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Brand new Avy, things Ive noticed

spidey

spidey

Full Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2012
Messages
686
Location
Alberta
So have had my truck for just over 2 weeks now, basically tucked in the garage until my old one sells and I installed the hood guard and mud guards.  This weeked I decided to transfer all my old stuff from my truck to the new one since we are going on a trip this weekend to break it in.

I know every vehicle is different and has their pros and cons, so these are so far just minor things.

1. Truck bed light, why just on the one side, the other side has the indentation hole where it could go.  Be very handy so it lights up the outside cubby on both sides instead of just one.  Also be nice it it could be activated somehow without the FOB or opening the door.  But mostly why just on the one side

2. Lack of cubbies inside the cab.  Ive lost about 6 cubbies now.  The rear doors dont have any pockets for whatever (my kids used those all the time)  No upper sunglasses (or whatever you prefer in there) holder, the glovebox only has one, instead of the upper lower kind Ive seen (and had) in so many vechiles.  They could of put a stow away cubby in the upper dash, Ive seen them on tons of vehicles now.

3. The front door cupholders suck.  Way to shallow, can see things falling out of there alot

4. The console while large, could of been designed a bit better.  I know I can buy an organizer.  But they could of made it a two level console, where the lid as well has storage in it, and then still have the coonsole.

5. No rear door cupholders.  I know they have to in the seat flip down and 2 on the floor, but the seat one is gone when you have 3 kids, and the floor one while works is a place to get busted off.  I know my kids take water bottles on trips, now they have no where to really put them.  My old Frontier had nice deep cupholders in each door that could hold a tall water bnottle and not worry about it falling out.  So werid to see a rear door with no storage in it at all

I know when it comes to vehcile design anything they cna cut can save money, but for inside storage they wouldnt of lost any real estate if they just used the space smartly.  Ive never seen a truck where the rear doors dont have storage pockets of some type.
 
spidey said:
So have had my truck for just over 2 weeks now, basically tucked in the garage until my old one sells and I installed the hood guard and mud guards.  This weeked I decided to transfer all my old stuff from my truck to the new one since we are going on a trip this weekend to break it in.

I know every vehcile is different and has their pros and cons, so these are so far just minor things.

1. Truck bed light, why just on the one side, the other side has the indentation hole where it could go.  Be very handy so it lights up the outside cubby on both sides instead of just one.  Also be nice it it could be activated somehow without the FOB or opening the door.  But mostly why just on the one side
Click to expand...

Cost savings. The 2002-2004 models had the light on both sides. You can DIY the job. I haven't gotten to it on my '06 yet.


Enjoy your truck!
 
PerfectReign said:
Cost savings. The 2002-2004 models had the light on both sides. You can DIY the job. I haven't gotten to it on my '06 yet.

Enjoy your truck!
Click to expand...

Thats true, every few bucks saved is money in their pocket.  Never really cared until I realized the one side storage has no light while the other does.  Ill put it on the list to do some day
 
My '04 only has one sidebin light. My '02 had a locking center console, I miss that too.
 
Flint4x4 said:
My '04 only has one sidebin light. My '02 had a locking center console, I miss that too.
Click to expand...

I used to have locking gloveboxes, etc.  Never used them in all the years Ive been driving.  Just never thought of ever locking them.
 
I echo your complaints.I moved from a Honda Ridgeline,which had many smartly designed cubbies and uses of space.
Obviously it was not a deal-breaker for me,and I have learned to compensate.
I purchased a little tray that sticks to the top of the dash,for pen and pad...a sticky pad that keeps the phone in place,and so on.

The cupholders in the doors...I don't even use,except that they are perfect for a round change cup that I keep there.

Good luck with the truck,and improvisation....
 
door cupholders are perfect for water bottles.  I keep a 1 liter water bottle there all the time.   Doesn't fall out, doesn't bother me when driving.


the missing sunglass holder bugs the crap out of me.
the lack of space to install a ham radio bugs the crap out of me.
the single sided bed light bothers as does the fact that it is controlled by the door switches and not a separate tailgate switch.
the off center steering wheel bugs the crap out of me.

but like the op said, nothing that can't be overcome.

I think what bothers me overall is that the AV is marketed as an off road beast but is designed as a pavement princess.
 
Brother Blues said:
I echo your complaints.I moved from a Honda Ridgeline,which had many smartly designed cubbies and uses of space.
Obviously it was not a deal-breaker for me,and I have learned to compensate.
I purchased a little tray that sticks to the top of the dash,for pen and pad...a sticky pad that keeps the phone in place,and so on.

The cupholders in the doors...I don't even use,except that they are perfect for a round change cup that I keep there.

Good luck with the truck,and improvisation....
Click to expand...

The work arounds are there, just when you get used to somethings that are a simple idea, you sometimes wonder why.  The console I picked up the tray from ther parts department last night, so know I have 2 levels.  And I have some small trays I found in the garage for the lower level, so I now have stuff sorted and wont roll around, etc.

The cupholder I have always carried a spare to go mug with me all the time for just in case you need a cup or mug.  It has come in handy in the past many times, but the depth of it the cup sits at an angle. and I can see it falling out.

Still need to look for a chnage holder of some kind,

When test driving the lack of holders never really dawned on me, and its not like I wouldnt of bought the truck anyway because of it.  But the spots are there and wouldnt lose any real estate over it.
 
old-chevy-dude said:
door cupholders are perfect for water bottles.  I keep a 1 liter water bottle there all the time.   Doesn't fall out, doesn't bother me when driving.

the missing sunglass holder bugs the crap out of me.
the lack of space to install a ham radio bugs the crap out of me.
the single sided bed light bothers as does the fact that it is controlled by the door switches and not a separate tailgate switch.
the off center steering wheel bug the crap out of me.

but liek the op said, nothing that can't be overcome.

I think what bothers me overall is that the AV is marketed as an off road beast but is designed as a pavement princess.
Click to expand...

When I say watter bottle I mean ones from home, like tall steel thermos ones, etc.  Im sure we can use others ones, but in the back they have no door holders of any sort, which is the first time Ive seen, is a door with no pocket holders or cup holders.

All of these can be overcome Im sure with ideas whne using the truck over time. 
 
yes the missing rear door pockets is something that I noticed and annoyed me from the start.  I got a back seat basket for my kid and a couple of plastic bins that slide under the rear seat nicely.. 


The rear cup holders are in the back of the rear console (useless IMO, as you can't reach them from the back seat without undoing the belt buckle, and in the rear pull down arm rest (if you have one, not all models do from what I have seen). .

There are some serious flaws in the ergonomic design of the interior of the AV/Tahoe/Burb/Denali vehicles, when compared to other vehicle of the same and even lower class/price point, and it is all in the name of saving a few bucks. 

But it is what it is, I do really like the vehicle and I have worked around some of the issues, others I have simply ignored and forgotten about.. 

 
old-chevy-dude said:
yes the missing rear door pockets is something that I noticed and annoyed me from the start.   I got a back seat basket for my kid and a couple of plastic bins that slide under the rear seat nicely.. 

The rear cup holders are in the back of the rear console (useless IMO, as you can't reach them from the back seat without undoing the belt buckle, and in the rear pull down arm rest (if you have one, not all models do from what I have seen). .

There are some serious flaws in the ergonomic design of the interior of the AV/Tahoe/Burb/Denali vehicles, when compared to other vehicle of the same and even lower class/price point, and it is all in the name of saving a few bucks. 

But it is what it is, I do really like the vehicle and I have worked around some of the issues, others I have simply ignored and forgotten about.
Click to expand...

I guess they can use the pockets behind the seat, I was just suprised nothing was in the doors, and never noticed until I went  to put something there.

I have the seat cup holders in the flip down rest, but not every useful when you have 3 kids in the back.

While not make or break, they should of thought about real world use and designed a few things better storage wise.

Whhhere did you get the bins.  Thats a good idea, as long as they are just tight enough to slide, but not slide out when you hit the brakes.  Right now I have a blanket, work gloves and my first aid kit under one side.
 
I got these:

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=126646


they hold a gambit of misc tools, gloves, flashlights, etc on drivers side, and on passenger side I have the headphones, and remote control for the rear DVD setup.

they don't slide while driving because the bottom is fabric so it has some "stick" to the carpet, plus with the mats in front of it, it can't really go anywhere.

then I have this in the middle seat, and it slides under the center when a third passenger is in the back:

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=40144924
 
old-chevy-dude said:
I got these:

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=126646


they hold a gambit of misc tools, gloves, flashlights, etc on drivers side, and on passenger side I have the headphones, and remote control for the rear DVD setup.

they don't slide while driving because the bottom is fabric so it has some "stick" to the carpet, plus with the mats in front of it, it can't really go anywhere.

then I have this in the middle seat, and it slides under the center when a third passenger is in the back:

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=40144924
Click to expand...

Thanks, Ill look at something like that sometime.  Right now I did find a home for everything so far.  My old truck had bin storage underneath the seats as well with bungee net on each for misc. stuff.  With the space on the Chevs floor they could of done the same.  They have the space but just didnt use it wisely
 
old-chevy-dude said:
I got these:

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=126646


they hold a gambit of misc tools, gloves, flashlights, etc on drivers side, and on passenger side I have the headphones, and remote control for the rear DVD setup.

they don't slide while driving because the bottom is fabric so it has some "stick" to the carpet, plus with the mats in front of it, it can't really go anywhere.

then I have this in the middle seat, and it slides under the center when a third passenger is in the back:

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=40144924
Click to expand...

Found some under seat storage that worked, and allowws the seats to still sit flat when flipped.  The one side with the single fit slip down I  found a nice black storage box with a lid and handle (so it can be pulled easier when sitting down).  The other side I found a Rubbermaid underseat storage that has built in water bottle/cup holders.  It allows the seat to fold flat as well.  A lot of little cubbies in it.  Some of my other items were biggers so they just sit behind on the floor flat (like a blanket, etc)  I also found an adjustable cup holder thats portable so I dont have to worry about fighting over cup holders in the back.  Was at Walmartt for $10

In total spent maybe $30 on under seat storage. 
 
tonyrome1 said:
I would lose cupholders for a better ride and vehicle overall!!!
Click to expand...

I agree the ride is great, but having a cupholder in each door on the side wouldnt of taken up any extra real estate.  Oh well, the things I bought work good enough, and my 2 tier front console works well with some extra small storage things I had lying around.  Everything I need is now in arms reach
 
Now that you mention it, looks like there has been a mass exodus of cup parking in the later model.  Didn't really pay it much attention because I'm still within my 5K mile honeymoon period.  For what it's worth, the center console lid indention with the non-slip rubber is perfect for keeping my droid smart phone flush and stable.  I do miss the sunglass holder.
 
LAST AVY said:
For what it's worth, the center console lid indention with the non-slip rubber is perfect for keeping my droid smart phone flush and stable.  I do miss the sunglass holder.
Click to expand...

yes and yes.  They knew we were going to put our phones there, it should have a USB port in there, kinda whining a bit there but it does make sense to have a charger were your phone is going to be.
 
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