The new big GM SUVs are really growing on me...
09-05-15, 11:55 PM
#16
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
The new big GM SUVs are really growing on me...
Sure the Expedition may be rated to tow more, but what kind of longevity will it have, and how confidently and stably will it tow?
There's a reason why even Ford elected to leave a solid rear axle in their large pickups, despite the move to an aluminum body. It's just a stronger, more robust setup for when real work is being done.
If I needed to tow something big, then solid rear would be a selling point to me.
There's a reason why even Ford elected to leave a solid rear axle in their large pickups, despite the move to an aluminum body. It's just a stronger, more robust setup for when real work is being done.
If I needed to tow something big, then solid rear would be a selling point to me.
09-06-15, 12:36 AM
#17
Lexus Test Driver
I warmed up to them a bit, but I'd have to agree, there's a lot of "old GM" in their design. They could have been way more modern or contemporary at least on the outside. While sharp edges and lines are vogue right now, boxy is not. Then a curse happened to me. Once I saw a resemblance to a hearse, that's all I could think about now everytime I see one.
09-06-15, 03:36 AM
#18
Lexus Fanatic
Sure the Expedition may be rated to tow more, but what kind of longevity will it have, and how confidently and stably will it tow?
There's a reason why even Ford elected to leave a solid rear axle in their large pickups, despite the move to an aluminum body. It's just a stronger, more robust setup for when real work is being done.
If I needed to tow something big, then solid rear would be a selling point to me.
There's a reason why even Ford elected to leave a solid rear axle in their large pickups, despite the move to an aluminum body. It's just a stronger, more robust setup for when real work is being done.
If I needed to tow something big, then solid rear would be a selling point to me.
Now, I'm not saying that one buys a Suburban to tow 30,000 lbs.....that's not the case. But GM does not use solid axles in these vehicles simply to save costs. Considering the caliber of materials and the amount of sheer metal that is used in those big rear axles, it's doubtful that they are saving much over an IRS, if anything........plus the fact that they are already making money hand over fist on every Suburban sold, just like Ford does with its full-size SUVs and trucks,
09-06-15, 05:14 AM
#19
About 3 weeks ago I had a new Yukon XL SLT for about a week for a family vacation. Only put about 900 miles on it 
but what a fantastic family truckster for this use 
Plenty of room and was like driving around ones living room. Also with the new cylinder deactivation we ended up getting about 23 MPG on the long highway stints although in the city its pretty much the same ole 14 MPG.
I think the XL is too big for daily use, but then again this is not the type a vehicle I personally want as a daily anyway. But going a road trip? Yeah sweet ride.
but what a fantastic family truckster for this use Plenty of room and was like driving around ones living room. Also with the new cylinder deactivation we ended up getting about 23 MPG on the long highway stints although in the city its pretty much the same ole 14 MPG.I think the XL is too big for daily use, but then again this is not the type a vehicle I personally want as a daily anyway. But going a road trip? Yeah sweet ride.
09-06-15, 06:08 AM
#20
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
09-06-15, 06:54 AM
#21
09-06-15, 07:42 AM
#22
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
09-06-15, 08:55 AM
#23
Thats actually pretty good mpg considering an RX 350 gets ~17mpg combined (real world) and is a smaller vehicle. I know, apples to oranges, but still...
09-06-15, 10:42 AM
#24
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
^^^ definitely, for that huge vehicle that's really good.
09-06-15, 10:42 AM
#25
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
I mean...thats better mileage than we get in our Sedona lol
09-06-15, 10:44 PM
#28
Lexus Fanatic
Oh I don't completely hate on them. They're great to drive, GM has always done a good job on making such a huge behemoth handle and drive a lot smaller than it really is. The powertrains are great as well, along with the towing capacity.
Its just everything else, space ultization, small side mirrors, interior trim(once again its decent, but not great, especially for what they charge), small windows. Not to mention the styling, which is boxier than ever, except for that odd looking windswept front clip on the Chevy trucks.
The old models, you sat in them, you had a commanding view out of that greenhouse, there was a lot of glass. The new models, you feel like you're riding in a tank, and as a result it feels less roomy inside.
I've sat in all variants of the new GM SUV's and all the trim levels of the new Expidition, and I will say I vastly prefer the Expidition. Interior seemed nicer and the view out was much better. I've had a lot of seat time in both the previous year's Expiditions and GM trucks, I'm predicting the GM trucks will drive a lot nicer, while the Ford will ride nicer, at least that's been my experience. A 2013 Expidition, that had to have one of the most isolated, quietest, and smoothest rides out of anything I've ever driven. It was kind of shocking, because you didn't notice it at first how damn good the ride was. It wasn't like an old Lincoln or Cadillac, where you float along, in that truck, you just felt NOTHING. Steering was the same way though, felt like you were driving a cruise ship.
Now neither of those trucks had anything on that Mercedes Benz GL450 I drove for a while. That had a nice ride as well, way firmer than the Ford, but it never jiggled you the way some of those GM trucks did that had the 20" or 22" wheel option. The handling was great, it drove like a car, and the thrust from that twin turbo V8 was quite astounding, quicker than the Escalade and it made the Expidition with the 5.4 V8 feel like a total slug. Interior was very black and German, fautlessly assembled, way better than the Escalde, Ford, or Navigator.
Its just everything else, space ultization, small side mirrors, interior trim(once again its decent, but not great, especially for what they charge), small windows. Not to mention the styling, which is boxier than ever, except for that odd looking windswept front clip on the Chevy trucks.
The old models, you sat in them, you had a commanding view out of that greenhouse, there was a lot of glass. The new models, you feel like you're riding in a tank, and as a result it feels less roomy inside.
I've sat in all variants of the new GM SUV's and all the trim levels of the new Expidition, and I will say I vastly prefer the Expidition. Interior seemed nicer and the view out was much better. I've had a lot of seat time in both the previous year's Expiditions and GM trucks, I'm predicting the GM trucks will drive a lot nicer, while the Ford will ride nicer, at least that's been my experience. A 2013 Expidition, that had to have one of the most isolated, quietest, and smoothest rides out of anything I've ever driven. It was kind of shocking, because you didn't notice it at first how damn good the ride was. It wasn't like an old Lincoln or Cadillac, where you float along, in that truck, you just felt NOTHING. Steering was the same way though, felt like you were driving a cruise ship.
Now neither of those trucks had anything on that Mercedes Benz GL450 I drove for a while. That had a nice ride as well, way firmer than the Ford, but it never jiggled you the way some of those GM trucks did that had the 20" or 22" wheel option. The handling was great, it drove like a car, and the thrust from that twin turbo V8 was quite astounding, quicker than the Escalade and it made the Expidition with the 5.4 V8 feel like a total slug. Interior was very black and German, fautlessly assembled, way better than the Escalde, Ford, or Navigator.
09-07-15, 07:09 AM
#29
Lexus Fanatic
One likely reason is the vehicle rollover standards. The rash of SUV rollovers in the 1990s, when many new and inexperienced drivers started buying and driving them, led to roof-crush standards that generally forced automakers to start using larger and/or thicker roof-pillars on the side of the vehicle to prevent the roof from buckling in like a tin can when upside down. The actual thicknesses of the pillars.of course, depends on a number of design/styling factors (such as the type of material and metal-alloy strength used inside them)...but, in general, the more they have to support, the thicker they have to be. The thicker they are, of course, the less room for glass between them......hence, smaller windows. This is especially true with large massive SUVs like the Suburban and Yukon, where the roof-pillars have to support as much as three tons or more during a rollover.
09-07-15, 07:54 AM
#30
Lexus Fanatic