Garrett
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^^^ I guess it varies by market, but here in KC i can get a fully loaded platinum (w/rear entertainment) for 73K. I think the MAX is 74.5K.
Test Drive...?
- Thread starter dlcorbett
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aggiegrad05
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I went with the platinum in the end, although strongly considered the limited for the reasons you laid out (basically: are those few things worth the extra?).
Ultimately I decided I was already spending $76k (before the haggling) and upgrading to what I really wanted was only an additional 5%. I would hate to spend that much money and always wish I had spent that “little bit” more to get what I really wanted. I also preferred the light colored pillars and headliner in the platinum vs the black on the limited and the aluminum bits on the exterior of the platinum over the chrome of the limited.
And, most importantly, replacing a 2012 F150 with only 60,000 miles was a tough sell with the wife...the massaging seats got her over the hump.
twernst
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Aggiegrad, thanks drove Ltd today as “my salesman called” to say they finally got one it at dealer near me. Gotta say never really looked at items you mentioned until replaying TD in my head just now. Amazingly I neve though the wood issue would be something for me but the LTD fake wood just didn’t seem right. Also this one was the only one where the seats didn’t feel comfortable, even on XLT they were better.
Heavily leaning towards Platinum, however today’s drive confused me on merits of Max vs regular. Anyone have thoughts there?
Heavily leaning towards Platinum, however today’s drive confused me on merits of Max vs regular. Anyone have thoughts there?
aggiegrad05
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The cargo space behind the third row in the regular length is really not that impressive. We only have two kids so we certainly don’t NEED the space, but if we ever want to take a mother-in-law or cousin or something with us on a trip, I think we would really struggle to get any sort of cargo in the vehicle with the third row in use. My wife has a Pathfinder and the third row is always down because of the same reason.
When we bought our 2014 standard length Limited, we hemmed and hawed about the extra foot or so and the extra $$$$ it cost. Fast forward to when we started remodeling our house... you can’t close the tailgate with 4x8 sheets of plywood hanging out. We were ready to get into something new and that sealed the deal for us on getting the EL when we bought our 2017.
ExpeditionAndy
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That's the reason that I went with the EL as well. I'm always buying plywood for one project or another. I'll never go back to a short wheelbase version.
Ugh every time this particular subject is brought up I second guess our decision to order the short wheelbase. Build day is today so no point in thinking about it now lol
ExpeditionAndy
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You can always tell them you changed your mind and want the Max it won't be a problem.
JExpedition07
That One Member
You don’t need a max. I put drywall and ply in my truck all the time you just have to know how to load it and close your rear hatch with string from the store they hand out for free, you put both rows down. An SUV long or not is not ideal for loading the pickup suits it much better but these get the job done just fine as long as you know why you are doing.
ExpeditionAndy
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With the EL it doesn't matter if it's raining or dry and you don't have to tie your load down because it will not slide out the liftgate once it's closed. I've seen too many sheets of plywood or drywall slide out the open lift gate.
JExpedition07
That One Member
Yes if people don’t know how to load and drive accordingly lol... an EL can’t fix stupid. Ply and drywall comes on flatbeds out in the elements all the time to our job sites it always survives. If your that worried about the hatch you can tie it to the luggage rack on top. If I put it in my 8’ bed it’s out in the open, but in the expy it’s mostly covers and covered by the hatch, still prefer using a pickup it’s way better. I’d rather not sacrifice the driving performance and austhetics to get an EL in my case. The standard wheelbase performs much better offroad as well which my truck sees occasionally.
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What this guy said. ^
When we had to unload 20 sheets of sheet rock and half a dozen sheets of plywood, it went from a nice afternoon to downpours and heavy winds that evening. We brought it home with the tailgate tied closed but there is no way we wouldn't have had a mess the following morning had we not unloaded it all that night.
Garrett
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Just finished a test drive of the '18 QX80 with all the bells and whistles. While it doesn't have the updated infotainment system, it's definitely right up there with the Navigator in ride quality and quietness. It also looks much more upscale on the interior than the expy, like the Navigator.
I'm still having a hard time talking myself into pulling the trigger for the extra 8K for the Gator though, even though that's what my heart says. I think we'll end up test driving the Expy Platinum and Gator reserve again next week before we zero in on hard negotiations.
I'm still having a hard time talking myself into pulling the trigger for the extra 8K for the Gator though, even though that's what my heart says. I think we'll end up test driving the Expy Platinum and Gator reserve again next week before we zero in on hard negotiations.
Thanks for the info on the QX80. I was curious about this particular vehicle but just can’t get over the exterior. Is it full time AWD? The Lexus LX doesn’t look bad but my goodness are they pricey.
Yup, you know the saying...many people who go with the short wheel base later wish they had purchased the long wheel base, but the reverse is NEVER true. This is true even on the GM forums: Tahoe vs Suburban. It's universal so I think if you're even considering the long wheel base that means you should get it. If you're a single guy and think in your mind that you'll never need long, then stick with the short, but like i said if you're even thinking about the long you need to get the long.
JExpedition07
That One Member
To each their own I’ve driven both and prefer the SWB ten times over. The SWB sells much better.
https://www.google.com/amp/gmauthor...s/chevrolet-tahoe-suburban-sales-numbers/amp/
https://www.google.com/amp/gmauthor...s/chevrolet-tahoe-suburban-sales-numbers/amp/
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twernst
Full Access Members
Artie,
I changed my mind 3 times during the build of our boat, salesman wanted the business so he made sure the answer was always, “No problem Tim, whatever you need.” At least that made me feel better even if he never did anything. In reality if they want you business they will make it happen. The LTD I drove on Thursday was sold yesterday when I took the wife and kids just to look at it. They will sell well enough with out you buying that exact one. I like what Aggie and Andy have said or alluded to get what you want, after all that is why we are ordering in the first place. If I had gotten the rear entertainment in my X5 when I ordered I may be more inclined to keep until the warranty and maintenance expires at 100k. I am almost there with 80k mi but it has value on trade-in so not sure which way till end up.r
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Garrett
Full Access Members
Yep.
Also the updated exterior is dramatically more appealing. They finally fixed the front!!!
^--- one more for what he said
We will see both the max and the one we ordered when we go to pick it up, if the extra 11 inches makes that big a difference we may switch. I’ll know in a couple weeks.
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