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8.1 2002 2WD or 5.3 4WD 2003 ???????

P

PaulfromHolland

Full Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2004
Messages
23
Location
Amsterdam
I'm offered a 2002 8.1 2WD 49000mls avalanche and a 2003 5.3 4WD 43000mls avalanche.
The price is EXACTLY the same.
I don't think I'll ever ride this machine off-road.
What do YOU think is the best one to choose ???

How about 0-60 ? Can't find any data on that. :(
Greetz,
Paul
 
hmm
one side you have
8.1
light cladding
2wd
more miles
no electochomatic/turn signal mirros
mostly loaded...

on the other you have
5.3
dark cladding
4wd
less miles
turn signal mirrors maybe electormatic?
mostly loaded...
need more info basicly..
 
PaulfromHolland said:
I'm offered a 2002 8.1 2WD 49000mls avalanche and a 2003 5.3 4WD 43000mls avalanche.
The price is EXACTLY the same.
I don't think I'll ever ride this machine off-road.
What do YOU think is the best one to choose ???

How about 0-60 ? Can't find any data on that. :(
Greetz,
Paul
Click to expand...


Unless you plan to do alot of towing, the fuel milage of the 2500 will kill you... 12mpg... compared to 15-20 reported mpg from club members with the 1500.

If you live in an area that gets snow, the 4wd will be an asset, even if you never go offroad, one winter with 4wd, you will never buy a 2wd again.

0-60.... they are actually the same performace... the 8.1 is a torque monger, and you would think it would be quicker, but it is not, as you are moving a heavier vehicle. This has been reported on the site, plus I kind of draged a member with a 3/4 ton last weekend at a GTG and well... outside of my response time being better, our avs pulled the same, I won only due to repsone time. All th8ings being equal it would have been a photo finish.

The torque of the 8.1L is a thrill to drive, but again, acceleration is not any different, and fuel economy will hurt your wallet.

Which one to buy depends on how you plan to use the vehicle, and which one you think you will be happier with.

oh, also the 1500 will ride smoother on the highway, although some say that the heavier 2500 is more stable at higher speed... boils down to personal opinion on this matter in my opinion (not ment to be a pun...)

Whatever your choice I am sure in the end you will be happy with either option.

Grey
 
Try to think how you are going to us your new AV.

If you are going to tow a heavy load, I would have to go with the 8.1 with it's larger trans & rear axle.

Which ever you choose you will be happy (y)

Terry
 
Paul in Holland

With the price of fuel in europe, do you really need a BIG BLOCK... What about licensing... the 5.3 might just be light enough to keep you in the lower licensing.. The big block will most definitely put you over the 3,000 kgs...
This is of course an assumption that licensing is different than here in Ontario Canada... I am making an assumption that 3, 000 kgs is a major number here!

My other question for you would be, how much more horsepower do you need above stock?

2002 and 2003+ have entirely different electrical system, and I would prefer the 2003+....

dichris
 
I have a 2500 and would never think about trading it in for a 1500 but In your situation the 1500 with 4W drive would be probably a better buy for you. Again if you need to ask about gas mileage then a 2500 is out of the question. :B:

either way I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

Best of luck! :B:
 
Here is another consideration - if that 2002 2500 Avalanche was built before August of 2001 I would take into consideration that there are some kinks in the vehicle that may or may not have been solved. As others have noted in Europe the cost of feeding that big block will eat you alive. Motor Trend when they did their 2002 Truck of the Year review found almost no difference between the 5.3 and 8.1 -- any 0 - 60 gains you would get through horsepower or torque are lost going through the heavier duty transmission on the 8.1...
 
going with the info you provided i would go with the '03 5.3L 4wd. i say this because of many factors. one of the things i base is on is the cladding. i saw an '02 yesterday i thought looked horrible; cladding wise. have not seen any baddly faded '03 cladding yet.
not to mention the fuel economy. i know mine went when i went from 2 to 4wd somewhat. now just imagine what it will be like when going to a 8.1L 2500. you may say you don't 4x4, but the one time it comes in handy you will be gld you have it. my grandmother use to say, "it's best to have and not need, than to need and not have." i have to say she was right.
most importantly you must take into consideration what the next buyer will look for in your truck should you decide to sell/ trade later.
 
Whoa wait a sec.. Were 8.1L even made as 2wd? I thought
they were only made as 4wd..

But 4wd or not. I would go with the 5.3L 2003.

Yeah the 2500 is great and all but you won't want the
gas consumption. If gas prices are as bad in europe as
the last time I was there! :)

Plus getting a chevy repaired over there is going to be
enough of a hassle. When you throw a 8.1L into the
equation.... hmm don't know about that. I think more
places would be setup to handle the 5.3L than the 8.1L.

Go with the 5.3L I think it will provide enough HP and power
to do what you want to do. Plus it will be nice to have an
ability to 4wd in those winters in Northern Europe.

Aetatis.

 
A 2500 2X is quite common; one of us three at work has that config. -

And they make good use of it's power - - however I would lean toward the 1500 4X4. Despite good reasoning for the 2500, it just doesn't appear to be your particular practical choice.

Most of the previous answers stated what other comments I would have made, so I'll just be a "dittohead" on the rest...

Good luck!
 
You could get a 2WD 2500 in 2002 and the first half of 2003. There is no such thing as a 2004 4WD 2500 2004 2WD 2500 series Avalanche. Also - the 2002 and 2003 2500 Avalanche has more HP and torque - the numbers went down on the 2004, don't know why.
 
Thanks for all the advise !
Today I bought........................................................ A BRAND NEW AVALANCHE 1500 Z71 + SUNROOF AND ROOFRACK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D


I figured YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE ! :D

Greetz,
Paul
 
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