Reseda Homecoming: My Companion for The Ride
Yes, the story is about coming home, honoring my hometown and seeing what transpired in my time away. But, this is not just a travelogue or a reliving of history.
Needless to say, I did not travel alone. I had a companion with me – an appropriate one. This one would be welcomed in the Reseda of my youth as it would today.
If it was still open, you could pick one up at a dealership on Sherman Way, a half-block west of Tampa Avenue next to Lorenzen's Mortuary. Then again, I saw that the mortuary is gone, too.
Therefore, this is not just a travelogue through my hometown, it is a Victory & Reseda Review of the 2014 Buick Regal.
This particular Regal with the Premium II package became my trusted steed in this journey back home. It sat at an off-airport parking lot near LAX, waiting patiently for my arrival on Virgin America from Chicago’s O'Hare Airport. It knew it had to do plenty of duty during its time with me.
Did I mention that its pre-facelifted edition won the Victory & Reseda 2011 Vehicle of the Year? Seemed appropriate after handing off the 2013 and the 2009 awards at McCormick Place a couple of days prior. I figured it is a point that needed to be made.
The facelifted Regal is still on General Motors' latest Epsilon platform, with a few nips and tucks away from being an Opel or Vauxhall in Europe. It has been the premium car of choice for Chinese consumers who would rather drive than be driven. Though it got lost in the shuffle between the Verano and LaCrosse, the update promises to help the Regal's cause in North America by upping the power the base turbocharged engine, de-emphasizing the eAssist option and adding all-wheel drive to the mix.
The Regal's assignment is to make this newly turned 50-year-old from being stressed out by L.A.'s traffic patterns. It is easy to say, "It never was like this when I was younger, living in Reseda" and so forth. The Regal had to manage the 405 – that is the San Diego Freeway amongst us Losangelinos, Interstate 405 to the rest of the universe. It also had to get me through my usual alternative routes away from the 405 – Sepulveda Boulevard or Beverly Glen, depending on how desperate I am to break over the Santa Monica Mountains.
That is just to get to Reseda.
The Regal – nicknamed "Butlin" for the long-time Buick dealership that no longer stands in Reseda – did extremely well being a companion to my Southern California adventures. It stared down the 405 and made easy work of the newly widened Sepulveda Pass. It carved up the Valley taking me on streets once my domain. It guided me to see my family down to South Orange County – using both the long and direct way. Lastly, it took on a flowing 405 on an early Monday morning to beat the rush.
Knowing where it has been, how did it do the task?
To drive the Regal, one must adjust to Los Angeles driving. Actually, there were several "ways" of driving in Southern California. I was warned about San Fernando Valley drivers. They tend to be a bit more aggressive than the rest of the L.A. Basin. I had to balance between my normal skill, taught ironically in the San Fernando Valley, and going into "full Chicago mode." The latter needs no explanation, especially if you live in Chicago or in Wisconsin.
The Regal will respond to your right leg at the throttle. The reconstituted 2.0liter turbocharged Ecotec engine is now 259 horsepower – representing an increase for regular Regal models – along with 295 pounds-feet of torque. Connected to a six-speed automatic driving the front wheels, you feel the turbo kick in a bit late, but it will definitely keep up with Los Angeles traffic.
This combination yielded a fuel consumption figure of 23.7MPG. That is about the point of my last Regal turbo in 2011 – the one that won the VOTY.
Stop-and-go traffic, merging skill and quick responses are a part of Los Angeles driving. Most drivers you encounter have already sharpened reflexes to deal with quick decisions on and off the freeways. Sadly, you do hear the term “sig alert” on the radio – something that is repeated using XM Traffic via Buick’s Intelilink infotainment system. That is a term for when something went wrong – an accident where the wrong decision was made.
Keeping the Regal on the road is its basic setup. There is a nice ride balance with stable handling throughout. There is minimal roll through the corners, but it might just feel soft overall with some feedback on "bouncy" road conditions. The steering is quite good, with some softness on-center and good reaction in tight maneuvers. Brakes give a solid feel with sure stops in both normal and panic situations.
One thing I noticed is the severe lack of Regals on the road. I was clearly outnumbered by Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedans, BMW 3-Series, Audi A4s, Infiniti Q50s and the Lexus IS. I found that I was clearly the only Regal on the road for hundreds of miles of driving.
Perhaps this is a good thing. The Regal is a special kind of Buick. It is unlike the run-of-the-mill midsized sedan, where it would compete with the likes of the Mazda6, Kia Optima and Ford Fusion along with the Acura TSX or the Volvo S60. One would argue that the "smaller" Verano fits in the Buick lineup better than the Regal. I point out that though it might attract the same customer, the Verano would appeal to more practical consumers while the Regal gets those who want a sportier sedan.
The Regal offers three up on the Verano – the eAssist and all-wheel drive options and the GS setup. The latter is what attracts enthusiasts to the Regal. After driving the Verano Turbo briefly last year, I found there is an even greater advantage in the Regal – driver space.
In my third Regal, I still feel good behind the wheel. The leather seating is supportive and taut. I found a great place behind the wheel, which everything in front has changed. No longer are the big dials and a small switchable screen, as they yield to a more electric cluster with a larger information screen to boot. The center stack has changed with Buick’s new simplified cluster around the big Intelilink screen and new redundant switches on the steering wheel. After leaning my way through this setup in the LaCrosse, I got comfortable in the Regal navigating through radio presets, Bluetooth connection with the phone and using the HVAC controls.
Rear seat room is not for large adults. Four average-sized adults would find their place in the Regal. In my case, I can count on two more tops to enjoy spirited drives through Beverly Glen or the "long way" between the San Fernando Valley and South Orange County – via Interstate 210 and a zig-zag of highways leading towards the recently widened El Toro "Y".
Making the point of my having the only Buick Regal on the road made me wonder about whether it is cool or not. The exterior updates make the Regal even more handsome. The eighteen-inch alloy wheels and Michelin MXM4 Primacy tires finish out the look of this silver sedan. In my own mind, the 2014 Regal is cool. Yet, when having to share the Los Angeles freeway system with a huge foreign brand contingency – and a good number of Chrysler 300s – the Regal is alone.
Sure, the coolness factor would be easily raised if I had the GS. That is another animal in itself.
To the tune of $34,685, this Premium II package kept me entertained across Southern California. Some may question the high price tag, but price out the top end of most mid-sized family sedans and check their performance numbers. Then, price out the lower end of the premium brand set where the Regal wants to compete against. You might find the Regal has a few advantages for the money.
Los Angeles is where I learned how to drive. This place is where this work is rooted – and, yes, this is a point that needed to be repeated when necessary. Having the Regal on this assignment was the right choice for thee job. Even when I wished for the GS model or HiPer Strut suspension to accomplish my driving better, this Regal was fitting to bridge the past with the experiences of my time in L.A. It made a great companion to witness the place where I grew up, the changes all around in the places I was once very familiar with and to carry me for a family reunion eight years in the making.
Even my brother and his family thought the Regal was cool. I value their opinion quite highly. I believe that speaks volumes against those who still think they need a higher priced luxury car similar in size to drive around Southern California in.
Before you blow your lease deposit on something that would give you more status than you are worth – drive the Buick Regal. You're welcome.
DISCLAIMER: Vehicle Provided by General Motors
All photos by Randy Stern