Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
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Interesting post. Possibly you or others could offer advice. I was just about to buy a 2002 RDV CXL with 58k on it. Work history includes bearing and hub assembly at 18k, computer control module body at 28k, condenser at 28k, other bearing and hub assembly at 38k, cylinder head gasket at 55k, left rear coil spring and power steering gear assembly at 56k.
Am I just asking for more trouble or do you think the worst is over since many things have already been replaced.
Thanks in advance for your help.
RR
The good news is that this vehicle is almost new! The only thing that might expectedly go wrong is the RDM (read drive module). Mine is making some noise at 72K miles and I will not fix it till it is really bad.
The 03's did ot have the BCM issues, but did have the rest. If your seller is motivate, you could snag this for a good deal. OTOH, an 03 or newer with FWD might be the the best bet.
In my case, I just might buy a new 07 FWD this July or August. They should be going at serious fire sale prices. But given the super low resale I may just keep mine till well past 100K. BTW, I have an 05 AWD Vibe with extra wheels and snow tires. The snows make a HUGE difference. Granted, I live near Buffalo, NY. But my next vehicle will be FWD with snow tires. It is not worth the loss of fuel economy or the hassle of extra maint/repair.
Mark
Based on all of the work that has been done, do you think $11k with 2 yr GE warranty is a snag? It's being offered by a dealer.
xclusive grille
E&G Grille
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BUICK-RENDEZVOUS-GRILLE-GRILL-2002-03-04-05-06-07- - -E-G_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33645QQihZ020QQitemZ300108468764QQrdZ1QQsspagena- - meZWDVW
Sorry it took me so long to answer you. Have not checked in for about 4 mos.
Re. the mpg: no I don't keep close track of but will check it now and then. Last time I checked in-town mileage it was a little over 16. On a trip from central Ohio through Pennsylvania I think it was 23 mpg with mostly secondary roads and lots of hills. It's my wife's vehicle and is used mostly in town. It is an '04 Ultra, AWD, with only 14,000 miles on it. WIfe loves it and have had no problems.
Don
Any help would be great.
Chip
I love my wife's RVD as well. We have a used '03 RDV (bought a few months ago) and still love it today. Best little "run about and short trips for 3 kids" vehicle we ever owned. Love the way it rides across bumps, love the way it steers and love the way it "feels" in the tight corners. You are right, it isn't the best SUV/Cross Over vehicle for MPHs. But based on its many positives, one has to take a negative hit somewhere. One can't have 100% in every critical rating. If our '03 RDV got totalled tomorrow, we're also replace our RDV with the same type of SUV/Cross Over vehicle. Yes, a used model as well. And, like our current '03 RDV vehicle, it would only be in FWD version. For a replacement, Saturn Vue, Chev Equinox, KIA Sportage and Santa Fe "shape models" come to mind. Even though we love our current '03 RDV, not too sure if I'd buy another GMC again. For their physical size, GMC models continue to be "gas hogs". And, they don't have high quality / high reliability like its competition. Or, high quality like their models built 10 years ago. No - this post is not ment to poke at GMC. I'm a GMC guy since age 9 (since my field bombing days with my dad's old chev). Just "recent 5-10 years of GMC hands on experience" and too much auto repair bill memories coming to the surface... Time to see what the other SUV/Cross Over designs have to offer as well... Good luck with your future replace RDV "shape like" replacement.
BTW: If I add up all auto repair bills for my 2 x GMC models and factory in saved MPGs, I could have easily bought import vehicles - at a much higher initial purchase price. I'm sure others are starting to "bean count" and connect the dots with their own vehicle history as well.
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After reading the above article, I wonder if anyone else has successfully done anything to upgrade the supsension on this car to make it more rollover proof.
I would like to consider changing to sport shocks, upgrading sway bars and bushings if possible, as well as perhaps maybe wider tires and stiffer/lower springs.
The problem is, after searching the internet high and low, I don't think anyone makes any suspension upgrades for our cars. I did a search and the best I can find is KYB GR-2 (factory stiffness) struts for the front and KYB Gas-adjust (sport/firm shock) for the rear. I was hoping to find a matching set of sport shocks, but even unable to do that. I am also unable to find any upgrades for sway bars, bushings or springs.
This is very frustrating because after having worked on a project sports car, I found that sporty options such as shocks/struts and swaybars were plentiful for that car. Even for a "volvo" therre is a company called IPD that sells performance suspension components such as beefier sway bars, springs and struts/shocks...
Anyone have any suggestions or ideas where I might be able to find these items?? It seems they are hard, if not impossible to find.
For the last 30 minutes, I've read the many views on the board. re: http://www.edmunds.com/buick/rendezvous/2007/consumerreview.html
Nobody mentions "high roll over" risk. Wonder how the author of this post can support their details. If it was that bad, MTO/DOT would be pulling the RDV off the road. Or, insurance companies would triple their rates (on the RDV).
Wonder how many folks beliw the rating in this article???
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Thank you, Kathy :confuse:
Mine does the exact same thing. As previously suggested, I did change my thermostat (not fun at all) and this was not the problem. I also changed the oil to look for coolant and flushed the cooling system. Everything looked normal. Like you said it will work fine and then it will be HOT until you pull over, then fine again. I figured out that I was getting air in the cooling system and it would cause a vapor lock at the thermostat. I have been bleeding the system over and over so now I know that I have a different problem. The next time it gets hot pull over and open your hood. If you can hear coolant boiling in your radiator, try to bleed the system with the brass bleeder by the thermostat. If you get a lot of steam/air you have the same problem I do. I am starting to think it is the head gasket or manifold gasket. If anyone has any other thoughts they would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Randy
How about programming them your self?
So, maybe not a convert - but, no longer a critic, at least. I hear they don't make this car anymore - not necessarily a bad thing, but for those around, they aren't bad. YMMV.
Thx in advance
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
The problem is at slow speed turning, such as turning in parking lots, there is a very noticeable moaning noise, happens turning right or left, the harder you turn the louder it is. At first the dealer tried to say they all do that and it has to do with the AWD system and how the wheels turn at different speeds when cornering. While I have certainly heard AWD, 4 X 4, trac control vehicles make some noise I have never heard anything this loud or constant. After going for a ride with me today the mechanic said he agreed that it should not make such a loud and noticeable noise and so I have another appointment schedule for later this week but I dont expect any results unless I find some info on my own to feed to them. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Also any other known common problems I should be on the look out for while its still under warranty. Thanks alot hopefully theres still a few people on here that can help.
Any ideas?
Thanks