Article Comments - 2008 Buick Enclave First Drive and Long Term Test

19 messages, Last post on Feb 01, 2009 at 12:37 AM

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What is this discussion about? Buick Enclave, SUV

Article comments for First Drive: 2008 Buick Enclave - Though General Motors would have the world believe that the Enclave (along with its fraternal twins the Saturn Outlook and GMC Acadia) represents a dramatic, new concept in motor vehicles, it doesn't. People movers with carlike unibody platforms and SUV pretensions are nothing new. Some German and Japanese makers are well into their second-generation versions of such vehicles. (more)

Long-Term Test: 2008 Buick Enclave CX - Taking a cost-conscious path, the process of outfitting our 2008 Buick Enclave was a game of give-and-take. We like leather upholstery. We like 19-inch rims. We like an eight-way power driver seat. We really like heated seats. These are all things that make a luxury vehicle a little nicer, but we didn't need them. Opting for the CX trim level voided all of these options, but put $2,200 back in our pocket. (more)

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#1 of 19 Article Comments - 2008 Buick Enclave First Drive by KarenS HOST May 10, 2007 (11:34 am)
Check our 2008 Enclave first drive and tell us what you think. First Drive: 2008 Buick Enclave
#2 of 19 A nice review, but. . . by escape15208 May 14, 2007 (3:59 am)
You get to test drive a base CX and show only two photos of the one on your drive. All the other photos are GM promo photos of a muche higher equipped CXL. Why should any reader belive the cloth CX is as nice as you state? This certainly isn't the case with other Buicks, especially the Lucerne, which looks every bit a rental GM fleet car in base form on the interior. I'm glad at least one domestic manufacturer is attempting to make competitive vehicles (I continue to hold hope for Ford) but it really would make more sense to show photos of the car you drove, or at least GM promo photos of that trim level.
#3 of 19 Steering wheel blocks line of sight by carnutpa May 20, 2007 (3:44 pm)
My local dealer got an Enclave in this week and I finally had a chance to sit in one. I have been anxiously awaiting the Enclaves and I wanted to order one soon. I am 6'2" (common height) and I sat in the drivers seat and when I looked at the gauges thru the top of the steering wheel, the tops of the guages were blocked by the top of the wheel. I adjusted the wheel all the way up (doesn't go very high) and the seat all the way down (which is not the way I want to drive), and the tops of the gauges are still blocked by the top of the steering wheel. I can't see the speedometer from 50-80. Driving on the turnpike, which I do every day, I would have to duck down every time I want to see my speed. This was VERY disappointing. I checked another Enclave and it is the same. I was hoping there was something wrong with this one and the other ones were OK. I have never had this problem in any other vehicle. It definately seems like the wheel did not adjust high enough and it should have gone further up. Has anyone else encountered this? Replies to this message: truffles1 (Jun 07, 2007 1:25 pm) brucenyc (Jun 28, 2007 5:47 pm)
#4 of 19 Re: Steering wheel blocks line of sight [carnutpa] by truffles1 Jun 07, 2007 (1:25 pm)
Replying to: carnutpa (May 20, 2007 3:44 pm) I agree. I love the styling and quality of the Enclave, but my sightline just lets me read the top of the speedometer. Wearing a winter coat will probably make the top of the speedometer to be blocked by the steering wheel. I believe Buick will fix this in time, mayble in 09.
#5 of 19 I love this vehicle... by jbjtkbw00 Jun 07, 2007 (2:08 pm)
This Enclave takes me back to when Buick ranked right up there with Cadillac and Lincoln in terms of 'upscale' American vehicles. I had to call 4 dealers to find one to look at (none with the sunroof/sky light though) and boy, was I WOW'ed by the size of it. They tried to get me to look at the Acadia, but even though it's the same platform, the Enclave screams class. The curves of the vehicle are like a Sports Illustrated model, forming to the car as if it was carved by a Greek sculptor. Yeah, I want one, but since I don't buy any car in its' first year, so I will wait to spring. Maybe it will get a slight boost in hp and a slight price drop (although I do get a GM suppliers discount, none of the dealers wanted to offer it to me). Those of you that have one will have to give us some detailed reviews after putting on a couple of thousand miles. I can't wait to hear them. Replies to this message: truffles1 (Jun 08, 2007 5:27 am) markcincinnati (Jun 09, 2007 6:23 am) nxs138 (Jun 11, 2007 5:03 pm)
#6 of 19 Re: I love this vehicle... [jbjtkbw00] by truffles1 Jun 08, 2007 (5:27 am)
Replying to: jbjtkbw00 (Jun 07, 2007 2:08 pm) My sentiments exactly. Once I drove the Enclave, the Acadia dropped to a distant second choice. Let GM assemble it for a year, get the bugs out and then this will sell like hotcakes. Given the relative small difference in price between the Enclave and Acadia, I predict that the ratio of Acadia to Enclave sales will show much more robust Enclave sales than the marketeers predicted. The blue headlights are a magnet! Replies to this message: markcincinnati (Jun 09, 2007 6:23 am) nxs138 (Jun 11, 2007 5:03 pm)
#7 of 19 Re: I love this vehicle... [truffles1] by markcincinnati Jun 09, 2007 (6:23 am)
Replying to: truffles1 (Jun 08, 2007 5:27 am) I have driven the Enclave and the Acadia (and, as a matter of fact, the Outlook) and the Enclave is remarkably different from the other two. It seems rock solid and tomb silent. Alas, it is a Buick and despite my very favorable test drive -- and actually the Buick was LESS money (leased) than the Acadia -- it will be hard to walk away from the car and wonder if the Buick-ness of yesteryear is back or if this will just turn out to be another disappointment. I know this is "nuts" and it will probably cost quite a bit more, but I am keen to see if there is a Cadillac version of this -- or, gulp, even a Chevy version. If Cadillac would produce the "Enclave" and put the new 300HP V6 in, "Cadillac" it up a bit, well -- that would be the pick of the litter, I suspect. Or, perhaps the Acadia "Denali" if they could offer two versions, one V6 (300HP) and on V8 (moreHP) -- or better still a quiet, clean-burning, high torque turbo diesel. . . . Well, I can dream can't I? This just in, Enclave Experience just left the parking lot of our local private Golf/Country club. After hours, but in broad daylight, I examined (they were all locked, of course) the two dozen Enclaves parked there. I must say the styling is very un-Buick. Frankly, the ONLY issue I have with the Enclave (other than the Buick name) is the road wheels. Even the up-price ones look, um, tacky. The Acadia wheels may not "go with" the Enclave style, but the 19" optional Acadia wheels look much better integrated than those from Buick. All in all an impressive and very high value vehicle from America! Please Cadillac, make one of these ASAP! I think our neighborhood has a "no Buick" policy in the restrictions and covenants. Damn "yuppies, baby boomers and DINKS." Replies to this message: nxs138 (Jun 11, 2007 5:03 pm)
#8 of 19 Buick's and Goodness by buicks5 Jun 11, 2007 (3:41 pm)
I owned four (4) Mercedes-Benz over the years, and while very nice cars, there was "always something". Some flaky thing would break and they became very expensive to fix. Finally, their quality completely collapsed. I discovered Buick's and now am on my 6th. a) They don't break and run a very long time. 200k miles is my target without issues. Consumers Reports needs to have their heads examined on the quality issues, as my Buick's have been close to bullet-proof. One that I sold my niece finally needed a rear-wheel bearing at 275k miles, but still runs like the proverbial sewing machine. b) Did I mention the 3.8L engines, which is about a good as they get. My Park Avenue with supercharger averages 24.5 on overall driving and can get up to 28mpg on trips, which I think is excellent. At 170k miles, my PA is starting to use oil, i.e. a quart per 4k miles...not bad. My other Buick uses maybe a half quart in 5k miles. My wife and I are not happy about the Lucerne. They had the latest Pk Ave sorted out, but it needs shocks!!! I put some Monroe sensatrac's on and that seemed to help. All I ask for is some Bilstein's! All the controls were/are perfectly placed and easy to use, even with gloves on! So what's up with the Lucerne? They moved the trunk opener back to the glove box with same stupid yellow button, like my 1977 Electra. They took away the gas cap opener and went to hideous, harder, skinny Honda-like seats. I can ride for hundreds of miles in the PkAve seats, which can be articulated 30 ways. Why not improve on them? So now the Enclave, which is as sweet a ride that I have driven, just about ever!!!. Great handing, and the suspension is tuned to perfection, plus extremely quiet. But, just like GM...they screwed with the formula. I have the Heads Up Display on my PA and love it! So you can get the HUD on the Acadia, but on the Enclave?--- NO...why!!!??? I don't get it. The clock on my Electra was big and could be seen without glasses...now on the Enclaver...cute, but teeny...why?? The gauges are perfect to read on my PkAve, including I can cycle through all the digital readouts, such as Oil Pressure, Temp, etc. on the DIC (GM for talk for the dash). Can I do that on the Enclave? No. No digital oil pressure, or engine temp...again...why!!!??? So I am ready to part company for an Enclave, if GM would just carry forward all the good "stuff" on my PkAve, packaged in the Enclave. But no...so in a way GM had broken my heart. Bad enuf the Lucerne is a step back, but they are 90% there on the Enclave...so I ask- finish it up!! P.s., I have written GM multiple times about what we love, but never a call or email. Sigh...
#9 of 19 Re: I love this vehicle... [markcincinnati] by nxs138 Jun 11, 2007 (5:03 pm)
Replying to: markcincinnati (Jun 09, 2007 6:23 am) I must say the styling is very un-Buick. Frankly, the ONLY issue I have with the Enclave (other than the Buick name) is the road wheels. Even the up-price ones look, um, tacky. I've seen a couple of Enclaves now (both in that same taupe color), and yes, those shiny chrome wheels look like a cheap aftermarket plastic hub-cap add-on from Pep Boys...you know, the kind of hubcap that someone buys to bling up a '94 Honda. Other than that, nice looking package. I thought the curves on it would make it seem less massive, but it still looks big, not that it's a bad thing. Definitely going to wait until they bump up the HP a bit to make up my mind, seems like there's enough people already complaining about gear hunting on the Acadia when going up hills or when there's a bit of a headwind...
#10 of 19 Looks Nice but.... by galvang Jun 13, 2007 (10:01 pm)
I really like this SUV. GM/Buick have done a fine job. Looks classy and even Tiger looks and seems like a natural too it. I would difinitely aquire the new GM SUV platforms if it wasn't for one issue, tow ratings. If the tow rating were at least 1500lbs higher up to 6000lbs it would have been a done deal. Now I have to wait for the new Yukon Hybrid or the Audi 3.0 liter TDI to suffice all of my requirements. Replies to this message: jbjtkbw00 (Jun 14, 2007 2:32 am)