econometrics

yeah, I don't get who does R&D on new vehicle seats these days. I thought it was just a GM trucks issue, but we just bought a new Chrysler Pacifica Limited with the upgraded "Nappa leather" seats, and they aren't much more plush than my T1. And I've been in some other new vehicles lately, too, and the seats seem to have all gotten firmer. I guess the brainiacs in Michigan know better than us common folk...

It really is smaller. The butt cushion is sort of short, and it's angled UP towards the steering column. It's hard to point it more horizontal. For me, this is the most uncomfortable part of the seat, as it does cut into your hamstrings and slow circulation. I'm 5'10", 155#, not-yet-40 and in good shape. Yet the seat does get to me on longer trips. I have to re-position a lot. But like you, Grumps, I've gotten used to it for the most part.

You saw this clearly with TFL’s long term TB. Roman didn’t like the interior when they first put it in service, but after owning it like 12K miles (or more), it was one of their favorite vehicles in recent memory. For that very reason - it did everything they asked of it without ONE issue.

I think that is definitely what makes buying a new truck hard these days. All the major players have quality products with each having their own benefits over the others. It would be easier if it was still pre-2010, when brand loyalty was much cleaner to uphold because the trucks were mostly the same save reliability and style.

Yeah, I’ve been seeing more and more TBs and AT4s around with the Territory tires lately. They look much better.

We just got a new 2021 Pacifica Limited for my wife. It is the first FCA model to get the new Uconnect 5 in the 10.1” screen. It has some great features - split screen, tons of customization on a Home Screen, etc. The nav is just as good as the wireless CarPlay options. But man, getting back into my T1 really is nice. GM really made their infotainment advanced, but SO easy to use. Do I wish I could customize it a little more like the Uconnect system? Sure. But I don’t know that I would trade away just how user friendly it is. Oh, and the GM camera quality is still much better, too. Just some real world input for you to consider as you evaluate what’s best for you.

And, as much as I’m looking forward to a larger GM infotainment screen… the F150 is just too big. It completely overwhelms the whole cab. I rode in my friend’s Platinum and it almost looked circus-like odd and out of place. The fully digital dash and power on board are the only things I think Ford did well on the new F150. Like you said, @OnTheReel, everything else is largely just copy+paste.

Awesome set up, @Robert Peters! I love the vision for the thread, too. Looking forward to seeing everyone's set ups. Been thinking of taking this leap myself.

You seem to think GM is the only car manufacturer that isn't cutting edge with tech and interiors. Go drive a 2021/2022 Honda or Toyota. We just did a minivan upgrade and the Odysseys were laughably behind the Chrysler Pacifica that we bought. Plus, tech and interior options are very subjective. I think GM has some great options for tech that the others still struggle to have (rear view camera mirror, HUD, 360 camera that is miles ahead of Dodge/Ford).

In the words of Lee Corso... not so fast! (and not surprising)

2019 RST Z71 with the GMPE. Built Feb 2019, bought March 2019. 16K on it.

Vroom offered me $48,500 for my 2019 RST Z71 with 15K on it last week. I bought it for $43K. Lol I really do get the logic of selling your truck right now to put a little cash in your pocket... but like @Donstar says, it's hard to think of driving anything else... even just for a "short" period of time (like a year). Just make sure you add up all the transaction costs of flipping cars. Sales tax will take a hit out of the cash you put into your pocket, and pull back out when you transact in / out of your truck. (ETA: just checked with Carvana for giggles... $39K. WTH?! They just gave me $12,500 for my wife's 2013 Odyssey with 100K on it... which we bought 3 years ago with 70K for $16,500.)

This would be cool. Teslas do it, so why not? I'm sure it's a minimal tech upgrade on the hardware.

Duct tape them?

Welcome to the forum. Great looking truck! I hope you enjoy it a lot!

Bingo. That's really all it would take. Look at all the stuff Ford is rolling out with... power on board, the ability now to roughly weigh your payload in the truck... cool stuff! We just bought a 2021 Pacifica Hybrid Limited last week. I have to say... the interior of that thing is top notch. The new Uconnect 5 is incredible, and the pano sunroof with the sunroof over the 3rd row is awesome. HOWEVER... after getting back into my 2019 Silverado, I do have to say that my beef with GM and their smaller infotainment screen and "boring" interior subsided. As much as I love the new van's interior, it makes me appreciate the simplicity of my Silverado. It's actually way quicker to use and understand. So I guess I'm more firmly in the "it's a truck" camp after buying the new FCA vehicle. BUT... I do agree with OnTheReel... I hope the 2022 refreshes include some tech and features that are keeping up with the great things FCA and Ford are doing.

$40K for a 2016 truck... wow. Nicely played!

Nice! And good thing it is in-transit to you... vs being on a lot when all that hail came thru the other night. I wonder how many dealers got dealt a blow with that storm? What a mess... having an already skeletal inventory, then having the few cars you can sell left getting walloped by tennis-ball hail.

Because people saved a ton of money during the pandemic, and then Uncle Sam sent us all more. Now, everyone is in the mood to spend. And since the inventories are thinning daily, it adds that "buyer's rush" psychology into the equation... where you operate under the thinking that "man, if I don't lock this in, the line of people down the street are going to beat me to it." It's the same in the housing markets around the US right now. Short supply + eager buyers with a lot of saved up cash + competitive "play to win" buyer psychology = run-up on prices.

Here's the thing... even waiting on pre-ordering a 2022 isn't really going to help you if you want a truck NOW and are willing to order a 2021. Most are saying this chip shortage is going to crimp production well INTO 2022. If you want something in the near future, you better hunt it down on a lot somewhere and lock it in at whatever price you can. We just bought a 2021 Pacifica Hybrid, and I found the last one within 700 miles of me in DFW. Thankfully, I still got good incentives on it. The FCA dealer I bought it from said they've started sending flatbed trucks north into the midwest to buy up new & used cars and drag them down to TX to sell them off to their increasing list of buyers who want something NOW. So even if GM does not delay the 2022 refreshes, I really do not see the current production issues making it "easier" to get one vs. a 2021 right now. $0.02.

Vroom offered me $48K on my 2019 Z71 RST last week. 15K miles. Stickered at $54K and I bought it for $43K in March 2019. Then they emailed me three days later and increased it to $48,900. As enticing as it is, there's nothing I could turn around and buy that would make the deal worth it right now.

Had 40 in the back of my CC SB today, with room for some more as you can see. She was riding pretty low, though...

Great looking rides there! Nice job blacking out the Z71 on both.

Wow. What a wild ride this past year has been.

Yeah the GM Performance catback (aka Borla Touring) is the way to go here. I've had it about 8 months on my 2019 5.3L RST. It is perfect for someone who wants some growl on demand (aka right foot down), but cruises quietly.