Seasoned,
Welcome to RegalForums.com! You may remember me from the Saturnfans.com site. I went by the name "TechnoAura" on that site.
I purchased the 2011 Regal because I (dare I say) fell in love with the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia design when I first saw it in 2008. At the time, I was excited about the prospect of the Insignia becoming the next generation Saturn Aura. Ultimately, when the Penske deal fell through, I knew I would most likely never have the opportunity to own another Aura/Insignia. Aside from being disappointed that Saturn would cease to exist, I was disappointed that I would not be able to find a car like the Aura in the under $30,000 price range. It just did not exist. To make a long story short, when I read that GM was going to import the Insignia to the U.S. as a Regal, I was excited.
Now, having driven a 2007 Aura XE with the 3.5, the 2.4 liter is a bit anemic compared to the 3.5, but I knew that going on my first test drive of the Regal. Nevertheless, I liked the exterior and interior styling, along with the handling to look past the 0-60 performance deficit. I like the fit and finish of the Regal over my old Aura and I like that the Regal has a firm ride that transmits very little of the vibrations from the road to the interior. The Aura, although a very solid car, transmitted a lot more vibrations from the road into the cabin.
I have had my Regal now since August and could not be happier. Well, my one complaint is the lack of accessories available, including all-weather floor mats. Although I keep receiving emails and brochures from GM advertising such accessories, they still are not available. Other than the lack of vehicle accessories, I think the Regal is a great car.
If you have other questions about the car, or just want to chat, feel free to let me know.
Best regards