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Chevy Uplander/Pontiac Montana SV6/Saturn Relay/Buick Terraza

2925 messages,  Last post on Jan 21, 2012 at 12:26 PM

You are in the Chevrolet Uplander Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Uplander, Pontiac Montana, Saturn Relay, Buick Terraza, Pontiac Montana SV6, Van

Messages Page 248 of 294

#2463 of 2925 Re: End of the CSV"s??? [jerrywimer] by morewasabi

Feb 17, 2006 (1:23 pm)

Replying to: jerrywimer (Feb 17, 2006 9:10 am)
Yes a 5 speed on the Terraza would have been good. But one good thing is that the GM 4 speed transmission is rock solid. They don't usually go bad. Honda had many transmission problems from 2000-2004. To early to tell on the 2005, but they are making a humming noise. Did you also know that V6 Toyota and Lexus engines have had a problem in the past with the oil gelling and then the engine consumes large amounts of oil? So, now they stress 5000 miles on all Toyotas and speak about Oil gelling in the manual. Toyota kept this very quiet.
 
I found some of the complaints about the GM vans comical. One person is complaining about not being able to see the backup sensor light when the DVD screen is down. I guess they don't know how to push the screen up and also don't listen to the back up sensor's audible chime. One person bought the car just for its looks. Hello. Anyone home? You’ve got to look and understand all the features and understand how the mechanics all work before you spend thousands of $$ on a vehicle. You've got to believe that many of these complaints are just user error and lack of car understanding. They really don't know how their vehicle works. The bottom lines is knowing your vehicle and take care of it, and it will be great. It’s unfortunate that people who have complaints are more vocal then owners whom like their van. How about an Edmunds member whose handle is “terribleterraza”? I wonder what their point of view is?? Trade your van in for a Honda or Toyota and you can put your complaints on those forums too!
 
 Terraza’s features work well. Yes, it lacks side air bags for the extreme rear passengers; yes the seats don’t fold into the floor (but the Terraza is quieter for it), yes it only has a 4 speed tranny. However standard on the Terraza is Stabilitrac, ABS, Traction control, auto load leveling rear suspension, air compressor, heated mirrors, duel sliding doors, OnStar, DVD entertainment system, front and side airbags, tinted windows, Drivers Information system (temp, compass, more) and Buick’s QuietTuning. I added the remote start, the extra overhead bins an tow package. I wanted the heavy-duty alternator and extra transmission cooler. I have 6 in the family and a dog. Mileage has been good too. Seventeen around town and over 24 on the highway. A 5 speed or 6 speed would add to the mileage numbers. The Van works well.

#2464 of 2925 Re: End of the CSV"s??? [morewasabi] by jerrywimer

Feb 17, 2006 (8:36 pm)

Replying to: morewasabi (Feb 17, 2006 1:23 pm)
Glad to see I'm not the only one here enjoying our van. I also agree about the rock solid nature of the 4 speed. But I think a lot of the criticism others level at the 3.5l for being weak would disappear with an extra cog or two in the trannie to give it a bit more help leveraging the torque it makes.

#2465 of 2925 Re: End of the CSV"s??? [jerrywimer] by morewasabi

Feb 19, 2006 (10:50 am)

Replying to: jerrywimer (Feb 17, 2006 8:36 pm)
I don't know if you have read consumer reports. But they blew their credibility on the review of the Terraza. They test drove a Saturn Relay and said it was noisy. So they assumed the Buick was the same. Now how creditable is that when the Buick is one the quietest vans around because of Buick's Quiettuning? All the other car reviews of the Terraza confirm how quiet it is, they also state after driving the Terraza that the 3.5L has more pep then they would have thought.

#2466 of 2925 Re: End of the CSV"s??? [morewasabi] by jerrywimer

Feb 19, 2006 (12:21 pm)

Replying to: morewasabi (Feb 19, 2006 10:50 am)
I haven't trusted Consumer Reports for a long time now. Less than unbiased ratings have seen to that. This is just another example of why..
 
What's especially nice about the Terraza is that the price is pretty much the same as for any of its siblings, when similarly equipped. So you basically get quiet tuning and the fully independent suspension for free.

#2467 of 2925 Re: End of the CSV"s??? [jerrywimer] by morewasabi

Feb 19, 2006 (1:35 pm)

Replying to: jerrywimer (Feb 19, 2006 12:21 pm)
Exactly! I did lots of research before buying my Terraza. Buick is using the Terraza not only as a cross over vehicle between Minivan and SUV, but also as a cross over to the younger family market. So, you get lots of features for free, like the quiettuning, which has a more refined 3.5L than the other GM siblings, and also the additional quiet tuning adjustments from the tires, suspension and interior acoustics. The rear suspension, like you said, is also an upgrade. It’s the same suspension that they use on the more expensive Rendezvous Ultimate.
 
One other complaint that also needs to be dismissed is about the sliding automatic doors are more difficult to engage in that you have to tug on them a lot more than the Honda or Toyota. The reason is that’s so, is you’re not suppose to tug on them. The outside door handle is a switch. So all you do is pull the door handle and let the automatic door engage. If you pull on the door handle and then tug the door to open, you’re actually fighting against the door. User error once again! Also regarding the power doors opening by its self. If you have kids engage the child safety door lock as kids can easily open the power sliding doors accidentally by a simple push, by foot or hand, on the interior side door handle. This way the interior handle will not engage the power sliding door. You can still engage the power sliding door from the switch on sides by the drive and passenger front door or use the buttons above the rear view mirror.
 
Yes the Terreza is the best value when you take into account that you can negotiate a lower price and use all incentives. Saturn normally does not have this flexibility. Plus Buick just up their warranty to 4 years 50,000 miles. That’s more value to consider.
 
The one issue I have is finding the easiest way for my kids to get to most rear seats. They just squeeze through!

#2468 of 2925 update by cla1

Feb 19, 2006 (6:13 pm)

agree with much of the above. We've had the Terraza for about 15 months, and overall are satisfied. We did have the radio replaced recently as it had been intermittent for some time. This was the "no sound" issue that had seemed to disappear all summer, then reappeared with cold weather. Also, our headlights flickered enough to be disconcerting at night in the country, so we had the alternator replaced. Nothing else has been troublesome, and overall very comfortable. I wish they hadn't removed the grabhandle above the passenger seat, and the rear seats are very hard to unfold. Both of these were much better in the 02 Silo we had. The best way to get in the rear seats I think is to slide the 2nd row captain chair ahead, then tilt the seatback up against the passenger seat. Generally these seats are heavy and clumsy to operate. Lifting them out is a nightmare, which we've had to do a couple of times (hauling some drywall!) But we bought it because of good experience with the 98 Venture and the 02 Silo and have been pleased with value. Yes, the Honda is more sophisticated but way more money than it was worth.

#2469 of 2925 Re: update [cla1] by morewasabi

Feb 19, 2006 (7:35 pm)

Replying to: cla1 (Feb 19, 2006 6:13 pm)
The seats are heavy but seemed to be more comfortable than the Honda or Toyota. Sat in a rented Sienna and the seats were overly firm. It has been faster for my kids to squeeze through the seats then tilt them. We avoided the alternator issue by getting the tow package, as that comes with the heavy-duty alternator, so our lights have been solid. We previously had a 95 Pontiac Transport and sold it with a 130K on it.

#2470 of 2925 Terraza by mirde98

Feb 20, 2006 (9:19 am)

I stoped trusting Consumer Reports after years of subscribing to their magazines. I started to notice that when it came to Toyotas and Hondas they fixed or covered up the problems about the vehicles. I noticed this when they gave a poor rating to the Toyota 4Runner V6 but they publish all the info about the V8 which came out excellent, so at the end of the vehicle description they just mentioned....Oh yeah the V6 is poor....But the V8 is soo excellent that we TOTALLY recommend the vehicle. I mean C' mon! Thats bull#$%^! They didn't publish the vehicle history of the V6. Its was all about the V8. I wonder why? I personally drove a Terraza CXL and i think they are good vans. Yes like all cars they share their load of problems...but Odyssey's and Sienna's are have tons of electrical issues too.

#2471 of 2925 Re: Terraza [mirde98] by morewasabi

Feb 20, 2006 (9:41 am)

Replying to: mirde98 (Feb 20, 2006 9:19 am)
I think it’s really Consumer Reports Marketing plan. GM has the largest market share. So why not bash GM as most of Consumer Reports readers will match the market and own more GM than any other cars or trucks. So, then you recommend a non-GM vehicle. Wow, what value Consumer Reports brings as they are really looking out for me. Not!!
They’re just fishing. Once Toyota becomes number one they’ll start recommending GM again!!!
Why else would they blatantly say the Terraza is the same as the Saturn that they tested? Shows that Consumer reports is not doing their homework. The Buick has Quiet Tuning, more refined 3.5L (has a special cam-shaft, engine acoustical damping cover), and Independent rear suspension with auto load levelers. It rides quieter and smoother than the Saturn, Chevy and Pontiac. But Consumer Reports, looking out for us against big bad GM, lumps them all together. For the value the Terraza gives you more than the others. The others are good to, but you don’t get the refinements unless you get the AWD model for the suspension upgrade.

#2472 of 2925 Everyone has their own opinion by blessingsx4

Feb 20, 2006 (10:26 pm)

While you are sharing yours, please refrain from discrediting others opinions and feelings on this board. I did not buy my Uplander for looks. I am no longer allowed to discuss the serious safety related concerns per claires, but I will tell you this. After months of attempts, GM admitted there was no fix for my vehicle's safety related issues and refused to buy it back. It was apparently my fault for purchasing a brand new vehicle and assuming it would properly function throughout the first year of my owner ship. What is more comical than our posts is your ignorant reaction. If GM is as great as you all claim, why didn't they just replace my car that they cannot fix as opposed to me having to retain legal counsel in order to make them follow the law. Just watch out if any of your vehicles suddenly experience any irrepairable condition. You all may have a change of heart. Keep in mind that you all have the vehicles we wanted and thought we were buying... the ones that preformed as promised, and it isn't cool to insult us and rub that in out faces. So I personally would appreciate you refraining from speaking negatively toward or about anyone having difficulties with their vehicles. Thank you and I look forward to having some civilized conversations with you all in the future. And one more thing. You don't know me or my knowledge of cars. DO NOT insult me or the others having problems again by saying our issues are driver error. They are GM engineering and production problems. End of story.

Messages Page 248 of 294

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