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"The Ugliest Thing Chevy Ever Made"...

teksavy

teksavy

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... was what I heard today from a heavily tattooed yard worker at the local rental yard.

You see, he was telling his "co-worker" this with me in earshot. At the time I was reaching into my handy-dandy side compartment to pull out the ball hitch to lock into the towing receiver.

He went on to tell his workmate that "it" wasn't a "real truck" and that "you can't even haul dirt in it". After backing my rig to the trailer, I "enlightened him" with the facts. I went on to tell him that people either like or don't like the plastic cladding and that's why Chevy now offers the AV in the WBH package. He seemed interested at first, but then asked if "that thing" is still on it- pointing to the sail panels, tailgate and covers. I said "yes".

He wasn't pleased and said that "I don't like it". I replied "like I said, you either like it or you don't". And went on my way.

Funny, but that is the first negative comment I've received on my truck. Didn't bother me one bit. Which is kinda surprising as no one likes to hear bad things about their baby. But in retrospect, I don't place a lot of value in an opinion coming from a man with a swastika tattooed on his hand.

-Ed

PS:An interesting post-script to this story. When I returned to drop off the rental equipment, what did I see in the parking lot? A 2002 white Z71. A nice treat as you don't see many AVs around here. Of course I left a CAFCNA color flyer on their windshield. :)
 
It is usually the uninformed that don't like the AV. Usually after a ride or seeing the versatility, they come around.
 
Bruno said:
It is usually the uninformed that don't like the AV. ?Usually after a ride or seeing the versatility, they come around. ?
Click to expand...

That seems to be the case as most comments I get from people (like co-workers who've ridden in the truck) are positive and inquisitive.
 
In Portland, Av's popularity is growing. I bought one of the first ones in the area (Sept 17, 01). Now, they are all over the place... may have to trade it in on an SSR so that I can be unique again. ?;).

Yep... they're really thinking ?"real ugly... cause I can't have one" ?(chuckle) Just keep driving the ole' Ford I guess... yawn.
 
:rolleyes: typical response from some goon thats "meat on the clock" and still pissed because GM quit building his beloved El Camino!

LOVE my plastic truck!
RA
 
The point is that he noticed it. Now he'll be thinking about it all night long . . . about how ugly and useless it is. He will keep thinking about it and will toss and turn. A trip to the kitchen for a glass of warm milk still does not help. Finally, he gets to sleep. The next day, while at work, and with only a few hours of sleep under his belt, he is preoccupied with the image of the ugly duckling. Finally, it's quitting time. He heads over to the nearest Chevy dealer "just out of curiosity".

He begins to imagine what the best color might be (so it wouldn't be so ugly). He starts comparing different Avs on the lot. "Hmmmmm!? . . . . Naw, I would never be caught dead in one of those. . . . What's this? One of these is unlocked. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to just sit in one. After all, I would never buy one of these". About 20 minutes later, after adjusting the seat and mirrors, and flipping switches and buttons, he decides to get out. At that moment a saleman just happens upon him exiting the vehicle and produces an Av brochure to take home. The saleman says "I know you're not really interested in buying one, but here's a brochure anyway, just to look over". That night, after dinner, our man is examining the details in the brochure. while relaxing. "Hmmm . . . that Z71 doesn't look too bad . . . now that WBH . . . that looks more like a real truck . . . the kind I'm used to . . . I don't think my friends would laugh at me then.

The summer comes and goes and with it, much soul searching and reflection . . . It is September and our man places his order for his Av.

Welcome to the club! (y)
 
Bruno said:
It is usually the uninformed that don't like the AV. ?Usually after a ride or seeing the versatility, they come around. ?
Click to expand...

Exactly. I have converted MANY non-believers with a quick tour.
 
As I think back I remember the transition from "wierd" to "cool." When I bought the AV I went in to buy a pickup. I totally fell in love with the options and versatility. It drove me home that day. LOVE MY CHEVY"S

[attachment deleted by admin larger then 100KB]
 
I must admit when I first saw the av... I wasn't that impressed with the look of the front and all the cladding... but now, sure have grown to love the look of it.
 
AV activity suggestion.

Cruise to Home Depot,
Pre-Pack a picnic lunch (or grab an onion dog from the snack shack),
Crank up the tunes
Park in a spot where you can watch em pack sheets of plywood in their landcruisers.

Very entertaining!
 
I think the 1959 Chevy Biscayne four door is a serious contender for that title.
4.jpg
 
teksavy said:
He seemed interested at first, but then asked if "that thing" is still on it- pointing to the sail panels, tailgate and covers. I said "yes".

He wasn't pleased and said that "I don't like it". I replied "like I said, you either like it or you don't". And went on my way.
Click to expand...
I've converted a lot of people who didn't like "That thing" by explaining to them that there is a steel frame stiffening member under the sail panel that makes the truck stiffer than the suburban, the plastic is just to clean the lines up.

And for those that don't like the bed covers I usually climb up and walk across the top of them while letting them know that they can delete that option if they like and get some money back, but that Chevy will still throw in a soft cover for them anyway. Of course, if you ever want to carry anything in the bed during the pouring rain, the hard covers are the way to go. Once they see that it's actually a strong structural member that you can stand on their tune usually changes. Well, except for the plastic dislike. And to that complaint I always suggest that they can paint it if they really don't like it and point them to pictures of custom AVs here that have.

 
Funny...the title of your post was exactly what I thought the first time I saw one. Now it would take Seal Team 6 to get my AV away from me >:D
 
Yeah.. me too. When I first saw the 2002 AV, I really hated it. I think for me, the light grey cladding kept me away. I still don't like it, but the darker cladding with the DGM sold me. (I always liked versatility.) I think the WBH looks too pedestrian.

My 0.02

-Ed
 
teksavy said:
Yeah.. me too. When I first saw the 2002 AV, I really hated it. I think for me, the light grey cladding kept me away. I still don't like it, but the darker cladding with the DGM sold me. (I always liked versatility.) I think the WBH looks too pedestrian.

My 0.02

-Ed
Click to expand...

I was the opposite. Back when the Av first came out I was taking my Tahoe in for an oil change to Mac Haik in Houston. They had a new fangled truck up on the ramp. You know those devices to show the vehicle of the week. I stopped right in the driveway and looked that baby over. Took me nearly a year but I got one.
 
I had only seen the parking lot commercials where a little roadster ends up in the bed of an Av (or was it an EXT?) The first time I saw one for real I thought "What the...??" "Who would want...??" and then started looking closer. A test drive, another look, then another and soon I was making my list to make sure I got exactly the truck I wanted - and by now I was in love with the idea of having one! :love: It took two months to find just what I wanted - I wasn't compromising on anything.

I had one person call it ugly to my face. My reply was "Well, there's no accounting for taste. After all, your Dad married your Mom, didn't he?"
 
some people just don't like anything that is different.my sister could not believe that i got rid of my sts for a funny looking truck.I felt bad at first but guess what she has fallen in love with it.
 
That's so funny. I heard the same thing today also. "You can't haul dirt in it". I just bought my AV last weekend, and I love it. Traded in a 2001 GMC SLT extended cab which was the first truck I'd ever owned. Couldn't get used to the feel of having the bed seperate from the cab. Always seemed to ride funny. And even though it had four "doors", there was never enough room in the back seat. It wouldn't fit in the garage either. Even though I had to give up the leather and some of the other extras for $$$, I still like my AV better than the old GMC.
 
"you can't haul dirt in it..." Ya, like I have an uncontrollable urge to haul "dirt" on a regular basis :rolleyes:
After all, that is the ONLY reason why people buy trucks right? To haul dirt :rolleyes:

Regarding the comment by the yard worker - he probably just prefers a more 'simple' truck, like say a mid 80's 2wd Ranger - with decorative rust on the quarter panels.
 
I had a drunk neighbor tell me the AV is the uglist thing he has ever seen - given that he drives a little import pickup with no engine, he doesn't have much room to talk - I would rather be ugly and cranking up the hgwy at 75mph goint up to 11,000 feet than crawling like a little child in his truck - not to mention how much I can haul, how many people I can seat and places I can go off road.

I let him pass with the comment that is why they make so many different kinds of vehicles :)
 
I TOO DID NOT LIKE ALL THE PLASTIC, BUT IT GROWS ON YOU. TODAY I WAS OFFROADING THROUGH THICK BRUSH, ALL I COULD HERE WAS SCEEEEECH, AND I THOUGHT TO MY SELF WELL THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS TO TRUCKS THAT GO OFF ROAD. WHEN I GOT HOME AND WASHED HER UP ONLY ONE FAINT HAIRLINE SCRATCH ON THE PAINT, THE CLADDING TOOK THE BRUNT OF THE ABUSE. LETS SEE ANY OTHER TRUCK COME BACK THAT UNSCATHED. ;D
 
joelis said:
"you can't haul dirt in it..." ?Ya, like I have an uncontrollable urge to haul "dirt" on a regular basis :rolleyes:
After all, that is the ONLY reason why people buy trucks right? ?To haul dirt ?:rolleyes:

Regarding the comment by the yard worker - he probably just prefers a more 'simple' truck, like say a mid 80's 2wd Ranger - with decorative rust on the quarter panels.
Click to expand...
I LOVE THIS NEW COLOR IF THEY HAD IT WHEN I GOT MINE THAT WOULD BE MY COLOR. (OF COURSE WITH CLADDING).
 
i could care less as to what people think/say. usually the ones that say it are not driving anything that could even compare. if they have a vehicle at all.
 
What did he drive, a Ranger?

teksavy said:
... was what I heard today from a heavily tattooed yard worker at the local rental yard.

You see, he was telling his "co-worker" this with me in earshot. At the time I was reaching into my handy-dandy side compartment to pull out the ball hitch to lock into the towing receiver.

He went on to tell his workmate that "it" wasn't a "real truck" and that "you can't even haul dirt in it". After backing my rig to the trailer, I "enlightened him" with the facts. I went on to tell him that people either like or don't like the plastic cladding and that's why Chevy now offers the AV in the WBH package. He seemed interested at first, but then asked if "that thing" is still on it- pointing to the sail panels, tailgate and covers. I said "yes".

He wasn't pleased and said that "I don't like it". I replied "like I said, you either like it or you don't". And went on my way.

Funny, but that is the first negative comment I've received on my truck. Didn't bother me one bit. Which is kinda surprising as no one likes to hear bad things about their baby. But in retrospect, I don't place a lot of value in an opinion coming from a man with a swastika tattooed on his hand.

-Ed

PS:An interesting post-script to this story. When I returned to drop off the rental equipment, what did I see in the parking lot? A 2002 white Z71. A nice treat as you don't see many AVs around here. Of course I left a CAFCNA color flyer on their windshield. :)
Click to expand...
 
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