Long-Term Road Tests
2008 Buick Enclave CX
September 24, 2008
I was thinking the other day (always a dangerous proposition, I know) and wondering how all the current (or really, really recently departed) Edmunds/Inside Line long-term vehicles stack up against each other in fuel economy, at least the fuel economy we've been recording during their time with us. So I made a list. For you and for me. In case we were both wondering.
The only current vehicles missing from my list are the Audi R8 and the Dodge Grand Caravan, and that's because no one has entered any fuel data into the tracking spreadsheet for those vehicles yet. The very top and the very bottom of the list aren't going to surprise anybody (I don't think), but the middle is kinda interesting. Seeing the Rondo and the WRX so close to each other made me raise my eyebrows. Ditto the Ford GT's spot above the Veracruz. Ready to check it all out? Follow the jump with me.
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (42)
- Posted by: Bryn MacKinnon September 24, 2008, 10:06 AM
- Categories: 2002 BMW M3, 2004 Toyota Prius, 2005 Ford GT, 2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI, 2006 Lexus RX 400h, 2007 Chevrolet Silverado LT, 2007 Ford Edge SEL, 2007 Honda Civic GX, 2007 Honda Fit Sport, 2007 Kia Rondo, 2007 Saturn Aura XR, 2007 Toyota Tundra SR5 Double Cab, 2008 BMW 135i, 2008 BMW X5 4.8i, 2008 Buick Enclave CX, 2008 Cadillac CTS V6 DI, 2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe, 2008 Honda Accord EX-L V6, 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD, 2008 Mazda CX-9, 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport, 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR, 2008 Pontiac G8 GT, 2008 Scion xB, 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe, 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, 2009 Ford Flex Limited, 2009 Nissan GT-R
September 16, 2008
I'm currently in the middle of a move (fun!) so was semi-pleased when my choices for a car for the night were between our 2008 Buick Enclave, the Rondooo and the Smart. I wish we still had our trucks. Why O why did they have to go away at the same time? Anyway, the Enclave didn't let me down.
I was only going to fill up the SUV as much as I could since I was doing this by myself and I think the Buick, and I, did pretty well. Look at all those boxes in there. I even folded down the second-row seats and moved them out of the way so that I could put more boxes on the floor.
They were all very easy to unload, too. Not too high up.
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (18)
-
- Posted by: Caroline Pardilla September 16, 2008, 11:44 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
September 15, 2008
In less than one week we'll be saying goodbye to our long-term Buick Enclave.
Surely I won't be the only one who'll miss the Enclave's inherent versatility, so eager to carry five kids and new Pottery Barn dining room chairs in the same weekend.
Despite a never-ending supply of test cars rolling through our garage, it's always hard to let a good one go.
Kelly Toepke, News Editor @ 23,952 miles
- Permalink | Comments (4)
-
- Posted by: Kelly Toepke September 15, 2008, 2:08 PM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
September 8, 2008
You may recall my earlier post in which I ruminated over which long-term vehicle I would take to my high school reunion. Nissan GT-R? Audi R8? Cadillac CTS? Pontiac G8? Benz C300?
Would you believe, the 2008 Buick Enclave CX? I know, I know. I can hardly believe it myself. Ever since I graduated I've dreamed of rolling up to the valet at my high school reunion in a fine Buick SUV. Haven't we all? And now my wife and I have lived that dream.
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (15)
-
- Posted by: Dan Edmunds September 8, 2008, 5:15 PM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
September 2, 2008
I put about 600 highway miles on our Enclave over the Labor Day weekend. There were
no surprises -- the Buick was enjoyable for the entire trip. Given that the Enclave has almost 23,000 miles on it, I kept an ear out for squeaks and rattles. I heard only one intermittent rattle coming from the lower part of the center stack.
I had my wife and one-year-old daughter with me, and the Enclave easily handled a weekend's amount of stuff. In the photo are two suitcases, a folded Pack 'n Play playpen and two duffle bags. Buick officially lists cargo capacity behind the second-row seats at 67.5 cubic feet. That's pretty much what you'll get out of a typical small crossover with all the rear seats folded. For this trip, the Buick's interior roominess actually felt like overkill for a small family.
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor @ 22,978 miles
- Permalink | Comments (8)
-
- Posted by: Brent Romans September 2, 2008, 11:53 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
August 25, 2008
Ever take a break from a car and come back to it only to find that it's not quite how you remember it? That was me last week when I took the keys to our Buick Enclave. I had last driven it six months ago. When pulling out of the Edmunds parking garage, the Buick seemed like a big bowl of mush, with a squishy brake pedal, a wallowing ride and vague steering. I didn't remember it being this bad.
Then again, I had been driving our Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution around for two weeks prior to the Buick. My perspective had been skewed.
Now that I have acclimated to the Enclave (again), we're best friends.
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor @ 22,337 miles
- Permalink | Comments (6)
-
- Posted by: Brent Romans August 25, 2008, 10:04 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
August 12, 2008
Last night I pulled in my driveway after a pleasant drive home and watched the odometer on our long-term 2008 Buick Enclave click exactly 22,000 miles. Brought a tear to my eye. Not really, but I thought I'd give the haters out there something to comment on.
Anyway, the power steering problem, which as been the truck's only reliability hiccup, is fixed and everything on the vehicle seems to feel as new. Brakes, suspension, engine, transmission? It all feels good. Even the SUV's tires still look new.
And we're not finished yet. We've only had the Enclave since November first, which means there's still three full months left on this 12 month test. We'll keep you posted, meanwhile I'll continue my quest to acclimate to the Buick's fuzzy cloth seats. Who the hell ordered this thing without leather anyway?
Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief @ 22,008 miles
- Permalink | Comments (25)
-
- Posted by: Scott Oldham August 12, 2008, 2:11 PM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
August 4, 2008
Thursday July 24th I brought our Long-Term Buick Enclave back to Santa Monica Auto group to address the continued problems we've been having with the power steering. Late afternoon on Wednesday June 30, our Enclave was fixed and back in our hands.
The wait was expected, Santa Monica Buick called us late Friday to let us know that the problem had been diagnosed and that new parts had to be ordered. Parts included a new power steering pump, a new steering rack, and new hoses. The parts, they said, would be in on Tuesday and the job should be finished Wednesday. A rental car was offered but declined.
In a past life Director of Vehicle Testing Dan Edmunds (no relation) developed steering systems for a major manufacturer and, upon road testing the vehicle, said that when the first pump failed it had probably contaminated the fluid with pump-parts that were now lodged in the rack. Turns out he was correct, that was the exact diagnosis that GM came up with and remedied.
After the fix we were contacted by GM to discuss the situation. They let us know that replacing the pump first is standard operating procedure as contamination is not a guarantee. The dealership, however, should have road-tested the vehicle further, found the flaw, and replaced the rack on the first visit. None of this should ever have hit the consumer. They also made it very clear that errant dust from our dirt road trip had nothing to do with the pump's failure, though the high-rpm churning required to not get stuck may have exacerbated the issue. Bear in mind that the same amount of wheelspin and engine use will be required by every driver to keep momentum up in the snow-belt.
All-in-all it was a fine visit with a good amount of communication and information from the dealer level. And the best part is, the Buick is back and it feels just as solid as it did before.
Days out of service: 6
Cost: 0.00
Mike Magrath, Vehicle Testing Assistant @ 21,638 miles.
- Permalink | Comments (22)
-
- Posted by: Mike Magrath August 4, 2008, 8:55 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
July 24, 2008
This morning I dropped the Buick Enclave back at Santa Monica Chevrolet Buick to fix the ailing power steering that's kept the big Buick sidelined for the past few days.
They said they'd have an idea of the problem by this afternoon. We'll keep you posted when we get any news.
Mike Magrath, Vehicle Testing Assistant @ 21,200 miles.
- Permalink | Comments (15)
-
- Posted by: Mike Magrath July 24, 2008, 11:52 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
July 23, 2008
The power steering problems we've been having with our long term 2008 Buick Enclave have been well documented in this blog, but you still don't know the whole story. What we haven't told you is that the power steering trouble started soon after this little off road excurstion.
Now I'm not sure the two are definitely related, and we have no way of knowing if they are for sure, but it wasn't long (a week or two) after we drove the SUV through this silty dirt for several hours that the power steering got funky.
I'll also admit that the front-wheel drive Enclave isn't really geared up for such terrain. Although it never got stuck, it did struggle through some of the deeper sections. And it was clear and no surprise to its passengers that the Enclave wanted back on the highway as soon as possible.
Still, it is our job is to test a vehicle, and any SUV should be able to drive though some dirt without having major systems failure soon after. Again, I'm not saying this off road adventure (for sure) caused our power steering failure, but the timing is suspect.
Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
- Permalink | Comments (18)
-
- Posted by: Scott Oldham July 23, 2008, 10:22 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
July 21, 2008
There's been some discussion of late as to my reasons for removing the engine cover from our long term Buick Enclave. One commenter said, "I think it's silly the stuff he complains about." While another backed me up "I think it could make a nice plant potter or recycle bin filler. It has no reason to be in the engine bay." But nobody hit the real reason the engine cover now lives in the trunk of the Buick: After only a few minutes of driving, the cover gets far too hot to touch.
Well that's not a problem, right? I mean, with the oil filler and dipstick available without removing the cover, what's the problem?
The problem is the power steering. It's still not right and we've been monitoring the fluid for the past few weeks. After a proper bleeding procedure there was still some air in the fluid that had to work itself out. Now that the fluid is running clear and the level is correct, there's still a problem. The assist is notchy and all the boost is all over the place. It goes from far too over-boosted to nearly power-free in the span of a 30-degree rotation. There are no set "good" spots, assist will fluctuate mid-corner without changing steering angle. I hate to say this, but it feels exactly how our Aura felt before it went to the shop. Though thankfully there is no clunk.
It will be going back to the shop shortly.
Mike Magrath, Vehicle Testing Assistant @ 21,120 miles.
- Permalink | Comments (16)
-
- Posted by: Mike Magrath July 21, 2008, 1:46 PM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
July 16, 2008
Remember last week, when Magrath discovered the Enclave's oil cap is all that's keeping on the engine cover? Remember when he said, "If it were my Enclave the first piece to go in the trash would be that silly cover."
Well, he didn't put it in the trash. No no, he put it in the Enclave's trunk. Yeah buddy, much better. When I took my first turn in the big Buick last Friday, a great big plastic thwack eminated from behind the erected third row. "What the hell was that?" I pondered, not used to items being left in our fleet vehicles.
When I popped the hatch I came upon the sight above. Does this have any real effect on Buick Enclave ownership? Not really. I just felt like airing inter-office grievances on the World Wide Interweb. Tomorrow I'll be complaining that Josh Sadlier leaves the cap off the non-dairy creamer.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor @ 21,030 miles
- Permalink | Comments (27)
-
- Posted by: JRiz July 16, 2008, 5:32 PM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
July 10, 2008
"I wouldn't take it down if I were you. That's a load-bearing poster." - Bart to Rod (or Todd)
Like the Krusty the Clown poster holding up the walls of the Flanderseses poorly rebuild home, the oil-filler cap has more responsibility in the Enclave's engine bay than a filler-tube cap should probably have.
See, in order to remove the engine cover (the thing that lets people pretend engines are neat, tidy, clean and sanitary; not smelly blocks of metal bursting with tangles of wires and, literally, full of devastating explosions) you have to unscrew the oil cap. The cover is sitting atop a few posts that are fairly secure, but the cap is the only thing that screws, latches, or clamps it in place. Not a big deal you say? It's a clever way to access the tube without removing the cover, you say? Well, yes, that's correct. Also though, with the cap located at the bottom of a shallow well, each time you open it small bits of sand and dust fall into the tube. I refuse to Hoover my engine before checking the oil. I don't know how much sand the Enclave can tolerate in its oil, but if it's more than none this is a pretty poor design element.
If it were my Enclave the first piece to go in the trash would be that silly cover. But then I'd have to look at this:
Mike Magrath, Vehicle Testing Assistant @ 21,000 miles
- Permalink | Comments (32)
-
- Posted by: Mike Magrath July 10, 2008, 10:24 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
July 8, 2008
For some reason, my six year old son insists on riding in the third row of seats even when he's the only passenger. Thanks to seats that quickly and easily fold and slide I can accommodate his odd request. The rest of the car ride is spent with me saying "I can't hear you buddy, you've got to talk louder."
The Enclave was also due for an oil change so I took it to Cerritos Buick, GMC, Hummer in Cerritos, CA. Total cost for the oil and filter change plus an inspection - $65.41. We declined the dealer recommended service items which would have put the bill closer to $200. I don't like the "Dealer Recommended" service sales tactic, it bothers me.
Brian Moody, Road Test Editor @ 20,775 miles.
- Permalink | Comments (4)
-
- Posted by: Brian Moody July 8, 2008, 1:53 PM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
For those of you who read the Full-Size Crossover Comparison, you no doubt wondered why we didn't include a GM Lambda. Well, a Saturn Outlook was slated to be in the test, but a week prior to testing, GM phoned and said it was in an accident. No other Outlook, Acadia or Enclave could be furnished in time that equaled the other assembled crossovers in terms of feature content and all-wheel-drive configuration. That criteria also left our long-term Buick Enclave out of the equation, not to mention it has more than 20,000 miles on it.
Although we couldn't give the Enclave a fair shake in a full, official comparison with the usual litany of scoring sheets and calculations, the Edmunds.com editors decided to take it and the long-term Hyundai Veracruz on a comparison drive with the official test's three crossovers. We then ranked what vehicles we would personally buy and which we thought would best suit the average consumer.
As a side-bar of sorts to the Inside Line test, check out the Edmunds.com Strategies Blog throughout the week at noon (3 p.m. EST) as we countdown the comparison test contenders.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor
- Permalink | Comments (2)
-
- Posted by: JRiz July 8, 2008, 12:34 PM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
July 3, 2008
On the eve of Independence Day, I thought I'd peruse our garage for the most American metal. Amongst the many long-termers presently in the long-term fleet, we have quite the selection of cars built by domestic makers. Some are excellent representives of this great land, others ... not so much. And that's not counting the pretty cool American cars that reside in our editors' own garages: Trans Ams, Challengers, Corvettes and Schmidt's big ol' F-150.
Of course, what constitutes an American car these days is up for debate given the Focus is hecho en Mexico and our Hyundai Veracruz is hecho en Alabama. But I'll leave those determinations up to you. And the nominees for our Most American Car are...
Buick Enclave
Cadillac CTS
Chevy Silverado
Dodge Caravan (oh dear god, I hope not)
Ford Edge
Ford Focus
Ford GT
Pontiac G8 GT
Saturn Aura
James Riswick, Automotive Editor
- Permalink | Comments (47)
-
- Posted by: JRiz July 3, 2008, 9:12 AM
- Categories: 2005 Ford GT, 2007 Chevrolet Silverado LT, 2007 Ford Edge SEL, 2007 Saturn Aura XR, 2008 Buick Enclave CX, 2008 Cadillac CTS V6 DI, 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT, 2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe, 2008 Pontiac G8 GT
July 2, 2008
![OnStar_logo[1].jpg](http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/OnStar_logo%5B1%5D.jpg)
Now that it's illegal to talk on a hand held phone while driving (here in Calif), OnStar suddenly seems worthwhile.
Brian Moody, Road Test Editor
- Permalink | Comments (2)
-
- Posted by: Brian Moody July 2, 2008, 9:56 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
June 30, 2008
It's been over eight months since the Buick Enclave first pulled into our garage. Since then, it's racked up over 20,000 miles on its odometer and at least a couple of glowing blog posts; we can safely say that the SUV has won itself a few fans on our staff. Here's a snapshot of its most current fuel economy numbers:
Current mileage: 20,582
Best over life of test: 29.66 mpg*
Worst over life of test: 11.33 mpg
Overall average (combined city and highway): 17.52 mpg
Official EPA estimate: 16 mpg city, 24 mpg highway
*Note that the Enclave's best mileage was earned during a fuel economy test that involved lots of highway miles and some pretty judicious driving.
Warren Clarke, Automotive Content Editor @ 20,582 miles
- Permalink | Comments (7)
-
- Posted by: Warren Clarke June 30, 2008, 3:00 PM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
June 16, 2008
The new power steering pump in our Buick Enclave continued to make noise through the weekend. I added a very small amount of fluid to the reservoir this morning which didn't seem to change anything -- the fluid level was slightly below the "low" indicator mark on the dipstick. Noise from the pump is noticeable if you know what to listen for and when to listen. Otherwise, if it weren't for this failure making me paranoid, I'm not certain I'd notice...
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (1)
-
- Posted by: June 16, 2008, 2:30 PM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
June 12, 2008
Five days after our Long Term Buick Enclave CX was dropped of at Santa Monica Chevrolet Buick (click the link to rate this dealership) for a complete failure in the power steering system, the Buick's back in our garage.
As we suspected, the power steering pump was at fault and would have to be ordered. The majority of time spent at the dealership was waiting for the pump, their supplier was closed for inventory. vWhen I picked up the car yesterday the new pump had a familiar groan...
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (23)
-
- Posted by: Mike Magrath June 12, 2008, 10:03 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
June 6, 2008
Yesterday, just as I made the left turn off of California's Highway 33 onto Cerro Noroeste road, our Buick Enclave's power steering began to show the first signs of failure. This is not good. Cerro Noroeste road runs maybe 25 miles through the San Emigdio Mountains and gains probably 2,500 feet in elevation. It's a classic driving road -- one of California's best...
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (27)
-
- Posted by: Dark Helmet June 6, 2008, 9:50 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
June 3, 2008
As I comfortably drove into work this morning listening to a Podcast of our own Karl Brauer on the Adam Carolla Show, the phone started ringing.
"What the hell is going on?" I asked to myself, knowing full well that I had never paired my Bluetooth phone to the Enclave and that the Enclave doesn't even have Bluetooth to begin with. Then I remembered and looked toward the OnStar controls on the mirror...
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (33)
-
- Posted by: JRiz June 3, 2008, 9:33 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
May 29, 2008
I fueled up our long-term 2008 Buick Enclave CX last night and decided to check the oil. When I released the hood's safety latch, it went right up, no prop rod needed, and there was the transverse-mounted V6 -- front and center, and within easy reach.
Then, I reached for the dipstick and it brought back memories of checking the oil in our Pontiac Solstice. It wasn't that bad, of course, since at least the Buick's dipstick is up front...
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (0)
-
- Posted by: Erin Riches May 29, 2008, 3:36 PM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
May 28, 2008
Something terrible happened to me this Memorial Day weekend: a surprise family visit. My moms words "I'm sure I told you" were still ringing in my ears as I hung up the phone and frantically started to clean my messy bachelor pad.
Praise be to the Enclave. It's seating for seven fit all those kinfolk interlopers in one space...
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (10)
-
- Posted by: May 28, 2008, 3:57 PM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
May 19, 2008
When I stopped by the office this weekend in a short-term tester, I couldn't help but notice that the Enclave was sitting in the garage unpicked. I just couldn't help trading up because A) I'd rather drive an Enclave for two hours than a Corolla, B) I wouldn't have to take two cars to dinner and C) the Enclave is really really good.
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (15)
-
- Posted by: JRiz May 19, 2008, 10:00 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
May 7, 2008
A friend of mine is finally giving up on his thirsty Jeep Grand Cherokee in favor of something a little more fuel efficient, not to mention reliable (it’s a mid-90s JGC). So after discussing the needs of his growing family and fragile ego (he really wants a Tahoe), my recommendation was a Saturn Outlook since he didn't like the styling of the Acadia.
We just so happened to have an Outlook here in the office, so I took it for a drive to reassure myself it was the right choice. It drives fine, but then I took our long term Buick Enclave home for the night. Now I think he should buy the Buick instead.
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (18)
-
- Posted by: Ed Hellwig May 7, 2008, 11:25 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
May 5, 2008
We have a "quiet room" here at the office. I've never actually used it, but I've checked it out. It is indeed pretty quiet, and there are a couple of plush-looking couches for those moments when you just want chill out and enjoy some personal time without being disturbed.
The Buick Enclave feels like a quiet room on wheels...
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (0)
-
- Posted by: Warren Clarke May 5, 2008, 2:51 PM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
April 21, 2008
Our long-term Buick Enclave took my family of three on a 200-mile round trip jaunt to the Antelope Valley to catc
h the peak of the California poppy/wildflower season this bright and sunny weekend. However, the ride was comfortable, the navigation system got us there without a hitch and the toddler-loading was quick and easy. However, we suffered frequent temporary blindness because of the very pretty but impossibly shiny chrome trim that’s all over the instrument and gear panels. It was like actual solar flares combined with George Hamilton’s teeth (and/or forehead) times 1 million, and I’m not exaggerating.
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (24)
-
- Posted by: Bryn MacKinnon April 21, 2008, 5:41 PM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
April 9, 2008
Our 2008 Buick Enclave has just busted through the 15,000 mile mark. That's 15,000 miles in just six months, which means we like this truck.
But here's the best part, the Enclave has been as reliable and problem free as a car can get. It's only been to the dealer once and that was for a scheculed maintanence visit for the usual oil change and tire rotation...
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (21)
-
- Posted by: Scott Oldham April 9, 2008, 1:05 PM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
April 2, 2008
Our long-term 2008 Buick Enclave is a mechanical twin to the GMC Acadia. They share the same basic chassis, suspension geometry and powertrain. They drive much differently, however.
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (12)
-
- Posted by: Jay Kavanagh April 2, 2008, 2:25 PM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
April 1, 2008
As I pulled into a Target parking spot, I thought I heard my cell phone ring. Just as I realized that it wasn't my ringtone, the ringing stopped and an automated message from a Blockbuster video store started to admonish me for not returning a DVD on time, warning me that if the movie wasn't returned by Monday, I would be charged full price.
Curious, I thought, because I don't rent movies from Blockbuster. Even curiouser because the message was not, in fact, coming through my own cell phone, but instead it was playing through the Buick Enclave's audio speakers...
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (10)
-
- Posted by: Kelly Toepke April 1, 2008, 1:20 PM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
March 19, 2008
What do American Idol contestant Kristy Lee Cook and our long-term Buick Enclave have in common? They've both been labeled "absolutely forgettable."
Although it's AI judge Simon Cowell who delivers the bad news to Kristy on a weekly basis, it's my friend Lydia who's continuously unimpressed with the Enclave. Not that she doesn't like the Enclave, it's just that as many times as she's been in it, she can't seem to remember what it is.
"What is this?" she asked yesterday when she climbed into the passenger's seat for the umpteenth time...
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (47)
-
- Posted by: Kelly Toepke March 19, 2008, 9:36 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
With the approach of the summer driving season and the continuation of high fuel prices, you'll likely see media outlets publishing stories about how to save gas. But do these fuel-saving tips really work?
Well, we tested them to find out. In our Edmunds We Test The Tips Part II article, we used our long-term Buick Enclave, our long-term Toyota Tundra and a Lexus ES 350 to determine what techniques deliver the best improvements in fuel economy. We tested tips such as driving style, tire pressure, running the air-conditioner and lowering a pickup's tailgate.
Obviously, you'll want to read the story if you're interested...
Continue reading...
March 10, 2008
This weekend I put a substantial number of miles, both freeway and city street, on our 2008 Buick Enclave, and I am so impressed with its ride. It's remarkably smooth, and a perfect exemplar of why crossover platforms make so much sense. It's huge, no doubt about it, but it rides well, it slides around corners, and it feels confident and composed at high speeds.
In the past, I have taken issue with some modern sedans, like the Camry, because they're so smooth and disconnected from the road that you can go 100 and feel like you're going 40...
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (8)
-
- Posted by: Doug Lyoyd March 10, 2008, 10:42 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
February 22, 2008
Last night I got into a little fender bender, or so I thought, with a Nissan Altima. I was clearly signaling and turning left down a side street and he was coming out of that side street and turning left onto the busy street I was leaving. I was almost completing the turn when he decided to go on ahead. I felt his car hit the rear driver side of mine. It jolted the Enclave a little.
Immediately I pulled over and got out. Fortunately, he did the same. I looked at the area of the Enclave where I thought he hit but since it was night and raining hard I couldn't get a good look. "Looks like there's no damage," he said quickly. "Not that we can see. It's dark. Can I get your information?" I said calmly. "Look, you're making me late for a dinner. There's no damage," he reiterated. "I didn't see you signal left," he added. "Oh, I signaled left." It was funny how he tried to make it my fault when he was the one who was clearly in a hurry somewhere.
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (20)
-
- Posted by: Caroline Pardilla February 22, 2008, 10:29 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
February 14, 2008
Wind noise is well-tamed in our 2008 Buick Enclave. The sleek shape of the body, of course, has a lot to do with it.
But our Enclave has something a lot of others cars don't: Dual-pane laminated front side glass. This is more expensive than the usual single pane stuff -- expensive, but effective at quelling noise...
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (14)
-
- Posted by: Dan Edmunds February 14, 2008, 10:31 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
February 13, 2008
Our 2008 Buick Enclave was part of a recent three-car fuel economy investigation. I'm helping Phil Reed update the We Test the Tips fuel economy article that appears on the Edmunds.com website.
Anyone who's ever put their hand out the window of a moving car can surmise that putting stuff on the roof of a car hurts fuel economy. But how much? I don't want to give the farm away, but our test of driving with luggage on the roof produced a much more significant fuel economy penalty, in pure MPG terms, than we'd expected.
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (7)
-
- Posted by: Dan Edmunds February 13, 2008, 10:25 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
February 8, 2008
Our 2008 Buick Enclave is one of five, three-row vehicles we have in the fleet right now. In general, we've been very impressed with the comfort and roominess of the Enclave. But having not sat in the back myself, I was curious to find out how well it all worked.
Here's what I learned.
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (27)
-
- Posted by: Brent Romans February 8, 2008, 10:50 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
February 4, 2008
Three years ago, Buick's lineup – the Century, LaCrosse, LeSabre, Park Avenue, Rainier, Rendezvous and Terraza – was a collection of all-star rejects. If you were in high school, having to use any of these as a loan from mom or dad to pick up a date would be a source of major teenage embarrassment.
But now there's the Enclave. Near as I can tell, everybody on our staff likes it...
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (15)
-
- Posted by: Brent Romans February 4, 2008, 10:09 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
January 31, 2008
Just about every new SUV can be had with a roof rack, but very few of these racks actually come with cross rails. This is the case for our 2008 Buick Enclave. And since we were in need of a way to properly secure cargo on the roof, we had to buy cross rails from the dealer.
Wanna guess how much they were? You're the next contestant on The Price is Right.
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (9)
-
- Posted by: Brent Romans January 31, 2008, 11:03 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
January 17, 2008
Now that I’ve put myself out there as a genuine fan of the Enclave, I thought I would take a moment to highlight another well thought out feature. Took it to the grocery store last night and when it came time to load up my bags full of gin, tonic and limes, I discovered this handy underfloor storage bin. Not only did the recessed well keep my precious cargo from rolling around, the lid was sturdy and it stayed up on its own. Seems simple, but I’ve been in numerous SUVs that didn’t even have cargo nets let alone underfloor storage, so this was a nice surprise...
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (14)
-
- Posted by: Ed Hellwig January 17, 2008, 6:20 PM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
January 16, 2008
We’ve had our Buick Enclave for months now, but I’ve only recently had the chance to get some seat time. Between my limited need for seven-passenger seating and the fact that it’s a Buick, I had pretty much avoided the big crossover.
Turns out, I had no reason to fear the big brute. In fact, I was missing out...
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (21)
-
- Posted by: Ed Hellwig January 16, 2008, 5:01 PM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
January 14, 2008
Up to spec? Actually, I took this picture when I arrived in the Edmunds garage after a 31.1 mile commute from my home. I checked the sticker in the door jam and found that 35 psi is spec when it is cold, not hot. Rechecking after it cooled down I saw that the cold temperature of the tires was about 32 psi...
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (10)
-
- Posted by: Philip Reed January 14, 2008, 9:05 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
January 8, 2008
Blue
Gold
Crystal Metallic?
Getting out of our 2008 Buick Enclave in the parking garage this morning, I saw a distinct pearlescent shimmer in the paint that got me thinking that maybe, just maybe, the color differences depicted in the various photos I've taken of the Enclave weren't entirely the result of my shoddy amateur blogtography.
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (14)
-
- Posted by: Dan Edmunds January 8, 2008, 8:16 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
January 4, 2008
Wouldn't you just know it? After a 2,000 mile there-and-back-again trip to Oregon in our 2008 Buick Enclave, I get sick just as I'm getting home. Nice. I'd wanted to wrap-up this a few days ago, but better late than never. Here goes:
The Buick seems optimized for those who are not in a hurry and prefer a somewhat relaxed pace. This doesn't mean the Enclave is a clumsy yacht or a rolling couch, because it isn't. The Enclave is coordinated and balanced up to a certain point. If you push harder, it doesn't "lose it", it simply fails to reward the enthusiast driver - not a serious flaw for a family truckster such as this.
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (8)
-
- Posted by: Dan Edmunds January 4, 2008, 11:19 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
January 1, 2008
We're done. The 2008 Buick Enclave is home and sitting unloaded in our driveway. It would be an understatement to say that we're glad to be home.
Since the final leg from the San Francisco Bay area to where I live in Orange County is mostly straight and flat, I decided to see just how many MPG I could squeeze out of the Enclave...
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (10)
-
- Posted by: Dan Edmunds January 1, 2008, 12:47 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
December 30, 2007
After 7 days and some 1,500 miles in the saddle of our 2008 Buick Enclave, I've developed a few gripes.
1) I'm not a fan of fake wood in any car interior. The Buick annoys me in two ways: the "wood" on the dash is particularly shiny and plastic-looking; the "wood" on the steering wheel rim looks more authentic, but is too hard and slick. And they aren't even the same species of simu-wood! On the steering, we've got Fauxhogany, while the dash is trimmed with Bird's Eye Fakle. Don't get me started about the eyeball clock with its tiny face and its humungous blingy surround.
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (17)
-
- Posted by: Dan Edmunds December 30, 2007, 11:42 PM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
Not much new going on today. Mom and I braved the near-constant rain and drove the 2008 Buick Enclave into town for provisions. The road between their driveway and US 101 is a tight two lane with 30 mph corners that's even more buckled and contorted by land movement than any other stretch of pavement we've seen on this trip.
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (4)
-
- Posted by: Dan Edmunds December 30, 2007, 12:45 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
December 29, 2007
I've already gone on record saying that the navigation system on our 2008 Buick Enclave carried no weight when I picked it for this trip. After all, I've been coming here 17 years and I think I know the route pretty well. Still, in the name of science, I had to put it to the test.
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (14)
-
- Posted by: Dan Edmunds December 29, 2007, 12:53 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
December 27, 2007
Here on the Oregon coast it has been snowing on and off for the last two days. For a few hours, our 2008 Buick Enclave was stranded. There wasn't much accumulation, but the falling snow melted and re-froze on my parents' driveway. Our Enclave doesn't have all-wheel drive - but even if it did we probably would have waited for conditions to improve a bit.
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (18)
-
- Posted by: Dan Edmunds December 27, 2007, 9:50 PM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
December 25, 2007
This morning we officially passed into Northern California. How could we tell? Well, about 2 hours into day two, we stopped our 2008 Buick Enclave at Real Goods Solar Living Center in Hopland for a potty stop. We parked our SUV next to a one of 6 front-row electric car parking spots (all unoccupied), several large photovoltaic solar arrays, a bio-diesel pump and the compost heap.
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (19)
-
- Posted by: Dan Edmunds December 25, 2007, 1:45 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
December 24, 2007
Day one of our family’s annual trek to Oregon started with the 2008 Buick Enclave packed tightly.
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (8)
-
- Posted by: Dan Edmunds December 24, 2007, 8:52 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
December 18, 2007
In recent times, Buicks have been known for a driving experience similar to this.
However, the 2008 Buick Enclave thunders down the road like this.
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (11)
-
- Posted by: JRiz December 18, 2007, 10:31 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
December 17, 2007
I loved having our 2008 Buick Enclave for the weekend. It was a weekend of holiday parties and long training runs and then general laziness and the Buick accommodated with its roominess and plushness, not requiring me to work hard for much of anything. I didn't have to worry about struggling with parking it since it has a back-up camera. I had no problems with getting in and around traffic as it was easy to handle...
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (16)
-
- Posted by: Caroline Pardilla December 17, 2007, 4:00 PM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
December 10, 2007
Yesterday I learned all about Snow Flocking.
But before I get into that I want to tell you how perfectly our 2008 Buick Enclave served my family on our annual hunt for the perfect Christmas tree. This year we chose a seven foot tall Noble Fur, green in color and handsomely bagged in white plastic for its short time atop the Buick. Last thing I wanted to do was scratch the roof of the Enclave, so I paid the extra $2.95 to have the tree bagged...
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (7)
-
- Posted by: Scott Oldham December 10, 2007, 2:41 PM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
December 7, 2007
Today our 2007 Buick Enclave zipped past the 6500 mile mark on its odometer. No big deal right? Wrong. We've only had the SUV for a couple of months...
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (29)
-
- Posted by: Scott Oldham December 7, 2007, 2:06 PM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
December 5, 2007
I flipped on the lights of our 2008 Buick Enclave CX just before I began an evening trip back to Los Angeles from Pahrump, Nevada.
"The Enclave has HID headlamps?" shouted a colleague who was standing just in front.
Yep. Even the entry-level CX comes standard with HID Xenon headlamps...
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (24)
-
- Posted by: Dan Edmunds December 5, 2007, 11:06 PM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
December 4, 2007
The holidays are sneaking up fast. I don't have my shopping done yet, but I am starting to think about which long-term test car I'll use to haul the Edmunds clan up to Oregon. So far, our 2008 Buick Enclave CX is the current front runner.
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (20)
-
- Posted by: Dan Edmunds December 4, 2007, 1:20 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
November 19, 2007
The title of this post contains words I never thought I'd utter. At least not together. I love sport sedans, and don't care for SUVs, particularly huge 3-row SUVs like the Enclave. Also, a Buick is the car you get with your AARP membership card, or the butt of jokes, as in Annie Hall when Woody emerges from the bathroom ashen-faced and says "That spider's the size of a Buick."
I am happy to say those perceptions have been wiped away single-handedly by the 2008 Buick Enclave...
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (15)
-
- Posted by: Doug Lyoyd November 19, 2007, 6:40 PM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
As Nut Mom for Girl Scout Brownie Troop 421, I was tasked with picking up the entire troop's fall fundraiser order from the local Long Beach, Calif. warehouse.
Usually minivans are my first choice for transporting cases of Girl Scout goodies, but since our trusty Kia Sedona left the long-term fleet in July we've been minivan-free, so this time I turned to our new 2008 Buick Enclave instead.
With just the third-row seats folded down, the Enclave had no problem swallowing 588 cans of nuts shrink-wrapped into 49 cases. And best of all, the cargo floor height was perfect for my 5'7" nutty self to load all of the cases into the Enclave during my assigned 8:36-8:40 a.m...
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (12)
-
- Posted by: Kelly Toepke November 19, 2007, 12:11 PM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
November 5, 2007
As soon as I got into the Enclave I knew I would like it. The size, ride and comfort are perfect for me. I think it looks great too. I'd rather drive this than our Q7 - seriously...
Continue reading...
- Permalink | Comments (2)
-
- Posted by: Brian Moody November 5, 2007, 11:38 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
November 2, 2007
We've added a 2008 Buick Enclave CX to our long-term fleet.
We skipped the leather and heated seats (pout) but we opted for the touchscreen navigation, back-up camera and Bose sound system.
Read the Introduction on Inside Line.
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor
- Permalink | Comments (31)
-
- Posted by: Donna Derosa November 2, 2007, 11:35 AM
- Categories: 2008 Buick Enclave CX
