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As a side note, I moved to Quebec just before the outlawing of English. I was in the 5th grade and was fortunate in that I was allowed to go to an English school but required to take French immersion classes. (French, math, history, and science were all taught in French). School taught French, by the way, is of the Parisian variety...go figure.
Just one year after my family immigrated, ALL immigrants were required to attend French schools.
CWJ - I can't help but wonder if the "mistake" was honest or not. I have heard that advertising fees vary from region to region but they don't change with the seasons. Oh well, it is a good lesson for folks to learn. Price is constant, invoice isn't.
P.S. Wow, the heads up display sounds cool. Maybe I should re-order again...
Our RDV came with a cloth cover for when you have the third row down and want to hide your treasures. The cloth cover attaches at the anchor points.
CWJ - Thanks for the offer. Our dealer keeps saying they will get us the replica. We'll see in the next couple of weeks. As I said before, I'm not holding my breath. I'll let you know and then we can work out some reciprocal trade agreement.
Go Rice!
R5
fedlawman : I love visiting Quebec City and Montreal, but I would never live in that province. The government there is hostile towards anglophones. They are paying for it though as the province has been in decline with Ontario picking up most of the slack. Hopefully the next election will bring a change in government.
dindak - The Quebecois think that Quebec can stand on it's own because of their hydroelectric power exports. They'd have a better chance if they spoke the internation language of business...English.
No need to work out a "trade." If you end up needing the model, making someone's son happy is enough for me.
I'll be gone for a few days, so unless Laurie gets the itch, Gammera will be staying put for a time. See you all again this weekend.
CWJ
If you want a truck, buy a truck: Yukon/Tahoe, Bravada/Trailblazer; Explorer/Expedition, 4Runner, etc...; Great for off-road, beefier engines, drives harder, etc...
However there are many folks that need/prefer the overall space (configurable as well) of a minivan, but don't want to drive the "soccer-mom's van"; nor do they want a "truck" getting 13-16 mpg. And it seems most folks don't need an "off-roading" vehicle.
Admittedly, once inside, you can get the feeling of a van, w/ 3 rows of seats. However, the thing that pleases my wife, and I'm sure others, is it doesn't look like a van on the outside. It seems you get the best of both worlds.
So Buick is filling this niche nicely w/ the RDV. Sure it's not perfect, & no car is, but I think it'll do extremely well in the marketplace.
John B.
The minivan is a vehicle that offers lots of space and a luxurious ride but not everyone wants to have to drive one (or be seen in one) daily. On the other hand, the SUVs generally ride harshly, consume gas like there's no tomorrow and are rarely used for the off-roading that they are advertised for.
This is a great compromise.
The rear storage is the one missing element for a grand slammer. Actually - for those of us typically toting kids around in those third seats - the lack of space behind that seat is also a safety concern - in the event of a rear end collision.
You've got to think that all these families that have had minivans and 7 passenger SUVs that may be getting to the point where the kids are no longer daily passengers - off to college etc., this vehicle retains the ability to cart stuff around when the third seat is folded, offers a high stance that many are accustomed to now, rides like a luxury automobile, uses less fuel than the SUVs (certainly beats my Suburban!) and can even tow if needed.
Great package!
Go Buick (lol)
Ken
We traded in a '97 Cadillac Seville that we purchased from my parents at a great price last year but it didn't turn out to be the right vehicle for us. The wife and I had both gotten used to the higher seating position in the RX300 and the Seville sat pretty low, plus it didn't have the room we needed so we decided to go with another SUV type vehicle. I did love that Northstar engine but I didn't care for having to pump premium gas into it.
While I like both the RDV and RX, in my opinion the over all quality of the Lexus is superior to the Buick, which I don't think would necessarily surprise anyone.
Things that I like better about about the RX include a smoother engine; a bit more power available if you really need it; a tighter feel to the handling; what I consider to be better quality components; not so not much plastic utilized; and a full size spare tire that's pretty easy to access compared to that of the RDV.
Things that I like better about the RDV include more available storage space behind the 2nd row seat; more overall interior room; the available 3rd row seat; the stearing wheel mounted audio controls; the available heads up display (though I don't have it); the rather large amount of storage space in the front console area; and those big side mirrors, which generate less wind noise than the those on the RX.
There are other things I'm sure I'll come to like/dislike about each but if both vehicles were priced the same I'd buy the RX300 over the Buick. Though as it stands now, I would'nt pay that much of a premium to own the Lexus.
You may ask, "why don't I buy a car?" Well, my wife is 4' 8" and she prefers the view of a SUV, the sense of security, albeit a false sense, but she feels secure nonetheless. As for me, I like the room most SUV's have; you can't beat one on long road trips which my wife and I take once a year.
We have been shopping around for a more refined, ride-wise, SUV and I showed my wife the Rendezvous and before I could get within 200 ft, she says' " No I don't like that,it looks like a mini van". I found this to be one of our rare moments because I agreed! I think we'll wait for the '01 4-Runner to come out...nice try Buick but, count us out!
Thanks for the comparison, I have never driven the RX so I can only imagine how refined it is. I guess I can understand why one might want two SUV's, especially if you and your wife are both used to the high seating and security that they afford. For me, one utility vehicle is enough so the other will be something sporty (when I can afford to replace my Accord).
Just out of curiosity, what kind of car is your g-ride?
Brian
I have to agree that the RDV does resemble a minivan from some angles. But if you are shopping for a smooth riding, 7 passenger SUV, all of your choices share that trait. The Mercedes ML320 looks more like a minivan than the RDV and the Acura MDX has a similar countenance.
You can't have your cake and eat it too.
Next I had a stripped 1990 Pontiac 6000, which was okay.
After that I scammed a 1993 Pontiac Bonneville, now that was a decent g-ride, plenty of room and good power, and it wasn't a stripped model.
Currently I'm riding around in a 1999 Mercury Sable, it blends in well, has enough room and decent power. Can't complain about it, though I don't care for the looks that much.
How's DEA treating you guys with regards to vehicles?
And just to keep this on topic, my wife, son, and in-laws, left yesterday headed for IL in our RDV. They've got it loaded to the max with luggage and extra cr@p that my sister-in-law had left behind when she moved up north.
When my wife called last night I asked her how the RDV handled the load. She said that overall it was fine but there were a couple of times she could have used a bit of extra oomph...which doesn't surprise me and to be honest doesn't really concern me as we've all come to realize the current 3.4 engine is what it is and for 95% of my driving it isn't an issue.
Where my kids go to school, probably 50-60% of the cars there are the standard truck-type SUV's. And no doubt they do look great - definitely "in-style"! But as gas prices go up, these cars, getting 13-16 mpg, will be expensive to operate.
dindak: I agree w/ your comments 100%.
Tony; it was interesting hearing about your G-cars - btw, after hearing about your wife's looking for "extra oomph" & having discussed the car w/my mechanic last night, I think I may just go for the FWD CX model. We take 3 or 4 trips per year, over the Grapevine to L.A. from S.F. & 1 or 2 trips to Yosemite. I'd hate to be struggling to get up one of those steep hills. And afterall, the AWD would be someting we would most likely never need.
I realize w/ the CX I'll be giving up the dual climate zones, and possibly the leather, unless I'm willing to be patient like cy and order the CX w/SD pk. & have leather installed; that would be an 8 - 10 week wait I'm afraid. We'll see... I hope to be ordering or picking-up our RDV real soon.
BTW, does anyone know how easy it would be to install a roof-rack to the RDV? (The CX doesn't come w/ one.) Also, has anyone yet installed the trailer hitch? I won't be towing anything, but would like to have a bike rack mounted for trips to Yosemite and the like. - In that vein, I've seen a bike rack listed as an accessory in the RDV brouchure. Does anyone know anything about it? Thanks for any help.
John B.
My wife loves the car. We have just over 100 miles on it now. We drive it so much, on Monday my wife discovered the audio controls on the steering wheel!
J325 - Where did you get a brouchure? I know they are out but none of the dealerships I visited have them yet.
Go Rice... er... Raiders!
R5
Go 9ers!
John B.
My first ride was a 1993 Chevy Lumina 3.4 Eurosport, then a 1992 Trans Am (black with limo tint...all I was missing was a gold necklace), and now the 1995 Trans Am.
Lately, DEA has been pretty tight with money and we haven't gotten replacement cars as often as we need. More than a few of us are driving around with 90+ thousand miles. The last batch of cars consisted of Chevy Malibu's, Dodge Stratus's, etc. Not exactly desireable. My buddy got a 1999 Mercury Sable but it has the 3.0L, which is only good for 145 HP, I believe.
I'm holding out for a decent seizure...a Lexus GS or Mercedes E Class would be nice.
Happy Motoring!
Brian
Shall I tell another lie?
R5
RE: Memory seats & Radio pre-sets.
Quite by accident, I have found that at least some of the radio presets mentioned in a previous post (I think CWJ) have nothing to do with the memory seats. It is dependent on the key fob for driver 1 or driver 2. When we use my key fob to open the doors, the radio goes back to the last station I was listening to... and goes back to my wife's last station with her fob. I experiment with the volume and presets and let you know if that works also. The owners manual doesn't address this.
CWJ, I will be happy to take that replica off your hands. You are very generous. Please contact me at Ra1der5@hotmail.com and we'll exchange info.
We had three graduations in our family this weekend... thankfully all here in Santa Cruz. But family has been in town and we're obviously running around. I'll post tonight re: the radio & key fobs.
Go Raiders!
R5
We do not have the memory seats on our RDV, however, each key fob allows for different radio per-sets. The key fob for Driver 1 allows that driver to per-set six AM stations and 12 CM stations. Driver 2 gets a whole other set of Am and CM per-sets. Also, as mentioned by CWJ, the radio will return to the last station and volume setting used for each fob. So if you plan on letting your teenager use your RDV, they can listen to what ever the H3LL it is they listen to these days and when you get into the car, you won't blast your eardrums out... or give you a startling heart attack.
That's all for now. I think I'll go listen to the birds and crickets.
R5
You say the radio presets are saved for the two drivers even without the memory seats, but I have a question of curiousity, does it save the HVAC settiongs for each driver as well? If it saves that as well, it looks like you'll get most of the good stuff without needing the memory seats. That would be pretty cool.
Thanks, I think I'll go back to sleep now...
BY
PS. Have you mailed the pics yet?
After serious consideration of the Montero and MDX, we decided on the RDV CXL with the Versatility Package, towing package, sun roof, and memory seats. Don't be too startled but we actually prefer the tan leather interior to the grey! My,my,my!
Here is my question: We just ordered our RDV and are wondering how long it took for your orders to get built and shipped?
We ordered ours on April 24 and it was received by the dealer on May 30... five weeks.
Our CXL was rather generic. Actually we ordered the same package as you with the exception of the sunroof and memory seats. We ordered white with the light sandrift trim which comes with the tan interior. We like the tan just fine (no lie).
Congratulations on your order!
R5
As for some more real world RDV use, my wife and I are in the middle of landscaping our house, and on the weekend the wife works at a local landscaping place (so we can get a discount) and Saturday she came home loaded with shrubs, 16 to be exact. She had to flip the second row seats forward to get them all in there, but they all fit. Her boss was quite suprised that they all fit. (I was too, for that matter.)
Congrats on your order!
BY
One can only hope that this becomes a reality.
I often wonder why Buick did not offer a supercharger for the RDV, it would have made sense. Add power without adding displacement.
Don't know if anyone has inquired about the cell telephone system that is available with the Onstar system. I did and I plan on trying it out. It is a prepaid program and is a hands free/ voice recognition arrangement with terrific audio quality since it comes through the stereo speaker system. I'll let everyone know how it works since I haven't read any posts regarding this.
By the way, thank you to all those whom I have learned so much from these past few weeks reading this board. There are certainly some real RDV experts out there. I feel like I know everything about the darn thing and I won't have it until tomorrow!!
CWJ
LOL
Ken
You said you've put on 500 miles on the hwy. How has the mpg been coming in?
tpken: I think that teh sale-checker get's just about everyone as least once here; make that "the spell-checker". btw, I hope to participate on the Bonneville forum soon. I've been a little too busy lately, but I know there's great info there, just as there is on this forum.
John B.
Ken
2002 Buick Rendezvous Pic
ladychaos - I think the body color door handles look good, although I don't like the bare metal lock cylinders in the doors.
I'm glad to see so many having great experiences with their RDV's. It really reinforces my decision to purchase one and validates the weeks of research that most of us did before making our final vehicle choice. Please keep the real world feedback coming so that I can drive my RDV vicariously through all of you.
The Dallas Morning News
Steve
Host
Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Ladychaos - If you want body colored mirrors, get a CXL where they are standard, the photo is of the base model, the CX. Never felt a burning need for turnsignals on my side view mirrors, so why don't you tell us why you think their absence on the Buick needs explanation.
CWJ
CWJ
Of course, the RDV offers some features that the competition doesn't. Heads up display and rear park assist immediately come to mind. In the end, it is up to the consumer to evaluate the merits of each vehicle and make a decision based on their needs.
You might want to check out the discussion that compares the ML320, MDX, RDV, and Explorer. It is very interesting.
The biggest plus cited: "It's not an Aztek."
They also raise the issue on how the GM penny-pinchers got involved and condemned the RDZ to use old and borrowed components, rather than design from the ground up. I'm sure other folks will interpret the review the way they like.
Enjoy.
I think it's going to be a hit. There were 5 in stock at the dealer - that Indigo Blue was a gorgeous color - surely the one I would choose.
Great car - good job, Buick!
Ken
Our kids (Daughter 10, Son 7)are excited about getting it. In fact, after they first saw a RDV (about 3 weeks ago), it has been almost impossible for us to consider another car. We have, however, test driven the 2002 Explorer & MDX subsequent to seeing the RDV - but for us and our needs, the RDV is best! The kids' last day of school is Friday, & right after that we're all off to pick up the RDV.
Addl' question: Has anyone noticed the carpeting on the back of the 3rd row seat puckering up near the center of the back, around the black buckle? I saw one in a dealership yesterday that looked very "tacky". I'm not sure what could cause that. I'm hoping they all don't do that.
r5: Looks like Al Davis might sell his interest in the Raiders - that can only be a benefit for you guys.
Go 9ers,
John B.
Al Davis IS the Raiders! I don't see the story you're talking about (and almost anything with the name "Raiders" and has to do with football is at Raidernews.com). I would be VERY surprised if Davis sold the Raiders, especially with the way Jon Gruden has turned that team around. Say... is this the RDV Board or the Raider Board?
Congrats on your RDV. My wife is really enjoying ours. I actually got to drive it last night... I got the pleasure of filling it with gas.
Ken - it is a pleasantly surprising vehicle, isn't it. I inadvertantly confirmed its cargo capacity yesterday when I found myself with some unexpected and unplanned for cargo which would have been impossible to carry in either of our cars and would have been frustratingly "just too large" to fit most other small to medium SUV's (luxury or otherwise). I simply dropped the third row, flipped the seatbacks flat on the captain's chairs and it slid right in.
As for the behind third row space problem, I acknowledge the problem and don't mean to minimize it. However, I will suggest that this is not necessarily specifically a Rendezvous problem as it is a general smaller than full size vehicle problem. However, the complaint about the lack of grocery space seems a little exagerated to me on at least two counts. First, I have a little difficulty visualizing more than five people going grocery shopping at any one time being that common an occurance, so the simultaneous need for both the third row and grocery space seems a little overblown. Second, has anyone else noticed that the third row can be locked in position so that the seat back is straight up and down? Now I know this is useless for carrying people, but it does create a neat little trunk space between the third row and the liftgate for securely carrying packages and groceries so they don't roll around the cargo area. A very nice little benefit that I don't think the manual mentions. I discovered it by accident when I went to drop the third row and ended up locking it in this upright position instead. Just thought the board might find this of interest.
R5 - I'm still on my first tank of gas (dealer delivered Gammera with a full tank) so you're at least one tank ahead of me. Hazen's package will go out priority mail tomorrow.
Go Packers!
CWJ