Buick Tour X

[Buckturgidson]

I saw one on the road and it looked pretty cool, from the standpoint of a 58 yo WASP anyway. It has AWD and a 250 hp turbo standard on all trims, and is priced comparably to all the cookie-cutter crossovers with less power. Built in Germany. It would be great for skiing, I am tempted. Less than a small Jetta wagon with 168 hp.

https://www.buick.com/crossovers/regal/tourx

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

It's going to get the "axe" after the 2020 model year. Apparently developed and built by Opel (which GM no longer owns, Peugeot does).

"As a bonus, axing the Regal will finally allow Buick to end its reliance on former sister company Opel, which General Motors sold to Paris-based Peugeot in 2017. It developed the Regal, and manufactures it in a factory located next to Opel headquarters in Rüsselsheim, Germany."

[rjamesohio]

It is a neat car and sad GM is pulling the plug.

We love wagons and own a VW Alltrack, similar car and there are great deals out there now for them because even VW is dropping wagons. It’s a shame; not an SUV fan.

[wrbix]

Agree...nice looking...saw one in the wild the other day and was surprised to see the Buick emblem.
Reminds me of the Audi Avant I used to have.

[AJ Huff]

Meh. It looks just like our Enclave, but stepped on.

-AJ

[tommy2cyl]

VW Alltrack owner here also.  Glad we got ours before VW pulled the plug.  Have owned it for 1 1/2 years and performs to our expectations.  Gotta say the Buick Tour X is a sleeper as well.  250 HP/290 ft lbs of torque/AWD.  Go to Car Gurus and there are unbelievable deals on them.  $35,XXX MSRP selling new for $24- $25 K.  Long roofs are still popular in Europe, don't understand this "must buy SUV only" mentality in the USA.  Of course I am also a fan of Honda Ridgelines and the coming Hyundai Santa Cruz.  Bigger & heavier isn't always needed.  YMMV.

[Buckturgidson]

"must buy SUV only"

And here in northern Nevada the giant truck thing is unreal. A high percentage of people are driving huge trucks, mostly commuting or as everyday drivers. There appears to be a competition for who has the largest, and highest-raised truck. Where well it end? In five years will trucks used for commuting be another 20% larger?

[Lannis]

"must buy SUV only"

And here in northern Nevada the giant truck thing is unreal. A high percentage of people are driving huge trucks, mostly commuting or as everyday drivers. There appears to be a competition for who has the largest, and highest-raised truck. Where well it end? In five years will trucks used for commuting be another 20% larger?

People buy 'em because they can afford them and they like big things.  Regular people with jobs who buy vehicles for commuting have got more money than they've ever had in their lives, and are splashing it out on giant vehicles and the fuel to run them.

Not my thing, but probably many people wouldn't spend their money on the stuff I spend MY money on, so it all comes out even ....

Lannis (I used "even" instead of "evenly" for effect, in case any pedants are lurking ... !)

[Moparnut72]

Peugeot is now in partnership with Fiat Chrysler. The name of the new company is yet to be determined.
kk

[Two Checks]

Compare a 1980 or even a 1990 pickemup to a 2000 or newer. The newer you get the bigger they get. Taller and longer but load ratings haven't changed.
Wheels have gone from 15" to 20 and larger. Its to the point its getting hard to find 15" tires for my "little"92 Dakota....which weighs a full two tons.

[jas67]

VW Alltrack owner here also.  Glad we got ours before VW pulled the plug.  Have owned it for 1 1/2 years and performs to our expectations.  Gotta say the Buick Tour X is a sleeper as well.  250 HP/290 ft lbs of torque/AWD.  Go to Car Gurus and there are unbelievable deals on them.  $35,XXX MSRP selling new for $24- $25 K.  Long roofs are still popular in Europe, don't understand this "must buy SUV only" mentality in the USA.  Of course I am also a fan of Honda Ridgelines and the coming Hyundai Santa Cruz.  Bigger & heavier isn't always needed.  YMMV.

Golf Sportwagen owner here.    I too am dismayed at the disappearance of wagons from the US market, replaced by the proliferation of tall dork wagons (crossovers and SUVs).

OK, for those of you who like the crossovers and SUVs, good for you, I'm not going to judge.   I just don't want to drive one.    My wagon has as much cargo space as a mid-sized SUV, but, handles better, gets much better fuel economy, and doesn't require ladder to load bicycles and kayaks on the roof.     Many of the great wagons that used to be available here (and still are for a limited time), including the Golf wagon were/are available in AWD for those who need (or feel they need) it.

We've had a wagon in our garage for 20 years now, and cringe at the though of having to get an SUV when it is time to replace the Sportwagen.   I hate being forced to compromise and buy what everyone else likes/wants.     I don't want to go back to a sedan, wagons are so much more versatile.

Our previous wagons:
1995 Volvo 850 Turbo (only kept 3 years, because the automatic transmission bored us to tears).
2000 BMW 323iT  (5 speed manual)
2012 VW Jetta TDI Sportwagen (6 speed manual) -- sold back to VW dieselgate

Current:
2015 VW Golf TDI Sportwagen (6 speed manual)

Contrary to popular believe, you do not need an SUV to tow a trailer either.    Stupidly, most automakers won't offer trailer hitches on cars in the US, but, if you check the same cars in Europe, most mid-size cars are rated for 1,500-2,000kg towing.     Our VW is rated for 1,500kg (3,300#).

I've towed 2000# popup-campers (with the BMW), and open and enclosed (V-nose aluminum 6x12) motorcycle trailers (current VW + previous 2013 Golf TDI).

The only wagons left in the US market after the departure of the Buick and VW wagons will be Mercedes, Audi, BMW  (also gone after this year) and Volvo -- all way above my pay grade, all automatic only  .

I think I read somewhere that Audi's wagons are being pulled from the market too, in favor of they Q-series SUVs.


 

[kirby1923]

When traveling to the States on business I sometime am accompanied by a company person that has never been to the USA.
The thing they are most astounded by usually are the BIG pickups and the drive throughs...both are unremarkable to me.

Go figure...

:-)

[Murray]

Also called the ZB Comodore in other markets.

[roadventure]

And the evolution from station wagon to van to mini-van to "sport utility vehicle" to station wagon is almost complete. 

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Also called the ZB Comodore in other markets.

Looks like the Australia version?
"Buick will continue to sell it in the Chinese market because motorists there still buy sedans, and Opel/Vauxhall will keep offering its version of the car (called the Insignia) across Europe."
"From 2018 the Holden Commodore is fully imported from Opel Germany, and is a badge-engineered Opel Insignia."

[LowRyter]

I went to look at one a year or so ago.  Apparently they hadn't been delivered to the dealers yet.  I asked the salesman about the new wagon coming out and he was totally clueless and never heard of it.

It looks like a pretty nice car.  Perhaps the last of the Buick Opels since GM has sold the company.  The reviews were mildly disappointing but I haven't driven one.  It's not available with a stick and I think the nice ones are loaded down with all wheel drive.  I've always liked the idea of a sportwagen, very popular in Europe.  I see that BMW has stopped importing them.

European Buick with AWD, what could go wrong?

[Yeahoo Whoyah]

Buick's should look like this, especially at Christmas.



upload images

[rocker59]

I really like the Buick wagon.  Especially in the AWD trim.  Would pick it over the "dime a dozen" Subarus, which are what rule the AWD wagon market in the mountains where I live.

It's kind of a shame it only has 250bhp.  Kind of low compared to other AWD cars a person can buy. 

Sure, they're discontinuing it, but GM dealers will be able to maintain it, and it will be sort of a unique car to drive.

[Murray]

I really like the Buick wagon.  Especially in the AWD trim.  Would pick it over the "dime a dozen" Subarus, which are what rule the AWD wagon market in the mountains where I live.

It's kind of a shame it only has 250bhp.  Kind of low compared to other AWD cars a person can buy. 

Sure, they're discontinuing it, but GM dealers will be able to maintain it, and it will be sort of a unique car to drive.

Dunno if you get it there but locally it was avalible with a 3.something litre V6 which is a long lost decendant of the buick 3.8 it not fancy but it should hang in there, yes this is the imported version Commodores lowish sales numbers have tanked off the back of this thing. No V8 and AWD not seen as much of an advantage, FWD on the cheaper models is trying to compete with the Camry ,all the pervious versions were RWD. People who don't care about a car are going to buy the camry without cross shopping trying to get into that market is pretty hard IMO. Keep looking at secound hand VF's but I'm kinda cheap when it comes to cars and I've never brought a new one.

[oldbike54]

Peugeot is now in partnership with Fiat Chrysler. The name of the new company is yet to be determined.
kk

 Peuchiat ?

 Dusty

[BrotherJim]

The Tour X is a nice looking car.  Always been a fan of the wagons.

[CT Dharma]

Also a fan of the wagon over the SUV and was interested when this model was introduced last year. Unfortunately, don't need/want an AWD vehicle and this is the only way the Regal TourX was made. Also now knowing that Opal is involved even have less interest; especially if anything like the Opals of my youth.

[rocker59]

  knowing that Opal is involved even have less interest; especially if anything like the Opals of my youth.

That's about like saying you don't want a 2019 Fiat because of the 1977 model 124 that left you stranded.

Modern Opels are nice cars. 

[Lannis]

I really like the Buick wagon.  Especially in the AWD trim.  Would pick it over the "dime a dozen" Subarus, which are what rule the AWD wagon market in the mountains where I live.

There's a reason that they're a "dime" and there are "dozens" of them, those Subarus.

They're not expensive, they do what it says on the tin, and they last a long long time.    I can't imagine that someone has a "cachet" or "street cred" because they're driving a Buick instead of a Subaru?    Does anyone even notice?

Lannis

[rocker59]

There's a reason that they're a "dime" and there are "dozens" of them, those Subarus.

They're not expensive, they do what it says on the tin, and they last a long long time.    I can't imagine that someone has a "cachet" or "street cred" because they're driving a Buick instead of a Subaru?    Does anyone even notice?

Lannis

No doubt the Subaru Outbacks work as advertised.  But, I'm a Guzzisti, and must not follow the crowd.  It's in my DNA.

If I was buying an AWD wagon, I'd by the Buick TourX. 

[LowRyter]

I just wouldn't.

I was tempted but when the salesman had never heard of it, nevermind.

[Murray]

My only real concern is if it has a ZF gearbox (which is more than likely) do not screw around with the service intervals and make sure the consumables meet the manufacturers requirements, they tend to bite hard if its ignored.

[Buckturgidson]

A comparably priced Subaru Outback weighs the same, over 3700 lbs., and has an anemic normally aspirated engine. The Tour X has considerably more horsepower and torque, 250 hp/295 torque versus 182 hp/176 torque for the Outback.  It's apples to oranges from a power/weight standpoint. The Buick appeals to me because it is not a cookie-cutter SUV/crossover and the performance is superior for the same price.

[Ryan]

On my second Outback, and this one will be my last. Not because it is problematic or anything, it is a six-speed manual and the last of its breed. And I don't care what the marketing people say, it is a wagon. I also have a 96 Suburban 2500HD. That is an SUV. It does truck things. The Outback is a weapon in the snow, gets decent fuel mileage, and has a ton of room. I like the Buick- if it came with a stick, I'd be a player on style alone.  As a dedicated three pedal guy, my choices are dwindling quickly, so I will likely just rebuild the Subaru motor and trans when they finally wear out.

[Canada72]

Buick makes a decent vehicle, but the brand will eventually get killed off by GM. Always does well in the warranty reports, settling above average, if that is important to you. Unfortunately, they can’t shake the image of being an elderly person’s vehicle.

If you like bigger wagons Volvo makes some nice vehicles and they are much more aesthetically pleasing than the ones they pumped out in the 80’s.

VW is killing off their wagon line as they don’t sell well in North America. Too bad, as a good little vehicle, but it comes down to consumer tastes in the USA.