we were looking at the 2014 Denali, if that makes any difference

 

We like ours but if people space is what you're after why not another Sienna/Odyssey?

The Pilot's 3rd row we thought was unusable for adults. I was the test subject as a 6-footer (though admittedly I'm very lanky).

 

Thanks NutBucket.

Yes - another minivan seems reasonable, but we spend a lot of time in the winter going over snowy passes & winter weather conditions where having AWD or 4WD with better ground clearance would be very helpful.

and on a more shallow side - myself & my kids are ready to move on from the minivan stigma. silly, I know.

 

Hi. We were in a similar situation. I had a very much loved 2005 Honda Odyssey for 7+ years when we traded it for a Honda Pilot in 2012. I thought this would be a good move because the Pilot gave us (what I thought) would be enough room for 2 growing kids, plus a dog.

Long story short, I had the Honda Pilot less than 18 months before I traded for my 2014 Acadia. Our road trips in the Pilot were so cramped with luggage, 2 kids (ages 10 and 12), plus the 50-lb dog. We were all miserable in the Pilot for anything longer than an hour or two. I also agree with you - the interior fit and finish on the Pilot is less than ideal with cheap plastics and lacking the higher end feel. It felt very utilitarian.

I was hesitant to buy American because we've always been a Honda/Toyota family, but aside from their minivans, the interior configurations and cargo space of the Honda and Toyota options just weren't working for us.

In the end, I bought a GMC Acadia (SLT2) this past January. I love it so far and my family is much happier to have their 2nd row bucket seats again and the dog has plenty of space to travel between the seats without losing any cargo room in the back on long trips. I have no idea if the Acadia is going to hold up over the long haul, but I did budget for the extended warranty, so hopefully I'll have 5 years and 100K miles to figure it out. At the end of the day, the Acadia was the car that provided what I needed for my family and I bit the bullet and bought it. Good luck to you in your decision!

 

Thanks for the input GMCinKC - sounds like we are in very much the same situation - my kids are about the same age, plus one who is almost 15 (yikes will be learning to drive soon too!) - and we are a tall family, so the only one shorter than I am (5' 5") is only 9 years & still growing. My 11 y.o. is predicted to be over 6' within a couple of years.

We are also moving cross country this summer & are trying to figure out whether to purchase before or after the 2600 mile drive. I really wanted to find a toyota that would work for us, but highlander is too tight & sequoia is too much of a gas guzzler!

That Denali seemed quite spacious and comfy for a 'midsize' SUV

 

I agree on the Highlander. I SO desperately wanted that SUV to work for us, but it was simply too small and the 3rd row wasn't feasible for adults for more than a short drive. Plus, the cargo room with the 3rd row up in the Highlander was not enough room for everyday kid-related cargo like baseball and soccer gear, nevermind if I needed to run by the grocery store on the way home. I need space - and the Acadia offers a lot of it!

I'd vote to purchase your new one after the move. Put the wear and tear on your old one - moving is messy!

Good luck!

 

Are we talking the redesigned Highlander? Just curious as I haven't been in one.

EDIT: AWD Sienna. Problem solved!

 

yes redesigned. still not big enough. :-[

 

Never in a million years would I buy another Acadia. It is by far the most problematic vehicle I have ever owned and has had so many issues in the 42,000 miles we have owned ours than my 15 other vehicles I have owned combined.

 

Never in a million years would I buy another Acadia. It is by far the most problematic vehicle I have ever owned and has had so many issues in the 42,000 miles we have owned ours than my 15 other vehicles I have owned combined.

I'm sorry to hear this. So what are you planning on getting instead?

 

I'm sorry to hear this. So what are you planning on getting instead?

No idea at this point, I have to find a way to unload this Lemon. Might end up with a Tahoe since they are a proven platform with a Motor and transmission setup that has been around for ages.

 

I'm on my second GMC Acadia and love it. I might start this by I've always been a GM man, except for one stupid time when I bought a Highlander. Couldn't get out of it quick enough. I've owned Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon prior to my Acadia's. With my 14 Denali, I'm getting around 18 mpg all purpose mileage with my larger trucks I was getting around 13. With my 2011 I did have a couple issues, water pump was leaking and steering column leak that both hit me at around 50k miles (just after warranty of course) as well as 2 recall items but they were covered with no cost. So to remedy the issue I bought an extra year with my 14 Acadia.

I can also speak to the safety of the vehicle, thanks to the Dumb B(&$H that couldn't see me coming at her with my lights on. Pulled in front of me and caused a head on collision only 3 months into owning my 14. But thats' a whole other issue. Safety is Excellent!! Airbags all over the place for safety, and onstar had EMT's on site within minutes of the wreck and were online checking on me within seconds.

Overall, if you want safety, space, comfort, acceptable mpg, get the Acadia.

 

We have an 08 Acadia SLT2. Loaded out. Every option. Very pleased. Good (for the size) fuel economy, looks, space, features, comfort, power, etc. Rear DVD is great and the Bose 5.1 is nice. Ours has nearly 100k on it and is still nice and tight. We did have the tranny replaced right before bought it (on the dealers dime) as well as some other small items the service contract covered. Get one. No other vehicle does everything as well as the Acadia for the money. :cheers:

 

I have a 2013 Acadia Denali. I LOVE it! I've had it for almost a year and just put on 5,900 miles on it.

If I won the lottery I would own one in every color. =) So I would buy again. No issues so far, just have to deal with the air bag recall thing.

 

So - bottom line - would you buy this vehicle again? what would you have purchased instead?

Thanks for any & all input.

Be aware that when buying the 2014, it is basically the same platform from 2007, which has seen an evolution of improvements and is much less likely to have the same reliability issues of the older versions. For example (not inclusive!):

- waveplate failure in the MY2007-'09 transmissions
- steering rack leaks and worn PS pump issues from MY2007-'11
- water pump leaks from MY2007-'12
- stretched cam chains in MY2007 & 2009
- water leaks in MY2007-'08; causes electrical gremlins - stabilitrak & traction control messages, etc.
- A/C actuators from MY2007-2011?
- rear spring fracture MY2007-'08
- driveability issues; transmission programming update from MY2007-'09
- melted headlight sockets from MY2007-'12

Now I'm not saying the MY2014 will be perfect, but the reliability should be incrementally better than previous years.

 

"But there are also a lot of complaints I've heard with the vehicle, and while it gets good safety marks, it also looks like GMC/Buick/Chevy have really low reliability ratings."

I do not know where you got this information, but I have never seen any rating company give such ratings. Can you provide a link(s)? I have seen just the exact opposite.

I am completely satisfied with my 2013 Acadia Denali.

George

 

I do not know where you got this information, but I have never seen any rating company give such ratings. Can you provide a link(s)? I have seen just the exact opposite.

I am completely satisfied with my 2013 Acadia Denali.

[/quote]

It was consumer reports that gave it 'average' - which since I'm used to Toyotas/Hondas which usually have 'Higher than Average', it looks low, there also have been a lot of more anecdotal reports including found on this website.

XRDreamliner - your input is very helpful as well. Also - interesting that you are from Seattle, as that is where we will be moving & was wondering how popular these vehicles are in the land of subaru/prius's/ etc. I'm sure if I come in w/an american car, my NW friends will think I've been Southernized

 

"But there are also a lot of complaints I've heard with the vehicle, and while it gets good safety marks, it also looks like GMC/Buick/Chevy have really low reliability ratings."

I do not know where you got this information, but I have never seen any rating company give such ratings. Can you provide a link(s)? I have seen just the exact opposite.

I am completely satisfied with my 2013 Acadia Denali.

George

Can you provide links of above average reliability ratings?

The 07-09 are piles of junk.

-timing chain
-wave plate
-steering rack
-power steering
-water pumps
-A/C

All these are major issues and the same parts are on all vehicles so it will happen eventually if it hasn't yet. I own one with low mileage and I am suffering the wrath from it now. This SUV has been the biggest pile of junk vehicle I have ever owned and it only has 42,000 miles.

 

Can you provide links of above average reliability ratings?

The 07-09 are piles of junk.

-timing chain
-wave plate
-steering rack
-power steering
-water pumps
-A/C

All these are major issues and the same parts are on all vehicles so it will happen eventually if it hasn't yet. I own one with low mileage and I am suffering the wrath from it now. This SUV has been the biggest pile of junk vehicle I have ever owned and it only has 42,000 miles.

Blu, you sure are on the war path telling everyone how you feel in every thread! lol

I had a bunch of problems on my low mileage 2007 as well. I still choose to buy a 2014 Acadia but opted for the extended warranty so I don't have to worry!

The only reason why you are b**ching is because you are out of warranty and, therefore, having to pay for these repairs yourself. Which certainly does suck. I was in the same boat as you on my 2007. Probably spent $3,500 fixing it before switching to the 2014. So it maybe cost me an extra $2,000 for not having warranty. That's over the 7 years I owned it. BIG DEAL. It's called a cost of owning a vehicle!

I you had warranty, I'm sure your attitude would be different.

I also don't agree with the "it's only got 42,000miles on it. I don't need extended warranty" argument. Doesn't matter what make or model of car you own, anyone of them can have just as many problems as your Acadia has had.

You've said your peace, a number of times now... Time to move on?

 

To answer your question, NO! Like you, I've not owned a GMC before. My 2014 Acadia Denali AWD is my first GMC vehicle...and it will definitely be my last. You would think that a $50K plus vehicle would be well-built, but that is not my experience. I started having jerking problems with the transmission right away. It has 4500 miles on it, but is still experiencing the same problem. It's been to the GMC dealership service department several times, and I've contacted GMC, but because there are no codes associated with my acceleration/turning/transmission problems, they claim there is nothing that can be done. I've also had the seal/weather stripping replaced around one window and one large rubber strip that runs along the edge of the roof came off at the car wash (at about 3500 miles), so that had to be replaced too. The dealership service manager told me that the strips are not meant to stand up to high-pressure washing, and therefore I should avoid car washes that use high-pressure water sprays.

In the past I've owned a Honda Pilot and a Nissan Armada. The Honda was just too small for us and did not handle well in the winter. My Armada was fantastic, but was huge to drive and didn't get great gas mileage, so I decided to down size. I fell in love with the Acadia when I test drove it. However, with all of the problems it has, I'm experiencing buyer's remorse. If I were to do it over again, I would have purchased the Ford Explorer that I drove. It does not have the smooth ride that the Acadia does, but I would give up my smooth ride to have something more reliable. The Toyota Sequoia is another huge vehicle, but I know people who own them and love them. I test drove a Dodge Durango and liked it, but have never owned one, so can't give any advice on it. I also drove a Nissan Pathfinder, but found that it just seemed to small for our family.

Good luck with your purchase.

 

Yes-- without a doubt-- would get another one.

 

I started having jerking problems with the transmission right away. It has 4500 miles on it, but is still experiencing the same problem. It's been to the GMC dealership service department several times, and I've contacted GMC, but because there are no codes associated with my acceleration/turning/transmission problems, they claim there is nothing that can be done.

Are you sure it's in the transmission? When does this jerking occur? How the idle, smooth, or does the needle jump or wander?

Don't be a fatalist... if you want the problem fixed, be very specific with the service writer/service manager about when the jerking occurs. What gear are you in, and what was the rpm? Going up or down a hill, or just cruising along on a flat road?

If this dealership is not giving you any satisfaction - go to a different dealer - Chevy, Buick, or GMC (doesn't matter, they will gladly take the re-imburse money from GM for the warranty fix).

Sounds to me like you have a mis-fire (and yes, you can have a mis-fire w/o setting a code). You could have a failed coil pack or spark plug, or even a faulty injector (having a failure so early is classified as "infant mortality", and it happens on domestic and foreign cars alike). But again, you'll have to describe the driving situation that produces the "jerkiness", to have a good chance at the proper diagnosis.

 

Gotta chime in here:

I've got a 2008 SLE, No Sunroof, no heated seats, no DVD system, cloth not leather and 2WD.

I've been kind of remiss that I didn't splurge for all of the extras but, in the long run I know I will be fine. I bought mine used and have had it for over 3 years! Overall i really love this thing it's great on gas, fun to drive, fun to look at, lots of comments from people that see you in it. The best part though is the kids love it. I have a blended family with 4 kids ages 6-12 and they love it, they love having windows that go ALL THE WAY DOWN! Space for all their stuff, plugs to charge their iPods.
We take it camping 1-2 times a year and it's great to travel in.

I've had a few growing pains with it but, most of them were covered under warranty. I will admit i'm hard on my Acadia and it puts up with all the abuse very well. So I have no complaints, I know what you mean about the stigma of the minivan but, all in all this is just a better rig.

Would I buy again, I'm torn but, I probably would but, next time with all the bells and whistles!!

 

I really appreciate everyone chiming in - it seems a toss up really & somewhat dependent on whether or not you get a vehicle that is more lemon-prone.

Honestly, I haven't even driven one yet - but will soon, as well as a Buick Enclave. We'll see if it goes any further than that. It just really seems like the right size for us & nothing else I'm coming across fits us as well. I suppose if we proceed, we might eventually purchase an extended warranty - something we never usually do, but might be a good investment in this case.

I guess it also matters what your relationship with the dealer is like and how much of a hassle it is to take care of things as they might present themselves.

 

Nope, after 6 years of truly poor service experience, not necessarily overly poor reliability, but definitely sub par service department ethic and warranty experience, I'm shopping for a replacement. I tend to keep vehicles longer but the experience of being bounced around as dealers closed and just second rate service, has worn me out. Too many engineering flaws and there's too many expensive things that even the GM extended warranty won't cover. This is just one of five vehicles in our family but its the only one that I consider the manufacturer has failed me on. Next one will be either a CX9, MDX or maybe a Durango, as that V8 may be calling out to me. What I do know for sure is it won't be GM.