Well, I guess the Avalanche is no surprise to anyone. In my opinion, it is GM's answer to the SuperCrew (short bed crew cab). I had wanted to check one out before purchasing my SCrew, but just couldn't wait (not even for one of the original launch dates, back in September, let alone whenever it does finally launch!)

Well, we had one in the office today, and I got to drive it a little, and crawl around it a lot. Though a nice vehicle, I'm glad I ended up with my SCrew. Of course, now that I own the Ford, I'm probably more than a little biased.

I thought I'd post some of my impressions, just in case anyone is doing any research for potential comparison shopping:

1. Typical soft, car-like ride of most of the GM trucks I've driven. I felt somewhat disconnected from the road.
2. Fairly agile, with a pretty decent turn radius.
3. Good coverage with the rear view mirrors, though there still is that blind spot at the back, similar to where the SCrew bed just kind of fades away (tapers). Makes it hard to gauge when you are back far enough.
4. Comfortable front seats. Back seats DO have headrests (learned from Ford and GenIII?) and can be folded down with the headrests still installed. Back seats are more upright than on the SCrew, and headroom was much less. Overall back seat comfort goes to the SCrew.
5. Exterior bed has some nice features - lockable stowage in the bed sides, integrated composite bed liner, standard folding hard cover (similar to SportTrac) - but ends up being rather gimmiky. I like the idea of folding the mid-gate (right behind rear seats) down and therefore having an 8' long bed. My bed extender gets in the way sometimes, but I can live with it.

In summary, the Avalanche is much more SUV than TRUCK, or even SUT (as I refer to my SCrew). Lower step in height, softer feel - and from what I understand - more expensive.

Now, you put the Cadillac version (EXT) up against the Lincoln Blackwood (why, why, WHY, oh FORD?), I just might have to go the other way and pick the GM product. But, if I had THAT much cash sitting around, I'd probably just buy a King Ranch SCrew and a nice boat!

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2001 F150 SuperCrew 4x4 XLT (Gen I), 5.4L, Toreador Red, Dark Graphite Cloth, Moon Roof, 60/40 Bench, 17" 10-spoke wheels, Sliding Rear Window, Remote Keyless Entry, CD Changer, Limited Slip, Bed Extender, Bug Shield, Nerf Bars, Rhino Spray-In Bedliner, Access Roll-Up Tonneau Cover

 

Well said JS.
I also knew it was on the horizon and followed it quite carefully. I knew it would have many of the mechanicals of the Chevy truck line. That's mostly good. However, that gimmicky, trendy, silly cladding on the side and way too busy interior left me wanting. Also, can you imagine the 'disaster in the making' that convert-a-cab would be down the road! It's hard enough to get a sliding back glass that won't leak, try a back window that comes out with a fold in cab. Yeeesh. I just couldn't trust it long term.

I don't like their idea of headroom in their suv's and pickups. Especially rear. I also don't find the engineering touches that I find in my Screw. All in all, it seems that their recent designs are too trendy and gimmicky and and not as well thought out as my Supercrew. I find the interior of my Supercrew to be much more elegant and functional and roomy and classy. Just like the exterior. I could go on but I digress.

 

In my opinion the Screw looks a lot better. I can't believe Chevy got that Aztec look and put it on the Avalanche, after all Chevy's don't look bad, why not just make it look like a truck, not a joke. I bet there's a lot of Chevy guys going toward Ford and Dodge because of style alone. I wouldn't drive a plastic truck, no way. I can say it does have some neat features but it's just flat out ugly!! I don't go for the whole 20's on a 4x4 thing either, whats dodge thinking.

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2001 SuperCrew ORP 5.4L
MODS-Ramsey Brush Guard and Pro Plus 9000 winch, MAAP steps, Airaid, True Duals w/ 50 series muffs, Line-x, and huskyliners.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1508480&a=11420452&f=0

 

I could have waited and bought an Avalanche on my dad's GM employee discount plan. After looking at it at the Detroit Auto Show, I decided it looked like a shoe box. I also had the same concerns about the window assembly. I would want to give this one several years to get the bugs out. I like my Ford. My dad is almost talking to me again.

 

I just read an article in Off Road mag. and it is showing the 02 Ram Quad Cab with 4 real doors. It doesnt look bad til you see the grill. Man, you would think they could take a different approach on this front end. I think this might be the SCrews only competitor. But then again on the Ram truck commerial dont they say the put out a million Rams since 1994, Ford put out that many F150 almost in a year.

I sure do love my SCrew!!

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01 SCrew Lariat 4WD
Arizona Beige/Wedgewood Blue
5.4L 3.55LS
Tow Package
Moonroof
Slider
Cab Steps

 

Ditto to everyones comments.

I have always kind of leaned towards GM products until we bought our ford focus. The first ford we had owned. I really like that car and it has a lot of good engineering.

Then when it came time for a new truck, we decided it had to have four full doors on it. The GM product with four doors is either a small S10 truck or a 3/4 ton or 1 ton fullsize. I did not want either one of those So hence the supercrew. I love this truck it is the best truck I have ever owned. My last truck was a 2000 GMC and it had some bad design features and quality was very low.

I did see pics of the avalanche and thought I would never stop laughing. It is the ugliest thing I have ever seen, well next to the ****roach looking pontiac aztec.

Anyway I guess I have become a ford convert and have to say I am proud of it.

Thanks
Paul

 

Chevy and Ford both had the right idea with these trucks. And at this point the Chevy only has one thing up on the Ford, that's the flow through bed to cab door. But in my opinion I wouldn't want to be seen in that Avalanche... It looks like the Pontiac Aztec's big brother. If they would have just kept the Silverado/Suburban styling, it would have been fine. The Ford just looks too much better, hands down!!!

 

Stilmore, i couldn't have said it better myself, you are absolutely right. GM just needed to keep the rugid look of the suburban or truck 1500series. I don't know about ya'll but the Avalanche looks like a big piece of plastic to me.

 

I don't know s/crew, they may want us to drive big plastic cars. Maybe GM will do a new vehicle in conjunction with Tupperware!