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Buick Rendezvous

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Comments

  • bymclaughbymclaugh Member Posts: 103
    What are the responsibilites of the spokespersons? i.e., what does the job entail? I prob don't have tons of time to do stuff, but if its not too time intensive, I'd be willing to volunteer.

    BY
  • fedlawmanfedlawman Member Posts: 3,118
    According to the owner's club forum host discussions, the spokespeople primarily enforce the edmunds.com rules (don't insult people, keep discussions on topic, etc.). They also are the one's that request topic changes, merges with other groups, etc.

    That's all that was mentioned. It sounds like they are simply points of contact who speak FOR the club when the hosts need input regarding changes, new topics, etc. I also think that the hosts don't police those topics like they do over here, and need a member to keep an eye on the discourse.

    I am willing to do it too (even though I won't be an owner for another week-and-a-half, or so).

    Why don't we give a couple more days for other interested people to volunteer and then we can decide as a group? If nobody else volunteers, then BYM (if you're still willing) and I can do it. OK?
  • spiritman1spiritman1 Member Posts: 57
    So if indeed the outside mirrors are the regular "blind you at night variety", is there a way to install dimming mirrors aftermarket?

    Does anyone know how those dimming mirrors work?

    thanks
    Spiritman
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    Saw Tiger Woods Rendezvous print ads today in the Toronto Star and the National Post. They look good! The ad asks whether the Rendezvous is a luxury sedan, a mini van or an SUV. I wish they had a better picture angle though. The one they use is not the best.

    Also spoke with the salesman who I test drove with last week. He told me they have no more Rendezvous' in stock and that the next shipment is all pre-sold. I think this vehicle is H O T.
  • mmeehanmmeehan Member Posts: 66
    I agree with you that all that trim would look gaudy. I would probably only use the center piece and the glove box and door trim. You're right, you're paying for a lot of things you probably won't use. I do have the grey interior and I think a few pieces would make it really look nice. I haven't inquired about the possibility of purchasing them individually although that's an idea. Thanks.
  • mmeehanmmeehan Member Posts: 66
    Can anyone who has the 8 speaker system tell me what kind of sound they get out of the speakers that are way in the back in the third row. Mine just sound like muffled bass, you really can't hear any "music" from them, just boom, boom, boom. I've tried fooling with the fader and that doesn't seem to change it. Any suggestions, or am I going to have to make my first trip to the Service Dept.?
  • cwjacobsencwjacobsen Member Posts: 293
    I've checked this out as well and you've got it right. As far as I can tell, the A pillar speakers are tweeters. the front and rear door speakers are midrange or all-purpose. And the third row are woofers. Probably not a bad set-up before they decided to offer a third row seat, and still a nice set-up for folks like BY who didn't get a third row, but not a good set-up for third row occupants. Better pass those second row headphones on back.

    CWJ
  • fedlawmanfedlawman Member Posts: 3,118
    I got a response back from wooddash.com and they said that the manufacturer ships the kits as kits. They cannot sell them by piece. They do have free shipping and handling, however, which means $366 for the 27 piece kit out the door. Not too bad.

    Well, we finally got some sunshine today (after almost a whole week of rain and overcast) so I took a test drive of RDV #1 (white/moss green). I drove it to my house and took some photos that do the green SOME justice. I'm very new at this personal web page stuff, so if I can e-mail the pictures to one of you, could you post them?

    P.S. The moss green looks MUCH better in person than in any photos. During my 20 minutes with the car, I got a lot of admiring looks and a woman jogging by as I took the pictures said, "that's a nice car!"
  • ra1der5ra1der5 Member Posts: 86
    Per our sales person (who hasn't been right about much of anything yet), the dimming rear view mirror works off a sensor that is in the upper right hand corner of the windshield (kind of an orange colored wire). When the auto-dim feature is activated (I believe the middle button on the rear view mirror), the mirror will dim when the sensor detects bright lights.

    MY OPINION: I don't believe any other car has a dimming feature for the outside mirrors... either automatic or manual. I think they would have to mount a sensor somewhere and then have mirrors similar to the interior rearview mirror (provide an image from more than one angle). It likely is not done right now because the sensor would be very fragile and likely too expensive to replace/repair.

    GO RAIDERS!

    R5
  • korolkorol Member Posts: 2
    Any advice from existing owners.

    I am considering purchasing either a Rendezvous or a Toyota Highlander.

    Any input would be greatly appreciated. I am nervous that both my selections are 1st year models and I have always been told to avoid the first year

    Thanks

    Steve
  • spiritman1spiritman1 Member Posts: 57
    My Lexus LS400, which I am trading in on the RDV or can give someone a fantastic deal cause the dealer isn't giving me squat for it, had electrochromatic mirrors for all mirrors including the outside mirrors. I beleive they may work the same as my glasses which darken in bright sunlight.....on the Lexus they do it automatically without the option of shutting it off. It is a godsend cause you have NO glare at night. I wondered if one could bet a replacement mirror material that was auto dimming....prob cost a fortune though. On the other hand the "electro" implies some other technology since there are no batteries in my glasses...hehee

    My other need is for a way to play MP3's thru the sound system with the option of the 6 CD stacker....seems I heard of a MP3 player that transmitted an AM signal that you would tune to a certain frequency to hear it.....I had one to play my records 30 yrs ago so its not particularly expensive or new technology.....we have the 12v outputs to power such a transmitter if one is available.

    Spiritman.....12 days since I ordered but whose counting
  • bymclaughbymclaugh Member Posts: 103
    Well, Ra1der5, your dealer is wrong again. The orange wires are actually an antenna, the dimming mirrors work as follows:

    There is a light sensor on your rear view mirror, right under the mirror and to the right. You'll see two indentations on the bottom of the mirror, one of which has a light that turns on when the dimming mirrors are on, the other is the sensor. By measuring the amount of light coming into that sensor and comparing it to the light being detected via the Auto Headlamp light sensor (located on the top center portion of the dash, right next to the light that flashes when the vehicle is off), the CPU can then determine if the light coming into the rear view mirror is brighter than the surrounding light, and dim the mirrors appropriately.

    The "Electro" portion of Electrochromatic refers to a substance placed in a layer of the mirror that gets darker as voltage is applied to it. How dark it gets depends on the voltage applied. By using something like this as compared to auto dimming sunglasses, you have much more control as to when the mirror gets dark, as well as how dark it actually gets.

    If you want to try an experiment, go into your garage, turn on the RDV and shine a flashlight on the rear view mirror's light sensor, and you'll see the mirror go dark. Now if you take it into the bright sunlight, then mirror probably won't darken, or won't darken much, as the surrounding light being detected by the headlamp light sensor will also be bright, and the CPU won't detect much light difference between the two.

    Hopefully that sheds some "light" on how the mirrors work. :)

    BY
  • bymclaughbymclaugh Member Posts: 103
    Now that you mention it, I do remember seeing something on Tech TV a little while ago about a transmitter that you can hook up to your computer which then transmits an FM signal that you can pick up on your home stereo. Of course, that would mean if that was hooked up and you were driving down the road, anybody driving close enough could listen to the same music as you. You could be your own mobile radio station. :)


    Here's a link to something that might work...


    http://www.akoo.com./products/ks110_how-it-works.cfm?CFID=27168552&CFTOKEN=60930609


    Good Luck!


    BY

  • fedlawmanfedlawman Member Posts: 3,118
    Wow, you're pretty tech savvy! From your description, it sounds like the mirrors use a liquid crystal panel.

    I realized that when I enabled my personal webspace, I forgot to enable FrontPage 2000, so it only accepts HTML. My website should be up later tonight.

    I've always wanted to learn how to do web page authoring but up until now, I've been intimidated by the technobabble. It's actually pretty simple as I was up and publishing after about 1 hour of study/practice.

    I'll follow the instructions here but I may ask for help on how to post pictures here, as I know there are several different methods.

    On a side note, was it you, CWJ, who said that the passenger side view mirror aims towards the ground when backing up? I test drove RDV #1 today and it didn't do it. Maybe it only comes with the memory option (which RDV #1 doesn't have)?

    Brian
  • bymclaughbymclaugh Member Posts: 103
    Here's some more pics of the RDV, first up are CWJ's Gamera at:

    http://www.mclaugh.com/gamera/gamera.htm

    CWJ also sent me a couple other pics of the early sketch and prototype of his RDV:

    http://www.mclaugh.com/gamera/RDVConcept.jpg

    And

    http://www.mclaugh.com/gamera/RDVEarlyPrototype.gif
  • bymclaughbymclaugh Member Posts: 103
    And here's a link to Fedlawman's first RDV color choice of white with moss green lower:


    http://www.mclaugh.com/fedlaw1/fedlaw1.htm


    Enjoy!


    BY


    PS. Fedlawman: Good luck with the web page! I'm sure it'll be more extravagant than my basic pic ones have been so far!

  • fedlawmanfedlawman Member Posts: 3,118
    The photos of Gamera look great. It is amazing how true to the concept the final production model turned out. But seriously, CWJ, the colors are gorgeous! The cladding really accents and complements the body colour.

    Regarding RDV #1, I'm sorry for the quality of those photos. I am disapointed that the moss green isn't clearer...only the rear shot looks good.

    P.S. I'm just figuring out how to add backgrounds. I'm afraid it's nothing special yet.
  • spiritman1spiritman1 Member Posts: 57
    Thanks BY for the great explanation.....oh well it sounds like I'll suffer with the glary elephant ears.....and thanks again for the link.....that is what I was thinking of....now to find in in 12v or borrow my dad's converter.....

    I have seen the passenger mirror tilt down in reverse and back when in drive....and it returns to normal after a short pause if you don't start moving backwards....I beleive this is a programmable feature altho it didn't tilt down enough for my taste.....only had a short time checking it a another dealers though.

    The new Motor Trend has a positive review of the RDV with comparisons to the Ford Explorer Limited and the Toyota Highlander.....I saw the Highlander when I first went shopping and thought I would get one until I saw the RDV and thought the RDV blew the highlander away in all respects.....mostly design in and out!

    Spiritman
  • fedlawmanfedlawman Member Posts: 3,118
    <http://members.home.net/fishkin1/rendezvous.htm>

    This is kinda fun!
  • mmeehanmmeehan Member Posts: 66
    Well I guess we will be making our first trip to the service dept. The "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" light came on yesterday with 100+ miles on the RDV. Hopefully it's just a sensor or something.
  • mmeehanmmeehan Member Posts: 66
    Looks a lot like yours, right Bym?

    http://www.fototime.com/inv/1D2D1AA98E123F4
  • bymclaughbymclaugh Member Posts: 103
    Looks like a winner to me! Great color choice! :)

    BY
  • drew_drew_ Member Posts: 3,382
    I'm afraid your embedded picture was too wide (wider than 640X480) and it was skewing the page width so I've had to remove it. However, here is the link to the picture so that everyone can still have a look at it:


    http://members.home.net/fishkin1/images/brianrdv.jpg



    Drew
    Host
    Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards

  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    Thanx for all the great pictures guys and gals. The white is starting to grow on me also.
  • cwjacobsencwjacobsen Member Posts: 293
    The side mirror tilting down in reverse feature is programed from the DIC. Perhaps, RDV#1 was programed to "off." But trust me, the mirror does tilt, and I love this particular benefit. Since it's a function of the DIC rather than the memory feature per se, I wouldn't think that you'd need the memory option to get this, but I just don't know for certain.

    Haven't read the rest of the posts yet, I've been out of town for the last few days.

    CWJ
  • john325john325 Member Posts: 237
    ...just returned from a few days of camping w/ the kids & 16 families. My 7 year old son locked the keys in the RDV. After calling On Star, we were able to have the car opened from a satelite. I never thought I'd have to use the On-Star system, let alone within 2 weeks of owning the RDV.

    Lots of people commented positively about the RDV; several people we didn't even know pointed to the car as we drove by; it seemed they obviously knew something about the RDV.

    Go 9ers!
    John B.
  • mmeehanmmeehan Member Posts: 66
    Or this?

    image
  • cwjacobsencwjacobsen Member Posts: 293
    But if I was, the Gold package might be just the thing. However, don't you have to gold up By's and Gamera's chrome rims as well to complete the "retired geezer" look (not that there's anything wrong with that)? Insert smiley wink face here.

    CWJ
  • drew_drew_ Member Posts: 3,382
    Ah, that's more like it. Perfect picture size! :-)


    Drew
    Host
    Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
  • john325john325 Member Posts: 237
    Brian: I'm glad to see you're up and flying w/ your personal web site, as well as posting photos here. As we're all learning, there's not much to it.

    mmeehan: I assume you edited the photos to get the "gold look"; as cwj said, you'd need to touch up the wheels as well; and perhaps the rear Buick Badge on the tailgate too??? That may be a bit much.

    cwj: I believe it was you who said your front seat belt got twisted around - - funny thing, on my drive home from campout, I noticed the same thing on mine... Seems odd. And it doesn't seem like it's easy to fix. Was it easy for you to fix yours?
  • cwjacobsencwjacobsen Member Posts: 293
    Your On-Star story was very cool. I hope I don't "need" to use it, but I'm glad it's there. I had thought my front passenger seat belt was twisted, but it turned out that it was caught in an odd way, and that once I had disentangled it, it was fine. However, I think maybe Tony Bertoli had a twisted seat belt. Maybe he could comment on a cure. Now that we're closing in on a 1000 posts, it's getting very hard to remember who said what when.

    Brian (fedlawman) - Thanks for your kind words on Gamera's look. I appreciate it. You may recall that the first Rendezvous I drove was exactly like RDV#1, so I know about what you speak when you say that the photos do not do the Moss Green justice.

    CWJ
  • lance_wlance_w Member Posts: 8
    Well, I've had just over a month with my Black/Dark Grey Rendezvous, and I've made a few observations...

    Where is the power? GM really messed up when they mated this multi-ton truck to a 3.4L V6... How about the 3.8L? Or even the new 4.2 I6 from the GMT-360 trucks (GMC Envoy, Olds Bravada, Chevy TrailBlaizer)? This things claims it can tow 2000 pounds stock... I'd like to see it try. One hill and you're gone... that is my biggest complaint about the car, is that 185 hp just doesn't do it justice! Then again, I came from a 99 Trans Am WS6 that was pushed to over 400 hp so dropping down to 185, I expected a significant power loss - but this is just pathetic!

    Next is the styling... I think it looks nice... the curves and geometrical shapes work well together - except from the back... if you look at the car from the rear, it looks like a completely different vehicle... It's narrow, oddly proportioned, and looks as if it'll tip on the first turn. Also, what's with that exhaust pipe? We're they joking when they put it there they did? It looks like a dog that put it's tail between it's legs... I would have liked to seen either side exit pipe, or maybe a dual setup, like the Acura MDX, which, although rather outdone, looks nice.

    The one things I really like about the car, and that gets the most attention/compliments, is the interior. It's probably the first GM interior that actually *SAYS* something about the car... fun, new, exciting, yet refined. Maybe real aluminium should have been used on the accents on the dash, doors, and gauge pod, but it pulls the faux look off nicely.

    The sound system, for being a stock system, isn't bad at all... certainly sounds better than the "Monsoon" system in my old Trans Am. I will be removing the entire system in favor of something a lot better, but for now it sounds alright...

    Lastly, the tires/rims... I've gotten mixed feelings about these since picking up the car... They look nice, but the fender wells and wheel arches are just BEGGING for some 17" rims with nice, lower-profile tires. Obviously the Rendezvous isn't made for off-roading - which is completely acceptable for me... I don't plan on doing any "muddin'" in the car, and I doubt anyone else in the 18-24 bracket like myself plans on it... but GM really should have offered a little better wheel/tire package with the uplevel CXL... alomst every other luxuary SUV offers AT LEAST 17" rims, with some moving up to 18" and beyond (Mercedes offers 19" on ML430, BMW has 19" Sport Package), I think it's time GM, and especially Buick, catch up...

    Other than the aformentioned foibles, I think Buick has outdone themselves with the Rendezvous... Tiger's "toy" has proven to be an acceptable addition to our family (now consistening of the Rendezvous, and a 99 Buick Park Avenue Ultra - I really miss my Trans Am...) But for our needs, the Rendezvous fits in perfectly...
  • dlh4dlh4 Member Posts: 26
    Has anyone heard of a gas additive called Gas Savers which injects microscopic amounts of platinum into the fuel system in order to burn your fuel more efficiently. I would appreciate any info in this regard. My understanding is that you vehicle should get 22% or higher gas mileage and more power due to the increase in fuel burn within the cylinders.
  • spiritman1spiritman1 Member Posts: 57
    Rendezvous' available premium Pioneer speaker system includes an additional amplifier and four additional speakers mounted in the cargo compartment. Also available are two six-inch ported subwoofers and two four-inch extended-range speakers canted toward the rear of the vehicle for optimum projection in tailgate-party mode. A four-button control panel in the cargo area also gives access to sound system controls from the rear.

    Anyone know of these subwoofers canted rearward? Quote from Buick site.

    Spiritman
  • drew_drew_ Member Posts: 3,382
    Actually the ML430 has 17" rims, and the ML55 AMG has 18" rims. I would hesitate to go with anything larger since it would be very prone to pothole and curb damage.

    As for GM's new I6 engine, there is no way that such a long engine will fit underneath the hood of the short nosed Rendezvous. The pushrod 3.8L V6 may though, as would the nice DOHC 3.5L V6 in the Intrigue. Perhaps in the near future?


    Drew
    Host
    Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
  • fedlawmanfedlawman Member Posts: 3,118
    Actually, use recirc in conjuction with A/C to dehumidify the air and/or defog the windows.
  • fedlawmanfedlawman Member Posts: 3,118
    That's the first I've heard of that system being available in the Buick. It sounds like the Aztek's system, which I've heard is an incredible OEM stereo.

    Can you shed some light?

    CWJ - I just had to tell you. After getting another look at Gammera, I love the colour combination. I'm sure it's a trick of the eye, but the greymist cladding looks almost plum, and it's fabulous.

    Mmeehan - What ever happened with your "check traction control" light?
  • fedlawmanfedlawman Member Posts: 3,118
    Except for CWJ and BYM, no one has spoken up regarding their feelings about a new "owner's forum." Let's assume if no one says anything by tomorrow, then the Brian's (BYM and I) will volunteer to be spokespeople for the group.

    Brian, if that's OK with you, I'll go and make the arrangements (whatever they entail) tomorrow.

    Drew, can you tell me what I need to do?

    Brian
  • spiritman1spiritman1 Member Posts: 57
    Know nothing about the system......just saw the info on the website......I think the systems I have seen were Delco....anxious to hear more myself......my order has been in about 2 wks....I wonder if there is any changing ones order after it is submitted to Buick?

    Spiritman
  • lance_wlance_w Member Posts: 8
    As a resident expert in car audio (I've installed dozens of systems in dozens of cars) I have to say that what comes in the Rendezvous, isn't half bad, for a factory sound system...

    In my car, a loaded CXL with the 1SE package, among others, the setup was as follows:

    1" tweeter/6 1/2" component system up front
    6 1/2" full range in rear door
    6"x9" sub woofers in the sides of the cargo area
    6-disc in dash changer

    I don't know about an amplifer or the wattage of it, but I had the "500 watt" monsoon system in my Trans Am and after some test, that 500 watts was only at peak, all channels, with about 10% total distortion... most good amps will have WELL below 1% THD...

    The 6" sub/4" full range system is ONLY available on the Aztek and NOT on the Rendezvous...
  • lance_wlance_w Member Posts: 8
    As a stock setup the ML430 does come with 17" rims, that's right... and they look pretty good... my neighbor has an ML55 and the 18" monoblock 5-spokers look real sharp on that car... Last I check there was a sport package available for the ML that included 18" AMG Monoblock rims... I could be wrong though! :-)

    But you have to agree - for what the Rendezvous was made for, a more luxurious rim would have fit quite well... I'm not talking rollin' on 'dubs' (20" rims... damn that rap music :-), but something in the 17" flavor... maybe 245/60 series... like the rolling stock on the Envoy, or even the 255's on the Bravada... What do you think?
  • fedlawmanfedlawman Member Posts: 3,118
    I think if you really want to achieve the muscular look your after, 17" rims and lower profile tires is half of the equation.

    The other reason the wheels look small on the RDV is because the vehicle sits high above the wheels. To pull off your desired look, you should probably lower your RDV about 1" (1.5" in the rear, since it appears to sit a little higher than the front).

    Of course, it sort of defeats the purpose of owning an SUV...like the drug pushers that drive around in lowered Lincoln Navigators with 40 series whitewall tires on 14" wire wheels. Uggghh!
  • drew_drew_ Member Posts: 3,382
    Lance, the Sport package is available for the ML320 and ML430 and it comes with 17" MB EVO II wheels and the ML430 sized tires. This is all in addition to the AMG body pieces that the ML55 AMG has.

    Brian, I'll pass this onto Karen, the host of the owner's club message board. The owner's club area is basically an area that is specifically for a vehicle. This current discussion topic will still be the area for general discussions (it will be linked to the owner's club area), but the owner's club will also have a "Meet the members" topic where you can all introduce yourself, as well as a Photo gallery topic where you can post the pictures of your ride to your heart's content :-). Sound good?


    Drew
    Host
    Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
  • lance_wlance_w Member Posts: 8
    Drew: Good call, like I said, I thought it came with the 18's... almost every other MB sport package does :-) Thanks for catching my mistake...
  • lance_wlance_w Member Posts: 8
    Do any companies currently produce any aftermarket parts for the Rendezvous or Aztek? Exhaust, induction... any kind of performance part? I know some guys offer stuff for the 3.4L in the Grand Am... but it's mostly model specific stuff like SLP's dual/dual exhaust for the Grand Am...
  • fedlawmanfedlawman Member Posts: 3,118
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    Saw the Tiger Woods Rendezvous commercial this weekend (several times). I thought it was excellent. It really gets your attention and Tiger is a great pull for Buick. Rendezvous itself gets a lot of attention as it stands and Tiger can only make it better.
  • cwjacobsencwjacobsen Member Posts: 293
    Hi Brian,

    Thank you again for the further kind words on Gamera's look. However, the lower cladding is the Dark Bronzemist, not the Graymist you mentioned in your post. Does that difference explain the effect you were trying to descibe, or was the reference to Graymist just a typo? Regardless, I'm sure you've noticed that there are a lot of red highlights in the Sedona Bronze. On an overcast day, it's just the (I think, very classy) brown car about which others have been less than enthusiastic. However, on a sunny day, all those highlights come out and the color comes alive. I bet the Indigo Blue does much the same thing in its own way.

    I second the nomination of the two Brian's as sponsors of the Owner's Club. Both of you have just the right temperaments to be excellent hosts.

    Finally, thanks for chiming in on that other board. You made a fine cavalry patrol to my circled wagon train.

    CWJ
  • bymclaughbymclaugh Member Posts: 103
    Brian,

    Sounds good to me. I may not be too available this week as I'm on vacation and not on the computer too much, but I'll probably be checking in at least once a day.

    Off to go work on the lawn mower now...

    BY
  • drew_drew_ Member Posts: 3,382
    I have passed on all of your requests for a Rendezvous owner's club to Karen. She'll create an area just for all of you when she has a chance and will probably post a welcome message in here. As mentioned this current discussion topic will still be the general discussion area and will be linked to the owner's club area when it is completed. In the near future, you all may even eventually be able to have your own weekly live Rendezvous (er...chats, that is ;-) Sorry) with other owners, if there is enough interest.


    Drew
    Host
    Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
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