Another Gamera clone!! He's becoming less and less unique each day. But it's great to have another member of the "Oak" tribe and to find that there's someone else out there for whom the Sedona Bronze/Dark Bronzemist combo "speaks" to them.
If it weren't for the drop in temperature, I think I'd find my husband sleeping in the hatch! He regularly goes to the garage to ogle his new toy. (Yes, folks, that's what happens when you don't have to go to work each day!) We're still lovin' our RDV! Regards, Myrna
I was interested in buying Buick RDV FWD and after happy with the test drive the salesperson asked me to make a deposit of $500 after I negiotated the price - 1% over invoice when vechile comes in their inventory. The salesperson has written on the sales paper a copy of which is with me. When the RDV arrived they Quoted me the MSRP price and when I argued my price they said if u don't buy you will loose your Deposit. Dealer - Malouf Buick Pontiac GMC, North brunswick, NJ 08902
I am disputing the deposit with my Credit Card Co. Please advice me about my rights what can I do to make compliant
Hi. I'm a 31 year old who works in Information Technology at a private college outside of Philadelphia. I live in Philly near the Art Museum.
I bought my Rendezvous on October 18th, so I've had it a while. I already have 5500 miles on it.
I bought a Black/Dark Bronzemist CXL with all options except the towing package.
My wife and I are hoping to start a family in the next year and the Rendezvous seemed like a good choice for a family vehicle. I wanted something with lots of seating room but didn't want a minivan. Wanted lots of cargo room but most SUVs only offered seating for 5 at most.
I looked at the Mountaineer, the RX300, the Mercedes M series, the Mitsubishi Montero and a few others. The RDV seemed to offer the most for the money.
I got mine for $200 over invoice w/0.0% interest for 36 months (buying not leasing).
I researched my [non-permissible content removed] off before buying (with much of it done here at Edmunds) but somehow never found this owners' area until today. I really wish I had found it back in October, I would have been even more confident in my decision.
I'll post some pics of mine in the Gallery section of this club soon. I also plan to post about some of my problems/concerns in that section.
Great to find other enthusiastic RDV owners. I have only seen a handful on the roads around here. It's kind of cool being one of the only people driving it around.
Go Illini and Go Sixers! (University of Illinois and Philadelphia)
....I think it's kind of a classy look, too. My 7 year old neice likes to ride in the third row and have me chauffeur her around like it's her own private limo.
Hi. John and Jennifer here from Culpeper VA. We bought our 'Vous while on a family trip to PA between Christmas and New Year's 2001. We were not planning to buy there, having driven to PA. We just wanted to see what it was all about. HOWEVER, we loved it immediately. We bought a CX with the Versatility package. We paid 25,700 out the door, so feel very content considering I had to do no haggling. The whole deal took 3 hours from test drive to driving it off the lot! Didn't need 4WD (or the cost!) in VA. I got to drive it home with Jen following in our '88 Buick Regal. I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed that trip!!!
Our #1 priority in any new vehicle was comfort and this one has it over anything else in it's $$$ range, at least for us. I'm 6'2" and Jen's 5'4" and it fits us both equally well.
My wife and I ordered a pewter metallic Rendezvous CX (Canadian Base model 1SD?) with a gray interior. We put in the order on January 18th and we hope to take delivery of our new chariot in a few weeks.
It has been great to read all of the posts in this forum, very helpful! One item that I have not seen discussed is if there is a tent attachment coming out for the RDV. I would really like to be able to set up the RDV like the Aztec when we go camping. Does anyone know if there is a tent available for the RDV or if the Aztec tent fits the RDV?
Last week, Edmunds rolled out new pricing pages. Along with this is a new "consumer ratings & reviews". This functionality lives in the "consumer opinions" area of the new vehicle detail page, and allows users to rate a vehicle on a number of different criteria (1 to 10 scale), as well as add his/her own free-form comments.
If you have some time, we would really appreciate Town Hall members writing a review of their current auto, or a favorite make/model. It takes approximately a week for your review to appear on that make/model.
Hello all, Purchased a Black RDV CX with 1SC and Towing Package last week. My wife and Decided that our 97 Nissan Pathfinder was getting a little long in the tooth. I had been researching and looking at the RDV since October 2001 and really liked it but could not get the Dealer closest to us to deal with me. I finally decided to use GMBUYPOWER and found what I wanted on a competing Buick dealers lot(Orange Buick). What a pleasant surprise it was going to this dealer. Walked in and had the deal done in two hours, got what I wanted for trade in and Dealer knocked off 1900.00 more from invoice plus the 2002.00 back from Buick. I love the RDV and it's looks and can only hope it will be as good to us as the Nissan was. We live about 20 minutes North of Orlando and have two children ages 12 and 10. Hope to be an RDV owner for a long time (First G.M. product owned). Sean
Hey sean congrats on your purchase ... Were from ottawa as well and purchased our RDV on jan 15/2002 already have 10000 Kms on it! I`m an automotive installer and sell after market dash kits...etc... and have instaled a real carbon fiber dash kit in my own RDV. Factory GM installed and knock your sox off looks..... watch for my picture postings ..No luck on the tent!E-mails welcome. More Mods Underway just takes time.Any picture postings here?????????
My wife and I just bought a Indigo Blue RDV CXL with gray interior. We got the car fully loaded (I love the HUD). My wife has always wanted a sunroof in our car, but being 6'4" my head usually hits the sunroof liner. Not in the RDV, it has plenty of headroom with the power seat adjusted all the way down. We are really loving this car having traded in our Chevy Venture mini van. We have 4 kids and our RDV with captain chairs and 3rd row seat comfortably fits the whole family. I love the styling of the car, both inside and out. It has a real car like ride, much more so than any mini van that I've ever driven. I highly recommend this car as an alternative to anyone looking at a minivan or small SUV.
Congrats on your RDV. It sounds alot like ours, CXL w/luxury package with moon roof, captains chairs, towing pack. Ours is pewter/greymist, indigo blue was a very close second though. We also have four kids and our ecstatic that our newest family vehicle is not a mini van. We just got back from a 3,000 plus mile road trip and were pleased with the RDV's features and ride. If you can, post some pictures of your RDV. Good luck. rjc
My EZ does not work with my window tag. Ive tried moving it to different positions, that did'nt help.I guess the only solution is to get an exterior tag. Im open to suggestions if anyone else had this problem.
The Town Hall will be looking quite different soon, but we hope you will find the changes beneficial. Your subscriptions should not be affected by this change. I'm sure there will be a discussion in News & Views created to address your questions. Once it is available, I will let you know.
Just picked up our new Pewter Metallic/Grey interior with Greymist cladding CXL this past Friday. We went with the 1SE package, as well as the 6 CD changer, moonroof and 3rd row seat. Our family of four (my wife and I, our 5 year old son and our 80 pound dog) are looking forward to lots of roadtrips in our new Buick.
So far, so good. Only about 400 miles on it, so taking it easy on the accelerator/brakes and keeping the speed down.
I'm psyched to have an AWD vehicle for the ice/snow we get here in Milwaukee (about 60" per winter). My son is especially psyched that he gets his own reading light, armrest and cupholder (we went with the middle bench seats). I'm especially psyched about the awesome stereo (speed sensitive volume? How cool is that!) and the Heads-Up display. My wife now wants a second Rendezvous!
Anyway, we're pleased with the deal we got, the dealer was great and now I just have to read the 1" thick manual! Thanks for all the posts on here; it made our decision easier.
Btw, the second choice vehicle with the Toyota Highlander, with a distant 3rd choice being the Honda Pilot (but availability problems eliminated it from the competition).
Congrats on your RDV and welcome to the club! The Pilot and Highlander are both great vehicles, but as you learned, the RDV fares very well against the imports and is a winner for GM and Buick.
We've had our CXL for one year and have logged over 14,000 miles. Even for trips to the corner market, we use it instead of our more economical Honda Accord...it's just more pleasant to drive.
I am driving myself crazy trying to decide on this vehicle. I love the way it looks and I have no problem with the ride. A friend of mine is trying to talk me out of it because she claims the rear seat is very unsafe and that there are lawsuits against buick for decapitation in one case and many other injuries. I do not plan to use this seat, but love the fact that it is there for the occassional "Mom and you drive me and 5 of my best friends to the mall". Anyway the other thing that concerns me is I have read that in 5 mph crashes this vehicle sustained major damage at a very expensive price to repair. And the only other thing is people are saying the pickup is not great. Keep in mind I am a stay at home mom with 2 teenagers not really looking for a performance vehicle, but do want a good vehicle for my money. I am also looking at 27,000 for CX with versatility package, mud flaps and pinstripes (put on by the dealer already), roof rack and upgraded stereo. I live in New Jersey. Please answer so I can get on with life and not keep sitting here at this thing. Thanks
Well I can tell you this... I'm 19, almost 20, and I used to drive a 1999 Pontiac Trans Am Ram Air with just about 400-hp at the engine... so far after 12000 miles I'm VERY happy with my Rendezvous. I have a loaded black CXL and it's been a great car. I'm a sophomore at illinois state university and it still blows my mind that I can move in/out with JUST my RDV. The rear seat comes out w/ only 4 bolts and the 2nd row seats are a breeze to remove (maybe a little heavy but oh well). The horsepower is no problem really. Once the vehicle has been broken in it seems to come to life a lot. The 10 second 0-60 I think was uphill in about 100% humidity and 90 degrees outside. It's probably 8.5 - 9 realisticly. But that doesn't matter really - it might take you longer than a V8 Mountaineer or MDX to get up to speed, but you'll get getting better gas mileage the whole way.
I haven't heard anything about any lawsuits or recalls on the rear seat... it seems fine to me... I would recommend you spring for the CXL if you're going to get the RDV honestly. Your kids will like the upgraded sound system (it's really good... I mean REALLY good) and I don't think they'll mind driving it if they need to and you will be in total luxary when you drive it.
A lot of guys criticize me for drive an "eggplant" as they call it - but I don't care because I love my RDV and I wouldn't give it up for anything (except maybe a Porsche... hehe)
1. Unsafe rear seat. To my knowledge, nobody tests the rear-end crash worthiness of cars. Some press has recently been directed towards the possible dangers to rear seat passengers of mid-size SUV's, which I'm sure is the reason for the caution. The Rendezvous 3rd row seat is close to the rear end, but not significantly different in design or distance to that of any other mid-size SUV with a 3rd row. Even short wheelbase minivans have the same potential. If you want the 3rd row (it's great, by the way), the only way to avoid this issue is to buy a full-size SUV (Suburban/Seqouia) or extended wheelbase minivan (Odyssey/Windstar).
2. 5 MPH crash. There are vehicles that performed better than the RDV and some that performed worse. Overall, the RDV did well, but not the best.
3. Power. It is no sports car, but it is peppy around town. With 210 lb ft of peak torque, it has good acceleration off the line, and overall, performance is completely typical for the SUV/minivan class.
4. Price. A CX with Versatility, upgraded stereo and New Jersey surcharge invoices for $25,175. Add $625 destination charge and perhaps $500 (my best guess) for the roof rack, mud flaps, etc. and I come up with $26,300 + tax and license. Don't forget the $2000 cash incentive...
After much debate I finally purchased my RDV and we love it! Since I first saw one in the fall, I knew it was the car for me. I love the way it looks despite some that say they don't (although) I haven't met anyone yet. I purchased the opal blue with the versatility package. We were originally getting the upgraded radio but ended up without it and even my husband and brother-in-law (both Bose lovers) say it sounds pretty good and we will probably not upgrade it. I did have someone beep at me as I was going up an incline on the highway bringing it home, I thought I was giving it gas, but I know I was being cautious. Can you actually fit grocery bags in the cargo netting in the back? We are still getting to know the ins and outs but so far, we are enjoying it. In fact my 2 kids (12 and 15) and sitting in it right now as it is parked in the garage, studying. Talk about bonding. LOL
You can probably fit a couple lightweight grocery bags (I'd opt for the plastic bags) in the netting, but you'll have better luck, I think, with putting them behind the third row (asuming you have one). If you do have the third row, you'll notice that in addition to having the seat folded down flat and in the seating position, it can also be put in a more or less vertical position by pulling the handle and pushing forward just slightly.
Hi everybody. This is my first SUV, and as a car guy, kind of a difficult transition. I wasn't ready to jump into a full on, truck-based SUV, so Rendezvous is helping me with the transition. Got my Rendezvous on 9/28/02. It is a CXL fwd, Cappuccino Frost/Dark Bronzemist with Medium Oak Leather interior. The day after I got it I drove myself, a friend, and my father-in-law down to Indianapolis for the Formula 1 race, so the Rendezvous jumped right into duty.
We looked at quite a few vehicles, including the Vibe (what I wanted), Envoy/TrailBlazer, Pontiac Montana, Saturn VUE. My wife hated the looks of the Vibe and wouldn't even get in. She then drove the Rendezvous and commented on the how smooth the ride is (her words). Then we drove the Envoy but the trucky ride and lack of room didn't measure up. She had an Explorer before and vows never to drive a truck-based SUV again. She liked the ride of the minivan almost as much, but the lease payments would have been higher than the Rendezvous for a less loaded model. The VUE didn't have enough cargo space.
We wanted more room with a 2-year old and another baby due in June. The Rendezvous will let us take family and friends places without taking a 2nd car. I am the principal driver until the new baby arrives. I can honestly say that I like the Rendezvous a lot more than I thought I would. I hear a lot of complaints about power, but I do city driving and there is plenty of power for me around town. We got the leather seats instead of the leather/cloth which my wife liked better. Buick had a "free leather" promo which rebated the cost, so getting the more expensive full leather interior didn't cost any more.
This car has way more options than I need but it's actually kind of nice having all of them. I love the steering wheel radio controls and trip computer. Traction control will be nice this winter. The interior is a lot nicer than I thought in terms of material quality. The headliner material is something I did not expect to find in a domestic car. The surfaces all have a feel of high quality with the exception of the center housing for stereo and HVAC, which feels like the thin, cheap plastic that it is. The grade of leather used is better than 99% of domestic cars out there (very impressive, Buick). I think the gauges are very cool looking. The center console is huge!
I am a bit disappointed with the gas mileage, I get about 17.5 in city-only driving. I don't know if this is what everyone else gets. It's still a new engine, so I'm looking for an improvement on that number. Complaints are few, outside of the grade of plastic used in the center stereo housing. I don't like the daytime running lights. I wish the shifter was floor mounted, and I wish the rear tailgate had it's own release. Looking back, I'd have gotten the 2nd row capt chairs and a sunroof, but that's my fault.
Hello all! I am not a RDV owner yet, but hope to soon be. All of your positive thoughts and comments have influenced me tremendously.
My background - 2 kids under 10, one husband. current Ford sedan owner. I don't want a minivan and fell in love with the ride in the Rendezvous. My question is, I LOVE the captains chairs, but wonder if the bench would be a better bet (mpre options of more children aboard. However, it seems like a pain to flip the bench to get to the 3rd row. can anyone verify this? Do you have the bench and how many do you usually haul? thanks so much!
The "bench" is really two mirror-imaged oversized "chairs" touching each other side-by-side. Together, you can seat three in the middle row, yet they flip and fold individually, making it very easy to access the 3rd row from either side of the car.
Each half (or both) can also be easily removed for hauling extra large items. There is a ton of cargo room back there.
Hi, I live with my hubby in South Lake Tahoe... Nevada side. My RDV drove very well in the snow this winter! I also love the ride and the comfort it affords! I know that nothing is perfect....and I did a lot of research (looked on this very site)and test driving BEFORE my purchase..in fact my 2003 CXL I purchased is the same one I tested. The only noise at that time was a very slight wind noise from the drivers side door, which the sales person said wasn't a problem...and if I was bothered by it they had a deflector to put on that would take care of it. I NOW FIND THEY DO NOT HAVE DEFLECTORS! The wind noise is on both sides now, and gets worse every time I drive it seems. I also have the noise the service department calls "normal" to level the vehicle, AND still the loud "tappet" type noise in the engine they also have said is "normal". Question, if these are all NORMAL why is it that only a couple of others on the "owners problems and solutions" chat are experiencing the same?? Read my post on the chat line #477 for details....and give me your imput & suggestions please! I will take it to another dealer as the only one response I received suggested. Thanks a bunch!
I too have the wind noise. I am pretty sure it is from the rear view mirror, because I lowered my window and could still hear the noise but differently. Also it seems that it occurs only during windy days when there is a crosswind. The vehicle leveling noise is normal. I don't have the feature on my RDV, but did on a past vehicle. It would make a noise like a little motor when it was leveling. As far as then engine tappet type noise, I don't hear that in my RDV. My 2000 Chev Blazer made a tappet noise from day one that was normal. basicly it is piston slap. It is considered ok to have a minor amount of this noise. I personally don't like it and could never get use to it on my blazer. I just don't hear it on my RDV.
I am a first time SUV owner and like most everything about my new 2004 Rendezvous. I recently took a trip to Fl. from NJ and felt secure and equal to the 18 wheeler trucks on I95 in every way except the horn. I wish there a were a way to increase the power and strength of the weak audible sound, which is even hard to activate. I actually have to punch the steering wheel only to get a sound slightly louder than a belch. To me, it cheapens the car and for pennies saved, was it worth changing from earlier models? Had I heard this sound prior to my purchase I may have reconsidered.......Maybe
My wife and I really shopped and discussed what we wanted in a car and decided on the new Rendezvous. We were used to driving a Bonneville that had the jump to it so we were really thinking of waiting to get the new engine but didn't. We actually found this car on e-bay. It had more options than we were wanting but was so well priced for it's loaded condition with 6000 miles that we bought it. We really are enjoying it and still are learning to work all of the controls.
I especially like the navigation system,memory system and the heads up display
Highly recommend the 3.6L engine, pleasing power delivery. My wife thinks it has too much power, after driving her 2000 Toyota Sienna for 4 years. I love the fact that it gets 18\25 mpg with the bigger engine. X-M Satellite & sunroof recommended. Despite claims, this vehicle does not handle like a good sedan (nor could it), but it beats a minivan or truck based SUV. Not as roomy as a minivan, but I wouldn't trade it for one. It may be a compromise vehicle, but I really enjoy the compromise.
Hi Rendevous Owners! I'm hoping someone can help with a problem we're experiencing. We've had our 2002 RDV for about a month and it's been in the shop 4 times! There's something very weird randomly happening, so far always at dusk or dark ... After turning the car off, the radio, headlights, and information center cycle back on and off again and again, probably about every 30 seconds or so. It continues for quite a while. The dealer has already replaced the Body Control Module and the Ignition Module ...
Does anyone have info on this maintenance issue? Please share!
Rosemarie, You really need to post this on the Rendezvous Problems and Solutions forum and while your at it read thru this forum and you will see that you arent alone with electrical problems.
We once owned a 2002 CXL RDV and it had so many electrical problems that it wasnt funny.We fixed them by trading it off.Good luck with your RDV.
I have the same hate for the horn on my 2004. I have posted a request for help from anyone knowing of a replacement horn that won't mess with the computer but no response yet. Would like to replace with a Park Ave horn. If you have found a solution I would like to know. By the way, I went back to the dealer and checked 6 more 2004s and all had the same horn.
I really hope that your horn sounds better than mine. Did you buy yours late enough to get the 3.6 V6? You mentioned that you were getting about 20 mpg and I wanted to know what mpg the larger engine gets, not what they advertise. The larger engine was not an option when I got mine.
Mine's a leftover '04 and the 3.6 was not an option. I was told the 3.6 needs, but does not require, premium gas. It'll run OK on regular, but with less power and less mpg. Otherwise, I think the MPG would be about the same as the 3.4. Hey, every car's a compromise.
That wimpy horn is #1 on my first service punch list.
Thanks for the info. I have about 11,000 miles on mine and have averaged over 21 mpg with a little better on long trips. I am replacing the standard air filter with a K&N air filter based on recommendation from other RDV owners reporting a little more power and mpg. I will find a way to change the horn since I hate it.
Comments
CWJ
Dealer - Malouf Buick Pontiac GMC, North brunswick, NJ 08902
I am disputing the deposit with my Credit Card Co.
Please advice me about my rights what can I do to make compliant
Also, check the Smart Shopper board for discussions that may be helpful for your situation.
KarenS
Host
Owner's Clubs
I bought my Rendezvous on October 18th, so I've had it a while. I already have 5500 miles on it.
I bought a Black/Dark Bronzemist CXL with all options except the towing package.
My wife and I are hoping to start a family in the next year and the Rendezvous seemed like a good choice for a family vehicle. I wanted something with lots of seating room but didn't want a minivan. Wanted lots of cargo room but most SUVs only offered seating for 5 at most.
I looked at the Mountaineer, the RX300, the Mercedes M series, the Mitsubishi Montero and a few others. The RDV seemed to offer the most for
the money.
I got mine for $200 over invoice w/0.0% interest for 36 months (buying not leasing).
I researched my [non-permissible content removed] off before buying (with much of it done here at Edmunds) but somehow never found this owners' area until today. I really wish I had found it back in October, I would have been even more confident in my decision.
I'll post some pics of mine in the Gallery section of this club soon. I also plan to post about some of my problems/concerns in that section.
Great to find other enthusiastic RDV owners. I have only seen a handful on the roads around here. It's kind of cool being one of the only people driving it around.
Go Illini and Go Sixers! (University of Illinois and Philadelphia)
As your family grows, I'm sure you'll see, as I have, just how functional and well designed the RDV is.
Regards,
Brian
Our #1 priority in any new vehicle was comfort and this one has it over anything else in it's $$$ range, at least for us. I'm 6'2" and Jen's 5'4" and it fits us both equally well.
Hope everyone enjoys their RDV as much as we are.
Douglas
My wife and I ordered a pewter metallic Rendezvous CX (Canadian Base model 1SD?) with a gray interior. We put in the order on January 18th and we hope to take delivery of our new chariot in a few weeks.
It has been great to read all of the posts in this forum, very helpful! One item that I have not seen discussed is if there is a tent attachment coming out for the RDV. I would really like to be able to set up the RDV like the Aztec when we go camping. Does anyone know if there is a tent available for the RDV or if the Aztec tent fits the RDV?
-Sean
If you have some time, we would really appreciate Town Hall members writing a review of their current auto, or a favorite make/model. It takes approximately a week for your review to appear on that make/model.
If you have any questions, please let me know!
Thanks!
KarenS
Host
Owners Clubs
Purchased a Black RDV CX with 1SC and Towing Package last week. My wife and Decided that our 97 Nissan Pathfinder was getting a little long in the tooth. I had been researching and looking at the RDV since October 2001 and really liked it but could not get the Dealer closest to us to deal with me. I finally decided to use GMBUYPOWER and found what I wanted on a competing Buick dealers lot(Orange Buick). What a pleasant surprise it was going to this dealer. Walked in and had the deal done in two hours, got what I wanted for trade in and Dealer knocked off 1900.00 more from invoice plus the 2002.00 back from Buick. I love the RDV and it's looks and can only hope it will be as good to us as the Nissan was. We live about 20 minutes North of Orlando and have two children ages 12 and 10. Hope to be an RDV owner for a long time (First G.M. product owned).
Sean
CWJ
Were from ottawa as well and purchased our RDV on jan 15/2002 already have 10000 Kms on it!
I`m an automotive installer and sell after market dash kits...etc... and have instaled a real carbon fiber dash kit in my own RDV. Factory GM installed and knock your sox off looks..... watch for my picture postings ..No luck on the tent!E-mails welcome. More Mods Underway just takes time.Any picture postings here?????????
My wife and I just bought a Indigo Blue RDV CXL with gray interior. We got the car fully loaded (I love the HUD). My wife has always wanted a sunroof in our car, but being 6'4" my head usually hits the sunroof liner. Not in the RDV, it has plenty of headroom with the power seat adjusted all the way down. We are really loving this car having traded in our Chevy Venture mini van. We have 4 kids and our RDV with captain chairs and 3rd row seat comfortably fits the whole family. I love the styling of the car, both inside and out. It has a real car like ride, much more so than any mini van that I've ever driven. I highly recommend this car as an alternative to anyone looking at a minivan or small SUV.
Paul in North Carolina
rjc
The Town Hall will be looking quite different soon, but we hope you will find the changes beneficial. Your subscriptions should not be affected by this change. I'm sure there will be a discussion in News & Views created to address your questions. Once it is available, I will let you know.
KarenS
Host
Owners Clubs
So far, so good. Only about 400 miles on it, so taking it easy on the accelerator/brakes and keeping the speed down.
I'm psyched to have an AWD vehicle for the ice/snow we get here in Milwaukee (about 60" per winter). My son is especially psyched that he gets his own reading light, armrest and cupholder (we went with the middle bench seats). I'm especially psyched about the awesome stereo (speed sensitive volume? How cool is that!) and the Heads-Up display. My wife now wants a second Rendezvous!
Anyway, we're pleased with the deal we got, the dealer was great and now I just have to read the 1" thick manual! Thanks for all the posts on here; it made our decision easier.
Btw, the second choice vehicle with the Toyota Highlander, with a distant 3rd choice being the Honda Pilot (but availability problems eliminated it from the competition).
Happy trails!
We've had our CXL for one year and have logged over 14,000 miles. Even for trips to the corner market, we use it instead of our more economical Honda Accord...it's just more pleasant to drive.
I haven't heard anything about any lawsuits or recalls on the rear seat... it seems fine to me... I would recommend you spring for the CXL if you're going to get the RDV honestly. Your kids will like the upgraded sound system (it's really good... I mean REALLY good) and I don't think they'll mind driving it if they need to and you will be in total luxary when you drive it.
A lot of guys criticize me for drive an "eggplant" as they call it - but I don't care because I love my RDV and I wouldn't give it up for anything (except maybe a Porsche... hehe)
~Lance
1. Unsafe rear seat. To my knowledge, nobody tests the rear-end crash worthiness of cars. Some press has recently been directed towards the possible dangers to rear seat passengers of mid-size SUV's, which I'm sure is the reason for the caution. The Rendezvous 3rd row seat is close to the rear end, but not significantly different in design or distance to that of any other mid-size SUV with a 3rd row. Even short wheelbase minivans have the same potential. If you want the 3rd row (it's great, by the way), the only way to avoid this issue is to buy a full-size SUV (Suburban/Seqouia) or extended wheelbase minivan (Odyssey/Windstar).
2. 5 MPH crash. There are vehicles that performed better than the RDV and some that performed worse. Overall, the RDV did well, but not the best.
3. Power. It is no sports car, but it is peppy around town. With 210 lb ft of peak torque, it has good acceleration off the line, and overall, performance is completely typical for the SUV/minivan class.
4. Price. A CX with Versatility, upgraded stereo and New Jersey surcharge invoices for $25,175. Add $625 destination charge and perhaps $500 (my best guess) for the roof rack, mud flaps, etc. and I come up with $26,300 + tax and license. Don't forget the $2000 cash incentive...
The Rendezvous is a great car. Good luck!
I recently helped convince a neighbor to purchase one, too.
Kathy, good luck with your decision.
P.S. How do you get a flag to show up next to your name when you make a post?
You're absolutely right. Once I put in a hometown and country, all my posts showed up with a US flag. Thanks!
You can probably fit a couple lightweight grocery bags (I'd opt for the plastic bags) in the netting, but you'll have better luck, I think, with putting them behind the third row (asuming you have one). If you do have the third row, you'll notice that in addition to having the seat folded down flat and in the seating position, it can also be put in a more or less vertical position by pulling the handle and pushing forward just slightly.
We looked at quite a few vehicles, including the Vibe (what I wanted), Envoy/TrailBlazer, Pontiac Montana, Saturn VUE. My wife hated the looks of the Vibe and wouldn't even get in. She then drove the Rendezvous and commented on the how smooth the ride is (her words). Then we drove the Envoy but the trucky ride and lack of room didn't measure up. She had an Explorer before and vows never to drive a truck-based SUV again. She liked the ride of the minivan almost as much, but the lease payments would have been higher than the Rendezvous for a less loaded model. The VUE didn't have enough cargo space.
We wanted more room with a 2-year old and another baby due in June. The Rendezvous will let us take family and friends places without taking a 2nd car. I am the principal driver until the new baby arrives. I can honestly say that I like the Rendezvous a lot more than I thought I would. I hear a lot of complaints about power, but I do city driving and there is plenty of power for me around town. We got the leather seats instead of the leather/cloth which my wife liked better. Buick had a "free leather" promo which rebated the cost, so getting the more expensive full leather interior didn't cost any more.
This car has way more options than I need but it's actually kind of nice having all of them. I love the steering wheel radio controls and trip computer. Traction control will be nice this winter. The interior is a lot nicer than I thought in terms of material quality. The headliner material is something I did not expect to find in a domestic car. The surfaces all have a feel of high quality with the exception of the center housing for stereo and HVAC, which feels like the thin, cheap plastic that it is. The grade of leather used is better than 99% of domestic cars out there (very impressive, Buick). I think the gauges are very cool looking. The center console is huge!
I am a bit disappointed with the gas mileage, I get about 17.5 in city-only driving. I don't know if this is what everyone else gets. It's still a new engine, so I'm looking for an improvement on that number. Complaints are few, outside of the grade of plastic used in the center stereo housing. I don't like the daytime running lights. I wish the shifter was floor mounted, and I wish the rear tailgate had it's own release. Looking back, I'd have gotten the 2nd row capt chairs and a sunroof, but that's my fault.
So far, I'm very happy with the Rendezvous.
Reading your comments reminded me of all the reasons I love *my* Rendezvous.
I hope you continue to enjoy it.
I am not a RDV owner yet, but hope to soon be. All of your positive thoughts and comments have influenced me tremendously.
My background - 2 kids under 10, one husband. current Ford sedan owner. I don't want a minivan and fell in love with the ride in the Rendezvous.
My question is, I LOVE the captains chairs, but wonder if the bench would be a better bet (mpre options of more children aboard. However, it seems like a pain to flip the bench to get to the 3rd row. can anyone verify this? Do you have the bench and how many do you usually haul?
thanks so much!
Each half (or both) can also be easily removed for hauling extra large items. There is a ton of cargo room back there.
Thought they'd be a pain to flip back and forth, but they're really not.
Thanks for everyones postings! It helped in my decision making!
I especially like the navigation system,memory system and the heads up display
thx
I'm hoping someone can help with a problem we're experiencing. We've had our 2002 RDV for about a month and it's been in the shop 4 times! There's something very weird randomly happening, so far always at dusk or dark ... After turning the car off, the radio, headlights, and information center cycle back on and off again and again, probably about every 30 seconds or so. It continues for quite a while. The dealer has already replaced the Body Control Module and the Ignition Module ...
Does anyone have info on this maintenance issue? Please share!
Thanks
Rosemarie
You really need to post this on the Rendezvous Problems and Solutions forum and while your at it read thru this forum and you will see that you arent alone with electrical problems.
We once owned a 2002 CXL RDV and it had so many electrical problems that it wasnt funny.We fixed them by trading it off.Good luck with your RDV.
I'm driving in NYC a lot and I need something that won't invite bullies to take my lunch money!
Otherwise....My husband, who has appropriated my '02 Regal loves the RDV almost as much as I do.
Tons of room, yet short enough to park in a Camry-sized spot, while hauling 6-7 people!
We're getting about 20 mpg with this brand-new engine. He says it'll only get better when it breaks in 5,000 miles from now.
Thanks, Buick!
Mine's a leftover '04 and the 3.6 was not an option. I was told the 3.6 needs, but does not require, premium gas. It'll run OK on regular, but with less power and less mpg. Otherwise, I think the MPG would be about the same as the 3.4. Hey, every car's a compromise.
That wimpy horn is #1 on my first service punch list.
Good luck with your RDV!
Thanks for the info. I have about 11,000 miles on mine and have averaged over 21 mpg with a little better on long trips. I am replacing the standard air filter with a K&N air filter based on recommendation from other RDV owners reporting a little more power and mpg. I will find a way to change the horn since I hate it.