When I stopped by the office this weekend in a short-term tester, I couldn't help but notice that the Enclave was sitting in the garage unpicked. I just couldn't help trading up because A) I'd rather drive an Enclave for two hours than a Corolla, B) I wouldn't have to take two cars to dinner and C) the Enclave is really really good.
To that last point, the Enclave is so good, my usual long list of automotive nitpicks has been reduced to a pretty sad-sack collection. Bryn reported there's too many flashy trim bits and that's fairly noteworthy. But, the other (above) is the placement of the windshield washer at the tip of the turn signal. In 100-degree, clear-skies weather, I sprayed the windshield five times for no particular reason other than the fact I was turning. But that was kinda funny, not annoying.
Ditto the placement of the Enclave's driver backrest adjuster. With the seat placed near its aftmost position, the lever is ridiculously close to the B-pillar and specifically an area that juts out from it. I usually have to remove my watch to adjust the seat. Oooh.
Come on Buick, what are you doing making a car this good? You're making my niggling rants more difficult. Jerks.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor @ 18,423 miles
willin58 says:
10:29 AM, 05/19/08
Being an owner of an '08 Outlook with the same turn signal/wiper stalk, I can't imagine how anyone would attempt to use the turn signal by pushing in the button on the end of the stalk? How does this happen?
As for the reclining, I can't comment as I have power seats.
m_thrizzle says:
10:46 AM, 05/19/08
I hate seats that use a dial to adjust the recline position (VW's come to mind). It just takes forever and is difficult to turn. Actually, any adjustment lever/dial at the hingepoint of the seat (where the bottom and backrest meet) is terrible. It requires you to reach back and is uncomfortable.
1487 says:
11:16 AM, 05/19/08
I doubt many enclave owners have the 6 way seats. That said, you are going to have such issues with any car without auto recline.
jriz says:
11:25 AM, 05/19/08
"you are going to have such issues with any car without auto recline."
Yeah, that's just not true.
chavis10 says:
11:45 AM, 05/19/08
Looks like you parked in front of a Crystal White Pearl Mazda3 hatch. Looks just like mine.
skierx420 says:
11:53 AM, 05/19/08
zip slug its a bug! Green! no slugbacks!
skierx420 says:
11:54 AM, 05/19/08
sorry about the precious post I just couldn't resist. Besides according to the post there really isn't anything to talk about anyway.
jriz says:
12:43 PM, 05/19/08
"Looks like you parked in front of a Crystal White Pearl Mazda3 hatch."
I did. That would be girlfriend's 3 S Grand Touring.
crowb says:
03:13 PM, 05/19/08
James, your thinly veiled contempt...dare I say wrath, for all things Enclave is just short of despicable.
You, sir, ought to have your hands washed with soap for typing that kind of slanderous filth.
I said good day, sir!....I SAID GOOD DAY!!!
zoomzoom22 says:
06:13 PM, 05/19/08
Your girlfriend has very good taste in cars :).
I test drove an Enclave the other day and, despite the hideous seat pattern, I came away very impressed. A huge step up for Buick and GM. I'm a Mazda fan (obviously) and the Enclave gives the CX9 some serious competition for which one will fill that slot in my garage.
1487 says:
05:57 AM, 05/20/08
"Yeah, that's just not true."
why wouldnt you? Most cars with manual recline have a lever like the Enclave's and if the seat is far enough back you are going to have trouble accessing the lever.
dougtheeng says:
07:19 AM, 05/20/08
"why wouldnt you? Most cars with manual recline have a lever like the Enclave's and if the seat is far enough back you are going to have trouble accessing the lever."
I guess it depends on the spacing between the seat and the door. I usually sit with seats all the way back, and I have never had a problem like the one described here.
On a side note, I like the VW style knob to adjust the seat back position. I think it allows for much more precise positioning then the typical lever.
tmanz says:
10:07 AM, 05/20/08
""Looks like you parked in front of a Crystal White Pearl Mazda3 hatch."
I did. That would be girlfriend's 3 S Grand Touring."
How about adding one of those to the test fleet?
1487 says:
10:22 AM, 05/20/08
"How about adding one of those to the test fleet?"
the car is about to be redesigned next year. They arent going to add a 4 year old car to the fleet.
jriz says:
03:32 PM, 05/20/08
"I guess it depends on the spacing between the seat and the door. I usually sit with seats all the way back, and I have never had a problem like the one described here."
Bingo, although there are certainly other cars that suffer from this. Not "any car" by any stretch of the imagination.