Used 2004 Buick Rendezvous Consumer Reviews
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3.6 ltr AWD CXL
Overall, we are very happy with the RDZ with the bigger engine (it is not an Ultra)providing strong acceleration and good gas mileage. Storage areas and interior space are excellent. Rear windows roll almost all the way down. Only problem to date is a gas gauge (this is a problem on some of the 2004 model, not earlier years). Viewing while backing up is very difficult due to back pillar design and obstruction. Handling could be tighter, but is good compared to minivans and truck-based SUVs. Leather interior is ok, but not upscale.
RENDEZVOUS FUN
WE HAVE HAD THE TRUCK FOR A MONTH AND ARE VERY HAPPY WITH IT. THE HANDLING IS GOOD AND THE VISIBILY IS GREAT SINCE I CAN SIT UP HIGH AND THE FRONT SLOPES DOWNWARD. THE ONLY NEGATIVE SIDE I SEE THUS FAR IS THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ARE LARGE AND THAT HINDERS THE DRIVER'S SIDE, SIDE-FRONT VISIBILITY FOR MY HEIGHT(5'0'')
- CX 4dr SUVMSRP: $3,776365 mi away
- CX 4dr SUVMSRP: $7,999383 mi away
- CX 4dr SUVMSRP: $5,000430 mi away
Awesome pure outlandish luxury vehicle
Went to CarMax and they had everything under the sun to test drive and when I saw it, love at first sight! This vehicle is as close to a Lexus as you will ever get! Heated seats, XM radio, sunroof, reclining rear seats, and 3rd row total of 7 people. Out of all the vehicles I have owned, I am 43, this is the best! Can't wait to take this baby to Disney World. I have already sold my friends on this and they want one bad! Heads up is totally boss and the two tone paint and shiny chrome turns heads! God bless America!
Buick Rendesvous
Not even near the milage rating affixed to car.GetS 12-13 local if I am lucky. Trips using cruise,control on flat out desert land for 5 hours I get less than 18 mpg.My 2002 Cadilliac gets 26 mpg on trips. Transmission is about the poorest I have ever driven. Slams at acceleration in traffic at about 4- 8mph. Dealer tells me this is normal, so is my gas mileage. Never again. I am going back to Ford next time Can't get things fixed. It takes 6-8 returns to get anything done.I have a windshield that was damaged by dealer writing on it.Instead of replacing it they keep polishing and removing layers of the surface of the glass. This is not good warranty work.
2004: New and Improved
Just bought a new, Rendezvous CXL AWD with the 3.6L engine. Always wanted a vous but didn't like the anemic 3.4L. The new engine is GREAT and well worth the wait..plenty of power/torque! The good news is that You don't have to buy the Ultra to get the larger engine.The larger engine is available on the CXL AWD for thousands less. For me, the CXL AWD is just as luxurious. The CXL shifts smoothly and has a quiet ride. For those of you that have complained about the gauges, the new heads-up display clearly displays the speed, turn signals and the radio station so you can keep your eyes on the road without having to look too far away.
Definitely go in for a test drive
I went in to drive the Rendez. as it accomplishes everything the Highlander does for much less $$$ (and toyotas are a dime a dozen around here). The Buick does not disappoint. Handling is superb, and the steering is tight and right on track. Actually holds 7 passengers in relative comfort, and looks good doing it. Rear hatch is very easy to lift and close.
3G5DA03E33S51199
NEEDED BRAKES 4 TIMES,STILL ISNT FIXED,TRANSMISSION SLIPS,OVERHEATS ALL THE TIME,NO ENGINE POWER,10 MILES TO THE GALLON,TRACION CONTROL LOCKS UP,ALMOST KILLED ME!!!!!!!!!!!!! VERY POOR VIEWING OUT THE REAR SIDES AND REAR AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN
Rendezvous
had a ford windstar and the rendezvous rides much nicer, and has a lot of extras which i find very useful. I have gotten a lot of comments from people about the looks of this vehicle.
Women's SUV!
I have been following the reviews on the Buick Rendezvous for two years. For the past 13 years I have diven a mini-van (driving kids two and from soccer games). I knew the by next vehicle would not be another mini-van. After driving the Rendezvous, I knew this would be the vehicle I would be buying! It drives like and car, but I still sit up high like I did in the mini-van. I LOVE THIS VEHICLE!!!!
Hockey mom
Love it! I put alot of miles on, Roomy, comfortable, great handling
What a disappointment!
THIS CAR HAS BEEN A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT! I WOULD SUGGEST THAT EVERYONE BUY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE IT'S PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM. I LOVE THE SIZE AND COMFORT OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE BUT THOSE THINGS ARE OVERSHADOWED BY THE POOR RELIABILITY OF THE CAR...AND GMs POOR RESPONSE.
Love My Rendevous
This car gets better gas milage than I had expected. I love the comport and luxury of the vehicle. It has the space and usages of a minivan but is enough of a SUV to be interesting and fun. I love mine.
A Buick Among SUVs
Not the sexiest SUV on the market, it is attractive and has the uniqueness of being a Buick. Won't see yourself like you would in a Ford Explorer. It is fairly easy to see the minivan platform the RDV is based on. Buick came up with a great design given what there was to work with. The interior is huge and quiet. The power seats are comfy, the instruments easy to read, controls easy to reach and HUD is useful. The ride is well controlled. The engine is more than satisfactory w/ a torque curve that is flat and over 200 lb/ft from 2000 to 5500 rpm. Avg 19 mpg in mixed driving.
traveler
took a 5000 mile round trip ..... Ill to N Dak , Glacier, Idaho , Tetons, Yellowstone, Rushmore , Iowa .. The car was great ... roomy, comfortable, practical. On-star and sat radio are great features.
Versatility plus!
Highly pleased. Very appealing in and out. Very versatile. Storage compartments are a plus. Layout of console very convenient. Able to haul 4 foot wide panels in back. (OK, the 4x8 sheets stick out a little in the back.) Though the seats appear to be slender and that can equate to not being comfortable for long trips, the looks are deceiving, as the comfort level is high. Nice total package for the price!
Mama Ria's Baby
This review is for the ULTRA. The car is nice to look at and quite comfortable to drive, but the maintenance is killing us. With just a few miles on the car we're on a first name basis with the shop mechanics! The brakes make noise (clacking) all the time and is really anoying, the AWD system was the last thing to fail. Buick, great try, but I'll stick with Acura, or Lexus from now on.
BUICK RENDEZVOUS
I HAVE ONLY BEEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE SINCE DEC. I AM NOT TOO SURE ABOUT THE TRACTION AND THE HANDLEING ON SLIPPERY ROADS. I AM NOT TOO IMPRESSED WITH THE TIRES (USR) MY FORD EXPLORER HAD BETTER TRACTION.
Buyer beware
Loved the look of this car at the auto show - ordered it right away. I will never buy another car that is a new model again. We had extra speakers from the factory that never worked. At 36,400 miles, we had to replace the front wheel bearing. At 46,500 miles (25 months old) the electrical system had corrosion due to a leak at the windshield - cost us $333.00 to replace what is obviously a manufacturer defect - the car has been in no accidents and we never off-road. Also, the dealer was no help whatsoever and kept telling us we should have gotten the extended warranty.
GREAT VALUE
WE THINK WE HAVE TO BUY FOREIGN, BUT A 10% LESS IN PRICE THAN A COMPARABLY EQUIPPED TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, WITH MORE SPACE IN THE BUICK. BIGGER ON INSIDE THAT IT REALLY LOOKS FROM THE OUTSIDE
buick r
we love it and it cheap to operate as well major fun to drive easy to park and move around in traffic
2004 Buick Rendezvous
great suv poor gas milage, under powered
New Purchaser
We love it. More space than mini vans in the fornt and second rows. Surprisingly spacious in rear compartment. Solid, well built. Lotsa bells and whisltes. Only knock is pickup 0-45 mph.
sleek and fun
This is my first SUV to own but I have driven several of my friends cars . This beats all of them in ride quality. Talk about comfort ! I love the Onstar and the wireless phone, feel much safer knowing I can press a button and get help if I need it. Sound system is great, and the steering wheel controls are just awesome. Yes, its a little pricey on gas but nothing major.
An Underated SUV
When did an SUV mean a gas-guzzling 8 cyl monster that rides like a pickup and gets 10 miles to the gallon? SUV does mean Sport Utility Vehicle, and that is exactly what this is...and it's a more luxurious ride than most For a family that has outgrown a van and wants something snazzy but still with the benefits of carrying kids n cargo, this is a great choice. The ride is luxurious, with ON STAR it is safe, and since i'm not planning on riding the Apallachial Trail the All Wheel Drive is more than adequate. This rides better than the Honda Pilot, the highest rated mid size SUV. Before you buy anything, test drive this. you'll enjoy floating down the road.
none
easy to drive, not too big for a small woman and enough leg and head room for a 6'6" male. very surprised at the quality.
Going for 200k with this baby!
This is the 3rd Buick we've owned and we're only 50!! All in all it's been a family favorite, a workhorse and a great value. I drive about 100 miles a day in the Reno-Tahoe area. Coming from New England this is one of the best cars in the snow I've seen. Very easy to drive. Lean back, put it in cruise and listen to the BoSox on XM! Grandkids love the third seat. Peole have been amazed at how much you can pack into it with the seats down. Had some warrantee work done which is norm with new models. One of the best cars for a long trip and one of the best I've owned. Previously owned Volvo, Chevy, Ford, GMC. I plan on putting 180k on this and it's doing it just fine.
bad brakes on 2003 cxl
at 20,000 miles I just had the second set of brakes installed. Also the hubs for the all wheel drive needed to be replaced at 19,000 miles. back hatch opens when a bump is hit on the road. hatch will not go all the way up (keep hitting your head) lift shocks were changed at 3000 miles but they do the same thing as the originals did
Excellent Value
This car is a a fantastic value. For the sizable savings, one can get a beautiful SUV that is the equal of up- market models such as the Lexus RX300 and other competitors such as the Acura MDX. There is not a single feature available on up-market models that is not available on the Rendez-vous, including DVD player and HIGHLY intuitve and highly adaptive navigation system. In styling the Rendez-vous outstrips the aformentioned in the elegantly simple and intuitive layout. Like the layout the numerous luxury amenties are likewise simple to use. Having never used it before, I learned how to use all it's numerous functions in 4 minutes flat.
Pleased with my Rendezvous
Very Comfortable, very quiet. All controls seem to be weel placed. Get comments frequently about the attractive design. Great gas mileage for this size SUV - 17 and 18 around town, 24 on the road - and I don't baby it.
Evaluation from a layman
This is the first GM product I have purchased in 48 years. The price, comfort, and options were all persuaders in the transition from Toyota, Honda, and Nissan. My only criticism is that Buick consider a larger powertrain (and apparently they did in the new Ultra version). The leather appointed heated seats are extremely comfortable on a New England winter day.
2004 Rendezvous CXL AWD
Just bought this car because of the year end closeout and rebates. Got an awesome price. This is my second Buick. So far, so good. The space is great and all the features that came with it are really functional and neat. The 3.5L or 3.6L engine should be the standard. The 3.4L is now old technology. It feels like a very safe vehicle with all the airbags and crumple zones designed into it. I got the fold down third row seat which is handy and recommended.
2004 Rendezvous CLX
This vehicle's ride is very similar to the ride we experienced in our 2000 Lexus RX300. Very smooth. Would help with a larger V-6
LUV my RENDEZVOUS!!!!
When the Rendezvous first came out, I thought it was the most butt-ugly SUV I ever saw!! Until I drove one! Then I noticed that it is a uniquely designed SUV and has the ride of a luxury car! I absolutely LOVE it!!
Rende-view
Our Rendevous has provided us with the room to travel. My wife needs a wheel- chair when we go off in unknown territory since she is a stroke survivor. With our car, that limited us as to what we could take on trips because the chair took up so much space. Now we have plenty of room. The car was also hard for her to get in and out of but the Rendevous is the perfect height.
Engineers vehicle....
This is a Two Year review... 25K in severe duty... and doing very well... the gas milage for a vehicle that weighs over 4,000lbs with 185HP is as good as a VW beetle that had 85HP... 26mpg on the road.... goig to work and back I'm getting 22mpg ... that's more than the 4cyl CRV my cooworker is getting driving the same route. Needless to say this vehicle was designed for my taste.. its roomy as a full size SUV but gets the gas milage of a much smaller vehicle... all the seats come out easily just like a minivan for more cargo space than any SUV... and the ride is smooth and quiet. The large 16" wheels take the rough roads around here very well. Very satisfied.
Best Kept Secret
Going from a Park Avenue to this was not a disappointment. Roomy and comfortable, love the Navagation System; On-Star; Satellite Radio is great. Fuel mileage is one of its major problems; the other being a heavy rear hatch to open and close. Why not make it auto like everyone else's? Larger engine = more power and probably better fuel mileage. I consistantly use the "heads-up" display and raely look at the dash. But please, I can barely read the clock it is so small. Why not incorportate it with the "heads-up"?
Great Vehicle
I have had this vehicle for 1 yr now and I love it, especially for winter driving. I live in upstate NY and we get lots of snow, this vehicle handles great.
Great Ride
I bought this vehicle after much study, and after owning sedans for my entire car-life. I have been extremely pleased with it, and have driven it on two long and challenging trips, as well as around town. I like the room, comfort and handling. Lots of space for child and the many trips to the home improvement store. I would purchase it again in a minute, and have not regretted my purchase in the least.
Love the Rendezvous!
I absolutley love this vehicle. Very comforable ride and plenty of space for me and my kids. They love the captain seats in the back and also the earphone jacks. So they can listen to their own music.
BEST VEHICLE I'VE EVER OWNED
I AM IN LOVE WITH THE VEHICLE FROM FIT AND FINISH TO ALL THE EXTRAS INCLUDING ONSTAR, WINDSHIELD DISPLAY, HEAT/AC CONTROLS, NAVIGATION SYSTEM, FOLD-DOWN THIRD ROW OF SEATS. THIS IS JUST A GREAT AMERICAN CAR, OR I SHOULD SAY A WORLD CAR. AFTER OWNING JAPANESE SUV'S IT IS A PLEASURE TO OWN ONE MADE BY A COMPANY THAT REALLY KNOWS HOW TO BUILD A CAR! KUD
Rendevous with this one /Nice SUV
This vehicle is underated, except HP, I have had this vehicle since July 2002, it has 15,700 miles and I really love it It handles well, has a loads of storage space. Fit and finish is very good, however it is produced in Mexico (so much for foreign trade) The seats are very comfortable, and up front visiability is excellent. If you purchase one make sure you check the options on the sticker, and that they are actually on the vehicle. Mine was missing footrests, and cabin air filters, which are located in the glove box. Take your time and look it over very carefdully you might want to Rendevous with this one !!
Excellent vehicle for the money
Excellent subsitution for a mini-van. If your looking for minivan practicality and SUV style /performance, this is the vehicle for you. Looked at over 10 models, settled on the rendezvous after carefully considering alternatives.
What they missed
The R.is the "big brother" to the lesser appreciated Aztec. Buick could've paid more attention to some of the features of its "lil bro". I own both cars, having bought the Rendezvous as a family car after being impressed by my Aztec which I had owned for two years. I was dissapointed, however, in some things overlooked by the engineers of Buick.Sound system-hey, what would it cost to put in those nice Pioneer speakers?Rear seat "fold down" the little lever in the "Az" is much easier to use..and do the "Az" seats really fold easier, or is it my imagination, both cars would benefit from the "spring loaded" nature used on other GM SUVs
Problem right from delivery
Actually this car had an A/C problem that should have been found during its prep before delivery! A/C not working. Also it has On Star but its antenna was not installed at prep. Found it in a bag in the glove box. I installed it myself. To take it back to the dealer ALREADY I should charge them for MY time!
Our Buick
We purchased our Rendezvous after much consideration and deciding we weren't ready for a van, but wanted the room and convenience of one. We knew we wanted better gas mileage than a traditional SUV, but didn't want a compact. We were sold after the first test drive. The comfort, the little extras, the storage...all great with the most smooth and quiet ride ever! We call it our utility vehicle, having no intention to use it road, it serves our every family utility and is simply beautiful inside and out.
All around performer.... great mpg!
I have 27,000 miles on my Buick Rndezvous and can say it is performing perfect. And I'm very pleased with the gas miliage for a vehicle that weighs over 4,000lbs and has the room of a full size SUV it is the best. The removable seats comoe in very handy .. all the seats come out easy just like the Montana Minivan .. something no other SUV can do... giving the Rendezvous the most cargo space of any SUV.. the interior design is great... the very large center console holds a laptop and a lot of other things .. keeping the cabin neat while charging the laptop also. The fiberglass rear hatch is the lightest one I've ever seen... and the brakes are oversized and stop on a dime.
Great First Experience
This is a first SUV purchase for me. The car handles well in the west texas, eastern new mexico winds. The fuel economy is better than I expected. The interior is beautiful, roomy and comfortable. I purchased this car not for off road ability but for convience of having a cargo area, easy to access and still have stylish looks. I am a single woman and need the cargo area for things like plants, moving smaller antiques and light hauling. The appearance is classy and not that of a pickup. I can still attend the plays and opera in class on Friday and haul fertilizer on Saturday. I love my car!
my favorite suv
i love this vehicle, and enjoy driving it, it could use a little more power, repairs seem to be difficult and that is sad, i haven't enjoyed a vehicle as much since my 79 cutlass supreme coupe
I'll Keep My 'Vous for a Long Time
I've been looking at the Rendezvous since it came on the market and decided to buy at the beginning of the model year. I've customized my SUV with full wood interior trim which covers a less than lovely center console. This car had everything I was looking for in an SUV, but particularly comfortable ride. I'm beyond my sports car days, but think this SUV has a sporty appearance.
BUICK-NOT YOUR GRANDPA'S
SURPRISED BY SIZE. WAS ABLE TO FIT A DISHWASHER IN TRUCK WITH THE BOX!!!! THE DRIVE IS GREAT. IT HAS ALL THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT A BUICK THAT YOUR PARENTS LOVED, BUT WITH A WHOLE NEW SPIN THAT YOU'LL LOVE TOO.