caddycruiser

Though I still think the Accord Hybrid is a pretty nice ride, and the extra electric power combined with the gas engine makes it quite quick, but strangely enough, even the first year '05 models didn't seem to sell all that quickly...you can still find, randomly, NEW leftover '05 Hybrid models on dealer lots and Ebay. A nice design, but not one that seems to have much of a following.

Well, I should have clarified...no Chevy EXCEPT for the Vette. That car is just in a completely different league, and well worth it...mostly.

I completely agree, and have said that NUMEROUS times. At the top end, a Tahoe LTZ with everything and the kitchen sink should be at $45k (no Chevy should be in the $50k+ range, regardless of how nice it is), and the "typical" should be in the $35-40k range. They'll be at those points and lower when the discounting begins, but until then, the MSRP's are still too high.

Well, yeah, true, but trucks have come a LONG way in recent times, and most can now rival various luxury cars. I'm not saying the GM ute's aren't terrific, but they still shouldn't always build in such a big "discount bubble" into the MSRP's. Yeah, lately others like Ford and Dodge have had the same problem, but when was the last time you EVER saw a rebate go over even the $2k mark for something like a Seqouia? Didn't think so...

I feel ya, BIG TIME...but, you can still compare that to a current '05 or '06 where the typical LT 4wd model stickers at no LOWER than $48-49k. Of course there is always more than a $10k discount on those, but it's still ridiculous. I priced out a few "for fun" in the past couple weeks, and the final MSRP's are a couple grand lower than before, but still too high. So, I think, it won't be long before there's some pretty heavy discounting, as soon as the initial "gotta have the 1st one" factor wears off a bit.

Anyone else notice the GMT-900 (or at least almost identical...) steering wheel in that thing? B)

Sounds very accurate, especially given recent things that have been said in a few of my college engineering courses. Now one would think that, these being relatively skilled engineering faculty, they'd recognize that there's very little difference in "quality" and reliability between domestics and some foreign cars anymore, and that's mostly true. Yet, when a professor was talking about a similar issue the other day, he posed the question: "Do any of you drive import cars? Why?" About 1/2 the class raised their hands, and one responded "Well, my mechanic told me to get an import car."... ...really, really bright future Mech. Egr's we have here... As to this quote specifically, it too seems all too true. That one car is still one of the few that almost everybody would at least consider, just because it's so bold, refined, and priced so well. Still seems to be a winning formula too, almost 2 years after the fact, so that says something...and should be finally answering a few of GM's "What should we do?" questions.

Sounds good to me...I think a 354hp 2wd Suburban 1/2 ton would be terrific Mom's new "smoke'em" ride...

And you get that impression from what? Each still does completely their own thing, but they started to figure out over the years, why go and spend all the money and time developing things like a completely new rear suspension for the 300/Charger/Magnum, when MB had a fully tested and proven design already that would work perfectly? Same goes for other bits like seat frames and steering columns...you don't see them, but the fact that they are "shared", per say, is part of the reason why the pricing on the cars is so great. That IS the point of a merger...combining minds and resources to make as productive of an operation as possible. Even with this article...it's not like they want to pull a GM, and just make the same vehicle across 3 divisions, differentiated by only a new fascia and some stickers. No MB will ever be even remotely close to a Chrysler, and visa vera...

Actually, it sorta is...and if you have CD's, it takes all of a couple minutes to put all or some of the songs from one onto an MP3 player. Just a cleaner, easier, less bulky option for me, and quite a few other people anymore. I don't think a changer not going with a Nav will be much of a problem at all--you can still get it without Nav, though.

What the heck is the 6.0L? The current older one? I thought they replaced that with the new 6.2L with VVT?

Interesting. Owning a Suburban now, I don't think I'd ever try to put 3 in the 3rd row of that in the first place, let alone in a Tahoe. Now that it's going to be split 50/50 in the Subs too, I think the little tray/cupholder things on the center of the 2 passenger 3rd row would be nicer than one big flat piece. But that's just me. I still can't believe people actually buy a "shortie" with a 3rd row. Up, there's no cargo room behind it and it's not exactly fit for comfortable human sitting, so it's always seemed worthless to me. I really like the 5 seater ones, as the shorter length and then big open space in the back is a pretty cool setup. But with a 3rd row, you may as well just get a Suburban where it's actually usable and has a lot of space behind it--plus the fact that it really isn't any harder to manuever, just rides smoother because of the extended wheelbase. REALLY want to see a new Suburban in person...mom was describing all the stuff in the Tahoe brochure they sent her to me on the phone, and she seemed to like it. Didn't care for it when I first showed it, but would probably give an arm and a leg right now if she could have a power liftgate and easier to wrangle out back seat on hers Then again, by the time the '04 is replaced, she might change and go into a Tahoe (not likely, but maybe) or another Avalanche, which she still raves about today, after owning the '02 Z66.

Newbiewar... Are you stocking more with the 2 passenger 3rd seat or the 3 passenger one? I didn't even know this was an option until I saw both on some of the ones being sold on Ebay. I guess it was just GM's way of offering something different back there, since they never really fixed the having to unlatch and lug out the seats issue.

I think it does it right as soon as you start to maintain a steady speed--like, I would assume, right after you merge onto the highway and start cruising. So far, I think one or two of the mags have said you feel a very slight vibe in the gas pedal (this one could have been a one-time anomaly) and that you do notice a change in the exhaust note--it'll be interesting to see how the aftermarket units handle that one, since when in 4-cyl mode, they'll have to work to make sure it doesn't sound overly raspy or buzzy. The Impala SS with DOD has a light when it kicks on, so maybe this does too--it just never got a chance to with your driving. I like the fact that you said "nice, tight and stable in the curves"...our '04 is pretty much like that, but better steering stability on the highway and general crispness improvement would be terrific. Actually, I'd really like a more "tanklike" feel over bad roads--neither our Avalanche or Suburban feel flimsy over lumpy, bumpy stuff, but they definately don't feel as "rock of gibralter" as they should be for such new trucks.

Probably so--refine any vehicle and make it smoother and quieter, and it naturally feels slower and less rauscous. The new trucks are heavier and a lot better put together, so you'd expect the same to be true here. I can't also help but think the old 4-speed isn't helping matters at all either--that's one thing C&D (whether you like them or not) said seemed to sap down any extra power that the engine did get. The 6-speed can't come soon enough. Another culprit might be the accelerator pedal itself...it's always been very soft and "floppy" on the GMT-800's, which kind of makes them feel quicker than they are because less pressure, and you're be roaring along...something that did get deadened down a bit when they switched to the electro-throttle in '03, but was still there a bit.

Sounds good. I mostly enjoy driving our '04 Burban, but it would be TERRIFIC to have that same character matched with a new braking system that actually has pedal feel (and not scary down, down, down feel...), crisper steering, and a quality interior that doesn't have the potential for so many little creaks and other annoying noises. Basically take what's good about these trucks, and just up the feeling of solidity and sharpen the responses. But yeah, like was asked above, is the extra 25 horses noticeable? From the reviews it doesn't sound like it, with the one mentioning that the old 4-spd pretty much chokes the feeling of any extra output--which seems about right. Notice the DOD working, ever?

See? Problem solved :AH-HA_wink:

Yep, exactly. I used to occasionally buy a CD or two, but when the world of downloading one by one ($0.99 is my favorite) and putting them on an MP3 player that is more compact and as easy to use as anything, came about, I stopped wasting that money. I would LOVE if my car had an Aux. jack on the face of the stereo like so many do now, but that can always be added, and in the time being, my good old cassette adapter works beautifully. Mom has the upgraded 6-CD changer unit in her Suburban, but there's never any more than 2 CD's in there at a time. Dad still is just barely getting around to cassettes (yeah...I know...), but keeps wanting me to tell him about MP3 players and how I get the songs. Basically, CD's are going nowhere but down the tubes...

Huh; I didn't realize 'too damned clunky' and 'antique' were "engineering terms"! ;) [post="79805"][/post] Haha, you like my attempt at lamens terms? :rolleyes:

Though I think these trucks will be "nice" looking, I have a feeling they're still going to lack any kind of real presence. Camo'd or not, you can't hide a very, very basic thin and boxy build. Again, nice and unoffensive, but not the least bit bold...at ALL. Just my observations and guess...

Also true. Actually, they started pushing that with the '03 models and it got so popular then, it's hard to find a new GM SUV on the lots that doesn't have it. B/w Sat. Radio and the cool new MP3 player jacks, the use for CD's is getting less and less.

Hmm...that is interesting, and completely correct according to the ordering guide. At least they finally fixed the issue of Chevy's and GMC's with the Nav only being able to play 1 CD or 1 DVD at the same time--and never both together. But I guess the reason they got rid of the CD changer on Nav-equipped models (still there on lower stereo models) is because so many people now, especially people who buy Nav-equipped cars, rarely use CD's, in favor of just plugging their MP3 player into the jack. That'd certainly be true for me.

Haha, good one. But I guess that would technically classify as "flying" :AH-HA_wink:

Here's a good one...NO WHERE! :AH-HA_wink: 19, going on 20, and still the farthest west I've been is Ohio, and the farthest south North Carolina. Born in western PA and moved to DE 7 years ago, by the way. Still, that said, don't feel like I'm missing anything...just never had a real reason to fly

Good to hear. Did you have to discount them much? Several dealers are already selling them right around invoice like they have every other car for years, but I wonder how different it is in So. Cal. right now...which sometimes can be a mecca for overpricing?