You sure have an issue with potholes. Why didn't insurance pay to fix it? If you want it fixed the dealer fixes it. I'm not saying the Regal doesn't have what you were looking for but I've seen too many GM vehicles turn to a piece of crap very quickly. I have never had the issue with any Toyota I've owned so after 40 years of driving they've earned my loyalty. As I get older I put reliability very high on my list. I love the fact that I don't have to waste money on extended warranties because the quality is much better.
I'm glad you like it but I can't even imagine myself saying that I drive a Buick Regal.
Just a note so that you know. Don't lay flat screen tv's flat, they should always be shipped vertically as they sit on the wall or stand. They aren't built to support their weight when laid flat. Not that you cared since you returned that one but if you ever buy a new one. I loved my Previa for that reason. I could fit all kinds of things in it since minivans have more height in the interior.
Insurance told me dealer needs to provide a repair estimate. They will then cover it minus my deductible. Since dealer was unable to "find it" insurance did not fix it. I did not have time and desire to deal with the nonsense of trying to find a dealer that will diagnose it, then hoping insurance will approve it, then hoping for dealer to fix it properly. I already invested a lot of time into trying to get it done, and since I wanted to upgrade my car anyway I just went for a trade-in.
That's why I was getting Honda and Acura, they are so fun to drive and very reliable. Primary reason to get iM was fuel efficiency, stick 6-speed and amazing comfort inside for a small car. Of course Toyota is known for reliability, that played a big role in my decision. But... There is no new Toyota that I like besides new Avalon, which is crazy expensive. New Camry is horrible, new Rav4 is horrible, new Corolla is horrible in regards to interior room. They all feel cramped with oversized super-wide center consoles. Corolla hatch is the worst, back seats are almost useless if you want to carry adults. I also HATE CVTs.
I analyzed the market and went for many test drives, I drove Honda/Acura, Lexus, Cadillac, Infiniti, Kia/Hyundai. I was looking for the best value for the money. My second choice if Regal was not available would be Kia Sedona. It is very plush, it has good discounts and warranty and it has a great premium audio system - Infinity if I recall correctly. It feels heavy and bulky, it sure does not handle as well as Honda Odyssey, but Odyssey does not have a good audio system. Honda is seriously shooting itself in the foot constantly being cheap with their infotainment.
As far as Buick name goes. I went from being ashamed to being proud. I enjoy going against mainstream and braking my own and social stereotypes. I love tri-shield emblem and status of an old people car. Buicks are still considered entry-level luxury and I am enjoying this plush comfort. I had enough fun rowing gears in my iM, now it is time to relax. Acceleration in my Buick is so smooth I feel like I am driving BMW 7-series or new S-class, it feels so luxury. If you compare actual value vs reliability: I would've paid around $40k for a similarly equipped Toyota Avalon. Yes, it would last forever. Avalon would still lose its value, my Buick will not lose as much because it was not as expensive to begin with. I paid $20k for my Buick, extended warranty will cost $2-$3k extra. Therefore, I am not going to lose any money if I keep it long term vs new Avalon.
It feels very solid, Buick is rated very high in recent reliability rankings. Yes, GM cars were always trash. This is my first GM car and let me tell you: almost every other GM car I drove felt like trash, even Cadillacs felt like a fancy Chevy. But Regal is very refined and feels very different. You can go test drive it yourself, even drive a Cadillac to compare, although newer models, like CT5 could be better now. I will report reliability concerns here if I get any. Although I have a feeling that my car will last a very long time, unless I mess up again. The only other GM car I liked was new Chevrolet Bolt. Amazing car, but front seats are terrible, extremely hard and uncomfortable. One other "acceptable" GM car was 2019 Buick Enclave. It is very boring and bulky, but comfortable. Way too expensive for my needs though. Buick Encore GX looks very promising with 9-speed auto, current Encore is trash, but it sells well.
