New Envision owner from Central Texas

2110 Views 2 Replies 2 Participants Last post by jonjonbear, Jan 25, 2018

jonjonbear

Discussion Starter · Jan 24, 2018 (Edited)

Hello all,
Just bought a 2016 Envision Premium II on New Years eve eve.
We had a 2013 Kia Optima SXL turbo that we absolutely loved. It died in a fifteen car pile-up on IH35 in Waco, leaving us with the need for a new car. We considered another Kia, but living in a small town (Bastrop) we were tired of having to take the car to Austin for service so we decided to buy local. That meant Chevy/GMC/Buick, Toyota or Mopar. We rented a 2016 Impala LTZ (new body) and loved it so we ordered one. Fully loaded, adaptive cruise and all that. Right after that we inherited my mother in laws 1998 Camry XLE. Fully loaded with 50K miles so we decided to use that to drive to Austin every day for work (almost 60 miles, so we were burning up the Impala pretty fast) Only thing it left us with four cars, and a three car garage.
Fast forward. Having heard that some of our neighbors were getting rats/squirrels in the wiring, we were concerned that our old Santa Fe which sat outside was going to get damaged. We need the SF for hauling and towing a small trailer.
Then the last week of December they kept advertising that GM had these incredible deals on Buicks (were out of our price range at the time we bought the Impala) so I slipped into the office chair and started looking. Found three Envision Premium II's in the Austin area that were highly discounted. Two identical ones in the black metallic that were '17's and one Saffron red one that was a '16 with 4K miles. Talking to our friend at the GM dealer, he said he could not transfer either of the 17's to his dealership but he could the 16 (used) which was also about 6K less than the other two plus the red was more appealing to us. So they brought it in. Beautiful car, the color looks almost like my mothers 2013 Verano in red tintcoat. Has the black leather interior. Car looked like new, but wondered why someone would trade a car back in so early??
We drove it and the deal was done. I've never driven an suv that felt so solid and was so quiet (a HUGE problem with the Impala) so we decided to buy it. Took it in the shorts on the trade for the Impala but now we can be rid of the Santa Fe and have all three in the garage again.
Have had the car just a few weeks and so far have put a ceramic coating on it. Only thing I'm disappointed in so far, it seems to be really hard on gas. I was also disappointed the first time I opened the gas cap and saw premium fuel recommended. I have to admit, we've been using regular unleaded but top tier. It's lifetime average is 21.6. I was hoping for 24-25 driving the way we do and that's what the Impala got with the 3.6L V6.
Our drive to work is mostly on the highway. Does premium give you that much more mileage? Alas we're not sorry we bought it. It's a beautiful car and I fit in it great. I do miss my automatic steering column from the Impala but I love the goodies this one has that the Impala didn't. Nice to have rain sensing wipers again and the moving headlights are really cool.
Is the red one rare? I've been looking online at accessories like mud flaps, and even GM only shows the four other colors. Nobody shows the Saffron.
Anyway sorry I'm long winded here, just excited to be able to buy a car that we couldn't afford before.
Cheers, John
Oh, I was sad that Android auto was not on this car. I figured surely it would be since our 2016 Impala had it.

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NormT

· #2 · Jan 24, 2018

Congrats on the huge savings on a 2016 Prem ll like ours. The 2017 got capless fuel filling and Android Auto/Apple Carplay which I wasn't going to pay extra to get as ours only had 3,000 miles on it.

Thr Envision 2.0T with AWD is rated at 26 mpg highway but at 65 mph I've been able to see 32 mpg empty or 30 mpg fully loaded. I've used top tier gasoline in both 92 octane and 87 octane and see no difference in highway fuel economy. It is a little faster on the higher octane. You could double check tire pressures especially now that it has been cold the pressures drop along with gas mileage in colder weather. Once it consistently gets above 50°F or so your fuel economy will return. But at 4,000 lbs it is a little heavy but the 30 mpg and 2.0T with a 6-speed transmission is right on par.

Yours, like mine, we're program cars. Whether they were used at Buick driving events or by a GM executive to 6,000 miles where employees can get a discount to purchase is what I probably purchased too.

We have a most 14,000 miles now has been a joy to own and drive.

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jonjonbear

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 25, 2018

NormT said:
Congrats on the huge savings on a 2016 Prem ll like ours. The 2017 got capless fuel filling and Android Auto/Apple Carplay which I wasn't going to pay extra to get as ours only had 3,000 miles on it.

Thr Envision 2.0T with AWD is rated at 26 mpg highway but at 65 mph I've been able to see 32 mpg empty or 30 mpg fully loaded. I've used top tier gasoline in both 92 octane and 87 octane and see no difference in highway fuel economy. It is a little faster on the higher octane. You could double check tire pressures especially now that it has been cold the pressures drop along with gas mileage in colder weather. Once it consistently gets above 50°F or so your fuel economy will return. But at 4,000 lbs it is a little heavy but the 30 mpg and 2.0T with a 6-speed transmission is right on par.

Yours, like mine, we're program cars. Whether they were used at Buick driving events or by a GM executive to 6,000 miles where employees can get a discount to purchase is what I probably purchased too.

We have a most 14,000 miles now has been a joy to own and drive.

Thanks Norm,
I'll double check the tire pressures. The display shows they to be around 36psi but I 'll check them manually..I am thinking about taking it over the the dealer and have them change the oil. It says it has 60% oil life yet but I don't think by the mileage that it has had an oil change since new, and it looks a bit dirty. We're going to be taking it on it's first road trip in a couple of weeks to N. Texas so we'll be able to see how it does long distance. I'd be tickled if it gets close to 30 on the road trip.

I was really glad to find this forum. I find auto forums the best place to learn and share information about your car.

Cheers,
John

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