New Option On 2003 Avalanche :(

[AvaLance]

well I was looking on GM Auto book yesterday and I saw the new option I personaly hate it but here it is

WBH Without Body Hardware -inc: Bumpers, front & rear, chrome, door handles, black, (DL Mirrors, outside, rearview, foldaway, power adjustable, heated & deletes body hardware. (PCY) Wheel flares & moldings package available. (WBH) is not orderable until 11/18/02. (N/A w/Y92 The North Face Edition) *2003 price to follow*

VK3 License Plate bracket, front, required in some states (1500 series has a molded in bracket w/body hardware (Req: WBH)

PCY Wheel Flare & Molding Package, Black (req:WBH)(2003 price to follow)

BVS Assist Steps, Black (Dealer installed) (Req:WBH)

E95 Cargo Cover, Rear, Soft (Req:WBH)

Well that is the new options on the 2003 Avalanche all options listed are on the WBH and the way I understand it you don't get the hard cargo cover on the WBH so it is the soft or nothing. I personaly love the cladding

 

[ColoradoAV]

I personally love the cladding too .

I thought that Chief started a topic a couple of months ago that said that there will no longer be a soft cover on the Avalanche .

Oh well, I'm quite happy with the hard covers, thank you very much. I just worry about them getting stolen one day from forgetting to lock the tailgate .

 

[steelheadchaser]

Thanks for getting us up to speed on the WBH. Does the yellow become orderable on 11/18 as well? I will be interested to see how the pricing shakes out between the two models. Keep us posted, please!

 

[AvaLance]

Steel the yellow is not on the AV's tell 02/03 and as soon as I have price's I will post them

 

[dmacker]

I wonder how the water management and leaky midgate problems will be affected by the lack of hard covers?

 

[midlifecrisis]

Good point - I wonder if all the 2003+ Av changes will make it more difficult to maintain and replace 2002 Av parts?

I'm definitely in it for the long haul with my 2002. Although I'd love to have a yellow one.....

 

[wonder91178]

I have to say, I saw the online pic of the AV without the body hardware and I was thinking......why bother? Just get a Silverado, it's almost identical.

I LOVE the cladding, it makes the truck look more rugged

 

[chevywin]

The new WBH does in fact come standard with the rigid cargo cover. This is per the spec pdf file found on the Chevrolet web site. I like the concept of the Avalanche, but I am not too fond of the cladding. I will buy a WBH option Avalanche. I am sure I won't be the only one. Variety and choice is what America is about.

[attachment deleted by admin larger then 100KB]

 

[NJAV]

It's going to take me awhile to get used to seeing the AV without it's body armor...that is the one thing that makes the Av stick out in my head when compared to any other truck/suv/whatever......oh well....I guess this sort of thing happens...

 

[AvaLance]

well GM took a survy and here are the results
With Body hardware 35% | Without Body hardware 65%

 

[Chief]

Guys, guys, guys. First - the WBH Avalanche COMES with hard cargo covers. The option to delete the hard cargo cover and get a soft cover was removed on 2003 Avalanches that HAVE body hardware. People who get the WBH Avalanche have the option of also deleting the hard covers and getting the soft covers, thus saving additional money off the MSRP.

My thinking - this is the General's way of shaving off somewhere between 1.5K and 2.0K off the MSRP of the Avalanche, opening up the market to more people.

Further - everyone is free to display their distaste for the WBH option. Just remember in another couple of months were going to have WBH members and I want to make sure they feel welcome - we're not a group of "elitest" here!

That is all...

 

[steelheadchaser]

We already have at least one on board who either has ordered a WBH, or is waiting to have his order accepted.

 

[pdxkevin]

Well... if it the savings are passed along to the consumer thus actually opening up the market to more people I am all for it. I suppose some of the first mods they could do would be putting the cladding onto their claddless.

 

[AvaLance]

My dad might look at getting one with out cladding for his bussness the dealership I work for we order a white one basic the only options are locking diff., WBH, and trailering package I was teasing my dad I told him he could come on a cruise I plan but he would have to go at the back

 

[RJLACK]

I agree with chief - an AV is an AV we all have changed ours somehow to make it our own - Painted cladding, grilles, sportwings, etc. If you like no cladding go for it, if you like the cladding great. All AV owners (and non AV owners) are welcome! JMHO

 

[spectron65]

What makes an AV an AV?
Is it the midgate?
Is it the cladding?
What sets it apart?

Just love the total package--I think its what stopped me from buying a Dodge Ram or a Ford F150 or a Ricer pick up. The cladless AV will take a while to get used to. But believe you me, we will begin to see more of these in the next months to come.

I have a 3 day old AV and the cladding already has protected Big Blue from dings and dents from my kids' bikes, toys, etc. I think I'll keep mine.

 

[zeeya2000]

I'm with you Spectron, the cladding has kept me from getting the unsightly dings in the doors and chips in the paint along the bottom that comes with having no protection.
To each his own, just as long as they keep it so that we can get another AV in a few years with the cladding. This has been the best riding and versatile vehicle i have had
zeeya

 

[Randy]

Caught a picture of one somewhere and I don't like it without the cladding. Like most of you I liked the AV because it was differant....With out, it looks like Silverado with a half shell...

And I'm also kinda P O that the 03 trucks have the AV front end, you could tell if one was behide you or comen at ya, now all front ends look alike. Just what the General did to the ZR-1 Corvette, gave it a distinctive rear end and and fat tires that set it apart from the rest and then a year or two later gave it to all Corvettes...

 

[Supermobile]

The GM Survey still shows 35% answered that they would order WITH cladding.

So at least 35% of the new owners' Av's won't be naked. ?

Seriously, I can see why at first look some people might prefer the Av without cladding. I was one of them. I am so glad a waited long enough for my opinion to change.

I think you have to own one for a while to see just how
much protection it gives the Av, not to mention the fact that I believe the cladding is what makes the Av unique.

All seriousness aside, below is another unique feature on a minivan - do you think we should suggest the Anti Dog mod as a future mod for the Avalanche: ?

​

 

[zimmthumps]

All seriousness aside, below is another unique feature on a minivan - do you think we should suggest the Anti Dog mod as a future mod for the Avalanche: ?

​

Where did you find this?

This isn't really some kind of option is it?

 

[Skidd-au]

well GM took a survy and here are the results
With Body hardware 35% | Without Body hardware 65%

Is this survey available somewhere, I'd like to see how they posed the questions.

 

[JUPITER1]

WBH OR CLADDING THAT IS THE QUESTIONS?

THE ANNSWER LIES IN THE VEHICLE CONCEPT.

AV description: ?U.U.T.: Ultimate Utility Truck.

The most versatile vehicle in production ever!

THE BODY STYLES WILL COME AND GO, ?BUT FOR THOSE OF US WHO LOVE THE CONCEPT THAT IS WHAT TRULY MATTERS.

I PERSONALLY WELCOME ALL THE CONCEPT LOVERS WITH OR WITHOUT CLADDING.

AMBER DRLS FOR ALL AND ALL FOR AMBER DRLS!!

PEACE

PHIL

 

[txyank1]

To me it's the Midgate that make the Av what it is. The cladding is just the most noticeable feature. And I'm sure is a very good feature for you 4-wheelers. My interest in the Av is the fact it rides like a Sub. but can still be my Pickup when I want it to be. I don't off-road, and with selective parking I've had some of my trucks 5 yrs. "WBH". (without body harm). My wife is eqully careful when parking and we had her car for 8 yrs. with no door dings. And that is saying a lot living here. One of the first things I noticed after moving here was how bady vehicles are dinged up!

 

[NJAV]

My biggest fear isn't the fact whether or not my wife or myself park the Av...and bang it up...my biggest fear is someone else parking their car/minivan/truck etc...and dinging me....people don't seem to think about the severity of hitting someone else's car.....I had one lady try to tell me once...oh..It's only a little scratch....only a little scratch..!...

 

[steelheadchaser]

My biggest fear isn't the fact whether or not my wife or myself park the Av...and bang it up...my biggest fear is someone else parking their car/minivan/truck etc...and dinging me....people don't seem to think about the severity of hitting someone else's car.....I had one lady try to tell me once...oh..It's only a little scratch....only a little scratch..!...

I know what you mean, NJAV. After ten months and 11k + miles, I'm still parking in the back forty at every large parking lot I'm in. I also stay away from cart return areas. The only thing many of these do more poorly than driving is maneuvering a cart!