Dear Gurus,
Last weekend we made a routine 7 1/2 hr run to Lexington Ky with our trial dogs - this time as guests in a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban - the luxury model with a GPS, video recorder for the back seat - every bell and whistle.
Usually when we make this run, we travel in the Boulevard Cruiser, the (modified) 1989 Colony Park.
Comparison:
Comfort: Essentially no difference though heated seats in the Suburban were nice. The BC’s contractor’s console was better than the Suburban’s trays and pockets
Luxury: Although the Suburban had CD’s, a cassette player, radio and video, I’d rather have the Boulevard Cruiser’s MP3’s. I did like the Suburban’s temp/compass mirror. The GPS would be wonderful if we were traveling through cities but sheepdog trials are usually in the remote countryside and the GPS is less likely to get you there than MapQuest and Directions. No difference.
Performance: No difference.
Handling: No difference. The Suburban has the advantage of better brakes, bigger tires and more advanced steering but it’s a heavy, boxy creature and too high off the road.
Safety: The Suburban is likelier to roll or get caught by wind. The Boulevard Cruiser gets more road splash and has no airbags, front or side. Advantage: Suburban.
Economy: We stopped at the same number of gas stops (4) and filled up.. The difference is that the Suburban has a 25 gallon tank. I figure the Suburban gets about 13.5 mpg while the Cruiser gets 21. Advantage: Cruiser.
Bad driving conditions. The 4wd drive Suburban is more convenient than the Cruiser with limited slip and chains. Advantage: Suburban
Cost: Edmunds prices the Suburban, as equipped at 26k and the Cruiser, as equipped at 2.6 k. I figure I have 5 K in it too which though unrecoverable is a real cost. Total 7.6k. Advantage: Cruiser
Donald McCaig
Last weekend we made a routine 7 1/2 hr run to Lexington Ky with our trial dogs - this time as guests in a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban - the luxury model with a GPS, video recorder for the back seat - every bell and whistle.
Usually when we make this run, we travel in the Boulevard Cruiser, the (modified) 1989 Colony Park.
Comparison:
Comfort: Essentially no difference though heated seats in the Suburban were nice. The BC’s contractor’s console was better than the Suburban’s trays and pockets
Luxury: Although the Suburban had CD’s, a cassette player, radio and video, I’d rather have the Boulevard Cruiser’s MP3’s. I did like the Suburban’s temp/compass mirror. The GPS would be wonderful if we were traveling through cities but sheepdog trials are usually in the remote countryside and the GPS is less likely to get you there than MapQuest and Directions. No difference.
Performance: No difference.
Handling: No difference. The Suburban has the advantage of better brakes, bigger tires and more advanced steering but it’s a heavy, boxy creature and too high off the road.
Safety: The Suburban is likelier to roll or get caught by wind. The Boulevard Cruiser gets more road splash and has no airbags, front or side. Advantage: Suburban.
Economy: We stopped at the same number of gas stops (4) and filled up.. The difference is that the Suburban has a 25 gallon tank. I figure the Suburban gets about 13.5 mpg while the Cruiser gets 21. Advantage: Cruiser.
Bad driving conditions. The 4wd drive Suburban is more convenient than the Cruiser with limited slip and chains. Advantage: Suburban
Cost: Edmunds prices the Suburban, as equipped at 26k and the Cruiser, as equipped at 2.6 k. I figure I have 5 K in it too which though unrecoverable is a real cost. Total 7.6k. Advantage: Cruiser
Donald McCaig
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