1990 Buick Reatta Convertible Road Test

[Ambalanche]

Originally Posted by tgagneguam

Good memories. I watched this show religiously as a kid. I, too, loved the intro, including when John would open with, "Well, hello, and welcome again to MotorWeek..."

I loved the Reatta; it's a shame it's gone. Funny to watch the video: 165 hp? 0-60 mph in 9.2 seconds? And did you catch how razor thin the luggage placed in the good-enough sized trunk was? Too funny.



No, coming from you, it's not a shameless plug of your youtube page, 91 s-10baja. This post is completely consistent with your generally good posts. I'm sure no one takes this post as anything different.

Is motorweek not on anymore? I only watched it when I was lucky enough to happen upon it while channel surfing. I really think one of the major networks will have a hit on their hands if they do make a mainstream car show. Hopefully the American Top Gear is going to be a reality soon.

[Carguy]

I love old tests! And thats one I dont have so THANKS 91!

[91 s-10baja]

Originally Posted by MrJamesMc

$32,000? The Saturn SKY Redline is a bargain by far!

I thought cars have got more expensive, but that seems quite hefty for 1990!
Though, they should have kept doing this, imagine what a 2009 Reatta would have looked like if they kept to the foward thinking attitude, they could bring back the oneINall touch screen in color LCD form even!

Originally Posted by CaptainDan

Buick Reatta.........GM had decided to make a car ("luxury" car at that!) which looked like an AMC Matador. Brilliant!

But at least this car killed the whole "touch screen" idea. Aside from the messy fingerprint issue, you'd probably kill yourself if you used the fussy thing while driving. Still had awful gages though.

And this "sporty" car was slow and handled poorly. I think my '90 SS 454 pick-up truck handled better! We've come a loooong way since '90!

See the touch screen in action!!

+ YouTube Video

[camaro_freak]

Originally Posted by ptmeyer84

just think Buick is still using that same engine!

Great post I will be checking out more of your videos on youtube!

how true... and how pathetic...

[steinravnik]

0-60 in 9.2 seconds! Now that's performance!

[Smaart Aas Saabr]

Originally Posted by skylark68

This car cried out for RWD!

Not really but it did cry out for the supercharger that came out the year after they stopped making them

[slowinthefastlane]

Originally Posted by steinravnik

0-60 in 9.2 seconds! Now that's performance!

Yea, but the packaging seems to be a bit better than the Kappas. The man in the video was able to get in and out of the car without straining. It looks like you can fit more than just a backpack in the trunk with the top up or down.

It's too bad that it looks somewhat ugly - at least to me anyway.

[ksr]

Loved my Reatta. I had the coupe though. I really didn't think it was a bad handling car, for FWD. Mine didn't have the touch screen, though I wish it did. The digital gauge package was pretty good though.

The convertibles didn't have vibration issues, at least not so that GM bought them back. I still check the paper and AutoTrader for Reattas regularly, and convertibles aren't that rare. With low mileage, you'll pay for them tough.

I think it's just a beautiful design. A sales failure, but a modern classic. Perhaps if GM hadn't been in such a financial mess at the time (this was just at the beginning of the high-profit SUV time), the Reatta may have lived to see another generation.

[skylark68]

Originally Posted by Smaart Aas Saabr

Not really but it did cry out for the supercharger that came out the year after they stopped making them

As a proper RWD 2 seat convertible and coupe, it would have beaten the BMW Z3, Mercedes SLK and a few others to market and established Buick as a progressive entry level luxury make. As a FWD convertible and coupe, it was nothing more than a dressed up Mercury Capri. The supercharger would have been a nice extra though.

[usa1]

I still watch MotorWeek, but only on Tivo, where I can skip past the inane pieces like Goss' Garage and others. I net the show down to about 8 minutes.

Here's a couple of things that drive me nuts about the show.

If you followed Goss' advice for car care, you'd never leave the garage. He has so many "you should be sure to do this every 6 months" maintenance items, it's a joke.

The show is way too upbeat about EVERY car it reviews. Every car is great. Every car will be a success. BS.

Tradition is nice, I guess, but I'd like the host to go with his mindless "Well hell and welcome again to Motorweek..." and bland voiceovers. I don't want some hyper trendy idiot on Fast Lane Daily or Garage 419, but someone a bit less geriatric would be nice.

Mark

[AndrewGS]

A great car and a great bunch of videos, Joel!

I'm a fan of the CRT, myself.

[91 s-10baja]

Originally Posted by AndrewGS

A great car and a great bunch of videos, Joel!

Word son!!

[CJ Thunder]

Wow haven't improved that top much in 18 years for the sky huh?

[jry]

Originally Posted by MN12Fan

Wow, $35,000! Today's price: $3,500 (if that). Pretty neat video though. Seems like there aren't many straight-talking TV shows about cars like that anymore.

My brother has had 3 of them.
You won't get a clean, ragtop for $3500.00.
10K if you are lucky.

[Big Dog]

Originally Posted by dindak

If I could find a Reatta in good shape, I would be tempted. I remeber looking at a couple of them at the local dealer a few years ago but neither was well kept. Good deals for sure and if you find a good one cheap, it could be worth good coin some day.

I have one in my shop. Nice car, in very good shape. Unfortunately I need a part that isn't available ANYWHERE on the planet.