Chipperrrr - I purchased my flaps from the dealer for $19.00 (4 flaps). The are decent quality, nice design, not flat. Instructions for installation are on the back. They are custom for GMC trucks.
I went with a THULE RacNLock that slips right into the receiver hitch... they also make a "SpaceStation" carrier that allows more versatility for other accessories as well.
The nice thing about this particular rack is that it can pivot out AWAY from the car with the bikes still mounted, allowing you to access the tailgate contents without removing the bikes first!
Thats the problem, it does not adjust the volume so that it "always sounds the same". That is why compared it to the Bose system in my Seville STS. I never have to fiddle with the volume in the Seville yet when I get on the freeway in the Bravada (even after giving it a few minutes) I end up having to turn the stereo up. When I get off of the freeway, I have to turn it down.
What concerns me about the control is every other control in the Bravada shows the last setting when you push the button. Hence my concern when I push the button and it always says "off".
I test drove the TB yesterday and found the acceleration from first to second to be somewhat sluggish. I am coming over from a van, so I was anticipating more pickup. 3rd gear and higher the TB is great...super smooth ride...good passing ability...great handling/cornering (not top heavy or shifty at all IMO).
My problems:
1) Sluggish pickup with 3.73 gear ratio...but the 4.10 is available..anyone have it? Opinions?
2) Back/trunk side compartments...absolutely cheesy...two "snap" swivels/clamps. I could have made a better one by hand. Would have been nice to have "doors" there for the compartments...rather than entirely detachable "plates" (which were a flimsy plastic at best)
3) Folding down the rear seats...they couldn't go all the way down unless the front seat(s) were forward a certain distance.
4) Leather...felt way too firm...and the reason why I've wanted cloth...but the LTZ's dont come with cloth...so I am considering an LT just to get the cloth and will put aftermarket tires on it instead. Does the leather soften up after time???
Well there are a ton of positives to the TB...and of course they are why I want to get one! I have to run tho...perhaps I will elaborate on their pluses later!
Let me know what you all think about my negatives posted above.
bryancos and vaguy. Thanks for the information regarding the bike rack and the mud flaps. I checked out the Thule site and I think that this rack will fit my needs nicely. As far as the mud flaps, I ordered two pair today from a local chevy dealership. they said that they are custom fitted for the TB. However, they quoted me a price of 29 per pair. I am wondering what the difference will be in the product due to the fact that you paid 19 dollars. I*ll have to wait until they arrive to evaluate their quality and final look. thanks again. Also, has anyone out there added any graphics or stripping to their vehicle. How did it turn out.
Has anyone ordered the DVD player yet? I remember reading that somone said that it was availbable to order as of June 28 BUT my wonderful sales person is telling me that it will not be available until spring 2003. He wants to sell me an aftermarket DVD system installed, apparently it only has a 1 year warranty. This is really the only feature that is keeping me from buying a TB sooner. Any help or guidance would be appreciated.
Noticed a couple folks looking for a rack... For those interested, here's a decent link to a rack shop. I got great service from them when I got a Yakima roof rack for my Acura. I'll use them again for the SUV...
This is my first posting to this site. I've learned some valuable information here from all the postings I've read. I'd be happy to share what information I've found out concerning the DVD player. I currently have on order an SLT Envoy with the 1SK package, which includes the DVD player. The DVD player can be ordered the beginning of July, 2001. On the TB, it's coded as U42-rear seat entertainment. MSRP is $995.00, invoice is $855.70. Production is to start early August, 2001. This information, as well as other information concerning the triplets can be found in a weekly online newsletter called "Truck Tracks". This is the newsletter from the Communications Dept. of the Moraine Plant, which builds the triplets. A quote from the newsletter concerning the DVD player "The RSE option will make a handsome package on any of the three models."
Could not find the newsletter site doing a search using Yahoo...I could only find the plant website at moraineassembly.com (no real info here). Please provide Web address. Thanks...
Saw a two tone (blue with gray) Trailblazer for the first time today. Wow.. is that ever sharp looking. The best looking one I had seen was the black, but this one was even better.
Has anyone else noticed grit under the paint in the door jams of their SUV? The exterior paint is flawless (as far as GM paint jobs go) but the door jams seem to have some sort of gritty material in certain areas. It's in a different area in each door opening.
I was helping a friend install a cold air intake on his car, and got to thinking -- "I wonder what would happen if I did something similar on my new Envoy?"
As we all know, an engine loves to breath in cooler air, which is why a car seems to pull harder on those cool mornings -- and this is why the aftermarket companies make them for popular cars and trucks. Unfortunately, they've not started on the GM Trio yet...
We took a look under the hood and found that the air intake consists of a small funnel-shaped "horn" behind the passenger headlight, that leads into the airbox. To "enhance" the availablity of cooler outside air, we routed a section of 2.5-inch shop vac hose from a small opening in the lower front air dam, up behind the passenger headlight and terminated the hose at the opening of the air intake. (thanks to GM for making the headlights so easy to pull out -- two pull tabs and you're in business) To increase the amount of air intake, a rectangular shop vac hose attachement can be inverted and placed in the air dam and attached to the hose to act as an "air scoop".
Ironically the shop vac hose diameter matches that of the air intake, so theoretically you could place the hose directly into the intake, but I preferred to allow the engine to breath normally at lower speeds, rather than forcing it to breath only thru the hose.
Granted, a 2.5 inch diameter hose isn't a lot of surface area, but it DOES draw more cooler air from outside of the engine compartment and surprisingly makes an improvement in performance. (more noticible on a hot day) Until a commercial cold air kit is available, this cheap tweak works well and it's basically invisible unless you look closely at the air dam and look for the hose.
Placing small vent holes in the shop vac hose at strategic locations to allow water to drain that might be sucked in, and installing a screen of some type to keep out bugs/leaves is also advised.
Total Cost: $15 for shop vac hose (enough for 2 cars) $5 for rectangular vacuum attachment (optional)
Total Installation Time: 15 mins depending on how good you are are routing the hose from the front to the intake.
Tools Required: None - everything is held in place by friction -- zip ties are optional if you're paranoid.
K&N AIR FILTERS: For those wanting to install a K&N air filter to allow the vehicle to breath even better, I contacted them and they don't expect one to be released for the 2002 GM Trio until around October.
Here is the website for Truck Tracks, which I think is updated every Wednesday. You have to get it through the union site. www.iue798.com/index.html When it downloads, look to the left side of the page where it says "Download Truck Tracks." Click on that.
Picked up our new Envoy last Thursday, 7/19. Took 2 months and 3 days from date of order. 4WD SLT, Indigo Blue, med pewter leather, 1SH package, running boards, moonroof. Just hit 250 miles today. Our Envoy had none of the previously discussed defects, such as poor body panel alignment, loose mouldings, wind noise, rattles, etc. Everything works perfectly, especially the A/C (has not been below 98-103 for highs here since we got it!) I am 6'4", and the front seats are quite comfortable. I can even fit in the back seat. Love the two-tone leather and it is so nice to have a headrest that tilts forward again! The faux wood dash trim looks nice, as does the brushed nickel trim. Spent 3 hours reading the owner's manual cover to cover the first night and learning how to program and run all of the equipment. The Bose 6 disc stereo sounds super. The engine is incredibly smooth and quiet, yet has more than enough power. The 4.10 rear axle ratio drives super, the vehicle is quick and I will be anxious to hook up our 3000 lb boat after I get past the break in mileage to see how the towing goes. We have been bombarded with nothing but very positive comments from everyone who sees and especially those who ride in the Envoy. People's heads turn when I drive down the street, and complete strangers will comment on what a nice looking rig it is. Have not checked mileage yet, but it is far too early to get a good reading on that anyway, with the varying driving speeds during the break in period. Overall, we just love it so far. No complaints what so ever. GMC has a winner with this vehicle as far as we are concerned.
I have checked every dealer close to Orlando and can't find exactly what I want. The big factor is do I need the air suspension to trailer up to 5000 lbs? I can get the 3.73 rear but I wonder if the tongue weight will cause the back end to sag too much without air suspension. Is the self leveling system reliable and needed? What do you think? Is the 4.10 rear end fairly close to the 3.73 in gas milage?
Those who are in the market for a new SUV should really consider other alternative SUV which are better than GM's SUV. GM's SUV(BRAVADA, trailBLAZER and ENVOY) have the worst reputation in the SUV segment. It's not wise to invest thousands of dollars into something you know will not perform well down the road. Visit www.toyota.com www.honda.com www.mercedesbenz.com www.bmw.com www.mitsubishi.com www.edmunds.com for other alternative SUV
Alert for 2002 Envoy owners....do not order running board 12497885 from gmpartsdirect.com. They don't fit. The bolt holes line up, but the rocker panel contour approaching both front and rear wheel openings do not match up. According to other posts at this site, the boards work well on a TB, so if any TB owners in the Memphis area are in the market for factory running boards, we need to correspond.
For your information, some of us actually looked at other SUVs before deciding to purchase one of the "triplets".
Toyota- The Sequoia was very nice, and very expensive. Starting at $40,000 and up, with little or no discount off MSRP, it was way out of my budget. The Highlander, the cheap version of the Lexus RX-300, is a joke. While the RX-300 is plush, the Highlander's interior is pedestrian. Sitting on the backseat was like sitting on fabric-covered cardboard. No Sale!!
Lexus-Loved the RX-300, hated the price tag. Like the Sequoia, MSRP started at $38,000 and went up from there, with little discount off of sticker. Seriously considered buying a RX-300, but it was out of my price range.
Honda-Has no SUV, FAThead. Used to have the Passport, which was a rebadged Isusu Rodeo (which, by the way, is majority owned by GM; humm...)
Acura-Again, the MDX was very nice, and way out of my price range. Does anybody see a pattern here with expensive Japanese SUVs?
MB-All I can say about the interior of the M-320 is cheesy. Probably could have afforded this one, but it did not impress my wife and me in the least.
BMW-Again, a nice SUV that was WAY out of my price range. Over $40K for a six-cylinder, $50K for a V8.
Mitsubishi-The Montero FAILED Consumer Reports roll-over test. Not that I put much stock into anything CR says, but the best thing Mitsubishi ever built was the Zero (and that was continually bested by American-made products).
Explorer-Only one thing wrong with this truck-that blue oval on the front with the letters F-O-R-D. For those that don't know, FORD is actually the Klingon word for crap. Would you trust a car company that refuses to admit that their poorly engineered SUV has killed almost 200 people. Sure, those Firestone tires blew out, but Explorers were not the only vehicles they were installed on. When they blew out on other vehicles, you just pull over to the side of the road and change a flat. When they blow out on an Explorer, it causes the truck to rollover and you die. But, according to FORD, it is all Firestone's fault. WRONG!! There is no way in Hell I would even consider buying a new Explorer from this low-life company.
So, FAThead, we come back to GM. When we ordered our new Bravada, I got it for $200 under invoice, plus another $1500 off for my Olds loyalty rebate (we have a 1998 Intigue). I could not touch one of those over-priced foreign SUVs for the price of the Bravada. And, as a bonus, I got a 5 year/60,000 bumper-to-bumper warranty. So, if I have any problems with it "down the road", I'm covered, and I'm not worried about it.
BTW, I just purchased a 2001 Chevy Silverado LS extended cab pickup (my fifth Chevy truck; four extended cabs and a Suburban). I seriously considered a Toyota Tundra access cab, but there was no contest as far as bang-for-the-buck. I liked the way the Tundra looked and drove, but the Chevy cost much less. My Chevy stickered for just over $29,000, and it is loaded except for leather seats. A comparably equipped Toyota Tundra Limited stickered for $31,000-$32,000, and I guarantee you won't find a Toyota dealer who will give you $5000 off sticker on a truck like my Chevy dealer did. However, the clincher was the rear seat area of the Tundra was much smaller than the Chevy, and I have to have a rear seat occasionally for my kids.
So, in conclusion, FAThead, a lot of people love our GM vehicles. I have had nothing but good luck with 4 trucks, 1 Suburban, 1 Buick Regal, and 1 Olds Intrigue. Sure, some of them have been back to the dealer for minor warranty items, but never anything major. And I am confident that the new Bravada will give me no problems either. if it does, it will be covered under warranty for a long time, so I'm not worried. Now, please go crawl back in your hole.
Ok, I just had to chime in here with my 2 cents. The Ml's proably have the worst reliabity stat's of almost all SUV's. Just read there thread. The BMW's are not that much better from what I read. Keep in mind one is paying quite abit more for these trucks, to boot...As pointed out by a prior poster mitsubishi has some real problems to deal with. Acura is nice, but waiting forever for it w/o much if anything off the sticker is not my idea of a good deal. The RX is indeed a nice CAR. Kinda takes forever to turn, large turning radius. Also a small trunk. Now don't get me wrong, if somebody offered me a choice for a free bravada or rx, I'd take the rx...Cause I do like there VSD & AWD set up...
I took into account that we were probably being baited into starting a fight, but I am getting tired of reading posts on other threads that continually say that people who buy GM are idiots and all GM products are crap...this is simply not the case.
I'll be the first to admit that some things the General does peeves the heck out of me, but most of these have to do with stupid management decisions because GM's heirarchy is overrun with stodgy old geezeers. Sometimes I think GM's top management is living in 1901 and not 2001, and they are SLOW to react to current market conditions (that is why they are continuing to lose market share to Ford and Japan). Of course, GM did decide to be "progressive" and build the Pontiac Aztec ("quite possibly the ugliest vehicle on the planet"), but that is another thread.
I put in a lot of effort into shopping for my wife's new SUV, and the Bravada was the best vehicle for the money. She can't wait to get her hands on it. *Build Date: 7-30-01
As I posted previously, we loved the Lexus RX-300, but I could not see paying that much for a vehicle. I would rather pay $4000-$5000 less for a vehicle (MSRP) than have to pay for the dealer's big-screen TV, plush leather couch and chairs, cappucino bar, etc. You don't think that those Lexus extras are free, do you? No, you pay for them when you buy their vehicles.
If something goes wrong with the Bravada, I'm not planning on living at the dealership waiting for it to get fixed. I'll take the shuttle back home or get them to drive me to work, and if it has to stay overnight for service, we get something to drive.
Anyway, just a note to FAThead that we are not lemmings jumping off a cliff just because almighty General Motors has us brainwashed. Some of us vehicle buyers actually can think for ourselves, and when we do, buying GM makes good economical sense. The lemmings are the people buying Explorers just because everybody else has one!
thanks for the alert on the running boards. I was getting ready to order them for my Envoy. Have you checked any prices for the Envoy running board. My dealer quoted to get all the parts needed it would be $1,600. If you find them somewhere else cheaper, let me know. Thanks
I'll start with my bottom line. The more I drive this, the more I like it. Great truck!
I' ve got a black Envoy SLT 4WD, rear locking diff, heated leather seats, polished wheels. Took delivery in mid-May, so the front end TSB had already been done. Price was $32,200 with the GM supplier discount. I pay cash when I buy, so I can't say what the lease terms would have been.
Problems: Only one very minor one. The center console was loose and squeaking. The dealer pretended to fix it ("they're all like that"). I fixed it myself by disassembling the console, putting felt where things rubbed together, and putting loctite on the screws when I put it back together. Squeaking is gone. Took all of twenty minutes and was easier than arguing with the service manager. Aside from that, everything else seems to be screwed together properly. This is the first thing that I have ever bought from GM, and I was more than a little worried about how good or bad the quality would be. (My mother's Chevy Celebrity was a sad, sorry excuse for a car) I've been very pleasantly surprised by how good my Envoy has been so far. Hope I can still say that at 50,000 miles.
This is a great vehicle for a tall person (I'm 6'4"). There's plenty of leg, elbow and headroom for the driver, and the driver's seat is almost perfect. The front doors are long, so it is easy to get in and out, and the b-pillar doesn't intefere with visibility. The rear hatch opens high enough to clear my head and the load floor is just the right height for me. Thank you GM.
The engine and drive train is surprisingly smooth. I have no complaints about the power. The transmission shifts smoothly and predictably. The gas mileage is a lot better than I expected: for June, I averaged 18.2 mpg; for July so far it is 19.4 mpg. (80% highway, both months) It used a quart of oil in the first 1,500 miles. At that point, I did the first oil change (Pennzoil 5W-30, AC-Delco PF59 filter). There has been no further oil consumption.
The overall vehicle seems very quiet, solid, with a good, smooth ride, and no shakes or rattles. It seems very nimble for a two ton plus vehicle. The steering would benefit from more on-center feel, but is otherwise quite precise. It tracks very well on the highway. I haven't had the problem with wind noise that others have mentioned. (I followed the manual's instructions for placing the roof racks. Maybe that helped.) There's plenty of room for my requirements for carrying people (three of us plus the cat) and stuff.
Some pleasant surprises:
-The instrument panel and switch lighting is very well done. -It's very easy to fold down the rear seats compared to my wife's Jeep Grand Cherokee. -The oil filter and drain plug are accessable. (My last car was a Lincoln Mark VIII - bad filter location)
Basically, I'm *very* happy with this truck. I get the feeling that the people who designed it and built it were really paying attention to what they were doing. But I'm also an engineer and I can't help having a few suggestions for the "next release".....
Notes to GM for future improvements:
- If you could make the lumbar support adjust a little higher, and get a little smaller, the driver's seat would go from being almost perfect, to perfect.
- Did you really need to use so many *different* textures of imitation armadillo hide on the interior plastic bits? It makes the interior look a little cheap. Please check out the Acura MDX interior when you decide to do the "Envoy Denali"
- There's a hands-free phone setup here that I can't *use*! It would be nice if I could use the Onstar hands-free phone equipment with *my* cellular phone. Onstar wants nearly triple what I pay for a minute of cellular. Do they really think I'm dumb enough to pay that??
Has anyone had a problem with the black trim on the exterior of the doors. Mine seems to be fading fast. I have washed it three times so far (I can't stand a dirty vehicle) and it seems to be getting worse. Should I be using so kind of spray on these plastic/rubber parts? It shouldn't be looking like this yet. I have to have the exterior handle on the back seat door replaced, and the cargo storage area cover replaced. Other than that I love this SUV. Took it on a trip with a full load of beach stuff, two kids, two adults with the a/c running full time and got 20.8 mpg on highway. I now have 1,000 miles and the mpg has improved from 16 to 20. Ordered the Husky floor liners and they made clean up so easy, nothing worse than vacucumming sand.. Thanks if anyone has suggestions for the trim.
sostrouble, I ordered my running boards through a dealer at 10%over cost. GM Parts Direct have them listed for $228.00 each board and $2.00 for each bolt X 24. These are the factory running boards for 2002 Envoy.
Part nos. are Step 1 ea.15044601 list $380.00 Step 1 ea.15044602 list $380.00 bolt 1 ea.11518482 list $3.33
If there is a one part number kit available, I'm not aware of it.
I wouldn't be suprise if the dealer prep'd (detailed) the trim with some form of Armor-all or black polishing. After a couple of soap washings, it can show a "fade" look. Are there any other places where the black looks dull?
I'm expecting to take delivery of my Bravada any day now. Funny how life makes you take a second look at things.....In April, I fractured my pelvis. I never even knew what a gift sitting down or lifting a leg meant before. Had never even considered a running board unless it was standard equipment up until then. When I bought the Bravada, I insisted on running boards. I'd pay extra.
Was told that no running boards were available on the Bravada even though they were pictured in the brochure. "Brochures are printed way before we actually get/know the cars." OK. The dealer, maybe afraid of losing a sale? said they would install an Envoy running board on the Bravada....under carriage configuration, etc. was very similar on both cars. Cost? Less than $200, installed. Either I'm being sold a bill of goods or you are. Take care.
From where did you order your Husky floor liners? Are they the specific model for your Envoy? I contacted one dealer and I was told they have not been issued yet. Do they offer good coverage on front floors? Thanks for any info you can provide.
It's really hard to keep black trim looking good. I have tried armor-all, STP protectant, and that back to black stuff. I would stay away form armor-all it has a drying agents in it. It will look worst if it drys all the way out. I just started using this new stuff from Stoner car care http://www.moreshine.com/. They have a bunch of spray care care products. I have used their window cleaner with great results. So I tryed their Trim Shine and vinyl cleaner sprays, the stuff works very good. Makes the trim very black and stays that way thought a few washings. The best part is all you have to do is spray in on and walk away, it's like that no-touch tire cleaner. Check out their web site. They always have special deals
Just drove from West Palm Florida to *ignore* Canada 1450 miles. The Envoy was fantastic quiet & smooth like a luxury car. 21.8 mpg. dose radio is great . I traded a 2000 Eddied Bluer a good vehicle but no comparison to Envoy. I have the 342 2WD maybe should have got 373 but no towing or off road so just shift into 3rd in the mountains. So far couldn't be happier
I wondered where *ignore*, Canada was or why you drove to Floria to ignore it. Unless you are logging in from WebTV, you're probably better off not letting our spell-check get your hands on your post, and just stick with the Post My Message button. Apologies....
btw, you also have 30 minutes to edit your posts. Look for the Edit button. Steve Host Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
I was in the market for a TB...but finances are tight...and my vehicle just died on me...so I have to purchase a new/used one soon.
I'm thinking along the lines of a pre-leased/pre-owned SUV...probably 2-3 yrs old (so 1998-2001 models). What do you guys think are some good models for those years?
I know Chevy resale prices are high...so I've ruled out Tahoes because of that. Explorers on the other hand...have a lower resale value...but obviously have their fair share of problems.
Other options...Jeep Cherokees/Grands are fair prices...but again...not up to the standards some desire.
I'm basically looking for a dependable vehicle, 2-3 yrs old...that I can use afield (4x4) for hiking, hunting, fishing, camping, snowboarding, etc...and also to commute to work each day (about 30-40 miles each day total).
Some details:
1)Driving distance to work (total per day): 30-40 miles 2) NEED 4WD! 3) Suggestions on models...1998-2001? 4) Not full size SUV (i.e. Suburban, Expedition-like, etc) 5) Not small size SUV (i.e. KIA, Escape-like, Tracker, etc) 6) What should I look to be spending? I'm guessing around $15,000-20,000?
Suggestions and/or advice would be greatly appreciated!
Got my mud flaps (rear) the front haven't come in yet. Installation wasn't too bad. You can put the rear on without taking the tire off if you angle the drill holes. The holes are put into plastic so I'm not sure what the lifespan will be. The right one is only 1" away from the muffle...wonder what will happen? Chances are that it will melt. If so one more thing to talk to GM about. The are molded black with the Chevy logo.
I have had my Bravada since March 30, and went through the three week recall. I was lucky and was given my 99 Aurora to drive the three weeks. I have always driven Aurora or Riviera or Cadillac. After 4800 miles in my Bravada I would not want to go back to the other type of car. The more I drive it the better I like it. If I have one suggestion for improvement it would be better mileage. I am getting around 18 mpg per tank full. The location of the heated seat switch is hit accidently. It would be better located on the side of the door instead of the arm rest. I keep the car looking like it just came off the showroom floor and it always gets lots of positive comments no matter where I drive. I hope that when Olds dies that the Bravada will get re-badged as a Cadillac or Buick.
Mine discolored the 2nd day almost like a rust on parts of them. I cleaned them up with a soft brush and water and they are back to normal. Could something have been put on them in pep ?
Thanks for the ideas on the trim. After my complaining my husband put some Turtle Wax UV protectant spray for plastic and vynal, it made it worse after a day or so. I am going to talk to the dealer about it next time I take it in.
The Husky liners I bought were from Central 4 Wheel Drive Inc. Prices were $51.95, $51.95 and 72.84, for front, rear and cargo. Shipping was 34.00 for a grand total of 210.74. They were the cheapest I could find on the internet and locally. They are form fitted for my Envoy and fit well. They don't look as nice as the carpet floor mats but with two kids the carpet ones wouldn't look too great for long anyway.
I copied the parts numbers and prices. I have to go to the dearler this week to have some things taken care of. I'll show them what you were quoted.
Did anyone else get the recall call letter on the center console. I just received it.
My dealer is replacing the front passenger door window on my Envoy. When it goes up and down it has something inside the door that scratches the glass. I have a long cut and several chips on the center on the inside of the window. Is anyone else having this problem?
Comments
http://www.clearbra.com/paint/product.asp?Make=GMC&model=Envoy
You can install yourself or have a shop do it...
They also sell headlight protection, altho with lexan lenses, it's probably not necessary.
I went with a THULE RacNLock that slips right into the receiver hitch... they also make a "SpaceStation" carrier that allows more versatility for other accessories as well.
The nice thing about this particular rack is that it can pivot out AWAY from the car with the bikes still mounted, allowing you to access the tailgate contents without removing the bikes first!
Check out www.thule.com
Hopefully their dignosis is correct and when the part arrives this will fix the problem.
Wife loves the vehicle otherwise.
brad
What concerns me about the control is every other control in the Bravada shows the last setting when you push the button. Hence my concern when I push the button and it always says "off".
-- thx
My problems:
1) Sluggish pickup with 3.73 gear ratio...but the 4.10 is available..anyone have it? Opinions?
2) Back/trunk side compartments...absolutely cheesy...two "snap" swivels/clamps. I could have made a better one by hand. Would have been nice to have "doors" there for the compartments...rather than entirely detachable "plates" (which were a flimsy plastic at best)
3) Folding down the rear seats...they couldn't go all the way down unless the front seat(s) were forward a certain distance.
4) Leather...felt way too firm...and the reason why I've wanted cloth...but the LTZ's dont come with cloth...so I am considering an LT just to get the cloth and will put aftermarket tires on it instead. Does the leather soften up after time???
Well there are a ton of positives to the TB...and of course they are why I want to get one!
Let me know what you all think about my negatives posted above.
Thanks
mmateyak
Thanks for the information regarding the bike rack and the mud flaps. I checked out the Thule site and I think that this rack will fit my needs nicely. As far as the mud flaps, I ordered two pair today from a local chevy dealership. they said that they are custom fitted for the TB. However, they quoted me a price of 29 per pair. I am wondering what the difference will be in the product due to the fact that you paid 19 dollars. I*ll have to wait until they arrive to evaluate their quality and final look. thanks again. Also, has anyone out there added any graphics or stripping to their vehicle. How did it turn out.
http://www.gearonthego.com/
Thanks, Immoe
As we all know, an engine loves to breath in cooler air, which is why a car seems to pull harder on those cool mornings -- and this is why the aftermarket companies make them for popular cars and trucks. Unfortunately, they've not started on the GM Trio yet...
We took a look under the hood and found that the air intake consists of a small funnel-shaped "horn" behind the passenger headlight, that leads into the airbox. To "enhance" the availablity of cooler outside air, we routed a section of 2.5-inch shop vac hose from a small opening in the lower front air dam, up behind the passenger headlight and terminated the hose at the opening of the air intake. (thanks to GM for making the headlights so easy to pull out -- two pull tabs and you're in business) To increase the amount of air intake, a rectangular shop vac hose attachement can be inverted and placed in the air dam and attached to the hose to act as an "air scoop".
Ironically the shop vac hose diameter matches that of the air intake, so theoretically you could place the hose directly into the intake, but I preferred to allow the engine to breath normally at lower speeds, rather than forcing it to breath only thru the hose.
Granted, a 2.5 inch diameter hose isn't a lot of surface area, but it DOES draw more cooler air from outside of the engine compartment and surprisingly makes an improvement in performance. (more noticible on a hot day) Until a commercial cold air kit is available, this cheap tweak works well and it's basically invisible unless you look closely at the air dam and look for the hose.
Placing small vent holes in the shop vac hose at strategic locations to allow water to drain that might be sucked in, and installing a screen of some type to keep out bugs/leaves is also advised.
Total Cost:
$15 for shop vac hose (enough for 2 cars)
$5 for rectangular vacuum attachment (optional)
Total Installation Time: 15 mins depending on how good you are are routing the hose from the front to the intake.
Tools Required: None - everything is held in place by friction -- zip ties are optional if you're paranoid.
K&N AIR FILTERS:
For those wanting to install a K&N air filter to allow the vehicle to breath even better, I contacted them and they don't expect one to be released for the 2002 GM Trio until around October.
www.iue798.com/index.html
When it downloads, look to the left side of the page where it says "Download Truck Tracks." Click on that.
www.toyota.com
www.honda.com
www.mercedesbenz.com
www.bmw.com
www.mitsubishi.com
www.edmunds.com
for other alternative SUV
Enjoy the open road of America.
BUY OLDSMOBILE-Until GM stop making them.
Thanks....
Are you disgruntled ex-employee?
Toyota- The Sequoia was very nice, and very expensive. Starting at $40,000 and up, with little or no discount off MSRP, it was way out of my budget. The Highlander, the cheap version of the Lexus RX-300, is a joke. While the RX-300 is plush, the Highlander's interior is pedestrian. Sitting on the backseat was like sitting on fabric-covered cardboard. No Sale!!
Lexus-Loved the RX-300, hated the price tag. Like the Sequoia, MSRP started at $38,000 and went up from there, with little discount off of sticker. Seriously considered buying a RX-300, but it was out of my price range.
Honda-Has no SUV, FAThead. Used to have the Passport, which was a rebadged Isusu Rodeo (which, by the way, is majority owned by GM; humm...)
Acura-Again, the MDX was very nice, and way out of my price range. Does anybody see a pattern here with expensive Japanese SUVs?
MB-All I can say about the interior of the M-320 is cheesy. Probably could have afforded this one, but it did not impress my wife and me in the least.
BMW-Again, a nice SUV that was WAY out of my price range. Over $40K for a six-cylinder, $50K for a V8.
Mitsubishi-The Montero FAILED Consumer Reports roll-over test. Not that I put much stock into anything CR says, but the best thing Mitsubishi ever built was the Zero (and that was continually bested by American-made products).
Explorer-Only one thing wrong with this truck-that blue oval on the front with the letters
F-O-R-D. For those that don't know, FORD is actually the Klingon word for crap. Would you trust a car company that refuses to admit that their poorly engineered SUV has killed almost 200 people. Sure, those Firestone tires blew out, but Explorers were not the only vehicles they were installed on. When they blew out on other vehicles, you just pull over to the side of the road and change a flat. When they blow out on an Explorer, it causes the truck to rollover and you die. But, according to FORD, it is all Firestone's fault. WRONG!! There is no way in Hell I would even consider buying a new Explorer from this low-life company.
So, FAThead, we come back to GM. When we ordered our new Bravada, I got it for $200 under invoice, plus another $1500 off for my Olds loyalty rebate (we have a 1998 Intigue). I could not touch one of those over-priced foreign SUVs for the price of the Bravada. And, as a bonus, I got a 5 year/60,000 bumper-to-bumper warranty. So, if I have any problems with it "down the road", I'm covered, and I'm not worried about it.
BTW, I just purchased a 2001 Chevy Silverado LS extended cab pickup (my fifth Chevy truck; four extended cabs and a Suburban). I seriously considered a Toyota Tundra access cab, but there was no contest as far as bang-for-the-buck. I liked the way the Tundra looked and drove, but the Chevy cost much less. My Chevy stickered for just over $29,000, and it is loaded except for leather seats. A comparably equipped Toyota Tundra Limited stickered for $31,000-$32,000, and I guarantee you won't find a Toyota dealer who will give you $5000 off sticker on a truck like my Chevy dealer did. However, the clincher was the rear seat area of the Tundra was much smaller than the Chevy, and I have to have a rear seat occasionally for my kids.
So, in conclusion, FAThead, a lot of people love our GM vehicles. I have had nothing but good luck with 4 trucks, 1 Suburban, 1 Buick Regal, and 1 Olds Intrigue. Sure, some of them have been back to the dealer for minor warranty items, but never anything major. And I am confident that the new Bravada will give me no problems either. if it does, it will be covered under warranty for a long time, so I'm not worried. Now, please go crawl back in your hole.
Steve
Host
Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
I'll be the first to admit that some things the General does peeves the heck out of me, but most of these have to do with stupid management decisions because GM's heirarchy is overrun with stodgy old geezeers. Sometimes I think GM's top management is living in 1901 and not 2001, and they are SLOW to react to current market conditions (that is why they are continuing to lose market share to Ford and Japan). Of course, GM did decide to be "progressive" and build the Pontiac Aztec ("quite possibly the ugliest vehicle on the planet"), but that is another thread.
I put in a lot of effort into shopping for my wife's new SUV, and the Bravada was the best vehicle for the money. She can't wait to get her hands on it. *Build Date: 7-30-01
As I posted previously, we loved the Lexus RX-300, but I could not see paying that much for a vehicle. I would rather pay $4000-$5000 less for a vehicle (MSRP) than have to pay for the dealer's big-screen TV, plush leather couch and chairs, cappucino bar, etc. You don't think that those Lexus extras are free, do you? No, you pay for them when you buy their vehicles.
If something goes wrong with the Bravada, I'm not planning on living at the dealership waiting for it to get fixed. I'll take the shuttle back home or get them to drive me to work, and if it has to stay overnight for service, we get something to drive.
Anyway, just a note to FAThead that we are not lemmings jumping off a cliff just because almighty General Motors has us brainwashed. Some of us vehicle buyers actually can think for ourselves, and when we do, buying GM makes good economical sense. The lemmings are the people buying Explorers just because everybody else has one!
I' ve got a black Envoy SLT 4WD, rear locking diff, heated leather seats, polished wheels. Took delivery in mid-May, so the front end TSB had already been done. Price was $32,200 with the GM supplier discount. I pay cash when I buy, so I can't say what the lease terms would have been.
Problems: Only one very minor one. The center console was loose and squeaking. The dealer pretended to fix it ("they're all like that"). I fixed it myself by disassembling the console, putting felt where things rubbed together, and putting loctite on the screws when I put it back together. Squeaking is gone. Took all of twenty minutes and was easier than arguing with the service manager. Aside from that, everything else seems to be screwed together properly. This is the first thing that I have ever bought from GM, and I was more than a little worried about how good or bad the quality would be. (My mother's Chevy Celebrity was a sad, sorry excuse for a car) I've been very pleasantly surprised by how good my Envoy has been so far. Hope I can still say that at 50,000 miles.
This is a great vehicle for a tall person (I'm 6'4"). There's plenty of leg, elbow and headroom for the driver, and the driver's seat is almost perfect. The front doors are long, so it is easy to get in and out, and the b-pillar doesn't intefere with visibility. The rear hatch opens high enough to clear my head and the load floor is just the right height for me. Thank you GM.
The engine and drive train is surprisingly smooth. I have no complaints about the power. The transmission shifts smoothly and predictably. The gas mileage is a lot better than I expected: for June, I averaged 18.2 mpg; for July so far it is 19.4 mpg. (80% highway, both months) It used a quart of oil in the first 1,500 miles. At that point, I did the first oil change (Pennzoil 5W-30, AC-Delco PF59 filter). There has been no further oil consumption.
The overall vehicle seems very quiet, solid, with a good, smooth ride, and no shakes or rattles. It seems very nimble for a two ton plus vehicle. The steering would benefit from more on-center feel, but is otherwise quite precise. It tracks very well on the highway. I haven't had the problem with wind noise that others have mentioned. (I followed the manual's instructions for placing the roof racks. Maybe that helped.) There's plenty of room for my requirements for carrying people (three of us plus the cat) and stuff.
Some pleasant surprises:
-The instrument panel and switch lighting is very well done.
-It's very easy to fold down the rear seats compared to my wife's Jeep Grand Cherokee.
-The oil filter and drain plug are accessable. (My last car was a Lincoln Mark VIII - bad filter location)
Basically, I'm *very* happy with this truck. I get the feeling that the people who designed it and built it were really paying attention to what they were doing. But I'm also an engineer and I can't help having a few suggestions for the "next release".....
Notes to GM for future improvements:
- If you could make the lumbar support adjust a little higher, and get a little smaller, the driver's seat would go from being almost perfect, to perfect.
- Did you really need to use so many *different* textures of imitation armadillo hide on the interior plastic bits? It makes the interior look a little cheap. Please check out the Acura MDX interior when you decide to do the "Envoy Denali"
- There's a hands-free phone setup here that I can't *use*! It would be nice if I could use the Onstar hands-free phone equipment with *my* cellular phone. Onstar wants nearly triple what I pay for a minute of cellular. Do they really think I'm dumb enough to pay that??
I hope this helps....
Regards,
Dennis
These are the factory running boards for 2002 Envoy.
Part nos. are Step 1 ea.15044601 list $380.00
Step 1 ea.15044602 list $380.00
bolt 1 ea.11518482 list $3.33
If there is a one part number kit available, I'm not aware of it.
Was told that no running boards were available on the Bravada even though they were pictured in the brochure. "Brochures are printed way before we actually get/know the cars." OK. The dealer, maybe afraid of losing a sale? said they would install an Envoy running board on the Bravada....under carriage configuration, etc. was very similar on both cars. Cost? Less than $200, installed. Either I'm being sold a bill of goods or you are. Take care.
as follows:
Front: Part #3200
2nd Seat: Part #6200
Cargo (behind 2nd seat) Part #2200_
See: http://www.huskyliner.com/gmcapps.html
(although you'll probably find much better pricing elsewhere online from one of the many accessory shops out there)
btw, you also have 30 minutes to edit your posts. Look for the Edit button.
Steve
Host
Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
I'm thinking along the lines of a pre-leased/pre-owned SUV...probably 2-3 yrs old (so 1998-2001 models). What do you guys think are some good models for those years?
I know Chevy resale prices are high...so I've ruled out Tahoes because of that. Explorers on the other hand...have a lower resale value...but obviously have their fair share of problems.
Other options...Jeep Cherokees/Grands are fair prices...but again...not up to the standards some desire.
I'm basically looking for a dependable vehicle, 2-3 yrs old...that I can use afield (4x4) for hiking, hunting, fishing, camping, snowboarding, etc...and also to commute to work each day (about 30-40 miles each day total).
Some details:
1)Driving distance to work (total per day): 30-40 miles
2) NEED 4WD!
3) Suggestions on models...1998-2001?
4) Not full size SUV (i.e. Suburban, Expedition-like, etc)
5) Not small size SUV (i.e. KIA, Escape-like, Tracker, etc)
6) What should I look to be spending? I'm guessing around $15,000-20,000?
Suggestions and/or advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks all!
The Husky liners I bought were from Central 4 Wheel Drive Inc. Prices were $51.95, $51.95 and 72.84, for front, rear and cargo. Shipping was 34.00 for a grand total of 210.74. They were the cheapest I could find on the internet and locally. They are form fitted for my Envoy and fit well. They don't look as nice as the carpet floor mats but with two kids the carpet ones wouldn't look too great for long anyway.
Did anyone else get the recall call letter on the center console. I just received it.
My dealer is replacing the front passenger door window on my Envoy. When it goes up and down it has something inside the door that scratches the glass. I have a long cut and several chips on the center on the inside of the window. Is anyone else having this problem?