So, what's with the black appliques on the Yukons anyway?

[KMeloney]

Hey all,

This thread could have also been titled something like "Maybe it's just me, but..." but does anyone else wonder why GMC went with black appliques (plastic "corners" above the tail lights) on the Yukons/Denalis? I just don't get it.

On the previous bodies, the rear appliques really didn't integrate into the body at all, imo. The fact that they were black made them stick out even more. One of the first mods to my '02 Tahoe was Escalade appliques that I had painted to match the body. I think it really made for a better, more integrated look.

I just don't understand why GMC left these black on the new body style trucks. The truck makers finally put a "rake"/accent in the top of the applique (that follows the top line of the rear windows) for a much more integrated look -- but then GMC leaves them black, making the pieces look more like an upward extension of the tail lights than a rearward extension of the body. This look just doesn't fit my eye.

At this point, you could argue that, aside from the black trucks, the appliques make the GMCs easily recognizable as GMCs -- but so could a variety of other SUBTLE touches.

There are so many great looking GMCs out there (especially on here) that I think would look much better with painted appliques. I guess it surprises me that I haven't seen anyone paint-to-match his appliques on his GMC. In other words, I'm surprised that I might be the only one who thinks that the Yukon/Denali would look so much better with body-colored appliques.

Thoughts?

/< / /2 /<

PS -- Check out the similar treatment on the Mini Clubman.

I'm just not feeling it.

 

[iwaslowr]

I've wondered the same thing, why aren't they color matched... but it's not something that bother's me. In fact, with dark windows I kinda like how the black flows from one rear window all the way to the other side... from above one rear tire to the other.

 

[Kat Killa]

I also like the way the black wraps around the back and sides. But mine is white also. I like the contrast.

 

[KMeloney]

I'm ok with contrast -- but my eye needs to have the body color go all the way to the end of the truck. I'd be ok with the applique being MOSTLY black, as long as the top 2" (however much space there is above the rear window line) matched the body.

Now, I'm not advocating that these trucks look like a Ford Explorer Boo, but see how the roof line color extends through the rear, despite it also having black appliques?

I prefer something more like that than the current GMC set up.

 

[Modded]

I have mentioned this many times before, though it doesn't really bother me, I would prefer color matched appliques over the Yukon style.
I was wondering because my applique broke two months back and was rattling like hell (dont know how it happened) the dealer replaced t under warrantty but it took them forever to get it painted, straight to the question, are those Yukon appliqyes painted or just black fiberglass?

 

[KMeloney]

I have mentioned this many times before, though it doesn't really bother me, I would prefer color matched appliques over the Yukon style.
I was wondering because my applique broke two months back and was rattling like hell (dont know how it happened) the dealer replaced t under warrantty but it took them forever to get it painted, straight to the question, are those Yukon appliqyes painted or just black fiberglass?

Hey Nna -- Whoops! Obviously missed your posts about 'em. Well, at least I'm not the only one then. haha

No idea if they're just black plastic (like my '02's were), or painted. I guess I can't imagine why they'd bother painting them black if they're available in black plastic. It would seem redundant. But, I'm sure a Yukon owner here knows for sure.

Oh -- here's another example of what I consider a better look while still keeping the appliques [mostly] black:

The color is taken all the way to the end of the truck so that it doesn't just look like a "filler" piece back there.

 

[R.Beezy]

dont bother me also, but i'd rather have it color matched to the body... maybe a mod i'll do later on

 

[007fl]

Mine ARE color matched.......................BLACK!!!!!

Actually, it is probably to match the glass more than anything else.

 

[Modded]

That Range is nice Kmel, the applique flows beter with the body too.
I think this difference, and some others, has to do with GM just looking for stuff to do to make the Yukon different from the Tahoe, kind of like the emblemless applique on the tailgate of the Yukon compared to the bowtied one Tahoe guys have (in this case I prefer the Yukon design better which is why I swapped it).

 

[Conor]

I've wondered the same thing, why aren't they color matched... but it's not something that bother's me. In fact, with dark windows I kinda like how the black flows from one rear window all the way to the other side... from above one rear tire to the other.

+1 on that. As long as your windows are blacked out I like the looks better with the black

 

[iwaslowr]

bocaytomas, do you have this mod on your Tahoe? The reason I ask is after seeing your "2008 Tahoe Resonator Delete VID!!" thread video it looks like you have only the top portion of the applique body matched. Please provide details... Did you have the stock pieces painted black below the body line or ?

 

[KMeloney]

bocaytomas, do you have this mod on your Tahoe? The reason I ask is after seeing your "2008 Tahoe Resonator Delete VID!!" thread video it looks like you have only the top portion of the applique body matched. Please provide details... Did you have the stock pieces painted black below the body line or ?

Iwas -- If he DID have that top part painted (and it's not just a reflection), then THAT is how these should have been from the factory! Sounds like some people think I'm dumping on the overall contrast of the black appliques, but I'm not -- it's the lack of integration into the roof line that I dislike.

You should PM that guy and find out if he had that painted up there. Don't know if he's seen this thread....

 

[bocaytomas]

As per a request, I put the black panels on my White Tahoe, I like the look of the curve around from window to window, and I'm going for the "Desky" look (Denali Escalade), As I made the B-Pillars Black, Like the esky, but the rear panels black like the Denali

 

[KMeloney]

As per a request, I put the black panels on my White Tahoe, I like the look of the curve around from window to window, and I'm going for the "Desky" look (Denali Escalade), As I made the B-Pillars Black, Like the esky, but the rear panels black like the Denali

Ah, just noticed that! (Actually, I noticed something different about the B-pillars initially, but didn't put 2 and 2 together.) Looks great!

So, you DIDN'T paint-to-match just the very top portion of the appliques? The lighting in your video looks like you did. If you did, that would really look great.

 

[zach2011]

I thought they did this to help set differences between a Tahoe and a Yukon.

I studied the appliques on my dad's Denali. If I swapped them with my Tahoe's, there would be no difference. Meaning, I think they're painted black. The 3rd brake light assembly is also this way, of course it could be black on all Tahoes too, I'm not sure.

 

[KMeloney]

I understand doing something visually different between brands from a marketing/brand standpoint -- I just don't understand why they'd use black appliques [from an aesthetic standpoint], especially when they don't differentiate the truck at all when the truck is black...

 

[zach2011]

Well, back in the 2000-2006 generation, the Tahoes and Yukons both had the black applique. The Escalade was the only model to have a body matching one. I guess they stuck to that, for whatever reason they decided to make those black in the first place is beyond me.

I would think that it's something in the same reasoning as making the LS body parts black plastic. If you buy an LT/LTZ, you get matching handles. And if you buy an Escalade, you get matching appliques.

And then with the 07+ models, they stuck with black because that's what that's what color the previous appliques were.. And I guess because the black makes the rear windows look longer? That might have something to do with it. Who knows.




But back to the LS handles, that reminds me, I've always wondered why I never see any 07+ Yukons with LS handles. So basically GM is confusing, haha.