Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo

[PDenbigh]

btw, has anyone actually attempted a neutral drop lately? last one i tried, probably 10 years ago, the ECU fun police wouldnt let it rev above 3k while in neutral

I can confirm this is the case on a number of modern automatics. *tear*

[Jake]

The Ford PowerShift DSG is a dry setup, vs. Joey's wet clutch DSG. Ford just cannot manage to keep them running with reasonable NVH. The loaner I had was a 2013 with like 10k on it (go back a few pages on here to read about it) and it was miserable. I asked a tech when I dropped it back off and he said they didn't go a day without replacing clutch packs on a Focus. Fuckin' ridiculous.

Also, re: neutral drops. DJ and I attempted one in my 320i loaner a few months ago. It'll let you sit in neutral and rev it against fuel cut, but because the shifter is fully electronic (it's that black/silver dildo-looking thing that all new BMWs have) it won't let you select Drive until it settles back down to like 1k rpm.

Fun sidenote in a similar "new BMW automatics are stupid" vein. If you own an X5 and try opening the door while moving - say, to get a better view of your trailer as you back it in at 1.6 mph - the transmission will helpfully slam itself into Park, lest you fall out of the vehicle.

[WRXtranceformed]

Got hooked up with a Hyundai Azera for our trip out to the outer banks! My wife drove it home so I don't know how it is yet but it's big and cushy! Super comfortable seats, massive trunk and rear leg room, and it's got Sirius active. Such win!

[Jake]

My Denali is at the body shop after being attacked by a parking gate at my office. Enterprise hooked me up with a 2015 Tahoe LT.

Review to come once I drive it a bit more. Picked it up yesterday over lunch. So far it's ObamaNotBad.jpg but I like the 10-year-old rattletrap GMC of mine better.

[Jake]

2015 Chevrolet Tahoe LT

So about two weeks ago, the exit gate in my office's parking garage attacked my Yukon:



Colonial Parking (the numbuts who run the garage) clearly has no interest in actually repairing my truck, but I managed to get them to do so. They had an independent appraiser come out and assess the damage, which was paint damage on the A-pillar (which is really the passenger door), damage to the windshield trim, and a destroyed radio antenna. Not all bad. They also said they'd put me in a rental car from Enterprise.

I get to Body Shop Of My Choice down in Hoodbridge (recommended highly by many friends) and the manager looks at the damage because "we've *eyeroll* dealt with Colonial Parking before." He immediately goes "yeah their appraiser is wrong, we gotta paint your door, this isn't a pillar, it'll take more than the quoted two days." OK fine, I'm getting a rental.

Enterprise Man comes and picks me up in a Nissan Frontier. While we're driving back to Enterprise, I'm silently praying they don't actually try to foist a Frontier that stinks of cigarettes on me, and telling Enterprise Man how the damage happened. He asks "so... did this happen in Virginia?" and I'm like "yeah dude, I only go in to DC for trivia night." Apparently Colonial Parking had only approved me for a midsize sedan, but some insurance law in VA says that you must be placed in a vehicle of the same class as what you bring for repair. So, Enterprise Man had a Tahoe waiting for me. He said to not worry about the price difference, and that he'd get it sorted out.

So, I ended up with don't call me a 'hoe a 2015 Tahoe LT in Rental Spec Silver over Gray Leather.



I don't hate the styling from some angles. I do hate the silly gold bowtie placed approximately everywhere. This is mainly because I have a strong dislike for gold in general. It somehow manages to fill my tiny driveway even more than my Yukon does.



So, impressions so far.

First, visibility is atrocious. The windows are shaped like gun slits (a la Chrysler 300) and while they look big enough from the outside, check out the size of that rear pillar!



More interior notes... GM continues to use the asinine "one stalk to do it all!" that they pioneered with the 1984 Camaro and have not changed ever since, aside from making it less wobbly when you use it.



I think the steering wheel looks like something you'd find on a Playskool kiddie car. It has what I thought were paddle shifters for the transmission, but are actually controls for music track/volume. Also, oh hey, a Viper.



The gauges are clear and easy to read. The center screen can show all sorts of info, including transmission temp which is great for towing. You can switch between audio, "next turn" on navigation, and vehicle info very easily with buttons on the wheel. I've left it on "info" and if nav is running, it will automatically display the next turn anyway. Nice touch.



I don't think the front seats are nearly as comfortable as my GMT800 seats. They're flatter, the bolsters are not adjustable, and the heat doesn't work as well through the seat back. Further, the cargo capacity of this truck is sorely lacking. GM, in this generation (K2xx) and the prior generation (GMT900) advertised "fold flat" third-row seats, an improvement over my third row that needs to be removed entirely.

Well, they get the whole cargo floor to be "flat" by just making it higher. Look at this:



And, to top it off, "flat" isn't even flat. There's a 7*ish angle when you fold both rows of seats down. There goes sleeping on an air mattress at the track.

Chevy includes "MyLink" which is their name for the touchscreen/infotainment/nav system. I think the graphics are on the cartoon-y side:





The biggest issue, though, is this MyLink system is SLOW. Like "press a button and wait five entire seconds for any sort of response" slow. Not acceptable in 2015. I think the original iDrive was faster. I think an Apple II was faster.

The climate controls look kinda goofy but work fine. Lots of power and USB ports throughout the interior, which is a nice touch.



So after all my interior bickering, how does the 'Hoe drive? It's ten years newer than my Denali, so something must have improved, right? Well, yes and no.

To start, the engine is a 5.3L V8. It makes more horsepower and torque compared to my 6.0L, while returning higher fuel economy. I've been driving as I normally do (which, I've learned, is enough to make the collision warning system freak out with frequency) and am averaging 17-18 mpg. My Denali will return 13 in the same conditions. This motor is one that does the "displacement on demand" thing and cuts back from a V8 to a V4 when you are not using all the power. The transition is smooth but in V4 mode, it's significantly more grumbly/harsh.

GM trucks have never, ever had good brake feel. Until now. The brakes on this are fantastic.

Steering is now electric. My Denali has "Hydroboost" which is a variable-effort hydraulic steering system that uses hydraulics for assist, not vacuum. They do similar things (easier effort in parking lots, heavier at speed) but I would guess the EPAS is better for long-term reliability vs. Hydroboost. Not like steering feel on a truck is really something I care about, but it's "fine."

The transmission is a 6-speed as this is an early 2015. 2015's made in the last 3 months or so now all get the 8-speed. The 6-speed is fine, no complaints. My big issue is the electronic throttle has been programmed to be absolute mush for the first 20% of the travel. It makes pulling out into traffic, or pulling around someone to pass, a bit concerning as you don't quite know where the power is going to come in.

Suspension is very crashy over bumps. The LT does not have Magneride like my Denali does, and the difference is really obvious. The chassis/body are not nearly as composed if you hit a bump or throw it around a corner a bit. The new Tahoe LTZ and various Yukons/Escalades get Magneride so not a fair comparison, other than "you should really order those fancy shocks."

On the whole, this is a "fine" SUV if you need to haul 7 people and your boat/racecar/etc. But, if I were buying brand new today, I'd be handing these keys back and going to test-drive an Expedition and Durango.

[Jeff]

Where are the tie down points for the casket?

[Jake]

Where are the tie down points for the casket?

You can see two of them at the very back of the cargo area, on the side walls.

[Mike]

Where are the tie down points for the casket?

really, dodge? really?

[Jake]

Oh, and one more thing. It has two systems that make the seat rumble. One is forward collision warning, so if you get too close to the car in front of you and are not on the brakes, it flashes red lights in your sightlines and rumbles the entire seat. There is also lane departure warning which rumbles whichever side of the seat you're over the line on (if signal is not activated).

Because of that, if you go around a turn, you can feel the seat bottom cushion move about 1/4".

Sloppy, GM.

[SlimKlim]

Can you ride the rumble strips and get a massage?

[Jake]

Can you ride the rumble strips and get a massage?

If you hear of a slow-moving SUV holding up traffic in the left lane of I-395 on the radio this evening, well... I'll report back tomorrow.

[JPolen01]

Where are the tie down points for the casket?

It's the chrome trim. It really makes it look like a hearse.

[.RJ]

I have a strong dislike for gold in general

[Mike]

if you get too close to the car in front of you and are not on the brakes, it flashes red lights in your sightlines and rumbles the entire seat.

puts a whole new spin on "happy ending" as you approach the bumper of that semi at 80mph.

[Jake]

^^



Oh, and I tried a Neutral-drop. It don't work.

[HAULN-SS]

Think you guys forgot what a hearse looks like:

[.RJ]

Think you guys forgot what a hearse looks like:

Or this

[JPolen01]

Google: Chevy Tahoe Hearse

1st Result:

[HAULN-SS]

Think you guys forgot what a hearse looks like:

Or this

[Jake]

Really ready for my Yukon back.

Things that are easier to park than this Tahoe:
1. My Yukon
2. A Prius
3. Cobetto's F-350 Dually
4. A Cruise Ship