2005 Buick Terraza Road Test

[91 s-10baja]

http://familycar.com/RoadTests/BuickTerraza/

[goblue]

All the parts are here - its just lack of funds to redo it right. Something tells me that will be fixed on the next one - it just needs a modern platform, the HF engine line, 6 speeds, and a sharper exterior. Something else - there's room in the market for a van that basically does what the toyohondas do for 5-10K less, and 5K less finesse.

That said - GM can really leverage their powertrains and features. The saturn version ought to take the Honda on and beat it - while the Chevy version ought to offer a much less expensive alternative - with less expensive engines. I actually don't mind a Buick minivan. A pontiac one is pretty silly.

[goochman]

Originally Posted by goblue

All the parts are here - its just lack of funds to redo it right. Something tells me that will be fixed on the next one - it just needs a modern platform, the HF engine line, 6 speeds, and a sharper exterior. Something else - there's room in the market for a van that basically does what the toyohondas do for 5-10K less, and 5K less finesse.

That said - GM can really leverage their powertrains and features. The saturn version ought to take the Honda on and beat it - while the Chevy version ought to offer a much less expensive alternative - with less expensive engines. I actually don't mind a Buick minivan. A pontiac one is pretty silly.

If Chevy were to go after a 5K-10K lower cost minivan vs Honda/Toyota then Chevy would be a KIA/Hyundi competitor - Not sure Chevy wants that label now even though there is some reality to that - esp in their Minivans.

[goblue]

Originally Posted by goochman

If Chevy were to go after a 5K-10K lower cost minivan vs Honda/Toyota then Chevy would be a KIA/Hyundi competitor - Not sure Chevy wants that label now even though there is some reality to that - esp in their Minivans.

You shouldn't have to spend 30K to get a minivan with a few features. You can get a odyssey up to 40K - 25K isn't Kia territory - its reasonable value. Plus, competing with the koreans works, if you can offer equavalent features for a little more - people will tend to go with the established brand. Chevy is not above competing with the koreans. Thats they type of arrogance that got GM into this mess, just substitute korean with japanese. Go drive the 06 Sonata...its a better car than the mailbu...

[nsap]

Originally Posted by goblue

All the parts are here - its just lack of funds to redo it right. Something tells me that will be fixed on the next one - it just needs a modern platform, the HF engine line, 6 speeds, and a sharper exterior. Something else - there's room in the market for a van that basically does what the toyohondas do for 5-10K less, and 5K less finesse.

That said - GM can really leverage their powertrains and features. The saturn version ought to take the Honda on and beat it - while the Chevy version ought to offer a much less expensive alternative - with less expensive engines. I actually don't mind a Buick minivan. A pontiac one is pretty silly.

There will be no next Terraza. This Lambda crossover is going to fill the void in Buick.

[goblue]

Originally Posted by nsap

There will be no next Terraza. This Lambda crossover is going to fill the void in Buick.

Good - hopefully Saturn can come up with a stylish looking minivan with all the features of a Honda...

What would be cool is if you could equip them to really tow - as an option. Maybe the 3.8HF, geared for torque? There was a use for the Astro and Safari - GM should find a way to use the new vans to plug the hole. Honda gets some decent towing out of its FWD/AWD unibody sport-ute platform...

[GMinTheDriveway]

The current crop of "CSVs" "FUVs" or whatever else they are calling the GMT201 minivans is woefully inadequate when faced with the current competition. The only van on the market they clearly outclass is the KIA Sedona, and the new Sedona which has taken square aim at the Honda Odyssey puts the GM vans in last place. It will take more than 40 more horsepower to overcome the deficit- A total redesign is needed.
As a salesperson I have to be a pretty good actor sometimes, but it takes all of my skill to show a RELAY without telling people to "wait for the next one." I never had a problem with the Venture- boring as it was- The RELAY (et. al.) is a horrible exercise in patience.

[Squachy]

you know, i think a pontiac minivan would work, but only if it looks sporty and fits the image.

Like on the other side of the world where minvans (or MPV's as they are known) are pretty popular, theres many (namely Toyota Wish and Honda Stream) small MPV's that look sporty and not so much minivanish as they are wagonish.

If Pontiac can get a small 7 passenger minivan to work, the concept of them HAVING a minivan would be a nonissue.

[goochman]

Originally Posted by goblue

You shouldn't have to spend 30K to get a minivan with a few features. You can get a odyssey up to 40K - 25K isn't Kia territory - its reasonable value. Plus, competing with the koreans works, if you can offer equavalent features for a little more - people will tend to go with the established brand. Chevy is not above competing with the koreans. Thats they type of arrogance that got GM into this mess, just substitute korean with japanese. Go drive the 06 Sonata...its a better car than the mailbu...

Don't disagree - Sad to think that Chevy cant compete with Toyota/Honda right now and is faced competing with KIA and Hyundai - Toyota and Honda are making a killing on their cars with the perceived value(some deserved) - Once Chevy starts perceiving themselves against KIA and Hyundai it will take alot for folks to think of them as Toyota/Honda competitors.

Hopefully if Chevy fights down Saturn and Pontiac and Buick can fight up.

[gmwsag]

The Buick Terraza is seriously a minivan---no matter what any GM representative will tell you. This review gives me little more information about what the Terraza does for a person. It, besides the front design, is a very nice vehicle to buy. Surely, the pricing makes it look more Monterey, Town & Country-ish, but isn't that the purpose? The Terraza will be the easiest GM CSV to actually identify in a class.

[asim]

Originally Posted by goblue

All the parts are here - its just lack of funds to redo it right. Something tells me that will be fixed on the next one - it just needs a modern platform, the HF engine line, 6 speeds, and a sharper exterior. Something else - there's room in the market for a van that basically does what the toyohondas do for 5-10K less, and 5K less finesse.

That said - GM can really leverage their powertrains and features. The saturn version ought to take the Honda on and beat it - while the Chevy version ought to offer a much less expensive alternative - with less expensive engines. I actually don't mind a Buick minivan. A pontiac one is pretty silly.

Good idea, besides the 5-10k dealie. I hope that the new lamada will be better than this outdated platform. I read somewhere that the next generation vans are only coming from chevy and saturn.

[asim]

Originally Posted by gmwsag

The Buick Terraza is seriously a minivan---no matter what any GM representative will tell you. This review gives me little more information about what the Terraza does for a person. It, besides the front design, is a very nice vehicle to buy. Surely, the pricing makes it look more Monterey, Town & Country-ish, but isn't that the purpose? The Terraza will be the easiest GM CSV to actually identify in a class.

if it has sliding doors, its a van.

[SSrevolution]

Originally Posted by gmwsag

The Buick Terraza is seriously a minivan.

The new CSVs are good minivans. The problem is it is a rebadge. And Buick and minivan don't go well together.

[drew770]

Buick shouldn't have a minivan.
Plus these CSV was a 1/2 a$$ attempt to stay competitive in the minivan market.
But it shows that Toyota and Honda didn't take this segment for granted. Both of their minivans are the benchmarks of the segment and both critics and sales have proven that.

[member12]

Its a shame, because gm has all the parts to make a great car. Its too bad they don't want to.

-new line of 6 speed autos
-3.6L 250hp engine found in buicks, cadillacs, and upcomming saturns (why not use it accross the line and enjoy economies of scale by mass production?)
-new Lambda architecture is supposed to be larger, wider than the current line of minivans.

It is priced higher than the best in class- while supplying mediocore product.
Can you imagine what buyers would do if GM offered a 6 speed auto, 250hp high feature v6 for a lower price than Honda or Toyota?

Then again, I don't see a problem with the current Chevrolet Uplander- just acknoledge that it is not close to best in class and price it accordingly (take a page from Hyundai's book). The Honda will be the best, but if I can get a fully loaded Uplander for a sticker of 24K, they would have sold the car with very little incentives if any. I can't seem to "build" them on chevrolet's website the way I want for less than 27K. For that sticker, I could get much more in a Toyota, Dodge, or Honda.

That said, I can't see the point of offering a crappy car arross all brands. The uplander is overpriced- and it is the cheapest one. Next year the SV6 will be parked next to the Solstice on dealer's lots- imagine that.