Interesting photo I stumbled upon

KI4NPZ · 09-04-2016, 04:56 PM

So I'm shopping around for an SUV to replace my busted Durango, and so I don't have to drive the Camaro in the terrible winter slushy weather. I pulled up my local Chevy dealership's web page to browse their used Suburbans and Tahoes and Avalanches, and this caught my eye. Looks like a Camaro with an LS9. Weird? I wonder if that was some photo wizardry or some customer's customized ride? Or maybe someone fitted the LS9 engine cover on their LS3? Anyway I just thought that was interesting.

On that note, does anyone have a full-size chevy suv as an OTC (other-than-camaro)? I was looking at possibly buying one of the above mentioned vehicles tomorrow (Labor Day), and was wondering if anyone had any insight. Mostly looking for a super comfy ride that I can haul trash to the dump, get groceries, bring big crap home from Home Depot/Best Buy/etc. Don’t really need the third row, but need the cargo space, and I don’t haul dirty nasty crap that would necessitate a pickup. Would like the ability to lock up luggage/etc while traveling. Oh and I don’t tow.
Thanks!

SnowyCamaro · 09-04-2016, 05:08 PM

You would like the Tahoe with bench seats then. I can fit almost the same or more in the Tahoe than my old avalanche. The Tahoe is also much easier to maneuver in parking lots over the avalanche or suburban. But they are all pretty much the same platform and drivetrains so reliability etc is all about equal. Tahoe is best on gas for sure (my family has owned all 3, 2 different tahoes and like 6 avalanches now).

Depends on storage needs but I found the equinox to have better leg room in the back row. Not quite as wide as the Tahoe but much better on gas.

KI4NPZ · 09-04-2016, 05:19 PM

Dang that's a lot of Avalanches! I did have an 05 Tahoe some years ago that I loved! It was loaded but 2WD. Totally regret getting rid of it. My wife decided that since the kids were grown we didn't need it. Oh well. Seems like the Suburbans are slightly cheaper than the Tahoes for the years I'm looking at (2010/2011). Must be a supply/demand thing.

SnowyCamaro · 09-05-2016, 12:52 PM

Yeah suburban is less in demand because of fuel costs. It's the same frame as the avalanche if I remember right. Its just a large car for parking etc. Very comfortable car though. My cousin has one and you can fit a lot in it.

The only thing to watch for is transmissions. Get record of transmission services. Those cars are notorious for spitting out transfer cases for the 4wd and the transmissions. We haven't had one last past 250 000km. Thats why we had so many avalanches they all got traded before 200 000km. But we do a fair bit of towing...

KI4NPZ · 09-13-2016, 09:22 PM

So I finally settled on a replacement for the old Durango. I got a 2011 Ford Explorer Limited in metallic grey. Not the full size V8 machine I was shopping for, but after test driving it, my wife really liked it, and I think it fits our needs better actually. Its loaded and has a crap ton of gadgets and stuff. I'm happy with it so far.

Dizzy82 · 09-13-2016, 10:38 PM

I drove my camaro in Port Angeles, WA for 3 winters. A set of Blizzaks, extra weight in the trunk and you are golden.

09-04-2016, 04:56 PM	#1
KI4NPZ Drives: 2014 1LS Silver Ice Metallic Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 24	Interesting photo I stumbled upon So I'm shopping around for an SUV to replace my busted Durango, and so I don't have to drive the Camaro in the terrible winter slushy weather. I pulled up my local Chevy dealership's web page to browse their used Suburbans and Tahoes and Avalanches, and this caught my eye. Looks like a Camaro with an LS9. Weird? I wonder if that was some photo wizardry or some customer's customized ride? Or maybe someone fitted the LS9 engine cover on their LS3? Anyway I just thought that was interesting. On that note, does anyone have a full-size chevy suv as an OTC (other-than-camaro)? I was looking at possibly buying one of the above mentioned vehicles tomorrow (Labor Day), and was wondering if anyone had any insight. Mostly looking for a super comfy ride that I can haul trash to the dump, get groceries, bring big crap home from Home Depot/Best Buy/etc. Don’t really need the third row, but need the cargo space, and I don’t haul dirty nasty crap that would necessitate a pickup. Would like the ability to lock up luggage/etc while traveling. Oh and I don’t tow. Thanks!

09-04-2016, 05:08 PM	#2
SnowyCamaro Drives: 2013 Camaro ZL1, 2006 Chevy Equinox Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 833	You would like the Tahoe with bench seats then. I can fit almost the same or more in the Tahoe than my old avalanche. The Tahoe is also much easier to maneuver in parking lots over the avalanche or suburban. But they are all pretty much the same platform and drivetrains so reliability etc is all about equal. Tahoe is best on gas for sure (my family has owned all 3, 2 different tahoes and like 6 avalanches now). Depends on storage needs but I found the equinox to have better leg room in the back row. Not quite as wide as the Tahoe but much better on gas. __________________

09-05-2016, 12:52 PM	#4
SnowyCamaro Drives: 2013 Camaro ZL1, 2006 Chevy Equinox Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 833	Yeah suburban is less in demand because of fuel costs. It's the same frame as the avalanche if I remember right. Its just a large car for parking etc. Very comfortable car though. My cousin has one and you can fit a lot in it. The only thing to watch for is transmissions. Get record of transmission services. Those cars are notorious for spitting out transfer cases for the 4wd and the transmissions. We haven't had one last past 250 000km. Thats why we had so many avalanches they all got traded before 200 000km. But we do a fair bit of towing... __________________

09-13-2016, 09:22 PM	#5
KI4NPZ Drives: 2014 1LS Silver Ice Metallic Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 24	So I finally settled on a replacement for the old Durango. I got a 2011 Ford Explorer Limited in metallic grey. Not the full size V8 machine I was shopping for, but after test driving it, my wife really liked it, and I think it fits our needs better actually. Its loaded and has a crap ton of gadgets and stuff. I'm happy with it so far. __________________

09-13-2016, 10:38 PM	#6
Dizzy82 Drives: 2011 1LT/RS A6 RJT SuperCharged Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: 87114 Posts: 3,501 View My Garage	I drove my camaro in Port Angeles, WA for 3 winters. A set of Blizzaks, extra weight in the trunk and you are golden. __________________ Power is worthless without control. *The 2nd* protects the 1st.** BMR sub frame brace, BMR tunnel brace, LSR sways, LSR CM ca & tl, Sphon ExD el, GM tower brace, Megan EZ Streets, Goodridge Stainless Steel Braided brake lines, PowerStop D/S rotors & pads, Doug Thorty Ceramic Shorties, Magnaflow x-pipe, MRT V2.0, KICKER PowerStage sub & amp, Infinity speakers & tweeters, Viteese Throttle Controller, Viteese Paddle Shifters, ACS T2 Splitter, ACS T2 Ports/Quad LED lights, VDI kit, Havoc diffuser, IPF ECU/TRANS tuned, IPF/KPE Supercharged. 364RWHP/297RWTQ

09-04-2016, 05:19 PM	#3
KI4NPZ Drives: 2014 1LS Silver Ice Metallic Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 24	Dang that's a lot of Avalanches! I did have an 05 Tahoe some years ago that I loved! It was loaded but 2WD. Totally regret getting rid of it. My wife decided that since the kids were grown we didn't need it. Oh well. Seems like the Suburbans are slightly cheaper than the Tahoes for the years I'm looking at (2010/2011). Must be a supply/demand thing.