I see from the brochure that self sealing tires are supposed to be available. It did say this was a late availability so I'm not sure if it's even coming with the RDV's yet.
I wonder if this determines if you get Firestone's or something else.
Can anyone confirm if they have self sealing tires?
I have been reading this for a while. I was looking to get a 2002 Explorer/Mountaineer, but I am considering RDZ now thanks for you guys/gals posts.
Just have some questions hope someone could help me? I am looking to get 2WD CW with 1SC package. I wan to have the "necesssities" not the "luxury" items.
1. Does 1 SC come with leather trim and 3rd row of seats (2--3-2)? I read some post that you have to get 1SD to have 3 row seat and leather? 2. What do you guys/gals think about $280.- (invoice price) towing package? Does it have different gear ratio like Explorer does? I am not towing anything other then the family. Since RDZ only have 3.4L 185 horses engine, Its nice to have trans oil cooler and heavy duty engine cooling system. 3. How does the 3.4L perform when you have a family of 6 (4 adults and 2 teens) on the freway? 4. I can't find running board on the option list. Does anyone have any information?
Friends told me 185 HP does not have enough power when you are loaded with family and luggages. Like from LA to Las Vegas or LA to SF. I will have to drive on the slowest lane and everyone will pass and laugh at me. At least he will (his Toyota Sienna has 195 hp, 10 more hp same torque)
I crashed a Rendezvous dealer orientation event this morning. They had about ten different RDV's with various colors and options, as well as an MDX, RX300, Highlander, and Grand Cherokee for comparison. Got a third look at the tan interior and while we still don't like it, I don't think it is AS bad as I thought. The steering wheel is definitely "mustard" but the "orange hue" of the pillars appears to be a trick of the eye. The pillars match the seats towards the bottom but "appear" to change colour as they approach and eventually touch the headliner.
MMeehan - the compact spare is located on the underside of the vehicle behind the rear bumper...much like a typical pick-up truck.
robsmith - I don't know about the self-seal tires...that's a good question. They did have a RDV CXL with Luxury package (1SE) and it had the same Firestone Affinity tires (in fact, all ten RDV's had them).
bjk2001 - The CX with 1SC includes the 3rd row and has a nice complement of options...it's the best way to go. It includes the "upgraded" cloth seats that are leather with cloth inserts. The cloth inserts are controversial because they are emblazoned with the Buick logo...someone recently posted that you can order a CX with all leather seating but I don't know how you do it.
The towing package includes a self-levelling air suspension (you can see the hoses in the rear wheel wells) but does not include a trailer hitch (I couldn't see where one would go). The gearing is the same with or without the package.
Horsepower is fine off the line and average at highway speeds. The RDV is no quicker or slower than the average six cylinder minivan. You'll be fine in either lane.
Self sealing tires are not available yet.Leather interior is now available on the CX in the SD package only. lLeather now avaliable on CX in SD package only Heated seats not available. CW Jacobson don't fret. sodona bronze has been recieved very well and looks equally good with Dark Bronze or Light Driftwood Sandrift. white looks best with Lt. sandrift or moss green lower.
Thanks for the encouraging words regarding the White with sendrift exterior. Have you seen an RDV with these colors? If so, any additional feedback would be appreciated such as... how did the tan interior look with the white/sandrift color combo?
My dealer call about 10:00 this morning and told me they were unloading it off the transport truck. I told him to get the front windows tinted and I would pick it up about 4:00. When I looked at it for the first time I knew I had picked the right colors for me. I do like the oak interior. The trailer hitch will come later but I will take it to the lake this weekend. By the way it has Firestones. It does not have the power kick that I am used to but I was after milage this time anyway and I see what others meant about the the smooth transmission shift.
Customer feed back has been very positive on the white with oak interior and sand rift bottom. If you remember the Infiniti QX4 from several years ago, it came in a similar color configuration and was a very good seller. have seen the RDZ with this combination and I like it better than the gray with gray. And believe it or not the RDZ is quite attractive with oak and moss green. If anyone else has questions regarding the RDZ I will try to check in from time to time to answer them.
Hello folks... While taking my Regal GS in for service I noticed my dealer had 5 RDVs in stock and ready to go. I got the keys to the Light Driftwood Metallic CXL model, FWD and had the opportunity to drive around for about 45 minutes. The car was driven a good deal with 300 miles already clocked, so it was already worked a bit. I was disappointed by the interior Buick emblem all over the front seats but the interior is laid out well (Gray is a better choice), the rear seat folded gives you ample space, wonder how comfy passengers will be back there. Now on to the BIGGEST weakness: Engine Power. Say what you will but GM missed the mark on engine and my Gen Mgr at the dealer I was talking with knows it. A hot humid S. Fla day the RDV was having a hard time on the on ramp to 95 to get up to speed and was gasping. The previous posts wonders about 185hp....I can imagine 5 adults and luggage inside and you better pray you do not get run over. I really LOVE the RDV but not with the 185 hp config, Buick is 2-3 years behind...Every powertrain in this category class (not the mini van class) is far ahead of the RDV's 3.4. Being familiar with the 3.4 Buick did massage it nicely, considering the Firestone tires.
I am sad..I do hope Buick does it better with 2003 model.
I would like to know more about the experience about engine power of the car, especially when it was loaded with 5 adults and average luggage going up and crossing the I5 North of Los Angeles. I am not concerned about flat freeway driving.
Also, I would appreciate to know the real price of the car, not the MSRP. At one of the earlier message, I remebered someone have said to have the car at invoice + $500.
Not sure if you are asking what the invoice price is or what the RDV is actually selling for?
Most of the people who are getting the RDV near invoice are taking advantage of the presell program which expires at the end of this month. A lot of the dealers in Cleveland are trying to sell them at MSRP. Hopefully this won't last long and they will start to deal on the price. This probably won't happen until they get a decent amount of them in stock.
After a 13 hour marathon drive, I arrived about 11:00 last night. I can honestly say I'm very happy with the RDV so far and the wife loves it as well.
Before picking up the RDV, my two initial concerns were would I like the color combo I ordered and how much get up and go would the 3.4 motor have. The answer for me is, I like the pewter/graymist/gray leather a lot and as far as the power issue goes, I had no problem at all keeping up with 80-85 mph interstate traffic and passing cars going 70-75 mph. The RDV is no hotrod in any shape or form but it will get you where you want to go in a decent manner and contrary to what some may say, it'll hold it's on in city and highway driving. I did get some feedback from the motor when I pushed it hard over 3k rpms but it wasn't bad at all really.
I'll jump on the bandwagon and say that I wish there was a beefier choice for the RDV's motor but in my experience the 3.4 is fine. I think a lot of it is just a perception thing and I hope that Buick doesn't lose a lot a sales due their decision to use the 3.4.
I'll post a more later but right now the wife is nagging at me to start helping around the house.
I'm glad to read that all of us "pre-orders" will soon have our RDV's and that those who are still waiting have at least gotten to see and drive one now that they're arriving at the dealerships.
I agree with you on the "power issue". I have driven a Montana with 5 people in it and had no problems at all. Would a bigger engine be a good option next year.. yes. Personally I think that people here are spoiled by excessive power. You should see the size of engine that powers many European vans.
No Rendezvous this morning when passing local dealer. They do have a yellow AWD Aztek though. Definitely the best color for that beast.
Just returned from the Acura dealership and taking a test drive with my family (2 adults, 4 kids ages 11,9,7,5). We have now test driven both the RDZ and the MDX. I too have been quite concerned about the power of the RDZ, but it seemed sufficient. We drove it on a very hilly section of I78 and it did fine, including accelerating uphill from 65mph to 75mph. After driving the MDX again today, I really can't feel the 55hp difference. Neither are hot rods and both will get the job done.
The third seat will be a primary decision factor for us. Based on genetics, we expect at least two, maybe three of the kids to be over 6ft tall by their mid teen years, so my wife and I have both spent time climbing in/out of and riding in the third seat.
We are also considering the Explorer. As of this afternoon, I think the RDZ has the winning vote for third seat comfort and access. On the minus side, both MDX and Explorer have enough room behind third seat for a few groceries or backpacks/gym bags. The RDZ also has the poorest visibility for the smaller children.
I drove a white/lightsandrift/oak RDZ last week and thought it looked great.
Let me clarify the 3rd row seat/leather issue on the CX (since I just ordered one). You can get the 3rd row seat with the 1SC package (it comes included in the package), but the ONLY upholstery you can get with that package is the cloth/leather combo. The only way to get all leather on a CX is to order the 1SD package and then the leather has to be ordered as a separate option (at about $750, when I ordered they were not sure what GM was going to price it at). But....when you move up to the 1SD package you lose the 3rd row seat so that also needs to ordered as a separate option (we got ours at the $645 invoice price). It's confusing how Buick can delete the 3rd row seat when you move up to a more expensive package, hmm??? Hope this clarifies it for you.
Thanks for your observations. I agree that the RDV has the least amount of space behind the 3rd row (depth, not width). My wife and I determined that it has just the right amount of space to place a row of grocery bags...which is what we will probably use it for most often. In fact, my wife pointed out that the back of the 3rd row seat is useful for preventing the bags from sliding around and/or tipping over. Every cloud has a silver lining.
Does it look like the lower cladding is easily removed for painting? My wife and I are toying with the idea of having our cladding painted a more complementary colour once we take delivery.
I probably won't bother, unless the panels can be taken off (tape is bad) and it is relatively inexpensive (a few hundred dollars).
I've also been reading these posts for several weeks now. I've been very interested in the RDV since I heard about it last year. I've now had a chance to drive two of them and seen most colors except the Opal Blue and Silver leaf. I live 30 miles South of Washington DC in a Virginia suburb. There are many dealers in the area and most of them have at least one RDV, and one had as many as five.
I ordered the CXL AWD Luxury pkg from the pre-sell program because none of the dealers in the area had exactly what I wanted in-stock or in-transit. It includes just about every option but the captain seats and trailer package. I liked the captain seats as far as comfort and convenience to the 3rd row, but my wife wanted the split bench for the extra seat. We ordered the Pewter/Gray mist exterior with Gray interior. The dealer did say the Chrome wheels were suspended right now and I would be credited if they still weren't available when the car is built. They said it would be 6-8 weeks for delivery. I got it for $450 over invoice.
I've looked at several of the competing vehicles on the web and at dealerships. I researched the prices and specifications. I think the RDV meets the needs of my family and offered many luxury options for a reasonable price. However, I have to admit my GM Card earnings (about $2,000) factored into my decision in terms of cost. For example, I really loved the MDX when I saw it at the Auto Show last December, but I didn't think it was worth another $7,000 to 8,000 when you have to pay sticker and wait three months for it. I never did test drive one. Also, I think the power of the RDV is fine. I haven't driven one with 6 people inside yet, but it seemed to do just fine when I was cruising about 75-80 mph on the highway. I had no trouble on the on-ramp either.
I think the previous posts about demographics were very interesting. I've been to Buick dealerships about five times now and I don't think I've seen any customers younger than 40. In fact, a man was picking up his RDV yesterday when I ordered mine. He looked to be about 55-60 and bought a Sedona Bronze RDV with the Oak interior. For the record, I'm 33, my wife is 31 and I have two kids (6 and 4).
Thanks for sharing about your purchase through the Per-sell program. I'm interested in doing the same, if possible. If you, or anyone else here, can tell me about the requirements to do so and who to call, that would be great! Someone in an earlier post mentioned that the per-sell program ends at the end of this month, so I know I have to get moving quickly.
I've enjoyed reading everyone's posts here for the past 2 weeks as well. I share all of your exuberance and excitement for this new car.
I received my pre-sell information from the Buick.com/Rendezvous web site. There is a section called "register". Alternatively you may call Buick at (866)515-5115. Personally, I think a call is your better bet at this point in the game.
Once you are registered, you will receive a PIN. As you know, the PIN is good until the end of the month.
The good part is, the pre-sell RDV that you will order DOES NOT count against the dealers allotment from the manufacturer. I've had two dealerships confirm this and it's a great negotiating tool. We told our dealer, if we don't like it after we see it, we won't buy it. It's a win/win... we aren't obligated and the dealer gets an EXTRA RDV that they wouldn't have normally received from the factory.
When it got dark, I turned on the self-dimming rearview mirror to cut down on the glare, which is a neat little feature, but I was a bit disappointed that those *large* side mirrors, which I also like, don't have the self-dimming option.
There were a couple of other nit-picky things that I noticed such as the seat belt for the front passenger on our RDV has a twist in it that I'll need to have straightened out eventually and I too wasn't that thrilled with the Firestone Affinity tires that came on the RDV...
And I'm going to take a close look at the spare tire set-up on the RDV tomorrow, I read through the owners manual and the spare tire accessing/changing/storage procedure seemed a might convoluted to me, then again I'm not known for my mechanical ability.
John B. - I think it may be to late to get in on the pre-sell program if you don't already have an issued pin#. When Buick advertised the RDV on it's web page a while back those who signed up to receive more info received either an email with a pin# to use or were mailed a promotional package which included a pin#. I'm not aware of anyone having recently received one. However, just because you may not be able "pre-order" doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to negotiate a good/great price with the right dealer...
Oh yeah, for those interested in the RDV owner demographics, I'm 38, the wife is 39, one kid who's 4.
Raider5, Thanks for your info & the website url. That's great info. I like the way you mentioned it's a win-win situation for the dealer & consumer.
Bertoli: thanks for your input - I do plan on getting a good deal on this car; it's a matter of ordering one now or waiting 'til things cool down when more inventory arrives. I'd rather order now...
Lance: In regards to the great deal you got - was that price ($450 over invoice) offered to you, or did you have to negotiate the dealer to that point? I appreciate your help w/ this.
Buick dealerships are not exactly hauling in the young folks but... the Rendezvous should start to change things. Actually the Regal GS is not a bad sedan either. Don't really care for anything else they sell though. I had a Century for week as a rental and it was way to soft on the suspension.
It's funny, even my import loving friend who has an Acura and a VW seems very interested in the Rendezvous as he has a growing family. GM has hit a value button with the cross over vehicle and I think it will do very well.
I would love to see Buick take a lead in younger demo. I am always the youngest (33) at my Buick dealer. I would love to see Buick take away Lexus marketshare, maybe if the RDV is done right on the marketing side. It looks they may succeed by the folks in this room.
I am the proud owner of a 2000 Regal GS and do not regret buying.
I think I remember reading that Buick was going for the 40 something crowd, but I think everyone here has stated that they are in their 30's. Oh well, I'm sure Buick won't complain about that. Maybe it's the old GM paradigm that you drive a Chevy in your 20's, a Pontiac in your 30's, a Buick in your 40's, an Olds in your 50's, and a Caddy in the twilight of your life? Or something like that.
Buick hit a home run with the RDV concept. If they advertise the car properly (nobody has heard of it yet) and make a few changes for 2003 (better tires, multi valve engine, etc.), only the status conscious will choose an import.
I went to five dealerships and told them I had a pre-sell PIN. I told each dealership that I knew the pre-sell was in addition to their regular allotment and that I was going to buy my car from the dealership with the lowest price. They all wanted me to disclose the quotes I received from the other dealerships but I stuck to my guns.
Most of the dealerships also wanted to check out my story about the pre-sell being in addition to their regular allotment. However, within a day, they called us back and gave us a quote. My quotes were MSRP, $700, $500, 300, and $245 over invoice. Being true to my word, I went with the $245.
John, like you, I was ordering in the last few days of the pre-sell program (before it got extended) and I reminded the dealers of this as I worked with them. They were anxious to make the deal before the clock ran out. Again, I made it clear that, if I didn't like the car on delivery, I would not be obligated to buy it. The dealers had no problem with that.
One more thing, the dealers have the option of particiating in a "replica" program. Buick made a limited number of RDV replicas and the dealers have the option to give one to the customer when a sell is made. Mention the program and they may give you a replica. No big thing, but it's kinda cool.
Good luck to you! Were you able get a pre-sell PIN?
I took El Trucko to the lake yesterday. I did not tow the boat (remember not hitch) and just carried two 6 gal gas cans for the boat two ice chests and general fishing stuff with three passengers. Light load and had no problems keeping up with traffic. It deffinately is not a tire burner but will do everything I want it to. I think it is geared much higher than the truck based SUV's that I have been used to. I sure do not miss the rough ride of the truck based SUV. I found a rug today that matches the light color of the brown interior in a 4'X6' size which really looks good to cover the back when I am carrying my tools. Has anyone else noticed the poor rear visibility. Maybe that is why they have the big side mirrors and back-up warning system.
Also the dealer has a hitch ordered for me.
PS by the way I am 50 but would have bought this hybrid in my 40's if it had been available.
Thanks for the great information! I'll do it just as you suggested. I haven't got the PIN yet, as I just found out about this yesterday; I don't imagine they're in their offices until Tuesday. I'll call them first thing Tues. AM.
By the way, are there other fees that the dealership adds on, such as "Advertising"? If so, what should I expect?
Also, since you're a Raider Fan, I assume you're somewhere in the Bay Area - I am as well. If that's the case, maybe you can let me know the names of the 2 or 3 lowest priced dealerships you went to. That would save me some time. I'll be scrambling to get this all done before Thursday the 31st.
One final question:
mmeehan (post #574) said that one could only get all leather w/ a 3rd row seat in a CX model by ordering the SD package, ordering the 3rd row seat separately, and then getting leather for aprox. $750. - - Does anyone know a way to get all leather with an SC option, which already has the 3rd row seat? Is this possible?
Thank for any help - I'm looking forward to joining your ranks as part of the owner/user forum soon!
FYI: While I was making my deal I called the Buick number several times on the weekend. Who knows... they may be working on Monday.
Yes. I am in the Bay Area... Santa Cruz (er... surf's up dude). Born to be a Raider as I loved to watch Lamonica, Blanda, Belitnekoff, "The Holy Roller", "The Sea of Hands", and "The Inaccurate Reception". But I can't say I like Davis' form of politics.
The best quotes I received were from: Los Gatos - Moore Buick (I+$500) Watsonville - Portola Moters (I+$300) Capitola (Santa Cruz) - Marina Motors (I+$245)
Both Marina and Moore were very friendly and went out of their way to understand the pre-sell program and answer my questions. Portola was a little skeptical of the pre-sell program and made some comments about having the car serviced at their dealership that took me by surprise.
Marina gave me a hard quote in dollars while Moore and Portola both said "$$$ over invoice". Be careful of that tactic as the dealer then has an opportunity to play with the invoice price of the car. I've experienced that in the past.
Our MSRP quote was from a dealership in Davis (I have in-laws there). Davis was the one dealership who didn't believe the pre-sell order was in addition to their regular allotment. When I asked them what the cost of my RDV (CXL, Versatility Package, with Tow Package) they gave me a print-out of the Buick website. Rude and uninformed is no way to win my business.
We received an email quote (I+$700) from a dealership in Sacramento.
Moore (Los Gatos) had an RDV that I test drove last weekend. Their number is (408)402-2525. Dave Burt is the sales manager: dburt@moorevalue.com they said they were not going to sell that RDV because it was the only one on the lot (but then, I'm sure if the right offer came along...). If you can't find one in your area, Los Gatos is about an hour from San Francisco.
We were not charged any "advertising fees" however there is a new law in California that allows dealerships to charge a documentation fee. All three of the dealerships in our area were charging $45 for the doc fee... nothing else.
Hope that helps! Please feel free to let me know if you have any other Q's about these dealerships.
As far as I know (and I've done lots of checking) there is no way to get leather with the 1SC package. I wish there was because this is definitely the more economical way to go, especially if you don't really need all of the "gadgets." I tried to confirm directly with Buick on how to order the leather, but they were not even aware that leather could be ordered in the CX (and this was after some in-depth checking on their part). Pretty ridiculous huh? Two dealerships in my area (South Florida) confirmed that leather could only be ordered separately if the 1SD package was ordered. I received my order in the mail and have an order number and am just awaiting arrival (hopefully within about 6 weeks). Good luck!!
As an alternative, ask the dealer about after-market leather. I checked out after market leather for the CX.
Marina in Capitola - added $1,500 Portola in Watsonville - added $1,000 to 1,200 Moore in Los Gatos - added $1,100
They pretty much all use the same installer. What's the difference in price???... Dealer profit!
We have after-market leather in our Honda Accord and it came out great! The installers are professionals and really do a great job matching the original color... or any color you choose. Most dealers will tell you to go with the matching color. TAKE THEIR ADVISE! You will also find the after-market leather is better quality and better workmanship than the manufacturer leather because it's not mass produced.
Ra1der5, Thanks again for all the info. You've been great! I'm up in San Mateo County, so only about 45 minutes or so from Moore/Los Gatos; I'll definitely call them. BTW, I called Buick today, but as I suspected no one's there. I'll get them first thing tomorrow.
Also thanks for the idea about after-market leather; it's worth considering. I have to decide if the other extra options in the luxury pkg. are that important to us for about an additional $1600. Who knows, I may just do the SD Pkg anyway...
mmeehan: thanks for your input. It sounds like we both were in the exact same boat. Congratulations on getting yours ordered! One way or the other I'll have mine ordered by Thursday.
When I first considered buying the Rendezvous, I was going to go for the CX 1SC just like you. Ultimately, my wife and I decided we wanted AWD and leather interior, so after considering all the options (crunching numbers), we decided to go ahead and get the CXL. If you factor the price of the CX, and then add the cost of the 1SD, third row, CD/Cassette stereo, and leather, I think you might find the CXL to be a better value. The surefootedness of AWD and better resale value are nice to have and, you get a wider variety of colours (lower cladding) to choose from.
Good point, and you're exactly right... at least in our scenario.
We weighed the option of buying a CXL vs. the CX + after market leather. Our conclusions were the same as yours. Once we looked at the options we wanted and weighed the price of the cars, we also found the CXL to be the better value and we got the AWD on top of it.
For John325's sake, I'm glad you mentioned that. There are so many options that we played with, I had forgotten to mention some of the reasons for our CXL decision.
Just looked at one today. Pretty nice. Wife and I are trying to decide between this and a Dodge Caravan to replace our 88 Dodge Caravan. The weight-wheel base-engine size etc. are very comparable. But, does anyone have an opinion on Buick using an older version push rod type engine in the Rendezvous. Seems behind the times if you ask me. I suppose the power would be comparable to our 88, the weight-engine size ratio being almost the same.
Nothing wrong with the pushrod engine. The engine in the RDV is adequate, and that is the best it can be for now. Yes it is comparable to the minivan you have. BUT today even minivans are getting in the game of more power, even with a pushrod engine. Chrysler now offers their new minis with over 200 hp and they are excellent drives and have not compromised on gas mileage taht much.
Well, why don't I stir up the pot a little. I have no problem with pushrod engines. They have more torque at low RPM's (where it counts in a heavy vehicle) and they are bullet proof.
GM does have a poor history with multivalves; remember the Quad 4 and the multi-valve 3.4L? A few years back, I had a company car with the multi-valve 3.4L (a Chevy Lumina Eurosport). It was fast as hell but broke down often and, according to my mechanic, very difficult to work on. Things have gotten better over the years.
I'm sure Dindak can confirm that the 3.5L (found in the Olds Intrigue) is a sweet motor...is it any better than the 3.8L it replaced?
Maybe someday we'll know the logic behind placing the 3.4L in the RDV. Since it is a new motor for Buick, I'll bet it has more to do with not messing with the proven minivan platform. I will say that I am a little tired of people saying the RDV has a weak motor. Just because a couple of magazine reviewers say it's weak doesn't mean it's the gospel. The RDV is certainly not fast like the Durango (or any V8 SUV), but based on my experience, it is comparable to it's intended competition (Explorer, Montero, Trooper, ML320). Yes, the Acura is a little quicker, but it also costs a lot more. I think RDV (and Aztek) owners can confirm that the power of the RDV motor is not the handicap that some would have us believe.
I was thinking today about how many Explorers are on the road today. Probably over a million, right? Based on my experience, the Rendezvous is a little quicker than the Explorer off the line and has similar torque and yet, nobody GRIPES about the Explorer's horsepower. Why is that? Probably because the Explorer is a known product (you get what you get) but with the RDV, everyone is wondering why the 3.8L is sitting out on the sidelines.
If the RDV is too slow for you, you're in the wrong market. Pony up another 12+ grand and get an ML430 or BMW X5, because no $30K SUV is going to cut it.
I see your also from sunny Washington, we're in snohomish. I was also surprised to learn of the engine in the Durango, and yes my 99 "baby" is fast, and better yet with a few of the mod I did to her. I'll never get rid of my "I", even with the type of engine in it. Runs real sweet. I did not mean to imply the REV is under powered, which is why I said the power would be comparable to our 88 Caravan, the weight-engine size being close to the same. For what we use the 88 for, the 3.0l V-6 was perfect for us, it's not the extended version, but the short. Has 220,000 + miles on it, has been a great rig, with hardly any trouble. After looking so much, I was just surprised to see that they had used this versus what I see a lot of in others. As you can see, our engine in our 88 did well, course I take care of them well also. For what we want, I think the REV will work well for us, would replace the Caravan nice, for there are a few things that we don't like on the new ones, and we're tired of having a mini van. Guess that one article I read was right, must be a baby roomer age thing. My comments got just what I wanted, response from others on their opinions and feelings, confirmation of what I wanted to hear. Would not have bought the "I" if I thought there was something wrong with this type technology.
Thanks for your input. I love the Durango...I almost bought one six months ago. Great power, interior layout, perfect size, and good looks. What turned me off are all the comments about reliability...both on the www and the experiences of several friends.
I'm glad you got one of the good ones! I didn't want to gamble with my $30K.
I do think the RDV is a great boon for all of us that need a minivan but want an SUV...that's who we are.
P.S. There are a lot of Durango's on the road up here and I must admit to a certain amount of regret whenever I see one. I had my mind set on one for several months...until other choices entered the fray.
Looks like I should get the spcheck to stay put. Anyway, we have 27K+ on our D ,and never have had any problems with it. Some do and some don't. Just like our 88. Rep at the place today in Bellevue where we where looking at the RDV, said he was amazed that we had that many miles on it without replacing the engine or tranny etc. Been a good van for us. Hope the RDV would be the same. Take a look at http://216.117.167.84/ceilidh/ceilidh.html. It's the national Dodge Durango Forum ll. A lot of people get on and talk about there D's Some have had problems, minor and major. A lot have not had problems at all. Think this is the way it is with any auto though. You hear good and bad with all of them. We had a 92 BMW 325 ic that we got rid of in less than one year. They could not stop the car from eating the convertible top every time the automatic control would raise and lower it. It got to be insane. Of course, others had no problems at all. We're looking at the CXL. Wife will use it the most to get to the office. As you know, in winter with all the black ice we have, especially out here in the boonies, I like the trac control it would have for her. Also, I must add, she has to have the dual climate control, which only comes on the CXL. She said she was tired of auto makers (before) not thinking about the passenger, so now that they have started adding more for them, she wants it, plus the power seat. The more I, we (wife) talk about the RDV, I think the more we make up our mine to go for this instead of the van.
My negotiating was very easy at the dealership, but I had talked to the salesman about 5 times on the phone to go through all the RDVs in-stock and in-transit, but none were exactly what we wanted. So after calling many other dealerships in the area and checking their stock I began negotiating for the pre-sell program. I went through Autobytel.com and talked to a dealership in Maryland and they offered me the invoice + $500 and no document prep. fee right over the phone. They said they offered this because I wasn't local. I got the same offer from the Buick sales manager at another dealership in my area prior to returning the one I eventually ordered it.
At this dealership I test drove the RDV for about an hour and then went into the dealership to negotiate. I had already gone through all the pre-sell advantages with him that others have mentioned and told him that I had committments from two other dealerships for $500 over invoice. Since I talked to him several times and he literally called my home at least once a day for a week I gave him the first chance at the negotiating table. We confirmed the invoice price first and there was about $350 in it for advertising. I don't know whether this is legit, but the other two dealerships I talked to had it included in their invoice price also. His first offer was invoice price + 1.5% (approximately $450)and tax, tags, and document preparation fee (@$200). I asked for some free oil changes, loaner car and said I wouldn't pay the doc. prep. fee. He agreed and I was done in less than a half hour.
All I can say is do your homework. I've been reading these posts for weeks now and I knew more about the RDV than most salesman as a result. I think that provided me with a good deal of bargaining power.
mmeehan: Thank you! Thanks for clearing that up regarding the leather seats with cloth inserts. What is the leather trim with cloth inserts? I have some idea but not as smart as those engineers at Buick. As a matter of the fact, I am an engineer. Maybe that's why I don't want to 2nd quess what it is actually. LOL. I did some research regarding the RDV leather options. I cheked Buick web site which tells me Nothing. I then checked KBB, Edmunds, Carsdirect, Liquidprice, Msn Auto section, yahoo... I am as clear as mud right now. No two web sites have same information regarding options in each trim level. I found there are 2WD CX, AWD CX, AWD CXL? Some (KBB) listed AWD CX and AWD CXL have same price?
In order for me to get real leather and 3rd seats what do I have to pay (invoice price)?
I didn't recognize the name, but once I saw it, I recognized the website. I have checked it out a few times in the past and love the way owners share information, war stories, and arrange road trips! It was the same way with my 94 Miata...a loyal following of car lovers.
My uncle bought an 89 325i new in 1988 (I love that vintage...like a Nissan Sentra on steroids) and his wife still drives it daily. It has 90K miles and he's never had a problem with it. I tried to buy it from him when he bought his 99 Acura TL but he wouldn't part with it.
As long as you bring it up, what is the deal with dual zone climate control. I've never had a luxury car so I'm curious to know if it really works. How different can the air be for someone sitting right next to you? Does automatic temperature control really work? I think (perhaps out of ignorance) that I'd rather have A/C with a simple fan speed control.
I'd love to hear on your progress towards buying a RDV. Mine should arrive in another month or so and will probably be among the first few on the road up here.
BTW, While I don't exactly live in the boonies, I agree with you about the added benefit of all-wheel drive up here. Also, we have family in Spokane so we cross the mountains somewhat often.
r5, fedlawman: thanks for your input re: considering the cxl over the cx; now it seems I need to weigh-in paying an addl. $1700 to go from CX w/ 1SD, 3rd row seat, & leather to get to the CXL w/ awd, & other extra things... I have to decide quickly - time is running out.
Tell me, which stereo has the cassette player? Does the premium stereo w/ 8 spkrs have it? Also, I found out today that the CX does not have a roof rack, and it doesn't appear that you can get one (other than through after-market).
Ire: Re: Expenses: Is the "destination charge" ($575) part of the invoice cost? I assume that's a "must pay" expense. You mentioned they waived the "doc prep" fee of $200; is this a normal fee? By the way Lance, thanks for your original post. Thanks to you and Ra1der5's guidance, I'm off and running on the Pre-sell program. - I expect to get my pin tomorrow a.m and order my car by Thursday.
bjk2001: I've learned from the help of mmeehan that the only way you can get leather & 3rd row seat on a CX is by ordering 1SD option (luxury pkg.) and then ordering the 3rd row seat separtately, and paying aprox $750 for the leather. I'm weighing that all out now - Fedlawman & ra1der5 have got me considering a CXL, based on the overall value of it.
Raider5: I've met w/ one dealer so far and things are looking very good - and as ire said, we come off as being the experts in this one particular area, ie, RDV. I knew way more than the management at the dealership. I'll keep you posted. Thanks again for all your help.
Oops - I forgot that Ra1der5 had mentioned earlier that Calif. (where I am) has a new law allowing a Doc. Fee, which was $45 at 3 of the dealerships he visited.
BTW, what's the preferred tire to get on either model (CX or CXL)? I think fedlawman may know the answer to this one. Do you? Thanks.
Comments
I wonder if this determines if you get Firestone's or something else.
Can anyone confirm if they have self sealing tires?
I have been reading this for a while. I was looking to get a 2002 Explorer/Mountaineer, but I am considering RDZ now thanks for you guys/gals posts.
Just have some questions hope someone could help me?
I am looking to get 2WD CW with 1SC package. I wan to have the "necesssities" not the "luxury" items.
1. Does 1 SC come with leather trim and 3rd row of seats (2--3-2)? I read some post that you have to get 1SD to have 3 row seat and leather?
2. What do you guys/gals think about $280.- (invoice price) towing package? Does it have different gear ratio like Explorer does? I am not towing anything other then the family. Since RDZ only have 3.4L 185 horses engine, Its nice to have trans oil cooler and heavy duty engine cooling system.
3. How does the 3.4L perform when you have a family of 6 (4 adults and 2 teens) on the freway?
4. I can't find running board on the option list. Does anyone have any information?
Friends told me 185 HP does not have enough power when you are loaded with family and luggages. Like from LA to Las Vegas or LA to SF. I will have to drive on the slowest lane and everyone will pass and laugh at me. At least he will (his Toyota Sienna has 195 hp, 10 more hp same torque)
Thanks!
MMeehan - the compact spare is located on the underside of the vehicle behind the rear bumper...much like a typical pick-up truck.
robsmith - I don't know about the self-seal tires...that's a good question. They did have a RDV CXL with Luxury package (1SE) and it had the same Firestone Affinity tires (in fact, all ten RDV's had them).
bjk2001 - The CX with 1SC includes the 3rd row and has a nice complement of options...it's the best way to go. It includes the "upgraded" cloth seats that are leather with cloth inserts. The cloth inserts are controversial because they are emblazoned with the Buick logo...someone recently posted that you can order a CX with all leather seating but I don't know how you do it.
The towing package includes a self-levelling air suspension (you can see the hoses in the rear wheel wells) but does not include a trailer hitch (I couldn't see where one would go). The gearing is the same with or without the package.
Horsepower is fine off the line and average at highway speeds. The RDV is no quicker or slower than the average six cylinder minivan. You'll be fine in either lane.
lLeather now avaliable on CX in SD package only
Heated seats not available.
CW Jacobson don't fret.
sodona bronze has been recieved very well and looks equally good with Dark Bronze or Light Driftwood Sandrift.
white looks best with Lt. sandrift or moss green lower.
Thanks in advance for your reply.
R5
If anyone else has questions regarding the RDZ I will try to check in from time to time to answer them.
While taking my Regal GS in for service I noticed my dealer had 5 RDVs in stock and ready to go. I got the keys to the Light Driftwood Metallic CXL model, FWD and had the opportunity to drive around for about 45 minutes. The car was driven a good deal with 300 miles already clocked, so it was already worked a bit. I was disappointed by the interior Buick emblem all over the front seats but the interior is laid out well (Gray is a better choice), the rear seat folded gives you ample space, wonder how comfy passengers will be back there. Now on to the BIGGEST weakness: Engine Power. Say what you will but GM missed the mark on engine and my Gen Mgr at the dealer I was talking with knows it. A hot humid S. Fla day the RDV was having a hard time on the on ramp to 95 to get up to speed and was gasping. The previous posts wonders about 185hp....I can imagine 5 adults and luggage inside and you better pray you do not get run over. I really LOVE the RDV but not with the 185 hp config, Buick is 2-3 years behind...Every powertrain in this category class (not the mini van class) is far ahead of the RDV's 3.4. Being familiar with the 3.4 Buick did massage it nicely, considering the Firestone tires.
I am sad..I do hope Buick does it better with 2003 model.
I would like to know more about the experience about engine power of the car, especially when it was loaded with 5 adults and average luggage going up and crossing the I5 North of Los Angeles. I am not concerned about flat freeway driving.
Also, I would appreciate to know the real price of the car, not the MSRP. At one of the earlier message, I remebered someone have said to have the car at invoice + $500.
Thanks,
http://www.kbb.com/kb/ki.dll/kw.kc.nc2?kbb.CA;642996&95003;suv&167&M5M14&
R5
Not sure if you are asking what the invoice price is or what the RDV is actually selling for?
Most of the people who are getting the RDV near invoice are taking advantage of the presell program which expires at the end of this month. A lot of the dealers in Cleveland are trying to sell them at MSRP. Hopefully this won't last long and they will start to deal on the price. This probably won't happen until they get a decent amount of them in stock.
Before picking up the RDV, my two initial concerns were would I like the color combo I ordered and how much get up and go would the 3.4 motor have. The answer for me is, I like the pewter/graymist/gray leather a lot and as far as the power issue goes, I had no problem at all keeping up with 80-85 mph interstate traffic and passing cars going 70-75 mph. The RDV is no hotrod in any shape or form but it will get you where you want to go in a decent manner and contrary to what some may say, it'll hold it's on in city and highway driving. I did get some feedback from the motor when I pushed it hard over 3k rpms but it wasn't bad at all really.
I'll jump on the bandwagon and say that I wish there was a beefier choice for the RDV's motor but in my experience the 3.4 is fine. I think a lot of it is just a perception thing and I hope that Buick doesn't lose a lot a sales due their decision to use the 3.4.
I'll post a more later but right now the wife is nagging at me to start helping around the house.
I'm glad to read that all of us "pre-orders" will soon have our RDV's and that those who are still waiting have at least gotten to see and drive one now that they're arriving at the dealerships.
No Rendezvous this morning when passing local dealer. They do have a yellow AWD Aztek though. Definitely the best color for that beast.
Brian
The third seat will be a primary decision factor for us. Based on genetics, we expect at least two, maybe three of the kids to be over 6ft tall by their mid teen years, so my wife and I have both spent time climbing in/out of and riding in the third seat.
We are also considering the Explorer. As of this afternoon, I think the RDZ has the winning vote for third seat comfort and access. On the minus side, both MDX and Explorer have enough room behind third seat for a few groceries or backpacks/gym bags. The RDZ also has the poorest visibility for the smaller children.
I drove a white/lightsandrift/oak RDZ last week and thought it looked great.
I probably won't bother, unless the panels can be taken off (tape is bad) and it is relatively inexpensive (a few hundred dollars).
I've also been reading these posts for several weeks now. I've been very interested in the RDV since I heard about it last year. I've now had a chance to drive two of them and seen most colors except the Opal Blue and Silver leaf. I live 30 miles South of Washington DC in a Virginia suburb. There are many dealers in the area and most of them have at least one RDV, and one had as many as five.
I ordered the CXL AWD Luxury pkg from the pre-sell program because none of the dealers in the area had exactly what I wanted in-stock or in-transit. It includes just about every option but the captain seats and trailer package. I liked the captain seats as far as comfort and convenience to the 3rd row, but my wife wanted the split bench for the extra seat. We ordered the Pewter/Gray mist exterior with Gray interior. The dealer did say the Chrome wheels were suspended right now and I would be credited if they still weren't available when the car is built. They said it would be 6-8 weeks for delivery. I got it for $450 over invoice.
I've looked at several of the competing vehicles on the web and at dealerships. I researched the prices and specifications. I think the RDV meets the needs of my family and offered many luxury options for a reasonable price. However, I have to admit my GM Card earnings (about $2,000) factored into my decision in terms of cost. For example, I really loved the MDX when I saw it at the Auto Show last December, but I didn't think it was worth another $7,000 to 8,000 when you have to pay sticker and wait three months for it. I never did test drive one. Also, I think the power of the RDV is fine. I haven't driven one with 6 people inside yet, but it seemed to do just fine when I was cruising about 75-80 mph on the highway. I had no trouble on the on-ramp either.
I think the previous posts about demographics were very interesting. I've been to Buick dealerships about five times now and I don't think I've seen any customers younger than 40. In fact, a man was picking up his RDV yesterday when I ordered mine. He looked to be about 55-60 and bought a Sedona Bronze RDV with the Oak interior. For the record, I'm 33, my wife is 31 and I have two kids (6 and 4).
Lance
I've enjoyed reading everyone's posts here for the past 2 weeks as well. I share all of your exuberance and excitement for this new car.
John B.
I received my pre-sell information from the Buick.com/Rendezvous web site. There is a section called "register". Alternatively you may call Buick at (866)515-5115. Personally, I think a call is your better bet at this point in the game.
Once you are registered, you will receive a PIN. As you know, the PIN is good until the end of the month.
The good part is, the pre-sell RDV that you will order DOES NOT count against the dealers allotment from the manufacturer. I've had two dealerships confirm this and it's a great negotiating tool. We told our dealer, if we don't like it after we see it, we won't buy it. It's a win/win... we aren't obligated and the dealer gets an EXTRA RDV that they wouldn't have normally received from the factory.
Good luck! I hope it's not too late to get a PIN.
BTW: Here's the RDV Pre-Sell web site...
http://www.buick.com/promotions/presell/
R5
There were a couple of other nit-picky things that I noticed such as the seat belt for the front passenger on our RDV has a twist in it that I'll need to have straightened out eventually and I too wasn't that thrilled with the Firestone Affinity tires that came on the RDV...
And I'm going to take a close look at the spare tire set-up on the RDV tomorrow, I read through the owners manual and the spare tire accessing/changing/storage procedure seemed a might convoluted to me, then again I'm not known for my mechanical ability.
John B. - I think it may be to late to get in on the pre-sell program if you don't already have an issued pin#. When Buick advertised the RDV on it's web page a while back those who signed up to receive more info received either an email with a pin# to use or were mailed a promotional package which included a pin#. I'm not aware of anyone having recently received one. However, just because you may not be able "pre-order" doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to negotiate a good/great price with the right dealer...
Oh yeah, for those interested in the RDV owner demographics, I'm 38, the wife is 39, one kid who's 4.
Bertoli: thanks for your input - I do plan on getting a good deal on this car; it's a matter of ordering one now or waiting 'til things cool down when more inventory arrives. I'd rather order now...
Lance: In regards to the great deal you got - was that price ($450 over invoice) offered to you, or did you have to negotiate the dealer to that point? I appreciate your help w/ this.
John B.
It's funny, even my import loving friend who has an Acura and a VW seems very interested in the Rendezvous as he has a growing family. GM has hit a value button with the cross over vehicle and I think it will do very well.
I am the proud owner of a 2000 Regal GS and do not regret buying.
Buick hit a home run with the RDV concept. If they advertise the car properly (nobody has heard of it yet) and make a few changes for 2003 (better tires, multi valve engine, etc.), only the status conscious will choose an import.
Most of the dealerships also wanted to check out my story about the pre-sell being in addition to their regular allotment. However, within a day, they called us back and gave us a quote. My quotes were MSRP, $700, $500, 300, and $245 over invoice. Being true to my word, I went with the $245.
John, like you, I was ordering in the last few days of the pre-sell program (before it got extended) and I reminded the dealers of this as I worked with them. They were anxious to make the deal before the clock ran out. Again, I made it clear that, if I didn't like the car on delivery, I would not be obligated to buy it. The dealers had no problem with that.
One more thing, the dealers have the option of particiating in a "replica" program. Buick made a limited number of RDV replicas and the dealers have the option to give one to the customer when a sell is made. Mention the program and they may give you a replica. No big thing, but it's kinda cool.
Good luck to you! Were you able get a pre-sell PIN?
Go Raiders!
R5
Also the dealer has a hitch ordered for me.
PS by the way I am 50 but would have bought this hybrid in my 40's if it had been available.
Thanks for the great information! I'll do it just as you suggested. I haven't got the PIN yet, as I just found out about this yesterday; I don't imagine they're in their offices until Tuesday. I'll call them first thing Tues. AM.
By the way, are there other fees that the dealership adds on, such as "Advertising"? If so, what should I expect?
Also, since you're a Raider Fan, I assume you're somewhere in the Bay Area - I am as well. If that's the case, maybe you can let me know the names of the 2 or 3 lowest priced dealerships you went to. That would save me some time. I'll be scrambling to get this all done before Thursday the 31st.
One final question:
mmeehan (post #574) said that one could only get all leather w/ a 3rd row seat in a CX model by ordering the SD package, ordering the 3rd row seat separately, and then getting leather for aprox. $750. - - Does anyone know a way to get all leather with an SC option, which already has the 3rd row seat? Is this possible?
Thank for any help - I'm looking forward to joining your ranks as part of the owner/user forum soon!
John B.
FYI: While I was making my deal I called the Buick number several times on the weekend. Who knows... they may be working on Monday.
Yes. I am in the Bay Area... Santa Cruz (er... surf's up dude). Born to be a Raider as I loved to watch Lamonica, Blanda, Belitnekoff, "The Holy Roller", "The Sea of Hands", and "The Inaccurate Reception". But I can't say I like Davis' form of politics.
The best quotes I received were from:
Los Gatos - Moore Buick (I+$500)
Watsonville - Portola Moters (I+$300)
Capitola (Santa Cruz) - Marina Motors (I+$245)
Both Marina and Moore were very friendly and went out of their way to understand the pre-sell program and answer my questions. Portola was a little skeptical of the pre-sell program and made some comments about having the car serviced at their dealership that took me by surprise.
Marina gave me a hard quote in dollars while Moore and Portola both said "$$$ over invoice". Be careful of that tactic as the dealer then has an opportunity to play with the invoice price of the car. I've experienced that in the past.
Our MSRP quote was from a dealership in Davis (I have in-laws there). Davis was the one dealership who didn't believe the pre-sell order was in addition to their regular allotment. When I asked them what the cost of my RDV (CXL, Versatility Package, with Tow Package) they gave me a print-out of the Buick website. Rude and uninformed is no way to win my business.
We received an email quote (I+$700) from a dealership in Sacramento.
Moore (Los Gatos) had an RDV that I test drove last weekend. Their number is (408)402-2525. Dave Burt is the sales manager: dburt@moorevalue.com they said they were not going to sell that RDV because it was the only one on the lot (but then, I'm sure if the right offer came along...). If you can't find one in your area, Los Gatos is about an hour from San Francisco.
We were not charged any "advertising fees" however there is a new law in California that allows dealerships to charge a documentation fee. All three of the dealerships in our area were charging $45 for the doc fee... nothing else.
Hope that helps! Please feel free to let me know if you have any other Q's about these dealerships.
R5
As an alternative, ask the dealer about after-market leather. I checked out after market leather for the CX.
Marina in Capitola - added $1,500
Portola in Watsonville - added $1,000 to 1,200
Moore in Los Gatos - added $1,100
They pretty much all use the same installer. What's the difference in price???... Dealer profit!
We have after-market leather in our Honda Accord and it came out great! The installers are professionals and really do a great job matching the original color... or any color you choose. Most dealers will tell you to go with the matching color. TAKE THEIR ADVISE! You will also find the after-market leather is better quality and better workmanship than the manufacturer leather because it's not mass produced.
R5
Also thanks for the idea about after-market leather; it's worth considering. I have to decide if the other extra options in the luxury pkg. are that important to us for about an additional $1600. Who knows, I may just do the SD Pkg anyway...
mmeehan: thanks for your input. It sounds like we both were in the exact same boat. Congratulations on getting yours ordered! One way or the other I'll have mine ordered by Thursday.
Either way, you can't go wrong.
Brian
Good point, and you're exactly right... at least in our scenario.
We weighed the option of buying a CXL vs. the CX + after market leather. Our conclusions were the same as yours. Once we looked at the options we wanted and weighed the price of the cars, we also found the CXL to be the better value and we got the AWD on top of it.
For John325's sake, I'm glad you mentioned that. There are so many options that we played with, I had forgotten to mention some of the reasons for our CXL decision.
R5
GM does have a poor history with multivalves; remember the Quad 4 and the multi-valve 3.4L? A few years back, I had a company car with the multi-valve 3.4L (a Chevy Lumina Eurosport). It was fast as hell but broke down often and, according to my mechanic, very difficult to work on. Things have gotten better over the years.
I'm sure Dindak can confirm that the 3.5L (found in the Olds Intrigue) is a sweet motor...is it any better than the 3.8L it replaced?
Maybe someday we'll know the logic behind placing the 3.4L in the RDV. Since it is a new motor for Buick, I'll bet it has more to do with not messing with the proven minivan platform. I will say that I am a little tired of people saying the RDV has a weak motor. Just because a couple of magazine reviewers say it's weak doesn't mean it's the gospel. The RDV is certainly not fast like the Durango (or any V8 SUV), but based on my experience, it is comparable to it's intended competition (Explorer, Montero, Trooper, ML320). Yes, the Acura is a little quicker, but it also costs a lot more. I think RDV (and Aztek) owners can confirm that the power of the RDV motor is not the handicap that some would have us believe.
I was thinking today about how many Explorers are on the road today. Probably over a million, right? Based on my experience, the Rendezvous is a little quicker than the Explorer off the line and has similar torque and yet, nobody GRIPES about the Explorer's horsepower. Why is that? Probably because the Explorer is a known product (you get what you get) but with the RDV, everyone is wondering why the 3.8L is sitting out on the sidelines.
If the RDV is too slow for you, you're in the wrong market. Pony up another 12+ grand and get an ML430 or BMW X5, because no $30K SUV is going to cut it.
I'm glad you got one of the good ones! I didn't want to gamble with my $30K.
I do think the RDV is a great boon for all of us that need a minivan but want an SUV...that's who we are.
P.S. There are a lot of Durango's on the road up here and I must admit to a certain amount of regret whenever I see one. I had my mind set on one for several months...until other choices entered the fray.
My negotiating was very easy at the dealership, but I had talked to the salesman about 5 times on the phone to go through all the RDVs in-stock and in-transit, but none were exactly what we wanted. So after calling many other dealerships in the area and checking their stock I began negotiating for the pre-sell program. I went through Autobytel.com and talked to a dealership in Maryland and they offered me the invoice + $500 and no document prep. fee right over the phone. They said they offered this because I wasn't local. I got the same offer from the Buick sales manager at another dealership in my area prior to returning the one I eventually ordered it.
At this dealership I test drove the RDV for about an hour and then went into the dealership to negotiate. I had already gone through all the pre-sell advantages with him that others have mentioned and told him that I had committments from two other dealerships for $500 over invoice. Since I talked to him several times and he literally called my home at least once a day for a week I gave him the first chance at the negotiating table. We confirmed the invoice price first and there was about $350 in it for advertising. I don't know whether this is legit, but the other two dealerships I talked to had it included in their invoice price also. His first offer was invoice price + 1.5% (approximately $450)and tax, tags, and document preparation fee (@$200). I asked for some free oil changes, loaner car and said I wouldn't pay the doc. prep. fee. He agreed and I was done in less than a half hour.
All I can say is do your homework. I've been reading these posts for weeks now and I knew more about the RDV than most salesman as a result. I think that provided me with a good deal of bargaining power.
Best of luck.
Thanks for clearing that up regarding the leather seats with cloth inserts. What is the leather trim with cloth inserts? I have some idea but not as smart as those engineers at Buick. As a matter of the fact, I am an engineer. Maybe that's why I don't want to 2nd quess what it is actually. LOL.
I did some research regarding the RDV leather options. I cheked Buick web site which tells me Nothing. I then checked KBB, Edmunds, Carsdirect, Liquidprice, Msn Auto section, yahoo...
I am as clear as mud right now. No two web sites have same information regarding options in each trim level. I found there are 2WD CX, AWD CX, AWD CXL? Some (KBB) listed AWD CX and AWD CXL have same price?
In order for me to get real leather and 3rd seats what do I have to pay (invoice price)?
AWD CX $25,419+ 1SD $3,483.=$28,902?
Can you get leather and 3 rd seat in 2WD?
My uncle bought an 89 325i new in 1988 (I love that vintage...like a Nissan Sentra on steroids) and his wife still drives it daily. It has 90K miles and he's never had a problem with it. I tried to buy it from him when he bought his 99 Acura TL but he wouldn't part with it.
As long as you bring it up, what is the deal with dual zone climate control. I've never had a luxury car so I'm curious to know if it really works. How different can the air be for someone sitting right next to you? Does automatic temperature control really work? I think (perhaps out of ignorance) that I'd rather have A/C with a simple fan speed control.
I'd love to hear on your progress towards buying a RDV. Mine should arrive in another month or so and will probably be among the first few on the road up here.
BTW, While I don't exactly live in the boonies, I agree with you about the added benefit of all-wheel drive up here. Also, we have family in Spokane so we cross the mountains somewhat often.
Tell me, which stereo has the cassette player? Does the premium stereo w/ 8 spkrs have it?
Also, I found out today that the CX does not have a roof rack, and it doesn't appear that you can get one (other than through after-market).
Ire:
Re: Expenses: Is the "destination charge" ($575) part of the invoice cost? I assume that's a "must pay" expense. You mentioned they waived the "doc prep" fee of $200; is this a normal fee? By the way Lance, thanks for your original post. Thanks to you and Ra1der5's guidance, I'm off and running on the Pre-sell program. - I expect to get my pin tomorrow a.m and order my car by Thursday.
bjk2001: I've learned from the help of mmeehan that the only way you can get leather & 3rd row seat on a CX is by ordering 1SD option (luxury pkg.) and then ordering the 3rd row seat separtately, and paying aprox $750 for the leather. I'm weighing that all out now - Fedlawman & ra1der5 have got me considering a CXL, based on the overall value of it.
Raider5: I've met w/ one dealer so far and things are looking very good - and as ire said, we come off as being the experts in this one particular area, ie, RDV. I knew way more than the management at the dealership. I'll keep you posted. Thanks again for all your help.
BTW, what's the preferred tire to get on either model (CX or CXL)? I think fedlawman may know the answer to this one. Do you? Thanks.
John B.