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Mileage And Braking Improvements For '03

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peej80

Full Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2002
Messages
76
Location
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
I've been reading a lot about the 2003 Avs' improvements and what seems to be repeated from one article to the next is the gas mileage (while in 2wd on a 4wd model) as well as the improved braking. Does anybody out there have any numbers and/or is this in fact a reality?

Thanks,

Peej80
 
I have a pewter 03, Z71, with (now) 8K miles.

I just took a trip between Florida and Michigan. According to the DIC trip info, I averaged 18.2 mpg over a 2400+ mile trip. This included VERY few "city" miles.

I was monitoring average milage, again with the DIC, and during a couple of "legs" of the trip (from Atlanta, GA to Tampa, FL.), I got as high a 19.8 mpg.;D

I used the cruise control exclusively, when on the interstate, traveling around 68 mph.

My brother has an 02, Z71, and gets very similar results.
 
OilSlick50 said:
I have a pewter 03, Z71, with (now) 8K miles.

I just took a trip between Florida and Michigan. ?According to the DIC trip info, I averaged 18.2 mpg over a 2400+ mile trip. ?This included VERY few "city" miles.
Click to expand...

OilSlick50,

Have you had a chance to verify the DIC mpg numbers by doing the calculations manually? Just curious to see how accurate it is .....
 
Yes, I've knoticed MY brakes feel spongy at times, compaired to his. I was driving a '90 Jeep Cherokee prior to the AV. Just the difference in vehicle weights is tough to get used to. Then the AV rides SOOO much better than the Jeep. It just doesn't feel like I'm approaching a stop that quickly.

I've not manually checked the DIC's numbers, yet. But, my brother has to check his milage manually, over the same route, driving the same speed, and has gotten the same numbers. Based on that, I would say the DIC's calculations are fairly accurate.

Also, I forgot to include city driving milage. I consistantly get (according to the DIC) 14.5 mpg driving around town and to work and back. My "to work" route is not interstate at all. 2 and 4 lane roads for 12 miles, (oneway), with lots of lights and traffic. Again, my brother gets similar results, via manual calculations.
 
It is my belief that the improvement in braking is not distance related but pedal feel related with more positive feedback and less effort required on the 2003. Driving GM vehicles for almost a decade now I guess I've gotten use to spongy brake pedals and soft steering. When ever I drive the Thunderbird it feels like the thing has no power assist at all for either!
 
My 02 brakes were initially very spongy. They got much better when I reached 10k miles. The engine also seemed to come alive at 10k, with more responsiveness.

With my 03, the brakes and engine performance were right on, from day one. Now if it only had seats that were supportive. But that's a subject for another thread.
 
Yes the spongy break feel...is without a doubt an area that could use some improvement....maybe a brake upgrade wouldn't be a bad idea for a future mod....bigger rotors and better pads.....but like anything else in this world....it's pretty expensive..for the full upgrade....

Dave
 
I have a 2002 AV but I test drove a 2003 North Face Edition AV and I notice the brakes were different I thought that you had to press on them harder for a stop
 
Haven't driven the '02, but I can tell you for sure that the brakes/pedal feel on my '03 Z66 are simply head and shoulders above the '99 Tahoe that I traded in on it. ;D Pedal feel is just right. Not spongy/heavy and no pulsing whatsoever. I think I'll keep it :love:
 
I agree the brakes on the 02 needed improvement.
I'll let you know on the 03 as soon as it gets in at the dealership I work at :)
 
The only differance in the 03 is a electric vacum pump mounted on the brake vacum booster to create additional vacum. i have owned an 02 for 12,000 miles and have 7600 on my 03 and can say it does have a better feel, not as spongey.
 
I've had my AV for 2 weeks now and DIC states I'm getting 16.4 MPG this is with mixed use driving 50/50 highway/City - I did take a trip via the highway and got 18 MPG - I'm very impressed! ;D
 
My '03 felt just a tad spongy when I first got it, but I attribute that to my other vehicle being a 98 Jeep Wrangler. Massive weight diffrence...
 
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