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Z71 vs. LTZ ride?

H

hrdude

New Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2007
Messages
6
Has anyone driven both the Z71 and LTZ w/Autoride and can comment on the ride & handling differences??
I have driven the new Z71 and found the ride to be slightly floaty and it had some body roll or lean in the turns.? I realize this is a truck but I am wondering if the ride and handling are different in the LTZ with the Autoride suspension??
Thanks
 
I drove both and found that the LTZ was too soft and floated around. The Z71 was stiffer and you have better feel of the truck. Just my opinion.
 
Havn't driven a Z71, but have driven an LT and have owned a couple previous LT trucks.  I just got the LTZ with autoride.  I asked a similar question regarding towing performance - I found the LT to be a bit too soft for towing.  I really like the autoride suspension.  It is firm but adapts to road imperfections quickly and softens the holes and bumps.  The autolevel feature is great if you tow or haul heavy loads.  Try to drive one if you can, I was impressed on the testdrive. 
 
I test drove an LT and ordered an LTZ because I wanted the load-leveling capabilities for towing.  Well that and it's the only way to get the 6.0.  I'd say the difference in feel is relatively minimal, certainly not a nigh-and-day difference.  Both are an immense improvement over the GMT800 ride.  But the autoride sure is nice to have when I'm towing or hauling.
 
The LTZ is not the only way to get the 6.0L. It can be had with the LT3, and includes the Autoride suspension as well w/ the LT3 package.
 
I have had both and the Z71 is slightly stiffer. But like some others have said, the LTZ has the load leveling suspension which is great if you tow. Can't go wrong either way!  :B:
 
lmychajluk said:
The LTZ is not the only way to get the 6.0L. It can be had with the LT3, and includes the Autoride suspension as well w/ the LT3 package.
Click to expand...

I knew that it just didn't come out right in my post...thanks for clearing that up.? But I don't think the 6.0 "comes with" the autoride, I believe it requires it.? I think autoride is like an $1100? option on the LT3, on top of the $1095 for the 6.0.? I think if you price it out, it's about $500 cheaper to get a 6.0 LTZ than a 6.0 LT3 with the same options.  Especially considering that you also have to order the trans cooler, 4.10s, and posi to get the 6.0.
 
Yep. I said 'comes with' because I didn't remember the Autoride being a seperate line item on the stickers of the LT3s - I thought it was just 'included' w/ the 6.0L, but I'll take your word for it.
 
I can't comment on avalanche z71 v ltz....but i owned a ford expie EB and a tahoe z71, and my ltz rides ridiculously better than the expie and considerably better than the tahoe....i obviously cant say if its due to frame and suspension changes across the board or just the autoride, but i can tell you id buy the autoride again in a heartbeat.....
 
Drove an LT with the 6.0L and Autoride wearing 17 inch wheels with the stock Goodyear Wrangler HPs back-to-back with a 5.3L LTZ over the weekend. Aside from deciding that the 6.0L is a must have for me, at 6000ft, I was stunned to discover how much difference the wheel/tire combination makes. I'd expected some, but nothing like this. The LT with the 17 inchers was floaty to the point of "I couldn't live with this on a bet" at legal highway speed; 75 mph. The LTZ with the 20 inchers and?the short sidewall Bridgestones was rock solid stable; at least for a three ton, coil sprung truck. Sure nice to know for when I order out my '08 AV.
 
to fix sway and float go with hotchkis towing packing sway bars and trail arms this will help big time.... i know this becouse i did it to my 05 Z71 and am very impressed

i waz at chevy.com and built a Z71 4x4 i picked the 6.0 option 4.10 and all the upgrades avaible i was shocked to b able to pick the 6.0 enging now only if gm can roll out the 6speed tranny guess ill wait till 09 for this option :B:
 
Ohhh just go ahead and get everything, it's just an extra payment or two... or three.... maybe four....HEY! where did that extra fifth payment come from  :p
 
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