My mom's Redezvous is dying. It was built in 2003 and the height of GM's low before the crash and burn of the economy. It has been a great vehicle, making the trek to Michigan and Chicago a couple of times and running countless times between the shore and Reading PA.
Originally bought when she was taking care of my invalid Grandmother, she needed a car that was reliable and easy to get in and out of. She came to love buick and small SUV like vehicles as they allow her to see out better than a car. She wants another buick, but at age 70, does not need all the bells, whistles, and gadgets. New Encores start at 22 and go up into the 30s, I am trying to steer her to a 2015 or so as they already took the depreciation hit and she is not made of money.
The small turbo 4 with only 138hp is a bit worrisome though.
mad_machine said:
The small turbo 4 with only 138hp is a bit worrisome though.
Why?
Other vehicles on the same platform have been reliable.
Zomby Woof said:
mad_machine said:
The small turbo 4 with only 138hp is a bit worrisome though.
Why?
Other vehicles on the same platform have been reliable.
I was more concerned about so little power with such a largish vehicle.
I feel like at least one forum member owns one... Wall-e maybe?
We looked at them heavily when the wife was shopping. She loved the styling of them for some unknown reason. Ultimately we decided it would be too small for our needs. But it was in the running.
My driving impressions on them are they ride like a small car. Kinda choppy and bouncy. The steering effort was a little high compared to the others I drove. The power felt very adequate to me. It feels very narrow inside. You have to really like your front seat passenger.
The Encore is a LOT smaller in person than the Rendezvous.
An Envision is a lot closer in size, but is a newer model so used availability won't be that great and it starts out at $35k.
For something that's not a Buick that will probably make her feel like it's a modern Rendezvous, you might want to look at a lightly used Toyota Venza.
I test drove one when I bought my Verano. I liked the size and it drove ok but my commute is long and hilly. I wasn't comfortable wringing that little engine so hard for 160 miles a day. If they would have put a bit bigger engine in it I would have bought one.
Thanks, Wall-e. Now to sell her on this. She likes her buick, but does not feel safe driving it anymore.
