Hell hath frozen over

For the first time in my life I would consider buying a Buick.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/Jeffz28/stuff/nc-20060110-21736.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/Jeffz28/stuff/0601_buick_enclave_02_900.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/Jeffz28/stuff/0601_naias_0392007_buick_enclaverea.jpg

Just realized this today.

then youve obviously never heard of the grand national

then youve obviously never heard of the grand national

I'm talking brand new. I was probably 5 when GN's were new.

Thats a very nice truck. My parents next door neighbor was very involved in the development of that vehicle. I sat in one he had from GM and it was very much like that. Along with the Saturn and GMC versions GM hopes to pick some crossover sales.

The Enclave is the nicest of the 3 and GM wants to fight Lexus with it. We'll see.

Is there some non-CG pics of this thing yet?

Those aren't CG pics, but they aren't pics of the production model. Buick.com has pics of the production version.

Not my cup of tea...

For the first time in my life I would consider buying a Buick.

When it comes time to replace my wife's 4runner it very may well be between that, the next-gen Lexus RX, and the Acura MDX.

When it comes time to replace my wife's 4runner it very may well be between that, the next-gen Lexus RX, and the Acura MDX.
You like the MDX? Just curious. I liked the older ones but those new ones just sort of hit you square in the face when you see them on the road.

Nice, but too bad it's not a "true" station wagon instead of trying to be anything but a wagon, van, or SUV.

We have three Buicks:

This is my winter beater, worth every penny of the $950 I paid for it. :)
http://homepage.mac.com/jakerobb/pictures/regal.jpg

And these are the fun Buicks:
http://homepage.mac.com/jakerobb/gn/6.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/jakerobb/gsx/1.jpg

But yeah, the Enclave is nice too. I also think the Lucerne is a huge improvement over the large Buick sedans it replaced.

Those aren't CG pics, but they aren't pics of the production model. Buick.com has pics of the production version.
I guess I have to disagree -- these pics are either CG or very heavily photoshopped.

edit: I mean the interior pics.

i've always been a buick fan myself.. i've owned 2 of them, an 86 electra and a 91 century, and i miss those cars, especially the electra

the new lucerne looks like a damn nice car.. and of course this Enclave...

i'd sport a buick as a daily driver if i had the cash...

Those aren't CG pics, but they aren't pics of the production model. Buick.com has pics of the production version.

Actually the photos in the original post are of the concept that debuted at NAIAS 2006. The production model, which debuted at the 2006 LA Auto show, is a little different. Mostly on the interior.

There are a slew of production model pics here:
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/28/la-auto-show-meet-the-2008-buick-enclave/

I'd really like to see a comparison of it to the lexus and acura considering the extras they added to the buick to reduce noise and vibration levels compared to the other lambda's.

What really suprised me, however, is that this might actually attract buyers who aren't collecting they're pension yet. I mean, I'm 24 and I'm digging it.

It has a little more room behind the rear seat than my Rendezvous, I love the wheels, and the lines way more than the semi-boring Ranier or Terraza...kinda creating a delima...I want a Camaro, my wife wants to trade up her Rendezvous for an Enclave...:bang:

It has a little more room behind the rear seat than my Rendezvous, I love the wheels, and the lines way more than the semi-boring Ranier or Terraza...kinda creating a delima...I want a Camaro, my wife wants to trade up her Rendezvous for an Enclave...:bang:
buy both...

You like the MDX? Just curious. I liked the older ones but those new ones just sort of hit you square in the face when you see them on the road.

I'm iffy on the exterior styling - it's something that'll probably grow on me after I get used to it, but the interior is flat out gorgeous, especially compared to the old one that was still using many components that were used in the 98-02 Accord.:lol:

But I got to drive one around town a few days ago as my buddy brought his TL in for routine maintenance and the dealership loaned that to him for the day - I used to always let him try out my Lexus loaners, so he returned the favor for me. It handled amazingly well for an SUV, yet still had great ride quality. Top notch interior, as mentioned - the only complaint I have is that the "300 hp 3.7L V6" doesn't feel like 300hp at all... not at any RPM. It feels strong at casual rpm but when you floor it... well, it'll get out of the way but it doesn't really hit you like 300hp should, probably due to excessive weight from the AWD system, 7 row seating, etc. Oh and on top of that they seemed to have tuned the exhaust to try and sound like a sports car when near redline, which just makes the fact that it's not accelerating very fast even more obvious.:D

The production model, which debuted at the 2006 LA Auto show, is a little different. Mostly on the interior.
Yeah it is. That third row lost alot in translation to a production model. It pretty much looks just like the GMC/Saturn versions

my interior pic:
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/1844/picture038ba3.jpg

For the first time in my life I would consider buying a Buick.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/Jeffz28/stuff/nc-20060110-21736.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/Jeffz28/stuff/0601_buick_enclave_02_900.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/Jeffz28/stuff/0601_naias_0392007_buick_enclaverea.jpg

Just realized this today.

Only thing it needs is a V8.

Nice vehicle all the way around.

Only thing it needs is a V8.a northstar/6sd combo would be nice.

Only thing it needs is a V8.

Nice vehicle all the way around.
Agreed. If these could easily tow 5,000lbs, ie my boat, I would trade the tahoe in tommorow for one.

Only thing it needs is a V8.

Give it a year.:D

Give it a year.:D5.3? or northstar? i heard the 5.3 but they should put the N* in it.

Agreed. If these could easily tow 5,000lbs, ie my boat, I would trade the tahoe in tommorow for one.

They do 4500lbs. That probably has more to do with the suspension setup than the V6. How heavy is your boat?

I've heard rumors of both the 5.3L (when talked about the Acadia) and Northstar (Buick). I doubt GM will use two different V8s though. My guess is the 5.3L because it is cheaper and more powerful.

They do 4500lbs. That probably has more to do with the suspension setup than the V6. How heavy is your boat?

I've heard rumors of both the 5.3L (when talked about the Acadia) and Northstar (Buick). I doubt GM will use two different V8s though. My guess is the 5.3L because it is cheaper and more powerful. they should put the 5.3 in the GMC and the N* in the buick. makes the most sense.

5.3? or northstar? i heard the 5.3 but they should put the N* in it.

Rumor has been the Ultra V8 since a year before the Lambdas were released.

Rumor has been the Ultra V8 since a year before the Lambdas were released.

I heard the same. Apparently The people designing the Ultra V8 wanted more overhang on the lambda's for clearance. Lutz told them no, and to design their way around it.

I think this one is a hit. It's to my eyes the most attractive of the Lambdas and carries out brand destinctiveness better than any GM of late - you can tell it's Buick without cheesy retro cliches.

My Rendezvous with a 3400 says it can tow aprox 3500lbs...though I wouldn't do it very often. I'd love to see how a 5.3L would perform, with gearing it shouldn't have trouble with 5000lb.
An Ultra V8 sounds more my speed tho!...

you can tell it's Buick without cheesy retro cliches.

You mean like portholes? Look again at the pics. :)

I don't think they look cheesy, but the portholes are definitely a throwback to cars like the Buick Super.

You mean like portholes? Look again at the pics. :)

I don't think they look cheesy, but the portholes are definitely a throwback to cars like the Buick Super.


Portholes are cool.

Portholes are cool.

Agreed, but a retro (or heritage, if you must) styling cue nonetheless.

Heritage "Cue" is OK, that's not retro...and I like'em better on the hood than the fender too.
It still looks dead sexy to me, I'd just like mine with 4 portholes tho...V8!
Since it's not big on cargo room, not that I want it to be, then it would be overlapping larger SUV's, but it needs to be able to tow something like a small camper or storage trailer.

I do like the "BU HOG" SUV , and it is nice

however...

I think (if I had the money) one of these would do the trick....
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/luxury/suv_truck/112_0605_2006_porsche_cayenne_turbo_s/

If the Buick gets a Northstar, just add your own twin-turbo's and pocket the change left over...and it'd look better than the understated Cayenne.

You mean like portholes? Look again at the pics. :)

I don't think they look cheesy, but the portholes are definitely a throwback to cars like the Buick Super.

Sure, but they've been worked into the overall styling of the car, rather than tacked on. And even without them, every curve of the car is very Buick - swooping lines, bulging fenders, lots of chrome all around. I wish Pontiac had such a good understanding of its design language (I'm not talking about ribbing and hood scoops).