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If you're still out there islandpete, I've been too busy to check posts until today; it's great to have another Onstar user on board. Re: voice recognition phone, I've found that it is sophisticated enough to have multiple voices use the nametags (quick one word access numbers) as long as the person speaks slowly enough. My biggest difficulty is talking too quickly. I have tried to index all multiple use numbers under nametag call so I don't have to speak-dial them, which I find frustratingly slow. Happy dialing!
They found that two were out of round and had to be replaced. My Dealer was really great about the whole thing. He arranged for the replacement from Firestone, and did every thing right at the Dealership. It took a couple of months for Firestone to get the tires to the dealer and at that point I had over 6,000 miles on them. I ended up with two brand new tires on the front, 6,000 + miles on the rear tires and a really great ride again.
John325 didn't do as well. His Dealer determined all he needed was a front end alignment, and that his tires would even out. Like I said my Dealer was really great and handled every thing. I am quite sure Firestone new they had a problem with the Affinity tires because they went along with the replacement right from the start.
I am pretty sure they replaced another set of tires at the same time, because the service manager said he was waiting for another set of Firestone tires to come in at the same time.
Ken
The past Saturday I had an opportunity to load 7 passengers in my RDV for some local driving. Everyone was pretty comfortable and we were all adult sized. She handled the streets just as well as when it's just me. Also at the time it was raining heavily and required the wipers operating at fall speed. If it rained any harder I don't think the wipers could keep up. We have these blind pronounced arch streets (for the trains to run under) and she got up and over them with confidence. I can't wait to take her on some camping trips in the summer.
charge about $150 to switch the Firestone tires to another brand. He said the
$150 was for mounting and balancing the new tires. However I am not sure what
other tires were offered on the RDV or if the Dealer had another set of tires to
give me. All the RDV's that I looked at had Affinity tires on them.
I am not sure what the warranty is on the Affinity tires. But I really don't have a problem with the Firestone Affinity tires. The wear on the back tires with 6000 +
miles on them look exactly the same as the new tires on the front.
I honestly feel the Affinity tire is a premium tire and provides a great ride along with great traction and handling. Because of all the bad publicity with Ford, Firestone is going out of there way to make sure you the customer is happy. If I get good mileage out of these tires like it looks like I will. I would buy another set of Affinity tires.
Ken
After 8 months and 10,000 miles, I have to take my opinion back. They grip as well as they need to (the RDV hardly challenges them in the twisties) and they are very smooth and quiet.
I won't hesitate to replace the Affinity's with another set when the time comes. Any other tire would be a gamble that it may not offer the same level of quiet and traction. Since the Affinity's seem to offer the perfect balance for the RDV, I'll stick with them.
Ken
Anyone have any impression of versatrak under adverse conditions...i.e. snow,rain.
Now after experiencing the extra stability on wet/slick streets, being able to pull off the pavement where I couldn't before, and other advantages I am still discovering I love it. You never notice the AWD functioning unless you notice there was no tire spin on that slick spot etc.. Believe me my next vehicle will also have AWD.
By the way, I still want to hear from someont that has put "wood dash" on the oak interior. I still cannot visualize how the colors would blend.
CWJ
FedLawMan - the Firestones may have gotten a bad rap - mine (on Ranger) are being replaced by Ford on Thursday (03/07/02) but with 21,000 miles I've had no complaints. Nice to be getting a new set of Goodyears for no cost, but I'd have driven on with confidence. We replace tires fairly quickly in our family (4 years or 40,000 miles) as the cost is insignificant compared to safety. Most of the issues I read about were on early 91/92 model year vehicles and tires that looked pretty worn. Our RDV has the General "Tiger Paws" on it and they give a good ride and handle well (have not noticed the earlier posted pressure loss either).
We purchased our RDV 10/22 but would do it again today - great value and performance.
BTW, I am looking at possibly getting a fully loaded RDV CXL in a few months. Dealers in my area (DC) have been offering CXLs for up to 7k off sticker. I think this is the perfect car for young professional males like myself who do not want the high gas consumption of an SUV but would not be caught dead in a minivan (only minivans I would consider would be MPV ES or GC ES).
Thanks for putting u with my rambling.
Speaking of AWD. I,too, was not excited about the AWD, but I have learned to appreciate it this Winter. Not had much snow in S. Jersey (or rain for that matter) but The traction on wet roads is much appreciated. As I think about it, it seems like most of the weight I've gained over the years has been in my right foot. Switching to FWD in the '80's, I would occasionally drive a RWD car and remember how you had to feather the gas on take-off to get traction. Now when I drive my wife's FWD car (without traction control) I am constantly spinning the tires in the wet. I'm just too used too being able to take off smartly in the RDV. Does really help when shooting a break in traffic from a stop.
2 1/2 months and no problems - a real nice vehicle.
On the prototypes that made the rounds of the auto shows, these lower buttons were indeed cruise control buttons, but they did NOT make it into production and as jwsmith mentions, the cruise controls are on the left hand stalk. No great loss, in my opinion. The stalk controls are VERY ergonomically correct. While the steering wheel audio controls are very handy indeed particularly when combined with the visual feedback you get if you purchase the head's up display.
CWJ
Spiritman
happened three times to me. This is very disturbing.
Odd.
Aside from this irritation, I like my RDV a lot. More, in fact, every time I drive it.
DD
I was also told by my dealer which on every thing beside the heat issue has been great and handled or fixed the problem immediately. That my RDV's heater is operating properly and Buick has nothing in the works to improve it's performance.
As I stated in my earlier post I prefer to drive without a jacket or coat in the winter, I feel less constraint and more comfortable. I am not sure if the heater system is to small for the area it is trying to heat or if it is just poorly designed. Either way it just doesn't generate enough heat.
Ken
According to a GM spokesperson at the Cleveland Auto show last week the OnStar is no longer exclusive to GM vehicles.
Ken
I'm sure it isn't an option on BMW's.
Just a funny observation.
Ken
Question for the owners: I couldn't find any information on where or how to reposition the aim of the headlights. Not that I need to but would like to know in case it would need adjusting and I'm in the middle of nowhere.
1) Turn on the bright lights.That raises the beam.
2) Turn off the bright lights. That lowers the beam.
3) Turn off the headlights and just drive with the fog lights on.
Ken
To keep you from blinding on-coming traffic, it is prudent to have a dealer or service station set your lights and not mess with them.
I belive the SF has only one light per side, so there would not be an adjustment for low / high beam, just one adjustment.
DD
nextmoon I have been racing and playing around with cars for almost fifty years and never once ever considered messing with the headlight adjustment for any reason, and I find it hard to imagine that it can get any darker where you are then where I am.
However back in the fifties we did put chrome half moons on the headlights and the "blue dot lens" on the taillights . ( I really forget why we did that ) but I know I never considered messing with the headlight adjustment then or now, and this definitely goes back well before streetlights and/or the powerful halogen headlights the cars have now.
Ken
SF was for Santa Fe, as I lurk on that board too out of curiousity (people seem to like those enough to pay sticker!) and I got mixed up as to which board I was on! :~)
DD
My old car's lights had a very poor light pattern to begin with so I couldn't see all that well. I had to raise them maybe a 1/4 inch and it made a world of difference. My father's old station wagon with the square frosted headlights threw out lots of good light and never needed adjustments.
The finished product is great. It is very hidden, the paint looks good, it came with a cover for the 1 1/4 inch receiver hole, and came with the drawbar and pin for the receiver.
Thanks Ken
Steve
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SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
And a second question: What is the minimum option package you need to buy to get leather or leather/cloth upgrade seats on the CX?
Here in central Florida for the month (from Cape Cod), and amazed at the number of RDVs we're seeing!
I never herd the term "lurk" or "lurking" before. I suppose I lived a pretty sheltered life here by the shores of Lake Erie.
By the way Steve is "unlurk" really a word or is this a Steve euphemism. In any event I think "unlurk" is a really cool term and hope to be able to use it someday.
Ken
(google: v. to search using an internet search engine, i.e., www.google.com).
Oh yeah, lol = laughing out loud, just in case that's a new one for you too.
Steve
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SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
The engine electronics take care of the mpg figure. The info. center calculates from the fuel burned in the engine verse the mileage on the odometer. No input is necessary. Since most manufacturers have gone to electronic controlled engines, due to emission and performance concerns, the RDV also tells you when to change the oil. Instead of just mileage, it looks at the number of revelotions on the engine, load factor, fuel consumed, and engine time. This gives a better indicator than just mileage since that is just an arbitrary number anyhow.
Love the RDV, I think you will enjoy it, plus the rebates are still around. Good Luck
Also, I remember previous posts, but I think it is very difficult to get leather package on CX. You can get the leather/Cloth, but I think you need a special code and order directly from the factory to get leather on CX. Most Dealers will not bother to look for the code and tell you its unavailable. Maybe someone out there did get leather in CX.
I was born and raised by the shores of old Lake Erie! The only shelter aspect about the area is that you seek it when the lake effect storms hit! Afterward, you venture out in your Rendezvous!
tidester
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You have got that right tidester. However it has really been a great winter this year. ( although It is not over yet ). I Was able to play golf all the way through December and parts of January and February. I lived here a lot of winters and can't remember doing that too many times in the past. But then again I can't always remember what I did yesterday.... Could be that lake effect you were talking about.
Ken