Buick Encore Shipping to Dealers

[mr_raider]

What the hell does the encore have to do with the Regal.

[AeroPower]

I think you need to readjust your view of Buick. It is no longer a major volume channel, its now more of a niche brand in the USA. I don't think we will be seeing any Buicks moving 20,000 units a month anymore. That was the old GM. And I'm fine with that. Build a good, upper level product off of other market platforms and GM will make decent money with minimal effort. Icing on the cake. And most likely my next car will be a Buick - so for me the new Buick hits the mark where I would never be caught dead in a pre-bankruptcy "old mans car" Buick.

And what's the big deal if the Regal is low volume? I bet GM fully expected the Regals volume to drop off with the introduction of the Verano.

Yes! I really like the new Buick. I had rented a LaCrosse for a road trip last year and really enjoyed it. I was considering a Regal GS before I found my 2010 Saab 9-5 and I was thoroughly impressed with the Verano my parents got this summer. The only thing with the Verano was that it needs more power but the Turbo model now addresses that. I showed my parents the Encore online and they liked it but were turned off by the fact that it's less powerful than their Verano so I hope GM will consider the 2.4/2.5 or the 2.0T for the Encore in the near future. It would make sense to keep the 1.4T for urban/city dweller customers but I think the suburban empty nesters used to V6 power would have a hard time adjusting to the lack of power much like my folks.

[Al63240]

Regal was never intended for volume.

Clearly.

[roy219]

What is a, "little ute"?

A subcompact SUV. Typically, this means a vehicle under 4.2 meters (165.4 inches) in length; more broadly, the term can encompass any SUV/CUV that uses a B-segment car platform. Opel Mokka, the basis for U.S. market Buick Encore, is about 4.277 meters (168.4 inches) long, but definitely qualifies under the latter definition.

[buick59]

ready to take one of these for a test drive.....considering it to replace the Golf......something more comfortable, quieter, better road vision. And the MPG is very similar. will be the Enclave and GS's little brother.

[cdp326]

What the hell does the encore have to do with the Regal.

I had to search the original post to find where Regal was mentioned and see how we got that deep into a discussion on it.

Since we're there I'll say just because the sales might be considered bonus doesn't mean they couldn't or can't sell more. Would that even enter the conversation if they were selling twice as many? But it could and should nudge upmarket as said so long as it can back it up.


Back to the Encore...

I'll also be "that guy" again and say: 'its' not 'it's' in the tag line.

[FenwickHockey65]

We shall see if it'll sell. Buick buyers like big...IDK if Grandma is going to feel safe in such a small vehicle. The price is decent though!

Grandma isn't buying Buicks anymore. She's buying Camrys.

[megeebee]

Regal was never intended for volume.

Sorry, but this sounds a bit like a Ford fan defending the MKT.

Do you think GM will persist with the Regal past the current car? They went to the expense of setting up production at Oshawa.

[Lowboy]

I think the NA Regal is just profit icing on the cake considering Insignia sales in Europe and Regal sales in China.

Sorry, but this sounds a bit like a Ford fan defending the MKT.
They went to the expense of setting up production at Oshawa.

World wide sales doesn't pay the bills for N/A tooling and setup costs.
With the logic of world wide sales the US would have H/B and wagon Cruzes by now.

Now if Encore sales take off do they have a plan to move production closer?
Or will GM limit sales to protect the Equinox/Terrain?

[Elvisuperman]

Personally, I like the Trax more than the Encore. I saw them both yesterday side by side at GM Canada Head Office and I have to say, to me the Encore does not fit the Buick strategy/vision.

They should've given it to GMC as an entry level ute into the brand. Just saying.

[cdp326]

Sorry, but this sounds a bit like a Ford fan defending the MKT.

Do you think GM will persist with the Regal past the current car? They went to the expense of setting up production at Oshawa.

I know the Regal is supposed to have brought conquest sales to Buick and still have a decent ATP, like the Flex is said to have had. But the Flex outsold the Regal in 2012...
The refreshed Flex probably helped that, so here's hoping for the Regal refresh.

[nsap]

Sorry, but this sounds a bit like a Ford fan defending the MKT.

Do you think GM will persist with the Regal past the current car? They went to the expense of setting up production at Oshawa.

Every indication I've gotten suggests the Regal will remain in the lineup. I don't think they would bother with the 2014 MCE if they weren't planning on keeping the nameplate.

The car is profitable, from what I hear.

[Uzzy]

And I still can't build and price on Buick.ca. It's OK, I know it'll be $3-4K more expensive, for no good reason.

[roy219]

Grandma isn't buying Buicks anymore. She's buying Camrys.

Given that the average age of XV50 Camry (2012-) customers is around 51-52 years, and that half of these customers are younger than 49 years, it seems that grandmas and grandpas still prefer Buicks to Camrys.

[autoplaybook]

YEAH, a Korean Buick! ...

Mighty brave card to play from someone whose screen name is tripowergto:





I think Buick's Encore is going to be a better vehicle overall AND a better vehicle for the Buick brand than either of the Korean Pontiacs shown above were. Far and away.

Every indication I've gotten suggests the Regal will remain in the lineup. I don't think they would bother with the 2014 MCE if they weren't planning on keeping the nameplate.

The car is profitable, from what I hear.

I'm glad to read that it's profitable. I just hope they can hone it well enough for '14 to help it find a bigger audience. Actually marketing the thing in the first place would help.