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ra1der5 - I feel your pain. I'm not holding my breath for a model, but I'll let you know if fortune shines on me. My one year GM Card anniversary was May 3rd, so at least I'm banking more down payment with each passing day (my wife and I are using our GM Card to pay for everything right now).
buzzbo99 - I feel your pain too.
BTW - I'm thinking that if someone where to market a TASTEFULLY EXECUTED wood dash set for the RDV, I would be the first in line. Anyone else agree that it would improve the looks of the interior?
And if it turns out that the "storm gray" lower clading is actually the lighter gray and the "graymist" is the darker gray, as the brochure color chart indicates, then I may have to re-think buying my order.
After playing with the color matching thingy on the Rendezvous web site and looking at some of the other GM SUV's that are in Pewter and have a light gray lower accent I liked what I saw and figured it would be fine. However, the dark gray may be a bit much for my taste.
Photo's included in the RDV brochure actually show a pewter/graymist CXL and to me it looks like it has the light gray clading. There's also a photo of a driftwood/storm gray, which seems to be the dark gray. Who in their right mind would name a lighter gray "storm gray" and a darker gray "graymist".
Anyone who has actually seen a pewter/graymist CXL on the road, or at a dealer, care to comment.
Oh yeah, "fed" was it you who mentioned something in an earlier post about getting a %5.25 lease rate if you pre-ordered a CXL with the "storm gray"? Maybe there are some early mutant CXL's out there.
Wood interior? - Actually no. You've lost me on the wood angle. I've seen the interior and frankly I really like it as is. It's classy and one of a kind in my opinion without the plood which would inevitably be offered rather than the real thing. Plood has been done to death in recent years, and often looks like they looked for places to put it in after the fact rather than being an integral part of the design. However, your vehicle is your vehicle and mine is mine. So If the perfect add on package came along, go to it.
P.S. - Tony, I confirmed the info when I spoke with the finance manager at the dealership. She confirmed that a CXL with option Z17 get a 5.25% lease. Otherwise, it's 5.50%. Just don't ask me how you get a CXL with Storm Grey lower???
If I end up disliking the pewter/graymist combo, I'll just pass on it and wait for a dealer stock vehicle to arrive that I like.
Oh yeah, can anyone who has seen or driven a CX RDV tell me if the "storm gray" lower clading is almost black or is it a lighter shade of gray?
Steve
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The Pre-sell website (above) confirms the pre-sells have been extended to May 31. Though I see they have updated the first page of the site to reflect the new date, I also note they have not changed the configurations of the vehicle (IE: The CXL Premium Versatility package still looks like it includes the Trailer/Tow package).
JFYI
Go Raiders!
Now the bad news. The Fort Wayne CXL's definitely have a gray accent color very close to that of the cut out color, and the vehicle sticker lists the accent color as "Graymist," not "Storm Gray."
BY - One of the Fort Wayne Rendezvous' on the lot was unlocked and had the CD changer, so I got in to see if I could find the opening for the cassette. I poked and prodded and failed. I would have asked a salesman but since I ordered Gammera from a different dealer, I didn't want to press my luck. Please, where does the cassette go on your setup? Thanks, CWJ
The card set that came with the pre-sell promotion has cards depicting a CX RDV in all the available primary colors. Listed at the bottom of the cards are small boxes showing the colors of the accent cladding available on the CXL trim of that color. The card depicting the Pewter CX has a dark gray shaded box listed as "dark graymist." The "dark graymist" is clearly much darker that the CX's "storm gray." I looked at those cards many times but for some reason the difference in the colors never sunk in.
I don't want to be presumptuous but after looking at the color chart in the Rendezvous brochure, I would think most would consider the CX's "storm gray" lighter shade of gray to be a more appealing accent color for the available RDV primary colors than the CXL's "graymist" dark shade of gray. However, I've yet to actually see one in person so how would I know?
I printed the dealer photo of Pewter/Graymist CXL and showed it to my wife. She didn't mind the contrast at all. I'm not so sure myself but then again it all boils down to personal preference...different strokes for different folks.
http://www.velocityjrnl.com/jrnl/2000/v2kmdl1227mult.html
Go Raiders!
R5
http://www.auto.com/2000chicagoautoshow/slideshow/buick_rendezvous/
R5
Also, If anyone is interested, I can take a few photos of the RZV and stick em up on the web. I probably couldn't get to it for a few days since I'm busy with a work project right now, but probably by the end of the week.
BY
All my wife and I need is a test drive and a good once over to make our FINAL decision. If we like it, we'll keep our order, if we don't, well, we test drove a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer last Saturday and really liked it...
We noticed the 3rd row seats didn't have much leg room from looking but since it was sold we couldn't get in it either. I asked if the 2nd row seats could be adjusted he said it couldn't be. I was pretty sure it could.
The only reason for wanting a cassette is because I have books on cassette that I sometimes listen to on long trips. It's not a necessity but the brochure says it's included.
Thanks
PS - Fed I'm interested in what you choose. I took the Mountaineer for a test drive(V6 model) and thought it was very comparable to the RDV on paper. The true test will come with driving it.
I can't afford not to like the RDV!
I also had to stop by the dealership last night to pick up the new plates for the RZV and mentioned to our salesman the error in the brochure, and even pointed it out to him. He wasn't aware of the error yet, and I doubt most dealers even realize it. It would be nice if there was a way for Buick to update the brochures, even if by just blocking out where it says casstte with a small sticker so they could prevent some potentially dissapointed customers who were expecting the cassette player.
BY
BTW, from talking to our dealer last night the only two they've gotten in so far are the two pre-orders they got. They haven't gotten any of their regular stock in yet, and they already seem to have people on a list for when their regular ones start coming in.
BY
It's not just the brochure that's wrong. KBB also lists the cassette with the 6CD changer, as does the REVISED presell "Luxury Package" in the /promotions/presell section of Buick's own web site. This is part of my rant, but while mistakes on hard copy brochures can't be easily corrected once printed, there is NO EXCUSE for misinformation on the company's own website where even the worst mistake can be corrected with a few keystrokes. (Before Edmunds gets too smug, you STILL list the third row seating as included in option package 1SE.)
Here's why the cassette player is important to me. Somewhere down the line, and for many people, their car became their primary sound system. On the other hand, my primary sound system is still my home sound system. It's great and I play and keep my CD's there. If I regularly took them in my vehicle, they'd tend to stay there, particularly if the vehicle ate 6 of them at a time. I would rather not have to go looking for a particular CD and then have to run out to the garage to get my vehicle to "throw it up." On the other hand, I own a spectacular cassette deck which makes amazingly faithful copies of my CD's. I leave these copies in the car.
Now that I know that the cassette player is deleted from the 6CD changer version, I'm even more amazed at the pricing of this option. The CXL includes the $350 premium sound system with CD and cassette as standard equipment, but they want an ADDITIONAL $395 to do nothing more than to add a changer while blowing off the cassette player. Premium sound system with CD and cassette players: $350. Same premium sound system with CD changer and no cassette: $745!!! My goodness, that's one expensive CD changer!
CWJ
BY
BY
Buzzbo - What can I say man? It makes no sense. I've lost track of who's bought, who's ordered, who's received delivery, and who's waiting. Am I right that BY is still the only actual Rendezvous owner on this board?
CWJ
Thanks!!!
Basically, the Aztek and the Rendezvous are the same vehicle. Do not let the Buick salesman say otherwise. If you are not against the unique styling of the Aztek and you do not need the third row seating, the Pontiac Aztek offers a much better value. Unless Buick lower the price, between these two cars, the Pontiac Aztek is the way to go.
BY
lbthedog - Dog, I enjoy your posts and look forward to your contributions. I can only hope that the Rendezvous turns out to be as well built as you 'tec owners say your Aztecs are.
exzur - It must be a burden to know everything and nothing simultaneously. Dog is absolutely right to point out just some of the not so obvious but significant differences between the vehicles. By the way, those extra four inches of length and wheelbase make all the difference in the world for a vehicle to meet my real world needs, so maybe just maybe value might be judged by standards other than, and in addition to, dollars and third row seats. Thanks also for warning us about those smooth talking Buick salesmen. The only Aztec related salesman incident I remember being posted on this board was when Jaynedough123 was actually turned off of the Rendezvous in part because the salesman pointed out the similarity (not the difference) between the vehicles.
CWJ
for more than a month now. The V6 engine is just enough to propel the AZTEK. This same engine is used in the Rendezvous. That additional four inches, for me is a disadvantge, unless Buick replace it with a stronger engine.
The same independent rear suspension and rear disk brake, you are talking about, are installed in my yellow AZTEK.
I paid below invoice minus the $1,500 GM rebate. The camping package is free. That's why, unless Buick lower the price, and styling and the 3rd row seat are not an issue, I maintain, between the two cars, the Pontiac Aztek is the way
to go.
Dindak - Sorry. I meant the comment affectionately, but you're the one consistent cross poster I know. You're also the closest to an impartial third-party.
CWJ
Rendezvous Album
Dealer PageAs for the CX, since I did not order one I can only guess what the REAL pricing is. If I remember correctly, if you go to the Car and Driver site, it won't let you order the 6CD changer on a CX, unless you ALSO order the uprated radio. That is, $395 on top of $350. This would be consistent with the CXL pricing where you've already bought the $350 radio and then are adding the $395 changer. Other websites let you pick between the two on a CX, EITHER $350 OR $395, for the $45 difference you just mentioned, and as I also mentioned many posts ago when I first complained about this seeming inconsistency. I no longer believe that this is the case that you can in effect get a CD changer for $45 on the CX.
I think you're mistaken if you believe that on the CX you can get a changer on top of the premium radio for only a $45 difference. Rather, I believe that there are no shortage of pricing websites that while they may have the individual option dollars right, do NOT have package contents and/or the option interrelation (i.e. requirements vs. exclusion) logic right.
The Car and Driver site, unlike KBB and Edmunds, has yet to be demonstrably wrong. So for my money, I've got to believe that the changer is $395 on top of either a $350 option (CX) or on top of the standard equipment pricing (CXL). Otherwise, the pricing makes no sense.
Anyone with an order in on a CX or having bought one, please chime in to confirm what I'm saying or correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks.
Fed, as usual, you are just trying to be helpful in looking for every potential angle in a situtation and I appreciate it. If anything, your observations just point out my (our?) continuing frustration with the documentation/specifications of this otherwise exciting vehicle.
CWJ
All of us enthusiasts continue to be frustrated by the senseless misinformation produced by Buick regarding the RDV. Based on your experience, it is clear that none of us know exactly what we will get until we take delivery.
Sorry if you think I insulted you.
CWJ
I tend to agree with you about the contrast between the lighter colors and the dark claddings. Since I've ordered a pewter/greymist CXL, I'm been looking at the two RDV photo links showing the color scheme that I've ordered and I'm getting used to it. I'd still like to see one in person though...sigh.