Buick Is Back, Baby!

by Kittie Beletic

“I remember the days of just keeping time

Of hanging around in sleepy towns, forever

Back roads empty for miles”

1910 Buick Model 17, at Randall-Dodd Auto Company, Salt Lake City, UT.

The perception for some time now has been that Buicks are for … older folks. Maybe that has to do with the fact that it is currently the oldest American automobile in the world. Since its birth in 1899, Buick has been through a lot of changes and one of them is happening right now.

I attended the May 21st Buick Regal Drive Away from downtown Ft. Worth’s Sundance Square to downtown Grapevine, Texas hosted by GM and its dealerships. The star of the show was the 2011 Regal Sport Sedan and it made an entrance in grand style. A  50-car caravan made its way with a police escort to the center of the Main Street festivities in Grapevine and a show of hands would have given a big thumbs up if they hadn’t had to keep them on the wheel.

Here’s the technical scoop on the 2011 Buick Regal Sport Sedan:

Engine choices – 182-hp 2.4L 4-cylinder, 220-hp 2.0L turbo, both ECOTEC DOHCSISI WT; 6-speed auto transmission; available interactive Drive Control Systems, a class-exclusive powertrain/chassis control system offering three selectable modes (Sport, Tour, Normal) that adjust suspension, steering, throttle and transmission settings in real time to personalize your driving experience.

Here’s the scoop Buick wants you to know:

It’s a dynamic driving experience; It has an engaging, driver-centric environment (leather heated front seats, 12-way power driver seats, and more); It has a modern, sleek design; It’s loaded with intuitive personal technologies (GPS, Bluetooth, Infotainmnent ICs, Broadcast, Sensors).

Here’s the scoop the Ladies will like:

BIG TRUNK. Nice size compartment for sunglasses, cell phone or other hand-held devices located to the left of the steering wheel; deep storage pockets in the doors – big enough for 20oz water bottles; power locks are located at the top of the center cluster; ice-blue back-lit instrumentation (easy to see and beautiful, too); French seamed stitching, leather wrapped steering wheel and leather sport-bucket seats; personalized fan settings. The ride is smoooooooth and easy. And Ladies, it is sooo quiet on the road.

I liked it. I liked it a lot. It’s going to appeal to 30-somethings and up. It’s sporty and chic and sexy. It’s also practical. It drives wonderfully. It rides like a dream. It reminded me of a song:

“Just the sound of your voice

The light in your eyes

You’re so far away from yesterday

We go together, like a wink

And a Smile!”

Author, artist, actress – with a passion for driving, Kittie Beletic records the sights and sounds as she goes. Cross country road trips are her specialty, but she climbs into the car any chance she gets. On her birthday, her gift to herself is to visit the dealership of choice to drive that year’s dream car. This year, she bought one! She is a proud member of Texas Auto Writer’s Association. Got a story for Kittie? kbeletic@gmail.com

All photos taken by Kittie Beletic. Old Buick photo in public domain. Song lyrics from “A Wink and A Smile” by Harry Connick, Jr.