Long-Term Road Tests

I'm an almost 40 yo guy with a family and I am very interested in getting the Buick Enclave as the family hauler.
 
Note that I have a six-year old Toyota Sienna and the driving characteristics of that minivan is probably close to the Buick. I intend to test drive the Enclave soon.

In my field (higher education), "under 30" doesn't mean "young professional," it means "starving graduate student." Many of us don't get to buy that first new car till we're in our early to mid thirties.

When I referenced youg professionals I was thinking young with respect to Buick's typical owners. I did not mean 21 year olds since I generally don't see them as luxury crossover buyers. Let's say I meant under 40. My point was I have seen folks driving the Enclave that I can't imagine driving the other two Buicks. I'm no one under 60 would want to be caught dead in a Buick in Cali but I think the Enclave is doing well with middle aged folks as a whole.

Young professional in my dictionary is for people less than 30-year-old.

I don't know if 40s is young professional, but 20s and 30s certainly are. I'd say most of the Enclaves I have seen so far on the road were 40+ looking people. Then again, the Enclave is so high, its hard to tell :P

I see a lot of 20-35 year old people in X5's, ML's. Not many in Q7's though.

"Next time you see a 20-something young professional driving an Enclave make sure you record it and send it to America's Funniest Home Video..."
 
HA! That was funny! I never said 20 somethings, but I have seen folks in their 30s and 40s with Enclaves. Common sense (it always comes in handy) would dictate that professionals in their 20s are unlikely to have kids and thus unlikely to drive a 5000lb 7 seat vehicle. I dont see many 20 somethings driving Q7s, X5s or GLs either.

"I have seen such folks piloting Enclaves."
 
Next time you see a 20-something young professional driving an Enclave make sure you record it and send it to America's Funniest Home Video...

I too have seen young people more than old driving the Enclave. I see them all over Rochester with moms, college students, engineers, and every race of people driving them. It's simply a beautiful vehicle designed for a lot of different demographics.

"Now if GM can only build a Buick sedan this good..."
 
New lacrosse comes out next year.
 
brn,
 
you are 100% correct. The media has spent the past few decades blasting Buick for making quiet, highway cruising cars and yet Toyota has made billions in profit making similar vehicles and folks love Toyota. Toyota essentially makes cars for old people and people flock to them in droves while the media says of Buicks "when are they going to build cars for people under 60?". Numb steering, supple ride and non BMW handling responses are not OK on a Buick but are acceptable on America's best selling car.
 
"A young professional in a Buick? Forget it."
 
I have seen such folks piloting Enclaves.

A young professional in a Buick? Forget it.

With the next LaCrosse on the horizon, Buick has a great chance to make a sedan like the Enclave. I believe Bob Lutz said they can't make another cheap Buick, and that's the truth. With quality like this, they can charge a premium. Now there is nothing wrong with a comfortable car that attracts older people. Heck, we have an aging population, so you certainly want to tap into that demographic. More people than just the elderly want a comfortable, stylish, respectable car though. Perhaps some young professionals or younger management types want an upscale, sensible, comfortable car to drive clients around in, impress bosses and coworkers, etc. A full luxury car might indicate they're either overpaid or don't manage their expenses well. A boy racer just isn't professional enough. If Buick can target these buyers who don't want something flashy, but instead want a well rounded slightly premium car, they can do well.

"Buick sedans ARE solid, reliable, comfortable, and quiet. Yet for some reason, many buyers don't want those characteristics in cars. They want "sporty""
 
I strongly disagree. If that were the case, Toyota wouldn't be doing so well. Buyers want reliable, comfortable, and quiet. The problem is they're told that Buick is for old people (and that's apparently a bad thing). They're told Chevy and Ford are garbage. They're told Honda and Toyota are reliable, comfortable, and quiet.

Speaking from my admittedly short experience, Buick sedans are definitely, "solid, reliable, comfortable, and quiet." That's never been their problem. The only thing is that all of those features make them boring to drive.
 
As a former 2000 Century driver, that car was great on the highway and good for just mindless commuting, but bored me to tears most other times. Now, the interior materials weren't great (and from what I saw at the last auto show, some of them still aren't the best), but the car was very Camry like in the best sense of the word.
 
The reason I don't still own it? I like driving, didn't need all the space, and basically wanted something sportier. Hence, the Mazda3 I now have. That being said, I'm sure going to miss that car when I drive to Cambridge (5.5 hour drive) tomorrow.

You know, on the Car Stock Exchange, instead of production numbers, we should trade expected mileage on LT vehicles. Now THAT would be crazy.

I'll buy something like the Buick when I get older, without a doubt. Right now, though, my Mazda6 suits my needs very well. I guess every future Buick owner has a Mazda, huh? :)

Speaking from my admittedly short experience, Buick sedans are definitely, "solid, reliable, comfortable, and quiet." That's never been their problem. The only thing is that all of those features make them boring to drive.
 
As a former 2000 Century driver, that car was great on the highway and good for just mindless commuting, but bored me to tears most other times. Now, the interior materials weren't great (and from what I saw at the last auto show, some of them still aren't the best), but the car was very Camry like in the best sense of the word.
 
The reason I don't still own it? I like driving, didn't need all the space, and basically wanted something sportier. Hence, the Mazda3 I now have. That being said, I'm sure going to miss that car when I drive to Cambridge (5.5 hour drive) tomorrow.

Has it really been six months? Holy crap!! ha. Is that the fast that Edmunds has gotten a car to 15K? I wonder....

From what I've read, Buick sedans ARE solid, reliable, comfortable, and quiet. Yet for some reason, many buyers don't want those characteristics in cars. They want "sporty". Me too, I drive a Mazda3. Most of the time I enjoy the sporty handling, and it is comfortable enough for daily use. The Enclave is basically the Lucerne of CUV's, is it not? I mean that as a compliment to the Lucerne. As I get older, there are more and more days that I would love to drive one of those big comfy couches home from the office. Tons of space, plenty of power.

"Is the wood real?" You get three guesses, and the first two don't count!