Consumer Reports just put out their ratings on full size 4 door trucks. Guess what, the Chevrolet Avalanche is their highest rated, even above the Toyota Tundra. The Screw was only above the Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab.

About the Screw they said, "The ride is firm and jiggly, and the body bounds up and down even on smooth highways. Plenty of wind and road noise enter the cabin. The F-150 steers rather ponderously and is hard to park."

Each to their own I guess.

 

Can I be honest? I nearly purchased the Avalanche. Most of the "regular" interior was very nice, the seats were comfortable, and the insturmentation was great. The problem was I felt like I was playing with a kids transformer toy. It was simply too childish. I probably would have been embarassed to drive the darn thing.

The SCREW has a great interior and I like the ride, but I must admit that if you can get past the transformer image of the Avalanche, it's actually a pretty good truck. I think Chevy knows they have a potential winner, if they simply take the platform and turn it into a SCREW like vehicle. The question is, will they do it?

Good thing I quickly realized what a mistake it would have been to purchase one of those things.

 

I have always felt Consumer Reports should put a warning at the bottom of their reports that says "This buying advice is brought to you by people who wear pocket protectors." Some things ... they just do not get.

The F-150's design is getting old as far as other trucks are concerned. I do not know when GM redesigned their trucks, but it was in the last couple of years. Of course you cannot tell just by looking at one. I owned a 1996 Dodge for a year. It had high miles on it when I purchased it and the previous owner was an airline mechanic. I did not have any problems at all with that truck and I actually sold it for more than I paid for it.

When I was shopping last year for a truck, I looked at the Avalanch. That is all it took and I was Instantly reminded why I did not want to own another GM. I loved the concept, but GM missed. (Badly) I liked the room inside the front of the Dodge but the back seat was too small. The Screw has turned out to be a very good truck.

I did notice that the new FX4 package has a stiffer ride than my 2001 ORP.

" ... F150 steers rather ponderous {1) lumbering and laborious in movement 2) without liveliness or wit 3) disproportionately thick and heavy} Are you sure they drove the F150 SuperCrew??? The only definition that comes close to being accurate is Òwithout witÓ. I will take that as a good thing. Nothing like humorous steering to get you to where you are going.

 

Over the last year, with no INTENT to buy, and just out of curiousity, I test drove the Toyota Tundra, Chevy Avalanche, and the Dodge RAM 1500, and of course my own SCrew. All I can say is THIS CONSUMER reports the SCrew is as smooth if not smoother, as quiet if not quieter, and is truly a pleasure to drive compared to the ones I test drove. I found the Dodge and Toyota to feel stiffer and a little noisier. The Avalanche was compareable; but then who in their right mind would want one of those?

Like SCREWFUN said, "Are you sure they were driving a SuperCrew?"

Mike

 

I remember years (and years) ago when Consumer Reports said that microwave ovens didn't really save you much time in the kitchen. It's too bad that so many people take what they print as Gospel. What they need is some really good competition.

 

Yes, the trucks in the report were the Avalanche, SuperCrew and Dodge Ram 4 door.

Here's what they said about the Dodge:

The Ram rides stiffly and busily on just about all roads. The rear hops sideways on sharp bumps. Rough roads constantly jolt the occupants, and the cabin suffers from wind and road noise.

On the whole, handling is clumsy. The steering feels quick at first but then becomes vague and light. The Ram proved ungainly but secure enough when pushed to its cornering limits. Its sheer bulk made the truck hard to coax through our avoidance-maneuver course.

Here's what they said about the Avalanche:

The Avalanche sails smoothly on the highway and muffles out ridges and bumps on secondary roads. It also steers responsively for its heft. All three trucks in the group have a wide turning circle, which hurts parking maneuverability. When pushed beyond its handling limits in our double-lane-change emergency-avoidance maneuver, the Avalanche tended to slide out in the rear, attaining the lowest maximum speed of the group.

 

I have always thought that consumer reports SUCKED! Now I think they suck even more. They are not consumers, but someone getting money to put in there pockets paid by someone else. I do not think if the Screw drove the way they said that it would be the #1 selling truck in the USA.

I drove the Dodge and it being the worst, I would not step foot near a Chevy plastic transformer and the Screw being the best ride. The Screw drives like a dream to me!Nuff Said.......

 

Who Knows " To-may-to ....or ....To-ma-toe" ..

Oh well I guess you get the point....

Steve

 

I tend to take these reports with a grain of salt. I am obviously biased as a SCrew owner, but what made me a SCrew owner was my disappointment with other makes of truck. Granted, I owned an F150 before, but I looked at the Dodge and GM products as well and wasn't impressed (well, the new Ram styling is pretty neat). I went with the SCrew for a wide range of reasons, some of which flat-out weren't offered with the other makes of truck. OK, so the Avalanche beats the SCrew in a few areas according to CR...that's wonderful. When GM or Chrysler produce a vehicle that is truly comparable to the SCrew in more than a few small ways I will take that assessment a bit more seriously, but right now I feel it is like comparing apples and oranges. Go and buy an Avalanche and feel good knowing that you are driving what CR says is "the best". More power to you, but then again, you have to live with that monstrosity in your driveway. Me? I am happy with my SCrew and it does what I expect it to do. Furthermore, I don't cringe when I look at it I agree, to each his own...just my opinion.

-Mike

 

The supercrew, or the F150 in general IS the loudest truck I have ever ridden in, it makes SO MUCH NOISE, and gets a yon of wind and road noise!! My dad has a 2001 Chevrolet Z71 that rides like a DREAM!! No road noise, smooth ride..... dang ford needs to get a clue!!!

 

Consumer Reports is NOT an all-knowing, non-error making report. On other products that I have a very high level of experience with, CR cosistently gave high ratings to the biggest pieces of junk on the market.

Take anything CR says with a big shaker of salt!

 

Their "comparison" makes no sense to me. When I decided to buy a truck that would suit my family I went looking for a full sized truck with FOUR FULL SIZED doors. That eliminates the Toyota and the Dodge right from the start.

And that leaves the SuperCrew and one of the most hideous auto designs ever to make it to full production. I don't care if it has a nice ride, I don't care if it has a nice interior. Like someone else said here, the Avalanche looks like a child's toy; it looks like what a kid in junior high would think was cool. I also would be embarrassed to drive one.

So, I was left with only one choice. I'm completely satisfied with what I got.

 

Consumer Reports tests everything like it was a toaster. They think every vehicle should weigh 1000 pounds, have 4 cylinder power, and get 40 MPG.

Consider the source, and ignore car/truck testing from this Liberal rag. That's what I do.

 

Couldn't have been said better!

By the way, who buyes their rag anyway? I wouldn't consult them if they were to publish an issue devoted to where to find the best free 'I Did Not Have _ex' and the issue came with a chubby intern named Monica in a blue dress

 

I believe that CR is owned by a Japaneese corp with a big chunk of Toyota stock, that's #1

#2 is that you cannot compare apples to oranges and bananas!

The Av is a $40,000.00+ SUV (more of giant Bronco type convertible) not a $25,000.00 pickup, and the Tundra is just too little.

And as for you Mr. Madd... I've had Penda liners in my trucks since 1991 and have not had and cracking, warping, or rust! They now have a skid resistant surface that works pretty well. I love the way the bedrug looks, if my truck was a grocery hauler I'd have one in there for sure. To each his own, fool.