Toronto Globe &
Mail.
This odd creature had comforts - but not much else.
TED LATURNUS
One of the advantages of being a large car manufacturer is that, sometimes,
you can make a mistake and not
pay too high a price.
When General Motors introduced the Pontiac Aztek in 2001, it was unanimously
reviled by both auto journalists and the
general public. Butt-ugly, hideous and "what the heck is that thing?" were
just some of the words used to describes its
stylistic, er, features.
Privately, a lot of GM executives were absolutely appalled that the Aztek
even made it into production.
And, when it bit the dust, in 2005, not too many tears were shed.
One good thing that did come out of the Aztek debacle was the Buick Rendezvous,
which debuted in 2002 and shared
architecture with its Pontiac sibling. Although still not a beauty queen,
the Rendezvous wasn't saddled with the same
reputation and was a steady seller for GM until it was retired last year.
Like the Aztek, the Rendezvous was surprisingly pleasant to drive. Nice
high driving position, good ergonomics,
decent road manners and above- average NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness)
suppression.
It was kind of an upscale Aztek with a facelift.
Two engines were offered in 2004. GM's widely utilized 3.4-litre V-6, which
developed 185 horsepower at 5,200 rpm,
and 210 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm, and a new 3.6-litre V-6 with variable
valve timing, which developed 245 hp at 6,000 rpm
and 235 lb-ft at 3200 rpm, that was offered with the upscale Ultra version.
The smaller powerplant was also found in GM's front-drive minivans (Chevy
Venture, Pontiac Montana, Oldsmobile Silhouette)
and, while adequate for the Rendezvous, wasn't especially lively, considering
the vehicle's 1,800-kilogram weight.
Loaded down with people and their gear, it ran out of breath during highway
overtaking or uphill climbing and, all things
considered, the larger engine was the better choice.
There were two drivetrain configurations: 2WD and AWD. Both were fed by
a four-speed automatic transmission and the
AWD was GM's proven Versatrek system, which is an on-demand arrangement.
Again, this setup was used throughout
GM's line-up. Three trim levels were offered: CX, CXL and Ultra.
Even in base form, the Rendezvous was loaded. Standard equipment included
the usual conveniences, such as air
conditioning, power windows, CD player, power mirrors, cruise control, power
liftgate, tilt steering and front-seat armrests.
But that was only the half of it; the Rendezvous came with a lengthy options
list that was tied to the model designation.
For example, ABS was optional on the CX, but standard on the CX with all-wheel-drive.
Similarly, you got a roof rack with
the base model, but if you wanted cross-bars, you had to get the CXL, or
order it as an option, and dual-zone climate
control was optional on the CX but came with the CXL and Ultra. Confusing.
With the top of the line Ultra, you could also order a leather interior,
a DVD player, second-row captains seats, a navigation
system, tire-inflation monitor and one of my favourites, Heads-Up Display
(HUD), which projects the vehicle speed and
other things onto the windscreen in front of the driver. The Rendezvous had
one of the most extensive and complicated
options and features lists in GM's entire model lineup, and you could get
lost in it.
One of the most popular extras was a DVD system that had outstanding sound
quality. When I drove this car, in '04, I actually
sat outside in the driveway and watched the movie Gothika (overrated). With
the volume cranked up, the bass and clarity of
the eight-speaker system was amazing. It added $1,750 to the price of the
vehicle.
Depending upon which model you choose, the Rendezvous sat either six or
seven people. The six-passenger configuration
was probably the most comfortable and left some cargo room behind the third-row
seats, although not a whole lot.
Fuel consumption was rated at 13.3 litres/100 km in the city and 8.5 on
the highway, which for this kind of vehicle was reasonable
but not remarkable. At the time, Natural Resources Canada claimed that it
would cost $1,515 a year in fuel costs, but even then,
the price of gas could change three times in one day — at least in my neighbourhood.
It may have been pleasant enough to drive, but the Rendezvous was and is
still a weird-looking creature. If outward appearances
aren't important, but creature comforts are, then Bob's Your Uncle, but otherwise
…
These days, the Rendezvous has become affordable. The Canadian Black Book
values it at $12,750 for the base CX,
going up to $17,300 for an AWD Ultra. The Red Book is in the same general
neighbourhood, with average retail prices
of $11,075 to $17,750. That's a serious drop from the $32,440-$46,070 price
range that a new Rendezvous had in 2004.
There are five safety recalls on file with Transport Canada. For example,
some problems were reported with the ignition relay,
causing the vehicle to stall; the rear power liftgate could also be troublesome
and, during prolonged exposure to salt and rough
roads, the rear ball joints could wear prematurely.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also has five recalls
on file, but not necessarily the same ones.
Fuel-tank leakage seems to be a recurring issue, as well as the liftgate
and ignition relay problems.
A fairly substantial 96 service bulletins have also been registered with
the NHTSA. Some are fairly trivial, such as an
excessive "booming" noise during highway driving and a "weak" horn, while
others, such as being unable to shift the
automatic transmission out of Park, are a little more disconcerting. An unusually
large number of engine-cooling problems
seem to be present as well.
Marketing researcher J.D. Power isn't too enthusiastic about the 2004 Buick
Rendezvous, only managing to give it an
"about-average" rating for things like performance and comfort, and less
than that for overall design quality and style.
However, dependability is "better than most." - even with 10 serious recalls - ya think?
2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS
Original Base Price: $32,440-$46,070;
Black Book Value: $12,750-$17,300;
Red Book Value: $11,075-$17,750
Engine: 3.4-litre and 3.6L V-6
* 185 hp/210 lb-ft for 3.4L
* 245 hp/235 lb-ft for 3.6L
Transmission: Four-speed automatic
Drive: FWD and AWD
Fuel Economy (litres/100 km): 13.3 L/100 city/8.5 highway; regular gas
Alternatives: Cadillac SRX, Acura
MDX, Chrysler Pacifica, Ford Explorer, Nissan Murano, Toyota Highlander
