“Specifically, as product plans stand today the Verano Turbo will start production in October of 2012 as a 2013 model.
As previously reported, the Verano Turbo will be powered by GM’s 2.0-liter turbo, however GMI has learned that it will be a detuned version of the Regal GS 2.0-liter Turbo. According to GM product plans, Verano Turbo will sport the “LHU” 2.0 turbo, which is the same RPO code given to the Regal GS engine. GMI expects the engine to be detuned from it’s 270 horspower and 295 pound-feet of torque in the GS model.
In fact, GMI obtained a consumer brochure for the Verano back in March (seen above) that states the Verano Turbo will have 250 horspower and generate 0-60 times of about 6.5 seconds, better than the Regal GS. The 2013 Regal Turbo is also expected to get the same revised 2.0-liter turbo as the Verano.”
The only question left is price. Buick is a near-luxury brand with a lineup of front wheel drive cars, so compared to the Kia Optima, which is significantly larger and achieves 0-60 in 5.9 seconds for only $25,100, it may be a tough sell.
But compared to the 211hp front wheel drive 2.0L Audi A4, which starts at $32,500, the Verano could be a bargain.
Will anyone actually cross-shop Buick and Audi? It’s difficult to say, and it’s a test of Buick’s new upscale brand positioning not only within GM, but globally as well.
A brief paper comparison of two base-model cars aspiring for entry-luxury status.
Buick Verano @ $23,000: Leather
Bluetooth
Manual seats
180hp 2.4L I-4
21/32 mpg
6-speed Automatic
Compact interior
184″ long
3230 lbs
16″ wheels
6 speakers
USB
91 cubic foot total passenger volume
Made in Michigan by UAW
Kia Optima @ $21,000:
Cloth seats
NO Bluetooth
Manual seats
200hp 2.0L I-4
24/35 mpg
6-speed Automatic
Midsize interior
190″ long
3230lbs
16″ wheels
6 speakers
USB
102 cubic foot total passenger volume
Made in Georgia with non-union labor
The 2012 Buick Verano is one of the quietest cars on the market but it’s also a bit slow, taking 9 seconds to reach 60 mph according to Edmunds.
The Kia isn’t quick either, taking a hair over 9 seconds to hit 60, and the ride isn’t as smooth nor does it have the Verano’s coffin-like sound insulation. The Optima does have a 3mpg fuel economy advantage and a spacious interior with generous rear leg room.
So, is it worth $2000 more for a smaller car with extra sound deadening material and marginally better acceleration?
As a brand, Buick lacks the cachet and outward appeal of Cadillac and Mercedes-Benz, so paying more primarily for a badge in this case seems unwise.
Car purchases are complicated, confusing, and often emotional and we auto enthusiasts seem to buy or sell one every year. On average, I’ve owned about three vehicles per year since 2000, though I’ve slowed down over the last couple years and stayed loyal to my old Saab. It’s well-aged, interesting, and fits well with my personality, plus I’m thousands of dollars upside down in restoration costs.
Recently, I sold my 2001 Cadillac Seville on Craigslist after 40,000 miles of pleasurable motoring. I have long-term plans for work and grad school and owning two cars would hamper my mobility. Plus, it was wasteful to keep, maintain, register, and insure two older cars, so one had to go. At one point I considered buying a truck or SUV as a third vehicle and stopped myself when I realized I was becoming a hoarder.
I received several voicemails and only returned calls from people who sounded coherent and intelligent.
When I found the right buyer I talked to him about the cars he owned in the past and to my relief, he previously owned a 2003 Seville STS similar to mine as well as a late-model CTS and an older Seville from the mid-1990s. He, like me, was a Cadillac enthusiast and knew what to expect.
He really wanted my car and I really wanted him to be the one to buy it. Sure, I had a dozen other prospects to call back, but few of them seemed like people I wanted to deal with.
And the last thing I wanted to do was sell a high-maintenance luxury car to some poor person in the city who would run it into the ground and ditch it on the side of Highway 40. After the love, care, and affection I put into my Cadillac and after the dependable cross-country touring it rewarded me with, it deserved to go to a good home.
This 2001 Seville has taken me (and my dog) to the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, mountains, beaches, canyons, deserts, forests, and blizzards. It’s even seen tornadoes. This wasn’t just a car, it was part of my life story.
[As I began writing the last paragraph, iTunes started playing “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Spooky.]
But that’s the difference between being a car salesman and being a private seller. I get to be picky.
I scheduled a time for Eric to come over for a test drive and sent him a massively long e-mail detailing the car’s service history, where I bought it, how much I paid for it, and the minor issues I hadn’t yet fixed. I referred him to the technical archives at Cadillacowners.com to make sure he understood the car’s quirks and flaws and the Northstar V8’s issues and potential hazards.
I knew that giving him more information might risk losing the sale, but I couldn’t be comfortable selling the car to someone who wasn’t thoroughly informed. This wasn’t, after all, a lawn mower. This was a Cadillac chock full of gizmos, gadgets, and electronics that could potentially go wrong.
I even gave him a lower price than I initially intended just to get the car into his hands. I originally advertised the car at $4500, then ran the ad again for a more realistic $3990. I finally let him have it for $3200. I could have held out for closer to $4000 with someone else, but I may not have been happy with who the car ended up with.
This sounds like do-gooder bragging, but it’s only because I’ve been on the receiving end of seller dishonesty:
Back in 2007, advertised in the classifieds section of Cadillacowners.com was a 1992 Cadillac Seville STS, polo green with tan leather and only 130,000 miles. It was the car, the color, and the body style I had admired for years, and for only $2250 it was going to be mine. Chump change for a piece of American luxury.
The pictures were blurry and didn’t show a whole lot of detail but the seller was a regular member on the Cadillac forum, of which I was a moderator. The car was also parked in front of a very nice, well-maintained house, so he clearly had the means to care of it.
Based on that, I figured there was no way he would be dishonest about the car’s condition, especially after speaking with him on the phone and getting pretty specific about how it looked and drove. He assured me that the seats were not torn, the body was clean, and it drove out smooth and nice.
So, I booked my flight to Islip, New York for the following week and flew 1,060 miles across the country.
When I arrived at the airport he picked me up in his white 1999 Seville STS, a stunning car that he recently purchased to replace the ’92 he was selling me. There’s something reassuring about someone who liked their old car enough to buy another example.
We chatted for a bit about his business, something involving magazine publishing, and headed to the New York DMV. After a brief wait in line I paid for my temp tag and went with him to his house where my car was parked.
The thing was pretty ugly. At first, I just accepted it. I figured it wasn’t deception on his part, just one of those quirks of online communication and differing expectations. As time went on, I felt pretty screwed about how badly he had abused this car over the last seven years.
He said the bumpers were a bit faded, but in some sections they were completely devoid of paint, as if the car had been parked inside an oven, and he didn’t mention to me that the rear bumper was damaged from an accident where he backed over some kind of “urban stump.”
He described the seat on the phone as being cracked. It was demolished. It looked like someone set off an explosive.
At least he did a good bit of mechanical work over the years. Most significantly, it received a remanufactured AC compressor which kept on ticking well on to 200,000 miles. A lot of what had been repaired according to his paperwork was still in need of service, so I suspect his mechanic wasn’t the greatest.
The mileage was reasonable low for the car’s age, 131k as advertised. Aside from the nasty seats the carpet, dashboard, and headliner just needed a diligent cleaning. Nothing else was physically damaged.
Unfortunately, as I headed out of his neighborhood the car began to lurch badly which I later discovered was due to a bad idle speed plunger (which had been replaced once already according to his records). He did not use a genuine GM part. The idle problem also caused the engine and transmission to run hot and put extra wear on the brakes.
As I got on the highway, the car started to shake and rattle violently like someone was beating on the floor pan with a hammer. I couldn’t figure out what it was until I finally got home. It turned out to be a seriously neglected inner tie rod. How could he describe the car as driving smoothly in that condition? Clearly, he commuted into the city for work. He had to have known.
At least from far away the car looked pretty sharp. I didn’t make a stink about it on the forum though others who saw my photos did. I eventually banned him from the forum, though not permanently.
He lied to me, but I should have turned around immediately and demanded my money back. Upon seeing the condition of the seat I should have called a taxi to take me back to the airport. I ignored all the signs and should have been suspicious when he picked me up in a different car from the one I was buying.
I got hosed, but the worst part was that I allowed it happen. There’s a tendency among people in that region to advertise their questionable heaps as diamonds, and my friendly midwest naivete resulted in a hard lesson learned.
Fortunately, after a few thousand dollars in rehabilitation and a lot of bodywork, the car turned out to be quite a trooper, covering road trips from coast to coast and soaking up highway miles blissfully for several years. The engine and transmission kept ticking despite his abusive ownership.
So, that’s why I try to give people as much information as I possibly can when I sell a car. Be careful out there, and be reasonably honest.
Here’s a video I took of another DJ: Fast Tube by Casper
We headed home the next day. It’s always comforting to see this sign:
You really can “find yourself” on the road if you look hard enough. Use your time in the car to think about where you’re going (in life) and make plans for where you intend to be. Interact with your surroundings, meet new people, and try new things.
After a month on the road, I came home from this trip feeling like a much different person.
As for my Cadillac Seville, what an incredible machine.
Newton enjoys his food bowl and Teddy Ruxpin is belted into the back seat.
Newton pricked his paw on something in dad’s backyard, and he licked it until it was infected. At a Motel 6 west of Butte I gave him a bath and covered his paw.
He managed to get the towel off so I tied it shut.
The next day I found a veterinarian who had time to take us in the same day. I highly recommend them: Animal Medical Clinic 3302 Monroe Avenue, Butte, MT 59701-3826 (406) 494-3630
An accident on I-90.
Someone drove through the guardrail and went off the cliff.
Lots of snow but roads were clear.
Clean facility. I think I heard a goat back there. Veterinarians in Montana take care of everything from rodents to show horses.
LOL, that’s what you get, dog.
Antibiotics and anti-itch powder. $130 for the whole visit. Not bad at all!
Lunch at Wendy’s across the street.
More of beautiful Montana.
Livingston MT
We stopped at the Livingston Inn. We didn’t stay the night but I was here a few years ago and wanted a couple souvenirs.
The rooms are sparkling clean, affordable, and recently renovated.
These postcards are awesome. They had a real bear come in for a photo shoot in 2007.
Montana might have the friendliest people in the country.
After two weeks I decided it was time to head home. I didn’t have any obligations, but I was so tired of sitting around in the cold and waiting for time to pass. As much as I love and adore my family and friends, being in that town is sometimes like being in prison.
We met up at Thai On First for dinner. This is, WITHOUT QUESTION, the best Thai restaurant I’ve ever been to, and that’s taking into consideration three visits to Thailand.
I have no problem calling this one of the best Thai restaurants I’ve ever been to, even considering the places I’ve eaten in Thailand. Best pad Thai… EVER. They aren’t open very late so be sure to call first.
Thai On First 411 West 1st Avenue, Spokane, WA 99201-3706 (509) 455-4288
Went to Bo’s house to hang out. This little puppy, Simba, passed away from a virus recently. ☹
I always look forward to leaving Spokane but I hate saying goodbye to family and friends. This snow that started falling the night before we left is a trap.
Headed to Target to pick up some things. I almost bought this but Facebook said it was awful, so I passed. ☺
Rogue Chocolate Stour and Hazelnut Brown Nectar
Pepper and Ian
Hoover likes to lay down while he eats. What a comfortable life!
Trying a smashed potato recipe from a friend at CadillacOwners.com.
Boil red potatoes for 25 minutes, drizzle generously with olive oil, and smash it.
Drizzle more, add salt.
Oregano
25 minutes in the oven.
Gary treated us to steaks.
DELICIOUS
Ian bought us a raspberry cake.
We slept well (and full) and hit the road the next morning.
To get to Brandon’s house in Ellensburg we had to cross the Columbia River and wander up US97, a narrow and winding somewhat mountainous two-lane road. Too many trucks for my liking.