This truck just isn’t for me...

Illnasty said:

Let me see if others have this same problem.

Rumble Strips, those rigid lines of maybe 5 small bumps in the road meant to slow you down or keep you aware that there’s a school around (at least by me)

2002 - I can cruise over those and only hear that I am driving over them.

2016 - I feel those bumps into my steering wheel, seat, and the loudness. The one thing that seems crazy is the steering wheel vibrates out of control and you can visually see it move like.

Normal?

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What wheel/tire size, though? As someone posted above, sidewall can make a difference. Big one, actually. I had an '02 that rode great over anything with 18" wheels, and a '10 with 20 inch wheels that road like ass.

tdriver113 said:

Ford has signed on to the stupid Turbo V6. Nuff said.

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And the Expedition real world gas mileage is horrible, much worse than they claim and worse than my GM 6.2. I rented an 18 Expedition for 2 weeks a little over a year back and tested it out first hand. GM's engines are way better.

Illnasty said:

After owning my 2016 Denali for 3 years, I’ve come to the conclusion that this truck just isn’t for me. I love the way it looks and technological advances it has over my 2002 Denali but I just don’t like the way it drives. Call me crazy but I feel like my 2002 Denali drives like a sports car which I can whip around corners and sharp turns. The 2016 is just so stiff and rough. I feel every bump in the road and get frightened around the same turns I eat up with my 2002.

In the end, I’ll give this to my wife and try to buy a low mileage 2006 Escalade if I can find one when my 2002 Denali gives out.

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Get a PPV or SSV They drive much better then the normal version (excluding boarder partial units)

that is why i got the hybrid it's more comfortable to drive then the normal hippo version...


it drives more like a Crown vic or Caprice then a bulky SUV because of it's lowered center of gravity.. it's optimized for on road use.... it can corner extremely well in part to it's Electric Power steering ...

tdriver113 said:

If you like a vehicle that sounds like a lawn mower on steroids. Ford is for you. I drive a Ford transit 350 with a tiny v6 everyday. NO TURBO. POS

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I daily a 250 with (I believe) a NA 3.7. Although it sounds like a crotch rocket, I'm glad it has a 7,000 RPM redline and 6-speed transmission with manual control cuz that's the ONLY way it has a chance at not being the cause for a pile-up in the city. I must say that, for all general cargo van purposes, it's surprisingly more than just sufficient. It has earned my respect for it's durability and capability. I've pretty much been beating on it for 157,000 miles and counting and it runs like day 1.

Big Mama said:

I’ve heard from a few folks that they thought the gmt800 Denali was the best ever made like some say the C5 vette was. Sounds like you’re in that group. Instead of buying a mystery do some upgrades to the 06

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I agree on both points.

I have the 22’s with the stock wheels

Sorry a bit long winded...

I had a 2006 Yukon XL SLT before I bought my 2018 Yukon Denali and I definitely understand what the OP is trying to say. The seats in the GMT800 were much wider and more plush than the 2018, I could put that seat into cozier more comfortable (to me) positions than the new one. It just seemed like everything on that vehicle was in the perfect spot and was it pretty technologically advanced for it's day. The 2006 had the Premium Smooth ride with the Nivomat rear shocks, it sat on 17" tires and it rode very nice and smooth. I could hitch my boat to the rear and tow without the Yukon even feeling it... however the 5.3L engine and the transmission setup though adequate had some issues towing because it definitely like to hunt more than fish. I loved that vehicle, if it were not for being totaled in an accident I would still have it.

That being said I definitely like the 2018 Denali, the MRC although stiffer at times also rides smooth as silk on most surfaces, it can hold turns like a car with very little lean and the 6.2L 10 speed combo tows my boat with barely any effort. I do structurally feel the boat more than the GMT800 but at 70 mph I can set cruise in Tow/Haul mode and there is no shifting at all. The fuel mileage on the 2018 towing is as good as my all around average on the 06 so that is definitely a huge advantage.

Keeping in mind that the 2006 was an XL so it was longer, heavier and had 17" wheels with a higher profile sidewall on the tires definitely helped the ride. Our company vehicle is a 2018 Suburban with 18" wheels and it also rides a little softer than the Denali, again a longer wheel base but the overall driveability of both is not that of the Denali performance wise.

I accept the fact that I have a large safe SUV that will tow 8400Lbs comfortably, I can adjust to the ride. Mine has 20" wheels and I replaced the Continental OEMs with Michelin tires which made a huge ride difference.

I miss my 2006 almost daily but I am definitely satisfied with the 2018.