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2 or 4 wheel drive? in New York

G

GMC

Full Member
Joined
May 10, 2004
Messages
9
I am very close to purchasing an Avalanche and I am undecided as whether I really need 4 whel drive. Yes I live in NY (long Island) so the snow is definatley a concern, but the Z66 package comes with the locking rear. So essentially I will have a heavy truck with 2 wheels drive when needed. I will most likely never go off road. Will the Z66 with locking rear get through the snow ok? Or am I kidding myslef and go with the Z71? I am not sure if the added cost and complexity is worth it for my needs. Any one with the 2 wheel drives Av have experience with driving in snow?

Price is an issue so I will eiter go:

Z71 with no sun and sound or leather
Z66 with sun and sound and leather

Thanks,


Gary
 
Heres what I did to make my choice... If you have even the smallest question that the 2wd will do what you it need to do, get the 4x4! I short changed myself on my two previous trucks and got 2wd's and I hated them for that... I use my Autotrac 4x4 mode when ever it rains and it has saved me from a few close calls... Go with the 4x4, you'll love having it. (y)
 
I agree on 4wd with Autotrac. I turn it on when it rain or if the weather gets bad on the streets. Just at the stop lights it's worth it. Autotrac activated yesterday during the rain while I was getting on I-135(SOB Expressway) so it def. helps. My s10 was a standard 4wd and had to take it out of 4wd when I turned on the streets. I think the EPA rating is only 1mpg better than the 4wd version.

Also it's going to be pretty rare to find a dealer stocking 2wd here so you would probably have to special order one. But I think Performance Chevy in Levitown has/had a Z66 in stock though. I did not like their sales so I don't know anything more about them.

Good Luck,
Con
 
I read in an issue of Motor Trend once that the MPG rating for 4x4's goes like this: 2wd use 80% of the time 4wd use 20% of the time... So, in the real world the 4x4 should really only be 1mpg worse due to the extra weight and drive line friction... The sticker on mine said like 14 city/18 highway but, I get 17-18mpg all the time!!!
 
I only needed a 4x4 when I lived in the sticks. The snow drifts would get 6-8ft tall and sometimes you would have to follow low lines in a field to travel from one place to the other. That is the only time I have used 4-wheel drive. I get along just fine in my Z66. A good set of tires was all that I needed this past winter....and also remembering not to drive like I would if it was in 4-hi.
 
You might have locking in the rear But There's vary little weight back there. If you are going on the beech you might want 4wd.. The autotrac does work good for snow and Heavy rain...Good luck
and welcome to the club....

Glenn Enkei av
 
While I agree that the Locker and a good set of snow tires would work really well in most situations, you may want to think about the re-sale value, as 4x4 models are usually much easier to sell and at a better price...

~bekind
 
bekind said:
While I agree that the Locker and a good set of snow tires would work really well in most situations, you may want to think about the re-sale value, as 4x4 models are usually much easier to sell and at a better price...

~bekind
Click to expand...

Yes, resale is a big factor for why most go with 4x4's.
 
I was actually looking for a Z66 but ended up getting a Z71. a couple of factors influenced me in the end. Z66s are rarely stocked at the dealerships so when it became time to sell (my) Z66 privately I would probably have a harder competing against Z71s on the market. Second, I looked at various full size truck resales and compared 2WD prices to 4WD prices, the differences in price almost mirrored the premium price for the Z71 over the Z66. I'm glad I purchased the Z71. Although I've only had to use 4WD a few times in the past two years due to snow/ice, I do use the Auto 4WD frequently in the rain. If you live in an area that has a lot of water ponding in the travel lanes of the highway, the Auto 4WD is the only way to go.
 
You might have locking in the rear But There's vary little weight back there.
Click to expand...

I'll repeat myself...again...FWIW...

Don't believe this myth. The AV has a near-perfect F/R weight distribution. There may be other reasons to have 4WD, but rear weight ain't one of them.

Thank you.
 
RichUF said:
I'll repeat myself...again...FWIW...

Don't believe this myth. The AV has a near-perfect F/R weight distribution. There may be other reasons to have 4WD, but rear weight ain't one of them.

Thank you.
Click to expand...

What is the AV's weight split? I am thinking about 60/40 maybe even 55/45???
 
Wow, thanks for the quick and informational responses! However, I am still undecided. The resale value will be better, but the cost savings up front may wash that out? Anyway, I am on my way to another dealer (Ramp Chevy) that has 20 Avs in stock. Maybe I'll find something there. I did spot a nice green AV with 4 wheel, but no z71. This one could be had for a real good price (about 30k with tax) so the next question is:

2 wheel z66 with some nice options
4 wheel non-z71 with basic standard equipment pluc roof rack.

Both these truck will cost about the same (the z66 about 1k more)

I currently drive a 2002 Pontiac Formula Firebird, and you know what, with traction control this thing handles the snow pretty well. Much better then you think a firebird would. So I can only imagine that a 2whl drive AV would be much better.

Are the options worth it or will 4 wheel be the better deal?

Too many choices :E:

thx again!
 
4 wheel non-z71 with basic standard equipment pluc roof rack.
Click to expand...

A 4X4 without a locking rear diff is crippled, IMHO. If it doesn't have one, I'd lean towards the Z66.
 
Im from LI and I have a Z66. It performed great in all the snow storms we had this last winter. With the traction control and the locking diff I did not get stuck at all with the AV. I did get stuck in my 4x4 pickup (no locking diff).

I went with the Z66 because I take long trips and wanted a smoother ride, and in the 9 years that I have owned a 4x4, I have used the 4wd maybe 5-6 times.

I had some trouble finding a Z66 in NY, so I used the GM Buypower website and found mine (and several others) at a dealer in NJ.

-Dave
 
I haven't rode in a 2WD AV but my 4x4 rides like a dream. You don't need a locking diff or 4x4 if you know how to drive. >:D I love my 2WD S-10 and my AV4x4, both get me thru the snow no problem and both have pulled out stuck 4x4s.
 
It all boils down to what you think you would be happy with, I myself would opt for the 4 wd just for resale and piece of mind.
you might can snag a gm certificate if you dont have one and that would help alot
 
Thanks for all the information.

I spent the remainder of my day off searching dealer lots and here is what I found:

I found that almost every Z71 was fully loaded (over 40k sticker)

I found only one 2wd Av (out of at least 50) and it wasn't even a Z66, but had every other option known.

Everything else was a basic package 4x4 for around 36k.

I think I want the base 4x4 plus Z71 only which should bring the sticker to aboutt 38k. But I can't find many. The only one I found was a DK gray which is nice, but not my pref.

Also, it appears that every dealer I talked to is willing to sell the truck for invoice or just over. So I can get a 38k truck for about 30k before taxes. Does this sound like a good deal? Also, does any one have an extra GM in the drive cert?

Thanks for al the information, and I still have not rules out a z66, but no one has them in this area. Hope to own an AV shortly
 
I have a 2wd base avalanche and it has handled the snow extremel well!!! If I was you I would get the Z66 with leather and the sun roof. From what it sounds like there won't be many situations where you would actualy need 4wd. I'm sure there could be times where you might want it, but not need it. Resale value is deffinatley higher for a 4wd but I'm sure it also depends of how long you plan on owning the Av. If 2-3 years go 4wd, but if you plan on driving it till it dies I don't know how much difference it would make. IMHO the enjoyment that you would get out of the sun roof and leather would exceed having the 4wd.

Best of luck for whatever you decide!

BadBlackAv
 
I would imagine finding a 2WD 1500 equipped the way you want it would be as hard to find as a 2500. I just don't think there are many out there. I would consider waiting to order an 05 since production starts in August. I am sure you would still get a real good deal and the vehicle would be a year newer.
If you need it right now gmbuypower.com will search as far as you are willing to drive. Unless you are trading in you can do a deal over the phone. Std. 4x4 WBH with cloth interior stickers for around 35K. I would guess you could get it for around 28K. That would be my choice.
 
This is interesting. A dealer has a fully loaded black z71 2003 leftover!!! :eek:

The sticker is 42,995 fully loaded minus DVD. He is willing to sell at 31,995 before tax. This sounds tempting to me, but what about depreciation. the truck is technically a year old already. I could probanly go for this truck, but I am concerend about it being an 03. Also, is there a forum where I can finf the differences between an 03 and an 04?

A similiar 04 will go for about 3k more.

Should I consider a leftover 03? WHo knows where this thing has been and why it is still around.
 
GMC said:
This is interesting. A dealer has a fully loaded black z71 2003 leftover!!! :eek:

The sticker is 42,995 fully loaded minus DVD. He is willing to sell at 31,995 before tax. This sounds tempting to me, but what about depreciation. the truck is technically a year old already. I could probanly go for this truck, but I am concerend about it being an 03. Also, is there a forum where I can finf the differences between an 03 and an 04?

A similiar 04 will go for about 3k more.

Should I consider a leftover 03? WHo knows where this thing has been and why it is still around.
Click to expand...

I just got my 04 Z71(msrp was 42,950 after 1k sun and sound package discount) Cladded and the selling price was 33,915 after 4,500 in rebates. So the price before rebates was under invoice. I would suggest getting an 04 as you lost way more than the 3grand in resale already and it's getting close to make the 05 worth it if they still have the heavy rebates. With Gas prices going up I expect heavy rebates still if you wait. I got that price through GMbuypower.com from Bast Chevy in Seaford.

Good Luck,
Con
 
FYI - I just duplicated my '04 Av (LOADED - MSRP $44,090) as an '03 with only 250 miles and came up with a KBB private party value of $26,750. Based on that, I would look elsewhere for the Av...
 
I started with a 02" Z66 and loved it I drove it on all manner of snow and ice with no problem. The ride was Cadilac smooth. I had it on a lease and decided to own one. So last August we traded, they got within $1,500.00 of payoff at 1.5 yrs. on a 3 yr. lease. I wanted blue and couldn't find a cladded one with light options. So I went to a light optioned Z71, I still like it better than anything else I can think of. The ride is a little choppier a little more body roll. Given my druthers I'd stuck with the Z66. Look to the south or the midwest our dealers stock them. The other thing is 03" versus 04" one word "content" GM keeps raising the price while taking out goodies. It's more than lights, it's convenience touches that count.
 
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