Topic: Test Drive: 2013 Buick Encore Premium

[aaronk]

the iCar - twice as expensive as an equal car, designed so you could never open the hood, and it would only be sold in white. 

...and fully integrated with your iPad...why certainly, when would you like to take delivery Mr. and Ms. Everyone-under-25?

BTW, you can get the iCar2 in black...and aftermarket cases in any colour you like...even patterns.

lol, I think you may be onto something there! 

[Wildsau]

the iCar - twice as expensive as an equal car, designed so you could never open the hood, and it would only be sold in white. 

...and fully integrated with your iPad...why certainly, when would you like to take delivery Mr. and Ms. Everyone-under-25?

BTW, you can get the iCar2 in black...and aftermarket cases in any colour you like...even patterns.

Perhaps you've forgotten all about the iCar 2S, which is available in black AND adds 3 horsepower, is 2 mm narrower, weighs 4 grams less and will come out RIGHT AFTER the entire world has purchased their iCar 2.

[ChaosphereIX]

the iCar - twice as expensive as an equal car, designed so you could never open the hood, and it would only be sold in white. 

...and fully integrated with your iPad...why certainly, when would you like to take delivery Mr. and Ms. Everyone-under-25?

BTW, you can get the iCar2 in black...and aftermarket cases in any colour you like...even patterns.

Perhaps you've forgotten all about the iCar 2S, which is available in black AND adds 3 horsepower, is 2 mm narrower, weighs 4 grams less and will come out RIGHT AFTER the entire world has purchased their iCar 2.

such an amazing business model, so stupid that it actually works. Apple has an amazing cult status, or everyone is a mindless consumerist sheep...ooooh shiny!

[Seafoam]

I suspect this new generation of even smaller high-feature CUVs will continue to grow in popularity. If one can come to terms with the price/size ratio then there's something there.

Agree. We are slowly but surely getting closer and closer to the waterdrop shape - all about energy and space efficiency.
One thing I hope for is technology advancements focus more on energy sources and driver/passenger safety with testing procedures closer to real-life hwy speeds. Instead, manufacturers focus on making cars an extension to an iPhone.

blame China

Not China, America. Tesla's roots are in software and technology for example, they are not trying to build a car like a car company, their doing it more like a software or tech company. Lots of pundits have said cars will be built around smartphones and connectivity technologies to appeal to the younger generation. This is already happening. There is lots written about this...almost weekly in Bloomberg and the Economist...fascinating stuff.

Great. They better make them safer then,because there will more and more accidents.This connectivity crap makes driving worse. People aren't driving any more they are too busy playing with some sort of device.The driving is becoming secondary and that is bad.

[dirtyjeffer]

i like this little Encore, but i have yet to see any on the roads...the pricing seems a little high, but perhaps there will be incentives on it (not sure)...at $30k, i think a nicely equipped Forester would beat it up in almost every area...at close to $40k, not only would the Forester still have the upper hand on pretty much every facet of the vehicle, you are only about $2500 away from a base GLK 250...while it is a "base GLK", a base GLK still comes reasonably well equipped...or as mentioned, a loaded up B250 would be comparable and beat the Encore in every aspect (driving dynamics, power, space, etc), although only available in FWD (for now anyway).

in any case, it looks like a good little car, and perhaps a few minor tweaks for next year's model can refine it further.

[Stilllovetrucks]

we can't keep these things on the lot to save our lives. They are selling like crazy, even the fully loaded ones

Really....I cant honestly say Ive seen one on the roads. 

I can't say I have either, and really? $40k ? Ridiculous for what it is. At $29995 for a fully loaded to the gills one, I'd consider it.....

[canbra]

Perhaps you've forgotten all about the iCar 2S, which is available in black AND adds 3 horsepower, is 2 mm narrower, weighs 4 grams less and will come out RIGHT AFTER the entire world has purchased their iCar 2.

iCar 2S, “the fastest, most powerful iCar yet.”

Until they release the iCar 3, and say: “This changes everything. Again.”

 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

GM moves to ease shortage of 'red hot' Encores

Richards notes that Encore sales of 12,252 units over its first six months exceeded those of the Buick Verano compact sedan over its first six months on the market.

Encore sales are well on pace to eclipse analysts' volume forecasts for 2013. U.S. sales through July totaled 15,428 units. Before the launch, AutoPacific Inc. predicted 13,600 units this year; IHS Automotive foresaw 18,500.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20130805/RETAIL/130809933#ixzz2bDT1DKs0

[Fobroader]

I dont know about any other areas of Canada....but I still have yet to see one in traffic.

[revalations]

I dont know about any other areas of Canada....but I still have yet to see one in traffic.

None around these parts either. Several Chevy Trax here in town, all LTZ models none the less.

[Fobroader]

I dont know about any other areas of Canada....but I still have yet to see one in traffic.

None around these parts either. Several Chevy Trax here in town, all LTZ models none the less.

I see a Trax pretty well every day on my drive, but the Buick version....nada.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I dont know about any other areas of Canada....but I still have yet to see one in traffic.

I see them fairly frequently in traffic. I see more Traxs. I think Regina skews domestic though.

[Scaerio]

BTW, you can get the iCar2 in black...and aftermarket cases in any colour you like...even patterns.

Didn't the original smart have interchangeable body panels, even some with patterns?   

[mixmanmash]

BTW, you can get the iCar2 in black...and aftermarket cases in any colour you like...even patterns.

Didn't the original smart have interchangeable body panels, even some with patterns?   

Yes they did.

[Jaeger]

I still haven't seen a single on of these "red hot" little chubbies on the road yet. 

[dirtyjeffer]

my wife just mentioned she really likes the look of this vehicle...looks like GM's marketing people hit the nail on the head as we are likely the perfect target demographic for it...married, no kids, no need for some massive behemoth and don't mind something "nice" without being $60k...Buick's only problem is we won't be in the market at least for 5 more years, but we'll see next time around what they have.