RIP: Buick Rainier
As General Motors refines the future of their brands, they're trimming out redundancy and we have a hard time coming up with a more redundant vehicle than the multitude of GMT 360 based 'utes across all the GM brands.
The Buick Rainier is one version of this ubiquitous platform that no longer has any reason for living; thus, production will end during the second quarter of 2007. Buick's plan is to trim the lineup back to three or four models, while focusing on developing and turning them out extremely well. The focus of Buick's future is taking the brand further into luxury, rather than offering everything the other divisions do, but with plusher seats. The buying public has found religion with car-based CUVs, as well, so dropping the Rainier to focus on execution of the Enclave is a shrewd move. Competition from other luxury brands, such as the Lexus RX vehicles, which have been based off car platforms since their inception are preferred by consumers and no amount of niceties inside will make up for the lumbering feel of a body-on-frame truck. Rather than have two vehicles vying for consumers hearts -- and confusing them in the process -- we laud the decision to lay the Rainier to rest.
[Source: Detroit Free Press]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
lynn 10:51PM (12/23/2008)
I love the Buick Rainier, BUICK should not do a way with this truck. This one really needs to be advertised more, if anyone ever drove it the ride is so smooth and the luxury on the inside will make other SUV'S take a backseat...I hate when people blog about something they have no clue about, I'm sure the ones thats saying do away with it have never drove it or never owned any type of SUV. If you've never experienced the ride of a Rainier, you need to be quiet and talk about what you maybe driving and I'm sure you will have a clue about that. The tailblazer has nothing on the RAINIER, I've driven both..Thank you!
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Howard Kerr 8:35AM (2/09/2007)
Since many (nearly all?) Buick dealers also carry GMC trucks...including the Denali "brand", I've never understood why GM thought that this SUV was needed.
My suggestion? Buick should look at (re)-introducing the Riviera. A classy and stylish COUPE no bigger than a Monte Carlo and if at all possible, on a RWD platform. Gee, it would be something likee the SC430 is to Lexus or the Skyline will be to...Nissan or Infiniti. In a market niche not currently being contested by Cadillac.
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Wondering... 9:31AM (2/09/2007)
Were any of the former Rivera RWD? I thought they were always FWD... of course the ones I remember had 455ci in them
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Astro 10:02AM (2/09/2007)
I always thought the Rainier was simply an absorption of the Bravada from Oldsmobile.. and no it was never really needed.
Is Randezvous being killed also?
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Cliff 10:51AM (2/09/2007)
The one nice thing about the Rainer was that you could order on with a v8 and still have the short wheel base. It was the only gmt360 to do so untill the envoy denali and trailblazer ss came along.
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JBL 10:25AM (2/09/2007)
Yes, the Rendezvous is history too. It would compete with the Enclave, which is a far superior, though larger vehicle.
It would be sacreligious for a new Riviera to be RWD. AWD maybe, but not RWD. The market for coupes, especially luxury coupes, is very small and not worth the investment. Rivieras were before the Costco generation, and people don't like the huge doors of coupes, even though styling is almost always better. Functionality and versatility of a sedan wins out.
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MikeW 10:59AM (2/09/2007)
GM could have saved it (the platform) with a big bore 4.4 I6 (95.5 vs 93, same change as the 2.8-2.9 I4, 3.5-3.7I5) 300hp, 300ft-lbs, coupled to the 6L50.
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Richard Warren 11:09AM (2/09/2007)
#2 So how old are you? Thr Riv appeared in 63 RWD
The name Riviera goes back to 1949 as a Roadmaster Riviera. They were all RWD until 1979.
#1 Agreed a well done Riviera will still sell today.
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DC 11:52AM (2/09/2007)
MikeW - I love the idea of a big bore I-6, that would be such a nice engine. I'm not clear on the engine's future in GM products, but it certainly should stay because its one of their best.
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ellerton 1:05PM (2/09/2007)
Buick should go the way of Oldsmobile...
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CJ 12:54PM (2/09/2007)
#5 cliff
You can get a regular wheelbase Trailblazer with the 5.3 in a 2007 model....
Glad to see them do away with yet another copy of the Trailblazer and Envoy-they had too many anyway
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Jason 6:31PM (2/09/2007)
I'd like an apology from GM for lying to our face about how important and needed the Rainer was for the Buick line. This was back when it was introduced. I guess we are all suckers in the eyes of GM. Can spew out lies and not have to save face later on. Wish I could do that at my job.
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Fabulo 7:20PM (2/09/2007)
In the same sweep they should kill the saab version.
And this statement makes a lot of sense: "The focus of Buick's future is taking the brand further into luxury..."
Because GM does not really want to address the crowded mish mash of brands it has. If Buick goes "luxury", where is Cadillac? Where is Saab? and what about Hummer? And the 'denali' trims?
4 luxury brands? Agreed, Saab is not really luxury, it's more overpriced euro feel. Well, Euro feel with GMT360 underpinning, one odd subaru sourced car and an epsilon based car (malibu, g6, etc)
So yes, kill the rainier. Good start. What about the rest?
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Phil 7:51PM (2/09/2007)
#11, if anyone CARED, someone would agree with you.
The car was good for them at the time to keep SUV buyers in the fold. The Enclave is the replacement.
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D Man Sux 11:56PM (2/09/2007)
Boo-hoo.
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MikeW 11:05AM (2/10/2007)
I think GM will nix the inline6, so sad.
They even had the axle ratios too
short 4x2 3.42
short 4x4 3.73
long 4x2 3.73
long 4x4 4.10
Fast, smooth, efficient (enough)
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ral1960 11:36AM (2/11/2007)
Smooth yes, efficient not very. Cast iron block, wasn't it. Won't fit in transvere FWD or smaller cars. Cadillac has never sold a straight 6, and I doubt they'd start now. If it's smoother than the 3.6 V6, maybe they should put it in a Buick sedan/coupe, like a Riviera. Otherwise it exits with the Trailblazer. Could the Trailblazer chassis be lowered for a car?
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MikeW 10:10PM (2/11/2007)
Cast aluminum block. Transverse mounting is unlikely.
Maybe GM will make a 4.5 liter V6 off the LS2, regular fuel, AFM 300hp, 300ft-lbs
Nice for the new G8 (cheaper engine) and better transmission (6L50)
and maybe the Impala
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Richie638 6:35PM (3/27/2007)
Sorry to see the Rainier go. We have a 2004 with 29,000 miles and have never had a problem. Waiting for the Enclave, I hope their as good as the Rainier.
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