New Avalanche Price Point

[Chief]

When the Avalanche came out in 2001 a base model 1500 series Avalanche 4X2 had a base sticker price of about $31K.? Loaded out at the top end, a North Face 1500 Avalanche with all options came in at just under $40K sticker.

The new 2007 GMT900 Avalanche hasn't had official pricing released, but one can crank a 2007 Tahoe up to almost $58K $54K, and that is before adding goodies like the 6.0L V-8 (coming).? So the sticker price for a loaded Avalanche (1500 series North Face all options versus a Z71 LTZ) has probably swelled by about $20K $16K in about five years (from April of 2001 to April of 2006).

Now admittedly the 2002 Avalanche didn't have DVD navigation, Stabilitrak, heated windshield wiper fluid, DVD theater, Bose audio, back up camera system with parking assist, rear heated seats, and other goodies, and lets face it DVD in vehicle theater, navigation, the Bose system and backup cameras cost plenty of bucks.? No doubt about it - so, what do you think?? Worth it or not?

 

[RichUF]

My '03 AV is the most expensive vehicle I have owned to date.  I got it for about $32K.  That was kind of expensive for me at the time, but I justified it at 0% and have enjoyed it for going on three years.

However, I must be moving into a different stage of my life now.  With two kids and moving into a bigger house I am coming to a place in life where $30k for a vehicle just seems really high.

$40-$50k on a GM truck?  Absolutely no way in the world I could justify that unless I was dragging in about three times the money I make now

While the price of the AV is changing, so too am I.

and 58K for a Tahoe is absolutely without-a-doubt INSANE.

 

[jkailj]

Another $10k and I would buy that Kodiak version that was on here the other day.  I love my av, but that is way too much.  I'm keeping mine, just adding the extra's as I can afford them. 

 

[BUDMAN]

If the allegation is true, or at least approximate, I wouldn't touch it.  I see GM capitalizing on some cheap labor down south, and they can make their margins on someone else.  Sticker on my 02 was $38,500, and there's not enough plastic they can put on an 07 to make it worth $50K+.

 

[jkailj]

I am speaking of this one.  I believe fully loaded for around 70k.  Check this out.

 

[twharvey]

Every option I could possible squeeze in:

YOUR COMPLETE VEHICLE

2007 Tahoe LTZ 1LZ
4x4

Exterior:
    Bermuda Blue Metallic
Interior:
    Dark Titanium

MSRP:
    $46,815.00
Colors & Options:
    $5,320.00
Total MSRP*:
    $52,135.00

I bought a 2 year old Av with 30K miles at a cost of roughly 60% of it's original MSRP.  Using that formula, in 2 years this Tahoe will have lost $20,000 in value.  That's $27.40 per day without figuring in gas, insurance, maintenance, etc.  If it's a leap year, that number would be slightly lower.  Looks like I'll get my 07 in 09 or 10. 

 

[DaytonaZ71]

'Slades and Hummers go for more than that now, besides, with all the discounts GM tosses around, the purchase price will be significantly lower.

 

[onyx_z71]

I thought the '07 Tahoe was going to be cheaper than the '06. With all options, the '07 is cheaper than the '06 according to the Chevrolet website. Not to mention the '07 has more features than the '06.

Mark

 

[Skeee1]

When this Avalanche I have goes down  and its time for a new vehicle. I will NOT be paying more than 40k for an American truck. Depreciation is way too high to justify that.

 

[RichUF]

'Slades and Hummers go for more than that now, besides, with all the discounts GM tosses around, the purchase price will be significantly lower.

I'm tired of the GM discount game.? How about just price the vehicle properly from the start??

If $40k is a proper price for a full-size American truck, then I guess I'm not a full-size American truck guy any more

 

[ygmn]

So what are you saying are the base and loaded price for the 2007 Avy?

You give no point of reference other then saying a 2007 tahoe is $58k...

To be fair...you need to have the 2006 tahoe base price and loaded to gill price....against the 2006 Avy base and loaded price...

then make a 2007 base & Loaded price to even come close to guestimating the price of the 2007 AVY...

So info needed to make informed choice in poll is:

2006 Base Tahoe MSRP
2006 Base Avy MSRP
2006 Loaded Tahoe MSRP
2006 Loaded Avy MSRP

2007 Base Tahoe MSRP
2007 Base Tahoe MSRP

then by doing the differences in the tahoe you can then add that to the 2007 avy to be in somewhat the correct Zipcode for the 2007 avy MSRP.....

so...I can't vote in this....

 

[Tiger]

1. You people ask for all these options. 
2. Say they aren't competitive if they don't offer them ASAP. 
3. Then, when they do...you break out your calculator adding them all up and gripe because it can be more expensive? 

Well duh.  

Order one and get it exactly how YOU like it.  From bare bones to full on craziness.  It is YOUR truck after all. 

 

[03whitediamond]

Discounting the actual retail sticker $58K figure issue which currently is an unknown and answering alone the singular question of whether or not the additional features, DVD, Nav, etc are a bang for the buck as manufactured installed items. Yes. Adding those items aftermarket to any base vehicle new or used would certainly be more cost restrictive. Most consumers would in all probability add and finance those items separately and the higher accrued interest rates would drive up the actual end costs over the life of those payment schedules. Finacing them in the one lump monthly vehicle payment as manufactured installed items via a dealers lot would in all probability fit the budgets of most consumers easiest. It's obvious that doing so would save countless thousands.

 

[steelheadchaser]

I'm not going to worry about the price-point until it is actually established. If these guesstimates prove to be accurate however, I'll be driving my '04 for a long, long time.

 

[Chief]

OK, interesting pricing info out there.  When I went out to Chevrolet.Com the most I could crank up a Tahoe to was just a hair under $51,000.  When I went to Edmunds I got it up over $57,000 with no problem.  There were some options on Edmunds that were not on Chevrolet's site (for example the DVD theater system).  I've seen this before when I was researching vehicles back in early 2005 and I found that GMBuyPower sadly had a lot of mistakes in it.  I went out to MSN and cranked it up to just under $53K (ACK!!!).

If I put money on who is right, I'll go with MSN - so my poll is at a price point of about $5K too high for one loaded out.

It is also worth pointing out that a fully loaded LTZ has a TON of content in it.  The 3LT package is less than half the cost of the LTZ, and has plenty of gadgets in it to keep most people happy.

Chief
Just sayin' and didn't mean to panic the herd - but dayum - a full loaded sticker that breaks $53K is still steep!

 

[FLINTaVa]

So info needed to make informed choice in poll is,...

so...I can't vote in this....

I didn't vote either, I'd still have my '02 LPM too except loaded '04 deal was good.

 

[steelheadchaser]

but dayum - a full loaded sticker that breaks $53K is still steep!

You aren't kidding about that. I could pick up a good used Ferrari 308GTSI, plus a good used pick up for less then that and still have a bunch of money left over.

It's hard to believe that the General would be trying to market such high-end vehicles when they have had to resort to employee pricing and 0% interest rates to spur sales. When you factor in other things such as the assembled-in-Mexico label, large price increases look to be a rather tough pill to swallow.

 

[FLINTaVa]

My house didn't cost 50k so you get no arguement from me if they are asking that much.

 

[jupiter]

In 1986, my then boss, bought a brand new Ford 350 crew cab with a heavy duty lumber-rack, 7liter v8 and a 5 speed manual gearbox for the lofty sum of $13,400 of course it only came with vinyl bench seats and armstrong windows and locks. But it did the job and then some. Now with the gas prices going up the truck prices may come down along with losing some options to choose from. Let's try to remember that trucks are not cars.

 

[SabreXray]

In 1986, my then boss, bought a brand new Ford 350 crew cab with a heavy duty lumber-rack, 7liter v8 and a 5 speed manual gearbox for the lofty sum of $13,400 of course it only came with vinyl bench seats and armstrong windows and locks. But it did the job and then some. Now with the gas prices going up the truck prices may come down along with losing some options to choose from. Let's try to remember that trucks are not cars.

Yes but the Avalanche is a Utility SUV (read Suburban with the back modified to haul sh$t), not a truck, if you want a work truck buy a Silverado, they are much, much cheaper.

JP

 

[FLINTaVa]

Yes but the Avalanche is a Utility SUV (read Suburban with the back modified to haul sh$t), not a truck, if you want a work truck buy a Silverado, they are much, much cheaper.

Good point, also the Silverado crewcab HD 2500/3500 isn't cheap today nor does it ride like trucks did 20 years ago plus it will be even smoother once the new generation comes out. Add the new generation engines that save fuel and compare price with similar products if you will once the PRICE is stated. You still should be able to get a bare bones 4 door work truck cheaper than an Avalanche but it will be a nice truck, wait for the GMT900 version to come out and then snag a GMT800 off the lot if you can find one.

 

[BUDMAN]

Who took my vote option out?  Something about in my pants...

If they're going to price these around 50K, I'm not going to spend that kind of $$$ on an AV.  I've been a loyal customer of Chevy all my life, but that's rediculous.  It's a glorified pickup with some utility to it.  Yea, it's nice to have newer options available but aftermarket is still cheaper & I don't see how they could justify this kind of pricing.  I hope this is just all speculation, but if it's not, they're doing themselves an injustice.  Price it right without all the stupid sale tactics and they will sell.  Isn't GM hurting enough?

 

[FLINTaVa]

In 1986, my then boss, bought a brand new Ford 350 crew cab $13,400

In '86 doesn't count for beans, in '87 the big 3 started losing thier behinds again like they did early 80s, for one thing they had a stranglehold on the full size truck market and were not taking advantage of it. Some people simply blame cheaper labor but better marketing is a factor.

You can't compare '86 price to 2006 even if you account for inflation

 

[Got2b]

A lot depends on where the price finall rests after rebated and invoice.
There is growing competition for this segment.
Case in point:
1.  Honda Ridgeline
RTL w/ moon roof and Nav, with Honda to dealer rebate 31, 500. (Edmonds)

2.  07 Sport Trac w/ V8 with similar capabilities (granted a little smaller) and loaded MSRP: 34, 141.  Current rebate for the Explorer is $2,000.
So should be able to get it for $32,000.

So the question is, are the added capabilities worth another 3-6,000 grand?

 

[Chief]

I can't comment on the Honda, but the Sport Trac isn't on the same plane as the Avalanche in cargo, passenger, towing, or off-roading capability.  Also the Sport Trac chassis is ancient, and critics resoundingly pound the Ford truck for the creaky first generation (yes first generation) Ford Explorer chassis it is built on.