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Junkyard Gem: 1990 Buick Reatta

General Motors built some interesting sporty cars during the late 1980s and early 1990s, as the company attempted to claw back market share from European manufacturers of high-end two-doors. There was the mean-looking Oldsmobile Trofeo, the Turin-to-Hamtramck Cadillac Allante, and the gadget-packed Buick Reatta. Here's an example of the latter car, wearing Maui Blue paint and residing in a Denver self-service wrecking yard. There was a lot to like about the Reatta, but the powertrain came as a disappointment: the ancient, rough-running pushrod Buick 3.8-liter V6 engine, driving the front wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission. The 3800 engine made 165 horses in 1990, which wasn't bad for that year, but Reatta money would have bought you a new 1990 BMW 3-Series with a tuneful 168-horse DOHC straight-six. The Buick V6 was something of an Albanian grain-thresher motor compared to the engines in the Reatta's European rivals' cars: rugged but crude. The pre-1990 Reattas came with Buick's amazing touchscreen computer interface, which may have scared off the most conservative Buick traditionalists. This car had more typical-for-1990 controls. Only 6,388 Reatta coupes were made for 1990, so we're looking at one rare Buick here. Handcrafted by these artisans in Lansing. Related Video: Featured Gallery Junked 1990 Buick Reatta View 15 Photos Auto News Buick Convertible Coupe Luxury

GM opens military discount to 21M veterans and their spouses

May marks the start of National Military Appreciation Month, and General Motors is getting into the spirit by expanding its military discount program to, well, just about everyone. That includes a total of 21 million military veterans and their spouses, along with the current slate of active duty, reserve, and National Guard members. The discount can slash thousands of dollars off the price of a new Buick, Chevrolet, or GMC vehicles, with Automotive News listing an $1,100 discount on the top gas-powered version of the Malibu, the Premiere. Those that want a bit more spice can get $1,700 off the price of a last-generation 2015 Camaro SS, while truck buyers will enjoy $3,000 off the Chevy Silverado All Star. That's just a start, though, since the military discount can be paired with other GM incentives. The discount doesn't apply to everything, though. Some are understandable – none of Cadillac's vehicles are included in the deal, nor is the Corvette Z06. You'll also be unable to apply the discount to a range of base-level trims, like the Chevy Cruze or Equinox L, the base Colorado, or the entry level GMC Acadia, Canyon, and Terrain. A full list is available at GM's dedicated military discount website. GM's expanded discount plan runs from today through May 31. News Source: General MotorsImage Credit: General Motors Buick Chevrolet GM GMC Car Buying Car Dealers Military

GM announces 6 recalls covering nearly 720k cars

General Motors has announced yet another sprawling recall campaign, with six separate elements covering 717,950 vehicles on US roads. At this point in 2014, it's starting to seem like there are more days with a GM recall than without. Perhaps most troubling about this latest volley, though, is that every vehicle is from the past few years, indicating that GM's quality woes may not be limited to pre-bankruptcy vehicles.
The largest element of this latest campaign covers 414,333 units, and includes the 2011 to 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, 2010 to 2012 Chevy Equinox, GMC Terrain and Cadillac SRX and the 2011 to 2012 Buick Regal and LaCrosse. Only vehicles with powered, height-adjustable seats are covered. In these particular cars and crossovers, the bolt that secures the height adjuster actuator may loosen of its own accord and in some cases fall out completely. If this happens, the seats will be able to move both up and down. GM claims the vehicles are safe to drive, provided drivers don't vertically adjust their seats. This particular issue has caused one crash and three injuries.
The largest element of this latest campaign covers 414,333 units, including the Chevrolet Camaro and Equinox, GMC Terrain, Cadillac SRX and the Buick Regal and LaCrosse.