The most palpable differences when choosing between the late model years Avalanche and Cadilllac EXT

[Dmitry]

A perspective owner here. I'm reaching out to you, the owners.
I'm considering purchasing a very late year production Avalanche or EXT. My preference would be 2013 for both, in case life might necessitate resale.
What, in your opinion, would be the most important differences between the two?
We camp, but don't do serious off-roading, and don't tow a trailer. Vehicle would be used 4 seasons, including driving in the New England winters. All my cars have Blizzak winter tires. Comfort and safety features would be a significant plus for longer drives, like visiting daughter in college way up in Northern New England. I would like to be able to sleep inside the truck bed. Why the other manufacturers haven't thought of the midgate conversion?! It's a brilliant bit of design!
Thank you!

 

[ygmn]

Difference is Style, features and look for most part.
More avys then EXTs.
Exts probably cost more if most things similar.

all I can say is not a lot of EXT owners visit our site

 

[Vaeagleav]

Not sure how the used car values are between the two models but when new the price was about $10,000 more for the Cadillac. For that price difference you got leather surfaces on all surfaces not just seating areas, styling cue differences but biggest differences are the drive-train which has the 6.2 motor and AWD v. the 2wd or 4wd AV with a 5.3 motor.
I assume as usual Cadillac parts will cost you more then Chevy parts when needed.

 

[Raekal]

For me, the biggest difference between the two outside of style was the choice of powertrain. The ext has AWD, and the avalanche has 4wd. The avalanche will get a bit better gas mileage and is a bit more forgiving on the powertrain. The EXT should be a bit more comfortable, but will have slightly higher maintenance costs over it's lifetime. (mostly the awd and suspension)

The ext should also have more expensive insurance premiums and you have to watch out for them being goobered up with mods. Frankly, the types of people that bought them either had the money and took care of it OR were bought by lower income folks as a status bump.

Inevitably with the latter, maintenance falls behind and from the looks of things when i was interested in one, they usually have aftermarket sterios utilizing the midgate,. At least that's how it is around here.

Im not sure either will be better than the other as far as depreciation. The avalanche is getting collectable now and there are plenty of people that prefer it's style over the EXT. So i think it offsets the rarity with desirability a bit.

 

[EXT4ME]

I don't have the second gen Avalanche or EXT, but I do have one of each of the first gen.

The insurance is the same.

The mechanical parts are the same and cost the same.

I've never had to buy a "Cadillac" part.

Repair costs are the same.

I have never paid more for body work for one over the other.

Replacement interior leather pieces cost the same.

The EXT shares a lot of interior and exterior body parts with the general Escalade line, except for any unique parts.

The Avalanche is going to also share a lot of interior and exterior body parts with Tahoes and Suburbans of similar model years, except for any unique pieces.

Unique body part cost may vary, but I have never had to purchase any yet and since all years are aging, all body parts are going to get more rare with the passage of time.

The lifetime average MPG of my 2003 Avalanche with the standard 5.3 engine, 2WD and 3:73 gearing is 14.02 over the past 258K miles.

The lifetime average MPG of my 2004 EXT with the LQ9 6.0 HO engine, all wheel drive and 3:73 gearing is 14.42 MPG over the past 236K miles.

Both vehicles, when driven by me, have been driven conservatively and over the same general roads and routes for the majority of the time.

I can not speak as to the MPG of the second gen engines, but I would not be surprised if the 6.2 in the EXT was a tad thirsty.

I know every one I have ever driven made my foot sink more toward the floor.

 

[MS03 2500]

They are more than a tad thirsty and they recommend premium fuel, but you can use regular and it will detune itself. The interior is a little more luxurious, it looks like a jet fighter. Since they come with the the 6.2 the drive train is more heavy duty but the front axle still wears out faster.

It's a fun truck to drive but you pay for it.

PS they only made about 5,000 2013s so they'll be a little hard to find, what that means to resale value who knows.