Buick Tour X

[CT Dharma]

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.

According to almost every trade publication the 2019 Fiats don't fare any better than my friends 124 in 1976; just sayin'.....

[Bulldog9]

The Opel/Regal model line is very nice for a GM.  But as others have said, Opel is Kaput with GM, and now owned by Peugeot, last year for this model.  GM does it again...... Killed Pontiac, Killed Oldsmobile (unforgivable sin) Killed Saturn, Killed Saab (and even blocked its sale so they could keep the technology Saab developed) Now at least they Sold Opel instead of killing it, though they almost did.... https://www.industryweek.com/leadership/article/22026011/peugeots-owner-does-to-opel-what-gm-failed-to-do-in-20-years. It's a wonder how they are still in business. Too big to fail....

Anyway, getting back to your question, I think that given the limited number of sales on this model, that it is no longer GM, resale will be worse than normal (if that were possible) and maintenance/repair may be a nightmare, particularly for body parts. Volvo still makes a nice midsize wagon, the V60 I think, as of course does Subaru. We had an 3.0R outback, put 250K on it with just tires and brakes. Wish they would sell a standard wagon alongside the lifted outback. The VW is a nice option too, but feels very barebone.

[LowRyter]

Too bad Camry and Accord ended their wagon lines.  Everything has gone to crossovers.  The small ones look very practical to me and have AWD options.  Honda HR-V and CR-V.  Toyota Rav4. 

[Ryan]

I sold Hondas when the last generation Camry wagon was introduced. First thought? " That styling will sell a lot of Hondas!"

[LowRyter]

I sold Hondas when the last generation Camry wagon was introduced. First thought? " That styling will sell a lot of Hondas!"

Pretty nice for a Toyota

[Canada72]

Honda wagons always looked like an afterthought, to be kind, and Toyota, although dependable, have designed very few vehicles to make one’s heart race. IMHO

The RAV4’s engine has the heartbeat of a hamster, but they sell a boatload of them. It and the Honda CRV are the top selling SUV’s in Canada.

Subaru makes a good AWD system and they keep prices down by utilizing dependable but less advanced transmissions, etc. Decent vehicles for the money.

Yes, I love hatchbacks and “sportwagons”. :)

Merry Christmas and all the best in 2020!

[fossil]

Long roofs are still popular in Europe, don't understand this "must buy SUV only" mentality in the USA.

No, they are not. Of course a wagon is a much more sensible buy than a castle- (or wardrobe-) like SUV. But about 50% of the people here in Europe, especially in Germany, buy SUV´s. VW even stops the Passat which was mostly sold as wagon. They sell Tiguans. Even the nice station wagons from Mercedes and BMW are widely outbought by the pseudo - offroad- lumps-of-metal. Which are always much slower than the wagons with the same engines. and need a lot more gas.

[tommy2cyl]

Fossil: I should have added the word "more" in front of popular.  As in more popular in Europe than the USA.
As you stated, the  SUV market in Europe is on the increase capturing 34% of the market compared to 11% for wagons, which is declining.  But that is still significantly larger than the 2% of market share here.  Europe accounted for 72% of global wagon sales in 2017.  Europe's top 5 countries for wagon sales by market share in 2019 are:
1. Sweden 31%  2. Czech Republic 21%  3. Germany 17%  4. Poland 15%  5. Netherlands 14%

[rocker59]

[LowRyter]

I'd trade my Accord if Honda or Toyota made something that looked like Camry image above.

[John Ulrich]

I love the look of those "shooting brakes".  In my world I've needed a mini van (think pickup truck with covered bed).

[jas67]

I hope that wagons can make a comeback before I need to replace my Golf Sportwagen.

[Cage Free]

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
[/quote
Oh and don't forget resale value of Subies. That Buick will drop like rock.

[Lannis]

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

Oh and don't forget resale value of Subies. That Buick will drop like rock.

As I read this thread, I realize that I'm probably out of the "new car" market forever.   We bought a new Pontiac in 1984, and a new Subaru in 2012, and that's all the new cars we've ever bought.

While they were servicing the 2012 Subaru the other day (I get lifetime free state inspections and light bulb changes), I was looking in the showroom at the new Subarus.   All of the ones they had in the showroom had "lane holding cameras" and "lane space radar" that turns the steering wheel and puts on the brakes for people who are texting or sleeping while they drive.    We're never buying anything that promises to take control of the car away from me, and I'm not paying for it even if it can be turned off.

There are a world of very nice older cars out there; since we don't need cameras, in-dash entertainment systems, GPS, or any of that stuff, a 1990s car will do us very well in the foreseeable future.   Heated seats, though; Fay is in love with the heated seats .... !

Lannis

[LowRyter]

Lanis' new car and chauffeur. 

[Ryan]

The last Camry wagon in the US made it's debut in 1993, I think. It was a stylistic turd.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

The last Camry wagon in the US made it's debut in 1993, I think. It was a stylistic turd.

This "beauty"? 

[blackcat]

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/buick/regal/2018/2018-buick-regal-tourx-vs-2018-subaru-outback-3-6r-vs-2018-volkswagen-golf-alltrack/

They give the Buick the edge.

[LowRyter]

This "beauty"? 

How about an update?

[LowRyter]

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/buick/regal/2018/2018-buick-regal-tourx-vs-2018-subaru-outback-3-6r-vs-2018-volkswagen-golf-alltrack/

They give the Buick the edge.

$40k for a VW Golf?  I can see why the Buick won.

[Lannis]

Lanis' new car and chauffeur. 

I know that most people think that our dystopian robot-controlled future will be lovely.

I think that THIS outcome is much more likely ....



Lannis

[tommy2cyl]

Whew, that 1993 Camry wagon.  Not going to be able to "unsee" that for awhile.  That borders on disturbing.

Our mid level trim 2018 Alltrack SE MSRP was $32,XXX.  Purchased for $27,XXX, so they were/are dealing on them as well, just not as much as the Buick Tour X.  Our car has the 17 inch wheels, so not as harsh as the 18"  found on the highest trim package,  but the car does have a stiffer suspension which is to our liking because we have always been "sportswear" folks.  Others prefer a softer ride, which in the article from the above posted link, would be better suited with the Outback or Buick.  What suits your needs best depends on your priorities.  I could probably be happy with any of them.

[tommy2cyl]

"sportscar" not "sportswear".  Gotta love autocorrect.   

[jas67]

How about an update?

Never sold in the US.

[LowRyter]

Never sold in the US.

Nor anywhere else.

[89quattro]

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.

Chuckled when I read this.

We already have 2 newer Subaru's in the the family herd, Crosstrek's in that ugly orange color. They are perfectly acceptable appliances, but I couldn't see myself driving an Outback.

Purchased a fully loaded TourX and find it to be a very capable vehicle. Purchase experience was interesting...most dealers I contacted were clueless of it's existence. MSRP was $42K, paid $30K out the door. The 2 liter turbo is quite strong, 250 HP/295 torques. All the bits and pieces are put together well, no rattles/squeeks. Spacious interior with comfortable seats.

Soft spots...the transmission is tuned for efficiency and shifts early. Some of the Opel DNA was removed by the Buick bean counters. Adaptive Matrix lighting, sport seats, HUD, switch to disable auto start/stop, and selectable performance modes were excluded from the Buick version.

Too bad Buick didn't make any effort to market this thing.

I also appreciate how rare these things are. In my 13 months/17K miles of ownership, I still haven't seen another one on the road. I'm constantly stopped by folks in parking lots and gas stations asking questions...is that the new Audi or Maserati are typical. When I tell them it's a Buick, they are amazed. perhaps Buick should have used this model in their TV ads that had the "it's a Buick" theme.

Glad I didn't follow the crowd.



 

[rocker59]

 

[blackcat]

Yesterday I was looking to see if there were any at the local dealers and there is one and I might take a look out of curiosity. Listed at $39K and they want $30.  Then I looked at one of the video reviews of the car and there were the regular complaints about this and that; the roof rack looks like a terrible after thought, the leather seats are as hard as a rock though they are comfortable and the plastic interior parts look cheap especially in black.  German made car made cheap by GM bean counters is what they said.

[oldbike54]

 There have only been maybe 10 cars that would be considered attractive by an artistic person born before the age of the automobile. A car either works or it doesn't , styling is really a nonissue .

 Dusty

[rocker59]

the plastic interior parts look cheap especially in black.   

Is something that could be said about almost every car built over the past few decades.

It's really hard to make plastic look attractive.  Especially in black...   Ford, GM, Chrysler, Honda, Toyota, etc., etc.,