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Hope you enjoy your vehicle, and keep us informed about your experiences.
CWJ
Mfarmer2 - where do you live in Florida that you live on a mountain?? I live in South Florida and wasn't aware that there were any mountains in Florida :-) Good luck with your new RDV.
I live in Florida, no mountains here. I think you may have been reading something I had put in quotations. I was quoting and responding to another post here. Is that why you're asking? :-)
Mary
mfarmer2: Congratulations! We've just got the basic OnStar; haven't been compelled to switch to the premium service for "directions" & concerge services.
Many have complained about the lack of space behind the third row, splitting the seat would alleviate some of that problem. Can't believe it would be that costly.
From a design standpoint this could be a reason for it not being split. Then again I'm not knowledgeable in this area. I just see what I like and hope I can afford it :-)Thanks for the insight on the MDX. Sounds like you prefer it over the RDV. Good luck with your decision what ever it is. Mine was the RDV and I know for my needs it was the right choice:-)
http://cars.com/carsapp/national/?srv=parser&act=display&tf=/galleries/acura/md_x/acura_md_x.tmpl
FWIW though, I had a look at a '02 Explorer today and it doesn't have a split 3rd row seat either; it's just one piece.
Drew
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Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
Given a choice though, of having a 3rd row in an MDX that splits, but doesn't fit adults and a RDV that comforatbly fits adults, buy doesn't split, I would easily prefer the RDV. Of course other folks with different needs may prefer the opposite. We're lucky to have so many choices.
Regards,
Drew
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Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
Spiritman
The advantage of captains is they are contoured for extra comfort imo, and they also offer easier third row access than the bench. In addition to being able to move them back and forth, you also have center aisle access to the third row.
The disadvantages with the 2 captains is you lose the second row middle seat, and you can't flip/fold forward them for quick/easy cargo space like you can do with the bench seats. However, they can be easily removed.
Bench seat: for easy third row access, the seats need to be flipped and folded all the way forward. This means the third row passengers will have to enter first, before second row passengers can enter. If you don't use the third row all the time, and you're stuck with the captains, like me, the additional invoice cost of $215 (Option - AQ4) is not really that taxing; and they are very comfortable. I know my in-laws will be glad we got the captains over the bench seats.
PS: I just took some pics of our RDV and will soon post them in the Rendezvous owners - Photo Gallery. I'll also post an interior shot with the captain chairs. Hope this is helpful. :-)
Mary
Does anyone find it hard to honk "lightly", without depressing the horn area strongly. My RDV seems to require deliberate and focused pressing in the right/center area of the wheel-near the trumpet icon.
I tried to warn a bicyclist today, without scaring her out of her wits, but was unable to get the desired lesser amount of "toot".
Tire Pressure:
Everyone using 35psi? My Uniroyals had 30psi when delivered, dealer said it was OK, but I increased to 35 as indicated on door label.
Another GM blunder.
Geez, do I remember horns before airbags? Oh yeah! It was waaayy too easy to use the horn back on '60s and '70s year models (I had a couple of old used cars back in high school/college). You have a good memory, I had forgotten about "horn rings".
Looking at my MDX brochure... big photo of the interior with the third row split: part upright, part folded flat. Seems like a no-brainer for flexibility to me.
Anyone have an opinion on this?
Wonder when RDV might get a multivalve engine and a split third row...? (I'll skip the sunroof.)
Tonight I went out driving at around 10pm in the dark and purposely used the horn at random while driving. (I tried this during the day yesterday but couldn't find a place to honk unnoticed).
It does work well when you concentrate just under the horizontal ridge, and just to the lower left and right of the Buick logo. I guess you have to hope for a lucky press when an emergency arises.
My Uniroyal tires are not the self seal type (not avail yet I think).
John332:
My RDV has the first sunroof I've ever owned. I have forgotten it is even there. I have heard no noise from that area. I have no idea about strong winds. I'm sure you'll enjoy your RDV when you get it. I only have 250 miles on mine so far, but I'm enjoying it a lot..and I'm enjoying watching people noticing it. I got a huge long stare from a guy in a new Volvo S60, who was parked next to me in a lot today.
r5: well, I'm sure you knew this post was coming. Way to go 9er's!!! I hope the silver & black do better in Mexico. Hasta la vista, baby!
Go 9ers,
John B.
In response to the few anti-RDV posts, here's what I got for $22K ($34CAD/1.54):
Pewter CX AWD base model (nicely equipped for a base)
Great looks
Tonnes of cargo room (more than enough for all the baby gear for my toddler and newborn)
Great gas milage
Ample (ok, I may feel it with the trailer)power
Refined and functional interior
Comfortable seating
Over a dozen of unsolicited positive comments from strangers.
All this in an AWD for $22K! (I actually paid substantially less due to staff discounts, GM VISA card points)
For me it was a no-brainer, even without my incentives. I am 29 and own a Buick! Who would have guessed? I now have 4500km on it and no problems. I have yet to buy a GM product without having to take it in for service at least twice before the first oil change - this may be the first.
Also, does anyone know whether the AWD disengages as soon as the front wheels regain traction. I thought I read in a very early post that it disengages once you ease up on the gas? The manual is very sketchy as to how the AWD works.
Larry N.
I saw in the paper they were advertising base CXs for C$29,900. I think list is $30,998 so that's pretty good.
It's going to be a tough 6 weeks as I wait for RDV to arrive !!! BTW - I'm 37- 1st time Buick buyer and this is my 1st NEW vehicle since my 1985 Nissan Pulsar!!
The split third row seat really is a valuable feature to me with three kids. On a long trip, one sits in back, the suitcases/bags are next to her on the flipped-down seat with plenty of room to spare, and the other two kids are in the second row, with the fold-down arm rest acting as the anti-fight mechanism ;->.
Pete
Re the AWD - My understanding is that power is transferred to the rear wheel(s) at the moment the front wheel(s) lose traction. At the moment they regain traction, the power ceases to be delivered to the rear wheels. I don't belive the process has anything to do with what one is doing with the gas pedal. Congratulations on your RDV!
luvmypup: Congratulations on the order of your driftwood! You & your pups will just love it. I have no idea where you'd get the liners...when you find out, it would be great for you to post it on the RDV owners Forum / Accessories. Rendezvous Owners' Forum
MacNeil Automotive http://www.macneilauto.com makes great rubber mats. Their website shows custom mats for the RDV, including the cargo area. A front and rear set costs about $90. I have read somewhere that some of their mats are not completely custom and require trimming to make them fit. I want to see how well they actually fit. I live a couple of miles from their offices and I have to get over before this weekend and take a look at them. Football practice started this weekend, it rained, and I was cleaning mud for an hour.
I'll let you know what I find out.
Since we're on the subject on floor/carpet protection, I've noticed my left foot always ends up on the wheel well. I wish there was something there to protect taht area. The carpet is really getting dirty and starting to wear in that area. Ford attaches a piece of rubber there to prevent that problem.
-Rich
Luvmypup - I think you'll find the Rendezvous is a great pet hauler. We have three ferrets and were in the market for a bigger travel cage to take them with us on trips when it suddenly occurred to me that maybe their entire home cage might fit in the Rendezvous. Sure enough it did and the kids now go with us wherever we travel. People who know ferret cages will appreciate that this speaks volumes about the Rendezvous' cargo headroom.
On a lighter note, its a hoot when one of the ferrets goes up into the loft and watches the world out the back window. The looks from people in the following vehicles are priceless.
Sorry, I have not yet had any experience with cargo mats.
CWJ
Also spent some time looking at the RDV package charts, strongly believe an AWD CX Versatility Package with power driver's seat & third row is needed. Given failure of the Aztec GM needs volume on this thing. Figure it would cost ~$2k less than the AWD CXL V/P, given the FWD pricing structure.
The Honda MDX version will offer three rows for under $30k, so GM better get ready.
dindak, paid cash (financing was horrible anyway). After our horrible 15% sales taxes, etc, etc, I drove away for $33k CAD ($21,400US).
They show a cargo mat part no 10304219 for the grey one and 10204220 for the oak.
The retail price here was $ 175.00 Can.
They were ready to give me a better price.
But I went to a carpet store and they sold me the type of carpet they use in car, wich was OK
Wish I could pay cash for cars though. In my dreams.
Steve
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Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
I think the operative word for the powerplant is quickly being established as "adequate." I would not fool myself by claiming more, and I would not shortchange the vehicle by claiming less.
CWJ
To everyone- 180 miles in our new RDV, and we're really enjoying our new ride. It never occurred to my husband and myself, that because this is a new Buick product we'd have so many people staring at us. The other night as we were parking our car at the local movie, a whole group of people leaving the theater, stopped in their tracks for several seconds just to stare at our RDV. Also, yesterday morning at the bank, while returning to the parking lot, we found a man staring into our RDV through the windows.
At first my husband felt a little threatened, but soon realized he was just curious to see the interior of our new RDV. We struck up a friendly conversation, and talked about the RDV for several minutes. Anyway, all of this is quite surprising for us, but I guess it only makes sense that if this is Buick's first new product in 70 years, that people would naturally be curious. It's one thing to have new car fever, but it's a another to have the public experience that along with you! :-)
Mary
Mary
armtdm: Yes the AWD is always active. You're exactly right. However, power is only transferred to the rear wheels when the front wheels lose traction. They say you cannot really tell when power is being transferred to the rear wheels.
CWJ