caddycruiser

Whoops...guess I didn't expect it to first be in the "Other Guys" thread. Oh well.

Not the best or most thorough comparison, but still makes a lot of good points, with the Ford prevailing in the end: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drive...photopanel..1.* I'll say it again, too. We have an '04 Suburban, and my mother is a GM SUV lover, but I've now seen and played with several '07 GMT-900's and a couple '07 Expeditions, and I'd choose the Expedition hands down. Much better sorted packaging, more realistic and not inflated pricing (still a bit of an issue with the GM's), more sophisticated and refined under the skin (with the Ford MUCH improved even over the previous model), and just a very well done package throughout. Still love a lot about the GM's, but if I had to live with one and write the check every month, it'd be for a Ford this time.

They had a little intro about this before, but it's good to see they've passed 3k miles and are still very pleased with it. Having owned 2 consecutive GMT-800's, the first through 33k miles and the second currently to 42k +, plus knowing a TON of people with them, GM full size ute's are generally extremely problem-free for quite a long time. Actually, our '04 has had a lot of smaller issues in warranty, but due to how perfect our '02 was and the fact that from '04 on they did nothing but decontent and cheapen a lot of touches, it's at least partially explained by that. The only real annoyances are the solid, but terrible looking and feeling interior components, often imprecise steering and soft brakes, and the 3rd row that's actually nice to ride in (only in the longer models, though) but an absolute pain to do anything else with. The interior is now fixed beyond belief (thank god!), the body/frame tightened up to proper levels, and the driving dynamics also thoroughly worked over, but the 3rd row is still a sour point. Another thing I noticed in this latest update is their average mpg, right around 15, which isn't great but also is pretty much the standard for what most owners of the new trucks are reporting. Ours has stuck to 16 for over 2 years now, but can hit the low 20's just like they also recorded on a highway trip. HOPEFULLY, even though these numbers aren't great, the 6-spd will improve matters noticeably.

Should be correct. Even if you read some brochure with snippets from GM planning & engineering people, they almost apologize for the 4-spd, but say it's simply a fill-in before they can get full production capacity on the 6spd. They also say how much better they can tune everything with the 6, etc.--they just weren't enough in time, so the 4-spd got a very quick tuning job, and that was it. The good news? The 6-spd will be across the board shortly. The bad news? There's going to be an "odd" first model year which only has the 4-spd, compared to the rest of the model years that have the 6. Kinda strange, but not totally new from GM (i.e., like the TBI 350 in the Fleetwood vs. LT1, 3.8L in the Intrigue vs. 3.5L, older 3.2L vs. 3.6L in CTS, etc., etc.). It shall be interesting to see, especially down the line in a few years how it affects used demand.

You know I ALWAYS do :AH-HA_wink: I'm not a fan of the color scheme, but that'd be a great car for someone in Canada, where they are harder to find--and even harder in nice shape.

Wonder why it took them until this point...the response, such from Welburn, is OBVIOUS, but it kinda makes you wonder what was going on internally that it wasn't obvious to them several years ago. Oh well, either way, I guess it's a good move.

It's no mystery why or how they sold more--they just need to make sure it continues now by taking care of some of the ergonomic foibles and tightening up QC a bit. Early on and until now, such things could be brushed under the rug because the looks+performance+price=a very happy owner, but that can only last so long before more little things add up. Still, and either way, great news, even if not at all unexpected.

Well, in my long drive of one '06 CXL V6 and a ride in another, the 3.8L growl was still louder and more gruff than compared to others I've been in with the same--a '99 LeSabre, '02 LeSabre, and '99 Intrigue. It's always been a bit of a growly engine, but just seemed to really get even more raucous in the Lucerne--whether that's because the rest of the car is so quiet now or what, it's still a little odd. The other cars just sounded smoother and the engine more muffled, both seemingly insulation and exhaust wise. Still has it's benefits, like the 32-35 MPG average the computer was showing on my drive, but doesn't at all give the quality sound something like the now common 3.6L would--even with a decrease in mileage. The 3.9L is more pleasant sounding and a bit more powerful too, even being an OHV, just newer. If buying one myself, now, though, the 3.8L Series III would still be the ticket, grumpy old roar and all, mainly because of the stellar mileage and the torque.

It wasn't worded completely correctly, but notice I said GENERIC. Think of the dollar store knock-off version...that was what I meant, in a round about sort of way. Like I said, the much more normal looks of this vehicle might help it do well where the Compass hasn't, even if it has the same gutless 4-cyl/CVT and cheap construction. Kind of like a modern day Cherokee, but softcore. Then again, the next Liberty is set to debut with body lines almost identical to the Patriot, so even though it's very different underneath, that'll be yet more confusion on Jeep lots. Going back to the basic 2-box idea in a big way.

Well, at least it doesn't come off as bizarre like the Compass can. Problem is, it still has the less than stellar DCX 4-cyl/CVT combo, and if all holds true, a level of overall tactile quality equal to a generic Lego box. All of which are big reasons the Compass, looks aside, isn't doing well. Plus I just don't get having essentially the same vehicle, but with 2 completely different looks, sitting side by side on the same lot. On one hand, it gives the buyer more choice, but when neither is particularly outstanding in any way, it's just a bigger sea of mediocrity. That's my pessimism for the day...we'll just have to wait and see how it does--maybe the truckier look alone will be its saving grace.

Great point on all accounts, but it's still worth mentioning the full truth about the car, even if it is only from a few people's experience.

Design and performance are there, but compared to the slickness and quality present in cars like the Miata--among others--it just isn't there. That's not to say it's bad or that it doesn't trump a ton of competitors as is, just that it is what it is by way of skimping on some other areas. Certain things like that can't be told solely from photos. Not that I want the review to sound any worse than it does, but it seems pretty spot on to me, even with just looking at and playing with a few in person (not driving, however).

Just what I was thinking...and actually something I almost expect as an OEM emblem of sorts on a lot of cheap blah-mobiles like this. Actually, this base model Avenger has a level of dullness and bad proportions that make it seem outside like a third world mishmash. I WANT to like what they're doing anymore, but once the LX cars were intro'd, all hell just broke loose and no one seems to have any focus on anything positive. Some styling is decent and still cool, others are garish or horribly cobbled together like barn cars. Couple that with horrid interiors and numerous other issues, and it's just not a positive light ahead, or right now.

Very good, and glad they caught it & fixed it. Most people will never even know a thing about it, aside from reading it on boards like this. The wonders of engineering--check, check, check, re-check and test everything, yet sometimes tiny little things like this just pop up unexpectedly. Not really newsworthy, but interesting enough.

Very nice. Those 90's full sizers are great trucks, and very solid, and with things like the 454 and heavy duty combo that has, it's definately a beast. Also very much like the bright red, which isn't a too common color on that model.

Interesting, whatever the issue may be. Reminds me of when the GMT-360's had just been released, and after the first couple of weeks, GM found an issue with the front suspension that could cause breakage and the front end to collapse. Since quite a few had been grabbed up by early buyers, they told people not to drive them, and that their dealer would come to pick it up ASAP and perform the fix. It didn't take too long to solve the issue and stop it from perpetuating, but it was a really bad launch hiccup. This doesn't seem as serious, but it still makes you wonder what was happening that it didn't get caught until some had just hit the lots (and a few had been sold, I presume--people have been test driving them and writing online reviews). Regardless, good it was caught and will be resolved.

^Yep. Or sometimes people just get a new one every year or two. Looks great. Very clean, and I'm a big fan of the Summit White and it being fully loaded.

Great news. And any decision on the Colorado yet?

That's the point, as was said in a few different articles a couple years back. Steels wheels are cheaper to make and more durable, so if you can design them to look like attractive aluminum wheels, why not? Hence, the price of the car can be lower, and for most buyers, they could care less. In this case it worked out great, as those standard Aura XE wheels are one of the best looking designs--same for the new base G6 wheels.

Those wheels are still the pressed on wheel covers, just chromed instead of silver painted.

That sounds like it was easy enough--always seems to be with GM products and dealers in general.

Well, sounds good, and knowing how most GM dealers operate, getting a great deal on even such a new model shouldn't be any problem at all. Trading or selling the Colorado?

Yeah, so there's still at most only a few out there right now. Pretty limited supply, I would think.

Yeah, I don't know what I was reading when I wrote that--I must have just seen the word old somewhere. Are regular cabs on any lots yet, or even in production?

Sounds great--hope it works out