caddycruiser

Here's an odd combo...a dealer in Texas who's putting billet grilles and then the roof rack of last gen Z71's on new Tahoes and calling it the "2007 CHEVROLET TAHOE "Z71 APPEARANCE PACKAGE"": http://www.stonebriarchev.com/specials/Spe...?specialID=2503 I never cease to be amazed at the "special packages" some dealers come up with...

I agree. I like softer, thicker cloths...but there's just something odd and "eww" feeling about the Lucerne's cloth. Especially like it would just be disgusting after a few years of use, even with proper care. Odd, but true. Just didn't seem like it would wear well, and a reason why I still like the harder/thinner stuff used in some cars...or at least soft stuff that feels high quality, like that in our Suburban.

I must say, I had an "odd" experience with the Azera too. After going to the auto show, I have tons and tons of those bags with different cars and brands on them. Needed one that I could put my car cover in when not in use, and found the Hyundai one with a big Azera picture on it to fit best...with my father standing right next to me. This ensued, totally unprovoked: Him: "What kind of car is that?" Me: "The new Hyundai Azera--sort of competes with the Avalon or Lucerne. Really nice car, and cheap for what you get." Him: "Now why doesn't GM or someone come out with a design like that? It doesn't really stand out, but it isn't over the top either." Me: "YOU, of all people, like it?" Him: "Well, yeah. It's not ugly and not boring either--just clean and uncluttered, and has that whole low price, long warranty thing." Me: "Wow." I'll admit, I never thought it was all that great looking either, and it really does look like a blend of a few different Hondas and Toyotas, as usual, but the reaction to it seems very good. I was also very impressed with the interior and general feel of quality at the auto show (always am with the Hyundais and Kias), and think it's terrific for the price. Not the boldest or most daring, or even all that exciting, but should attain a pretty strong sales base and make a lot of buyers very happy.

Yeah, right...in our experiences, it would be GM + more than 2 electric motors = Regardless, I hope it turns out well, and the interior doesn't suffer from being too cheaped out.

I still like that EXACT interior in the GP a lot more than some other cars, particularly the G6 and the Impala/Monte Carlo. No, all the parts aren't Lexus quality, but it all felt nice to me whenever I'm at an auto show, and I love the layout of the controls. Only problem with the GP is the HORRIBLE back seat, but that's the same for the Lacrosse, so I guess it's just a problem with the older W-bodies in general. But still, I could care less, and would love to have a new white GXP. Matter of fact, here's a car I'd love to have, just like this, plus Navigation:

Just priced some out on KBB.com, and was suprised in a good way: -For a new '07 Suburban 1500 2wd 1LT with all the same options/features as our '04, plus all the new stuff, and even the 20" polished wheels, the MSRP comes in at a couple hundred less than the '04 sticker. -Same for a new '07 Yukon XL SLE, but just a little different option organization and one or two features, plus the 20's, and comes in lower than the Chevy... This looks quite good...the only issue is that it'll probably be some time, if ever, before you could get one of these beauties with $39.5-40.5k MSRP for $30k even like we would pay...and did for the '04... Well, that, and it'd be nice to have the 6-speed and also the Power Liftgate optional on ALL LT models, and not just the top drawer leather-lined ones...I could see keeping it off the LS, but some people do actually like all the features but not the leather

Really?! Wow, that's interesting...just thinking in engineering terms alone, a difference in design THAT significant is usually planned and incorporated from day one...and doesn't get tossed out later in terms of time. Hmm...I'd like to research this one, especially since GM will continue to take quite a bit of flack for not doing a whole lot to upgrade the interior flexibility in these things, just like DCX did with the '01-04 minivans. And we now how that one turned out...can you say "Stow N' Go"

Yeah, actually better buy some new stuff. Only use a quality sheepskin or cotton chenille wash mit, no old rags, wash from top to bottom, dry CAREFULLY with quality cotton or special towels, and then use a quality polish/wax...and do everything in STRAIGHT lines, gently. You probably already knew some of that, but I hate seeing people who buy expensive or large new black vehicles and then have them looking like crap with swirl marks and scratches all over the place, because they're too lazy to care for it properly...or just like running through the "Scratch-a-matic" car wash once a week. Good luck with it!

Yeah, actually, I've seen about 5 on the roads (3 of which had larger chrome aftermarket wheels), and all looked really good. Easily one of, if not the, best looking small truck (particularly in the higher trim levels), and MUCH better than the Dakota, even inside. That is a shame, but I think it's a combination of no marketing and some people still just buying the Dodge instead...even if the Mitsu version offers more, and looks better.

I think that would look really strange...the lighter color is always on things like the seats and rest of the "lower half" of the interior, with the top trimmed out in the darker shade (which does happen to be black a lot). So far, I've seen them all in person, and I'd have to say the Cashmere/Ebony would be my top choice, followed by the gray, then the all black.

Have already seen a couple down here in southern Delaware, the last being a black on black model with the standard silver 18" wheels...which looked A-W-F-U-L. Really, out of all the changes, the fact that they chose such a plain/ugly standard wheel design that really looks smaller than the 18" it really is, is beyond me. Of course, a lot of buyers do swap them out, but the majority still keep them stock...with the last gen's 17" chromes being very popular. Other than thost nasty Buick-looking wheels, it was beautiful :AH-HA_wink:

Ebony refers to the black/really dark charcoal sections of the interior...

Mom WANTS one, apparently a lot more so than I knew. In between the time I was last home (mid January) and now, apparently her and my father have seen quite a few on the roads. So, driving home from Philly yesterday in the '04 Burban (she was doing 93 on one stretch for a while, until either of us noticed... ...SO smooth, even more so than I always remember), she started asking me about the new ones. "I've seen the new Tahoes and I LOVE them. Are the Suburbans out yet? What about the Yukon XL's? GM just bumped my GM card earnings up to $2k and sent me a special discount for the new '07s--figures, when I'm not in the market." Before she got the Suburban, it was really a Yukon XL she wanted, but our dealer couldn't swap for the right one, so I guess that's the reason behind the interest in the GMC. After getting my car towed to the GM dealer today (long story...), my dad then was a little too willing to see the new Yukons and Tahoes, looking inside and underneath...thinks the Tahoe looks better, as do I, at least from the front. So, after first not having much of a reaction to the pics I showed back in October, she apparently would trade her '04 that just turned over 30k yesterday for a new '07 in a heartbeat, if it was paid off. Then saw a new '07 Bermuda Blue Tahoe LT turning around just down from the dealer, apparently fueling up for the new buyer, and she went "Oooh...look, there's one. I love them, but not that color. Give me a new white one." Guess I know, for sure now, what the next main vehicle in the family stable will be...and I'm still going to guess an '09 again, like I had before. Hopefully, by then, they'll have sorted out a few options and things, and you'll be able to get the Power Liftgate on ALL LT's, and not just leather seated ones (DUMB)....because that's a MUST have, but only if with cloth seats.

Avalanche production starts on April 3, so it should be a couple of weeks after that for when the first lot models start popping up. http://fleetnews.gmcanada.com/news_flash/e...shtml#TopOfPage

Well, you can't have a mix of names and letter/number combos under the same brand...the only exception being Caddy with the Escalade, for obvious reasons.

Very cool...even if they do get outrun a lot on pavement But, they will sure be able to go places no Crown Vic or Impala ever dreamed...not that I could really see when chasing a criminal through the wilderness and over boulders was ever a concern...

Sounds great. Can't wait to check one out, even though it should be pretty much identical to the Tahoes I've been in, just with some actual people and cargo room in the back. Only thing is, we probably won't seriously consider replacing the '04 for at least a few more years, and even then, the transaction price will hopefully come down...like, for instance, we paid $30k even for our unusually loaded 2wd LS that had a sticker of $40k. With similar equipment, I'm guessing the sticker on a new '07, for example, would be right around $39-40k again, but without much discount. At that price, it's not worth it...even as much as I do love the materials, design, etc. I'm thinking, maybe, '09 will be the year of replacement...maybe...

Yeah, that's a pretty accurate take on it. Sticker shock is still going to happen quite a bit until the rebates start over again (I just have a feeling it'll be like the GMT-800's....MSRP's start out okay, then every year just keep going up and up, until you NEED a minimum of a $5k rebate to get people looking). Right now, they are class leading in most aspects, and will probably stay that way for a while. But, as I've said before, dropping a few grand off of even these MSRP's would only help matters that much more...especially when most competitor's still start out lower with similar equipment.

I would. I love their vehicles, especially the level of general design and engineering that goes into making them so Germanic for mostly reasonable prices....I just wish they could get their overall reliability/real-world quality up to typical perception levels. A co-worker with a '99 Passat V6 had the car until 95k last summer with no issues whatsoever (only a check engine light twice in the 6 years, due to a bad sensor) and then replaced it with a last gen '05 Jetta TDI diesel which has also been trouble-free so far. She loves the styling and interiors, and just the way they drive, so continues to buy them and has never had a problem. I've driven both, and was seriously considering buying a used model Passat there for a while, even with the typical bugs, since I loved it so much. VW seems to know how to do things right, but then at the same time still falls short in a few areas...take care of that, and get back to a little more interesting vehicles that are "people priced" and market share will rise again. As is, a Jetta that looks like your neighbor's hum-drum Corolla and has a noisy, weird 5-cylinder in it doesn't help matters...even as just one example.

Oh yeah, with December, you'll be PERFECT. They'll have been out for some months, and you'll be able to see them fully, as long as order exactly what you want and have some time leeway. I just hope the improvements are REALLY worthwile and not just a few minor things here and there.

Exactly. I just saw it mentioned on a Sunday morning show, I think, and they talked about how the "always finding better ways" mantra at Toyota led them to a new engine manufacturing process that cut costs but improved quality....that pretty much summed it up, and is what is being discussed here.

Wouldn't think so...Chrysler generally doesn't offer different steering wheels across the same model.

It actually is a very nice looking SUV, and not anymore badge engineered than a new '07 Yukon is vs. a Tahoe....actually it's a little more differentiated than those, in truth. Very nice upgrade from the already nice, if a tiny bit cheap, Durango, which is a terrific truck otherwise.

Sounds great! I always wanted one of those too :AH-HA_wink:

Should just be a couple of months, as I had last heard early/mid summer time, just a little after the Suburban/Yukon XL/Escalade ESV on which they're based...if not at the same time. These other "long ones" are supposed to be available pretty soon themselves, but GM has yet to put pricing on them yet...