Model Year Differences?

[Sancho]

I am considering picking up a Tahoe, not sure of body style yet. ( I like both this and the next gen, but the wife isn't sold on picking up an older vehicle.) Were there any changes made throughout the years that would make certain years more desirable th an others. Also, how can you tell the difference between the 5.3 and 4.8 motor, is it obvious when looking under the hood, or am I to take the seller's word for it, short of decoding the VIN?

 

[ESCALADE200224]

Well any 2004-2006 with flex fuel will always be a 5.7 engine.

 

[angel.arteaga]

Some of the 03-06 changed the top area of the rear lift gate door, thats one thing to consider.

Also it is up to your liking as far as body cleanness, some come with factory fender flares which look better in my opinion, other come without them, some will not have the factory black and chrome side moldings on the door becuase people just took them off, some will come with a simple factory roof rack, other will have the roof rack plus the factory cross rails, or the Z71 roof rack.

Just a few things to consider.

 

[yukondoit]

Well any 2004-2006 with flex fuel will always be a 5.7 engine.

 

[OmarR]

Well any 2004-2006 with flex fuel will always be a 5.7 engine.

They didn't use the 5.7 engine at all in those years.

 

[Sancho]

A gen III or IV 5.7 would be nice, but I think I'll stick with what GM decided to put in at Arlington, or wherever else these may have been built. This will be the wife's family car, I have other rides I can do swaps in. Plus I'm in CA and have no desire to challenge the BS smog police more than I already do with my other ride.

---------- Post added at 04:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:59 PM ----------

Also it is up to your liking as far as body cleanness, some come with factory fender flares which look better in my opinion, other come without them, some will not have the factory black and chrome side moldings on the door becuase people just took them off, some will come with a simple factory roof rack, other will have the roof rack plus the factory cross rails, or the Z71 roof rack.

Just a few things to consider.

Yes, but AFAIK, these are trim options that you may or may not get throughout the entire lineup. I'm more interested in things that changed after a certain year, like the interior was updated, or the transmission or transfer case or brakes after a certain year were re-disigned.

Thanks for all the replies so far.

 

[04gibbstahoe]

LMAO!

 

[felixgun]

If you go with an NBS be sure to get an 03+ and avoid the 00-02. A lot changed interior-wise in 03 (for the better). 1.5 din in 00-02 versus double din in 03+ so you can fit a double din flush mount nav. The center console and cup holder area along with the dash got a huge update. 03+ also has way better leather seats. I owned an 01 and envied the 03+ people

 

[Sancho]

Great, thanks for the info. I really think the wife wants an '07 up, but I've always liked these, so I might just get both and drive this one myself. Then I can keep my '96 Impala SS in the garage with my '72 C-10 where it belongs. The wife is driving a '00 Durango right now I'd really like to see disappear, but unfortunately David Copperfield won't return my calls.

 

[chauncey0337]

Electronics got upgraded also in 2003 to 2006 such as DIC.

 

[Biloff]

Well any 2004-2006 with flex fuel will always be a 5.7 engine.

GM stopped useing the 5.7 in 2000 when the changed the body style. 2000 and up came with 4.8 or 5.3. The 5.3 hybrid came out in 07 or 08. And of course the 6.0 in the Denali and Silverado HD's

 

[bkboatnsleds]

If you have kids... not a huge deal.. but the LATCH system started in 03 as well...

 

[willn513]

If you have kids... not a huge deal.. but the LATCH system started in 03 as well...

This is actually a great point. My TrailBlazer was my first vehicle with LATCH and I'll never buy another vehicle without it. Super easy.


Sent from my Android using Tapatalk

 

[Sancho]

If you have kids... not a huge deal.. but the LATCH system started in 03 as well...

Yes, I have two, but I damn sure better be done needing a latch system at this point, or someone's going to have some expaining to do! Good point though if it might help someone else that stumbles across this thread.

 

[Phantomx55]

The 03-06 do have some interior upgrades as previously mentioned and have a speedo that goes to 120 rather then 100. The 05+06 also came standard with electric radiator fans instead of clutch driven fan

 

[Sancho]

The 03-06 do have some interior upgrades as previously mentioned and have a speedo that goes to 120 rather then 100. The 05+06 also came standard with electric radiator fans instead of clutch driven fan

This litttle bit of info is huge, E-fans FTW! Way easier to work on stuff, plus much less parasitic drag.

 

[Gzes]

5.7 = obs noob!

 

[buzzsaw714]

personally... I would be looking for the tahoe/yukon thats interior has been taken care of better..

all of the differences between 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 are all minuscule compared to the interior and drivetrain condition.

DONT GET A 4.8... for gods sake

 

[abladeafficionado]

The 03-06 do have some interior upgrades as previously mentioned and have a speedo that goes to 120 rather then 100. The 05+06 also came standard with electric radiator fans instead of clutch driven fan

I have a 2001 Denali and it has a 120MPH speedo. It is Canadian originally though, so I can't override my running lights, they're always on.

The 03+ was better IMO. Double DIN is a huge plus, and the climate control is much better. E-fans are a very nice upgrade, I'm thinking about doing them to my '01.

I love my '01 Denali, wouldn't trade it for a '03 Tahoe or Yukon though. 6.0 FTW.

 

[Sancho]

DONT GET A 4.8... for gods sake

Yeah... that's not going to happen; that's why I was asking how to visually spot the difference, though I don't think anyone ever answered that. I think the e-fans really are a no-brainer, so '05 and up only for me at this point. Thanks for all the replies.