[MelvinJ]

Originally posted by Rex Raider@Jun 12 2004, 10:30 PM
But SUVs have NO "cargo versatility".
Most SUVs (especially those with 3 rows of seats) have absolutely no room for cargo. If you load up on people, you can't take stuff. If you load up on stuff, you can't take people.

I don't think 7 people could go on a week's vacation in an SUV with proper luggage, kid's strollers, etc...

I've owned three, and this is exactly the same situation with minivans. If you have all three rows of seats in place, there is very little room for cargo. Don't make it sound like you could put 7 people AND their luggage for a week in a minivan. You'd have to pile it high on the roof, just like a small to mid sized SUV. You'll get better mileage from a minivan for the same amount of space as an SUV, but that's the price you pay for towing capacity, used or unused.

Some SUV's have very little room behind the third row, but not all. I could take 7 or 8 people out for a week in mine and have enough room without putting anything on the roof.

 

[MelvinJ]

Originally posted by Ming@Jun 15 2004, 06:47 PM
For 7 people and tons of luggage, you need a GMC Savana 8-passenger 1500 van.

Gobs of cargo room (where the 12-passenger bench has been deleted), and seating comfortably for 6, tight for 8. This is the "regular length" full size van, not the extra long 15-passenger.

Hard to find them in that configuration at the dealership, though.

Savanas/Expresses have a staggering amount of room in them, and the price is great too, even with AWD. I haven't driven one of GM's vans even since the redesign of '96, let alone the '03 or '04's, but just looking at them, I can't imagine that they would drive as well as the Suburban, which has a lower seating position, lower body, and I'm guessing a lower CG. Plus the vans have more frontal area to battle against the wind, so I bet highway mileage is a bit less.

I saw a new Express the other day with an aftermarket 4WD conversion and some beefy tires. It looked good.

 

[MelvinJ]

the body of the savana is closer to the ground, cutting wind resistance, as well there are fewer things on the side of the van jutting out into the wind, and the total frontal area isn't all that much different from a suburban. Not to mention that you don't need to order a V-8 on them, there are V-6's and diesels available. [/QUOTE]
There's no diesel in the vans since 2002, although they may put the Duramax in for 2006, but nothing is certain there. And there are absolutely no conditions I'd take the 4.3L V6 over the V8 since the V8 gets the same or in some cases, better mileage and has a huge power advantage. If you want AWD (and I would), you're only choice is the 5.3L V8.

I'm not sure how much lower the body of the vans sit to the ground. The Suburban lists about an inch and a half more ground clearance, but that's generally measured at one of the chassis pieces and not the body. The Express sits over 6 inches taller though, and a half an inch wider. That's bound to have an effect at higher speeds.

I'm not sure what the Suburban has sticking out of the sides that the Express doesn't, other than the running boards that are unfortunately standard now.

 

[MelvinJ]

Originally posted by doh+Jun 16 2004, 01:28 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (doh @ Jun 16 2004, 01:28 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-MelvinJ@Jun 16 2004, 01:02 PM

There's no diesel in the vans since 2002, although they may put the Duramax in for 2006, but nothing is certain there. 

And this REALLY confused me, I had a number of small wholesale food distributers that used nothing but G-Cutaways,they could run them for the same kind of $$$'s as a Magic Wagon. But then GM canned the diesels in G-Vans, and at the same time canned the 3500HD cab and chassis? Giving Ford the only trucks for the small and larger commercial fleets.

So you say that they replaced the 3500 HD with the 4500\5500 Kodiak-Topkick, but these are only from medium duty dealers and higher in price. The mid 90's GM went hard after the small fleets throwing money left and right and then when we were making headway , they deserted them? [/b][/quote]
What's a Magic Wagon?