Buick Enclave in Columbia SC Uses High-Quality Tires

Posted on May 24, 2011 by admin
Buick Enclave Tires Columbia SC

Buick subjects tires to extensive testing before they go on any model, including the Buick Enclave.

When it comes to the Buick Enclave, engineers left no stone unturned in an effort to provide the perfect balance of performance, grip, and fuel economy.  The tires on the 2011 Buick Enclave luxury crossover may look nice on the road, but they went through a lot of abuse to prove their performance, durability and safety before being chosen. At General Motors’ Tire-Wheel Systems Lab on GM’s Milford Proving Ground in Michigan, a team of more than 50 engineers tested numerous contenders to be the tires every Buick Enclave wears as it leaves its factory in Lansing, Michigan.

“Tires are the only contact point you have with the road,” said  Tire Engineering Group Manager Dave Cowger. “Your tires influence everything from fuel economy to steering and handling, road noise, and braking. So we beat the heck out of these tires in the lab to make sure they have the right traction, fuel economy, durability and other characteristics.”

Utilizing tires that produce little road noise is a key component to Enclave’s library quiet interior, which allows passengers seated in the third row to hear a conversation between first-row occupants without interference. Enclave is the only crossover in its segment equipped with QuietTuning, Buick’s exclusive engineering process to reduce, block and absorb unwanted noise from entering Enclave’s cabin.

Many major tire manufacturers sent members of their staff to join in the abuse of tires trying to become standard on the Buick Enclave. Each tire vying to be chosen for the Enclave went through 25 different tests in a laboratory setting to gauge how well they hold up against simulated real-world abuses such as hitting a curb at low speed or smashing into a pothole.  Dynamometers with a special type of sandpaper are used to simulate tens of thousands of miles of wear from driving, allowing Buick engineers to test tires to the point of failure in a safe, controlled manner.

Only after surviving the battery of lab tests do tires migrate to the test track where they are put through further punishment. Out of dozens of tires submitted for consideration for the Enclave, only two tires from Michelin and Bridgestone passed all the tests to become standard equipment on the Buick Enclave’s 19-  and 20-inch wheels, respectively.

Since the formation of GM’s Tire-Wheel Systems team over 40 years ago, the group has tested more than 20,000 tire constructions. Buick uses Tire Performance Criteria (TPC) markings on the sidewall of the tire, which serve as a “seal of approval” for tires that meet or exceed GM’s stringent tire standards. To earn the TPC marking, tires must deliver exceptional results covering traction, handling, noise, endurance, tread wear and other factors.

Tire Performance Criteria also lets customers know what tires to look for when shopping for replacements. “I always tell people when shopping for replacements to look for the same tire that came with the vehicle, with the same TPC marking,” Cowger said. “We’ve engineered those tires to be the best they can possibly be.”

Buick Enclave for sale in Columbia, South Carolina from Jim Hudson Buick

Jim Hudson Buick is the #1 Buick dealership in South Carolina, serving the midlands including Columbia, Sumter, Newberry, and Orangeburg with a commitment to complete customer satisfaction before, during, and after the sale.  Jim Hudson has been serving the Columbia area for over 30 years, and has been voted Best New Car Dealership ten years in a row and counting by readers of The State.  Jim Hudson carries a great selection of Buick Enclave luxury crossover SUVs, as well as replacement tires installed by Buick Certified Service Technicians.  Jim Hudson Buick is located at 7201 Garners Ferry Road in Columbia, and can be reached by phone at (888) 377-4971 or by visiting their Buick Enclave Columbia SC website.

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2012 Buick Enclave Details Announced in Columbia SC

Posted on April 11, 2011 by admin
2012 Buick Enclave Columbia SC

New packages herald changes for the 2012 Buick Enclave, available from Jim Hudson Buick in Columbia.

The 2012 Buick Enclave marks the model’s fifth year of production, continuing to provide Columbia Buick owners with a world-class choice in seven-passenger crossover vehicles. Minimal changes are coming for 2012, with the removed availability of two colors (Gray Green Metallic and Red Jewel Tintcoat) along with the arrival of Crystal Red Tintcoat as a premium paint option.  Black roof rack cross rails will be available as a limited personalization option, and all-wheel drive Buick Enclave models will have a badge highlighting its extra capabilities.

Perhaps the more significant change for 2012 is Buick’s change in trim levels.  In an effort to streamline the ordering and buying process, Buick has dropped the CX, CXL, and CXL-2 designations on its models in favor of four new packages: Base, Convenience, Leather, and Premium.  The Base model still comes exceptionally well-equipped, with a power rear liftgate, quad captain’s chairs, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, remote keyless entry, cruise control, tilt/telescopic steering wheel, StabiliTrak stability control, premium-ride suspension, and Buick’s exclusive QuietTuning process all standard equipment.

Upgrading to the Convenience package adds the Driver Confidence Package, including remote vehicle start, ultrasonic rear parking assist, and a rearview camera, while the Leather package adds power heated seats with memory settings for the driver in the front along with leather-appointed seating through all three rows.  The Premium package tops out the range, adding a 10-speaker Bose premium sound system with USB port, articulating headlamps, power-folding outside mirrors, a power tilt/telescoping steering wheel with memory, a 115v household power outlet, chrome-clad 19-inch aluminum wheels, and the all-important heated and cooled front seats that make Columbia summers much more pleasant.

Buick Enclave Stand-Alone Options Continue in 2012

The Bose sound system remains available as a separate option across all packages, while rear-seat entertainment and touchscreen navigation is available separately on Leather and Premium models.  (Base and Convenience package models can choose a rear-seat entertainment system as part of the dealer-installed Ultimate Entertainment Package.) Leather and Premium models are the only ones that will be able to select the popular dual skyscape sunroof with its fixed skylight over the second row of seats.

For added capabilities, the Trailering Provision Package available with all packages allows Enclave to tow up to 4500 pounds when properly equipped.  Featuring a heavy-duty engine cooling system, trailer hitch, and a compact aluminum spare wheel, the package is sure to be a popular option for Columbia Buick drivers looking to tow trailers either across town or across the country.  (The aluminum spare wheel replaces the steel wheel that is available on Base and Convenience models and standard on Leather and Premium models.)

2012 Buick Enclave Arriving Later This Year in Columbia SC

Pricing has not yet been announced for the 2012 Buick Enclave, which will arrive in Columbia, South Carolina later this year.  When it does arrive, it will be available at Jim Hudson Buick in Columbia, South Carolina.  Jim Hudson is the #1 Buick dealer in the entire state of South Carolina, an achievement earned on its unique combination of attractive pricing and exceptional customer service.  Jim Hudson has been voted Best New Car Dealership in the city of Columbia an unmatched ten years and counting by readers of The State, and has been recognized multiple times as a GM Mark of Excellence dealer.  For more information on the 2012 Buick Enclave, visit their Buick Enclave Columbia SC page on their website or call (803) 783-0110.

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2010 Buick Enclave in Columbia SC Receives OnStar Mobile App Capabilities

Posted on March 16, 2011 by admin
Buick Enclave Mobile App

2010 Buick Enclave owners in Columbia SC can now use the OnStar MyLink app to start their vehicles from anywhere.

Today, OnStar announced expanded availability of their revolutionary MyLink app available to smartphone users using iPhone and Android models.  OnStar MyLink allows South Carolina Buick drivers to reference important information about their Buicks away from their vehicles, including tire pressures, fuel level, oil life, and even remotely lock and unlock the car.  In addition, vehicles so equipped from the factory can be remotely started using the OnStar MyLink app, allowing drivers to start heating or cooling the car even outside the usual range of the remote keyless entry fob.

Originally, these features were only available to Columbia’s Buick Enclave owners that had purchased a 2011 model with its six months of standard OnStar service.  Now, OnStar has enabled the functionality on 2010 models as well, allowing the 55,426 Buick Enclave luxury crossover SUVs that found homes in 2010 to take advantage of this exciting new service provided that they have OnStar service active in their Enclave.

Used Buick Enclave for sale in Columbia, South Carolina

When considering a used 2010 Buick Enclave, there are many things to look at.  Important things to examine include the vehicle history report, an independent third-party report that pulls from many records to verify that the Enclave has not been involved in any accidents or that it has been serviced at the dealer regularly.  In addition, a thorough inspection of the Enclave’s mechanical condition is highly recommended.

A GM Certified Used Buick Enclave is a vehicle that is less than five years old with under 75,000 miles.  Every GM Certified Used Vehicle is hand-selected, and its records are checked to ensure that it has not had its title branded as junk, salvage, or a related brand, as well as ensuring that any recall campaigns that have been issued by General Motors have been resolved properly.  From there, the vehicle receives a 117-point inspection and reconditioned to handle any minor flaws or problems the Buick Certified Service technicians may find.  Every GM Certified Used Buick Enclave for sale in Columbia, South Carolina is backed by a 12-month/12,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty extension that takes effect when the original 4-year/50,000-mile warranty expires. On Enclave SUVs that have exceeded the original warranty, the 12-month/12,000-mile warranty takes effect at delivery.  In addition, Columbia Buick Enclave owners receive the balance of the 5-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty with roadside assistance and courtesy transportation for exceptional peace of mind for many years and miles to come.  (Whichever comes first, see dealer for details.)

Jim Hudson Buick is the premier Buick dealership in Columbia South Carolina, and carries a great selection of GM Certified Used Buick Enclave SUVs for sale in Columbia SC. Jim Hudson is the #1 dealer in the state of South Carolina for new Buick sales, and that same great pricing and customer service carries over to certified used Buick models as well.  Jim Hudson Buick is located at 7201 Garners Ferry Road in Columbia, South Carolina, and can be reached at (803) 783-0110. For more information, visit their Columbia Buick dealer website.

Other used Buick cars for sale in Columbia SC

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Buick Enclave For Sale in Columbia SC Attracts Conquest Buyers

Posted on February 15, 2011 by admin
Buick Enclave in Columbia, South Carolina

The Suchocki family poses with their new Buick Enclave luxury crossover SUV.

With a baby on board and another on the way, Rick and Heather Suchocki needed a new family vehicle, one that afforded them enough room for strollers, playpens, diaper bags and the other necessities of a growing family. They decided the Lexus parked in their driveway wasn’t cutting it anymore, and started shopping crossover utilities including luxury imports and – to their own surprise – the 2011 Buick Enclave.

“I’d never thought about shopping Buick before, because I’d never pictured myself in their older models,” said Rick, a 41-year-old manager at an Arizona grocery store. “But the Enclave is designed for my generation. It has great styling and ride quality. It’s very quiet, luxurious and roomier than the other crossovers we shopped. We couldn’t get our baby seat into the back seat of the Lexus RX350, but it fit perfectly in the Enclave. It’s lived up to our expectations, and then some.”

Exceeding expectations is a common occurrence for the 2011 Buick Enclave. The luxury crossover enjoyed its strongest year of sales since its introduction for the 2008 model year, with total sales up 28 percent, and retail sales almost doubling its first year on the market. After having its best retail month ever in December, Enclave’s retail sales grew in January by 37 percent compared to the same month in 2010.

Enclave has received numerous awards from the media, including being a four-time winner of Consumer Digest’s Best Buy award, and was recently nominated for About.com’s 2011 Readers’ Choice Award in the “Best New Crossover Vehicle” category.

“As a contemporary people mover, Enclave has a high level of luxury appointments and is, at a glance, very upscale,” said George Peterson, president of marketing research firm AutoPacific. “The fact that Enclave’s retail sales are so robust is testament to the appeal of the product itself and Buick as a brand as well. As the economy continues to improve, prospects for the Enclave do as well.”

Enclave has the highest “conquest” rate of any Buick, with 51 percent coming from non-GM brands–and approximately half of those are from import brands.

“Enclave has brought a new kind of customer to our showroom – young professionals with families who previously owned an Acura or Lexus,” said Tim Fitzgerald, general manager of a Buick dealership. “They have very high expectations for styling, interior amenities and quality materials, and they’re finding out that the Enclave delivers in all of those respects and more.”

One of the hallmarks of interior quality is quietness, and Enclave is the only crossover in its segment that benefits from Buick’s exclusive QuietTuning process that reduces, blocks and absorbs unwanted noise from entering the vehicle’s cabin. Noise-reducing components include an acoustic-laminated windshield, laminated safety glass for front doors, triple-door seals, flat-blade windshield wipers, and aerodynamic rearview mirrors.

Among Enclave’s many interior amenities are three rows of seats that accommodate up to eight passengers, offering more space than the Mercedes R-class or Acura MDX. Enclave’s second-row seats feature General Motors’ Smart Slide system, a feature that allows easy entry to the third row with the pull of one handle. With Smart Slide, the second-row seat cushion flips up while the seatback slides forward, providing more room for passengers to enter and exit the third row.

Enclave’s smooth car-like driving experience is attributed to its stiff structure, its purpose-built suspension and aerodynamic shape, the latter of which contributes to Enclave’s 24 mpg highway on front-wheel-drive models, which is better fuel economy than any eight-passenger crossover not made by GM.

“Buick has come a long way,” said Lori Ashmore Peters, an attorney and mother of two in Dallas, who recently traded in an SUV for an Enclave. “Honestly, I had some reservations about buying a Buick at first, but the Enclave’s ride, handling, styling and amenities sold me on it. I would definitely consider Buick again.”

Buick Enclave for sale in Columbia, South Carolina from Jim Hudson Buick

Jim Hudson Buick has carried a great selection of Buick Enclave luxury crossover SUVs ever since its launch in 2007 as a 2008 model.  Jim Hudson is the oldest Buick dealership in Columbia, South Carolina, with a great selection of new and pre-owned Buick models of all models.  Jim Hudson has won The State’s annual Readers’ Choice poll an unmatched ten years in a row, which only underscores Jim Hudson’s commitment to complete customer satisfaction before, during, and after the sale.  For more information on the 2011 Buick Enclave, visit the Buick Enclave Columbia SC page on their website.

Buick Enclave for sale in Columbia SC

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Five Star Safety Rated Buick Enclave For Sale in Columbia, South Carolina at Jim Hudson Buick

Posted on December 9, 2010 by admin

A steel safety cage protects occupants of the 2011 Buick Enclave for sale in Columbia, South Carolina.

Jim Hudson Buick is thrilled to announce to Columbia, South Carolina drivers that the Buick Enclave has received a five-star crash test rating from the federal government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, adding to its safety resumé that began with its selection as a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

NHTSA’s new testing regime was used to test the Enclave, a system that was implemented this fall for the 2011 model year. The new system is based on rollover resistance testing as well as more rigorous frontal and side crash tests. Under the new ratings procedure, these three test conditions are combined mathematically into an “Overall Vehicle Score.” Under this new system, the Enclave achieved an overall vehicle score of five stars – the highest rating possible – though some individual tests resulted in four-star ratings.

“Earning five stars under the new rating system is an impressive feat – one that clearly demonstrates the strength of Enclave’s advanced structure, overall crashworthiness and effectiveness of its state-of-the-art safety technologies,” said Jeff Boyer, General Motors executive director of vehicle safety.

Enclave features a comprehensive safety system designed to protect Columbia’s drivers and passengers before, during and after a crash. Standard safety-enhancing features include a StabiliTrak electronic stability control system with rollover mitigation technology, Panic Brake Assist and OnStar Automatic Crash Notification.

Enclave is equipped with six air bags as standard equipment: two dual-stage frontal air bags, two seat-mounted side-impact air bags in the first row and two roof rail-mounted head curtain side air bags that run from the front seat all the way back into the third row of seats. Complementing the air bags is GM’s rollover sensing system, which is designed to activate the head curtain side air bags if sensors determine that a rollover is imminent. Additionally, first-row positions feature safety belt pretensioners with load limiters, which activate at the moment of a crash to take up slack in the safety belt and adjust the load placed on the safety belts to the severity of the crash.

“Enclave excels in providing leading-edge safety performance,” said Jim Chandra, Enclave marketing manager. “This is what Enclave customers demand as they tend to be early adopters of new safety features.”

The Panic Brake Assist system activates when an emergency braking maneuver is detected. The system automatically develops additional brake pressure to more quickly engage ABS, which can help reduce overall stopping distance by eliminating delays that can occur if a driver does not brake hard enough and/or soon enough.

All Buicks, including the 2011 Enclave, are equipped with segment-exclusive OnStar which features the Automatic Crash Response System. If a crash activates an air bag, the system automatically notifies an OnStar advisor who will call back to the vehicle immediately and notify local emergency services of its position and other information that may be available.

Current Buick Enclave luxury crossover SUVs available for sale in Columbia can be seen at Jim Hudson’s Buick Enclave Columbia SC website.

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