Model Year Differences?

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Sancho

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Might be picking up a Tahoe, were there any significant changes through this generation of Tahoe that would make certain years more desirable?
 

LuSe4

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Welcome.
You need to be a little more specific on the range of years you are looking at because tahoes have been around since the mid 90's.
 

felixgun

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Welcome.
You need to be a little more specific on the range of years you are looking at because tahoes have been around since the mid 90's.

He posted this in 2007+ so i'm guessing he's referring to 2007-2012 :Handshake:

---------- Post added at 12:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:46 PM ----------

Might be picking up a Tahoe, were there any significant changes through this generation of Tahoe that would make certain years more desirable?

Like said above, in 2009 they came out with 6.2L Tahoe's with 6 speed tran. Pretty SWEET compared to the 5.3L 4 speed.
 

sparg93

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Man up and go for a 90's Suburban with the 454...solid steel bumpers and 7lbs+ of love behind you on crappy brakes :)
 
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Sancho

Sancho

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Yeah, I don't think the wife will go for that. We actually went to go look at an '05 I found on autotrader, but it wasn't nearly as clean in person as it was online, and neither one of us were impressed by the way it drove. I actually like both bode styles, but the wife doesn't want anything that old, so new (07 and up) body style it is. We also drove an '08 Escalade with the 6.2 and I really like the way that drove, but you could tell it was a smoker's car and didn't have many options.

Sounds like an '09 and up with the 6.2 and six speed is what I'll be looking for. No other changes?
 

ChevyFreak

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Sounds like an '09 and up with the 6.2 and six speed is what I'll be looking for. No other changes?

- I think Bluetooth arrived in '09.

- There have been other subtle cosmetic changes, but nothing too drastic. Mostly, the Tahoe began picking up some features from the Escalade such as the chrome strip on the rear bumper, and the shifter got some chrome accent as well (in LTZ model). Further, I think the door moldings also changed in '09 on the LTZ.

- If you want to use Onstar, the smartphone app they have will only work with 2010 vehicles and up.

- Of course, although rather new, the 2012's are getting a "new" OEM navigation system.

Other than that, I can't recall anything that stands out besides the ones mentioned above.
 
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soulsea

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Sounds like an '09 and up with the 6.2 and six speed is what I'll be looking for.

You might be looking for a while ... those 6.2 Tahoes in great condition are incredibly rare.

Alternatively, if you like the idea of having a 6.2, then look for a Denali which are widely available.
 
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Sancho

Sancho

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That's ok, I can wait. I don't really like the look of this generation yukons
(those huge headlights,) and am not sure I want the all time AWD that comes with the Denali. According to a service tech friend of mine anyways, they rebuild the transfer case quite often and I rarely venture off pavement or to the snow anymore.

I haven't driven a newer Tahoe with the wife yet, but do recall taking one for a drive when they first came out and thinking, meh. Nice enough ride, but didn't do anything for me.

Was the 6.2 only an '09 option? I don't think you can order a new one like that any longer. What about gear ratio, any special towing or RPO code that had a better gear ratio?
 
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Sancho

Sancho

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Damn, why would they do that. Too many Escalade owners complaining?
 

soulsea

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Probably, those asshats are always up to no good ... :)

Plus with gas prices going up and the economy tanking they probably weren't selling many.
 

Mighty Hd

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Quite a few differences between my 08 z71 and 11 z71
Both vehicles were identical except the 11 has a sunroof and nav/rear DVD

11 trailer package gives 3.42 gears vs 3.73 in the 08. Makes a huge difference in fuel mileage and a moderate difference in acceleration.
08 in the city got 10-12mpg. The 11 gets 14-16mpg.

Seats are not as wide. They are about an inch narrower.
The door sill plates are not brushed aluminum.
The window switches mirror adjust and elbow wrest are about 1/2" more narrow

Muffler is different and sounds more powerful

The 4cyl mode is not as active. When it is active it will hang and is rather noticeable when it switches to v8.

The 2011 is a hell of a lot more quiet. More sound deadening in the doors and floor boards.

I'll think of more I'm sure
 
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Sancho

Sancho

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Probably, those asshats are always up to no good ... :)

Plus with gas prices going up and the economy tanking they probably weren't selling many.

I think in reality, isn't that about when GM became Government Motors?

In regards to the Escalade owners, are they about like the Corvette owners, bitching about the Camaro getting a little too close for comfort? J/K

Quite a few differences between my 08 z71 and 11 z71
Both vehicles were identical except the 11 has a sunroof and nav/rear DVD

11 trailer package gives 3.42 gears vs 3.73 in the 08. Makes a huge difference in fuel mileage and a moderate difference in acceleration.
08 in the city got 10-12mpg. The 11 gets 14-16mpg.

Seats are not as wide. They are about an inch narrower.
The door sill plates are not brushed aluminum.
The window switches mirror adjust and elbow wrest are about 1/2" more narrow

Muffler is different and sounds more powerful

The 4cyl mode is not as active. When it is active it will hang and is rather noticeable when it switches to v8.

The 2011 is a hell of a lot more quiet. More sound deadening in the doors and floor boards.

I'll think of more I'm sure

I would have never guessed that about the seats. Is the console any different, or just a bigger gap now with the smaller seats.
 

edgaranah1

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Never knew the z71 had narrower seats. I would think the center console is the same a friend of mine once brought a 11 z71 to my house (not hers by the way) and everything on the inside looked pretty much the same. except for the speedometer and brushed trim.


Sent from my iPhone 4g using Tapatalk
 
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Sancho

Sancho

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I would think the console is the same, too. But it's weird they would make narrower seats- even in this down economy we're not getting any smaller.
 

Mighty Hd

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I think in reality, isn't that about when GM became Government Motors?

In regards to the Escalade owners, are they about like the Corvette owners, bitching about the Camaro getting a little too close for comfort? J/K



I would have never guessed that about the seats. Is the console any different, or just a bigger gap now with the smaller seats.



Just an ever so slightly bigger gap, but it's on the door side, not the console side.
I'm absolutely certain the seats are different. Not nearly as comfortable.

The lumbar support is also different. In the 08 you could pump up the lumbar and deflate it, you could also move (via the up and down button) the lumbar position from your lower back to the upper back.
Now it does not go as high and does not air up as much.

BUt the fuel mileage is a hell of a lot better with the 3.42's....although a lot of acceleration speed is lost..
I'm getting over 16mpg city driving using 10% ethanol gas. I filled up with real non ethanol gas at a local marina ($4.00/gal) and I've already exceeded the 16mpg.

EDIT

Also the paint on the 11's is absolute shit. I've had the front grey part replaced three times already. The paint is paper thin and scratches if you look at it.
Body shop tried to buff it friday and burnt through the paint. I tested another spot by hand and with three gentle passes using a clean microfiber and a light cut compound the paint was gone.
This will be replacement #4.
They are cheaply built...but this one does not have electrical problems like my 08 did.
 
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bolo1g2

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I love my 09 LT. It's the 5.3 Flex fuel, but for a v8 I do about 16.5 mpg freeway with mud tires.
 

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