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Review: 2010 Buick Enclave

Posted on: February 24th, 2010 by adam_txGarage 2 Comments

2010 Buick Enclave

When I was young, I bought some of those x-ray glasses out of the back of a magazine. Although my parents tried to warn me, I insisted that they would work, plus they looked really cool. After weeks of waiting, checking the mail every day when I got home from school, the package finally showed up. I rushed to my room and ripped open the box throwing all the packing all over my room. As I pulled the glasses out and put them on my face, I felt an immediate sense of dissatisfaction. I ran around the house looking at everything I could thinking they have to work, yet they wouldn’t look through a thing. Not only did they not work as advertised, they were also cheaply made and broke within the first few days of having them. It has been a long time since I’ve felt this kind of dissatisfaction, that is until this week. (more…)

The 2009 State Fair of Texas Media Day

Posted on: September 23rd, 2009 by adam_txGarage 1 Comment

Terrain Lane

Today we had the privilege of attending the first of two media days for the State Fair of Texas Auto Show. We met up at the Studios of Las Colinas only knowing that today would be dedicated to General Motors, more specifically Buick and GMC. We were in for a treat with two vehicles that I have actually been eager to check out and drive. With all the hype around GM bringing better quality and design to their brands, I knew that these cars would have to be good.

GMC Terrain Front

Our first treat was the all new GMC Terrain, GMC’s new mid-sized crossover SUV. GMC is excited about this new model hoping that it would appeal to a wider audience than the everyday GMC. The Terrain, although built on the Equinox platform, only shares two body panels with the Equinox. It will be offered with a 2.4 liter inline four or a 3.0 liter V6 both mated to a 6 speed automatic gearbox with a manual mode. One big thing GMC tried to tackle in this new SUV was fuel efficiency. The 2.4L has an estimated 22 city and 32 mpg highway rating, which is unbelievably good. Even the V6 has a 17 city and 25 mpg highway rating while still maintaining 264 hp and 222 lb-ft torque and a towing capacity of 3500 lbs. So all in all I think the they did a great job in the fuel efficiency standpoint.

GMC Terrain Dash

So what about the looks a feel of the Terrain? The outside looks sleek and bold. It keeps the masculine look associated with GMC with flared fenders, big headlights, and a big bold grill. The interior was about the best I’ve seen from any GM brand in a long time. The contrast of textures and colors, the sophistication and ease of the center control panel, and the steering wheel and cluster look and feel gives the Terrain an upscale feel. During the drive the suspension felt smooth and direct and the power was never lacking. The Terrain drives with ease like a smaller car or SUV but with the look and feel of a bigger SUV.

I think that GMC and GM has really hit the nail on the head with the Terrain. I was very impressed and thats coming from someone that doesn’t like big SUV’s. I accept GMC will have a real hit on their hands with this one.

Buick LaCrosse

Next up was the all new Buick LaCrosse. Ever since I saw this car as a concept I pleaded for Buick to bring something with as bold and sporty design to the market. Needless to say I think the car looks great on the outside and seeing it in person did not disappoint. It will be offered with a 3.0 liter V6 with 255 HP (replaced later this year with a 2.4 liter four) or in the CXS top of the line you get GM’s 3.6 liter V6 pushing out 280 HP and 259 lb.-ft of torque, both with a six speed automatic gearbox with manual mode. The drive was smooth but not as smooth as you would expect from a Buick. The other thing I just can not get over, even arguing with others at the media event, was the interior. You could tell that they put a lot of thought into the layout and the materials in the car but it just didn’t seem as luxurious as the Terrain, or even any more than an Impala at that. I couldn’t put my finger on it, I just couldn’t get into the gray leather and gray dash and gray headliner. The one good thing that stuck in my head was the instrument panel with backlit gauges and a beautiful ice-blue ambient glow throughout the cabin. All in all I would say the LaCrosse’s design is a success but is it enough to draw people away from Acura or Lexus? I don’t think so.

Buick LaCrosse Dash

The big surprise after driving the Terrain and the LaCrosse was a set of new Camaros. Review coming soon! Tomorrow we check out what Ford, Dodge, and Toyota have for us.

check out the Photo Gallery HERE

Farewell to the Sky and Solstice

Posted on: July 30th, 2009 by adam_txGarage 2 Comments

Saturn Sky

When the Pontiac Solstice and the Saturn Sky first hit the show rooms I was more than ecstatic. Finally, we are bringing some small sporty life into American cars, I thought. The Pontiac lineup and the Saturn lineup were showing signs of revival and these cars spotlighted that revival. Now in 2009, with the bankruptcy of GM and the ever failing car market the Kappa platform that these cars are built on has ceased production. Saturn has been sold to Penske and no one really knows the fate of Pontiac so with the lower than expected sales of these fun little cars there has been no real push to keep them around.

It’s a shame, in my opinion, that these cars seemed to not catch on. The Saturn Sky often referred to as the baby Vette is a beautiful car with a very sporty look and feel and was quite fun to drive. The almost retro styling of the Solstice and the new to 2009 hard top Solstice were exactly what Pontiac needed to revive the sporty nature they had lost after years of cars like the Sunfire and the Grand Am.

I really think they will have a big following in the used cars markets with all the aftermarket toys and companies willing to shove V8’s under the hood they appeal to a lot of enthusiast track day racers.

I still have hope, first for Saturn with Penske as the new owners they all but have to bring a racing car to the market. As I showed in my “Plea to Saturn and Penske” they should have some sporty vehicle to choose from. Second I’ll try and reserve some hope for Pontiac. There have been some companies put forth offers to GM to buy out Pontiac, each getting the same answer from GM “Pontiac is not for sale.” In their official bankruptcy filing GM only says that they are keeping Pontiac as a limited production brand. Will they bring it back from the dead with a whole new limited production line of sporty cars? It seems like a reach, but you never know.