We've all had a say in what this particular automotive journalist suggested Buick should do with what appears to be his dream.
I reacted the way I did because I too, would have loved to experience a Buick muscle car renaissance. I shared that automotive journalist's opinion myself. Its just that I had that opinion and wanted it to come true 20-25 years ago.
I opened up my restaurant in 1996. I dropped out of university (had half a year or so left to get a degree in economics and in political science) to venture in the restaurant world.
A couple of years in, and the restaurant was making money and I was still living at home paying no rent and no real expenses (did that until I got married in 2003), I was never quite happy with the cars that were available to buy in the late 1990s to early 2000s.
Sure, Id love a Trans Am, could have bought one. Maybe not a Trans Am, but a less expensive Firebird Formula V8. The restaurant was still young and I didnt want to fully indulge in expensive luxury. Not that I do that nowadays either. Its all about putting money on the side...but Im digressing.
Anyway, back in the 1997, 1998, 1999 world, I wanted to feel like a young entrepreneur, not a young punk. I wanted a pseudo luxury car, a 2 door coupe, speedy, but not too speedy, sporty, new, that defined who I was without breaking the bank.
There were not too many choices.
Firebird Formula V8 was too speedy and not enough luxury and perhaps making me look like a young punk.
Nothing at Chevy.
Nothing at Buick, maybe the Riviera, but the Riviera was too expensive anyway.
I really really wanted to buy an Oldsmobile. Like the Riviera, the Aurora was too expensive.
I really like the Intrigue. But it was a 4 door.
I would have bought a Pontiac, but the Grand Prix was too sporty and not enough entrepreneur/restauranteur luxury.
So I bought the Alero. PERFECT car for me.
But it was NOT what I wanted out of an Alero...
I really really wanted an Olds Cutlass Supreme. Coupe. Either as a RWD G Body or a FWD W-Body. And the Intrigue that replaced it, did not come that way at all in either form.
I didnt want ANY Bimmer, but I kinda admit, a 3 Series coupe would have fit my criteria. Thanks but no thanks. Because I wasnt about to become a Eurosnob prick either...
So this is where a Buick GSX or Olds 442 revival come in. If not a FWD Cutlass Supreme, I really really wanted a true blue muscle car. But GM wasnt making any. None of the Big 3 were.
I had bought the Motor Trend magazine when they revealed this RWD Monte Carlo based on the F-Body Platform, reskinnned with Chevy Lumina Coupe panels...
https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/1995-chevrolet-monte-carlo-ss/
And dreamt of modern Olds 442s and Buick GSXs.
Especially when Mopar also teased us with a RWD Charger in 1999.
So my dream of a Buick GSX comes from a long time ago. But Ive realized that it is not meant to be for Buick.
Chrysler with the 300 came close for me to buy something like a modern, luxury muscle car in a modern luxury Buick GSX kinda way, but in 2005, I bought a FWD supercharged Impala SS instead.
Weird how that has happened....
And Oldsmobile no longer around, Buick only a CUV maker and Chrysler on the dumps fearing of going the way of Oldsmobile.