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Advice From The Wise

MisterGreen17 said:
I've lurked long enough now, so here goes first post.
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Welcome to the club MisterGreen17! It's been a couple months since you registered, we've been waiting to hear from you, it's about time you posted! ;)

Actually, dichris's p.s. there has put me almost into a panic. I wasn't aware that there's a deadline this soon to order 2003 models, and wasn't really planning on taking the dive for several more months. What you're really saying is that after April 25th, my only choice is to take whatever's on the lot??
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I don't know the actual deadline, so I can't confirm or deny the date, but there most definitely is a deadline. I have gone to the dealer in early June, and having a tough time finding something on the lot, I had asked about ordering and was told it was too late.

There is a certain amount of time that the factories need to re-tool things for the new model year. In order to get the new models out to the dealer in time, they have to stop taking orders early. This is so that they have enough time to build the last few ordered vehicles, shut down the production line, convert it over for the new models, start up production again, and get enough new models built in order to get vehicles out to all the dealers when the new models are launched.

All of this takes time, and I have no problems beleiving the April 25 date.

P.S. Maybe you can tell, but this is going to be the first vehicle I have ever purchased new, so I'm rather naive in some areas; and, now that you've got me rollin', expect to see more of me because I've got a ton of stuff I need to ask you wise people about in the near future.
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Congratulations on your first new vehicle-to-be! Bring on the questions, we'll be looking forward to them. (y)

There are a lot of experienced buyers here, and even a dealer or two. I'm sure you'll get plenty of answers.

-- SS
 
MisterGreen17 said:
It seems like very few dealers around here stock 'em the way I want mine, and I am extremely particular about what my Avalanche is going to have.
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Use GmBuyPower to search the dealers. I searched 3 states and found one that was equipped the way I wanted it, lucky for me it was only 10 miles from my house.
 
Thanks SS, you guys really have a good thing going here.

Just to get this completely clear now, once this deadline passes, the dealer really cannot be specific about a vehicle they order? They just say, "Alright, I need you to send me 2 more Avalanches", and they take whatever is sent to them??

Regarding my future Avalanche, I have 4 main requirements: it has to be 4x4, it has to be green, it has to be WBH, and it has to have the 4.10 axle. OK, if that sounded silly, it gets worse. I figured, somewhere in the USA, there surely must be an Avalanche in that configuration; but the REAL reason I am concerned about being able to special order my Avalanche is probably not even a possibility.
I want the 6 liter engine in the 1500 body.
I know, I know, it sounds pretty dumb. I imagine the drivetrain and everything else there is built lighter in the 1500. But I've heard that the engine block is actually the same size, and in that case, the engine should be able to just bolt right in. My thinking was, "Hey, maybe I'll have to pay a little more to get the 6 liter itself, but if I were to order it that way from the factory, I shouldn't have to pay much more just for having them drop that in instead." You're probably asking why in the world do I feel the need to do this; basically it's because
1. I just want this to be a torque machine,
2. it's harder to get aftemarket parts for the 2500,
3. the 2500 is built heavier than I really need or want, so it would be too hard on mileage, and
4. I really want the WBH version, which only comes with the 1500 body.
Are there any "inside" people out there that could tell me if this is just a hare-brained idea, or, hopefully, something workable? Maybe somebody that might even be able to help me acomplish this goal? I would really, really, really (get the idea? ;)) like to see this become a reality, it's all I could ever hope for. (Please, God, please) If all I need to do is put in a beefier drivetrain before I put too many miles on it, that is not a prob, because I was thinking of perhaps doing that anyway, no matter what engine I get.

Sorry for all the rambling. If someone could address either of my 2 main questions, (dealer ordering capabilities and the engine swap possibilities) I would really appreciate it.
 
MisterGreen17 said:
Thanks SS, you guys really have a good thing going here.

Just to get this completely clear now, once this deadline passes, the dealer really cannot be specific about a vehicle they order? They just say, "Alright, I need you to send me 2 more Avalanches", and they take whatever is sent to them??
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You're very welcome!

Perhaps one of the members from a dealer can answer this one better...

But I would guess that the dealer is in the same boat and cannot order anything for stock, either. My understanding is that all of the trucks that go to a dealer for their inventory are custom ordered by a buyer at the dealer. They know what types of options their local customers want, and order the vehicles appropriately. I don't think that they can go to the factory and say "send me three trucks, whatever you happen to have."

My guess is that once the deadline is passed, the dealer can't order any more, period. If they need something specific, they may be relegated to looking for a swap with a nearby dealer. Of course, the dealer is very aware of this deadline, and will be sure to get their last orders in on time. By the time the summer rolls around, the dealer is more worried about clearing out the old models and making room for the new ones, and really doesn't want to order any old models. Ideally, they want to run out of the old model just as the new ones come in, so that they aren't stuck with old stock on which they might take a loss.

but the REAL reason I am concerned about being able to special order my Avalanche is probably not even a possibility.
I want the 6 liter engine in the 1500 body.
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I can understand why you would want that engine, and I think that there are others who would also want it. But my understanding is that there is absolutely no chance to order one that way. There are no engine options: the 1500 has the 5.3, the 2500 has the 8.1, and that's the end of the story.

The only possiblity I know of for getting a 6.0 is that you can buy it as an aftermarket crate engine, and do the swap yourself. It won't be easy, it won't be cheap, and you will not get any credit for the perfectly good 5.3 engine that you pull out. This has been discussed before, here: New Avalanche Arrived, Time To Begin 6.0L Conv.!

Do some reading in the performance forum to see what your other options may be: turbo/superchargers, nitrous, drivetrain enhancements, etc.

Good luck, the path you have chosen will not be easy...

-- SS
 
Both 02 and 03 are sweet machines. I think like most products GM will fine tune the little problems with research and developement.
My plug here is for the cladding.
About four days after I picked up my AV I was at Sam's loading a huge load of stuff off of a flat bed cart. When my helper picked up the last box off the cart it started to roll right at the AV and was due to impact just in front of the driver side rear tire. Since I was in the back standing, there was no way I was going to stop it in time. Since it was about three feet away, it was moving kinda quick. Just as my heart stopped, the cart hit the cladding and never even threatened the paint. This is one of those instances where no matter how careful you are, murphy's law will always try and get ya. In this case, old Murphy was stopped by my BODY ARMOR ;D. STAY with the cladding.

Just my .02

CThunder.
 
Well SS, thank you once again; it was painful, but that was kinda what I had to hear. Now I can keep movin' I guess. Thanks especially for the link to that thread, they discussed everything I wanted to know. I owe you for getting me that. I just wonder what eventually happened in the end with that guy's engine swap. I believe I will definitely keep the swap for a 6L on my list of "hopefully eventually someday" mods. ;)

Now I need to get some opinions on Z71, but I guess I will take it over to the Mod forum.
 
The leather option is interesting in that ONLY the FRONT "seating surfaces" are leather. The rear seat is some form of vinyl. While the front seats with the "heating" option works well for the driver anf frt seat passenger, the rear seats get COLD. The cloth seats are extremely durable and offer all weather comfort both fron and rear. But oh, that leather smell.
 
Can you get leather bench seats? I really love the idea of folding the center storage up so we could haul 6 adults. So we went with the bench seat up front and never regretted it.
 
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