Have you ever received flak for being such a fan of buicks, especially if you are of a younger generation? I have to say just about every day someone at school will come up to me and ask me, "Why the hell do you like Buicks?" Well I tell them the truth... that I just have an affinity for them and can't explain it, beyond the brand's original image (premium american motorcar). "But Buicks are for OLD PEOPLE" ou: Oh goodness that comment just proves that people are way too prejudiced... I'm sure we've all heard that comment before. And I'm also sure we all know that it is a sign of ignorance. All this prejudice has prompted one of my life's goals: To destroy the prejudices surrounding american cars. At least in California, there is a knee-jerk attitude that american cars suck, which is all the more reason for my goal to be completed. BTW If anyone has any advice regarding the purchase of a 1970 electra 225, i'd like to know :grin:
At my school, the kids don't make any bad remarks about buicks. And they know i own one too. When i first got my permit everybody asked me what i was driving(own). I told them a '76 buick century. All they say is "oh", or "cool", and some of them would ask me what kind of engine, whats the fastest you've gone in it, you know, them kind of questions. Not really ant Anti-buick people around here. There is a lot of newer buicks and some old ones in town, and A-Lot of old oldsmobiles in town. I can see why no stupid comments are made, this is a buick-oldsmobile town. But i like it here:bglasses: BTW, welcome aboard:beer -Cody
"But Buicks are for OLD People" If you think its bad now, I drove a 65 Skylark in high school(68-69)It seemed like every one else had a big block something or other and I got a lot of guff about driving "Dads Car" The saving grace was it was a V8( 300 4 barrel, 4 spd) with like a 2.73 rear end. On the top end those guys were glad that Buick had tail lights clear across the back so they could keep me in sight as I pulled away from them. Those were the good ole days! Mike
When I first got my 'Lark, my Dad said some people think Buicks are for old people, but its just because Buicks are classy, not toy-like. Actually, no one has ever said that ("old people") to me. Most people, young or old (even ricers who think they can beat anything) at the least think it is cool. And this is with huge rust holes, and duct tape holding the ragtop together. It may not be their "thing" - but they appreciate it. I think there is also a regional or socio-economic component: In my middle-class suburb, the car is "old," but at Cleveland State University (located in downtown Cleveland) people want to buy the rusted heap. The worse comments I've had are suggesting I put 17" rims on it, and a few angry words because I wouldn't sell it. Have class, though. No one likes to have their ride insulted, so focus on positives of both your and their cars. Be slightly disinterested, as if there are more important things in life than what car someone owns, or how old it is. Maybe Buick owners just grow up quicker than the rest.
young socals I think many young southern californians just have a problem with Buicks because it stands against their largely liberal perception of the world. Buicks are cars of the past to them, sporting too conservative an image to be "cool". Oh boy, i think i live in the wrong state! None of my peers can appreciate the value of understatement in the new Buicks or the simple fact that old Buicks can and often do rock their rice rockets. California, being so diverse, has too many rice-rocketeers for me to handle. Eh, I'll show THEM one day. :Brow: As I said.. I'm living in the wrong state. I should move to idaho.
I'm slowly trying to convert my friends to the world of Buicks... The only way to do it, is to let them drive one:jd:
I've had this problem as well. A few days ago some friends and I were having fun describing what sort of people drove what kind of cars. I was almost shocked when the both blurted out that grandpa's drove Buicks. I know the average age of a Buick owner of over 60 but I never knew that people who don't really follow what's going on in the auto world have this belief. Also, my sister is graduating from college this year, and she's thinking she'll be rolling in the big bucks in no time, so she's gonna buy a new car. But all she is looking at are Acuras, Lexus's, Audi's ect. Even when I show her a new Buick would be cheaper, more effecient, and more powerful, she retorts by saying "but it's an old person's car."
Some people know most people don't. BUICKs have all the right lines to make them a Real car guys car.
The new buicks do seem to be modeled towards older drivers. The old buicks most certainly were not. Buick GN for example
the newer Regal LS/GS i think is actually pretty sharp looking and is designed toward a younger generation. I've seen more and more of these around. buick is trying to find the nitch market where people are looking for something american but bigger than a caviler. Nate
When I was 16 all 8 years ago people poked fun at my Apollo because I have never done any body work to it....it's still got the faded cream/white primer/grey primer look it had then. Of course they would give me crap about teh way it looked, but everyone praised the way it ran(still runs). It's always cool when I open the hood to see the look on someones face when all they see is 455 from fender to fender and firewall to radiator:bglasses:
Yeah i guess i was lucky with the apollo. Everyone in my high school thought it was hot sh*t and many people wanted to buy it. I would let my friend Kritz drive it at lunch while i rode shotgun. When we would sit at the main intersection of town during a red light with everyone waiting in traffic he would light up posi somethin' fierce. By the time he got done the guys in their big trucks were honkin an hootin cause they loved it. By the time i had graduated most of my class wanted to buy it. Even a ford guy liked it, although he joked about its hideous color (tannish gold) saying gee for a second i thought it was a sun dryed turd going down the road. I guess one of the few advantages of the midwest is the fact that big displacing engines still in style compared to that rice rocket garbage. Chao, Patrick
Good Thread! I'm 23, my car is a 71 Riv, And I take some flack for a Buick, I actually do consider it an older persons car, as well as my 89 lesabre, but I think The Riv is an odd beast in its self. With 6 feet of hood, I'm often looking at the backseat whenm I line up with a ricer, but that changes soon enough, and you wouldn't beleive how many thumbs up I get on the road. Trevor
One of our local AM talk radio stations out here has a DJ who likes to use the epitaph "getting behind an old guy in a Buick going slow" quite often. Rumor has it he likes old classic cars too. Now just because of him I have to go a little faster to prove to myself I'm not just an old guy driving a Buick. Here's to you, Sandy Beach :moonu:
Anybody who hasn't driven a buick don't know the potential and speed of it, so a few of :moonu: 's oughta do the trick! :laugh: -Cody
While the regal does look nice, its more competetive with the Impala or Malibu. Thats about middle age. 29k and up.
regal gs i own a regal gs , bought new in 1998 . great car , fast , & comfortable . however , it has a weak suspension & a climate control unit that like to live about 3 years .
My wife and I notice when driving our '96 LeSabre that people will go out of their way to not be behind us at a red light. They must assume that we are in our 90's. What is fun, is to out accelerate these people when the light turns green! :3gears: Let's see.... The people who are in there 60's now, were in their 40's when the GN came out. Which was most likely the demographic that car was aimed at. Does your taste in cars really change all that much as you age?
When we drive the Riv, people back off and rarely mess with me. Sometimes on the interstate they do, but it's usually people in a hurry with no clue as to what I'm really driving. I like respect!:Brow: When we are driving our Dodge Caravan, they do anything to pass me. No matter how fast I go, I guess I'm just some loser driving too slow in a minivan. I notice SUV people have a grudge against minivans, seems that way anyway.:moonu:
