ryanSC300lover

iTrader: (1)

being serious about it selling poorly?

mmarshall

So you think, then, that the Tour-X will wind up like the last-generation Acura TL....having to go into the body shop, before customer-delivery, to have the cladding repainted body-color, like Acura had to do for its customers with the TL's bright-metal parrot-beak?

It's probably too early to say that. It may (?) just appeal to some people who like the idea of an Outback or All-Road, but want an American nameplate (never mind the fact that it's, of course, a rebadged European Opel, or that Outbacks are built in Lafayette, Indiana with American labor). My Buick salesman told me he just ordered one for a guy actually trading in an Outback. Buick may have made a mistake, though, in not proving enough ground clearance for heavy snow like the Outback and All-Road have.....the Tour-X sits noticeably lower. Of course, however, to do that, it would have required a different suspension, steering system, and maybe a couple of other underbody parts, adding to development costs.

mmarshall

Yes, I agree. Sorry.....perhaps my intent in the previous post was unclear. What I meant say is that they wouldn't display a new car with pull-off stuff if it was not meant to be part of the car's trim.

LexBob2

Unfortunately, I have to agree with you and Fizzboy7. Other than Subaru, wagons just don't sell here in the U.S. even though IMO they are very nice looking and offer some practicality. The Regal will make an interesting addition to Buicks lineup but I doubt that it will sell very well.

There was some talk that Audi would discontinue the slow selling Allroad when the new gen A4 came out, but they kept it with the launch of the new gen. It's still a slow seller but doing better than before. Sales are dwarfed by those of the Q3 and Q5 in their own lineup.

Toys4RJill

Thanks, I don't think they are going to sell very many. However, those that they do have will sell without the big discount Buick cars seem to have these days.

mmarshall

When Buick first announced the Tour-X, I was a little skeptical myself, considering that the Outback pretty much has this corner of the market to itself....and the traditional American indifference to wagons. But, after seeing it in a static-review, I'm less skeptical now. Although the Outback has more ground clearance, a higher roof for more head/cargo room and probably a better AWD system, the Tour-X clobbers it on fit/finish, interior materials, general build-solidness, and (possibly) a more reliable engine...some of the Subaru boxer engines have had problems.

Toys4RJill

Good thing you area comparing it to Subaru and not the Audi wagon or those from Mercedes or BMW.

mmarshall

The Tour-X (roughly) overlaps the Outback's price-range, though base-model Outbacks start a few thousand dollars less (Buick, of course, is considered a premium nameplate). One mistake I think Buick is making with the Tour-X (I should have mentioned earlier, but I didn't) is not offering a six, like upper versions of the Outback do. To get the 3.6L V6 and 9-speed auto (same drivetrain as in my Lacrosse), one has to by-pass the wagon completely and get the upcoming sport-oriented Regal GS and its stiffer underpinnings.

Agreed it is not in the same price-range (or status) as the Audi/BMW/Mercedes...but a couple of things need to be noted. First, the Audi All-Road, despite its higher price, does not offer a V6 either (like the Tour-X, you're stuck with the 2.0T). Second, it's apples-and-oranges with Mercedes. They do not offer a C-Class wagon at all in the U.S. market, at least from what I could tell....one has to move up to the 64K E-Class wagon. Third, BMW does offer a 3-series Sport Wagon (about in the Audi All-Road's price range)...but it, too, lacks a V6 option. So, IMO, that begs the question.......what do you really get by spending more for the Germans? ....not to mention the fact that the Tour-X itself, being a re-badged Opel, is also German. At least the Outback offers a boxer/flat-six for what you'd pay for some versions of the four-cylinder Tour-X.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

this will sell like the bubonic plague in the u.s. hardly ANYONE wants a wagon when a cuv/suv is so much more useful.

tex2670

I don't love the fenders, but I have to agree that the look is consistent with other AWD wagon competitors.

mmarshall

Tell that to all the people driving Outbacks and Foresters.

I agree, though, that Buick is taking a big chance marketing it. Time will tell.

tex2670

The GS hatch has a nicer interior. I guess they are not going to make the wagon in GS trim...

tex2670

There's nothing special about Buick, period. A lot of buyers don't care about "special".

mmarshall

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

forrester is a cuv not a station wagon.


tree hugger outback buyers all live in oregon and vermont. kidding, but from sales figures looks like outback and forrester sell about in equal numbers which is very impressive for the outback, but it has a long reputation and history and loyal owners/buyers. as i think you know, i had a legacy wagon decades ago, the predecessor to the outback.

stumbled upon this website (a guy in holland!) for sales numbers... great resource.
http://carsalesbase.com/us-car-sales...ubaru-outback/
http://carsalesbase.com/us-car-sales...baru-forester/