caddycruiser

Yeah, the outside is actually a little bit more odd, but the interior looks dramatically better--even just seeing the dash. Actually, as far as the front fascia, it almost looks like they had to use an old part (the bumper) and after changing the grille, were left with that odd notch in there...hmm... I looked at one of these again at the auto show this weekend, and I still really like the out there, very roomy design, but didn't like the excess cheapness of a lot of the interior--sort of a Nissan trademark in the past couple of years. Still has a bit of the spaceship thing going on, but it now looks to be toned down a few degrees, and looks a little more luxurious instead of overly out there. Same basic structure inside, just a little finer tuning, I'd say. Then again, fixed up a bit, and made just a bit more "normal", they might actually increase the sales quite a bit.

I like the "butterfly" or whatever else you guys are calling them (attached, one on the left and one on the right, and open out from the center) better too, because they provide a wider, more consistent wipe than the 1-sided mounted ones do.

Yeah, I think that was just a rumor that got spread around too much. As of now, doesn't exist.

That or it may be an aerodynamics thing when the windows (and/or roof) are opened, due to the overall shape of the car.

At least someone else "in the know" is finally commenting about the odd styling. Overall, in CXL or CXS guise and with the chrome wheels and a proper color, it does actually have quite a luxurious presence...but it's still largely just an ovoid blob. Actually, if the center section stayed, and the front end was heavily revamped to be crisper and more chiseled like that of the Velite, and maybe touch up the rear details, it really would be gergeous. Oh, and make the black center stack pieces the same color as the rest of the dash...it sticks out. As is, not bad at all, but not stimulating at all either, except for looking very nice in fully loaded garb. Moreso, I still don't get why so few people comment on the strangely undetailed front, in particular. Terrific quality, refinement, and equipment, but still ho-hum in the looks...not bold like it really could stand to be, and really get people to notice.

Yes, that'd be awesome if one day the legend was reincarnated, but I doubt the chances of a coupe ever being released again. A supercharged Light Jadestone Metallic one would also be awesome! I LOVE cars that are rare, by way of their color and option combination--just a really, really cool thing to have. Sorta like my one '93 Fleetwood that's white (common) with Garnet Red leather (very, very rare). Makes an already rare car even more unique :AH-HA_wink:

Well, it will at least be interesting to see if IT is any different...since the Avalanche's was said to be, and isn't. I still really like the front of the Tahoe and Av though, a bit moreso than the GMC. Then again, this still comes off as snazzier and tougher, at least to me: I hate cladding too, but this was one vehicle it was actually done right on and served a real function. As a past owner, I LOVED having it there, simply because it made exterior maintenance that much easier, plus was scratch and dent resistant. Just made it seem like even more of a tough, cool "military" vehicle to me, especially in black But after seeing a Tahoe in person, the interior and also the exterior quality is so extremely far ahead and advanced over the GMT-800 trucks, I could easily give in to a bit more staid styling to enjoy the rest. The new ones are SO, SO much nicer in most every regard.

Well, basically it is the same, save for a few little electronic and minor design differences to incorportate the VVT. Every review I've seen says it's actually pretty zippy and gets the car going well, in addition to being extremely stingy with gas. The extra little boost from the VVT probably helps a little too, so I do wonder why they don't use this same version in all the 3.5L engined cars.

I still agree, but so many things were still soft touch in the Tahoe's I crawled in (it wasn't like one random squishy piece here and there), that it all came off well. That, and even on some of the harder things, the raised pebble surface just seemed to make them a little forgiving too. Regardless, there wasn't a single competing vehicle I looked at that came even close, save for some of the higher end luxo boats. As for the Caddy, that seems true too, even from my view only inspection. Definately looked a notch or two up on other Caddy's, even the DTS and STS. On the other hand, I was shocked at how bad the SRX was, as opening the door on one of those had me seeing things and feeling things that, somehow, I didn't notice before...WOW, does that thing have some cheap linings inside :o

Something tells me they're going to look quite "clunky", and not nearly as svelte and nicely trimmed as the current models do. Plus, DCX interiors lately just seem to keep going down grade after grade with every new intro (save for the Aspen, which is very nice)...and from the older spy pics that showed a glimpse of the dash, it didn't look so hot. A higher level of refinement will be terrific, but things like the interior quality NEED to go up considerably if its ever going to have any considerable sales numbers...something the current car never achieved.

Yeah, and it still has sort of a fat or melted blob look to it, that should never be true of a GMC. Still think it looks a lot like a Buick from the front (not that it should be that way either). Still looks very nice in person, but something is "odd" from a dead-on frontal view.

The reason those exist is because of the show "Amazing Race". A month or so ago when it was on, GM sponsored them, and on one show that was specifically sponsored by the Lucerne, the contestants had to do something on a gold course that required riding around on golf carts--carts which GM had made as little Lucernes. Then, in the end, the winner of that round actually one a new real Lucerne. So, that's actually why they exist. Reminds me of the '93-96 Cadillac Fleetwood (my car) ones they made several years ago for Florida retirees who were infatuated with the car and wanted a mini version they could tool around in their communities with.

What I REALLY want to see in person is an LS or a 1LT with cloth seats and not a lot of options, just to get a feel for if the interiors come off as much different without the buttery leather. Well, that, and I think the newer soft cloth they started using in things like the Impala and Lucerne is awful, and wonder if it's the same in a Tahoe.

Had, I think, (3) Tahoe LTZ's, and then 1 or 2 regular Yukons (no Denali) and 1 Escalade, but both the GMC and Caddy were up on those platforms you're not supposed to climb on. I could see, from it open, that the GMC isn't at all any different from the Chevy except for some minor details--but I still really liked it, at least in person, and the front doesn't come off as being as much of a fat blob as it does in person. The Escalade was on a very small platform, with all the doors open, so I got a very close view of that one. It was definately a lot different, and though it has the same overall structure and mechanicals of the Chevy and GMC, the interior looked a LOT different. Very, very Caddy-specific, both in the smoother graining of the materials, and the layout of the dash. For instance, while the Chevy and GMC use more of a "pebbled" surface for most all of the plastics, the Caddy looked to be a lot like a Lexus, with smoother surfaces. I'm almost certain the Escalade there didn't have a Nav, because I distinctly remember a sort of "blank spot" look to a part of the center stack, but I could be mistaken. Didn't stick out, at least not as much as it seems to in pics. In the Caddy, all the fits and finishes looked equal to those in the Chevy's, except for a more flush unison of the lower center dash and center console in the Caddy, since it doesn't offer a bench seat option like the others. Not that I even noticed this at all when I was crawling through the Chevy's, just something I remember from some posted pics before, and saw again from my lower view of the Escalade. Having seen them all, I think for the price, I'd take a well-optioned Chevy or GMC, because they just look and feel rich beyond the price in person. Not that the Caddy is anything to scoff at, just different and priced quite a bit higher, so that was my reaction...I'd probably take one of those instead, if I were to hit the Powerball tonight :AH-HA_wink:

Well, under my scrutiny, I never noticed that, and it LOOKED soft at least, so that's a definate improvement. Even if everything was hard as a rock, then it'd be a carbon copy of most BMW's...which tend to use identical textures, but pretty much all rock hard, non-pliable pieces. And no one complains about those. Like I said, they aren't Maybachs, but they're easily the best, by far, in their class. And, in higher end guise, or at least with the leather and wood, just look absolutely stunning inside. One thing that did annoy me, as usual, was this: at the yearly auto show, I like to just "stick around" and listen to what random people say about different cars. And, by far, the things said about certain GM's are always typically off base and sometimes even completely wrong. With the Tahoes in particular, though most people did seem to love them, there were quite a few intent on scrutinizing every single last bolt and nut, just so they could find something to go, "A-ha. I told you they were still cheap", and then walking away to lick up every last Acura and Lexus, even if they themselves had quite a few, very noticeable, cheap details.

I REALLY want to see this thing. The true key to success will be offering a true range of different models, engines, etc., because that along has been a huge factor in both the Tundra and Titan not doing so well.

Good stuff! I'd probably have the same kind of reaction, even after just seeing them immobilized today--the materials and overall quality won me over instantly. I REALLY want to drive one. After seeing the new Suburban today too, there might very well be another one in mom's future, as long as one is in the proper price range by trade time. Actually, on that note, I'm hoping that they might start offering the power liftgate from 1LT models and up, so one can get a cloth-interiored LT with a wide assortment of options, plus that feature. I could see keeping it out of the LS, but it's just too useful and admittedly, simple, of a feature to only leave available for a few top models. Haha...actually, that was what I had the most fun with today at the show--seeking out all the ute's and wagons that have powered liftgates just so I could play with the buttons :)

Sounds great to me. Our '04 is still a generally solid, quiet, and smooth piece, but doesn't stand out in any one of those categories, especially not the solid. Not Nissan-grade as far as rattly, bubble-gum stuck together, but still not even as tanklike as a friend's '00 Durango I rode in years ago--in comparison, while that thing was silent and seemed "carved out of one piece" over the nastiest of pavement, the Suburban jiggles a bit more, has "tiny" rattles, and does actually seem like a bunch of different pieces put together--a generally solid truck, but not to the same degree. If the new ones have everything they have going for them just sitting still, like I experienced today, but also finally have that "tank" feel to them, plus a lot sharper brakes and steering, that's AWESOME :AH-HA_wink:

Precisely. Only thing is, in the various LTZ's that were there at least, they looked to be of an even HIGHER grade than the BMW's. Why? Everything had exactly the same texturing and the wood grain was virtually identical, but they also had a touch more luxurious softness added in. Just terrific. Everyone there who was looking seemed to think and say the same thing, except for one odd guy who pointed the truck out to a friend and then approached saying "Everything is a lot nicer, but, well, you know, there's still a few cheap things here and there." I crawled through VW's, MB's, Lexus's, BMW's, etc., this morning, and never could pick out one thing in any of those that stood out over this Chevy interior. And in the Chevy specifically, I opened, closed, banged on, tapped, stared at, etc., and nothing jumped out. Anyone who says anything different is crazy, seriously. Comparing it to competiting big utes, it REALLY stood out. I rate them in this order, judging on overall finish, materials, solidity, etc: 1. Tahoe/Yukon (2007) 2. Navigator (2006) 3. Expedition (2006) 4. Durango 5. Armada 6. Seqouia/Yukon (2006) tie As for last, the Sequoia just has pathetic interior styling and okay, but not standout materials. Its dash is also the worst, from a look standpoint. The current/old gen Yukon then, isn't exactly barf-worthy, but, well, is pretty horrible in terms of finish and quality inside. Ergonomics are still good, but the thin, cheap, poorly fitting days are certainly over with now--good riddens! Not saying they're Maybach'ss, but boy do the GM's ever impress :cheers:

I must say, I was HIGHLY skeptical, but the vehicle that insanely impressed me at the Philly Auto Show today was the new Tahoe, by far. The 3rd seat is still awful, and not fit for humans, but EVERYTHING, and I mean EVERYTHING is worlds ahead of the old trucks. It'd really be embarrassing to park, say, our '04 Suburban next to one and compare...mainly because there is no comparison at all. The impression I got was that it was as if GM has done all the mechanicals and general layout (hence the live axle rear, and lack of room inside back there), but that if someone like Audi or MB had been sourced for the interior. The leather was actually soft leather, and not stiff vinyl like the current crap, the plastics and colors were simply gorgeous, and everything fit, opened, and closed like you would expect on some high end Audi or MB sedan. Just incredible, and trust me, I can't stand most of what GM does...i.e., things like the Lucerne still didn't impress me. Even seemed a notch up from some of the typically incredible VW's and BMW's I looked at. Overall, their "worth" is now a lot closer to what the actual sticker says, and not as completely out of line as I had thought. Still a bit high when it comes to getting people to sign on the line, but there wasn't a single competitor I looked at that even came close in terms of the overall polish. Wow, just wow...and I might even be able to get over the whole 3rd seat sucking thing (well, not really, but could at least deal with it), because the rest is so damn nice. I can't even believe our '04 came from the same company...it looks and feels like a product from 15 years and several bankrupties ago.... :o

Yep, that was sort of a quote from Newbiewar (works at a dealer) on the Chevy truck board: "what is rumored is that the 4.8 LS will be a definite "Stripper" model, and might hold a tag as low as 29k... but fuel ecconomy will suffer as will power. also payloads will suffer on the 4.8"

Yep. I couldn't even begin to tell you why they insist on using the 4.8L, other than the fact that they're planning on models with it being more stripped than a typical LS, and will start at a lower MSRP. So, in essence, the only point of keeping the 4.8L around is so they can get a lower starting MSRP and be able to say "Our new Tahoe/Yukon starts under $XXXX..."....forgetting to mention the fact that it, even as a base with a smaller engine, gets worse fuel economy than the other models

Sounds pretty accurate. The Series II 3.8L has had a TON of problems with the intake manifolds cracking/breaking (made out of plastic...improperly), and that is probably the one major downfall that engine had for quite a few years until they released the Series III, apparently with that issue fixed. As for the 3500, it always seemed like a great motor, but now that it's been dead for a while, it does seem to be having some problems with higher mileage (just from my brief 'net owners search). Not major issues, but various bugs with leaks, bad sensors, etc. It was smoother and sounded better than the 3.8L, and was more "up top" than the down low pulling torque of the 3.8L. I too was considering buying a used Intrigue for quite some time, after I first drove my grandmother's '99 GX with the 3.8L and fell in love, but then changed my mind and went a completely different route. Still like them a lot, though.

As god awful as the Ion is/was from a quality and refinement standpoint, the styling seemed to be the main thing that the mags always harped on...only to see, now a few years later, that Honda and even Nissan (to a lesser extent, but still noticeable) can come out with almost an identical looking little sedan, just a bit odder, and it's all of a sudden just "unique" looking... With those front end pics, I'd really like to get a measuring tape and ruler out and see just HOW close they really are...

I agree, and those base TB's (and now '06 Tahoe/Suburban LS's) do look completely cheaped out, even just because of the strip being gone. Compare to this white '06 LS, in which they made side moldings optional, for whatever reason...but it also has a contour line/crease in the sheetmetal there, so it doesn't seem as naked: I don't think the '07 LS looks bad, per say, but it definately could use a body-color strip on the side...REALLY looks like a stripper model without. On this LT, the simple molding does actually make a big difference: