Test Drive: 2008 Buick Enclave CXL AWD

The best golfer on the planet has been a worth-every-million spokesperson for Buick since 1999, and at the recent U.S. Open, the word 'Enclave' was written in large letters on Woods' golf bag. A first-year marketing student could tell you the 'eyeball value' of that inside-the-ropes product placement, and with Woods in the final pairing on Sunday and in the hunt right up to the 72nd hole, that value was enormous for the new model. And so would it have been at this weekend's Buick Open in Grand Blanc, Michigan, where two-time winner Woods is defending champ. But along came Sam Alexis Woods, and the first-time dad did the expected and withdrew from the tournament.

That move might well qualify Woods for father-of-the-year honours, but it was a tough pill to swallow at GM Headquarters in Detroit, just 75 kilometres northwest of Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club, the site of the Buick Open.

And there's no guarantee the Buick Enclave will appear on Woods' bag when he returns to the PGA tour, as GM announced, just days after the birth, that Woods' primary spokesperson role for the automaker will now be on the OnStar marketing campaign and no longer with Buick. "We want the message on Buick to be about Buick," said a GM senior marketing exec in a press release. (Note to first-year marketing students: there will be an opening for a senior marketing exec at GM within six months).

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mikeydred20 - 7/7/2007 4:37:45 PM

0 Boost

This thing looks better in the magazines it really looks like a old man's car. This will not last a next generation, neither will Buick.

EnnNorak - 7/7/2007 6:30:58 PM

+1 Boost

Totally disagree mikeydred20, I'll be 70 this year but like lots of youthful cars (except the ones I don't fit into). The Enclave is built for comfort with touches of luxury, characteristics that have no age barrier. After you've had a few failures with cars that marketing guys have sucked you into with their youthful image ads, you will come around to vehicles like the Buick Enclave and the Buick Lucerne

ctsang - 7/7/2007 5:53:27 PM

+2 Boost

costs up to over $60K? no thanks

Htay7500 - 7/7/2007 8:13:16 PM

+1 Boost

hey tiger woods is playing not tht far from where I live and i got to see him play today. yay!! anyways, around town in dc and its metro areas NW, since tiger woods is hosting the at@t nationaal tournament, buick lucernes and enclaves where lent to the golf players to get around. you can tell by the driver door saying tht the car is lent by the sponsored event. when I first saw the enclave, it wasnt tht bad as I thought it would be. looks ok from what I saw.

Lexus - 7/7/2007 9:37:27 PM

+1 Boost

$60k for this Buick Enclave? I wonder what the Buick CEO are smoking? must be some really good foreign stuffs hmm....

With that money you can get a BMW, MB, Audi, Lexus, Land Rover, or even a Porsche SUV instead of this garbage.

Good luck trying to sales a $60 Buick, LOL :)

Lexus - 7/7/2007 9:39:11 PM

0 Boost

If they want to sales a $60k Buick they have to start slow, you can't come out and sales a $60k buick.

I would not even want to stand any where near this UGLY hippo SUV.

Qwazywabbit - 7/7/2007 9:53:18 PM

-1 Boost

I disagree with all you guys, except the old fart.

#1 Buick reliability has always been in the top 5. For 3 straight years it was ranked by JDPowers 3 year dependability at #2, just behind Lexus.

#2 This vehicle is right on the money. It is on par with Lexas in amenities and craftsmanship

#3 This is the beginning of a revolution for Buick. They HAVE to do something. The 2006 median age for a Buick buyer was 68. They wont be around much longer...

#4 They have all the right peices in place. Technology, marketing, styling, luxury. They have a dam fine product.

By the way, I work for BMW.

Lexus - 7/7/2007 11:45:03 PM

-1 Boost

So, let me get this straight, if this Buick actually cost $60k in U.S. dollar you would rather take this over the BMW or Porsche SUV?

What have this world become....

mikeydred20 - 7/8/2007 11:17:02 AM

-1 Boost

I don't know what JD Power you were looking at, last I checked Honda was behind Lexus the last three years. Until this year there has been a shuffle in the list.

Qwazywabbit - 7/8/2007 11:35:48 PM

+1 Boost

Lexus, it is not about what I want. Its about the market ya twit. I prefer to drive performance oriented machines like my M3--this is for the majority of people, like lexus and cadillac owners, who prefer a transportation appliance.

Qwazywabbit - 7/8/2007 11:40:00 PM

+1 Boost

Oh and Mikeydred20, keep in mind I am in the car business. I follow all the JDPowers surveys.
The 3 year dependability survey top 5:
1)Lexus
2)Buick
3)Infiniti
4)Lincoln
5)Porsche

mkk21 - 7/9/2007 3:27:33 PM

+1 Boost

Have you seen the new ad's for this enclave? "Look left, Look right, Look down, Look back, it looks everywhere you look..." and "The finest luxury crossover ever" Oh please Lexus came out with the swiveling headlights and back up camera years ago, only now is Buick coming out with that stuff and their claiming its the finest crossover ever. Give me a break!!!

bmwdrvr - 7/7/2007 10:17:23 PM

+1 Boost

i think this car is a great car for buick they look good on the road, and the pics seem to show a high quality interior....one thing about this article though it saids it costs over 60 grand which is outrageous for this car but i just had to see for myself so i went and priced one with everything i could select including the $700 paint job and it topped out at 44,990 for the cxl awd so im not sure where that price came from

rom64 - 7/7/2007 11:10:09 PM

+1 Boost

Must've been $60K Canadian.

bigprize - 7/8/2007 12:28:24 AM

+2 Boost

Most of the Enclaves on the lots right now price from about $33K to $42K USD. You can get a nicely equipped AWD model for under $40K easily.

neutral - 7/8/2007 4:02:50 PM

+2 Boost

Yea, this can't be US dollar figures.

On another note....this is the first time I've ever seriously considered a Buick to be cool and attractive. I'd love to have one.

EL34 - 7/8/2007 7:35:29 PM

+2 Boost

60,000 Pounds and not dollars.

Let's get with the program people!

Bmw8ter - 7/9/2007 8:11:30 AM

+2 Boost

$60,000 Canadian, not USD.