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Your First Avalanche Encounter

midlifecrisis

midlifecrisis

Charter Member
SM 2003
Full Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2002
Messages
3,580
Location
New Jersey - Exit 5
In early 2001, I had read about the Av concept and the fact that they were actually bringing it to production. I thought to myself - what a cool idea! Then in July of last year, I was at a local farm fair with my family. Under one of the big tents, a Chevy dealer had a bunch of vehicles on display. I checked out all the vehicles I already knew about. And then I got to the last vehicle in the back corner of the tent. There sat a beautiful and beastly piece of steel and plastic. My family and I sat in the Av for a good half hour trying out all the different seats and the midgate, tailgate, etc.

I knew at that moment that I wanted an Av. But realistically I didn't think I could ever afford one.

Well, 8 months later, thanks to savings, a good trade in value, GM Supplier discount, $2002 rebate and 5.9% financing, I took possession of my black Z71, fulfilling my original dream!

So next week it will be one year to the day that I interacted with an Av for the first time. Gee, I wonder what vehicle the dealer will have this time at the farm fair! :love:
 
The 1st time I saw the Avalanche was at the Portland Auto Show it was a Pewter Z66 with Sports Leather seating I came home and ordered one I have now had it a year and have 22K miles I love it I am looking at geting a 2003 later on.
 
I first saw it on the cover of Road and Track or something similar. It was the red concept vehicle. At first I said, "what the heck is that?" Then I saw more pictures and read the specs. I thought, "o.k. cool - midgate".

Then at the Sacramento County Fair I saw a pewter AV on display. It was corded off to the public, but I could still see and touch it. Then I thought, "look at the size of this thing! Wow, 4 doors and it's a truck too!".

It then and there became my dream UV.
 
I have to admit that I was a convert. I was just about convinced I needed a Suburban or an K2500HD to replace my aging K2500. The Chev dealership I drive by every day had a corner of building surrounded by Avs one day. I didn't think much of the looks initially. I heard about the midgate and became intrigued enough to stop in and drive one by August. By December I was having to talk myself out of one! In February I bought one! Now I think it is about the coolest truck on the road!
 
I saw the concept truck at the Auto Show in LA California. I kinda liked what I saw but had no idea it would sneak up on me and buy one.
 
I was a measly little stockboy at Eckerd Drug Store in 97, and avoiding work as usual by reading through Motor Trend. Then I saw it. One of the first concept drawings of the Av. Hook, line and sinker, it had me. That day I told myself that one day I would own one. Well 4 years later the dream came true a lot sooner than I had expected with my black Z-71 beauty in August '01.
 
I had been driving a Sport Trac for almost 2 years. I was, and still am, a member of mysporttrac.com. I saw a lot of posts about the "crapalanche", and couldn't understand while so many guys were always bashing such a cool looking truck. I stopped at a local Checy dealership 3 weeks ago, just out of curiosity. I had no intentions of buying one. Well, I took one out for a test drive, and the rest is history. I was hooked! I've owned the Av for 2 weeks now, and we've already taken it on a vacation trip from Pittsburgh to Gatlinburg via Nashville. The Av is great! It has far exceeded my expectations. When I first took delivery, I was afraid I had made a mistake because of the size. It took a while to get used to it. I wish it was a few inches narrower, I have to fold in the drivers side mirror to get in my garage. I'll be looking for a power folding morror. Anyhow, this is a great group, and the Av is a great truck. I'm glad to be part of both!
 
Brett, glad to have a convert here. I too thought the SportTrac was a pretty neat idea but it was too small for people hauling and the box was too small for any real hauling. I had an Expedition which was great so I won't Ford-bash. But that was over-kill and more truck than we needed. The Av is perfect for my family of four. I have towed a few times and hauled many HUGE trips from Home Depot.

First saw the Av at last year's Brickyard 400. Wife and I knew from that moment on that it would replace our leased Expedition. We have never been happier. In fact, as I have stated here before, she used to roll her eyes or give me "the look" at the "mods" I had done to my truck. Now that we are seeing more Avs around, she does compliment how well ours stands out from a regular Av. Heck, all I have done is the amber DRL upgrade, stripeman letters, flag bowtie and a few other small changes. She felt like quite the queen when I Zaino'd here 200 Grand Am this past weekend. Now she is afraid to get it dirty!

Jamie
 
I saw a pipc of the AVY in "Design News" back in 2000 I think and said I gotta have one of those.....Well now I do!!!! >:D
 
Saw the commercial and knew I wanted one....

Perfect mix between the SUV I wanted and the Truck we needed.


:love: :love:
 
First encounters were with the concept Av in auto rags . . . first sighting was about a year ago - a black Z71 in the parking lot at the gym that I frequent. Took a test drive in a Z66 a few weeks after that - then waited a bit for 0% financing to purchase my Z71 in December.
 
Shut up. Just shut up! You had me at, "hello." You had me at, "hello!" :love:

Credit goes to Jerry MacGuire for the above quote but the first time I saw an Avalanche was when my Montana was brought in for what seemed like the 1000th time for service. They had a black North Face right next to the service department. I was an owner two weeks later...
 
First look was in the auto mags. First real sighting was about a year ago in the parking lot at work. At that point began to ponder them. I was considering a shortbed extended cab pickup (don't have family, but like to haul more than 1 or 2 friends around pretty often)...but then I really wanted a long bed for home depot and big camping trips (we take a TON of junk camping!)

Got to play with one a few months later at a local car show and was hooked!
 
My first sighting was at the Minneapolis auto show. It was going into production that spring and they wouldn't let us get too close. By that time their orders were already filled. Had to wait a year or so but I got mine now. :)
 
I forgot to mention in my first post that we went to the Philadelphia Auto Show in January. When we got to the Avalanche display, we hung out in the 3 Avs for about an hour. Everone was getting irked at us because we wouldn't get out of the display Avs. We checked out every little detail posssible except test driving it!

A month later I got bored at work so I left early, went home, picked up the wife and went Av shopping. We test drove the Av, but they didn't have the color we wanted with the options. But the black Av we test drove was available and had the exact option packages and configuration we wanted. We had to return home to pick up the kids from school, so we pondered whether or not to buy. It was Feb. 28, the last day of the $2002 rebate and great financing.

As I sat on the couch looking over the dealer brochure and debating a purchase, my wife got upset and said "you better buy that truck after making me go all the way to the dealer for a test drive". Well that settled it! I was on the phone within a minute telling the salesman he had a sale. A couple hours later I was driving the Av home! I'm so glad my wife can be assertive when she needs to be! ;D
 
Thanks for the warm welcome to the Avalanche family. I've started on a few minor mods already. I added a set of vent visors, and have a bed slide on order. I'm looking at the amber DRL mod, and want to find a way to have the fog lights come on automatically with the running lights or headlights. I always forget to hit the button. Other mods on the wish list include the electric tailgate lock and mud flaps. There seems to be a ton of information here, all I have to do is sort through it all.
 
Like a first kiss, seeing my first AV is something I will not forget. There was a prototype on display at a waterfront music festival.

I felt sorry for the model 'showing' the AV. There had to have been a dozen guys drooling over the AV. The questions we asked were answered with a classic deer-in-the-headlights-stare. :eek:

I signed up for the info mailer packet. ...you know, I still haven't taken that matchbox AV out of her box. She sits over my computer monitor at work inspiring me. :love:
 
pdxkevin said:
I signed up for the info mailer packet. ?...you know, I still haven't taken that matchbox AV out of her box. She sits over my computer monitor at work inspiring me. :love:
Click to expand...
PDX, don't open that box! Matchbox, Hot Wheels, etc. are much more valuable as collectibles if they are in an unopened package. I bought 5 of them and still haven't opened one.
 
Originally, I hated Av's... Too ugly, too much (non body color) plastic... too expensive... I saw one at work here every day to remind me how much I disliked them.

Well... When I got into the market to buy something new, I was looking at four-door trucks. I decided to check out the Av a bit further. The first time I gave one a serious look was maybe two months ago. "Wow, that's cool. Whoa, it does that? No way, it comes wit this?"

To me, it's a lot like the story of the ugly duckling...
 
First saw the AV concept on Car and Driver tv program and was hooked. Couldn't get enough info and was all over the net reading everything I could find about it. Waited impatiently until they were available in July '01 but was unable to get the deal I need to get out of my Tahoe. Thankfully, in March '02 found my dream Z66 AV through GMbuypower and made the deal over the phone with the dealer sight unseen. Have no regrets and am much happier with this vehicle than I ever was with my Tahoe.
 
Read the apparently infamous Avalanche review in Car and Driver and thought, "hey, this sounds cool." About a week later, on a Saturday, I saw a pewter Z66 on the dealer's lot (the only one they had) and thought, "hey, this is cool."

On Sunday I went to another dealer looking for a four-wheel drive model and the chance to crawl around it without being bothered. But due to sticker shock, I told myself all day Monday and Tuesday I didn't need one. On Wednesday, I went and test drove a Z71. On Thursday, I brought it home.

Curse those two days of attempted self-delusion.
 
I noticed that you thought the tailgate would be nice with an electric lock. that has been my only complaint about mine. Have you found anywhere to get a kit to upgrade to this.
 
First saw an Avy a year ago at my Dentist's parking lot. Thought "wow, what a hugh monster". Fast forward 10 months and I became a proud owner. As in the old saying "3 weeks ago, I couldn't spel selsman, and now I are one". Go figure.

To Brett: Did I miss a meeting - What is a bedslide?.
 
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