POLL: Chevy Avalanche - yay or nay?

[Zenmervolt]

The Avalanche is _not_ a pickup. Neither is the Explorer SportTrack. The midgate is pointless. Like someone is really going to haul a bunch of mulch or something with the midgate down. What about the winter? Or when it's raining? Or when you want to use the A/C in the summer? In none of those situations is it a good idea to have a huge gaping hole open in the back of your truck. The midgate is actually only useful if the weather is perfect. Better off getting a crew-cab with a full-size bed if you want the practicality.

ZV

 

[fastz28]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
The Avalanche is _not_ a pickup. Neither is the Explorer SportTrack. The midgate is pointless. Like someone is really going to haul a bunch of mulch or something with the midgate down. What about the winter? Or when it's raining? Or when you want to use the A/C in the summer? In none of those situations is it a good idea to have a huge gaping hole open in the back of your truck. The midgate is actually only useful if the weather is perfect. Better off getting a crew-cab with a full-size bed if you want the practicality.

ZV

Are you kidding? Have you seen/own one? With the midgate down, covers on, Avalanche can carry a stack of 4x8s without getting wet in the rain. It is exactly in these situations that Avalanche is better than a pickup.

 

[AEnigmaWI]

no one caring about the insanely horrible gas mileage this behemoth gets?

anyone noticed gas prices recently??

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: fastz28

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
The Avalanche is _not_ a pickup. Neither is the Explorer SportTrack. The midgate is pointless. Like someone is really going to haul a bunch of mulch or something with the midgate down. What about the winter? Or when it's raining? Or when you want to use the A/C in the summer? In none of those situations is it a good idea to have a huge gaping hole open in the back of your truck. The midgate is actually only useful if the weather is perfect. Better off getting a crew-cab with a full-size bed if you want the practicality.

ZV

Are you kidding? Have you seen/own one? With the midgate down, covers on, Avalanche can carry a stack of 4x8s without getting wet in the rain. It is exactly in these situations that Avalanche is better than a pickup.

The same can be done with a cargo van (or even a minivan), but that can haul tall things in the rain too. A bed that's only as tall as the sides is pointless. And if you're going to drive around with a tall cap on the bed all the time, get a van or a station wagon.

A pickup with an 8-foot bed and a locking bedcover or a truck cap can also carry those 4x8's without them getting wet in the rain, plus it doesn't sacrifice interior space to do so.

Not only that, but in the case of the Avalance, even in optimum weather with the midgate down, half of your "bed" is the rear seating area. I don't know about you, but the idea of a bunch of crap migrating from the bed into the cab area is not my idea of a benefit. And if the covers are on the bed, it's nothing more than a long trunk, all but useless as a pickup bed (the whole point of a puckup bed is that you can put tall things in it and load it higher than the sides).

I'm sorry, but there is absolutely nothing the Avalanche can do that a crew-cab pickup with a full-size bed cannot do better if properly equipped with the exception of being parallel-parked.

ZV

 

[JulesMaximus]

Ugly POS. Even without the plastic cladding I think they look ridiculous.

I would look at the Toyota Tundra Double Cab. This is probably going to be my next vehicle purchase in the next 8-10 months. I've driven one and they are incredibly refined, smooth and very comfortable. Plus you get Toyota reliability!

 

[bernse]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I'm sorry, but there is absolutely nothing the Avalanche can do that a crew-cab pickup with a full-size bed cannot do better if properly equipped with the exception of being parallel-parked.

ZV

How about fit in a regular garage?
How about get better gas milage?
How about cost less than a comperably equiped crew cab?

And here is a catcher -

When is the last time you saw a 1500 (1/2) truck WITH both a crew cab and a 8 ft box? You need to go to a 2500 to get that.

Besides, even then an Avalanche actually has a slightly more than 8' box, so it's still larger than a regular box p/up and its still sealed.

 

[spamsk8r]

Ultimate suckmobile. Get a Ford.

 

[JulesMaximus]

BTW-The rear window in the Tundra DC has a power rolldown feature and also comes with an optional giant moonroof. The back seats in the new Tundra DC are the most comfortable I've sat in in a fullsize truck...and most cars for that matter.

I looked at a SR5 Double Cab 4x4 with the TRD package, moonroof and foglights. MSRP was $33k.

I drove the Nissan Titan also but I don't like the short bed on the 4 door models and the exhaust note is quite noisy in the cab. I thought the interior was too busy and the materials used felt cheap. It is also a first year model. I wouldn't buy a first year model vehicle from any manufacturer.

 

[fastz28]

Toyota Tundra Double Cab

Ugly POS.

 

[fastz28]

Originally posted by: spamsk8r
Ultimate suckmobile. Get a Ford.

Why does it suck? Why is a Ford better?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: fastz28

Toyota Tundra Double Cab

Ugly POS.

Hmm, I'd be willing to bet that you are in the minority on this.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: fastz28

Originally posted by: spamsk8r
Ultimate suckmobile. Get a Ford.

Why does it suck? Why is a Ford better?

A) Because it's a Chevy
B) It is more expensive than a regular truck
C) It is ugly as hell
D) It's a Chevy

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: bernse

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I'm sorry, but there is absolutely nothing the Avalanche can do that a crew-cab pickup with a full-size bed cannot do better if properly equipped with the exception of being parallel-parked.

ZV

How about fit in a regular garage?
How about get better gas milage?
How about cost less than a comperably equiped crew cab?

And here is a catcher -

When is the last time you saw a 1500 (1/2) truck WITH both a crew cab and a 8 ft box? You need to go to a 2500 to get that.

Besides, even then an Avalanche actually has a slightly more than 8' box, so it's still larger than a regular box p/up and its still sealed.

Who puts a truck in the garage? Trucks go in the barn or they live outside.

It gets better mileage than a diesel?

You get what you pay for.

The 1/2 ton pickups are kinda silly anyway. They generally don't have the payload to do really useful work.

My recommendations and criticisms are based on the assumption that you want a _truck_. If you want a tall car with a big trunk that's never going to haul anything substantial, the Avalanche is fine.

ZV

 

[bernse]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt Who puts a truck in the garage? Trucks go in the barn or they live outside.

It gets better mileage than a diesel?

You get what you pay for.

The 1/2 ton pickups are kinda silly anyway. They generally don't have the payload to do really useful work.

My recommendations and criticisms are based on the assumption that you want a _truck_. If you want a tall car with a big trunk that's never going to haul anything substantial, the Avalanche is fine.

ZV

I see - trucks have magical forces so they don't get broken into by thieves or stolen or somehow stay warm on their own in the winter? Besides, I have a garage - why wouldn't I want to use it? What good is a garage then?

A diesel? Sure, lets tack another $10K on the price I don't need a diesel, and neither does most other people that drive pick ups. If I was putting on 50K miles a year and routinely pulling houses off their foundations it'd be the way do go though.

A present day 1/2T can tow/haul more than 3/4 tons of previous years. It's to the point where the 1500/2500/3500 is almost more marketing than facts. To make the blanket statement that a 15x isn't useful for work is ignorant of what they're used for. You might as well say anything short of a Freightliner isn't a truck.

Besides, I need a vehicle that comfortable for my job, carry 4 grown men at times but also has to be able to carry loads maybe 10-15% of the time (big, greasy pallets that weigh upwards of 800-1000lbs). What would you suggest in the same price range?

 

[Zenmervolt]

I thought you'd said this was a second vehicle? My mistake.

Regarding the diesel, they are more efficient, last longer and run on less expensive fuel. Modern diesels also pollute less than their gasoline counterparts. That's why I prefer them.

Where do you live that you have burglary problems? I street park in Pittsburgh all the time and I've never had a problem with vandalism. If you're parking in your own driveway I can't imagine the kind of place you'd have to be living to be worried about vandalism. Back home where I grew up, we don't even have to bother to lock the doors on the cars we leave outside.

I grew up with farm trucks. That's what I think of when someone says they want a truck. A truck is an appliance, it is something that is to be stripped of luxuries and beaten on. When you said you wanted a truck, I assumed you wanted something for heavy-duty work. Modern 1/2 ton pickups are glorified cars, they are for transportation and not for heavy hauling. From what I grew up with, if it can't tow a gooseneck, it's not a truck.

As for those big, greasy pallets, will they fit without the midgate open? If you need the midgate open to haul them, you're going to love it when you stop fast and they slide forward and leave a grease mark on the back of your front seats. Or when you go around a corner and they leave a big grease mark on your rear door panels. IIRC there is nothing to keep whatever is in the bed from sliding forward when the midgate is down. Also, the Avalanche only has a 1,363 pound payload capacity. Unless you get the Avalanche 2500.

Every single Silverado 1500 gets better mileage than the Avalanche. The Avalanche starts at $32,965 for the 1500. The Silverado HD starts at $29,795.00 for a Crew Cab with a long bed.

ZV

 

[bernse]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
The Avalanche is _not_ a pickup. Neither is the Explorer SportTrack. The midgate is pointless. Like someone is really going to haul a bunch of mulch or something with the midgate down. What about the winter? Or when it's raining? Or when you want to use the A/C in the summer? In none of those situations is it a good idea to have a huge gaping hole open in the back of your truck. The midgate is actually only useful if the weather is perfect. Better off getting a crew-cab with a full-size bed if you want the practicality.

.....

The same can be done with a cargo van (or even a minivan), but that can haul tall things in the rain too. A bed that's only as tall as the sides is pointless. And if you're going to drive around with a tall cap on the bed all the time, get a van or a station wagon.

ZV

You seem to have no idea of what the midgate is used for. It's only lowered if you need to haul something longer than the regular box - so no, if your hauling a load of mulch or wood it would not be down.

And if its raining? Thats the best part. If you're hauling something like lumber, put the midgate down and the window up. It's perfectly sealed and secure. Your load is not going to get wet.

An Avalanche can haul things as "tall" as any pickup. Why in the world would you leave the "cover" on the bed if your hauling things taller than the bed? You're not making any sense. That like following your advice and buy a regular pickup and a cover. Can you then not haul anything taller than the bed in it? Of course not - YOU JUST TAKE THE COVER OFF.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: bernse

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt Who puts a truck in the garage? Trucks go in the barn or they live outside.

It gets better mileage than a diesel?

You get what you pay for.

The 1/2 ton pickups are kinda silly anyway. They generally don't have the payload to do really useful work.

My recommendations and criticisms are based on the assumption that you want a _truck_. If you want a tall car with a big trunk that's never going to haul anything substantial, the Avalanche is fine.

ZV

I see - trucks have magical forces so they don't get broken into by thieves or stolen or somehow stay warm on their own in the winter? Besides, I have a garage - why wouldn't I want to use it? What good is a garage then?

A diesel? Sure, lets tack another $10K on the price I don't need a diesel, and neither does most other people that drive pick ups. If I was putting on 50K miles a year and routinely pulling houses off their foundations it'd be the way do go though.

A present day 1/2T can tow/haul more than 3/4 tons of previous years. It's to the point where the 1500/2500/3500 is almost more marketing than facts. To make the blanket statement that a 15x isn't useful for work is ignorant of what they're used for. You might as well say anything short of a Freightliner isn't a truck.

Besides, I need a vehicle that comfortable for my job, carry 4 grown men at times but also has to be able to carry loads maybe 10-15% of the time (big, greasy pallets that weigh upwards of 800-1000lbs). What would you suggest in the same price range?

I agree with everything you say here.

Based on your needs the Tundra Double Cab would be the perfect truck for you.

BTW-The Avalanche is much more expensive than the Tundra DC. You would pay easily $5k more for a similarly equipped Ugolanche.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: bernse

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
The Avalanche is _not_ a pickup. Neither is the Explorer SportTrack. The midgate is pointless. Like someone is really going to haul a bunch of mulch or something with the midgate down. What about the winter? Or when it's raining? Or when you want to use the A/C in the summer? In none of those situations is it a good idea to have a huge gaping hole open in the back of your truck. The midgate is actually only useful if the weather is perfect. Better off getting a crew-cab with a full-size bed if you want the practicality.

.....

The same can be done with a cargo van (or even a minivan), but that can haul tall things in the rain too. A bed that's only as tall as the sides is pointless. And if you're going to drive around with a tall cap on the bed all the time, get a van or a station wagon.

ZV

You seem to have no idea of what the midgate is used for. It's only lowered if you need to haul something longer than the regular box - so no, if your hauling a load of mulch or wood it would not be down.

And if its raining? Thats the best part. If you're hauling something like lumber, put the midgate down and the window up. It's perfectly sealed and secure. Your load is not going to get wet.

An Avalanche can haul things as "tall" as any pickup. Why in the world would you leave the "cover" on the bed if your hauling things taller than the bed? You're not making any sense. That like following your advice and buy a regular pickup and a cover. Can you then not haul anything taller than the bed in it? Of course not - YOU JUST TAKE THE COVER OFF.

If you're hauling something tall, the bed is no longer an 8-foot bed, now is it? That's my point. A real pickup has the whole bed area available for hauling tall things, the Avalanche only has the shortened bed. Unless you want the midgate open with the cover off to haul taller things (up to the roof at least) for the full length of the bed while it's raining.

That's what I meant.

ZV

 

[bernse]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt I thought you'd said this was a second vehicle? My mistake.
Regarding the diesel, they are more efficient, last longer and run on less expensive fuel. Modern diesels also pollute less than their gasoline counterparts. That's why I prefer them.

You don't have to sell me on the virtues of a modern diesel - if I could justify a Duramax I would - but I can't. They cost too much. And for what I need its waaaay overkill. The folks bought a 2003 2500HD for the 5r. Its a great unit - but not what I need. [/quote]

Where do you live that you have burglary problems? I street park in Pittsburgh all the time and I've never had a problem with vandalism. If you're parking in your own driveway I can't imagine the kind of place you'd have to be living to be worried about vandalism. Back home where I grew up, we don't even have to bother to lock the doors on the cars we leave outside.

Same here - but its not 1975 anymore either. Every city has people breaking into cars.

I grew up with farm trucks. That's what I think of when someone says they want a truck. A truck is an appliance, it is something that is to be stripped of luxuries and beaten on. When you said you wanted a truck, I assumed you wanted something for heavy-duty work. Modern 1/2 ton pickups are glorified cars, they are for transportation and not for heavy hauling. From what I grew up with, if it can't tow a gooseneck, it's not a truck.

Trucks used to be like that - but incase you haven't noticed they've evolved... like cars. All cars used to have big V8s and get crappy gas milage too. I assume you'd call a 2003 Accord a car?

As for those big, greasy pallets, will they fit without the midgate open? If you need the midgate open to haul them, you're going to love it when you stop fast and they slide forward and leave a grease mark on the back of your front seats. Or when you go around a corner and they leave a big grease mark on your rear door panels. IIRC there is nothing to keep whatever is in the bed from sliding forward when the midgate is down. Also, the Avalanche only has a 1,363 pound payload capacity. Unless you get the Avalanche 2500.

Standard shipping pallets. Pallets are usually only about 2x2 or 2x3'. Why would the midgate need to be open?

Every single Silverado 1500 gets better mileage than the Avalanche.

A 1500 Avalanche with a 3.73 rear end and a 1500 Silverado with a 5.3 and 3.73 rear end should get virtually identical milage. A 2500+ p/up will not get the same. It will be worse - maybe not by much - but it will.

The Avalanche starts at $32,965 for the 1500. The Silverado HD starts at $29,795.00 for a Crew Cab with a long bed.
ZV

Yes, but, once again, they are not comperable. The Avalanche is virtually loaded. The crew cab pickup is not... and besides, like I said, a crew cab pickup wouldn't fit in my garage with a full length box.

 

[fastz28]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: fastz28

Toyota Tundra Double Cab

Ugly POS.

Hmm, I'd be willing to bet that you are in the minority on this.

Ok, prove it. Hint: Go look at the sales figure for them.

 

[fastz28]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: fastz28

Originally posted by: spamsk8r
Ultimate suckmobile. Get a Ford.

Why does it suck? Why is a Ford better?

A) Because it's a Chevy
B) It is more expensive than a regular truck
C) It is ugly as hell
D) It's a Chevy

Ok, your points taken.

A) Chevy bigot
B) Not compare to a similarly equipped truck
C) Personal opinion
D) See A

 

[fastz28]

If you're hauling something tall, the bed is no longer an 8-foot bed, now is it? That's my point. A real pickup has the whole bed area available for hauling tall things, the Avalanche only has the shortened bed. Unless you want the midgate open with the cover off to haul taller things (up to the roof at least) for the full length of the bed while it's raining.

That's what I meant.

ZV

ZV, I understand most of your points. What you are referring to is a work truck, which for most of your arguments are valid. However, the fact of the matter is, most of people, myself included, don't need a full time work truck. We use it as an everyday transportation and a towing/hauling/passenger carring vehicle.

If I need to haul crap all the time, I'd buy a Silverado Crew HD. Since I carry passengers most of the time, Avalanche is better suited for my needs.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: fastz28

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: fastz28

Originally posted by: spamsk8r
Ultimate suckmobile. Get a Ford.

Why does it suck? Why is a Ford better?

A) Because it's a Chevy
B) It is more expensive than a regular truck
C) It is ugly as hell
D) It's a Chevy

Ok, your points taken.

A) Chevy bigot
B) Not compare to a similarly equipped truck
C) Personal opinion
D) See A

You are correct. I am a chevy bigot. I don't like them because they use cheap materials (as do most GM cars and trucks) and they aren't likely to hold up well in terms of reliability and cosmetically.

This to me is the biggest reason not to buy their products. YMMV:beer:

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: fastz28

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: fastz28

Toyota Tundra Double Cab

Ugly POS.

Hmm, I'd be willing to bet that you are in the minority on this.

Ok, prove it. Hint: Go look at the sales figure for them.

What do sales figures have to do with people's opinion on the looks of a truck? Someone could think the Tundra is a great looking truck but just not be in the market for a truck. Or the truck buying public at large could just be a fiercely loyal bunch. Sales figures do nothing to prove your point.

Would you like me to create a poll? I think the poll here speaks volumes.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: bernse
Standard shipping pallets. Pallets are usually only about 2x2 or 2x3'. Why would the midgate need to be open?

That's why I asked what size. I've seen a few different sizes.

Yes, cars have gotten smaller with smaller engines (they actually are not much lighter and in many cases are heavier now). But cars are not doing heavy-duty work. Trucks still need their non-carlike construction. As far as I'm concerned the single most damning thing that can be said about it is that it is "carlike". I don't want a truck to be "carlike" any more than I want a car to be "tricycle-like" or Winton Marsalis to be "Guy Lonbardo-like".

The mileage for a Silverado 1500 with the 5.3 and the 3.73 rear end is 16/20. The mileage for the Avalanche is 13/18. It's the weight that does it.

I guess I'm just coming at this from a different angle. If I were in the market for a truck (which I will be in a couple years) I'm going to be looking for an F-350 XL with the DRW option and 4WD with no interior options, the diesel engine, and as many heavy-duty options as I could afford. Use it for plowing in the winter and as a tow vehicle in the summer. Different philosophy.

ZV