Tried To Buy A New Suburban

[dbdave]

Found a 2008 3/4 Suburban that I was going to trade my 2001 3/4 ton for but after seeing the design of the interior and the seat arrangement, I cancelled the deal. I use my Suburban for heavy towing and hauling, more of a cargo vehicle than a people hauler. I can put lots of stuff inside out of the weather and the vehicle has been just great for what I do. I've also owned a '93 and a '96 that suited my needs perfectly. It was time for me to update.

 

Thanks to whoever changed the design of how the seats either remove (3rd seat) or fold up (2nd row) for cargo hauling, they have significantly decreased the useability of the vehicle for cargo hauling. It is now more of a people hauler. In the previous Suburbans, with the second row seats folded and the third row removed, the floor was flat and long enough to haul a 4x8 sheet of plywood inside the vehicle. Not any longer. The plywood could only fit inside the vehicle if it was put on top of the folded seats and supported at the rear so it wouldn't flop up and down. With the second row seats folded and the third row removed, there is now only 7' of floor space since the seats now fold and roll and are a foot thicker than they used to be when folded. In addition. the folded seat now almost totally blocks the side door opening so even if a box can be fit through the door it will not be able to be put in the vehicle because the seat is now in the way.

 

One other thing that was objectionable to me was they raised the hitch receiver up about 10" from the level it used to be so I would had to have adjusted the hitch ball height for all the trailers I tow. Not a deal breaker but just something that I didn't like.

 

This seating arrangement totally screwed up my plans to replace my current Suburban. The new vehicle was a great vehicle in so many other ways and to have this seating arrangement get in the way of how I use the vehicle the most was quite disappointing. GM lost the sale of a $53,000 vehicle due to the redesign at a time when these vehicles are not selling too well.

 

If your plans for a new Suburban include carrying cargo, make sure you look at how the seats fold before you buy it. Until they redesign it back to where it's useful for cargo, they've lost me as a customer. I'm very disappointed.

[Zembonez]

I can understand your frustration but the vast majority of New Suburban buyers don't use theirs for cargo, so GM didn't consider it an issue when redesigning. The "Upmarket" movement of the Suburban Yukon twins left a few folks like yourself out. Prices have also gone through the roof. My Dad owns a small Farm/Ranch setup in Texas and uses a Suburban as a truck. I'm sure he will be in the same boat as you when he needs to upgrade. {personally I believe the giant SUV is going the way of the dinosaurs soon... unless we get some surprise relief from OPEC.

[sonjaab]

Well then...........have fun with your new toyota!

[slomo007]

I can understand your frustration but the vast majority of New Suburban buyers don't use theirs for cargo, so GM didn't consider it an issue when redesigning. The "Upmarket" movement of the Suburban Yukon twins left a few folks like yourself out. Prices have also gone through the roof. My Dad owns a small Farm/Ranch setup in Texas and uses a Suburban as a truck. I'm sure he will be in the same boat as you when he needs to upgrade. {personally I believe the giant SUV is going the way of the dinosaurs soon... unless we get some surprise relief from OPEC.

 

I couldn't agree more, GM definitely didn't design the suburban for hauling cargo. It's now a people hauler. Like it or not, that's just what it is. Complaining about it really won't do any good.

[carneyman]

Well then...........have fun with your new toyota!

 

He never said he was getting a toy. They don't make anything like a suburban. Now ford on the other hand...

[svensk]

Do they still make a 3/4 Avalanche? You could check one of those out.

[my07silvy]

Yeah why not just get a Z71 Avalanche with the 6.0 in it! Those are sweet trucks. I'd buy one if I had the extra cash

[Silverado4x4]

His 1st post and he comes off with something like this.

[HawkeyeOC]

May I suggest one of these? Good tow ratings, lots of seats. Some people even put cargo in them!

Sure it doesn't have the coolness factor but it works!

[pennzoil29]

May I suggest one of these? Good tow ratings, lots of seats. Some people even put cargo in them!

Sure it doesn't have the coolness factor but it works!

[yukondan]

Some times you question weather the general has lost touch with the working man. Non-functional design elements. Glitz still moves iron to the average mass of people that just want to up their neighbor.

 

Personally, I don't like the new body style. Thats why I have stayed with the '01 Yukon I have. Now perhaps i should look for a low millage '06 and plan on keeping it for ever.

 

$ 53 K Thats just plain wacko for a work truck people hauler (or for just about any vehicle). I have bought to many NEW vehicles in my life, I think I will stick with Low Millage Pre-owned for a while longer.

 

Someone mentioned Toyota, The new Sequoia is a head turner, It looks better than the tundra. But I like so support the General.

[98ckdriver]

$53K....dont forget $4000 dealer discount and $4000 in rebates equates to a $45K vehicle......I rememebred back in 96 a fully loaded LT Suburban had a sticker of $36K with very little dealer discount and rebate cause they were hard to come by......So GM lost a $27K sale cause that is near the cost to produce the vehicle and the dealer lost his 3% holdback.....unfortunately things change and we have to adjust to things and find new ways to utilize new equipment for old uses....just my $.02......

 

 

 

by the way...great site from a manager for a Chevy dealer for the past 13 years....

[jrrod2004]

Some times you question weather the general has lost touch with the working man. Non-functional design elements. Glitz still moves iron to the average mass of people that just want to up their neighbor.

 

Personally, I don't like the new body style. Thats why I have stayed with the '01 Yukon I have. Now perhaps i should look for a low millage '06 and plan on keeping it for ever.

 

$ 53 K Thats just plain wacko for a work truck people hauler (or for just about any vehicle). I have bought to many NEW vehicles in my life, I think I will stick with Low Millage Pre-owned for a while longer.

 

Someone mentioned Toyota, The new Sequoia is a head turner, It looks better than the tundra. But I like so support the General.

 

 

Now that is a nice Yukon....one of the cleaner ones that I have seen in a while

[jrrod2004]

$53K....dont forget $4000 dealer discount and $4000 in rebates equates to a $45K vehicle......I rememebred back in 96 a fully loaded LT Suburban had a sticker of $36K with very little dealer discount and rebate cause they were hard to come by......So GM lost a $27K sale cause that is near the cost to produce the vehicle and the dealer lost his 3% holdback.....unfortunately things change and we have to adjust to things and find new ways to utilize new equipment for old uses....just my $.02......

 

 

 

by the way...great site from a manager for a Chevy dealer for the past 13 years....

 

Welcome to the site......................

[Nick The Great]

Boy, if I wanted to tow and haul out of the rain I'd buy a 3/4 Ton truck and a topper . . .