Jump to content

08 Avalanche Vs. 08 Sierra Crew Cab

C. Charles Hahn

Recommended Posts

C. Charles Hahn Senior Enthusiast

C. Charles Hahn

Posted
Posted

I'm looking at buying a new truck within the next couple of weeks, and I'm trying to decide between an Avalanche and a crew cab Sierra. The only concern I've got with the Avalanches is that the bed is about a foot less wide than the Sierra; aside from that I honestly think I like the Av better looks-wise.

 

So I'm really just looking for opinions, which would you choose and why would you choose it? I'm going to be hauling stuff in the bed (probably mostly car parts and the like, some construction materials, etc.) and it will be my daily driver (currently have an '07 Trailblazer SS which will become my weekend toy). I'll also probably put a Hiniker homeowner-type plow on it in the winter (but will dismount/remount it for each storm, just leaving brackets in place for the season).

 

The way I see it the cost would be about even; I'd get the Av with factory side steps and it already has a "bed liner" and tonneau cover, whereas I'd have to get a Sierra line-x'ed and buy side steps and a tonneau cover.

 

Thoughts? Thanks!

 

:shakehead:

Bostonsfavson Senior Enthusiast

Bostonsfavson

Posted
Posted

I'd go with the Sierra in a heart beat. I think you'll find it will be a much more useful vehicle than the Avalanche will; the fact that you're putting a plow on alone would be enough to go with the Sierra. I agree that the Avalance looks a little better, but it's not enough to outweigh the added practicality and usefulness the Sierra will provide. Good luck with your purchase :shakehead:

HawkeyeOC Senior Enthusiast

HawkeyeOC

Posted
Posted

I chose a Sierra over an AV for these reasons among others:

-better rearward visability, then later I put a cap on it and lost that advantage :shakehead:

-Front bumper and grill had chrome

-Looks more like a "truck" than the AV does

-more interior choices (two different dashes)

-no Z71 package out at the time for the AV. The one now looks awsome!

 

Unless you are hauling in the bed extremely heavy loads (the Sierra is probably more capable there) it is more of a personal preference thing. Go for the AV if you are leaning that way. It's Suburban based and its rear coils will give you a better ride.

bugmenot Enthusiast

bugmenot

Posted
Posted

Go to chevyavalanchefanclub.com and ask the same question over there ! I think that you may be more of an SUV guy ! You have a Trailblazer now ask yourself Why did I buy it ? Ask the Avi owners too !

omegafiler Senior Enthusiast

omegafiler

Posted
Posted
Even SUV guys are truck guys at heart :shakehead:

 

Yep, it's true. :fume: I'd definately consider the Avalanche for a possible future vehicle purchase, depending on my needs at the time.

dogzapper Enthusiast

dogzapper

Posted
Posted

I've owned both.

 

The Avalanche has a blind spot that is unbelieveable; truly an accident waiting to happen. Plus, it leaked like a crazy; midgate, rear floor around the seatbelts ... all KNOWN and unsolved issues. Add that to the untrucky soft suspension and I dumped this sorry excuse for a vehicle.

 

I went back to a truck and am really happy.

 

Steve

03blackz71 Senior Enthusiast

03blackz71

Posted
Posted

When I was in the market for a new truck I was looking at the avalanche and the sierra. I looked at the pros and cons of the two and I choose the sierra.

 

Avalanche down falls to me are the blindspot in the rear, Smaller bed in width and length, I haul gas tanks and stuff like that that smell so the Avy is not seperate like a bed of a truck so it would transfer into the truck. Plus the Avy has more things to go wrong with the rear window and midgate that is what always worried me.

 

I picked the sierra crew cab to have the seperate bed room seperate from the cab. The added bed room then the avy. Less of a blind sport. I love the more and more each time I drive it.

slomo007 Enthusiast

slomo007

Posted
Posted

You also have to take price difference in to consideration. When I was looking, there was about a $5k price difference between a similarly equipped avalance vs cc silverado. That's exactly why I chose the Silverado.

 

Like the looks of the Avalanche better myself, but the Silverado is still d**n sharp.

03blackz71 Senior Enthusiast

03blackz71

Posted
Posted
You also have to take price difference in to consideration. When I was looking, there was about a $5k price difference between a similarly equipped avalance vs cc silverado. That's exactly why I chose the Silverado.

 

Like the looks of the Avalanche better myself, but the Silverado is still d**n sharp.

 

 

This is another reason I got my sierra. The Avy that I wanted was 45,000 and my sierra was 35000 so for 10000++ less after dealing I got what is best for me a true pickup truck.

Tucson_02Silverado Senior Enthusiast

Tucson_02Silverado

Posted
Posted

This is an either or decision. They are different vehicles.

 

The Avalanche is a people hauler that can have cargo.

 

The Sierra is a cargo hauler that can have people.

 

I myself, am trying to keep a short list of; 'If I had to get another vehicle because the truck gets wrecked or stolen, what would I get'

 

It seems that I'm a one vehicle type person. The times I've had multiple vehicles, it seemed that I gravitated towards the daily driver, even on the weekends. When I would be 2 blocks away, it would be d@mn I should have gotten the keys to the TA or something like that.

 

I like my truck a great deal. Truth be told making my list, I don't tow but maybe once or twice a year. That tow wasn't long distance, and it was for a BobCat, so I could of had it delivered/pickedup for $100 each time. The 6.5' bed has come in handy several times, and I have an ARE shell on it so it stays dry. Would I miss a 6.5' bed in the long run............aaaa yes...........aaaa no....maybe.....aaa no.

 

My short list of replacements:

1. (They don't make it) Sierra 1500 EXT 5'8" bed 6.2L 6Speed 2wd

2. Sierra Denali 2wd

3. Avalanche

4. (haven't really seen it yet) Pontiac G8 GT, but if they put out the GXP, then it.

5. Impala SS with 5.3L (wished it wasn't FWD)

 

The Avalanche can be had from the dealers for relatively low $$$. And if you compare the Avalanche to the price of a Tahoe..... As for the blind spot in the Avalanche, it is kinda big. But you'all don't use mirrors with spots and your horn? :D

Montana Bronco Enthusiast

Montana Bronco

Posted
Posted

Like you, I had it narrowed down to 3 choices:

 

1) Avalanche

2) Tahoe/Yukon

3) Sierra/Silverado

 

All 3 are very good vehicles.

 

I choose the pickup simply because I have a yellow lab and a chocolate lab, and I put a topper on. The dogs get muddy and sloppy when out hunting. The topper is the way to go for me.

 

As far as GMC vs Chevy, I went with GMC only because the local salesman was nicer and cut a better deal.

2000DV4.8 Senior Enthusiast

2000DV4.8

Posted
Posted

Personally, I'd go with the Sierra, since it has the leaf sprung rear suspension as opposed to coils, so it'll handle the heavier loads better.

C. Charles Hahn Senior Enthusiast

C. Charles Hahn

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Even SUV guys are truck guys at heart :crackup:

 

:D I've always loved trucks!

 

Now if I'd said I currently drive some horrendous crossover like an Acadia...... :crackup:

 

 

These are some interesting points about the bed of the av not being separate from the cab; I guess I always thought there were seals there that would keep out any smell. The "blind spots" in the Av are a bit of a concern, but I didn't mind them all THAT much. Probably would mind them more once I'm using a snow plow and trying not to hit anything, though....

 

Either way, I've got some thinking to do. :D

 

I'm planning to drop a magnacharger on my TBSS once I get the DD established, so I doubt I'll have a problem gravitating to it for weekends :lol:

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • fondupot
      Exhaust heat while towing!

      By fondupot · Posted

      You can install tailpipes that direct the exhaust sideways vs the OEM one that goes straight back. There are several on the market, do you own research. HOWEVER, you need to make sure the Venturi vents are still intact, otherwise it will throw a engine code. There is a sensor somewhere that detects back pressure on the exhaust. And if it doesn't collect the correct metrics, it will throw the truck into limp mode. 
    • Atlas
      Wow I'm in a pickle. (Broke down truck) and a story.

      By Atlas · Posted

      "Teardown" is complete. Head surfaces are clean and ready, new intake is prepped and ready. Coolant drained and water pump is removed, radiator is removed, new hoses and pump are ready.   The replacement intake is also from a '95 (with I think 260k, the odometer said). Noticeably less pitting where it covers the rear coolant passages. I'm not sure if that's a tribute to more frequent use, more frequent coolant changes/upkeep, or if the intake was machined at some point. But it appears I found a good one.   My coolant hoses were original, and the lower hose still retained the factory spring inside. It's not really rusty, but it's got deposits all over it. Unsure if I should re-install it (will thoroughly clean it first). Someone said hose technology has gotten better since 1995 (has it?) and I don't need the spring. I think modern EPDM is what made those hoses last from 1995-2026, so it's a question of how much suction can the water pump really pull, and will it collapse the hose without a spring?   I'm stopped and waiting for parts, however.   When I first brought the truck home, the fan was intermittently hitting the radiator shroud. I could see someone had monkeyed with the shroud (put a bunch of cardboard as a spacer between the upper/lower shroud halves. Someone said the motor mounts have likely failed and the engine has sagged. I wasn't sure I believed that. The engine is really solid in its mounts: To remove the old intake I *just* nearly permanently welded to the heads with freshly cured RTV and gasket snot two weeks ago, I literally had to use the arms on my lift and a chain with a bolt attached to the intake to pull it loose. It almost picked the front of the truck off the ground before ....scuuuuuuuuuuup.... I could actually hear the gaskets tearing and it broke loose and the whole truck settled back down. Motor barely moved.   SO, those parts I'm waiting on... The lower radiator mounts/bushings had completely failed. The radiator needs to be insulated from the rad support, and the bushings help the rad stand at the correct height. The plastic "baffle" was also destroyed at some point. Someone had attached the shroud to it incorrectly, overlapping a joint that should have been underlapped, creating another suspect issue potentially causing things to hit the fan. Broken tabs, side is busted off, and it's perma-formed/bent where it was jimmied incorrectly.   The baffle? Unobtainum. Long since discontinued from GM, of course. Aftermarket/capa/chinese? Also unobtanium. In GM's infinite wisdom, it appears there are at least two different variations whether the Blazer is 2 or 4 door, and I can't yet tell if they shared the same part with the S-pickups. Plan B, if I can't find a viable used one, will be to create a bracket to re-assemble the critical joint I need to seal a gap with the shroud. But that will bug me, it won't be...perfect.   The water pump bolts appear to have been installed with...plumber's putty. I guess, sure, if it works...? I've found a few "backyard fixes" like that. Someone's been here before....   If I can't find someone to jam bamboo under my fingernails to fill my free time this week I think I'll install the driver's power window motor and replace the rear door speaker that's inop. I've got a genuine GM "9.5" ohm working replacement. Why GM used a non-standard resistance....nevermind. Of course they did, you can get more sound from a cheap factory amp that way.   And the saga goes on...
    • glenn27
      Different requirements for oil filters?

      By glenn27 · Posted

      // Thank you, also for your  response. More information is always good. This 2013 GMC is most likely my 'forever truck"-I'm 77 and retired...and truck only has 42K on it-very clean-so I try to keep it that way.  Tks again for your  response- glenn
    • smooth68
      Alternate wiring for Kicker sub with Bose system. (DO THIS)

      By smooth68 · Posted

      I started my install this weekend. Everything was pretty straight forward but I ran into one issue with running power through the firewall. The nipple grommet on my High Country already has a small harness running through it - has anyone else ran into this issue? And on the engine bay side, does the wire basically just penetrate the factory wiring boot? I did this on my '22 Trail Boss and it seems much easier but thats been a few years. My other thought would be possibly drilling a new hole adding a rubber grommet just to the lower left of the factory hole. Thoughts?   Has anyone used a T-harness off the Bose amp and obtained power from there? It seems a little odd that such a small amp needs 3 power leads
    • glenn27
      Different requirements for oil filters?

      By glenn27 · Posted

      ///// Ok--Thanks for that info--I could not find yesterday when I looked for the specs on that NAPA filter what I wanted. Their website is not very user friendly. I buy all teh filters for  our three vehicles once or twice a year. Have always run NAPA Gold on everything I own....I buy it thru my Son's account for his business-which he has a Heavy Equipment repair shop-one reason he uses NAPA so much-they have such a full line of coverage for just about anything/anywhere- He gets s  good discount because of volume bought. Anyway-Thank you -Sir for your response.   glenn

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...