Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see May lease deals!
Options
Chevrolet Avalanche
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
My first thought on the Avalanche in white is the high contrast between the cladding. However, the the tinted windows really look good with the white!
I like the Storm Gray offered with the Silverados but it's not available.
Thanks for any thoughts.
Brad in HB
Bear
I agree that if you like this truck and everything it has going for it - which is a lot - then the grey cladding should not stand in your way towards a purchase. I've been following the AV from concept to production and have been thoroughly impressed with the number of test drives I've taken as well as the mid-gate operation.
If you look at most of the AV's marketing material - even new comercials - you'll find that GM downplays the cladding/body color clash, using greyish film filters, sunset shots, or tire sprayed sand in the off road pictures, etc. So when I saw my first production AV, the grey cladding did not impress me. I think the fact that body color cladding was unavailable (even as a special order) my decision to get an AV was not reversed, but just delayed. I could not get the pre-production EXT out of my mind - full body color - even the bed assembly. If they put the chevy front end on it -I had my future pickup/SUV materpiece.
So I decided to put off the purchase a few months and to keep checking Edmunds and other sites for the most current and un-biased (owners) overall opinions on the AV. I also decided to ride out the first half of production year #1 and see if any issues arose. (Remember we all worried about the seals)
All I'm saying now is that if the dealers are already painting the cladding (two months into sales), ETX full production with colored (not painted) cladding is just over the horizon, and GM intentionally plays down the grey cladding in marketing - my bet is it's just a matter of time before GM color clads the AV - and waiting for the color option so my new truck looks as well as it performs is the way to go for me. Plus, maybe GM will throw in a swivel rear head rest so the front seats can be all the way back when the midgate is down.
If I'm wrong and I don't see the colored (not painted) cladding within the next few months - I'll still buy an AV - but I bet I'll still wish I could have picked up one with body color cladding from time to time. Best Wishes and congratulations to all the new AV owners.
Does anyone think they will ever offer the rear passenger stereo control option like on the Tahoe. I was interested in having this for the kids. This option gives the passengers their own independent stereo control and headphone jacks. (Or does the design of the rear cabin prevent this option?)
Brad
"INVESTED", would you expect them to say "really nice, but Dam that cladding's ugly!"?
The defector extends to the very outside corners of the the turn lights and turns up there so as to deflect items. I suspect this creates too much of a vortex and thus my problem. Hope Chevy has a different one as I'd like to protect the front, flat edge of my hood from the many rocks and sand we have here in Kansas City, not to mention the bugs.
I'll keep you all postedon my findings.
Roger
PS. Dennis, you are to blame for my Blue AV. Your photos of your AV look great and I've always been a dark BLUE fan. Gravel road dust is nasty on it though.
For the dealers with a lot of Avs, are any of them 2WD? Does anybody know the back-seat dimension differences between the Av and the F-150 Supercrew? I've sat in both and they seem similar.
It's Champion Chevrolet in Austin, TX which is part of the Autonations Group. Yes they have some 2wd's although most appear to be 4wd. I saw a coiuple with Z66 on them. That's A 2WD package isn't it?
You ought to be able to get the dimensions here on Edmunds
Does anyone have the Vent Visors installed on the AV windows? If so, how are they doing and how do you like them?
Hope this helps,
Bear
http://www.auto.com/industry/wiri6_20010706.htm
It appears to me that the mud flaps will help with the spray on the lower 1/2 of the vehicle. Don't think they will help with road dust from dirt or gravel roads though.
Roger
like to do 100K a year and June was limited release in a few
states only! It looks to me like the Avalanche is here to stay
if these sales keep up. This is reassuring to me.
Joe
I got an email from the AV spokesman. I asked if there were any planned "changes" for the AV..see below
Brad,
As you know, the 2002 Chevy Avalanche is just being launched as we speak. We do
not have any plans to make the side cladding body color. Any changes to the
Avalanche or for that matter any future Chevy vehicle would be released from the
Chevy Communciations office.
Randy Fox
Thanks again,
Brad
-mount1
PS: GM press releases, marketing materials, sales reports, etc. - can all be found under ....
http://media.gm.com/news/
...its a good site to check from time to time.
This is great info for me and I never knew this existed on
line.
Regards
Joe
If not head on over to
http://www.pacific-audio.com/performance-discussion.html and check out the post from yesterday titled "2nd shot better of wheels"
Brad
Asking a salesperson? yeah, right!
On one of my test drives I stopped by the local "wishy wash" and gave it a good once over. I did this with everything open (midgate down, window stowed, hardcover panels off). There are 2 drain holes on either side of the bed that work pretty well (gotta keep em cleaned out I suppose?). Also, located near the forward cabin on the truck bed is a "dam" of sorts that stops any water from moving forward. I also noticed the bed is somewhat "sloped away from the forward cabin.
I did not test the bed with the hardpanel covers on because I did not have them with me.
I also understand there have been major complaints about the sunroofs leaking in the Burbs and Tahoes.
check out this link
http://suv.s5.com/defect.htm
Keep us posted about your AV!
Brad in SoCal
I just talked to my neighbor who works for GM on the Avalanche. He told me that they are putting together some sort of ride to coincide with the big Cruise next week. He said they are doing it on Thursday night around 5 and they are trying to get together something like 30-40 Avalanches together to ride a bunch of their employees around Woodward and then have a party at Poppleton Park (15 mile and Woodward) after their cruise. I think I will be there just to see that many Avalanches and I suggest anyone in the Detroit area that is thinking about heading down there to check this out.
Hope this helps....
Bear
Thanks
Looked hmmm futuristic. Didnt get a chance to talk to the guy but he was towing a large bass boat.
I liked the silver one i seen but when i seen this red one i dont know maybe it was the color?
The red is loud, seemingly more contrast with the cladding than the white.
Jkoontz, the pewter is more subdued and hides dirt better; the white, when clean, is good looking.
Funny thing though i have gotten A's in all my english related classes. To bad im not an english major.
The AV was one of the 8 or 9 vehicles. They were happy with the AV
and were positive on a few catagories of performance, but as
is usually the case, they slammed the cladding. It seems that
all authors who reviewed the AV jump on the cladding bashing boat.
(It must be a right of passage for auto writers...:)
One thing that makes me loose credibity for MT is that they just spent
48 hours in sand, dirt, and rocks yet they fail to even mention if
the AV's cladding was effective against off road body damage
(eg...nicks, dents and scratchs from tossed up rocks and brush)
I would have loved to hear the verdict on the AV compared to the
other cladding-less trucks. Not very objective on the part of MT!
Joe
Bowhunt - If these dealers keep on thinking they can get at or above MSRP, the inventory of Avs on the lots will build. I can't believe that anyone is seeing so much demand that they think they can get sticker. Does Northridge have Avs on the lot?An ad yesterday had financing on the Trailblazer at 3.9% - another brand new model with decent reviews and demand.
I guess its internet lingo.
you = u
things like that
some of its joking around (too vs too) and other times its cause its late and im tired (not thinking)
Sorry ill try to do better
Hey an av question how come they dont have the yellow turn signal on the rear lights like the rados?
Ryan
Seriously, it must just be a styling issue. More of the vehicles coming out recently have all red or even the chrome look with red inserts on the tail lights.
Talking about lights, I know I will like the headlight below the bowtie bar on our Av. A better idea from the GM crew. I blinded more than one driver with the lights from our F150 in their rearview mirror. The 4WD F150 sits so high that the lights shoot right over the trunk lid.
Engineering major. 2 yrs to go
I thought the yellow turn signals were a safety feature? Kinda wierd they didnt use it on the av. The tahoes, burbs, silverados and most of the new gm vehicles have them if not all
However, you can find yellow on the new Envoy, and others, too. Maufacturer's choice.
in the sand. Some thing about the AV gave it the best
hook up in the sand.
only 16 months old. almost 19K miles on it.
Its not even broken in yet
frankfx - Any other comments from MT on ride, etc. on the Av?
The lock on the tailgate broke so they had to crawl
into the bed from the cab.
They shredded a tire, but that wasn't the AV's fault.
It really seems to me that they didn't give the AV the
attention it should have had. I want to know about
the cladding (we know all about how ugly it is (allegedly)
but what about its body protection?) .
None of the trucks overheated. The Escalade got close
when idling with AC on in 120F heat.
There are some pictures posted on the MT web page:
http://www.motortrend.com
Also, I have been reading the GM press release for 8/1/01
AV sales are 9419 YTD. I find this encouraging. If any
is intersted, go read that report.
Joe
The lock on the tailgate broke so they had to crawl
into the bed from the cab.
They shredded a tire, but that wasn't the AV's fault.
It really seems to me that they didn't give the AV the
attention it should have had. I want to know about
the cladding (we know all about how ugly it is (allegedly)
but what about its body protection?) .
None of the trucks overheated. The Escalade got close
when idling with AC on in 120F heat.
There are some pictures posted on the MT web page:
http://www.motortrend.com
Also, I have been reading the GM press release for 8/1/01
AV sales are 9419 YTD. I find this encouraging. If any
is intersted, go read that report.
Joe
The lock on the tailgate broke so they had to crawl
into the bed from the cab.
They shredded a tire, but that wasn't the AV's fault.
It really seems to me that they didn't give the AV the
attention it should have had. I want to know about
the cladding (we know all about how ugly it is (allegedly)
but what about its body protection?) .
None of the trucks overheated. The Escalade got close
when idling with AC on in 120F heat.
There are some pictures posted on the MT web page:
http://www.motortrend.com
Also, I have been reading the GM press release for 8/1/01
AV sales are 9419 YTD. I find this encouraging. If any
is intersted, go read that report.
Joe
The lock on the tailgate broke so they had to crawl
into the bed from the cab.
They shredded a tire, but that wasn't the AV's fault.
It really seems to me that they didn't give the AV the
attention it should have had. I want to know about
the cladding (we know all about how ugly it is (allegedly)
but what about its body protection?) .
None of the trucks overheated. The Escalade got close
when idling with AC on in 120F heat.
There are some pictures posted on the MT web page:
http://www.motortrend.com
Also, I have been reading the GM press release for 8/1/01
AV sales are 9419 YTD. I find this encouraging. If any
is intersted, go read that report.
Joe
No way only thing right now id trade for is a 2500HD CC.
My brother on the other hand thinks i should buy him an av. haha he better get a job.
Hey question for you guys with leather. Is there a chevy logo stitched into the seats? The red one we seen had leather seats and a bowtie on/by the headrest