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GM's Buick (Enclave) is #1! Yes It's True, I'm Not Making This Up
CNBC.com ^ | November 08, 2007 | Phil LeBeau

Posted on 11/08/2007 2:07:40 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum

So there I am driving to the Northwestern/Iowa football game last Saturday when my friend Bruce says, "Hey, what do you think of the Buick Enclave? I think it's pretty sharp." Well Bruce, you are not alone.

The latest stats from J.D. Power's Power Information Network shows the Buick Enclave was the fastest selling vehicle in the U.S. last month. Yes, #1. The Enclave sold so fast, it was in showrooms fewer days than the Toyota Fit which rounded out the top "hot selling cars" in October.

Why is this a big deal? Buick is hurting, and if the Enclave is generating buzz with little marketing it is significant. It shows a good looking model can be sell even if the badge on the front is gasping for air. It also shows GM's designers have hit the right chord with it's latest crossovers (the GMC Acadia was the only other American model in the top ten of fast selling models).

If you've read this blog for any amouint of time you know my thoughts on Buick. It's the forgotten brand at GM with an undefined niche, little marketing support, and until now, few models I found attractive. Heck sales are down 23% this year and it represents less than 5% of GM's total sales. All reasons why I've wondered why GM doesn't go ahead and give Buick the Oldsmobile treatment and kill it.

That may still happen. But for now, the Enclave is giving Buick executives and fans a reason to smile. As I told my friend Bruce, "The Enclave is very nice, give it a look"


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: automakers; buick; enclave; generalmotors
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To: Fresh Wind

“The Wagon Queen Family Truckster. You think you hate it now, but wait till you drive it.”

:-)


101 posted on 11/08/2007 7:15:08 PM PST by TrueKnightGalahad (Your feeble skills are no match for the power of the Viking Kitties!)
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To: conductor john

I love the Chevy Tahoe...I think it’s the best in its class..bar none.


102 posted on 11/08/2007 10:19:07 PM PST by Hildy
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To: Hildy
Send me a FReepmail and let me know how you like the CTS.
I’m not a Caddy guy, but I like what I’ve heard about the new CTS with the direct injection V6. The new STS has the D.I. V6 and 6 speed auto standard, so it’s on my list of possibles as well.
OR, I just wait for the 2009 Camaro.
Decisions, decisions. Can’t talk the wife into letting me get both, so I’ll have some soul searching to do...
103 posted on 11/08/2007 10:42:20 PM PST by Kickass Conservative (Guns don't kill people, gun free zones kill people)
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To: Bender2
Great. I didn’t see that one coming. Now I have to choose between the CTS, STS, Camaro AND the Roadmaster?
Guess I’ll just cash in the 401K and get all of them. hahaha
104 posted on 11/08/2007 10:58:40 PM PST by Kickass Conservative (Guns don't kill people, gun free zones kill people)
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To: Professional Engineer

I agree the Saturn Outlook is the best looking of the three.


105 posted on 11/08/2007 11:01:21 PM PST by miliantnutcase
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To: Fresh Wind

Ahh...! The Wagon Queen Family Truckster!


106 posted on 11/08/2007 11:05:36 PM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

It’s a minivan. Call me when they make a car worth owning.


107 posted on 11/08/2007 11:10:08 PM PST by PLMerite ("Unarmed, one can only flee from Evil. But Evil isn't overcome by fleeing from it." Jeff Cooper)
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To: TonyInOhio
usually piloted by septuagenarians doing 35 on the highway. :)

Sonny, if you can't keep up with us, move over.

108 posted on 11/08/2007 11:11:06 PM PST by HIDEK6
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To: purpleraine

“could someone tell this oldtimer the difference between a station wagon and a crossover?”

1. Unlike a “real” SUV, a crossover is built with unibody construction like cars.

2. “Crossovers” usually offer all wheel drive, whereas station wagons usually did not.

Most companies dropped station wagons—GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota and Honda. (Chrysler recently built the Dodge Magnum-the only domestic station wagon I can think of.)

Station wagons are still sold/built by Mercedes, Audi, BMW, Volvo, VW, and Saab-all but Saab offering all wheel drive.

There are a lot of really nice vehicles in these categories. I am currently getting by with the smallest BMW station wagon with rear wheel drive, which with a 6 cyl. engine can achieve 30 mpg on the highway.

With higher fuel costs, a niche for small-medium station wagons could be filled by the domestic companies, IMO.

How about a retro Chevy Nomad with the latest technology?


109 posted on 11/08/2007 11:30:10 PM PST by truth_seeker
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To: conductor john
A lot has changed at GM. Quality is WAY UP. My Chevy Tahoe is ‘the bomb!’

I keep hearing that, but every time I do, a year later I have to work on one and find out they're better than they were but still no where near Honda or Toyota quality...

And before I get 1000 nasty responses to the above generalization, yes, I have seen many American vehicles that went as far as 500,000 miles, the difference is 1) they are the exception, and 2) when they make it to 200,000 or more the only thing that still works is the drive train, my Honda's have almost everything working and except for worn upholstery, faded paint, and a lot of dirt, they are like new...

110 posted on 11/09/2007 5:14:53 AM PST by logic (Support Duncan Hunter for the 2008 GOP presidential nominee. He is THE conservative candidate!!)
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To: Kickass Conservative

I will be picking it up on Wednesday. They’re saying that this remodeled CTS might well be the best American sedan..EVER.


111 posted on 11/09/2007 7:17:56 AM PST by Hildy
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To: logic

My 2004 Envoy XUV is a great SUV.


112 posted on 11/09/2007 7:20:36 AM PST by bmwcyle (BOMB, BOMB, BOMB,.......BOMB, BOMB IRAN)
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To: Hildy
Congrats...
I’m 54 now and I still get the same thrill I did when I was 16 getting into a cool car. I remember when I was 17 and my older brother’s best friend let me take his BRAND NEW 383 / 4 SPEED Plymouth Road Runner for a spin. And yes, it was RED like your new Caddy!
I got back 30 minutes later. HAHAHA
Anyway, let me know your impressions after living with the car for a few weeks. I’d really appreciate it. I assume you got the D.I. V6. 304 horses and it uses Regular gas...
113 posted on 11/09/2007 9:05:40 AM PST by Kickass Conservative (Guns don't kill people, gun free zones kill people)
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To: wtc911

My wife is like you. She won’t even go with me when we shop for anything in which the price is negotiable. She finds it embarrassing to ask for a discount because she thinks it means we don’t have the money to afford it.

She is a salesman’s dream customer and I am their worst nightmare.


114 posted on 11/09/2007 9:47:55 AM PST by aroundabout
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To: mamelukesabre
Depends. If a car is actually on the lot for a year (very unusual since dealers REALLY try to get them off the lot and off their floor plan within 90 days), there are usually huge incentives from the manufacturer to help the dealer move them, but only if it is a universal problem with that particular model. One dealer having a car that long means he is a lousy business man and the manufacturer won’t help an individual dealer (they are prohibited).

As for the formula working for Hyundai, sure. It works for any car, really unless the car is hot and hard or harder to get, in which case the dealer will tell you to (basically) take a hike since he can sell them all day for nothing and doesn’t need you. Plus their are never dealer incentives on popular vehicles in short supply.

115 posted on 11/09/2007 9:54:56 AM PST by aroundabout
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To: purpleraine

“could someone tell this oldtimer the difference between a station wagon and a crossover?”

Zero differene other than that th EPA doesn’t like station wagons, but the crossover seems to have confused them.


116 posted on 11/09/2007 12:08:33 PM PST by TexanToTheCore (If it ain't Rugby or Bullriding, it's for girls.........................................)
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To: aroundabout

Your wife should only buy saturn.


117 posted on 11/09/2007 1:04:54 PM PST by mamelukesabre
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I rented one a few weeks ago. It was offered as a free upgrade. It was very nice. Almost as nice to drive as the new Volvo SUV I usually drive.


118 posted on 11/09/2007 1:06:18 PM PST by lady lawyer
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To: TexanToTheCore

The very first cross over was the AMC eagle wagon 4WD. The most popular crossover is the subaru outback. A crossover is simply a semi off road version of a station wagon with more ground clearance and 4wheel drive.


119 posted on 11/09/2007 1:07:27 PM PST by mamelukesabre
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To: miliantnutcase
I agree the Saturn Outlook is the best looking of the three

Especially when compared to a Pious

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

120 posted on 11/10/2007 1:53:16 PM PST by Professional Engineer (when you're the geek nobody likes you)
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