GMTruckGuy74

Call it MARKETING. Since it's introduction with the 1988 redesign, customers have come to know that "Z71" means the GMC or Chevy full-size pickup is off-road ready. Whether the customer needs the extra off-roading equipment or not, it's much better to say you have a Z71-equipped truck then just saying it's a 4 wheel drive pickup. I wish I can recall where I read about this, but there was an article saying that customers resonate with Z71... it would be silly for either GMC or Chevy to abandon it. Notice that the Canyon & Colorado lost the ZR2 off-road package in 2004 and they too used Z71... Yukons and Tahoes had this option available on the 2-door models, it just wasn't advertised as such (until the redesigned 2000 Tahoe & Suburban Z71 package came along). Ford has FX4, Dodge has their package (can't remember what its called), and Toyota has their TRD package too. All the truck manufacturers have their off-roading trim blazened on their trucks somewhere.

I see you have a new catchphrase going on there Ocn... you've been posting that saying around lately!

Damn Fly, you lucked out! If I'm ever in the "market" in the future, I think I may make that part of the first date... "so, on a scale of one to ten, exactly how important are cars in your life?" If she says they're just "transportation", then it will be "check please"!!! My wife likes style, but not necessarily the same style I like. When we moved in together, she was all "I don't care what I drive, as long as it's nice". That quickly turned into "No, you can't have THAT because I won't drive it", or, "You think THAT is nice looking?" Again, we decided to share the vehicles because I like to lease and we balance out the miles better that way. A couple of months ago though we decided the next round of cars would be our own choosing and our own ride (no more sharing). Sometimes I think I'll be happy owning something for 5+ years, then I remember that I have automotive-ADD and within two years will find something else I like. So leasing still seems the way for me. For her, she only wants us to have one car payment (really, she wants none, but she knows I like having a new vehicle every 30-36 months) so I can totally see her finding and keeping her own car for much longer than I can. I will say that I like the way the new All-Terrain package sounds on the 2008 Sierra. If I knew that the package would continue in 2009, then I would be happy to let her get her choice next summer. But the key thing is we want to use our GM Card Earnings soon in order to cancel the card and Saturn still is stubbornly not accepting them. That would be a big plus for us if we could use those earnings when buying her a new car. At least we can use her company's GM Supplier price discount though! Time will tell.

Ocn, has she considered the Suzuki SX4? I gotta admit, I think they're a cool looking little car. I don't know much about Suzuki though, and not sure it will last as long as her current ride.

Well, some point before the end of August of 2008 we'll have to replace the Envoy as that lease ends 8/18/08. Even though we lease two vehicles that we share to balance out the miles (15,000 per year), that will be changing. I'm tired of always changing the seat/mirror/radio settings after the wife's had one of the cars, and she's tired of me making all the vehicle choices and having two constant payments. So we're going to go back to "his" and "her" vehicles with the next round of replacements (Envoy next summer, AURA November of 2009). The decision we're facing is who gets what and when, and if we both finance or one finances, the other leases. My #1 choice is a Sierra SLE Crew Cab 4wd, although I do like the more practical Acadia SLT AWD too. I know that the Acadia will be the better choice for family needs, but I'll regret not getting a pickup. If I decide to lease rather than finance, then I may be willing to put the Sierra on hold for another 3 years. I'd also like to consider the G8, but know if I get a car I'll really regret not having a truck or SUV or crossover (I love my AURA, but I tend to drive the Envoy as much as I can over it). The Hummer H3 is also on my list, but with no local dealer around I hesitate getting one. I'd also like to see what the H3 pickup looks like. I wish I could consider the Canyon Crew 4wd, but I'm not happy with the styling and cramped feeling of the interior. The wife is tricky... she likes Volvos and I feel too cramped in the S40 and not really thrilled with her getting anything but a GM product. She also likes Lexus & Mercedes, but the ones she wants are too expensive. She wants to buy vs. leasing her choice, as she tends to like one vehicle and wants to stick with it. Her 64+ mile roundtrip commute will put a massive amount of miles on her car in no time (maintenance concerns). I told her to lease so the car is always within warrant coverage, but we know that I'm the one that likes getting new vehicles every 30-36 months and would probably tell her what she should get. She's being price consciencous too with her choice... I mentioned her getting the Acadia or Enclave, but she wants the finance amount to be reasonable. She's really taken a liking to the all-new 2008 Saturn VUE, so I can forsee her getting one of them. Whatever else she likes, it will have to be FWD or AWD to handle her commute in bad (rain/snow) weather. So now the decision... who gets their car first?

GMT-900 -----> ccol! I really like the new Sierra's design, even if some say it's similar to the Ford F-150. Even though if I were to purchase a Sierra for myself it would be a SLE model, I do like the look of the W/T trucks with the unpainted/unchromed front grille. Please post some pics as soon as you can.

Ford seems to repeat history a lot, don't they??? (2001+ Thunderbird)

Well, we get GM Supplier pricing through my wife's employer, so I got the supplier price on the AURA. The SKY, on the other hand, was sold at MSRP. I have heard of Saturn dealers willing to sell for less than sticker, but you have to realize that they were on either leftover models or on undesirable models dealers wanted gone. Are there any 2007 leftovers available? Maybe they'd be willing to deal on a leftover?

I wanted the XR because of the extra flash that comes with that model (18" aluminum rims, better tires <Goodyear>, most of the options I wanted <and got on my XE> were standard, and the wonderful 3.6L V6 engine). But the voice of reason - aka "the wife" - felt the extra cost was unnecessary and she was right (well, I'd rather have the Goodyear tires than the crappy Hankook tires that are standard). The 3.5L V6 has just the right amount of power, never feels overloaded when there's weight in the trunk and/or 3+ passengers in there, and I find the 4 speead auto to work just fine. The cloth works well for me and the chrome wheelcovers add to the "bling bling" factor just right.

Is it a Classic or All-New Sierra?

Congrats Sixty8! May you have nothing but complete happiness with your marriage and your new baby!!!

2-door versions of full-size SUVs (Yukon, Tahoe, etc).

1955-1956 GMC Suburban Carrier (aka Town & Country) pickup (although I'd be happy with w '57 too!). 1955_GMC_Suburban_Carrier___GM_owned.bmp

See post #33 (above) for the pictures I took of a 2007 Sierra W/T with black grille, unpainted upper bumper trim, and steelie rims.

Here ya go :AH-HA_wink: (that is the Sierra W/T <Work Truck> base model; the SL package adds the chrome grille surround & upper bumper portion is painted)

K-5 Blazer, K1500 Blazer ('89-'91), Jimmy (usually with the Sierra nameplates on it to denote upgraded trim level), V1500 Jimmy ('89-'91) are defintiely good vehicles to have and fix up because teenagers love to have them as their first vehicle (from my personal experiences & observations). Just be careful, as they tend to rust out in many places and the tailgates can be a *itch to work on (all had power rear windows, if I'm not mistaken). '80s/'90s Sierra and Silverado full-size pickups are another good choice, as one in good shape for resale will be bought quickly by someone shopping for such a vehicle.

So now, which one is it -- the Chevy Silverado, or the GMC Sierra??? I don't think I have to tell you which one I'm hoping it is! :AH-HA_wink:

Okay, problem with this being a "Lamdba" dash stack is that it has a rotary knob for 2wd, 4hi and 4lo.... to my knowledge, only the 4wd GM pickups and suvs would require that feature. The Lambda's AWD system operates without driver input. I believe this dash is forecasting what we could see on a GMT-900 redesign? I defintely don't think this is Lambda (unless the Traverse will offer part-time 4wd instead of AWD). I can see this dash stack as being the Lambda's, as the rotary knob for the part-time 4wd system is non-functional. Or look at my explanation above and this is the dash stack for 2wd GM trucks?

x 3I'd consider replacing the Envoy (lease) with a G8 wagon. I've always loved station wagons and I like the G8 - what a perfect combination!

RJB, I nabbed a 2008 Silverado brochure today, but it's the Sierra I want too (I wonder if the All-Terrain model will be featured in the brochure?). Ever since it was first mentioned and you commented on it, I can't get it out of my mind. I found a nice picture of the SEMA version and have it on my desktop as the background picture. I can't wait to see it in person! I'll try my local dealer this week for a Sierra brochure.Besides the Silverado, I have the VUE, Enclave, and Lucerne brochures... but I just started looking.

Okay, apparently the wife is trying to drive me nuts - - first she tells me I have to part ways with my 'baby", and then the AURA too. Now tonight at dinner she tells me that she has found a way for us to keep the AURA and Envoy and still be okay each month (unfortunately, the "governor" has not called in with a repreive for the SKY). So please, for the time being, disregard this topic, unless you know of someone looking to buy a SKY.

Okay, by now you've seen that I'm going to sell the SKY soon and it's apparent that I am also trying to get rid of the AURA too. Not that there's anything wrong with either car (how I'd love to kkeep them both), but the wife informed me recently that we are living way beyond our means. After making as many changes as possible to help save where we could, it still boils down that the SKY needs to be sold to pay off other debt, and triming our remaining car payments down would really help too. She said for the Envoy to go, but I told her that the lease has 11 months remaining and I really like the Envoy. So that leads to the AURA having to go, which I'm working on with someone here (if it works out for them). So I've begun looking at used cars in and around the $5,000 price range. I lost out on a '96 Olds 98 with 44k at $3,995 by a week. But now I seek advice from my peeps here at C&G on what I should be looking at. I have to have GM, it must be good on gas, must be a reliable vehicle (the wife will use it mostly on her 64-mile roundtrip commute), and it has to be comfortable. I would appreciate any first-hand expeireinces too with the car you suggest. If a lease on a leftover '07 suggestion can be figured out for cheap (no money down), I would also float that by her too. Again, I want to remain within the GM family. Hopefully this will not be the way it has to be for a long time. I like having new cars every 30-36 months and this will be a hard pill to swallow (hopefully my goal of getting a new Sierra or Acadia next year can still be fulfilled ). If you know anyone looking for an AURA or SKY, please let them know I have mine available.

Not a bad looking p[roject car. I just didn't start liking Saturn's, I've always liked them from day one in 1991. The wife and I looked into leasing a 2000 SC2 7 years ago, but couldn't find the right one (we ended up with a 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix GT instead). I've always liked the look of the '97-'00 SC2... sporty-yet-practical!!!

GMC Centaur (half man/half horse = half car/half truck) Please leave the Syclone name in the past where it belones, on an AWD small pickup. "Palomino" is a 1957 GMC concept/showtruck name, and really doesn't resonate with today's market (how many Western/cowboy movies <outside of Brokeback Mountain> are made today? How many kids still play "cowboys and indians"???). Too many people will think of a cell phone company with "Sprint" (plus OnStar uses Verizon ), and Caballero would only work if Chevy had an El Camino (that's why there was a Spanish theme going on with the renaming in '78). Can't use "Granite", as MACK trucks has the trademark on that for their current truckline. Acadia, Denali and, to an extent Canyon, are named after U.S. National Parks. Biscayne is a national park name, but was also used on Chevy models. You can see the emense listing of U.S. national parks here, if you can find one appropriate: wikipedia Yukon comes from the Canadian Yukon Territory, Savana (savannah) is a type of grassland, Sierra is spanish-language for mountain ranges. I presume the word Sonoma was named for teh Californian wine valley, and while not currently in use, could be resurrected for the Ute. Of course, mountain ranges have many names available from the North Atlantiac region, click here. I was going to suggest "Cascadia" too!

Wait a minute... did Holden officially release the wagon yet to teh public? How come this is the first time I'm seeing it? Anyway, I would be extremely ecstatic if it too came over here for 2008 as a Pontiac. It definitely has my attention.