[QUOTE=morb|d]you're confusing "character" with tackyness. I'm glad all this gawdy crap is gone off GM vehicles. They look clean, flowing, CLASSY. Finally. And it only took them 15 years to get the hint.QUOTE]

One man's trash is another's treasure it seems.

I think the similarity to the Expidition and F-150 will be very appearent in the Yukon. Take the cross bar out and you've got a Yukon:

http://photobucket.com/albums/a118/t...nt=07Yukon.jpg

 

Anyone know when pricing will be revealed?

It will be interesting to see what the "Value Pricing" MSRP will be on the 900's...

 

I've got a morbid curiosity about what the 6.2L, 6-speed auto combo will cost...

 

It wasn't an accident, I was reading my way down the thread and figured that by answering the RX vs Tahoe dash question I would be answering your question as well.

And maybe that HVAC unit is unique to the 900s for now (though really if you think about it that's still saying it's "unique" to 10+ seperate models which doesn't really make it unique at all IMO), but I would be surprised if we didn't see it pop up elsewhere.

I guess I just don't like fake wood trim, though I can see how in some interior designs fake aluminum trim would look even worse. I guess my main problem is with LOTS of it in plain fashion, and that Tahoe dash looks to be using a whole heck of a lot of fake wood trim around the center stack to serve no other purpose than just fill in empty space.

 

I think it looks great! Interior/Exterior. Much better then the 800's.

Although, I think we should all save final judgement until we sit in/drive/look at an actual vehicle not "Pictures."

Look at how many hated the new Impala/HHR and now how many people have retracted that statement after seeing them "In-Person".

 

I'm sure it will be in the Chevy and GMC suvs (and their pickup cousins). The Escalade will have a unique setup.

FWIW, I just checked out the Land Cruiser and LX470, and they both use the same NAV system (basically the same overall dash with some minor trim differences). It is a decent looking setup, for sure, but still shared.

I can see where you are coming from about the wood trim in the Tahoe. I guess it doesn't strike me as that excessive, but I can see how it could. A car that rubs me the wrong way in a similar fashion, except with the fake aluminum instead of the wood, is the Avalon. The Avalon dash uses the fake aluminum trim to coat the entire center stack and center console area (vent surround, stereo cover, hvac surround, ash tray cover, shifter surround, center console). That is combined with a liberal dose of (fake, I think) wood scattered about the cabin too.

Heck, while looking around at some of the other Lexus and Toyota models, I noticed that the Camry and ES330 use the same Nav screen, too. And it is not the more slickly integrated one from the LX, but rather a parts-bin more aftermarket looking one, similar to the setup in the Tahoe.

Camry Nav ES330 Nav

The ES still has a pretty awesome interior (I hate the Camry's dash, though), even with the Nav screen being a shared unit (and also being a non-flush mount unit; it is recessed in the dash just like a GMT800 radio!). It also has lots of wood slathered liberally in many of the same places the new Tahoe has it, though the ES probably uses real wood. Anyway, I'm not trying to have an e-battle or anything here. I guess my point is that it isn't just GM who uses a "parts bin" approach to various controls. Every full line manufacturer does it across some models for certain interior pieces, I'd wager.

 

[QUOTE=Threxx]Now the RX330 is harder to explain, but llook at the way that everything seems form-fitted for the dash. Very little wasted space, very clean looking, and it definitely doesn't look like Lexus just took their HVAC, nav, and radio controls out a generic parts bin, found a way to bolt them into the middle of the dash all in a row, then snapped in fake wood trim filler around everything.
QUOTE]

If you think the RX interior (center stack) is better looking, you are definitely smoking something illegal! The RX center stack is the perfect example of a cobbled together interior. The top half of the center stack looks like it sticks out 6 inches from the bottom half. Not very integrated, but it does look very cheap!

 

On second glance, I continue to like them more and more. However, I am getting a little concerned that Chevy's new models may continue to look more and more "bland" as time moves on. The new Impala is a great car...but it doesn't stand out. The '07 Tahoe appears beautiful...but nothing about the style makes it stand out. It has a well-put-together, almost Japanese look to it.

But Chevy is America's car, last time I checked. Just like Ford. I'm all for going after the imports, and if they have to mimick a little bit, fine. But can we be a LITTLE more adventurous? Again, I like the '07 a lot...much more so than the current. But I miss the fact that the '05 Impalas and '06 Tahoes had some swagger to them...something a little bit missing in the '06 and '07 models, respectively.

 

Yes the LC and LX470 has by far (IMO) the poorest differentiation between Toyota and Lexus models. Toyota hasn't put much effort into seperating them like they have other models because they knew they were moving to an entirely knew marketing strategy and platform for both the Toyota and Lexus equivalent in less than a year from now. Then again there's not that much difference in price between the two, either, so it's not like they're just slapping an L on the hood and charging a crapload more money for it.

I guess it's just my opinion but I'm just not as bothered by metalic silver painted dash trim. It doesn't seem like they're really trying to fool anyone into believing it's real aluminum. It's just silver painted trim. In fact on their website while they do mention 'wood' trim, they never mention 'aluminum style trim' or anything else like that. The only place they mention aluminum is for the scuff plates, which are real aluminum.

I agree completely that the nav in the Camry/ES is a bad looking 'aftermarket' looking unit. I don't care for it at all. Granted the Camry/ES will be coming out with a ground up redesign next model year and I'd be willing to bet my left nut to your one dollar that they won't continue with that non integrated style of nav unit.

I also agree that I don't care for the current Camry's dash at all. It's well made and functional but boring and ugly as can be. The ES on the flip side is bar none the most luxurious looking interior in its price range IMO. Will be interesting to see what happens to it for the redesign since I can't imagine how I'd begin to top it. And yes, it's real wood. As I think I mentioned before I think that most (not all) fake wood looks bad. There's still some fake wood that at least looks 'ok', and most if not all real wood looks good to me if used in moderation. The wood in the ES is pushing it but still not overboard IMO considering it's real and the grain is pretty neutral.

 

IF I am wrong then tell me how much faster the 225hp colorado is vs the 190HP S-10.




Let me help you out, it not any faster and... the S-10 has a higher tow rating. In its defense the 3.5L does get better mileage, if this formula works in the Tahoe good for them. It still has to prove that it can make better mileage in the real world. Will the 4.8L have DoD? I cant see it running on 4 cylinders on the interstate unless you are coasting down a hill. I dont think the 4.8 has enough low end torque to do it. The 5.3 may be able to cruise on flat surfaces. DoD could really help at stoplights, I am assuming thats how they got the 19 city rating for a porky SUV. Any improvement is good I guess.

 

Not having fold-flat 3rd row seating is a bit rediculous; especially now that Ford and Dodge have figured out how to do it their full size SUVs.

I love everything about my 2001 and 2002 Tahoes except that damn 3rd row. My stepson's 2001 LT has never had them in, except for probably the first week it was sold new, and when my son purchased it this summer. Right now they are taking up space in my garage. As are the ones for my 2002 LS.

Having the third row was great when I was hauling around the kid's basketball team. With the 3rd row and front split bench in the LS I actually fit nine passengers in comfortably. And this was a high school basketball team too, not some grade school muchkins mind you. But when I want to use it as an SUV to haul my kids' stuff back and forth to school, or maybe a run to Home Depot, etc. I have to pull those damn seats out and find a place to put them.

First of all, they are extremely heavy. I don't think my wife would be able to remove them or put them back in on her own. I'm guessing they are heavy for strength and safety reasons, but there is one place where some carbon fiber would have been worth the additional cost. Secondly, that damn handle! GM engineers thought that they'd be nice and add a handle to the seats so they could be easily transported. But guys... one handle!?! Even a professional body builder would struggle to curl these babies! And furthermore, I don't believe anyone that designed that wretched handle ever tried carrying one of the seats its attached to for more than 5 feet! It digs into your hand and is the worst engineered and most uncomfortable handle I have ever seen! You end up having to grab the handle in one hand and the support bar with the other, and then bang the crap out of your legs and shins trying to lug those beasts around and store them. Lastly, they never go back in perfectly the first time. It sometimes takes to or three tries to get the inner locking mechanism to release so you can lock the seats in place. "Step one, two, thr... nope... back away, two, thre... nope...., two, three, etc." Anyone that has a Tahoe with these monsters and takes them in and out on a regular basis knows what I'm talking about. Its so bad, I just leave them out unless I know I need to haul more than three passengers along with me, and even then I sometimes make them squeeze in.

I'm sorry. I love my Tahoes and I bleed Chevrolet, but GM seriously dropped the ball IMO on the new Tahoe... especially with that damn 3rd row seating.



And I still say it looks like a Ford. Especially from the back-half of the rear doors on back.

 

Looks (A)mazing. ™

 

How much does the s10 weigh in comparison with the Colorado?
I can tell you flat out that if their is only a 250lb difference between the GMT-800s and 900s, then there is no way the old 255hp 98 is going to be the same speed as the new 300hp 4.8 in a contest of acceleration, regardless of what their torque ratings are. 250lbs difference is not going to bridge a 45 hp gap, unless the gearing on the new trucks is way different, and with the 6 speeds coming out, it will probably be much better.

 

I don't understand why the 6-speed is only coming out with the 6.2L engine. I think the media will really ream GM for using 4-speed autos with the rest of the line-up.

 

No folding 3rd row seat? In this day and age that is simply unforgiveable.

The 6.2 is the only engine to mate with the new 6 speed automatic? Why??? I'm going to assume that as they ramp up 6 speed production it will be available throughout the line, but why does GM continue to handcuff its new models?