Test Drive: 2005 Buick Terraza

[91 s-10baja]

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/hl/05terraza.htm

[joey]

I read the same comments in just about every GM review other then a Caddy:
Engine lacks horsepower. Only one engine available. Enough said.

[IMPALAon20s]

its a minivan, minivan shoppers rarely car about hp. get an enthusiast behind the wheel, and of course they're going to complain. i agree with all the exterior design comments, dont buy the whole wannabe suv look. whats really sad, is that the company that isn't ashamed of calling it an minivan or having it look like one, is going to do the best. dodge caravan IMO is the best minivan available.

[ByTheLake]

I hate to say this, but my old (and missed) '99 Grand Caravan Sport looks better than this Terraza, and at a significantly lower price.

Is GM even thinking of creating a class-leading minivan platform, or will it be stuck with this platform and engine/transmission combo for years to come?

[Hotspur]

Originally Posted by IMPALAon20s

its a minivan, minivan shoppers rarely car about hp.

Minivan shoppers rarely care about HP? On what planet would that be? Just look at the sky-rocketing sales of the Freestar. Ford marketing came out and made the same dumb statement. Boy sales really took off! Where there is a soccer mom there is a soccer dad..a dad who cares about HP....DUH!

[mikest00]

Originally Posted by Hotspur

Minivan shoppers rarely care about HP? On what planet would that be? Just look at the sky-rocketing sales of the Freestar. Ford marketing came out and made the same dumb statement. Boy sales really took off! Where there is a soccer mom there is a soccer dad..a dad who cares about HP....DUH!

My wife like all her other friends buy what appeals to them. The only stipulation I have is that she buys the brand I work for. I rarely drive her vehicle, so I don't mind what the hp is and neither does she. She's not a driving enthusiast, she's not out to race anyone, she wants comfort and convenience and that's what she gets with the Terraza (even if it is only for a year). DUH!

[IMPALAon20s]

Originally Posted by Hotspur

Minivan shoppers rarely care about HP? On what planet would that be? Just look at the sky-rocketing sales of the Freestar. Ford marketing came out and made the same dumb statement. Boy sales really took off! Where there is a soccer mom there is a soccer dad..a dad who cares about HP....DUH!

freestyle is a crossover not a minivan. it has swing open doors, not sliding ones, thats your first clue. and the 203@5,750 hp is respectable for its size.

[giagastormer]

Remember people, for the 2006 model year all CSV's are available with the new 240 hp 3.9 V6.

That should solve the concerns for power.

[jckjds]

We have an uplander, and I can reassure you that HP was not a consideration. My wife doesn't care as long as it gets from A to B, and I don't care how fast it gets from A to B because (1) I rarely drive it, and (2) when I do drive it, I'm not doing any stoplight racing. For van purposes, this engine is just fine.

Even "soccer dad's" don't care about the van's hp, they worry about their daily drivers' hp.

Oh, and as for the rattles, this reviewer talks about--He either made it up, or the overhead storage consoles had stuff in them that was rattling around. This van is built as solidly as any on the market and does not have panel rattles.

[Rayzilla]

Originally Posted by jckjds

Oh, and as for the rattles, this reviewer talks about--He either made it up, or the overhead storage consoles had stuff in them that was rattling around. This van is built as solidly as any on the market and does not have panel rattles.

I agree - My wife's SV6 is amazingly solid not a squeak or rattle to be heard anywhere!

Although, she does gripe a little about engine power...she has a lead foot, what can I say?

[saturnsteve]

Originally Posted by giagastormer

Remember people, for the 2006 model year all CSV's are available with the new 240 hp 3.9 V6.

That should solve the concerns for power.

Yes sir! Thank god they are bringing the 3.9

[TaHoE]

Originally Posted by saturnsteve

Yes sir! Thank god they are bringing the 3.9

I would rather they have used the 3.6 for Terrazza and Relay and 3.9 for Uplander and SV6.

[jro4566]

Originally Posted by IMPALAon20s

freestyle is a crossover not a minivan. it has swing open doors, not sliding ones, thats your first clue. and the 203@5,750 hp is respectable for its size.

He said Freestar.

[darknight9]

I just about fell on the floor when I read the as tested price of $45,000!!! Was I the only one that thought I was getting warped to caranddriver.com instead of canadiandriver.com? It wasn't until I got to the bottom of the article with the competitors pricing that I got a clue. Time to get my glasses checked....

Personally the look of the Terraza really is the nicest of the bunch. They really spent some $$ making the interior look top notch. I have driven scores of Siennas and they rattle all over too, it just takes 10k miles to loosen her up. There is just alot of open unit body in a van and by their nature, they will never be as solid as a car.

[IMPALAon20s]

Originally Posted by RCtennis3811

He said Freestar.

oh. not much to say about that one either with 201@4,250 hp. hp in 200 range is perfectly acceptable for a minivan.