China’s reputation as a reliable business partner is now in doubt. China has adopted economic coercion against many countries of late. You are to be commended for your rejection of China made vehicles and national pride in your purchase of a Buick Encore GX.

 

Thanks. I re-did the quotes correctly......something got messed up in the posting.

I figure we give the Chinese economy enough money every time we shop at Walmart, Target, or virtually any major department-store....probably 90% of the stuff on their shelves is made either in China, India, or Pakistan....and the Chinese certainly are not our allies. No sense giving them even more when we get a new vehicle.

As far as national pride in vehicles, in my case, it's not so much a national pride (although that's part of it) as such as it is simply a like for the Buick and Lincoln nameplates. If I had not ordered an Encore GX, it would have likely been a new Lincoln Corsair, but the Corsair, of course, would have cost a lot more. And, yes, even with the Encore GX (which is built in Korea, one of our allies), given the choice, I'd rather see the GX built here, in the U.S., with UAW Labor, to help American workers make ends meet.

 

Based on my inspection and test-drive, I'm going to make a prediction. I think that, within couple of years, if not sooner, this vehicle is going to end up being Buick's best-selling vehicle in the U.S. (and possibly also in Canada, where it is also being introduced)....though it won't necessarily outsell its somewhat less-expensive TrailBlazer sibling, which dealerships simply can't keep in stock. Except for the turbo-three-pot mouse-motors (which many potential buyers, like me, are probably willing to overlook), GM, IMO, really nailed this design. You're not just going to see it at rental-car-firms, but all through Suburbia. Though the original Opel-derived Encore managed to sell very well (almost 110K of them last year), IMO, it was just too small and too awkward-looking....this Encore GX design really nails the overall size, flexibility, nice interior, standard and optional features, and combines them into an ideal package as a daily driver, unless you have to regularly carry several people.

Yes, the new Envision is going to be very impressive, particularly in the styling department....but, for several reasons, I don't think it's going to sell in quite the numbers the Encore GX will. And I'm keeping my fingers crossed......if enough GXs sell, and particularly if the new Envision also does decently, it just might keep the brand in the U.S. There are some rumors that GM is already has stand-by plans for its American-market Buick division to join its sister Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saturn, FCA's Plymouth, and Ford's Mercury Divisions in the Great Automotive Graveyard.

 

I dunno about that, its pretty small. The market for SUV/CUVs that size is not as robust as it is for larger SUVs, I think you will find the Envision and Enclave will outsell it. Those Encore sales are largely to fleets.

 

Thanks, I probably should have mentioned that......yes, I'm including fleets in the prediction, although I think you will also see a lot of GX's in private hands as well. I agree it is not suited for larger families....too small and not enough power, but it's ideal for many single people like me, couples, and maybe a small child. And the switch for disconnecting AWD (running in FWD-only when extra traction is not needed, or if a small-diameter donut rear tire is mounted) is something I wish I had in my Outback and didn't. Subaru, to my knowledge, even with their superb Symmetrical AWD systems, has never put that switch in their vehicles, although the WRX/STI, like on the former Mitsubishi Evo, has driver-adjustable AWD for front/rear torque-distribution.

 

CRV, RAV4 and Rouge would disagree.

 

And they'd be wrong, because they're a full size class larger. The Rav4 is 10" longer than the Encore GX, and the Rogue is 15" longer.

The Envision is in the same class as those three, and like Steve said, will likely handily outsell the Encore GX, because the market for Compact and larger CUVs is MUCH stronger than the market for Subcompacts.

 

I guess I mistook the meaning of "larger" SUVs. I don't consider a CRV "larger"--but sure, it's larger than a subcompact.

 

Correct. The RAV4 and Rogue are C-class crossovers, and the Encore GX, though close to the borderline in size, is considered more of a B-class. The former Encore was definitely a B-class.

Not sure I agree, and I'm not just saying that as a fanboy. The past 1Gen Envision could not sell the smaller 1Gen Encore in the U.S. (which was Buick's top seller here). Of course, both the new Envsion and Encore GX are all-new, totally different products (and both are slightly larger than their predecessors)...so, we'll see. But, in the U.S. market, the compact/subcompact crossover class has clearly been the fastest-growing lately....there are now literally dozens to choose from.

 

Is it the Lexus NX series that's in competition with the Buick Encore GX?

 

You bought a Buick?!?!?!?!?

I must say, I am shocked but wish you the absolute best on your purchase.

Whenever someone says they own a Buick, I picture a late 65 to 75 year old with 10 grandkids. They style is so outdated to everything else on the market I just cannot believe people actually buy them.

When their commercials come on TV they are like an SNL skit.

 

Why are we even discussing about a Buick in a Lexus forum???

 

You're new here?

Subforum is CAR CHAT, not LEXUS CHAT.

Quote:

Car Chat
General discussion about Lexus, other auto manufacturers and automotive news.

 

I ordered a Buick. 6-8 weeks delivery time.

Thank you. With some exceptions, I have generally had good luck with Buicks.

Welcome to the world of reality...not fantasy. You've been listening to the auto press too long. The idea of Buicks being owned only by Geriatrics is nonsense.....complete nonsense. I've owned five of them in my lifetime, counting this latest Encore GX.....two of them when I was in college, before the age of twenty. And I will (possibly) own more of them in the future.

TV itself is often exempt from reality.

 

As tex2670 said, here in the Car Chat forum, we discuss everything from two to six wheels...and everything in between, including Lexus products. We also have Lexus-model forums for those who want to confine their comments and questions to those specific Lexus products.

And, FYI, even a number of moderators, here on Club Lexus, drive (and discuss) vehicles of other brands as well. We are all true auto enthusiasts here.