5.3Avalanche

Are buyers people who have bought one or people who are in the market for one? Very interesting nontheless. Thanks.

As far as cladding goes, I see way more units with cladding than without. And unless you can show me where GM said that 80% of buyers don't like the cladding, then I'm going to call this BS. If you've ever gone offroad with sticks and other brush rubbing the side or even in the Wal-Mart parking lot, you know that the cladding is a great idea in that is extremely durable and also makes the truck look beefier. If 80% of the buyers didn't like it, why didn't they just by the WBH Avalanche?

Two suggestions about improving this truck from personal experience. 1. The seats seem to be inadequate. For short trips they're fine, but sit in them for 2+ hours and they really demonstrate how they need more support. They just aren't big enough physically which seems to be the obvious problem but is excusable since the truck isn't very wide. I wonder if shrinking the Avalanche/Silverado seats would be possible as those are beautiful seats that are extremely comfortable. 2. The transmission although extremely smooth, seems to be geared far too high. Though this may get the truck good mileage, it isn't the best for those of us that want to accelerate quickly or pass. Under average acceleration from a stoplight, the current 3.5 in the crew cab with the 4speed auto is perfect. But tach out the shifts and you notice what's wrong. At redline in 1st gear, the truck has just hit 80 kmph (50 mph). This is an extremely fast first gear! Shifting into second is smooth but the rpm drop is just too much and the power drop is quite apparent. But, as the rpm's build , the truck starts to accelerate hard again right up to 120 kmph (75 mph). In conclusion, an extra cog in the tranny would pay dividends in the 1-2 shift and the 2-3 shift in the auto transmission. Although the new power is greatly welcomed, a 5-speed auto would just be the icing on the cake for an already great vehilce. Overall thoughts: GM got this truck pretty much perfect in my opinion right from the get-go except for transmission and the seat quality/comfort. The 3.5 engine is beautiful (excellent mileage and power), the interior is logically laid out, looks good and is very funcitonal for various types of people (workers, average city driving person, the adventuresome person etc) and it just looks great overall. In my opinion this is the best midsize on the market, regardless of whether or not the competition has a bigger cab, more pulling capacity, or a V8 option. If you want those features, get a full size...that's why there are different classes of vehicles.

...read the enitre storyhttp://www.autoblog.com/2006/02/08/chicago...olet-avalanche/ The LTZ model did not replace the Z71. The LTZ is just simply a trim package where as the Z71 is an offroad syspension/wheel option. ...read morehttp://www.chevy2007avalanche.com/ Anyway, my point is, there is going to be a Z71, I'm just wondering if any of you have any insight as to the exact specifications of the new truck.

Our dealer in southern Ontario got a new '07 Avalanche in last week. They look so good and high class now. They're presence is very imposing and bad ass.

I'm going to be getting a new 2007 Avalanche soon but can't really make a good decision what model to get. I like the LTZ with the 20" wheels but also like the practicality (and looks) of the cladding on my current model. Has anyone heard anything about the new Z71 Avalanche, and specifically, what kind of wheels, ground clearance, cladding and other features that it's going to have? Why can't GM at least release a simple list of features on the new Z71 Avalanche so that I at least know what I can expect. Instead of blindly awaiting a truck that may not even exist (having the features I've listed above).

How was the power in the '07 Tahoe compared to your (and my) Avalanche with the 5.3?

I completely agree. That interior is absolutely HORRIBLE. Everyone rips on GM trucks, but the newest TOTY looks like crap. Everything about it looks bad. What an ugly truck.

I've owned 3 Avalanches, none of them have leaked. Looking forward to ordering the 4th next year.

Then you can't drive. Cameras are for children.

Just a comment on this statement... If GM buyers are unemotional about what they drive, where does that leave toyota, kia and hyundai buyers? I regard these makes as being highly unemotional. GM seems to be invoking much emotion in their entire lineup as opposed to spurts such as Ford with the Mustang and DX with the 300, magnum, charger. Where should GM be drawing the line between being emotional and being boring. Toyota has a product that doesn't excel at anything, but clearly people flock to buy it, WHY?! There is nothing emotional about a corolla (looks like the nerdy kid from school) but it's popular nonetheless. The market confuses me.

The H3 is a great truck! Hope to pick one up after I get rid of my avalanche.

omg that's HAWT...where do I sign to get one?