My wife drives a 2016 Suburban and I have a 2018 Tahoe and we love them. They are beasts!!! It all comes down to expectation management in my opinion. Many people expect too much. Understandably so considering how much these vehicles cost, but they surely don't make them like they used to. Going into one of these, you should accept that up front.
I joined this forum hoping to find enthusiasts and read threads pertaining to aftermarket improvements including performance, aesthetics and style upgrades. I contribute to the forum and try to give members new ideas as well as my personal reviews on upgrades I have made to my truck. To each there own... Additionally, I think this is a great place for people to post up when they have a problem or an issue that they are seeking help to resolve, but what really grinds my gears is when people come on hear and bash these trucks or the brand. There are several other options out there when purchasing a vehicle. None are perfect. Additionally, I would recommend doing research on your dealer of choice when purchasing a new vehicle. Not all dealers are created equal. Experiences vary from dealer to dealer. I agree, some of the complaints are warranted, but also agree with your sentiment that there is a lot of value in these "beasts."
What I love about the Tahoe is that currently it is still a "truck". If I wanted a smoother riding more refined vehicle, I would have purchased an SUV with independent suspension. This is what I was referring to earlier when I was talking about expectation management. Make no mistake, the Tahoe is a truck. It is not really an SUV. As such, even with all the dampening options, it is still a truck. I am sure the 2020 and beyond models will be super cool....to include smoother ride, better handling, etc..... But it will no longer be a truck. To me, that was a deciding factor when purchasing my 18'.
Lastly, in my opinion, no matter the make/model, the more creature comforts/gadgets/extras you equip your truck with, the more maintenance, failures, recalls you are going to be faced with over the life of the truck. Case in point, for some of you older fellas in here, if you think back to the Chevy Suburban and older Tahoes with less tech/creature comforts/digitized systems, repair bills and failed components occurred less frequently. The sunroof is a prime example of one of the creature comforts I was talking about. Problems with these things are inevitable over the long haul unless you are willing to frequently maintain them. (cleaning the channels, lubricating the moving parts, etc... )
I'll get off my soap box now. OP, completely agree with your post. Thank you for sharing.
Cheers!
