2014 Buick Enclave Leather on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Junkyard Gem: 1990 Buick Reatta Coupe

During the 1980s, General Motors worked hard to woo back American car shoppers who had defected to European luxury brands. Swanky interiors, futuristic electronics and Europe-influenced styling found their way into quite a few GM models during the second half of the decade. Pontiac had the 6000 STE, Oldsmobile offered the Toronado Trofeo, Cadillac sold the Turin-Hamtramck-built Allante, and Buick produced the sporty Reatta two-seater. Just under 22,000 Reattas were built during the 1988 through 1991 model years, and today's Junkyard Find is the fifth example I've found during my junkyard travels. The Reatta was the most expensive 1990 Buick, priced at $28,335 for the coupe and $34,995 for the convertible (or about $65,895 and $81,380 in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars).  For that kind of money, American car shoppers in 1990 could get a BMW 325i in coupe or convertible form for $24,650 or $33,850. They could get a Saab 900 Turbo convertible for $32,995 or an Audi Coupe Quattro for $29,750. Each of those European competitors had sophisticated overhead-cam engines and grippy suspensions, but the Reatta was built on a shortened version of the chassis that went under the Barcalounger-esque Buick Riviera and its engine was the old-timey pushrod Buick V6. The 3.8-liter Buick V6 had been made quite reliable and acceptably smooth by the time this car was built, and it made 165 horsepower (just three fewer than the BMW 325i), but Buick salesmen didn't have much to brag about when showing this engine compartment to a 35-year-old youngster who had just driven a Saab 900 Turbo. The antiquated engine was problem enough, but the lack of a manual transmission served to chase off additional potential buyers. A four-speed automatic was mandatory in every Reatta. Just in case some traditional (i.e. Greatest Generation members) Buick customers might consider this glamorous two-seater, Buick scared them off with the Reatta's video-game-style digital dash and its way-ahead-of-its-time Graphics Control Center touchscreen interface. You can't win! The Graphics Control Center hardware has been grabbed from this dash (the components also fit optioned-up Rivieras and Trofeos of the same era, so junkyard shoppers pull them for resale). Naturally, a Reatta owner would want a hardwired car phone. If you really wanted to be cool in the early 1990s, you bought a Chrysler product with the amazing VisorPhone.

Win the 'ultimate 80s muscle car,' a Buick Grand National GNX

Poll the Autoblog staff about which car is considered the ultimate '80s muscle car, and one of the two answers that'll come up is the Buick Grand National. The other, for those curious, is the Mustang GT 5.0, but that less important right now because Omaze isn't giving away one of those. It is, however, giving away a 1987 Grand National GNX, with an astonishingly low 2,000 original miles, and you can win it here. Win a 1987 Buick Grand National GNX - Enter at Omaze Here are the specs of the GNX, per Omaze: Max Seating: 5 Powertrain: Turbo 3.8 Liter V6 Engine Transmission: 4-speed automatic    Drivetrain: RWD Exterior Color: Black Interior Color: Grey/Black Horsepower: 276 hp Torque: 360 lb-ft Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds Top Speed: 124 mph Fuel Capacity: 15.1 gal Approximate Retail Value: $185,000 Cash Alt: $138,750 Special features: Only 2,000 original miles; #51 of 547 produced; blacked out exterior; 16-inch cross-weave wheels; wheel arches; torque arm rear suspension  According to Omaze, "no donation or payment is necessary to enter or win this sweepstakes." If you do choose to donate, $10 will get you 20 entries, while $50 will get you 500 entries and $100 will get you 1,200 entries. Donations benefit the ACLU. Per Omaze, “the ACLU is an organization of people who believe in the power of action. Whether in the courts, statehouses, or Congress, they fight to defend the rights that the Constitution guarantees to all of us — regardless of who we are, where we come from, who we love, or what we believe. The ACLU evolved from an organization of lawyers and advocates into a larger coalition of people fighting for whatÂ’s right together — for all of us. The ACLU seeks to be the place where people can come, no matter their political affiliation, to take action. ” If you want this relic of the 80s in your driveway, enter here. The deadline to enter is November 3, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific. Buick Commerce deals buick grand national

Even if GM does close all 5 of those plants, it'll still have too many

DETROIT — General Motors' monumental announcement on Monday that it will close three car assembly plants and two powertrain plants in North America and slash its workforce will only partially close the gap between capacity and demand for the automaker's sedans, according to a Reuters analysis of industry production and capacity data. Sales of traditional passenger cars in North America have been declining for the past six years and are still withering. After GM ends production next year at factories in Michigan, Ohio and Ontario, it will still have four U.S. passenger-car plants — all operating at less than 50 percent of rated capacity, according to figures supplied by LMC Automotive. In comparison, Detroit-based rivals Ford and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will have one car plant each in North America after 2019. The Detroit Three are facing rapidly dwindling demand for traditional passenger cars from U.S. consumers, many of whom have shifted to crossovers and trucks. Passenger cars accounted for 48 percent of retail light-vehicle sales in the United States in 2014, according to market researchers at J.D. Power and Associates. This year, sedans will account for less than a third of light vehicle sales. That shift in turn has left most North American car plants operating far below their rated capacities, while many SUV and truck plants are running on overtime. The collapse in passenger-car demand is a challenge for nearly all automakers in the United States, including Japan's Toyota and Honda, which have the top-selling models in the compact and midsize car segments. Toyota executives said last month they are evaluating the company's U.S. model lineup. But Toyota also plans to build compact Corolla sedans at a new $1.6 billion factory it is building in Alabama with partner Mazda. The obstacles facing GM in its plans to close more auto factories became apparent on Tuesday as U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to block payment of government electric vehicle subsidies to GM. While it is not certain that Trump unilaterally has the power to do that, he made it clear he intends to use his office to pressure the company to keep open a small car plant in Ohio that GM says will stop building vehicles in March.