.

the car junkie daily magazine.

.

Would You Rather, The Dirt-Cheap Hot Rod Buick Edition! Regal Versus Roadmaster for $2,500!


Would You Rather, The Dirt-Cheap Hot Rod Buick Edition! Regal Versus Roadmaster for $2,500!

Buick has always had a real strange relationship with performance. Cars like the Riviera, Gran Sport, GSX, Grand National, and the GNX give Buick performance credit that at times, the company didn’t seem quite comfortable with. Buick’s performance tastes came in two distinct but nice flavors: torque-loaded V8 and pressurized V6. You might be a fan of one over the other, but you can’t deny that either way you choose, you win and the only loser are the tires that are about to be incinerated into oblivion.

We hit Craigslist with half of the Rough Start budget (that’s $2,500 if you haven’t been keeping up) and went digging for what would satisfy a speed junkie that had the Tri-Shield badge on the grille. Let’s be frank: You aren’t getting a Grand Sport or Grand National for this kind of money. But you can find something that can hit the mark nicely, and will still treat you to that Buick comfort that they are also known for.

Option 1: 1994 Buick Roadmaster

roadmaster2roadmaster3

We have found the white whale, Cap’n. One of the last full-frame GM sleds to come out of Detroit, the Roadmaster is quite possibly the most forgettable. (Ok, that’s a lie. The Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser is.) People remember Caprices and the Impala SS with fondness, but the Roadmaster, especially in the chunky sedan form, reminds them of the church-going types that scolded them for laughing too much or something like that. And that shape…yikes. The Caprice wasn’t exactly svelte-looking but compared to the Roadmaster it might as well have been the Camaro. But the LT-1 is hard to argue with, and if nothing else, the Roadmaster is freaking durable, thanks to it’s B-body bones.

Option #2: 2001 Buick Regal GS

regal1 regal2

If the B-body Roadmaster is known for being durable, what is the W-body Regal remembered for? Not much. It didn’t help that the Regal looked like the plain-jane Century, but with a slightly more sporty beak up front, but what did help was the supercharged 3.8L V6 under the hood. Hitting the traction control button on the console rewards the driver with the ability to immolate the front tires at will for a block at a time, and unlike the Roadmaster, which would have people suspecting that you are on your way to bury the body or two that’s in the trunk, the Regal GS is a complete under-the-radar sleeper to most. All you have to do is ditch the “Supercharged” badge off of the trunk and none’s the wiser.

Both of these Buicks are drivable from the word “go”, both can do daily duty and both can be made to be a lot of fun. But where would you go: to the white brick that could drive through a wall with minimum concern, or the two-tone rental car that could sucker-punch the unsuspecting at the stoplights? Make your call below!


  • Share This
  • Pinterest
  • 0

8 thoughts on “Would You Rather, The Dirt-Cheap Hot Rod Buick Edition! Regal Versus Roadmaster for $2,500!

  1. jerry z

    I have to agree, the Roadmaster. Many people have complained about the LT1 with the “opticrap” but only had one fail me over 15 years of owning these cars.

  2. Matt Cramer

    I happen to own a Regal GS in the dark green but with the same silver body kit. Same wheels and all.

  3. Bubba Smith

    I like them both…but the Roadmonster edges out the GS for the win in my books. Swap out the 4L60 for a T56 and you have yourself 2 tons of fun.

  4. Anthony

    I have a Regal GS just like that one and dad had a Roadmaster. Two different birds but still about luxury ,gotta love a Buick for a DD. We love that Regal but its getting rusty,wish they still built them.

  5. John Anderson

    I can appreciate the V-8 rear drive Roadmaster, but will give the nod to the Regal GS. These were real sleepers as mentioned. Where I live it’s hard to find one with either rocker still in place..

Comments are closed.