2005 SUV Impressions/Test Drive

Tucson_02Silverado · March 31, 2005

A friend of mine is looking for something a little bigger than his 02 Dakota Quad, baby, gear and no tonneau cover. He is looking between the Tahoe, Suburban and Avalanche.

Tahoe now has a optional third seat and optional quad buckets ???? like the Suburban. Basically no room behind the third seat. Didn't go a test drive.

Suburban, didn't quite look at it. My friend was kinda trying to avoid going big.

Avalanche, yes it's the same size exterior as the Suburban, but the appeal was the convertible back. 5.3L Z71. Exhaust sound a bit gutsy especially compared with my quiet 02 5.3L ECSB. Very quiet interior, no exhaust resonate. 5-Link rear definitely smooths the ride. This one seemed to haul pretty quickly compared with my 02 ECSB. I was in the back seat, but didn't notice TQM interferring with the acceleration

Elwood 2000 · March 31, 2005

If I am not mistaken, the Avy sits on the Burban chasis.

I dunno, I would think that over time, the rear window "system" would start to leak air and/or water at some point after the rattling begins. Great idea, I am just unsure about long term use.

I would do a Burban. I have an '04 and it is great!

PELICAN · March 31, 2005

Just my 2 cents worth. the avy seems to have a smaller back window then a regular truck which I really do not care for. If the choice was between a burban and and avy, I would go with the burban.

dogzapper · March 31, 2005

I had a 2002 - 2500 Avalanche and took a financial bath on it. Owned it for about a year and just couldn't live with the unbelieveably restricted rear and rear-right view. In almost fifty years of driving, I've NEVER had an accident and have never had a ticket. I was going to have an accident in the Avy, I just couldn't see traffic merging on the right or clear myself when passing.

Sooo, I would highly suggest the Suburban. We're driving a 2004 Tahoe now (just a slightly shortened Suburban) and the visibility is superb. I've owned several Suburbans in the past and they are never, ever a mistake. Wonderful rig.

Steve

Supurban · March 31, 2005

Suburban with a liftgate is a lot more practical than an Avalanche. At least you can stand under the open gate while pulling out the stroller

If the third row is not a necessity, then a Tahoe with the 1st and 2nd row is fine. But since the baby/babies usually mean grandparents are visiting, the Suburban is a better fit for us.

When they go for a test drive, they should try loading their baby gear to get a feel of which vehicle's space is most usuable.

This is what I usually have to haul around - the stroller is a doozy.

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Wingnut · March 31, 2005

You can fit quite a bit of crap behind the third seat in a Tahoe. Maybe say...One kids worth of crap. Any more little people, and you need to either remove the seat, or get a SuBurpin'. Or in my case...I could get two twelve inch subs and a couple of amps back there.

I don't see an Avalance with the same motor as a ECSB Z71 being faster unless it has 4:10 gears, and the pickup has 3:73s and bigger tires...Or something along those lines.

carguru · March 31, 2005

Although we didn't buy our Tahoe to haul around that much stuff or folks (yet). It has not been too bad for the way we use it. It is usually the 2 of us and 1 dog. Occasionally we have 4 to 5 people in it, but it is not often.

With the third row in place, you have enough cargo room for 2 regular stollers and 2 large backpacks and still be able to haul around 7 people. However, the 3 across the third row, will not be comfortable for a longer trip.

If more than 5 folks on a long trip, I'd suggest breaking down and getting the 'burb. What we have found through trial and error is 5 adults and luggage with one of the back row seats folded up is about the max you'll be able to fit inside the Tahoe comfortably without loading external cargo boxes. 'burb would be able to swallow that up nicely and then some.

97whitez71 · March 31, 2005

Suburban with a liftgate is a lot more practical than an Avalanche. At least you can stand under the open gate while pulling out the stroller

If the third row is not a necessity, then a Tahoe with the 1st and 2nd row is fine. But since the baby/babies usually mean grandparents are visiting, the Suburban is a better fit for us.

When they go for a test drive, they should try loading their baby gear to get a feel of which vehicle's space is most usuable.

This is what I usually have to haul around - the stroller is a doozy.

]

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I'm with you. I have a 4 year old and 1 year old twins. The suburban is the only way to go.

Greg · April 1, 2005

All three are great vehicles. I had an Avalanche and hated the rear visibility and difficulty accessing the bed. I got a bed slide for the back and should have gotten a rear camera or some type of backup aid. Avs can be bought fairly cheaply, just don't plan on trading it anytime soon .

USA1Fan · April 1, 2005

No real advice on which to get. A lot depends on what your friend needs to do with it and how he's going to be using it. If he needs a truck bed the Avalanche is a good choice. If not, it is the same exact length (and wheelbase) as the Suburban anyway. So turning down the Suburban because of size while seriously considering the Avalanche sounds a bit funny.

I don't see an Avalance with the same motor as a ECSB Z71 being faster unless it has 4:10 gears, and the pickup has 3:73s and bigger tires...Or something along those lines.

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I tried out a 2004 Avalanche Z-71 w/5.3l & 3.73 the same exact day that I first tried out the Z-71 Silverado (same drivetrain as the Ave', including gearing). I can completely agree with the opinion that the Avalanche is quieter, rides better, and at least feels faster than the Silverado. It was one of the things I commented on to my wife after trying it out. (We tried out the truck first)

In my situation it turned out to be around $2k cheaper to get the Silverado that had several options up on the Avalanche. I judged the $2k + options to be worth more to me than the more powerful feeling, quieter interior, and smoother ride that the Avalanche was providing. (Kinda sucks in retrospect, because come December or January I could've got a similarly equipped Ave' for the same or less than the truck. )

But I DO love my Silverado.

melbertbloosfan · April 1, 2005

Having both the Tahoe and the Avalanche, I will weigh in.

Av is smooooooth, every bit a smooth riding as our Tahoe. Both share basically the same coil/t-bar suspension, but with the added wheelbase and weight, the Av maybe rides a bit smoother.

Both trucks are 5.3L w/3.73 G80 rear gears. Both are 2WD. Tahoe is quicker.

Having a 4yr old and a 5 yr old, I can attest you can fit a huge amount of crap in the back of the Avalanche. Then you can lock it up. I have also hauled a full size sofa and the love seat (in one trip) in the Avalanche. The Tahoe is great for the four of us, we generally leave the rear seats up and there is beaucoup room back there.

My Lanche is getting about 2 MPG's better than the Tahoe. I think this is due to my wifes, ahem, aggresive driving habits.

Both are very quiet and very comfortable. The avalanche is a good two feet longer than the tahoe but both fit in our oversized garage with ease. Rear visibility does suck with the avy, but you adjust.

Option for option, you can get a crew cab cheaper than either one. Just food for thought.

Both nice trucks - really comes down to how many people you might need to haul. I didn't want to decide, so we got both.