I live in the Province of Quebec, Canada. Where summers are 90 degrees and winters are 4 feet of snow and sometimes minus 30 degrees. Roads are sometimes hot, wet, slippery, frozen and snowy.
In 1999, I bought a Pontiac Transport (Loaded) $30,000. It was a great van, all bucket seats (7), etc.
In 2002, I leased a Buick Rendez-Vous CX/FWD(some equipments) for $35,000. Nice interiors, loved the big side view mirrors, great handling. Love the winter driving. Especially Traction Control. Replaced front wheel bearings under warranty.
In 2005, I leased another Buick Rendez-Vous CX/FWD (loaded)for $44,000. Leather interiors, all electric, sunroof, heated seats. Especially Traction Control. Also replaced front wheel bearings under warranty. Loved it winter road handling. For a FWD, never slipped on ice, snow or skidded very wet roads.
In Sept 2008, I leased another Buick. This time it was the Enclave AWD fully loaded. Worth $49,000 ($54,000 CDN) with sunroof, electric equip., leather interior, stereo system, back-up alert system, 6 speed transmission, 18" mag wheels, tow hitch system with adjustable air suspension at rear, onboard computer system, etc. I was in heaven.
What a great vehicle. Heads turn when you drive this vehicle. It's high on the road. The headlights actually light up the road and more. Last winter, we received about 4 feet of snow. The Enclave behaved like a snow plow. Tratction control, stabilitrack, ABS brakes make it impossible to actually drive this vehicle in the ditch or off the road. Believe me, I drive as fast in winter as in summer. When the cars on the highway are driving at 30MPH because of ice, snow or slush on the road, I pass at 60MPH without even a second thought. I driven on side street after a snow storm (2 feet of snow) and pushed the snow with the front bumper without even spinning the tires. A hint : I paid $1,000 for good Bridgestone Blizak winter tires.
When it's cold, the climate control (3 zone system) keep everyone absolutely perfect. The summer is just as great. And you pull a trailer, the ride is very smooth without frequent speed changing (trailer switch). The seats are very confortable. Not as fancy as in my 2005 Buick Rendez-Vous. It had the memory position, etc.
If you like confort, style, smooth ride, a tough but gentle crossover/SUV that has something different ... the Enclave has that.
By the way, I've driven 22,000 miles (35,000 KM) since September 2007 and what I love most is that you can sit 6 or 7 confortably and you still have room behind the rear seat (60/40 configuration). The Rendez-Vous had no room.
And last, the automatic 6 speed transmission is a little perky on shift-down when passing. Sometimes it seems to shift-down too fast like going from 5th or 6th gear to 2nd or 3rd. Otherwise very nice. I drive in the LOW position 75% of the time because you can shift-up or down with the button on the stick-shift. Saves on the breaks by about 50% when slowing down or going to a full stop.
This is my 5th vehicle that I've driven for 22,000 mile (35,000 KM) yearly within the last 11 years ; a 1996 Dodge Caravan, a 1999 Pontiac Transport, a 2002 and 2005 Buick Rendez-Vous and the 2008 Buick Enclave and I can claim the fact that the Buicks are the only vehicles which have remain solid (suspension) and as confortable from the beginning to the end of the 3 year lease.
I think that it's by far, the greatest crossover/SUV vehicle on the market. The Saturn Outlook is a clone without the Buick style.
Warning: Don't buy this vehicle unless you don't mind spending $50 to $100 a week in gas.
Otherwise, I just love it and can't hardly wait to see what Buick will think of next !
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