Hot Tip: Depreciation Has Made The Previous-Gen Buick Regal GS A Great Value
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When we first drove the previous iteration of the Buick Regal Grand Sport back in 2011, we rather enjoyed it. It wasn’t the sportiest of cars, mind you, taking nearly seven seconds to reach 60 mph (with FWD and a 6-speed stick), and exhibiting a character on-road that was more plush and aloof than firm and lithe. Still, it was a polished, well-equipped, comfortable cruiser with enough premium materials and equipment to justify its $35k price tag.
But “good” alone doesn’t sell cars – not when you’ve got a starting price that puts you in Audi/BMW/Lexus territory – and the previous-generation Buick Regal GS didn’t exactly bring down the house when it shipped to dealers across the US, nor is it in especially high demand among used car shoppers today.
Today, that fact presents a bit of an opportunity; CarBuzz reports that fine used examples of the 2012-’17 Buick Regal GS are available for a relatively small portion of their original sticker prices, ranging from $10k to $25k depending on year, mileage, and equipment. We conducted our own search, figuring that having to accept a slushbox is a worthy trade-off for all-wheel drive (AWD models weren’t available with a stick), and found plenty of 2014 model-year examples below 55k miles for less than $20k. Given Buick’s stellar reputation for reliability, and the AWD Regal GS’ quick 6.2-second 0-to-60 performance, we’re forced to agree; that’s a pretty sweet deal.
And bear in mind: the 2012-’17 Buick Regal GS packs a turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder, for which plenty of aftermarket tunes exist, according to CarBuzz. This means that the previous-gen GS’ 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque can be beefed up significantly for not much extra coin.
A brand-new Buick Regal GS was just launched for 2018, powered by a normally-aspirated, 3.6-liter V6 and a 9-speed automatic, driving all four wheels. Yet with a starting price of just under $40k, we can’t help but think you might be better off with a nearly-new 2012-’17 example and an ECU tune. Your wallet will thank you.
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hot Tip!
Depreciation has made the ATS, CTS, Lacrosse, Impala, Malibu, 300, Taurus, Some Camaro, Mustangs and Challengers all good buys on the used market. Just about any car or sedan can be found at a good value.
6 Gen Corvettes with low mileage well kept are great bargains if you are in the market.
Good low mile models are making some really good buys if you are ok with 20K-30K miles. .
Right now many sedans and coupes are a good buy used. The resale is all in SUV and Truck models along with Wrangler.
Frankly this is misplaced. Those cars all have held their values far better than the Regal GS. Go check ALG deltas, see for yourself.
The Regal GS, much like the Chrysler 200, has depreciated far faster than anticipated. This is how I was able to get a certified 200S V6 for half MSRP with only one year and 20,000 miles on it.
So, I’m not surprised it’s now happening to the Regal GS. The supply of cheap 300 hp naturally-aspirated V6’s is gone (200 values have held steady over the past 12 months – I could probably sell my car for slightly more than I paid for it), so those values are going back up. The Regal GS is the next in line.
Verano Turbo and base Regals are also being hammered in value, as are new Malibus. RWD cars are holding value much better.
Ironically I long said the 200S was a poor choice because the Regal GS was the same price and a better car. Two years later, I bought a 200S because it was half the price of a Regal.
This is why I hate when people complain about what a car is worth when they go to resale the car. You should have to pay a penalty for not keeping your car long term.
And I love being able to find great cars at low prices because people can’t stand being in the same car for 5 to 10 years.
Depreciation is a great thing!
Its not like ANY car is a rock solid investment, I never care about resale value……..
“You should have to pay a penalty for not keeping your car long term.”
You have no idea how stupid you sound.
You also have no idea how out of step with reality you really are.
I don’t think that a vehicle that loses half of what you paid 5 or 6 years ago, would be something that GM would want to brag about.
So your one of those guys that buys a car ever 2 or 3 years and expect not to pay a penalty for not keeping your car long term!
“and expect not to pay a penalty for not keeping your car long term!”
That’s because THERE IS NO penalty for not keeping a car for less than 3 years. You’re making up a lame excuse in your head, calling it a penalty, and expect the world to follow suit when there isn’t any legal precedent for it. You can’t force people to pay an imaginary fine because they sold a depreciated asset instead of holding onto it until it becomes effectively worthless. If you did that, you’d kill the economy.
You just make up garbage and spit it out and never once think about it. No wonder you’re alone.
The problem is that cars are losing value fast and not just GM cars. Benz and BMW are just about as bad as Cadillac and Lincoln or Chrysler.
The deal is long term or short term new car buyers should not lost a large part of the price. This is important to people who keep them 3 years or 10 years.
It is a matter of supply and demand and right now cars are not in high demand new or used. Sales are declining on both front.
I generally keep a vehicle 8-10 years and no matter the age I do not want to loose a large chunk. My Chevy I had went for over $12K and I only paid $21K for it 10 years ago. Not bad for an HHR but it too the good condition and the SS badge to pull it off.
But on a truck I usually with high miles get back 1/3 the purchase price when I sell when a car is often much less. I went back to trucks one because I needed one but also because I get more back on my investment to put to a new one.
It is all about minimizing losses no matter your tactic.
Right now cars are major bargains used or in from leases.
But for new car MFGs to survive they need to build in value for the customer. GM is doing well with this on trucks and utility vehicles. This will help them in the future.
As for used cars so many are so expensive to fix and the values are down so it leaves some major issues on them for the used market. Hard to spend more on a car than it is worth.
That is why a Ferrari Dino GT4 308 can be junked for a valve in the head. It cost more to replace than the car is worth.
The problem is people want to buy cars and trucks with zero risk! They think the automotive industry owes them something. The housing industry doesn’t owe it’s customers nothing. It’s buyer beware if you buy a house and property values go down you lose money.
The risk of buying a car and trading it in 2 years later should be huge!
GM does not offer an attractive lease on the MY18 GS and apparently will not on the until GM stops punting them from GMF over to US Bank (GM does the same for the Vettes & Camaros)…They used to offer fairly good terms on the FWD GS…
Buzz right now in the zero down leasing world…March 2018, Hellcats are going for $0 down and $6XX/mo, there’s apparently $10K off the Vette (possibly putting it at about $600/mo) and the 400hp Infiniti Red Sport is leasing around $0 down and $450/mo…
No scenario where I pay $20k for a 5 year old Regal with 55k miles.
$20k for a 5 year old Regal is WAY too much, but I did a quick search on Autotrader and found a red 2017 GS AWD with 12,283 miles for $23,949. Also, one near me for $24,000 with only 11,008 miles. Dust off those haggling skills…
V ery much Over priced when you can get a 19k mil e ATS V6 with AWD for $19k that is a lease turn in.