Overview & Reviews
With just one year of production under its belt, Buick is already making some substantial content changes to its Rendezvous model line. Instead of offering standard all-wheel drive on its upscale CXL model, both the lower-level CX and the CXL will now come with front-wheel drive, with Versatrack all-wheel drive available on both models. Other formerly standard items that are now optional this year include: four-wheel disc brakes, ABS, side airbags, all-speed traction control and luggage rack crossbows. On the upside, both models get dual-zone climate control. The CXL also benefits from an optional DVD-based entertainment system and optional XM Satellite Radio for extra enjoyment.
- Usable third-row seats that fold flat, comfortable ride, lots of options available.
- Paltry engine, swell-looking but cheap-feeling interior materials, options add up, no off-road ability, not as storage-space-friendly as a minivan.
User Reviews:
Showing 1 through 10 of 171.00-
168,000 and still going strong - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
By snovietoots - October 19 - 6:58 pmI love it, bought it used with 53,000 4 years ago and it never seems to sit still. I drive 45 miles or more one way to work each day and I get 22 miles to the gallon. Ive looked to get a better gas car but for the amount of space I have and the mpg its hard to say good bye to it so I decided to keep it. I have never done anything other than normal wear and tear. I have found that the drivers door hinge is weak and have had to reenforce that once after a big wind got it. but other than that its been a great vehicle and has taken a lot of wear and tear. If they stil made them I would definately get a new one.
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Mixed feelings - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
By V8 Man - July 7 - 12:40 pmI bought a 2003 CXL Rendezvous with 40K miles in 2005. I got it for $16,500--I would not even have looked at it for the new sticker price ($30,000+). Overall, I have mixed feelings about this car, leaning toward favorable. On the positive side, it is a good-looking car, has a nice interior, and rides quiet. The 3.4 L V6 engine is strong enough for most trips. We got the third-row seat, but hardly needed it with just two kids (it folds nicely into the floor). On the negative side, I have replaced a number of parts--head gasket, driver-side hub assembly, electric window motor, electric lock, and rear differential fluid. Heater blows cold air on passenger side. Gas mileage is awful (15).
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brake fluid fire - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
By Julie - June 19 - 8:35 amYESTERDAY our daughter was driving back home from an appt when the brakes failed--she eased it home, was in the house telling us about the problem for about 15-20 minutes while car was sitting turned off in the driveway. My husband went out to look under the hood and found it ON FIRE. Brake fluid was dripping on the hot manifold Luckily he was able to extinguish it. I believe the design of the engine with the brake line so close situated just above the hot manifold is ultimate cause. The heat MUST be causing the lines to crack/leak unlike in any other vehicle I have owned. We have seen reports online of similar problems since this happened to us.
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Rear differential failures - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
By Treize13 - April 24 - 7:15 amIve had this Rendez-vous for 3 years. Bought it used with 75000kms on it. It has seen nothing but the mechanic. He should make my payments. 2 months before warranty up replaced differential with a used one, that one just fell out, Im not impressed. 4 tires worn out in 1 year ABS light always on fuel gauge doesnt work. all wheel drive ot traction light always on. still have two years to pay on it, time to trade in You think!
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Decent Car for family - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
By craerz - December 20 - 7:55 amI bought this car brand new and have kept up with maintenance. The RDV is pretty reliable under those conditions. Whats gone wrong so far is battery leak, head gasket leak, and recently (after 6 years) the battery and O2 sensor needed replacing. The first two were fixed under warantee so NBD. There was also a recall on the rear lift gate. Oh, and now my gas cartridges are shot on the lift gate. The gas milage started out at 22mpg city and 26 on the road, but now were about 18 city and 22 on the road. Not too bad for a 7-seater. In 2005 we drove this on vacation from Houston, to Sante Fe, to Denver and back to Houston. No problem. We strapped a DVD player to the wide console.
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Like it... - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
By mkp53081 - October 12 - 11:52 amWe owned a CXL 2 years ago and traded it for a Scion xB (BIG mistake!). We have two growing boys (7 & 4) so the Scion was just too small. We got rid of it and bought another Rendezvous. We went back to the Rendezvous because its comfortable, gets decent gas mileage, and has room to haul stuff. The only things we are dissapointed about so far on the CX model is that it is missing a lot of the features that the CXL had. No backup sensors, cloth instead of leather, no third row seat (but it has the option to easily install an aftermarket one), and FWD instead of AWD. We love having a Rendezvous--even without the CXL options--and are glad we bought another one!
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Think foreign - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
By Theresa - August 18 - 2:12 pmI loved my Rendevous but at 97,000 miles I have put 3,000 in repairs, and am possibly looking at another 3,000. I am told the rear differential is bad in this suv and that it is a common problem. I am now looking at spending more on repairs than the vehicle is worth. Very disappointed that GM wont take more responsibility for their design flaws. Might make me consider another American car but not at this point.....EVER!
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Good Uff-da - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
By NoDak Dan - June 16 - 10:00 amComfortable to drive, nice to sit high again and see all of traffic, love the head and leg room to drive. Hoping for better gas mileage. Lots of static electricity on the leather trimmed cloth seats. Plenty of room. Automatic starter a plus in cold and hot weather.
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The Reason GM is Bankrupt - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
By Waldo - February 22 - 9:20 pmI just dumped mine. In 4 years: wheel bearing twice (the electronic controls for AWD are in the bearing assembly - a lousy design), heated seat burnt out, spare tire safety mechanism rusted shut (could not get spare out one night), and the best of all - valve lifter bolt sheared out of aluminum head. In the same time frame all I did was change the oil in a Honda Accord. A guy in my office also has 2003 and has had even worse problems including head gasket.
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Falling Fast - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
By MJ - October 6 - 9:47 amWe bought this vehicle used with 26K miles on it in Nov. of 05, and liked it quite a bit originally. Unfortunately, the longer we have had it, the more cheaply made it seems. Not a lot of problems mechanically with this car through the 3 years I have owned it, but little stuff: windows always squeal, leather strap to close hatch broke within a couple months of owning, rear wiper has never worked correctly. Tires lose pressure. Now I feel the tranny is slipping, and warranty expires in 3 days. Was told at the dealership they cant find anything wrong, and I cant trade this in, because I cant afford the negative equity
