caddycruiser

Really?! Wow, that's interesting...just thinking in engineering terms alone, a difference in design THAT significant is usually planned and incorporated from day one...and doesn't get tossed out later in terms of time. Hmm...I'd like to research this one, especially since GM will continue to take quite a bit of flack for not doing a whole lot to upgrade the interior flexibility in these things, just like DCX did with the '01-04 minivans. And we now how that one turned out...can you say "Stow N' Go"

Yeah, actually better buy some new stuff. Only use a quality sheepskin or cotton chenille wash mit, no old rags, wash from top to bottom, dry CAREFULLY with quality cotton or special towels, and then use a quality polish/wax...and do everything in STRAIGHT lines, gently. You probably already knew some of that, but I hate seeing people who buy expensive or large new black vehicles and then have them looking like crap with swirl marks and scratches all over the place, because they're too lazy to care for it properly...or just like running through the "Scratch-a-matic" car wash once a week. Good luck with it!

Yeah, actually, I've seen about 5 on the roads (3 of which had larger chrome aftermarket wheels), and all looked really good. Easily one of, if not the, best looking small truck (particularly in the higher trim levels), and MUCH better than the Dakota, even inside. That is a shame, but I think it's a combination of no marketing and some people still just buying the Dodge instead...even if the Mitsu version offers more, and looks better.

I think that would look really strange...the lighter color is always on things like the seats and rest of the "lower half" of the interior, with the top trimmed out in the darker shade (which does happen to be black a lot). So far, I've seen them all in person, and I'd have to say the Cashmere/Ebony would be my top choice, followed by the gray, then the all black.

Have already seen a couple down here in southern Delaware, the last being a black on black model with the standard silver 18" wheels...which looked A-W-F-U-L. Really, out of all the changes, the fact that they chose such a plain/ugly standard wheel design that really looks smaller than the 18" it really is, is beyond me. Of course, a lot of buyers do swap them out, but the majority still keep them stock...with the last gen's 17" chromes being very popular. Other than thost nasty Buick-looking wheels, it was beautiful :AH-HA_wink:

Ebony refers to the black/really dark charcoal sections of the interior...

Mom WANTS one, apparently a lot more so than I knew. In between the time I was last home (mid January) and now, apparently her and my father have seen quite a few on the roads. So, driving home from Philly yesterday in the '04 Burban (she was doing 93 on one stretch for a while, until either of us noticed... ...SO smooth, even more so than I always remember), she started asking me about the new ones. "I've seen the new Tahoes and I LOVE them. Are the Suburbans out yet? What about the Yukon XL's? GM just bumped my GM card earnings up to $2k and sent me a special discount for the new '07s--figures, when I'm not in the market." Before she got the Suburban, it was really a Yukon XL she wanted, but our dealer couldn't swap for the right one, so I guess that's the reason behind the interest in the GMC. After getting my car towed to the GM dealer today (long story...), my dad then was a little too willing to see the new Yukons and Tahoes, looking inside and underneath...thinks the Tahoe looks better, as do I, at least from the front. So, after first not having much of a reaction to the pics I showed back in October, she apparently would trade her '04 that just turned over 30k yesterday for a new '07 in a heartbeat, if it was paid off. Then saw a new '07 Bermuda Blue Tahoe LT turning around just down from the dealer, apparently fueling up for the new buyer, and she went "Oooh...look, there's one. I love them, but not that color. Give me a new white one." Guess I know, for sure now, what the next main vehicle in the family stable will be...and I'm still going to guess an '09 again, like I had before. Hopefully, by then, they'll have sorted out a few options and things, and you'll be able to get the Power Liftgate on ALL LT's, and not just leather seated ones (DUMB)....because that's a MUST have, but only if with cloth seats.

Avalanche production starts on April 3, so it should be a couple of weeks after that for when the first lot models start popping up. http://fleetnews.gmcanada.com/news_flash/e...shtml#TopOfPage

Well, you can't have a mix of names and letter/number combos under the same brand...the only exception being Caddy with the Escalade, for obvious reasons.

Very cool...even if they do get outrun a lot on pavement But, they will sure be able to go places no Crown Vic or Impala ever dreamed...not that I could really see when chasing a criminal through the wilderness and over boulders was ever a concern...

Sounds great. Can't wait to check one out, even though it should be pretty much identical to the Tahoes I've been in, just with some actual people and cargo room in the back. Only thing is, we probably won't seriously consider replacing the '04 for at least a few more years, and even then, the transaction price will hopefully come down...like, for instance, we paid $30k even for our unusually loaded 2wd LS that had a sticker of $40k. With similar equipment, I'm guessing the sticker on a new '07, for example, would be right around $39-40k again, but without much discount. At that price, it's not worth it...even as much as I do love the materials, design, etc. I'm thinking, maybe, '09 will be the year of replacement...maybe...

Yeah, that's a pretty accurate take on it. Sticker shock is still going to happen quite a bit until the rebates start over again (I just have a feeling it'll be like the GMT-800's....MSRP's start out okay, then every year just keep going up and up, until you NEED a minimum of a $5k rebate to get people looking). Right now, they are class leading in most aspects, and will probably stay that way for a while. But, as I've said before, dropping a few grand off of even these MSRP's would only help matters that much more...especially when most competitor's still start out lower with similar equipment.

I would. I love their vehicles, especially the level of general design and engineering that goes into making them so Germanic for mostly reasonable prices....I just wish they could get their overall reliability/real-world quality up to typical perception levels. A co-worker with a '99 Passat V6 had the car until 95k last summer with no issues whatsoever (only a check engine light twice in the 6 years, due to a bad sensor) and then replaced it with a last gen '05 Jetta TDI diesel which has also been trouble-free so far. She loves the styling and interiors, and just the way they drive, so continues to buy them and has never had a problem. I've driven both, and was seriously considering buying a used model Passat there for a while, even with the typical bugs, since I loved it so much. VW seems to know how to do things right, but then at the same time still falls short in a few areas...take care of that, and get back to a little more interesting vehicles that are "people priced" and market share will rise again. As is, a Jetta that looks like your neighbor's hum-drum Corolla and has a noisy, weird 5-cylinder in it doesn't help matters...even as just one example.

Oh yeah, with December, you'll be PERFECT. They'll have been out for some months, and you'll be able to see them fully, as long as order exactly what you want and have some time leeway. I just hope the improvements are REALLY worthwile and not just a few minor things here and there.

Exactly. I just saw it mentioned on a Sunday morning show, I think, and they talked about how the "always finding better ways" mantra at Toyota led them to a new engine manufacturing process that cut costs but improved quality....that pretty much summed it up, and is what is being discussed here.

Wouldn't think so...Chrysler generally doesn't offer different steering wheels across the same model.

It actually is a very nice looking SUV, and not anymore badge engineered than a new '07 Yukon is vs. a Tahoe....actually it's a little more differentiated than those, in truth. Very nice upgrade from the already nice, if a tiny bit cheap, Durango, which is a terrific truck otherwise.

Sounds great! I always wanted one of those too :AH-HA_wink:

Should just be a couple of months, as I had last heard early/mid summer time, just a little after the Suburban/Yukon XL/Escalade ESV on which they're based...if not at the same time. These other "long ones" are supposed to be available pretty soon themselves, but GM has yet to put pricing on them yet...

Yeah, they said until they get them fully intro'd and then maybe a couple of more months, the RT will only first come as an AWD model with CVT. But then FWD and a stick will soon come standard, once they get everything rolled out.

What price a dealer sets has nothing to do with it. Very, very, very few people have ever paid that, and of those who did, it's a tiny minority of stupidity. Kind of like starting a whole thread on a stock Solstice being worth $40k just because a couple of dealers are asking that... Now discussing the car alone, and it's merits, that's totally acceptable on the other hand...at least a few people are doing that.

Most always, yes. I just wanted to point out above how so many people, especially on this board, tend to always jump up and say "they hate everything domestic and Toyota/BMW feeds them $$$ by the duffle bag full" kind of garbage, when it can't be further from the truth. Regardless, can't wait to see how the professional reviews of the Caddy turn out, as it always is just a tad upgraded in most regards over even the Denali.

I'll refrain from saying much more than I think the Charger SRT-8 is an AMAZING car, and unless you've driven or ridden in one, you have NO place to talk. Similarly, who in the hell starts a thread about a car being worth it's $44k price when it can't even be stickered that high? Enough said...

Like I said, there's similarities in the overall presense and style, but they do NOT share much of anything, except for the names. Same way any typical old gen compares to a new gen of the same model...completely different, but a somewhat familiar look. I know what you're talking about, as far as the overall look inside and out, but there's a lot more to a car than the looks...like the frame, suspension, powertrains, etc., which are all completely different in this case. The new '07s are the biggest departure they've ever had from before, no doubt, but the overall stance and demeanor is a lot closer to the '00-06 models, at least outside, then the old '90s gen are to them.

I know the increased engine size and power output makes a big difference, but so does that 6-spd...finally allowing proper gear spacing. Can't wait until it actually gets spread across the line, so even the menial 5.3L can be a bit snappier and have 2 more ratios to choose from when needed. On the other hand...to all you guys who seem to always say most mags, C&D in particular, always hate everything domestic...this is yet ANOTHER example of how you're completely wrong. What sucks gets called out and what's good gets recognized...simple as that :AH-HA_wink: