I just saw an '06/'07 Avalanche!

TXAVy · Mar 6, 2004

campmilyo said:
Hey, TXAVy,
Know of anywhere else we might find pics of the new Av?

No, I don't. The one above is a bootleg picture from a focus group meeting on new trucks from lots of companies, not just Chevy.

pdxkevin said:
One thing that people are over looking is the step built into the rear bumper. It has gone away on those with the chrome bumpers. Those steps are very useful. My wife really loves them. She can climb in and out of the back with ease. Not so on those without.

...

I would like to see the clasps for the rear covers be more streamlined so they stack in a thinner pile and take up less room when not used. OR!!! better yet. Make them so they can be linked into a sort of 'U' shape to protect the inside of the door and rear seat when themidgate is down. It would be nice to be able to have the midgate down and fill the back with dirt or rock and not trash the interior! That would really be nice.

On the rear step bumpers, they also had at the focus group a chrome rear bumper that had the same steps in the corners that the cladded AV has. They weren't exactly the same, but pretty close really. If I recall they asked whether we thought they were useful and functional or not, and at what price we would NOT get them if they were optional. Then they told us that the actual option price was going to be something like $150 and what we thought at that point.

KOOL idea about latching the bed covers together. Anything that allows you to stow them onboard the vehicle in a place that doesn't take up cargo space I think is a great idea. Whether by allowing them to slide under the bed skin next to the spare tire mount, or into the sides or anywhere else would be great.

awaken96 · Apr 1, 2004

Id like to see them take the cladding off the front and rear bumper and mabe minamise it on the sides. The design will change alot more before its finalle............i'll wait and see

james21 · Apr 1, 2004

Awaken96, Chevy already has an AV like that, they call it a WBH.

-James.

pdxkevin · Apr 1, 2004

If I wanted a truck that looked like 99% of all the other trucks than I would have bought a silverado... We bought the AV because it stood out and was vastly more versatile than anything else in any class of vehicle out there.

It is truly sad to see it get watered down... :6:

At this rate, we may have to search for another '02 to put in storage for later!

As for the cladding... anyone who uses the AV (and I do mean use the AV) will know the value of the cladding. It has saved me several times from roots and rocks punching through the sheet metal. If it weren't for the cladding I would have to try to get some diamond plate version put on.

Beaverton · Apr 1, 2004

pdxkevin said:
If I wanted a truck that looked like 99% of all the other trucks than I would have bought a silverado... We bought the AV because it stood out and was vastly more versatile than anything else in any class of vehicle out there.

It is truly sad to see it get watered down...

At this rate, we may have to search for another '02 to put in storage for later!

As for the cladding... anyone who uses the AV (and I do mean use the AV) will know the value of the cladding. It has saved me several times from roots and rocks punching through the sheet metal. If it weren't for the cladding I would have to try to get some diamond plate version put on.

I completely agree with this. I would not have have even looked at the Av in the first place w/o the cladding.

At this point I expect that I'll be looking for a replacement for the Av in 5 or 6 years. When that time comes whether I'll buy another Av will depend on my needs, but for me there is 0% chance of going with a WBH Av.

spiritwinds13 · Apr 1, 2004

Yeah - - - want he said. The cladded AV is THE AV.

cojoe735 · Apr 1, 2004

I also agree with this. Every day, I go to work and pull into a lot full of Silverado's, Rams and Ford F series. The only trucks that Really stand out are my Av and another "02 Av that my buddy drives. The cladding IS the Av. But that's not my favorite feature. Whoever dreamed up the idea to incorporate the saddlebag tool compartments that double as coolers was an absolute genious!!! (also a drinking man too!). This is my favorite inovation. Nothing like loading up the beer saddles (that's what I like to call them) and hit the racetrack tailgating.

FutureLanche · May 9, 2004

Soooo, it appears that the VAST MAJORITY of individuals on this here thread would bag the '06 version of the AV as we see and understand it so far - where exterior appearance is concerned - and would look elsewhere for a replacement??

That would drop the bottom out of GM's brand loyalty numbers. Wouldn't it.

TXAVy, Did you get a feel for whether or not the folks running the focus groups that you attended were paying any attention to this site?

dprg644 · May 9, 2004

NW_Nick said:
pdxkevin said:

If I wanted a truck that looked like 99% of all the other trucks than I would have bought a silverado... We bought the AV because it stood out and was vastly more versatile than anything else in any class of vehicle out there.

It is truly sad to see it get watered down...

At this rate, we may have to search for another '02 to put in storage for later!

As for the cladding... anyone who uses the AV (and I do mean use the AV) will know the value of the cladding. It has saved me several times from roots and rocks punching through the sheet metal. If it weren't for the cladding I would have to try to get some diamond plate version put on.

Click to expand...

I completely agree with this. I would not have have even looked at the Av in the first place w/o the cladding.

At this point I expect that I'll be looking for a replacement for the Av in 5 or 6 years. When that time comes whether I'll buy another Av will depend on my needs, but for me there is 0% chance of going with a WBH Av.

Could not have said any more!!! CLADDED all the way

vab02 · May 9, 2004

The Cladded AV is an AV >:D

bowtie_beast · May 21, 2004

NOOOOOOO!!!!! :9:

I guess by the time I will be able to get an Avalanche, I might have to get a used one! Well, I guess I have a year and a half to pay off some bills.
If this is the direction of the Av, it sounds like a lot of us will be very unhappy!
I like the Av the way it is, with all the angles and cladding and front clip. I'm sorry, but the WBH is not a real Av.
While I'm at it, I might as well say the spy pics of the Tahoe looks like crap too! LOL :D:

FLINTaVa · May 21, 2004

I prefer the cladded AV but for those that say WBH looks like a Silverado

excuse me but since the AV came out in early '01 and WBH and Silverado took the same design cues it is the Silverado that looks like an AV

sands611 · May 21, 2004

Flint4x4 said:
I prefer the cladded AV but for those that say WBH looks like a Silverado excuse me but since the AV came out in early '01 and WBH and Silverado took the same design cues it is the Silverado that looks like an AV

Very well stated sir.
We have had the light (headlights) with signals on top first.
So in essence the GM folks copied the AV design in- in spirit, therory adn style

sands611 · May 21, 2004

Should the av go away as we know it today- then I iwl be ofrced to buy a H-2 or a Denali provided they do not kill the looks of those.

TXAVy · May 21, 2004

FutureLanche said:
TXAVy, Did you get a feel for whether or not the folks running the focus groups that you attended were paying any attention to this site?

I told 'em about this web page, found the person who was there for Chevy and gave them the web page as well. I never got feedback from her though, so not sure how closely she listened.

Cool Rod · May 23, 2004

If the '06 looks like this, I'll be looking for a different vehicle.

I love my AV, but this is no AV.

It's a Trailblazer with a bed.

When it gets closer to production and we can really see the final design, I might have to get an end of year '05 to get the last of the Avalanches.

It needs full cladding, none of this Silverado stuff, or else it's just another pickup truck. And there's plenty of them to choose from.

Hello GM, are you listening?

ShapeShifter · May 23, 2004

Cool Rod said:
If the '06 looks like this, I'll be looking for a different vehicle.

When it gets closer to production and we can really see the final design, I might have to get an end of year '05 to get the last of the Avalanches.

It needs full cladding, none of this Silverado stuff, or else it's just another pickup truck. And there's plenty of them to choose from.

My thoughts exactly.

(I was just saying exactly this same thing to my wife the other day.)

I have nothing against the WBH model. In fact, if that is what came out first, that is probably what I would be driving right now. When I first heard about the Av, it was just press releases and news stories. I was excited. It took a while before I saw photos of the original concept, and my first thought was "what an ugly truck!"

But it grew on me, and by the time I actually saw one in person I was in love.

True, it is the midgate, and hard covers which sets the Av apart from all others. But as more trucks are starting to adopt those features, the line is blurring, and the Av is loosing its uniqueness. But the agressive cladding style is still what sets it apart from the crowd. If these spy pics are the future of the Avalanche, I also may have to step up my replacement plans and order a new '05 next spring. Hmmm... that would give me the first and last of a truck that is a breed apart from the others. (If only the kid were a little older and I could save the original Av for him.)

Hello GM, are you listening?

I agree with this, also, but maybe they are not as dumb as we think? After all, here we've got two loyal owners (you and me) talking about speeding up their next purchase so they don't loose out on the original styling. Maybe it's a shrewd marketing move after all...

Hmmm... A cladded '05 Silver Birch Metallic Z-71, loaded, with the in-dash nav system... I'm really starting to like the sound of that...

-- SS

Cool Rod · May 23, 2004

Hey ShapeShifter, you and I are on the same wavelength!

I was going to buy a new one in '06 when my warranty ran out on my '03, but if this is what's coming down the pike I'll accelerate that.

I'll get every option they offer, big engine, 4WD, the works.

And then I'll probably never buy another vehicle, just use that AV forever.

TXAVy · May 24, 2004

ShapeShifter said:
True, it is the midgate, and hard covers which sets the Av apart from all others. But as more trucks are starting to adopt those features, the line is blurring, and the Av is loosing its uniqueness.

I'm curious what other trucks are adopting a midgate and hard covers? I've seen a pass-through hatch on a Subaru I think it was, but no other midgates, and the only hard covers I've seen have been aftermarket add-ons that were not strong enough to stand on.

ShapeShifter · May 24, 2004

TXAVy said:
ShapeShifter said:

True, it is the midgate, and hard covers which sets the Av apart from all others. But as more trucks are starting to adopt those features, the line is blurring, and the Av is loosing its uniqueness.

Click to expand...

I'm curious what other trucks are adopting a midgate and hard covers? I've seen a pass-through hatch on a Subaru I think it was, but no other midgates, and the only hard covers I've seen have been aftermarket add-ons that were not strong enough to stand on.

For the midgate idea, there is the Subaru Baja you mentioned, but also the GMC Envoy XUV, the Hummer H2 SUT (or is it the H3?) and a recent one that was discussed here somewhere recently, I think it was Toyota (or one of the import truck makers) that has a concept out with a folding midgate and a liftgate styled hinged rear window.

As for the hard covers, I guess I was combining elements into one phrase: it's the midgate and cover that sets the Av apart, and the midgate concept is currently becoming more common. I don't have specific examples of the hard covers being used on other trucks, but I'm sure it will happen. The Avalanche and EXT have a good thing going, and I think it's just a matter of time before the other truck names (including other GM divisions) jump on the bandwagon and cash in.

-- SS

DarkWolf · May 24, 2004

I'll keep my '03 until it dies...then I'll pull a frankenstein and resurrect it unless it is totalled...I feel as though the '03 has the best lines and the cladding makes the Av an AV otherwise it's not what I fell in LOVE with in the first renderings...

AlexJ · Jul 5, 2004

Wow. How ignorant. So most people think that because I have a naked Avy, that its not a REAL Avy? Go figure....I didn't think that what I just read in this thread would be said around here....I guess I'll take my Silveravy and shove it, since its not a real Avy and all....

AvaLance · Jul 6, 2004

AlexJ said:
Wow. How ignorant. So most people think that because I have a naked Avy, that its not a REAL Avy? Go figure....I didn't think that what I just read in this thread would be said around here....I guess I'll take my Silveravy and shove it, since its not a real Avy and all....

Look I am sorry if someone rubbed you the wrong way, but just chill out I mean I like the Avalanches that is why I have one I will allways have cladding as long as they make it that is just what I like. The main reason being it does not have the Silverado Front end. Now I am glad you like your Avalanche and I have friends that have WBH's it is all just a mater of what you like.

Just my 2 cents

whitethunder · Jul 6, 2004

AlexJ said:
Wow. How ignorant. So most people think that because I have a naked Avy, that its not a REAL Avy? Go figure....I didn't think that what I just read in this thread would be said around here....I guess I'll take my Silveravy and shove it, since its not a real Avy and all....

Hey Buddy if you like you truck then it should not matter what anybody else says.

Don't be so sensitive just because you have a Silverado with a midgate

As long as you enjoy it that's what counts!

AlexJ · Jul 6, 2004

AvaLance
1) I don't need to chill, I can have my opinion about people being jerks, just like people have opinions about my Avy not being a real Avy....

WhiteThunder
See my reply #1, goes twice over for you my friend.