Glad you enjoyed it.

Yes, in the Regal lineup, it's unique to the GS, but the 3.6L and 9-speed is found in a number of both sedans and SUVs from all four of GM's divisions.

Check this article from GM authority.....they address that issue.

http://gmauthority.com/blog/2017/08/...uick-regal-gs/

Also, keep in mind that even paddle-shifters are not always uniform in their design or function. Some downshift/upshift on the the left/right, others, the opposite. That's why it's important to go over the basic controls before you attempt to test-drive an unfamiliar vehicle (see my story, above, on the Mazda6 my brother had as a loaner).

 

True. When I was testing out vehicles prior to getting my IS, I kinda saw that paddle knowledge is important first-hand. In the IS the paddles are basically useless outside of engine braking unless you are in M (or, Manual) shift mode. But of course the sale guy told me I needed to go get one of the "F" models to get faster shifts. Yeah... right.

 

 

The car looks great, and has a tried and true, powerful, refined V6. The more I drive a 3.6 equipped GM vehicle the more and more impressed I am with the powertrain. It's sort of like the 3800 of today, though obviously not OHV.

For me personally, a great V6 would seal the deal in today's world where they're becoming scarce. I don't care how fast the turbo 4cyl Accord is, it sounds awful and when you start it it sounds like a baby sneezing. I owned an 2006 Acura TL with the Honda V6, it was glorious.

 

Thanks MM for your quick review. It seems to be a fine car but missing the excitement you'd get from power, driving dynamics, and fun-factor that the GS badge should represent. In the Toronto area, this is not selling well if my spotting of them has been any indication. Seen just one GS for the first time last week.

 

yeah great looking euro design... saw a bunch in uk recently... that's the vauxhall insignia there.

 

Interesting. I thought it would be marketed under the Opel Insignia name in Canada, but apparently not.....Buick markets there, too.

 

I notice the fuel filer door is on the right side. Something I don't care for. The new Cadillac XT4 is the same. Why is GM doing this? It should be on the drivers side!

 

What we hear from auto manufactures with designs is that, in the North American market, where cars drive on the right side of the road, they are less likely to be sideswiped on the passenger's side of the car, away from oncoming traffic, with less chance of a fuel-pipe rupture. I've mentioned that before, and some posters here have disagreed with that explanation, but that is what the manufacturers tell us.

I agree, though, that it can make for a mess at some high-volume gas stations, where a lot of traffic is trying to get in and out, next to the pump-islands, and parking in different directions LOL.

And on the Opel-sourced Buicks, of course, GM just re-badges and produces the vehicles under the Buick nameplate, so it is the Opel engineers who design the vehicles, not GM itself, though the passenger's-side filler-pipe is also used on the American-designed Lacrosse.

 

really don't know why you feel it should be on the driver's side. makes no difference to me as long as the arrow in the car shows which side it's on.

 

Well, My XT5 has the fuel door on the left and the new XT4 has it on the right so these auto manufactures are talking out of their hat. I've heard a myriad of theories but no real reason except it may be a design decision based on the body structure. As a note most Japanese have them on the left also.

 

It's a matter of convenience and comfort to me. All my previous vehicles have been on the left(Lexus) so that's what I'm used to. I don't like opening my driver's door into the pump bay where idiots are jockeying around or in a hurry to leave.

 

 

Most Japanese right-hand-drive market vehicles, like those in Britain and Australia, also drive on the opposite side of the road than we do.

As for the XT5/XT4 difference, the smaller XT4 is a newer design, and might (?) simply be incorporating the latest design-thinking at GM.

 

Why does it matter?