CD Article: 2008 Buick Enclave CXL AWD

[jww]

... we are new to Ottawa and have used the turn by turn driving directions several times and it works like a charm.  ...

Welcome to town - hope you enjoy your time here. We moved her 21 years ago on a 2 year rotational assignment, and after 4 major career changes, we are still here and absolutely love it. All the amenities you need with a smaller city feel.

[sailor723]

Had a closer look at one today....all that chrome trim around the headlights,on the hood and around the grille looks kind of garish/tacky to me.

[2hondas]

Saw a pearl white one today...classy.

[Snowman]

I took delivery of my 2008 Enclave a month ago and I love this vehicle.  It is comfortable, roomy and luxurious, and yes, as quiet as they claim.  I love the height of the Enclave - haven't got to jump in or out and haven't got to fold myself up to get into it.  It is the first time ever that I have had complete strangers come up to me and compliment the car and ask me what it was.  If that reaction is any indication then GM has a true winner with the Enclave.

Congrats! I saw a coco in the flesh and it was awesome inside and out.

[Allen]

Had a closer look at one today....all that chrome trim around the headlights,on the hood and around the grille looks kind of garish/tacky to me.

  it's a very nice looking unit inside and out... but way too much chrome spoils the look IMO

[Rolling]

My next door neighbor just bought a Gold Mist Metallic Enclave with Cashmere/Cocoa Leather interior. It’s a fully loaded front drive CXL with the 19 inch chrome wheels.

Talk about “Blingin”  those wheels/tires combo are quit the eye catchers. I was also impressed with the build quality inside and out. He ordered all the toys including the Navigation, Rear DVD,steerable headlights, and more. During the little demo drive around the neighborhood, I was also impressed with its refined ride and all the features the Enclave had.  I was truly green with envy.

It’s interesting that when GM puts their mind into making a good product, and actually spends some money in the manufacturing process to ensure quality. It shows up in the end product, but now the vehicle cost is on par with the imports.

I’m sure that GM can produce vehicles as good as any other manufacturer, and I’m starting to see some really nice models like this Enclave, where you can see right away that GM “has put some effort into it” I like where GM is going with this new philosophy.

[jww]

Had a closer look at one today....all that chrome trim around the headlights,on the hood and around the grille looks kind of garish/tacky to me.

  it's a very nice looking unit inside and out... but way too much chrome spoils the look IMO

Me 2. I think that body-coloured trim would add to a more cohesive feel to the car. However, we are starting to see manufacturers moving back to the 50s, 60s and 70s when chrome trim ruled. Then in the 80s we decided that body-coloured moldings and trim was more 'up-market'. I recall one buying our first brand-new car, and moldings and trim were in matte black plastic - but we moved up to the next higher level trim, we got - body coloured moldings and trim.

Nevertheless - I have too seen one in the flesh (actually on the road) recently, and actually thought that it was quite a smart looking vehicle. A GM product that I would be happy to own, if I were in that market.

[sailor723]

Overall I too am quite impressed overall with GM's Outlook,Acadia,Enclave siblings. I chatted online with a rep at the Saturn USA site yesterday and she told me that while Saturn dealers in the US are certainly not prohibited from selling to Canadians Saturn Canada will not honour the warranty. I'd assume the other GM divisions are the same. It's a shame but I just can not bring myself to pay the kind of prices GM Canada is asking when the identical vehicle from the same plant is sold for $10,000+/- less 150 miles away.

 I guess I'm going to limit myself  to vehicles that are either price competitive in Canada (less than $1,000-1,500 difference) or that can be imported with warranty coverage. No matter how much I liked a vehicle I know I just wouldn't be happy with my purchase if I knew I'd paid WAY to much. I don't consider myself really cheap but I absolutely hate being "taken"

[Greg B.]

Saw a new Enclave on the street yesterday, it looked HUGE !!! 

They are huge, over 5000 lbs. That is the biggest turn-off for me. They just seem so out-of-step with today's realities. I was parked nose to nose with an Outlook recently and it looked like a Peterbilt staring me down. I just don't get it.

[airbalancer]

Saw a new Enclave on the street yesterday, it looked HUGE !!! 

They are huge, over 5000 lbs. That is the biggest turn-off for me. They just seem so out-of-step with today's realities. I was parked nose to nose with an Outlook recently and it looked like a Peterbilt staring me down. I just don't get it.

It is not made for you, so do not worry if you dont get it.
Probably same size as a large "mini-van"

[AVToller]

They are huge, over 5000 lbs. That is the biggest turn-off for me. They just seem so out-of-step with today's realities. I was parked nose to nose with an Outlook recently and it looked like a Peterbilt staring me down. I just don't get it.

  and that affects all of us.

[Mitlov]

A Saturn Outlook is only 0.7 inches longer and 0.8 inches wider than a Toyota Sienna minivan, and offers comparable interior space (unlike most crossovers, which have for-children-only third rows).  [edit]And GM's new large crossovers weigh roughly 10% more than a well-equipped Nissan Quest--not a night-and-day difference.[/edit]  Obviously it is going to look huge compared to a Yaris or some other compact or subcompact.  But that's not comparing apples to apples.

[Jaeger]

This is the first GM product in a looooong time (Corvette excepted) that has even remotely captured my interest.  I've seen a couple on the road and think they look like a million bucks.  And from the pics, the interior treatment is first rate as well.  Colour me impressed.

The Saturn Outlook is quite pleasant, but lacks the sheer style that the Buick exudes.  Crap, did I just say a Buick was stylish?

Jaeger

[Mitlov]

This is the first GM product in a looooong time (Corvette excepted) that has even remotely captured my interest.  I've seen a couple on the road and think they look like a million bucks.  And from the pics, the interior treatment is first rate as well.  Colour me impressed.

The Saturn Outlook is quite pleasant, but lacks the sheer style that the Buick exudes.  Crap, did I just say a Buick was stylish?

Jaeger

Yeah, Buick did a fantastic job styling the Enclave.  It's the first production Buick in decades where I would say that.  (I say "production Buick" because their Riviera concept car is downright amazing, but unfortunately, not slated for production).

[Steve Perry]

Had a closer look at one today....all that chrome trim around the headlights,on the hood and around the grille looks kind of garish/tacky to me.

  it's a very nice looking unit inside and out... but way too much chrome spoils the look IMO

No such thing as too much chrome.

[Allen]

No such thing as too much chrome.

your right if you want a pimp mobile, why not throw on a set of spinners too

[mdxtasy]

Had a closer look at one today....all that chrome trim around the headlights,on the hood and around the grille looks kind of garish/tacky to me.

  it's a very nice looking unit inside and out... but way too much chrome spoils the look IMO

No such thing as too much chrome.

You sure?

[MCC]

I am looking at purchasing the Enclave right now. I'd like to know what people are getting off the MSRP. Also, one of the dealers mentioned better deals in January as oppose to now; any thoughts? Many thanks!

[JVan]

I am looking at purchasing the Enclave right now. I'd like to know what people are getting off the MSRP. Also, one of the dealers mentioned better deals in January as oppose to now; any thoughts? Many thanks!

I wouldn't expect too much, if I remember correctly I read GM was limiting production to keep demand high.