Not much new going on today. Mom and I braved the near-constant rain and drove the 2008 Buick Enclave into town for provisions. The road between their driveway and US 101 is a tight two lane with 30 mph corners that's even more buckled and contorted by land movement than any other stretch of pavement we've seen on this trip.
Over this sort of road, two of my earlier impressions of the Buick Enclave are confirmed. At a moderate pace, the Enclave rides smoothly and stays composed through the tight and narrow asphalt bends, but it doesn't like being hustled through these sorts of turns. It doesn't fall to its knees or wallow, but the driver gets the message that this suspension isn't sport tuned. And while the steering is fairly precise, there isn't enough effort buildup in corners to engage the driver.
No suprise really. This is a Buick, after all. It retains enough of the ride smoothness and quietness fans of the brand expect without crossing over into yacht territory. All-in-all, it's a nice ride - as long as you're not a frustrated leadfoot rally driver. Mom liked it a lot.
Dan Edmunds, Director of Vehicle Testing @ 7,966 miles
stovt001 says:
02:03 AM, 12/30/07
I really think you should sell the photos from this trip to Buick for brochures. They sure make me more interested in buying one, or at least getting my parents to buy one.
vvk says:
08:21 AM, 12/30/07
I agree, the photos are simply outstanding! Composition, subject matter, light -- all are extremely well thought out. Great job!
hondacura4 says:
06:04 PM, 12/30/07
This Enclave is a handsome vehicle. I really like the fender flares as they take away visual weight and give it a nice stance.
estreka says:
09:23 PM, 12/30/07
I finally saw one of these in person. The pictures don't do it justice. It actually doesn't look as porky as it appears.
I'm not crazy about the design personally, but I would agree that it's an attractive vehicle. It's nice to see somebody doing something different. It seems everyone is so afraid to do anything that could be construed as offensive, nowadays. Kudos.