Tell my why I don't want an Avalanche...
 

...other than the fact that they are ugly. I see beginning in '05 they lost the awful side/door rocker trim. That helped a little. Still has that useless business on the bed. I hear removing that stuff really leaves a mess of holes and fasteners.

But, the idea behind the thing isn't bad in that it's a car/truck capable of hauling sacks of manure or whatever w/o messing up the interior of an SUV. E.g, you can hose it out.

I'm having a hell of a time locating a used truck for any kind of value. PU's are freaking gold right now. I think pound for pound (looking at that many ways, towing etc.), I can buy an Avalanche for half the money.

Is it that ugly?? Do I lose my man card? (Don't give a fook about that anyhow.)

Then there's the Honda Ridgeline. Somehow I ain't warming to a Honda.

I just don't see what would make one better than a super crew cab pickup truck.

Looks like some people have figured out how to paint out the sail panels smooth and shiny.


https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...AaTeCD3Y49ci0l

Did you read the part about price?

I had a 2002 until the first of the year, I loved it and it gave very good service, great traveling with 4 adults because of the huge trunk, if you occasionally need an 8foot bed you can drop the back window etc. I would not reccomend if you need an 8foot bed every day however. I would have bought another one but the little woman wanted seating for seven and I have two Tacomas already.

I guess GM let the Pontiac Aztek designers have a final fling. Just get a regular crew cab...

Avalanches are unibodies - and they are a lot nicer on the butt than a crew cab...

Ridgelines - well, as the guys in the shop used the say "they just have that 'delicate' suspension problem".... don't tow with them - or do any other truck stuff with them...

You'd only look more like a douchebag in a Hummer H2....

Good information. I didn't know about the unibody. I'm kind of a body-on-frame-RWD guy. Please tell me the Avalanche isn't a FWD. I would give up my MC if that were that case.

BTW, if you folks want to talk about trucks, I don't necessarily want a 4-door crew cab. But, I've never had anything behind me but a window. The extra room of the ext cab looks nice plus it will haul some people if necessary.

I don't have company much in my vehicle.

I might agree, but if I WANTED an H2, I'd buy one. Really don't give a fook about what others are thinking.

Well, RWD or 4WD... smile - manly enough...

They sell those at Pep Boys, right? ;)


Iffn you can get past the looks they're good trucks.

Don't see the issue here.

It was my impression that the Avalanche is what you get when you cross a Tahoe with a Silverado.

Both quality American iron.

Basically a 3rd body option on a proven platform.

Love my Tahoe.

I have a friend who *LOVES* the looks of the Avalanche. It's his dream vehicle, right next to the BMW X6 M. He has not stopped gushing over those vehicles for the past 5 years that I've known him. He's also a big fan of the Honda Crosstour, Toyota Yaris (his current car), BMW 6-series (especially the new model), and just about the entire Kia lineup: Soul, Optima, and Sportage.

This is probably accurate. If you need a pick-up, the crew cab is the better choice.

Zeke, seriously move your search inland and you'll be able to get a crew cab truck...

My ex g/fs mom had an avalanche and I wasn't that impressed. The way the rear seat folds down means its pretty crappy as a seat, and the bed really isn't that useful as a bed either. I think a tahoe would honestly be more workable than it. To me it always felt like it tried so hard to be good at too many things, and it ended up being just mediocre at all of them. Seriously, a crew cab pickup will be better for hauling stuff, and our '05 has a more comfortable back seat than the avalanche I think.

I think they look decent, they're just a bit useless as a truck or as an SUV....

Avalanches are NOT unibody vehicles. It's body on frame. Think of it as a Suburban with the roof cut off, which is basically what it is. Honda Ridgeline is a front wheel drive unibody vehicle. Avalanche came in 1/2 ton and 3/4 builds and tows just like any other Chevy truck.

I think the early ones are uglier than man a$$. The later ones I don't mind. I've been in and out of enough of them that I can see the appeal for a certain person. If it fits your needs go for it.

FWIW my 'truck' is a 2004 Expedition. I want the lockable storage space and have the regular need to seat seven. If I need a pick up bed I hook up my trailer. That being said there are plenty of times when I wish for a pick up so I could just toss crap in the back and hose it out later. -J

Was he dropped on his head as a baby by chance? Or maybe even as an adult... I'll give him that some of those are decent looking... But..... :rolleyes:

Joe Bob: "Shut up, Sid."

If beauty is in the eye of the beholder then all I see is ugly. Yes crew cab etc looks better. Don't forget you have to look at it every day if you take it out but perhaps you see beauty!

Hey... You asked what we thought of the Avalanche, and I gave you an honest opinion based on facts from having driven, ridden in, and worked on one vs the '05 Crew cab my dad has...

But I forget... nobody around here wants facts... :rolleyes:

Sorry there, Sid. All I saw was the "Was he dropped on his head as a baby?" post. Your post #14 did contain some useful information. Other than that, I thought the Joe Bob comment was funny.

How far inland? I've even checked Bakersfield, but I don't want a farm truck. ;)

I'm with Sid, move your search a few states East and you'll find a ton of trucks. Just like I rarely find Porsches in KS.

The burning question though - why would you buy a crew cab if you don't need a crew cab? Crew cabs are easily 50% more than the same truck in an extended cab, and quite frankly you can haul adults in most 1/2 ton extended cab trucks. The newer ones even have rear hinged doors for easier entry and exit. I had a 2000 Chevy Silverado extended cab that I frequently carried adults in the back of. You can also get a real bed on an extended cab to actually haul stuff. You didn't mention desired features and price range, but around here you can get a perfectly decent extended cab 2wd PU for $5k. The more you spend the more you get.

:)Makes me think of the line from "Sid and Nancy"

How many tribal armband tattoos does he have? :D

Matt, please read post #8.

I'll come back later. My load times have become unbearable. When this happens, I go over to the Garage Journal which never fails to be quick. Never.

I have to agree with this.

I traded in my 2008 Silverado Crew Cab 6.0 Max truck on a 2013 Avalanche four months ago. I love the Avalanche. Much more comfortable than the Silverado, more features and better looking. The back seat does not fold up like the PU so you lose come storage there, plus the bed is a little smaller. It's nice to have the bed rail lockable storage and the lockable bed with hard cover. Over all I could not be happier. The only draw back is the lack of power....If they still made the 2500 Avalanche it would be a beast.

I don't see anything wrong with the Avalanche if it works for you..

However you will have to figure into the price the upgrade to 22 inch dubs and dual 15" subs with 50K watt amp

;)

If a Chevy makes your sticker peck out....then go for it!

No, no, it's the other way 'round. I get a $12K truck with 5K worth of wheels and tires which I dump for 2500. I hit the tire store for some 'take offs' that run me half of the price of the tires alone. Often times these are brand new tires.

Then I sell the subs and enclosure along with the amp if it got left. On repos, it's all there. Looked at some repos yesterday. Gotta have an insider for the auction, though.

I don't really have much to offer here, other than that I have a customer with an earlier 2500 Avalanche, that came with the 8.1. I never knew they existed until I saw his.

Ummmm, ok. So why do you need an Avalanche?

LOL, now you need to read post #3. Price is all that is in consideration here. Again, trucks are scarce. They sell in hours if priced right. I'm not buying a new truck even if Chevy is giving $9000 off this weekend.

Again... Trucks are only scarce out there.... Here they multiply like rabbits....

True but then you have the cost and hassle of bringing in a non CA smogged vehicle.

i say find a good Bronco

I would say look where the trucks are, but that would make them *sniff* "farm trucks" (sneeeer).

I'm not real keen on the original Avalanche body style. The newer one I like as it looks like the new Tahoe body with a bed. The original is a little odd looking in my opinion. I had an employee that had the original body style that I drove on several occasions. I must say it rode nice and had good power. My issue would be gas mileage. But if you were buying a truck any way I am sure mileage is similar so that would be a non issue.

I assume you are looking at this as a work vehicle? If I am correct the bed size and height may be a bit of an issue. I don't think it is a full size bed in width or length and a bit higher off the ground than a pick up. So chances are you are not hauling sheets of plywood or any lumber over 8 foot in it. However that could be over come with a utility trailer.

I used to think they were just another GM abomination but my SIL (now on his 2nd Avalanche) has me convinced (as he is) that you can't beat one for a second family vehicle:

Bed isn't that big but you can haul stuff no SUV can touch (i.e. a 500# / 5 ft tall smoker for one example among many)

It rides much better than my F150 ever thought about.

When they go on vacation, etc. the 11 and 6 year olds go in the back seat. All the luggage, beach stuff, and everything else goes in the bed. No worries about it getting wet or blowing out and no one knows if anything is back there or not. You can go in and eat and not worry about somebody stealing your stuff out of the bed.

He has an extension for the receiver hitch that one end of his canoe rests on and can easily haul the canoe and all the gear other gear for a camping trip in it.

For his purposes, much better than any standard pickup or SUV.

YMMV

The nice thing about an Avalanche is that it is so homely, no one will steal it. Man card... Revoked! :p

Seriously though, I run a fleet of pickup trucks and buy most used in VG condition. You can get a lot of V8 truck for $10K in Calif. If you are thinking $3K, maybe Avalanche is the only reasonable choice. I currently drive a 2005 Silverado with 150K on it and the truck runs and drives great. We get em dirty, spill stuff, get dents in the bed and rails and I don't lose sleep over a shiny new $30K truck being abused by my crew.

Most everything I'm looking at is 50 state.

If I was more of a Ford guy, I could get behind a '96 Eddie Bauer or XLT.

However, I think the whole pick up genre really started to be more comfortable while still maintaining the ability of a truck beginning in 2000. Ford may have crossed that threshold in the late 90's.