It is what Buick says it is. However, the name “Buick” should imply that it’s better than toyota’s faux-luxury division. If buick wants to be taken seriously, it can’t make the same argument that hyundai makes — even if that argument is true in both cases

marzetta: I’m buying a lambda this weekend, and it’ll be hard not to pick the enclave. Well, I’m also considering two other cars.

How long have you had yours, and did you have to pay MSRP? What did you have before?

“Have you at the very least taken a look at the Enclave in person yourself?” The fluffer wouldn’t do that, because as long as he doesn’t, he can keep insisting that the pilot with an A on the front is better.

No? Well, I’d have to say your wrong on this notion…as I did have an import, and have made the switch to the Buick Enclave.

Interesting that you are so quick to pass judgement on such a fine vehicle when you don’t own one yourself. Have you at the very least taken a look at the Enclave in person yourself? Taken it for a test drive? If you did, I seriously doubt you’d be stating such harsh criticism.

[QUOTE = tripleonefive]LLN is not supposed to do advertising and especially not for some old man retirement Buick. It would be nice if GM make 18 models of the same car. This car hasnt proven itself with quality and NO and I mean NO import buyer would even consider this thing oover a Pilot or Highlander. Even if they thought it looked better its still a just a GM.[/QUOTE]

LLN is hardly doing any advertising. You’re stating such simply on the presumption that the review didn’t contain enough negatives for you, and make no mistake there were negatives in that review, but overall, they gave the Enclave its rightful praise. And yes, as an import buyer, I chose this vehicle over the Pilot, as the Honda Pilot was nothing more than a simple rebadge of last year’s model, and it appears next year’s model is even more boxy than the current model. So, if traveling in a box on wheels is your idea of a sweet ride, to each his own. I’ll take the aerodynamic, sleek, and futuristicly designed Enclave any day over the Pilot or the Highlander for that matter any day.

[QUOTE = seanm415]I would venture to guess that if someone mapped the demographic bkgd of all the people responding on this thread, all of the positive responders would represent Buick’s ACTUAL current audience, and all of the negative responders would represent Buick’s TARGET audience. How many single, 25-35 year olds buy Buicks as opposed to Lexus’???[/QUOTE]

I would venture to say that you are simply labeling Buick’s audience. Visit http://www.enclaveforum.net and you’ll soon realize that Buick has done one hell of a job of selling the Enclave to 25-35 year olds. And more accurately, I am a positive responder who actually owns the vehicle and am in the 25-35 year old demographic you so quickly think won’t buy a Buick as opposed to a Lexus. Frankly, I know a LOT of 25-35 year olds who are willing to keep $5,000 to $10,000 dollars in their pocket and purchase a Buick who has reliability ratings on par with Lexus according to JD Power.

Conclusively, I just want to let you all know that the Buick Enclave is all the review stated it was and more. The vehicle is simply awesome. A stunning exterior, a smooth ride, and a luxurious interior. So if any here would actually like to ask any questions to an owner of a Cocoa Metallic CXL with Ebony interior for some real feedback and educated opinions rather than FUD spewed from anti-american-car haters, I’d be glad to answer them.

Buick should just stop calling this thing a Lexus-beating crossover and call it was it is: a middle-aged middle-class family-moving minivan-replacement-by-another-name. When they do, I’ll happily agree that they nailed the product and positioning perfectly.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but the Enclave is supposed to be a crossover, and Buick is trying to target Lexus buyers. Young and single may not be the only demographic, but:
1) The audience for crossovers skews younger
2) The audience for Lexus skews younger

Granted its a much better product than they’ve had, but as a member of the aforementioned demographic, and as someone who is interested in crossovers (and somewhat interested in Lexus), I still have absolutely no interest in the Enclave.

I’ve had the same opinion about John David Power for a Long time. If I switch now, just because he puts Buick up top, that’d be hypocritical, in my view

BTW – JD Powers simply reports what people tell them in surveys.

Again, I’m looking at the Tribeca and CX-9, but if the Lambdas are better, that’s what i’m getting. Sunday is my wifes birthday, and Saturday is her last ride in the Oldsmobile!

tripleonefluffer: what is an import buyer? Someone who bought one import, or someone who ONLY buys imports? IUf the latter is the definition you’re using, of course such a person wouldn’t buy an Enclave.

LSC: You have the right attitude.

Luca: 1115 works at Digital Playground … until he loses his job to a blue pill.

Piablo: ditto. But I ain’t no hypocrite. Just because John david Power gets one right doesn’t mean he’s to be trusted all of a sudden

It’s funny. Bash the Enclave and it’s an “honest” review. Praise it, and LLN is just a pandering advert. And everyone wonders how and why we elect crooked politicians? Because the people can’t even be honest themselves. This Enclave is a pretty damn nice vehicle. It’s sales numbers will reflect that. Especially when the JD Powers reports support it’s quality and build. The import humpers can have their ugly as hell Toyota/Lexus Highlander.

And as for the Lambda’s not proving their reliability – the Lambdas have only had 1 MINOR recall very early on (and that is practically GM’s only recall this year). I don’t know how else you want them to prove their “worthiness”. I don’t understand people like you – ones that buy into all the BS. Toyota makes the Prius, and suddenly people think that EVERY car Toy makes is fuel efficient and this and that and they feel good about buying Tundras and Land Cruisers. On the other hand, you seem to apply GM’s shortcomings in quality from YEARS ago to ALL of GM’s products.

QUOTE FROM ARTICLE:
“Fit and finish are light years ahead of past GM vehicles but still comes in just below Lexus quality. The interior — which features arched vents and an analog clock atop the center stack — is finished in rich-looking faux wood with chrome accents. Overall the design is well executed, but the material covering the top of the dash and steering wheel face seems to be of a lesser quality than you would expect to see in a vehicle with such lofty goals.”
I don’t know how much “money GM paid for that” but I think they got ripped off. LLN critisized the Enclave wherever it deserved it, but remember that usually people don’t expect a lot from a Buick and so they are blown away by the Enclave. The sheer change Enclave represents from typical “old man Buicks” compared to its own sophistication might make some (including me) overlook its minor shortcomings because we are just so pleasantly surprised by a crossover like this coming out of Buick.

You want to talk about paying for PR, and positive reviews/marketing? Look no further: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/05/28/100034332/index.htm?postversion=2007052305

So get over yourselves and go check out all the ass-kissing reviews of Toyonda products that mention NOT ONE flaw, not even their ‘conservative styling’ to put it nicely.

This review is marketing copy written by someone who was so pleased to be invited to a GM event where they served free sandwiches, they don’t dare suggest there’s anything wrong with the car lest they not get invited back.

LLN readers most likely read the buff mags, Edmund’s, etc. and heard all this stuff about the Enclave months ago anyway. This coverage adds nothing.

Note that the Enclave IS a very nice effort but by no means flawless. It’s chunky, heavy and expensive, among other things. Unless LLN has the guts to write a balanced review it shouldn’t hurt itself by posting air kisses like this.

Tip to LLN: next time find something to critique so your selling out isn’t so apparent. Heck, mention you don’t like the cup holders. At least then you would begin to appear like you are giving an unbiased review.

More advertisements like this and LLNs readers will go elsewhere. When their readers leave GM will stop paying them for advertising, er reviewing.