sticking caliper, as I can get 22-23 mpg when driving gently around town. (I think brake drag would make it much less.)
Any ideas?? Warranty is almost up, as I am 35K miles.
http://motorsports.westserver.net/menu_13_sec_club.htm
As far as I know, most of these cars have only bolt-on mods.
A stock SS runs high 13's in the 1/4 mile. This has been reported by the mags and the owners. Therefore, a modified GS would hang, and a modified GP has a very good chance of taking a stock SS in the 1/4 mile. If the SS is modified, then all bets are off.
I definitely am not a good driver - using any definition. Learned to drive when was 45, after immigrating 5 years ago. Still uneasy when merging on highway after dark. Would never take a risk intentionally, even more engage in race on public roads.
Though, it is a child play to "blow away" a V-6 Camaro during the usual driving - like when you are sitting at a traffic light and need to change lane before the next traffic light. No place to "maybe". Just pull smoothly, to not burn tires, and after you see the Camaro headlights in the rear view mirror (not the side one), you can lit your turn signal to change lanes couple of seconds later.
Though, the SS is doing the same with GS equally easy. Have the first-hand experience.
This is with stock cars. After very substantial modifications, the specs of Mr.Tolan's GS are approaching the Z-28:
http://www.tolan-hoechst.com/cars/GSPlans.htm
Probably his car is roughly competitive with some V-8 Camaro with auto transmission. With older ones in bad shape. Or if the driver have no experience with manual shift. But definitely not so fast as the current SS with a good driver.
Thrasher has a project GS that has dynoed 309hp at the wheels with bolt-ons that include all the items mentioned. That's probably about 350hp at the engine!
I'm not saying that if you want the fatest car out there to go get a Regal. Obviously, if you installed a supercharger on a V8 Camaro or Mustang and ran 8lbs of boost, you would blow the doors off the GS. However, considering the insurance cost, police attention, and thief attention the Camaros/Mustangs bring, the GS and GP are not bad for a hi-perf alternative.
Imagine going to the track in your tricked-out Camaro SS, only to eat the dust of a Dodge Neon! Man, that would HURT!
That modified regal is very cool. Obviously a lot of thought, component matching and money have gone into it.
Its high 13 quarter mile is very impressive. However the time and mph tell the tale. Just about every SS can do over a 100 mph in the quarter. This tells me that the camaro is putting out more horsepower.
Most camaros are in the mid 13 range. I have seen some low 13 times reported. This tells me that the camaro has better traction, which is a no brainer due to its rear wheel drive.
My intrigue is traction limited from a dead stop. I can only imagine what a high torque supercharged regal must be like.
My feeling is that a totally stock SS is more than a match for a modified GS in the everyday stoplight grand prix. It is also probably less expensive.
I appreciate a fast four door as much as any guy, but i think that comparing even a modified GS to a stock SS is fairly unrealistic.
To make a GS accelerate as fast as a SS it would have to have about 350-375 hp at the flywheel. How long do you think a 4T65E would last with that much power?
GS is a very fast car. It is faster than probably 90 or 95% of cars on the roads. But GS is not the very fast car. Even not the very fast sedan: BMW 540 is so faster - with V-8 engine and twice the price.
b4z, I agree that the SS is the last great bargain in sports cars. Its inevitable demise will leave a great void in the muscle car arena. What is also interesting to note in the GS/SS compare is that the GS weighs over 100lbs more. The MPH difference you mentioned is the torque loss at higher RPMs, typical of forced induction smaller engines. The Syclones/Typhoons would run mid-11's at the same mph an SS would run 13's. To run high MPH with a lower time would indicate that the SS was the vehicle suffering from traction, not the GS. Also, the tranny would probably hold, but the differential would go first as explained here:
http://www.thrasher-ep.com/tech_htm/differential.shtm
Also, here is a very cool video of a GP doing a burnout, then running a 13.84:
http://www.thrasher-ep.com/images/differential/1st_run_slicks.MPG
Altitude was a factor, but the syclone absolutely killed the ferarri off the line. The syclone posted a quicker E.T. but the ferrari recorded a much higher mph. Due mainly to aerodynamic factors.
My memory fails me, but i think it did a 13.8 quarter mile. Also, this was the pickup, but i can't remember if it was called the syclone or the typhoon. I think the typhoon was the SUV.
No stock syclone/typhoons ran 11 second quarter miles.
They only had 280 hp (conservative so as not to offend the corvette people).
I have seen heavily modified ones that can get into the high 10 second range though.
I read about these tranny problems over a year ago in modified SC cars.
That mpeg was absolutely killer. The GP was definitely moving.
on the negative side i now see what people are saying about the exhaust sound of the 3800 engine. Not pretty.
My intigue sounds incredible under acceleration. if i wasn't turning it in early i would put an SLP exhaust on it.
Just did a 400 mile weekend getaway and averaged 80-85 mph and got 24.2 MPG....I touched out at 100 a few times and was amazed at the smoothness.
http://www.dragtruk.com/ENTRIES/ollardean.html
All the mods are bolt-ons. The 4.3 was a strong motor, and with an intercooler, you could really crank up the boost. GM should have kept improving on this combination, but as you said, it may have been embarassing the Corvette line.
Here's a video of this Typhoon pulling a wheelie:
http://www.jameslundgren.com/nocifora/images/sportmachines/ollardean01.mpeg
Here's some other really cool videos. Check out the Syclone vs. the Buick GN:
http://www.sportmachines.com/media/videos2.html
A custom tranny shop could probably build up the T65 to outperform a T80, but as pointed out, the lack of a limited slip differential is the weak link. Hopefully, an aftermarket unit will develop.
For a silver '01' Regal GS with the GS Prestige Pkg (steering wheel controls, chromatic mirrors, Moonsoon 8 spks, 6 way power passeger seat) chrome wheels and sunroof.
MSRP $28,910 (inc $600 destination)
Negotiated price $26,150
I'll probably go with the 1.9% for 60 mo and put $2000 down. Payments will be $467 per mo.
Please give some feedback.
Thanks,
si88
factor.
Also, if you are leasing NOT purchasing this
probably won't work...
Go to
www.carsdirect.com
and configure your exact car; they are a great
baseline for a PURCHASE price.
Will likely be lower.
NOTE: If there are any rebates on the car
where you live, it will already have been
applied to the price you arrive at.
Keep us posted.
FYI...if you want to chop off another $500, have them replace the chrome wheel with the standard alloys.
Good luck! The number is decent - go for it!