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Also saw a Silver Birch Suburban, but the silver is very greyish (rather than a bright silver like the silver TrailBlazer) so sitting by itself it was hard to tell if it was Silver or Lt Pewter!
glsable
The verdict is as follows:
Give GM 30 days to fix your concerns. When repairs are completed, drive the vehicle for 30 days and if you are not satisfied we will reconveign the hearing and I will come up with my decision.
This is how it went down:
The hearing lasted 4 hours. (Wow, it was long) I gave my side of the case; GM gave their side of the case BLAH BLAH BLAH. GM did nothing but put up smoke and mirrors. Their main case was claiming that I purposely left me vehicle in the shop to create a paper trail. Please Note: Every time I put my Yukon Denali in the shop I get a Ford Focus to drive. Why would I NOT want to pick-up my car? Anyhow, I used the following problems to support my case:
Noisy drive train: The arbitrator drove my vehicle and recognized the problem. She put in her report that the problem is a manufacture defect and that it impairs the safety, use and value of the vehicle.
Flickering lights: The arbitrator drove my vehicle and recognized the problem. She put in her report that the problem is a manufacture defect and that it impairs the safety, use and value of the vehicle. I also submitted my “Police Warning” issued to me for having a unsafe vehicle. She acted like it was no big deal that I am driving an unsafe vehicle in the laws eyes.
Tranny hesitates when shifting 1st to 2nd: The arbitrator drove my vehicle and recognized the problem. She put in her report that the problem is a manufacture defect and that it impairs the safety, use and value of the vehicle.
GM had their rep drive a new Denali to the hearing to support their case. Reason being, GM claims that all my problems are CHARACTERISTICS of all Denalis. After driving my vehicle, we all drove the new Denali that the rep brought. It performed perfectly. No noises from the drive train, no flickering lights, and tranny shifted perfect. The arbitrator commented to GM and myself that my vehicle has several problems and the vehicle GM brought had NO problems.
Overall, I felt as if I won my case. She recognized all my problems and noticed that the other vehicle (the one GM brought to the hearing) was flawless. Therefore, I was happy because I felt GM’s vehicle helped prove my case. Furthermore, the GM rep stated that he did not want to work on my vehicle for fear of making the problems worse. With all this said the ruling was to allow GM one more chance to fix my truck. Let me state for the record that they have has 3 attempts at fixing my truck and a 4th and FINAL ATTEMPT to fix the truck. Now, the arbitrator wants me to give them a 5th chance to fix the truck.
Any suggestion would be helpful. I guess that GA Lemon Law is next because I do not want them touching my truck anymore. The BBB works in GM favor!!!
The dealer wants me to come back and redo the paper work, reflecting a price that would make monthly payments close to $475. They are saying that there was an error in the paperwork and GMAC would not approve the loan.
I do not understand that. Everything is clearly stated in the documents I signed. Everything is normal - all typed up and signed. The only error is that the price is not what they intended to sell the vehicle at.
Just looking for opinons and suggestions. Off course my options are:
1) Re-sign @ a higher price
2) Tell them that I am willing to return the vehicle if they give my 15K back.
3) Tell them what is signed is signed ! Would they re-do the papers if I overpaid?
Thanks,
Most on-line financing companies can qualify people in a matter of minutes so I think it's criminal for this practice to be permitted. If you didn't qualify for the zero percent rate, the dealer should have been able to figure that out in a few minutes - certainly within thirty minutes.
If it were me, I'd tell the dealer to unwind the deal and that if they didn't return all my money, I was going to go the state consumer protection agency (usually at the AG's office), the BBB, the TV, etc.
Check in Dealer Bribes and Surveys - there's been a recent thread about something similar and the hosts there can direct you to other discussions more on point, and with less rabid advice <g>.
Steve, Host
Unless prohibited by law in your state, a signed contract is binding and non-negotiable.
Please do not get taken advantage of. Someone screwed up and they want you to pay for their mistake.
You have a signed agreement. If they had any leverage against you, they probably would have taken action against you already.
Good luck!
That is what is confusing. I don't think 40K for a '03 Z71 burb is chum-change. It is a lot of money, but they want 44K instead....after delivering the vehicle and signing all the papers for 40K price.
$3,000 GM Cash Incentive
$1,000 Chevrolet Owner Loyalty Rebate
$750 Northeast U.S. Rebate (NY/NJ/CT/MA)
If you choose the 0% financing for 6 months or the 1.9% for 72 months, you can still use the chevy loyalty and n.e. rebate but NOT the GM Cash!
If you are really interested in an '03, now is great time to get one.
I did look at the '04 models (LT & LS) but the only major changes I noticed was the tire pressure monitor and some different color schemes.
The correct figures are 0% over 60 months OR 1.9% over 72 months.
One additional note, try to bargain with a dealership that is based on unit or volume sales. You can find this information out by contacting GM sales division and inquiring about dealerships in your area.
When dealing with this type of sales force, you can usually negotiate a price at or below invoice much easier than trying with a "sales program dealership." They sell cars based upon a consignment figure and sometimes try to pass the residual costs off to the consumer.
A volume based dealership has to primarily worry about meeting a sales quota in terms of actual units sold and is sometimes willing to cut into the dealership holdback figure in order to make the deal.
Good luck!
according to their Marketing dept they did NOT extend that early lease end program like they were supposed to do when I had called a couple of weeks ago.. they also told me that the Loyalty $1K program has also ended on 9/2...
had used the early lease end program back in '01 on my leased '99 burban...with a 10 month early termination..
guess I'll have to see my local dealer to double-check on these programs..
did you get your info from the dealer or Chevy direct..
Am I missing something here?
A friend of mine had intentions of paying cash on a new 2002 Yukon but took the zero down, zero percent route. Of course his payments are over $1,000 a month on a 36 month loan but his $40,000 is invested earning interest.
Mark156
Any idea what the MSRP on the '01 was? We're trying to do our figures and don't seem to have that number anywhere from when we got our '01. I looked at a black Z71 today and it was pretty sporty looking compared to the LT but we didn't see much difference beyond the rack, tires, running boards (not sure I like them) and a few '03 things, from our '01. At least nothing to make us jump up and say "Oh, I want that car"! They are offering it at $38,900 supposedly loaded with no sun roof or dvd though. The other dealer has the same Z71 for $36,000 but it has 200 miles and many scratches on driver side door and passenger door which they of course offered to fix.
having looked recently at some '03 on the lots... a Z71 MSRP seems to run from $45K to a high of $48K.. LT 4wd seems to be about the same or a little less...
I'm not an autoride kinda guy.. just ain't worth $800 bucks to me .. they ride ok as is... personal opinion of course..
If we do another LT deal we are also asking for no Firestone's in exchange for Michellin's...if we do it. Here in CT with as much snow as we get (Northwest corner) and Vermont trips, the Firestone's have no bite even with four wheel drive. Going over the numbers this weekend. I do like the 2003 power folding mirrors. Miracle I haven't ripped one of them off our '01 yet pulling into the garage!
Last Wednesday, I picked up an '03 Z71 - Black that I would consider loaded but the vehicle does not have the rear entertainment package (DVD) or the XM satellite radio. I personally decided that both of these options were not that important right now as they both can be easily added a later time.
I do like the sunroof and yes, I do like the overall styling of the Z71 better than the LS/LT models.
Two important features I like about the Z71 are the locking rear - helps out a lot in the snow etc. and I also like the roof rack - it is much more convenient to use than the basic set up offered on the LS/LT models. I am aware that a locking rear is available as an added feature on the LT package but the Z71 has it as a standard. The heavy duty tow package with transmission cooler is also standard.
The overall appearance of the vehicle is personal preference.
Good luck!
One other thing to consider is garage door clearance. The Z71 roof rack style is a couple of inches taller than the LT, so if clearance is an issue you may want to measure before buying! Also with the LTs, the cross bars can be removed that will lower the vehicle height even further - on the Z71s, the side rails are taller than the crossbars, so this won't help.
Mark
We have a 2001 Suburban LT that has been giving us fits in the service dept. We believe we have a lemon and decided to trade it in for a newer but similar model.
We can choose between a 2003 for (get this $49,000) or order a 2004 for about the same, but wait 4-6 weeks.
The 2003 comes with bigger rebates/incentives, but the car is at another dealership and of course all the fees incurred getting the car here is passed on to us.
The 2004 looks good, but again, we'd have to wait 4-6 weeks. I did notice some nice features in the 2004 model, but does anyone know if they are worth the lower rebates etc?
Thanks!
hope this help
'99 K1500 3.73 Suburban 5.7L LT
K&N Air Filter
wishing i had a K2500 7.4 L
The incentives are great right now . For us, here in the Northeast it's $5,500 off or 0% with I believe $1,000 bonus (go to Chevrolet website to check incentives). Got the Firestone's also switched out for Michellin's. Extremely happy about that!
Thanks for the reply. I'm not sure I'm clear on your answer. Did you say that you thought the 2004 was the better choice?
"You didn't mention the burbs you're trading from and to, so I assume it's 1500, series, 4WD."
Yes, we have 2001 1500 4WD LT. We want a 2003 OR 2004 1500 4WD LT with XM sat radio and DVD package. The 2003 we saw was $49,000 but we can get $5,500 off. If we go with a 2004, we expect to pay the same (49,000), but we only get $1500 rebate.
The engine in the 1500 - does that stay the same in 2004? What about the "hydroboost" brakes? Is that better than the vacuum-assisted?
Also, my husband wants to know if getting the bigger rear axle (4.1) is better than the 3.7 one? Will the bigger one cut down on gas mileage?
Has anyone seen the DVD player? How big is the screen? does it work well? Is it better to get it with the Suburban, or after-market and professionally installed?
Thank you for helping us! We are sooooo confused and feel whipped by these salespeople!
A neat onstar feature I liked was the integrated cell phone feature that allows you to put grandparents for example on the speakers for all the kids to talk/listen without your hands leaving the wheel. Not something I'd talk at length on at 35-40 cents/minute.
On side note. The LT operated flawlessly on the FL-IN trip averaging 17.5 MPG and no loss of oil; started at full and returned full without adding any oil. Interstate driving 70-80MPH - smooth and quiet. Satisfied owner so far at 4K miles and almost 4 months.
Would be interested knowing what caused the backseat overhead light fire. Assume light was on when fire started?
Hope this helps and here is a picture of it... http://www.pbase.com/image/16870881
There is very little difference between a 2003 and a 2004 Suburban (search earlier posts for a list of the 2004 changes). Hydroboost brakes, tire temp monitor, the Silver Birch color and new wheels are the biggest changes I can think of. Everything else on a 2004 1500 would be identical - engine, transmission, interior - to a 2003. Not sure why GM is adding "hydroboost" brakes - whatever they are - since the brakes on our 2003 are excellent. One change for the '04s is that you can get DVD and sunroof together if that is important.
Pricing for the 2003s should be A LOT lower than the 2004s, partly due to the rebates, partly due to the GM support to the dealers to move end-of-year cars. Suburbans and Yukon XLs here are advertised all the time for $10k - $11k off MSRP. I would use that as your starting point in negotiations. I doubt they will negotiate as much on a 2004. Bringing a car from another dealership shouldn't be more than $100 or $200.
If you are only going to keep it for one or two years, you may want to consider that the residual price of a 2004 would be higher than a 2003, but after ten years the difference will be small.
You mentioned DVD. We have the middle row buckets, factory DVD and XM on our 1500LT. The factory DVD screen is about 7-inches (measured diagonally) in a rectangular format. It works great and it is easily big enough to be seen from any of the 2nd and 3rd row seats. Aftermarket DVDs are available with bigger screens, but they will block your view in the rear view mirror (even the standard screen blocks the view partially when it is being used).
The higher the gear ratio number, the lower the gears. Lower gears help towing, but hurt gas mileage. If you plan to tow a lot of stuff up at the max towing wieght you may want the lower gears - otherwise I would stay with the standard gearing.
Good luck!
glsable
glsable
It is a K1500 LT, pewter metallic, middle row buckets, DVD, XM, towing package, and locking diff. It is my wife's car, and she was hesitant at first to hop up into "something that big" after our Plymouth Grand Voyager mini-van, but her first drive solved that!
And she lets me drive it on the weekends! :-)
glsable
I think we wil go ahead and try to find a loaded 2003 1500 LT and get a better price.
Thanks again!
Vickilynn
The Expedition is smaller. The independent rear suspension makes the 3rd row roomy for its size. There is not as much room behind the seat. If you are considering the Expedition, you should also consider the Toyota Sequoia and the brand new Nissan Armada (spelled wrong I am sure). The Nissan is very impressive and has a more powerful engine than any of the others. It also has independent rear suspension for more 3rd seat room.
The side curtain airbags have generated a lot of discussion recently, in that they may provide safety benefits, but they also pose some danger for little kids in the back seats if they fall asleep and lean to the side. You don't really want the kids in that position when the side curtain airbags deploy.
glsable
And if you are willing to accept the luggage space/3rd row trade off in an Expedition, it opens the door up to many more vehicle options.
But if you need 6 seats and luggage space, I don't know of anything other than a Suburban/ YukonXL/ Escalade EXL (unless you would consider a full-size van, like a Chevy Express or Ford E-150).
glsable
I did a little research and found out a 1997 Suburban with 75000 miles on it is only worth (trade-in value) about $1000 less than a 1998 with 75000 miles on it. All things being equal on both vehicles.
So buying a vehicle at the beginning of the next model year helps a little. It doesn't equalize the costs by any means, but can give you a little better feeling if you do decide to go with a 2003 instead of a 2004.
Congratulations on the new Suburban!
With respect to your XM Satellite Radio, is there a separate head unit or receiver in addition to the regular AM/FM stereo unit installed in your vehicle?
I ask because I too just got a new Suburban but do not have the XM radio and am interested in adding the stock unit to the vehicle.
I see a location for the unit just below the regular radio and was curious to know if that cutout in the dash console is meant to house the XM unit.
Our favorite XM station is "Cinemagic" (movie themes and soundtracks), but we also listen to "Broadway" (musical and play excerpts), "Sunny" and "Torch"
glsable
I am going to price out some different XM units.