I ordered a CXL on April 26th with the 6 CD changer, captain's chairs, third row seat, and sunroof. I received the call yesterday from my salesman in Dallas to authorize switching the wheels from chrome to brushed aluminum. And by the way, the Rendezvous brochures are at your dealer's now, and Buick did a really nice job with them.
After looking through it a bit, I guess it's only natural I want to actually see and drive one even more. My local dealer says it'll be two weeks before they see one on the lot. Still no idea when I can expect my order to arrive at my dealer.
I hoping maybe someone that's either seen/driven one or has actually got there hands on theirs can answer a couple of questions I have after looking through the brochure.
I'm pretty sure the third row seat eliminates the rear cargo storage system, the brochure states it's not available with the seven passenger seat configuration, which makes sense, but I also would think the captains chairs with 3rd row seat, (ie... six seater), would not have the storage area either?
It also looks like Buick screwed up the color chart on the brochure. I assume that the chart listed for the CX mistakenly shows the greymist exterior accent color, while the CXL chart actually shows the storm grey lower panels is this correct?
Other than the lingering powertrain issue, I like what I see in the brochure.
Hey all! I finally drove the Rendezvous and I really liked it. It was the CXL versatility pkg with 3rd row seat and full leather. It had a very smooth car like ride and the road noise was very quite especially since it was really windy today when I drove it. The power was okay, but it's no V8 and it doesn't pretend to be. I'd rather have okay power and 24 MPG then the inverse. The interior was oak which I thought was nice but my wife didn't care for it to much. The 3rd row seat was very impressive! I'm 5'11 210 and I fit easily into it and it rode real comfortable. I'm waiting for our dealer to get four more in next week so I can see the other interior options. The AWD option in my opinion is not necessary for most of my driving and with the traction control I feel pretty good with front wheel drive. The price was just over 30 K which I feel is very nice when compared to other 7 passenger vehicles. If you axe the AWD you can get into one for the high 20's. NOT BAD... All you that pre-ordered, I think you'll all be very pleased. I know I was. Later,
No, I have not driven an Aztek. Note though that the Aztek is several hundred pounds lighter than a Rendzvous. Also if you drove a two wheel drive Aztek it would be another 225pounds lighter for a total of approx. 450 less. Other factors affect the acceleration also like final drive ratio. Another curious point is that the Aztek mpg is listed at 16 city - 22 Hwy by Edmunds. I really doubt the heavier Buick will get any better then that, the physics are against it. Buick is claiming 18-24 for the 4-wheel version. Not really any better then something like the Lexus RX300 which is 18-22. If you want descent mileage in a SUV you probably have to go to the RAV4 or Honda CRV. Otherwise I wouldn't expect more than 20mpg on ave. with the Buick 4-wheel drive. The 3.8L would be welcomed, but the dealer told me it wouldn't fit (if you can believe them). Some one asked about the rear cargo storage system. It was on the model I drove and it had both captain seating for 2nd row and had the 3rd row jump seat.
I drove the Rendezvous CX FWD. It was okay. Nothing great but I didn't notice some great lack of power. It seems good value for the money. I don't really like the exterior looks though - too van looking. I have seen so far, the grey, beige, navy blue and white with grey trim. The white one was ugly. It looked cheap.I always buy white cars because I think they look new the longest but this one was ugly. The blue one looked the coolest. I liked the dash and console.I saw the leather and the cloth/leather combo. Captains chairs which I thought were worthless. The dealer I went to had mostly captains chair in the cars he had coming in. I don't get it. Who would order captains seats?I also thought the third row was nice. BTW the fully loaded one I saw was for 32,700. It had everything but the auxiliary pump, so I don't know where the 35K figure is coming from.
First one in Austin, TX! It's a CX, Black/Grey mist, third row seat, tow package, and the air compressor. Thought I'd never buy another black car, but it looked too sharp to pass up. We're very happy with it so far, with about 300 miles on it since lasts Friday. Getting 18 mpg overall, according to the computer. The power question is not an issue for me - it has plenty, and anyone who thinks they need to scream down highways and city streets in a vehicle this large a) needs his head examined, and b) is a victim of the advertiser's horsepower wars. Happy driving!
Hi all. Well, we picked up our new RZV last night and I must say I like it. When we showed up our salesman was busy activating our On-Star account (you get 1 year of the safety and security package, plus 30 minutes of cell phone use for the first month.) My wife then spent a while checking it out, as it was her first time seeing it in person. Then we took it on a little test drive before doing the paper work. As for the engine power, I would call it adequate. It won't blow you away, but it does the job. (Although, I have to admit, the option of a more powerful engine would be a good selling point. Maybe they'll add that later.) The ride and handling all seemed very nice, and the AWD worked great, as we have a lot of gravel roads in our area, so we took it briefly on one to check out the AWD. I was able to take off in the gravel with no noticeable wheel spin.
Once back at the dealership, we tackled the financing and there definitely seems to be a big difference on lease rates between pre-sell packages and normal orders. The lease interest rate on the pre-sell was 5.25%, and for normal orders they quoted me 9.49%. And the residual with 15K miles for three years was 52%, whereas normally it was 46%. Seems like a rather big difference, and the dealer is hoping they'll start incentivizing the normal lease rates soon. They also had the new brochures there, and from looking at that briefly, Buick has gotten rid of the silver color previously shown on the website, and now has a new Silverleaf Metallic coming later this year.
The salesman then went over the options on the vehicle with my wife, and she kept saying, "Cool!" She loves all the personalization you can do, and she likes the 6 CD changer radio a lot. We also didn't get the 3rd row seat, but she liked the rear storage system enough that it didn't concern her. (We don't have any kids yet, so the 3rd row isn't a necessity.) And, of course, she loved all the storage space, especially the cavernous storage in the center armrest. Not that she'll stick a laptop in there any time soon, but it could easily fit her purse if she so desired.
Now, I'm looking forward to tomorrow when I get to drive it to work and really check it out, then we're going on a trip this weekend and we will get some good road time with it then as well.
Buzzbo99 - Thanks for the congrats. We're very happy with it so far, however, you might want to drive by the dealer to see if they already have it. I found out our RZV had actually come in Tuesday, but they were a little slow to call us as it was their first one and they had set it out in front to generate a little traffic in their showrooms with it. (They did call us Tuesday, but it was a half hour before our salesman left for the day and I wasn't able to get back with him in time to find out it was there)
We as salesman have been waiting for this vehicle to show up for a long time. We finally got 2 in late Tuesday. WOW! I have to say I am very impressed. Compares very favorably to the ML, RX, and X5. Yes, I have driven all of those previously. Power? 7 out of 10. 3800 would have been better, but given the fact you would have had to re-engineer the entire drive line to do it, the price would have been over 4 grand more in my opinion. So $4,000 less and you can't spin the tires...big deal. The powertrain on this vehicle is tried and true. I'll take it. Gauges? Very elegant. Handling and ride quality? Superior. Ergonomics? Everything save the drivers seat control is perfectly placed. To sum up this vehicle... I personally own a 99 Grand Cherokee Limited. Had the RZV been out when I leased mine, this Jeep would still be on the lot.
The only problem I have is that no one listened to me at the store. We got 2 in (driftwood and pewter). We also delivered 2 yesterday. Now I don't have any to show again =( Next batch won't be here for at least a week.
Jeff
BTW, both had the HUD and tire inflation monitor on them. Both were FULLY loaded except for the middle seat. One had bench, the other quad.
Great to hear that the horsepower seems adequate. Doubt if I'll be able to drive one for at least another week. I have to agree that it seems a little van-like, but if it will handle the terrain I usually drive, that's ok in my book. I'll be sure to take it down my gravel road a time or two in the test drive.
On captains chairs - I have two carseats installed in my back seat. If I were to install 2 carseats in the 2nd bench row of a RZV, I'd never be able to get anyone into the third seat without uninstalling and reinstalling the carseat every time someone got in and out of the third seat, especially with a 50/50 split (depending on the width of the seat, it might have worked with a 60/40). So that's why I would get them. Not sure why your dealer ordered a majority of them equipped that way, though.
Hmm, since both the bench seat halves and the captains chairs are removable, I wonder if they install onto the same base on the floor? Then I might have the option of replacing the captains chairs with the bench seat when the kiddos outgrow the need for carseats.
Congrats on your acquisitions! I am so anxious to drive this car, er vehicle. I WANT TO SEE THIS THING IN PERSON!
If Buick had advertised the special financing way back when, I would have pre-ordered a long time ago. As it stands, now I have to wait who knows how long, and pay regular interest rates (I didn't use my PIN). Why is there no information on these incentives?
Does anyone have specific information on the special financing incentive? Is it available to GMAC purchases as well as leases? Did they extend the pre-sell period through May? It might still be possible for me to apply my PIN to my order!
Wow! Look at all the posts!! I feel like Rip Van Winkle and it's only been three days.
"BY" - Congrats on your Rendezvous. It's great that you're excited and not feeling any buyer's remorse. I think you're essentially right on the disappearance of the 3rd row seating from your vehicle. However, I don't think that it was restricted to "presell." It just looks like once upon a time they were going to include the third row in the Luxury package and now they don't. I know I had to code the 3rd row as an option separate from and in addition to the luxury package in order for me to get it on my CXL order. Your order must have gone in under the "old regime," and when they got around to building it the 3rd row was no longer included in the luxury package, but your order had no 3rd row option code to compensate for the change. My concern for others is that the last time I checked, admittedly quite some time ago, both KBB and Edmunds were still incorrectly including the third row seating in their descriptions of the 1SE luxury package for the CXL. I'm glad your wife thinks so much of the Rendezvous is "cool." I'm sure my wife will react the same way. Please forgive my curiousity, but what exactly about the 6-disc radio did she like so much? Is it the radio itself, the sound quality, etc. or is it specifically the disc changer? Since this is the one option in my order with which I am least thrilled, I'm honestly trying to pin down what value I'm getting for the extra $395 MSRP over the standard CXL (not CX) sound system. Thanks for your help.
"Buzzbo" - Man you've got to be aching after getting your order in so early. I really hope your's comes in soon. I thought for sure you'd be the first. By the way, I'm envious of everyone whose cities have some Rendezvouses in already. There are still none to be seen yet here in deepest darkest N.E. Indiana.
Tony - Thanks for the heads up that the brochure is out. I picked one up, and you may be right that they flipped the Storm Gray and Graymist colors on the chart. If not, the Storm Gray certainly looks nicer than the supposedly uplevel Graymist. It's a pretty good brochure, but like you've said earlier confusion (or at least uncertainty) still reigns in the availability department. While you have to order a "package" to get a CXL, note that the brochure lists no packages on the data page where they list optional equipment. So there's still no definitive list of package contents. I also note the the "touring" tires are nowhere to be seen among the options and that they have "late availability" for the optional "self sealing" tire. How do you have late availabity on a tire for Pete's sake?
"Wcammack" - With regards to chrome rims, I'm assuming that means you ordered a CXL with the luxury package. If so, chrome rims are one of the (not many) items that are included in the luxury package but not the Versatility or Security packages. I hope you don't mind my asking, but since you're now switched your order to the standard CXL rims, how much of a price break did your dealer give you? Thanks.
"Johnl5 and/or jlschmidt" - In what way was the Rendezvous' speedometer confusing? I mean, it looks like a round dial with a needle and MPH around the outside. What am I missing? P.S. you appear to be the same person, and I thought Edmunds frowned on people having more than one townhall ID.
"Jaynedough123" - If the MSRP on the loaded Rendezvous was $32,700, then it wasn't a loaded Rendezvous. A CXL with Versatility package and a sunroof gets you to $32,750, and we haven't even begun with the memory package, heated seats, chrome rims, cd changer, and head's up display. Nonetheless, I would be the last to say that a Versatility/Sunroof Rendezvous wouldn't at least "appear" to loaded.
Last but not least,
"Ruski" - Why would you want a floor shifter in a Rendezvous? I just love that guy.
I ordered my CXL with everything except the block heater and the towing package. And no, I do not mind telling you the price-the MSRP on mine is $35,152, and the dealer invoice is $31,529, and my order has me paying $32,029, or invoice + $500.00. I guess this is a good deal inasmuch as it appears demand will, in the short run, be higher than supply. If my RZV does not come in with chrome wheels, I assume I will ask my dealer to discount the order $300.00 or so.
Youre right, you have not heard anything out of me for a little while because there is nothing to say. I have been enjoying reading how much others enjoy their trucks. And I just keep thinking mine will arrive sometime. I think I will go drive by the dealership again.
We ordered the same configuration, and we also got a good deal relative to invoice just as you did. Congratulations. I think the stock wheel looks very good. Please forgive me for hoping that there's more to your story than your dealer told you. I'd really hate to have to trade the chrome wheels for an earlier delivery date since I've never owned a new Buick and figured go all the way or not at all. Good luck!
Yep, you got it right, it is a round dial with a needle, but that is where the similarity ends. Every other car on the planet has the large tick marks associated with the major divisions of MPH like 30, 40 50mph etc., makes sense right?. Buick put the major mph numbers IN BETWEEN the major tick marks. It seems I'm not the only one who thought it was strange. One of the car magazines that reviewed the Rendezvous (I think it was the March issue of Motor Trend) mentioned that the instrumentation was not very readable. If it wasn't for the heads up display giving me direct digital feedback when I drove it, I would have been off by 5mph from the speed I thought I was at when looking at the analog speedometer. I'll bet most people will not notice it if they don't have the heads-up display telling them what there true speed is though.
JLS - Really? That's the problem? I noticed the major/minor tick mark thing as well, but it would never have occured to me that that was the problem. I find it hard to believe that "most people" will choose an unlabeled tick mark over the one actually aligned with the number of miles per hour just because the first one is longer. And do you really think that "most people" won't catch on to their error when the needle goes past vertical (at a mere 55mph) and the tick mark they were tracking because it was BELOW the number is now ABOVE the number?
If Motor Trend found that confusing, well I guess they have to write about something.
Thanks for checking out "every other car on the planet." That's one more thing I can take off my to-do list.
I think floor shifter looks better, it is also easier to use. Steering column mounted shifter makes it look and feel like an old geezer's car, or a van.
Tell me - what are advantages of a steering column mounted shifter (other than allowing for a front bench)?
Thanks for the feedback. The reason I asked (other than curiosity) is that I had heard that some people thought the column shifter in the Ford Escape actually got in the way of the audio and climate controls when in Drive, and wondered if that was a factor here as well.
I too like a floor shifter in a Jaguar or 300M or Grand Prix to mention cars we've both owned. But in a SUV or crossover vehicle or whatever you want to call it, why bother? I'm not shifting this puppy, and once I've thrown it in drive that's the end. Goodness knows, a floor shifter is not fooling anyone that this is somehow not a van or geezmobile if that's what they want to think.
There's no bench seat, that's not the point. But there IS one fantastically huge and useful center console that would not have been possible if they had used a floor shifter. You should check out how much storage space they've created. I'm serious, it's storage not a bench seat that makes a floor shifter unattractive.
I really want to like this vehicle but I think the exterior is just plain ugly. I love the interior. I was ready to get rid of my old vehicle a couple of months ago but I was waiting for the Rendezvous to come out. I think it looks way too much like a van. Same reason I don't like the Mercedes. If they wee trying to copy the Lexus, they failed. The Lexus still looks like an SUV. And whats the deal with sending out the ugliest colors out first? I have seen so far, the white with grey exterior trim - looks like a Venture, the Sedona with grey -yuk not maroon not rust just plain ugly, the grey(could be any vehicle) and blue - the only decent looking vehicle. Wouldn't you want to start out with some cool looking colors to show off the car? Black, green,copper whatever????? And BTW it still has that Aztek look. The Roach Mobile. I had a salesperson mention that. I told him thats not a selling point. If I sound nasty its because I am really disappointed.
The Lexus looks like a bug on wheels. Far from an SUV and way over priced.
As for the Rendezvous, I was surprised how good it looked in person compared with the pictures. It's a bit quirky, but I like it. I am just waiting for a test drive now. I guess everyone has their own tastes.
Sorry Jaynedough, I've got to agree with Dindak on this one.
1) In regard to color schemes, it appears the color combinations you don't like are on the CX models as the CX only comes with gray trim. If your looking for an SUV, you are likely looking for the AWD. As a result, you most likely would step up to the CXL where the exterior paint and trim have several color combinations.
2) Either reference similarities to a van or similarities to the Aztec. Since the Aztec looks NOTHING lika a van, you can't have it both ways. For people who don't like the styling of a mini-van, this is a perfect alternative... including the option of a third row seat.
3) While the RZV is definate compitition for the Lexus and Mercedes, IMO I don't think the designers were TRYING to make it look like every other SUV on the road... and the Lexus looks pretty much like every other SUV.
JMO, but the styling is not an issue for me other than the fact that I'm not driving a box-car (AKA mini-van). But, like Dindak, I guess we've all got our opinions.
I'm glad you explained why you were coming down on the Rendezvous. There have been vehicles I REALLY wanted to love and if you have to wait to see them (boy, the T-Bird BETTER be perfect after 2 years+), then it almost feels like betrayal when they don't live up to your expectations. I wish you better luck with your next choice.
BTW, could you have been a little harder on the Sedona Bronze color?
I hope my pro-Rendezvous credentials are sufficiently well established that I can get away with this without being completely flamed, but when I caught myself thinking the following, I almost died laughing.
I'm a fan of the Mazda Tribute ad campaign. You've probably seen the TV spot or even better the print ad where the Tribute is "Zoom Zoom(ing)" surrounded by Miatas with the tag line "What if an SUV was raised by a family of sports cars?"
OK, now the effect is best in the Rendezvous brochure, but the cropped photo on the www.buick.com home page works as well. Go to page 38, look at the photo and complete the sentence, "What if an SUV was raised by a family of -------------?" Forgive me but my first thought was "...geezmobiles"
Actually, it was the 1/24 scale model that arrived in the mail, but It'll do for now...
I didn't think much about the possibility of receiving the scale model but now that it's here I really think it was a nice gesture on Buicks part. For those who bravely ordered well in advance, it must have been nice to see what you had ordered.
Now that they're showing up in dealerships it's not such a mystery but I'll say this, my three year old loves the model and my wife, who didn't think we needed a new car to begin with, actually called the dealership and left a message asking for info on when ours might be arriving.
But after I finished laughing at "raised by a family of geezmobiles" I thought isn't that a picture of the Rendezvous as the Official Pace Car of the AARP 500. (:>
My dealer confirmed with Buick that the pre-order program has been extended until May 31st. Our PIN#'s qualify us for a 5.5% lease rate on our pre-order RDV's. He explained that if one orders a 4BT26 (CXL) with option Z17 (Storm Grey Metallic Lower Accent), then one qualifies for the special lease at 5.25%. This doesn't make sense because I don't think the CXL is available with the Storm Grey Lower Accent colour.
Finally, he told me that there is no special interest rate for traditional financing...only leasing.
Anyway, with such a good lease rate, it might be financially advantageous to lease the RDV and then decide to buy it or not after three years. Even if it costs a little more to lease, I could think of it as insurance against excessive depreciation.
Time for me to get into anal mode and crunch some numbers...
CW - Thanks for the congrats on the Rendezvous. As for buyers remorse, I can't say we're feeling any at all. We drove the RZV this weekend to a getaway at a bed and breakfast, and I was really impressed at how comfortable the ride was (it took about 2 hours to get to our destination). At this point, the only bad things I can say are that the RZV can tend to let in some low frequency noise, esp at higher speeds or higher engine RPM, but overall it really is a quiet ride. Especially compared to the Blazer that we just got rid of. The second thing I've noticed has to do with the personalization options on the vehicle. You can set it up to unlock the doors when you pull the key out of the ignition, however, I tend to turn off the engine and pull the key out rather quickly sometimes, and the RZV misses the transition and doesn't unlock the doors. No big deal, but a minor quirk. On the whole, though, we are quite happy with it.
As for the third row, I think you're right that they've pulled the option as included in the luxury package. And, of course, when we put our order in, it was the first one our dealer had ordered, and neither of us knew exactly what was going to be included in what package. We just trusted the pre-sell stuff that said we'd get the third row seat. No big deal for us, but the dealer has a few coming in that now won't have the third row, and he's pretty upset about it. (Oh well, at least we got the chrome wheels before they got put on hold)
And as for my wife's reaction, she still likes it a lot. She's a bit on the short side, so she likes having a bigger vehicle that doesn't make her feel like she has to climb up into it, and,yes, she does like the radio. Of course, you have to understand that, unlike my couple hundred CD collection, she currently has 6 CDs that she has bought on her own, and she loves having the CD changer in the RZV so she can listen to her favorite music without having to swap CDs. What she really likes is the random play option, where it will play random tracks from all 6 CDs. Of course, there are other options on the radio, like the ability to program in a favorite track list for the six CDs, and then just play those tracks, but I don't know if she'll ever use it.
Lastly, I have one comment about the engine power. The more I drive it, the more I'm convinced that Buick calibrated the engine and tranny to give a very smooth feel to the power in that you never really get the feeling that you're getting thrown back in your seat, but instead, it just seems to be a steady accel. This might lead some to think that its underpowered, but I still feel that the engine does the job Ok, it just isn't set up at all to try and blow you away. As a matter of fact, on our ride up to the B&B, we were on some two lane roads for quite a while and kept getting behind people doing 45 in a 55 mph zone, so we even got some practice passing with the RZV. Again, it didn't blow anybody away, but it did the job. (Although I must admit that a more powerful engine as an option in the future wouldn't hurt.)
BY
PS. Also had the RZV at the beach this weekend, and the wife was afraid I'd get it stuck in the sand, but the AWD was great and kept us moving even in some relatively loose sand.
Thanks for the real world ownership report! It sounds like the RDV is everything it's supposed to be. I'm sure we're all jealous that you are enjoying yours already...I know I am. How do you like being the only one on the road? Any reactions from passers-by?
I test drove one this past weekend and really enjoyed the ride. However, I have a question regarding passing performance. You said that you travelled for 2 hours so I'm assuming that you travelled some highways. I'm interested to know how the passing performance is at high speeds of say..60 and above. Did you have a problem? In regards to my test drive I would say the vehicle performed well. Acceleration was better than adequate and feel of the vehicle is very nice. My husband fit comfortably in the third row seat although with the third row seat up there is practically no storage room between it and the back hatch door. The footrests in the second row are basically just useless and more than anything they just get in the way. Storage up front is excellent and I wasn't initially thrilled that it had the shifter on the steering column but I'll make a sacrifice because the storage it creates is great. I thought the plastic trim on the sides of the doors and dash was very cheesy they should have used a wood grain trim, would have been more attractive and would have made the Rendezvous look more expensive. The side mirrors are HUGE and really give good visibility. All in all I was happy with the vehicle. Oh one last thing... the upgraded leather/cloth combo I think is really quite ugly. The base model cloth is actually nicer, according to the brochure. I would love to have leather but unfortunately we don't need AWD in Florida and don't care to spend the extra $$ for it. I guess after-market leather might be an option. Having test driven a 2002 Explorer with 3rd row seat, a Durango, and a Suzuki XL7, I would say the Rendezvous would have to place 1st in my book. The Explorer is too truck-like and just plain unexciting, the Durango I really liked but the crash ratings have not been great and every time I look at the front end of the Durango, I dislike the vehicle more and more, and the Suzuki was just too small and cramped and the quality of materials in the vehicle I thought was sub-par. Well that's it for now but I'd really like to know more about the power of the Rendezvous at high speeds. Thanks.
I'm not quite the only one on the road here, as there are some GM company cars floating around, but we are definately one of the few. However, up at the Bed and Breakfast this weekend, we were definately the only one, as we got a lot of turned heads and even had a couple people asking us what it was and telling us how much they liked it. The good news is that the people who asked us about it didn't seemed put off by the price, and thought it would be a great alternative to a minivan. If I'm not mistaken, that's exactly what GM is hoping for.
You'd think that for driving two hours we would have driven some good highways, but, honestly it was pretty much two lanes the whole way, and I don't think our speed got much over 60 to 65 mph the whole way, so most of the people we were passing were probably going only 45 to 55 mph. My wife has been driving it in to work, and that's mostly freeway, and she doesn't seem to have any problems, but I haven't asked her about passing performance at higher speeds though. I can try to remember to ask her tonight.
Since the presell program has been extended I wonder if this may change the minds of dealers who think they will be selling for MSRP? Assuming it's been extended due to lower anticpated sales. Of course it may have been extended due to confusion or a combination. I sure hope dealers won't be looking for MSRP too long. I would pre-order one but I have to sell my '98 Landcruiser first. If anyone is interested in a Toyota LC let me know.
I visited another dealer today hoping to see the Pewter CX but was disappointed to find out that the owner of the dealership had taken it home for the night. My salesman also informed me that as of May 20th the dealers can order all-leather seats on the CX's. Thank goodness, because the leather/combo is not very attractive at all. Thanks Bymclaugh for checking with your wife.
I spoke with my sales manager today (in Dallas) and he advised that there was a 30 day "hold" on ordering the Rendezvous (only with chrome wheels) due to the wheel supplier getting behind in production, the idea being that with an additional thirty days the supplier could catch up. My dealer did not think that it was a huge problem, and the dealer informed me that I could either accept the brushed aluminum wheels with a $600 or so credit or he would place chrome wheels on it after it arrived. Just wanted to keep our good board updated!
I've been checking the board for 3-4 weeks now and I must say its quite informative. I live in Central NJ and the dealers here are still clueless as to the whole "presell promo" deal. I actually had to send one dealer the link so they could read up on it themselves. Miraculously, one dealer had two RZV/s arrive the day before I came in (both CXL with different pkgs) The fully loaded model (minus trlr pkg) was on the showroom floor. I test drove an lesser equipped model that still had the plastic on the seats and road dirt, but I couldn't care less. The roads were less than perfect which was a great opportunity to see how the new kid on the block handled. I was quite impressed! I'm a former Jeep Gr Chk owner and downsized to the 99 Merc Cougar. Fiance is looking for new car and I want to replace her Probe GT with this SUV if possible. Needless to say the numbers gotta make sense and I'm curious if she can apply the Graduate rebate to "do a deal" with a presell. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. Now that some of you are actually getting your orders, I'm anxiously awaiting your real world testimonials.
Check out Edmunds.com's First Drive of the 2002 Rendevous. I've added the link to the additional resources box on the left hand column of this page, or simply click here:
As promised, I did ask the wife last night about the performance of the RZV at high speeds, and her reaction is similar to others that I've read. The engine will get you there, but its not real quick about it, especially at the higher speeds. She even thinks its slower than our old Blazer was at higher speeds, but she's willing to sacrifice that for all the stuff she feels the RZV does better (ride, handling, lower step-in height, mpg, etc are a few that she's mentioned). Hope that info helps you out.
Pretty decent review of the Rendezvous. Power plant seems to be the weakness. Personally, I'm willing to give up 0-60 times for fuel economy. They said on CNBC that gas could hit $3 in mid-summer. I see a 3.8L option coming for 2003.
What is the "pre-sell" program? I've seen here that it has been extended until May 31. Can I purchase a vehicle via this progam? Do I need a PIN number? Can I stil get a PIN number? Or is the program only available to people who already have a PIN?
I found the RDZ card site and completed the puzzle, but can find no links to "pre-order" or "pre-sell" forms or information.
If I were you, I would negotiate the best deal I could. AFTER you have confirmed the price and additional fees (tax, license, etc.), THEN tell them she is elligible for the Graduate rebate.
I checked with the local dealership today and nothing new. I the owner came out to talk to me and I told him my daughter was wanting to come get my truck this weekend and he assured me that he would provide me transportation as long as it would take. Then I remembered why I wanted to use that dealership. Now if the Rendezvous does not come in I will let all of you know whether I am driving an 86 Skylark or a late model LeSabre.
I do not understand the fear of those who keep saying that you do not want the extra power because of gas prices going up. GMs 3800 engine gets excellent, in fact better mileage for the most part 20/29 (200hp/225 torque) in the Regal. The Rendezvous lists at 19/26 on the 2wd, there is no listing for awd with the 3.4. Buick has a beautiful vehicle on their hands but not with the current displacment. A few posts back the Lexus numbers were mentioned and there is a difference, the Lexus engine outclasses the Buick. Most reviews have pointed out that the Rendezvous lacks power. Buick should have gone with the best engine GM makes as it is smoother quieter and after all this is a Buick. With the 3800 the Rendezvous can compete with Lexus and Toyota, until then no. Here's hoping that the Rendevous gets the option of a 3800 in '03 or '04, then I am in... till then the Buick is an also ran in this category and will be seen in reviews and customer satisfaction surveys.
If Lexus knocked the RX300 engine down 30 hp and offered it at a $10,000 discount, would they sell any?
If I wanted a $750/month car payment, I might have considered the Acura MDX. I decided instead buy the Buick and invest $167/month into my Roth IRA and $83/month into my children's education IRA's.
I agree that the 3.8L would have been a better choice for the RDV and probably would not have been significantly more expensive to produce. I will say that the 3.4L is a fine engine with plenty of power to motivate the RDV without any signs of weakness. It is certainly not a deal breaker.
The 3.8 fuel consumption would not be a lot different from the 3.4L. I think it will make a good option, especially for the AWD version. The 3.5L DOHC or the new 4.2L I-6 (as found in the new Trailblazer) would be even better options, but that's not likely to happen.
Hi all. I've tried to stay low and not be too much of a nuisance for a awhile, but you can't be gone long before falling way behind on this board.
BY - Like everyone else, thank you for the real world reports. I had not thought of the mix and match advantage of the CD changer, and some of the things you and your wife mention sound like real benefits. Please allow me one more question. I've stared at the photos on pages 30 and 31 of the brochure and cannot for the life of me figure out where you insert the cassette when you want to go that route. Do you lose the cassette option with the CD changer?
Buzzbo - Good One! I liked your AARP 500 as much as the "family" reference. In fact, it reminded me that they used an Aztec as the pace car at Daytona, so I guess anything's possible. Bummer that you're still waiting.
Tony - Rendezvous' have finally started showing up in Fort Wayne. I've only seen the Pewter which I seem to recall is your color. It looked very nice. Glad you've graduated to "in transit."
My news is that my salesman called to say that my Rendezvous "Gammera" was built this week. So maybe Fed and R5 should check on theirs as well since we three ordered pretty close together.
Wcammack - Unless they pull a fast one on me and replace the wheels without my permission, I guess there was less to the chrome wheel scare than you were told.
dontpanicz - All I know is that I registered on the Buick web site for information and they sent me a pre-sell PIN. I neither asked for it nor expected it. As to extending the program, I have no idea whether it's to give those who already have PINs a further chance to activate them, or whether they are still issuing new PINs.
pacinpelo - Like I said to Jaynedough123, I wish you better luck with your next choice.
I was surfing the net and found a picture of a 2002 Buick Rendezvous that had just arrived at the dealer. It is a $35,000 CXL AWD in pewter and something that looks just like or is dark storm gray below with the chrome wheels--the colors are not that great looking together. The dealer is:
I checked with my dealer on Tuesday. They have not seen the vehicle, don't have the brochures, and couldn't tell me the status of my order.
Personally, I wouldn't mind if they don't get it in until August as that would allow me to accumulate more GMCard earnings. However, I max out in August and would then start to lose some previous earnings.
Actually, I am looking forward to receiving the scale model for my son. : ) CWJ/Fed, Please let me know when/if you receive one.
My salesman checked with Buick today and actually found someone that could tell him something when he gave them my vin#. A hold was put on several units and mine was one of them but he did not know why. So mine has been getting a tan and probably filling its tank with Corona beer. What can I say about taking a spring break in Mexico. Anyway the good news is the hold has been lifted so it should start its journey next week (I heard next week before). I told the dealer I would see him on Saturday to pick up something to drive. I will keep you posted on what they give me. Buzz
Comments
I hoping maybe someone that's either seen/driven one or has actually got there hands on theirs can answer a couple of questions I have after looking through the brochure.
I'm pretty sure the third row seat eliminates the rear cargo storage system, the brochure states it's not available with the seven passenger seat configuration, which makes sense, but I also would think the captains chairs with 3rd row seat, (ie... six seater), would not have the storage area either?
It also looks like Buick screwed up the color chart on the brochure. I assume that the chart listed for the CX mistakenly shows the greymist exterior accent color, while the CXL chart actually shows the storm grey lower panels is this correct?
Other than the lingering powertrain issue, I like what I see in the brochure.
I finally drove the Rendezvous and I really liked it. It was the CXL versatility pkg with 3rd row seat and full leather. It had a very smooth car like ride and the road noise was very quite especially since it was really windy today when I drove it. The power was okay, but it's no V8 and it doesn't pretend to be. I'd rather have okay power and 24 MPG then the inverse.
The interior was oak which I thought was nice but my wife didn't care for it to much. The 3rd row seat was very impressive! I'm 5'11 210 and I fit easily into it and it rode real comfortable. I'm waiting for our dealer to get four more in next week so I can see the other interior options.
The AWD option in my opinion is not necessary for most of my driving and with the traction control I feel pretty good with front wheel drive. The price was just over 30 K which I feel is very nice when compared to other 7 passenger vehicles. If you axe the AWD you can get into one for the high 20's. NOT BAD...
All you that pre-ordered, I think you'll all be very pleased. I know I was.
Later,
Another curious point is that the Aztek mpg is listed at 16 city - 22 Hwy by Edmunds. I really doubt the heavier Buick will get any better then that, the physics are against it. Buick is claiming 18-24 for the 4-wheel version. Not really any better then something like the Lexus RX300 which is 18-22. If you want descent mileage in a SUV you probably have to go to the RAV4 or Honda CRV. Otherwise I wouldn't expect more than 20mpg on ave. with the Buick 4-wheel drive. The 3.8L would be welcomed, but the dealer told me it wouldn't fit (if you can believe them).
Some one asked about the rear cargo storage system. It was on the model I drove and it had both captain seating for 2nd row and had the 3rd row jump seat.
Once back at the dealership, we tackled the financing and there definitely seems to be a big difference on lease rates between pre-sell packages and normal orders. The lease interest rate on the pre-sell was 5.25%, and for normal orders they quoted me 9.49%. And the residual with 15K miles for three years was 52%, whereas normally it was 46%. Seems like a rather big difference, and the dealer is hoping they'll start incentivizing the normal lease rates soon. They also had the new brochures there, and from looking at that briefly, Buick has gotten rid of the silver color previously shown on the website, and now has a new Silverleaf Metallic coming later this year.
The salesman then went over the options on the vehicle with my wife, and she kept saying, "Cool!" She loves all the personalization you can do, and she likes the 6 CD changer radio a lot. We also didn't get the 3rd row seat, but she liked the rear storage system enough that it didn't concern her. (We don't have any kids yet, so the 3rd row isn't a necessity.) And, of course, she loved all the storage space, especially the cavernous storage in the center armrest. Not that she'll stick a laptop in there any time soon, but it could easily fit her purse if she so desired.
Now, I'm looking forward to tomorrow when I get to drive it to work and really check it out, then we're going on a trip this weekend and we will get some good road time with it then as well.
Buzzbo99 - Thanks for the congrats. We're very happy with it so far, however, you might want to drive by the dealer to see if they already have it. I found out our RZV had actually come in Tuesday, but they were a little slow to call us as it was their first one and they had set it out in front to generate a little traffic in their showrooms with it. (They did call us Tuesday, but it was a half hour before our salesman left for the day and I wasn't able to get back with him in time to find out it was there)
That's all for now!
To sum up this vehicle...
I personally own a 99 Grand Cherokee Limited. Had the RZV been out when I leased mine, this Jeep would still be on the lot.
The only problem I have is that no one listened to me at the store. We got 2 in (driftwood and pewter). We also delivered 2 yesterday. Now I don't have any to show again =( Next batch won't be here for at least a week.
Jeff
BTW, both had the HUD and tire inflation monitor on them. Both were FULLY loaded except for the middle seat. One had bench, the other quad.
On captains chairs - I have two carseats installed in my back seat. If I were to install 2 carseats in the 2nd bench row of a RZV, I'd never be able to get anyone into the third seat without uninstalling and reinstalling the carseat every time someone got in and out of the third seat, especially with a 50/50 split (depending on the width of the seat, it might have worked with a 60/40). So that's why I would get them. Not sure why your dealer ordered a majority of them equipped that way, though.
If Buick had advertised the special financing way back when, I would have pre-ordered a long time ago. As it stands, now I have to wait who knows how long, and pay regular interest rates (I didn't use my PIN). Why is there no information on these incentives?
Does anyone have specific information on the special financing incentive? Is it available to GMAC purchases as well as leases? Did they extend the pre-sell period through May? It might still be possible for me to apply my PIN to my order!
"BY" - Congrats on your Rendezvous. It's great that you're excited and not feeling any buyer's remorse. I think you're essentially right on the disappearance of the 3rd row seating from your vehicle. However, I don't think that it was restricted to "presell." It just looks like once upon a time they were going to include the third row in the Luxury package and now they don't. I know I had to code the 3rd row as an option separate from and in addition to the luxury package in order for me to get it on my CXL order. Your order must have gone in under the "old regime," and when they got around to building it the 3rd row was no longer included in the luxury package, but your order had no 3rd row option code to compensate for the change. My concern for others is that the last time I checked, admittedly quite some time ago, both KBB and Edmunds were still incorrectly including the third row seating in their descriptions of the 1SE luxury package for the CXL. I'm glad your wife thinks so much of the Rendezvous is "cool." I'm sure my wife will react the same way. Please forgive my curiousity, but what exactly about the 6-disc radio did she like so much? Is it the radio itself, the sound quality, etc. or is it specifically the disc changer? Since this is the one option in my order with which I am least thrilled, I'm honestly trying to pin down what value I'm getting for the extra $395 MSRP over the standard CXL (not CX) sound system. Thanks for your help.
"Buzzbo" - Man you've got to be aching after getting your order in so early. I really hope your's comes in soon. I thought for sure you'd be the first. By the way, I'm envious of everyone whose cities have some Rendezvouses in already. There are still none to be seen yet here in deepest darkest N.E. Indiana.
Tony - Thanks for the heads up that the brochure is out. I picked one up, and you may be right that they flipped the Storm Gray and Graymist colors on the chart. If not, the Storm Gray certainly looks nicer than the supposedly uplevel Graymist. It's a pretty good brochure, but like you've said earlier confusion (or at least uncertainty) still reigns in the availability department. While you have to order a "package" to get a CXL, note that the brochure lists no packages on the data page where they list optional equipment. So there's still no definitive list of package contents. I also note the the "touring" tires are nowhere to be seen among the options and that they have "late availability" for the optional "self sealing" tire. How do you have late availabity on a tire for Pete's sake?
"Wcammack" - With regards to chrome rims, I'm assuming that means you ordered a CXL with the luxury package. If so, chrome rims are one of the (not many) items that are included in the luxury package but not the Versatility or Security packages. I hope you don't mind my asking, but since you're now switched your order to the standard CXL rims, how much of a price break did your dealer give you? Thanks.
"Johnl5 and/or jlschmidt" - In what way was the Rendezvous' speedometer confusing? I mean, it looks like a round dial with a needle and MPH around the outside. What am I missing? P.S. you appear to be the same person, and I thought Edmunds frowned on people having more than one townhall ID.
"Jaynedough123" - If the MSRP on the loaded Rendezvous was $32,700, then it wasn't a loaded Rendezvous. A CXL with Versatility package and a sunroof gets you to $32,750, and we haven't even begun with the memory package, heated seats, chrome rims, cd changer, and head's up display. Nonetheless, I would be the last to say that a Versatility/Sunroof Rendezvous wouldn't at least "appear" to loaded.
Last but not least,
"Ruski" - Why would you want a floor shifter in a Rendezvous? I just love that guy.
CWJ
CWJ
If Motor Trend found that confusing, well I guess they have to write about something.
Thanks for checking out "every other car on the planet." That's one more thing I can take off my to-do list.
CWJ
Tell me - what are advantages of a steering column mounted shifter (other than allowing for a front bench)?
I too like a floor shifter in a Jaguar or 300M or Grand Prix to mention cars we've both owned. But in a SUV or crossover vehicle or whatever you want to call it, why bother? I'm not shifting this puppy, and once I've thrown it in drive that's the end. Goodness knows, a floor shifter is not fooling anyone that this is somehow not a van or geezmobile if that's what they want to think.
There's no bench seat, that's not the point. But there IS one fantastically huge and useful center console that would not have been possible if they had used a floor shifter. You should check out how much storage space they've created. I'm serious, it's storage not a bench seat that makes a floor shifter unattractive.
Thanks for responding and keep on lurking
Your pal, CWJ
As for the Rendezvous, I was surprised how good it looked in person compared with the pictures. It's a bit quirky, but I like it. I am just waiting for a test drive now. I guess everyone has their own tastes.
1) In regard to color schemes, it appears the color combinations you don't like are on the CX models as the CX only comes with gray trim. If your looking for an SUV, you are likely looking for the AWD. As a result, you most likely would step up to the CXL where the exterior paint and trim have several color combinations.
2) Either reference similarities to a van or similarities to the Aztec. Since the Aztec looks NOTHING lika a van, you can't have it both ways. For people who don't like the styling of a mini-van, this is a perfect alternative... including the option of a third row seat.
3) While the RZV is definate compitition for the Lexus and Mercedes, IMO I don't think the designers were TRYING to make it look like every other SUV on the road... and the Lexus looks pretty much like every other SUV.
JMO, but the styling is not an issue for me other than the fact that I'm not driving a box-car (AKA mini-van). But, like Dindak, I guess we've all got our opinions.
R5
BTW, could you have been a little harder on the Sedona Bronze color?
I'm a fan of the Mazda Tribute ad campaign. You've probably seen the TV spot or even better the print ad where the Tribute is "Zoom Zoom(ing)" surrounded by Miatas with the tag line "What if an SUV was raised by a family of sports cars?"
OK, now the effect is best in the Rendezvous brochure, but the cropped photo on the www.buick.com home page works as well. Go to page 38, look at the photo and complete the sentence, "What if an SUV was raised by a family of -------------?" Forgive me but my first thought was "...geezmobiles"
CWJ
I didn't think much about the possibility of receiving the scale model but now that it's here I really think it was a nice gesture on Buicks part. For those who bravely ordered well in advance, it must have been nice to see what you had ordered.
Now that they're showing up in dealerships it's not such a mystery but I'll say this, my three year old loves the model and my wife, who didn't think we needed a new car to begin with, actually called the dealership and left a message asking for info on when ours might be arriving.
For that alone I'm grateful...
Finally, he told me that there is no special interest rate for traditional financing...only leasing.
Anyway, with such a good lease rate, it might be financially advantageous to lease the RDV and then decide to buy it or not after three years. Even if it costs a little more to lease, I could think of it as insurance against excessive depreciation.
Time for me to get into anal mode and crunch some numbers...
As for the third row, I think you're right that they've pulled the option as included in the luxury package. And, of course, when we put our order in, it was the first one our dealer had ordered, and neither of us knew exactly what was going to be included in what package. We just trusted the pre-sell stuff that said we'd get the third row seat. No big deal for us, but the dealer has a few coming in that now won't have the third row, and he's pretty upset about it. (Oh well, at least we got the chrome wheels before they got put on hold)
And as for my wife's reaction, she still likes it a lot. She's a bit on the short side, so she likes having a bigger vehicle that doesn't make her feel like she has to climb up into it, and,yes, she does like the radio. Of course, you have to understand that, unlike my couple hundred CD collection, she currently has 6 CDs that she has bought on her own, and she loves having the CD changer in the RZV so she can listen to her favorite music without having to swap CDs. What she really likes is the random play option, where it will play random tracks from all 6 CDs. Of course, there are other options on the radio, like the ability to program in a favorite track list for the six CDs, and then just play those tracks, but I don't know if she'll ever use it.
Lastly, I have one comment about the engine power. The more I drive it, the more I'm convinced that Buick calibrated the engine and tranny to give a very smooth feel to the power in that you never really get the feeling that you're getting thrown back in your seat, but instead, it just seems to be a steady accel. This might lead some to think that its underpowered, but I still feel that the engine does the job Ok, it just isn't set up at all to try and blow you away. As a matter of fact, on our ride up to the B&B, we were on some two lane roads for quite a while and kept getting behind people doing 45 in a 55 mph zone, so we even got some practice passing with the RZV. Again, it didn't blow anybody away, but it did the job. (Although I must admit that a more powerful engine as an option in the future wouldn't hurt.)
BY
PS. Also had the RZV at the beach this weekend, and the wife was afraid I'd get it stuck in the sand, but the AWD was great and kept us moving even in some relatively loose sand.
Brian
BY
BY
No offense Buzz, but I hope mine takes a more direct route than yours...:).
Now that some of you are actually getting your orders, I'm anxiously awaiting your real world testimonials.
JP
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/roadtests/firstdrive/46042/article.html
Drew
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Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
BY
I found the RDZ card site and completed the puzzle, but can find no links to "pre-order" or "pre-sell" forms or information.
JMO
R5
Buick has a beautiful vehicle on their hands but not with the current displacment. A few posts back the Lexus numbers were mentioned and there is a difference, the Lexus engine outclasses the Buick. Most reviews have pointed out that the Rendezvous lacks power. Buick should have gone with the best engine GM makes as it is smoother quieter and after all this is a Buick. With the 3800 the Rendezvous can compete with Lexus and Toyota, until then no. Here's hoping that the Rendevous gets the option of a 3800 in '03 or '04, then I am in... till then the Buick is an also ran in this category and will be seen in reviews and customer satisfaction surveys.
If I wanted a $750/month car payment, I might have considered the Acura MDX. I decided instead buy the Buick and invest $167/month into my Roth IRA and $83/month into my children's education IRA's.
I agree that the 3.8L would have been a better choice for the RDV and probably would not have been significantly more expensive to produce. I will say that the 3.4L is a fine engine with plenty of power to motivate the RDV without any signs of weakness. It is certainly not a deal breaker.
BY - Like everyone else, thank you for the real world reports. I had not thought of the mix and match advantage of the CD changer, and some of the things you and your wife mention sound like real benefits. Please allow me one more question. I've stared at the photos on pages 30 and 31 of the brochure and cannot for the life of me figure out where you insert the cassette when you want to go that route. Do you lose the cassette option with the CD changer?
Buzzbo - Good One! I liked your AARP 500 as much as the "family" reference. In fact, it reminded me that they used an Aztec as the pace car at Daytona, so I guess anything's possible. Bummer that you're still waiting.
Tony - Rendezvous' have finally started showing up in Fort Wayne. I've only seen the Pewter which I seem to recall is your color. It looked very nice. Glad you've graduated to "in transit."
My news is that my salesman called to say that my Rendezvous "Gammera" was built this week. So maybe Fed and R5 should check on theirs as well since we three ordered pretty close together.
Wcammack - Unless they pull a fast one on me and replace the wheels without my permission, I guess there was less to the chrome wheel scare than you were told.
dontpanicz - All I know is that I registered on the Buick web site for information and they sent me a pre-sell PIN. I neither asked for it nor expected it. As to extending the program, I have no idea whether it's to give those who already have PINs a further chance to activate them, or whether they are still issuing new PINs.
pacinpelo - Like I said to Jaynedough123, I wish you better luck with your next choice.
Star Pontiac Buick GMC
326 East Market Street, Route 7
Leesburg, VA 20176
star@starcars.com
Here is the Rendezvous
I checked with my dealer on Tuesday. They have not seen the vehicle, don't have the brochures, and couldn't tell me the status of my order.
Personally, I wouldn't mind if they don't get it in until August as that would allow me to accumulate more GMCard earnings. However, I max out in August and would then start to lose some previous earnings.
Actually, I am looking forward to receiving the scale model for my son. : ) CWJ/Fed, Please let me know when/if you receive one.
Go Raiders!
R5
Buzz