The best Buick money can buy is a $44,000 rebuke to European sport sedans - here's what it's like to drive

Matthew DeBord/BI

Wouldn't you rather have a Buick?

• The 2018 Regal GS is a made-mostly-in-Germany sport sedan with the soul of a Buck.
• That means it combines value, practicality, style, and performance.
• It's a compelling alternative to the competition from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes - but it shouldn't be completely defined against those brands.

I am - and always have been - an unapologetic Buick fan. And, in particular, a Buick Regal fan.

I got through high school behind the wheel of a lovely Regal two-door, powered by a V6 engine and outfitted in an elegant brown velour interior.

As a car writer, I've richly enjoyed pretty much every single Buick I've sampled - and even pressed a LaCrosse and its heated seats with lumbar support into service to treat an ailing lower back.

But I reserve a special place in my heart for the Buick Regal GS, a version of the car that once actually claimed the General Motors top-speed title from Corvette, however briefly (I speak of the legendary turbocharged GNX). My last crack at the Regal found me relishing the Opel-based previous generation, but some notable changes have arrived for the 2018 edition, also a rebadged Opel Insignia manufactured in Germany.

That's right, the Buick Regal GS is a German car, for the most part - but it offers an intriguing alternative to vehicles from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes, at a lower price point and with much, much better infotainment technology than what the Teutons have on offer.

My tester arrived in a dashing Sport Red paint job and tipped the cost scales at a well-optioned $44,115 (the base is about $40,000). I drove it around for a week. And as is typically the case with Buick sedans, I didn't want to give it back. Yes, Im showing my hand here, but the Regal is still my kind of car.

Here's why: