First Enclaves roll off the line

[Flybrian]

New Buick Enclave Rolls Off Local Line
April 11, 2007 04:01 PM EDT | Link to Original Article @ WLNS News

It's all systems go for the Buick Enclave. The very first models available for public sale are rolling off GM's Delta Township assembly line. The wait is over. After months of tweaking and testing, the Enclave is ready to roll.

A state-of-the-art assembly line brings forth a state-of-the-art crossover SUV. The Enclave is the much-anticipated final piece in the Delta Township vehicle lineup.

Harry Clay, Team Leader, GM Delta Twp. Assembly: "It's full-steam ahead now. We had the launch of the Outlook and the Acadia, now we have the Enclave, so it's full production all day every day."

GM officials say they will ease the Enclave into production, even though demand from dealerships is high. Here's how those production numbers break down- right now there are 6,000 enclaves ordered. Delta Township will begin producing 50 of these vehicles per day, but that is sure to increase by the end of the week. The launch manager of the Enclave says the models are the results of 6 months of extensive tests. He says the results are good.

Lou Balogh, Launch Mgr., Buick Enclave: "They're to the point that they're absolutely ready to go. They're continually improving with every car we build."

And as production ramps up, he describes an effort which everyone at the plant can be proud of, and an effort the public will likely appreciate very soon as well.

Lou Balogh: "You're working on something you know the customer absolutely wants, you know all the auto publications are really looking at this thing of high value and giving us a lot of praise, it makes it a lot of fun."

[CSpec]

FINALLY

[gm4life]

This a good week for Buick the Park Avenue and now first Enclave this is good news indeed. They are really turning it around.

[regfootball]

"no thanks, I will wait for the FORD FLEX"

[bring_BUICK_back]

It's too bad that the Park Avenue will never make it to USA. The people at GM and Buick are complete idiots and do not know what they are doing.

[pow]

no thanks, I will wait for the FORD FLEX

Agreed.

[AxelTheRed]

Huzzah!

[jbartley]

hooray!

[ToniCipriani]

So those cars that we saw earlier are all preproduction models?

[gm4life]

Yup Toni. And I would not wait for the boxy Ford Flex, but to each is own. Who knows the Buick dealers were offered this same car earlier this year and said no at the current time, I think they might think differently later. Rick said the offer still stands on the table. So really we could get it.

[97regalGS]

Yup Toni. And I would not wait for the boxy Ford Flex, but to each is own. Who knows the Buick dealers were offered this same car earlier this year and said no at the current time, I think they might think differently later. Rick said the offer still stands on the table. So really we could get it.

i don't think it is quite as simple as the buick dealers calling up rick and placing an order for some Park Aves.

[nzr]

Pfft, the Park Avenue is where its at.

[SuperSport623]

its a little complaint... but the C-Pillar on the Enclave NEEDS to be blacked out

[vrazzhledazzle]

its a little complaint... but the C-Pillar on the Enclave NEEDS to be blacked out

I KNOW!! After the first time I saw it, that's all I notice about this car.

But my first impressions were that this is a VERY nice xover nonetheless.

[regfootball]

Agreed.

i was joking. the Lambdas are 10x as nice as the Ford Xb

[Cory Wolfe]

its a little complaint... but the C-Pillar on the Enclave NEEDS to be blacked out

Agreed.

[regfootball]

its a little complaint... but the C-Pillar on the Enclave NEEDS to be blacked out

i am sure they have that planned as the major feature of the MCE for the 2011 model year. you can take a deep breath now, cuz that will likely be the biggest feature. LOL

[Flybrian]

its a little complaint... but the C-Pillar on the Enclave NEEDS to be blacked out

Its a remnant of the Centieme concept...

[gm4life]

Guys I know it is not that simple but it wouldn't be that hard to change.

[prototype66]

You know,your right. It really doesn't work for me, it looks odd imo.

[David]

You know,your right. It really doesn't work for me, it looks odd imo.

nice job on the black out. While the orginal is very nice indeed, I actually do like the c pillar blacked out.

[dave999]

I will wait for the Lincoln Crossover or Ford Edge

[prototype66]

I will wait for the Lincoln Crossover or Ford Edge

to each his own.

personally,to me ford= from passed experience.

what do ya do, it is what it is. The enclave looks very nice to me.

[Centurion]

I picked up a brochure for the Enclave at my local Buick-Pontiac-GMC dealership last weekend. If the brochure is indicative of the marketing approach for this vehicle, this is going to be a dynamite product launch.

The brochure is a beautiful and very expensively-done piece.

Has anyone heard whether Buick will have the premiere parties, as they did with the Lucerne launch?

Edited April 12, 2007 by Centurion

[Cory Wolfe]

Like I said before, if you look at the body and trim lines, that just would not work. It's all svelte curves, and there's no natural breaks to black out areas, and just wouldn't work.

As I've responded to that before, we're talking about the C-pillars, not the D-pillars. It's really not that hard to understand. It goes: A, B, C, then D. Wow! Easy!

You know,your right. It really doesn't work for me, it looks odd imo.

Yes, just like that. That looks much better and much more finished. Perfect.

[91z4me]

I will wait for the Lincoln Crossover or Ford Edge

And wait you WILL because the Lincoln version of the Flex is well over a year away.

[RangerVT]

I will wait for the Lincoln Crossover or Ford Edge

The Edge and Lincoln MKX are already out. No need to wait. If you want it, go for it. Personally though, they don't drive as nice as advertised. Again, could just be a preference thing though. Edited April 12, 2007 by RangerVT

[EMan]

Some one already has had the Enclave for weeks. Apparently he doesn't like it at all. Well according to Edmunds owner reviews section.

[boblutzfan]

Some one already has had the Enclave for weeks. Apparently he doesn't like it at all. Well according to Edmunds owner reviews section.

Sounds like a troll trying to get negative press out early. Since they just went into production - his claim seems impossible.

[caddycruiser]

As I've responded to that before, we're talking about the C-pillars, not the D-pillars. It's really not that hard to understand. It goes: A, B, C, then D. Wow! Easy!

Yes, just like that. That looks much better and much more finished. Perfect.

Doy! And I can't believe I'm so dense as to not catch that twice!

So, yes, I do agree on blacking out the C pillar. As is, it's not objectionable at all, but that photoshop shows it positively if it were done--and it probably sticks out more on the lighter colors.

[Z-06]

Some one already has had the Enclave for weeks. Apparently he doesn't like it at all. Well according to Edmunds owner reviews section.

It was him who did that.

[ToniCipriani]

You know,your right. It really doesn't work for me, it looks odd imo.

Hard to tell, I'd say. Each design is distinctive in a way. The blacked out, when you're actually in person, might look like the cheap stuff they put on Corsicas. But from a distance it gives it a nice hardtop look. Colored pillar looks more like one piece of panel.

[gm4life]

I think anyone who would take an MKX over this should be shot.

[GM4ever]

I thought GM got out of the whole minivan thing. The Enclave looks horrible granted the blacked out C pillar looks better but there is no helping this ugly thing.

[91z4me]

I thought GM got out of the whole minivan thing. The Enclave looks horrible granted the blacked out C pillar looks better but there is no helping this ugly thing.

WTF are you smoking?!

[NINETY EIGHT REGENCY]

Yup Toni. And I would not wait for the boxy Ford Flex, but to each is own. Who knows the Buick dealers were offered this same car earlier this year and said no at the current time, I think they might think differently later. Rick said the offer still stands on the table. So really we could get it.

After what has been said here and at GM Inside News and then Jalopnik got wind of the Park Avenue thing and did a story too, I know someone will be listening.

The story:

http://jalopnik.com/cars/news/question-of-...-you-251749.php

Watch what happens next.. You think that whole Chinese Buick Park Avenue thing upset people.. Since they will not be updating or replacing the minivan, watch Buick China get the Enclave to replace GL8 and redo the interior and upset people here again.

Edited April 13, 2007 by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY

[PeterPuck]

The designers know it looks better without the visible c-pillar, I'm sure.

The c-pillar is visible for one reason: so the Enclave doesn't look like a minivan.

[rob2299usa]

The c-pillar is visible for one reason: so the Enclave doesn't look like a minivan.

Exactly. It looks too long without it... like a minivan.

[Intrepidation]

I thought GM got out of the whole minivan thing. The Enclave looks horrible granted the blacked out C pillar looks better but there is no helping this ugly thing.

[prototype66]

I have seen two running around town in the past 3 days. A White one (which looks fantastic) and one this color.

By the way, here is two extremes on the back window.

Edited April 13, 2007 by prototype66

[caddycruiser]

The window and pillar are fine, it's just nitpicking. At least, for once, they're getting overall body proportions right in conjunction with lines and details that are very interesting.

Right now, a lot of people who don't like it DO like the Acadia/Outlook, so that's great, and shows differentiation at its best. Still not a perfect vehicle, but based on the success of the Acadia/Outlook so far, and their raves, add a distinct new luxury look and feel and an even better features list, and this should do extremely well.

Imagine, alone, how many people will ditch their gawky Rendezvous and move up from Buick sedans--the latter especially of those who didn't like the Rendezvous or Rainier--and the increased number of import drivers who will switch. Should be a great thing.

Now we just have the Chevy to wonder about...and cross our fingers it really does NOT end up as just an Acadia/Outlook with new trim and a fascia, just for the sake of rushing it out.

[Drew Dowdell]

It was my understanding that the Rendezvous had a surprisingly high number of conquest sales. It would be great for Buick to take those conquest sales and make them repeat buyers.

[caddycruiser]

It was my understanding that the Rendezvous had a surprisingly high number of conquest sales. It would be great for Buick to take those conquest sales and make them repeat buyers.

Yes, it certainly did, which will only make what happens with the Enclave that much more interesting--particularly with people trading Acura's and Lexus's in on Acadia's and Outlook's already right now. There's a very small number of people who prefer the Rendezvous, whether for size or whatever reason, but they're few and far between, so once the Enclave hits, it'll sell itself from a variety of angles.

[InvictaMan]

its a little complaint... but the C-Pillar on the Enclave NEEDS to be blacked out

Mine is a BIG complaint. The whole vehicle needs to be "blacked out." I am blown away that they are not offering this, of all vehicles, in black. Sheesh!

[Flybrian]

The Rendezvous sold amazingly well for what the minimal investment that went into it. Over the years, it regularly outsold the MDX and came close to meeting the RX300/30. That's saying something.

The Enclave only adds to its success.

[prinzSD]

its a little complaint... but the C-Pillar on the Enclave NEEDS to be blacked out

I am not a fan of blacked out trim and window/door pillars. Every car I ahve owned with blacked out trim has worn out differently from the rest of the paint. It scuffs easy, it gets rain drop stains that are difficult to remove and the sun fades it unevenly. The black painted pillars on our RX300 are having the same issue. I prefer body color trim.

[gm4life]

Stop bitching about the Enclave it is an extremely sharp looking CUV.

[JWilly48519]

"Wouldn't want it to look like a minivan"

"It would look like a minivan"

"That'd make it too much like a minivan"

Heh. Fine, those of us who like form=function, high-capacity, remote-sliding-door vehicles get the point.

The expression, I think, is "adding insult to injury". The injury being that GM and Ford have dumped our customer segment totally, and Chrysler isn't going to offer AWD, so we have to buy Asian.

So I guess the insult doesn't really matter much, right?

[Imaj]

Even with the Enclave, Buick is still damaged. They need the Park Avenue!

[91z4me]

Even with the Enclave, Buick is still damaged. They need the Park Avenue!

Moreso than that they need a top of the class Lacrosse. The EP Lacrosse can't come soon enough. I actually will venture to say that the new Malibu should have been a Lacrosse and that the current ugly Malibu could have soldiered on a few more years.