I would completely agree.
CK5
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Why doesn't Chevy make a modern K5?
- Thread starter Jessie James
- Start date
Cornfield creations
1/2 ton status
There is a pretty new power wagon driving around town here with a cummins in it. So it was an option?
Cornfield creations
1/2 ton status
People who buy jeeps are mostly the type that own one because they believe that it is the ultimate off-road vehicle. Plus the fact the doors and top comes off makes it even better. It's more the cool factor that you own a jeep JK, TJ, YJ, CJ. Since the JK came out I have seen more and more office people buying them to just drive and park them in the winter. They don't care if it has a straight axle or not, it's just the "jeep thing" and it will always remain that way.
People buy tahoes and expeditions because they are roomy and are luxurious, not because they are capable.
I believe that market that the blazer's, broncos, and scouts owned in the past has dried up, and is replaced with the novelty jeep market probably never to be seen again.
People buy tahoes and expeditions because they are roomy and are luxurious, not because they are capable.
I believe that market that the blazer's, broncos, and scouts owned in the past has dried up, and is replaced with the novelty jeep market probably never to be seen again.
COCHEV
1/2 ton status
still, its hard to knock all the offroad features you can get with a jeep or toyota that you have to buy aftermarket for chevys...
Of course we are here at K5 for the "built not bought" lifestyle. But if I had to buy something new,off the shelf, ready to go, I don't think chevy has anything that fits that bill...
Of course we are here at K5 for the "built not bought" lifestyle. But if I had to buy something new,off the shelf, ready to go, I don't think chevy has anything that fits that bill...
It could be a totally badass rig with a Cummins conversion! Or.... most likely, a 2500 Ram with some Power Wagon emblems.
Exactly.
GsxrMike
1/2 ton status
If the power wagon only came with the Cummins, I could hear it already...... "(guy 1) that engine is WAY to heavy to be in a true 4 wheeling rig. (guy 2) yeah man, what were they thinking, a small block V8 would be nice and light but still have just enough power. (guy 1), yeah totally!"
I said offer not sell exclusively. They should have offed that engine in that truck and it would have sold.
If chevy sold a stripped down duramax with a solid axle, lockers, a small lift and larger tires I would buy one tomorrow. I want a truck with rubber floors, vinal seats, manual locks and windows, and enough room for the family. Thats why I drive a 1996 K3500 with no payment.
djtejas
1/2 ton status
GM, Ford, and Chrysler all sell what has the highest profit margin instead of what the public wants...that's why foreign car manufacturers have been kicking their a$$ for so long.
GM especially, has not learned that you can make more money selling more cars with lower profit margin than selling less cars with more profit margin.
Saturn is a good example...they used to be an affordable car that anyone could afford and people liked it for that. Then they started making them fancier and more expensive...now where is Saturn?
The foreign auto makers practically own the "car" market. While the big 3 were putting all their eggs in one basket (SUVs), the foreign makers were making better cars...i can't think of one American car that I would by if I was looking for a car.
I still prefer American trucks and SUVs, but I'm like most everyone here too; I would love to be able to buy a truck without all the fancy luxury items in it. It's a truck...
GM especially, has not learned that you can make more money selling more cars with lower profit margin than selling less cars with more profit margin.
Saturn is a good example...they used to be an affordable car that anyone could afford and people liked it for that. Then they started making them fancier and more expensive...now where is Saturn?
The foreign auto makers practically own the "car" market. While the big 3 were putting all their eggs in one basket (SUVs), the foreign makers were making better cars...i can't think of one American car that I would by if I was looking for a car.
I still prefer American trucks and SUVs, but I'm like most everyone here too; I would love to be able to buy a truck without all the fancy luxury items in it. It's a truck...
4xcrazy
3/4 ton status
This i can honestly would be me, if i were to be able to buy a new vehicle in the first place, i KNOW it would be a newer truck already, but the way i see it, i'm personally not gonna drop $30-50k on a new truck, just to take it off-road and screw it up. I already did this with my '89 Burb, it was about 98% straight when i bought it, had the typical 80's era crappy pain job on it, but the interior is still in good shape, now the exterior is pretty sad because of these off-road trips.
I had fun doing it, but i definately wouldn't be able to do it in a brand new truck, i don't care HOW capable it is. That's what my older truck is for now, and there are sure enough out there running around to get one decently cheap and build it to the way you want.
blowedupmotor87
1/2 ton status
If you look at what trucks are sold, (outside of fleets) a HUGE majority of them are loaded luxo trucks.
Hate to kill the new K5 idea but, you'll notice the 2 door Tahoe got dropped after the 4 door was introduced, even before the end of the overall body style (1999 for the four door, what 96 or 97 for the two door). Four doors are what sells nowadays, look how many more 4 door JK's you seen than 2 doors. In the (totally separate) example of sport, look at the ugly abomination that is the (4 door) RX-8, that replaced the gorgeous (2 door) RX-7. The (admittedly ugly) Maroon 2 door Tahoe concept pictured above is about the only way a K5 will come into existence, because it has 4 doors. Even extended cab pickups show the transition from 2 doors to 4 doors.
I used to own about the closest thing to a 2 door K5 that Chevy has made recently, a ZR2 S-10 Blazer, body style was dropped in 2004 though. Sure, it had IFS but, it was still a LOT of fun! I'd like to see a fullsize along the lines it, that'd rock!!! Sure, it had a fixed roof but still, it was a nice set up, still kinda miss it.
Unfortunately, GM doesn't have the offroad brand image that Jeep does, to be able to make a "hardcore" offroad rig. They might have been able to make something along that lines when they still had the Hummer brand BUT, that's long gone now. Yes, K5's are VERY capable in the forms that we have here but, in stock form (heresy I know), a Rubicon would run rings around a 91 Blazer. Yes, I agree, bad example, 20 years difference, BUT, think about it, was there any truly comparable (utilitarian offroad rig) vehicle made by GM since the K5? So, no matter how bad@$$ a rig they might build, it'll still be a hard sell.
OKAY, all the negatives aside- I would LOVE to have a new K5!!!!
Let's be realistic, CAFE standards would dictate that it not be a fullsize. So, Trailblazer/Colorado/H3 etc chassis would work (yeah, weak axles, blah, blah, blah). The straight six is a good motor (though the axle shaft through the oil pan is kinda lame), the optional 6.0 (SS) model would be an awesome limited edition, the transmission and transfercase are good, the chassis is realistic (not something we all like but, it is legitimately what GM would make), and could be modified fairly easily (body on frame). I think it would look good with a halfcab convertible top, two doors, a removable sunroof style panel, the H3's rear locker, a lever style transfercase and a stripped down weather resistant interior. The tooling for it would not be too difficult (basically akin to a regular cab shortbed Colorado with a the bed integrated into the cab), the chassis could be a shortened 4 door frame, add a fiberglass half top and boom- K5! The entry price could stay reasonable, low engineering costs and a stripped down trim package would ensure that.
Hate to kill the new K5 idea but, you'll notice the 2 door Tahoe got dropped after the 4 door was introduced, even before the end of the overall body style (1999 for the four door, what 96 or 97 for the two door). Four doors are what sells nowadays, look how many more 4 door JK's you seen than 2 doors. In the (totally separate) example of sport, look at the ugly abomination that is the (4 door) RX-8, that replaced the gorgeous (2 door) RX-7. The (admittedly ugly) Maroon 2 door Tahoe concept pictured above is about the only way a K5 will come into existence, because it has 4 doors. Even extended cab pickups show the transition from 2 doors to 4 doors.
I used to own about the closest thing to a 2 door K5 that Chevy has made recently, a ZR2 S-10 Blazer, body style was dropped in 2004 though. Sure, it had IFS but, it was still a LOT of fun! I'd like to see a fullsize along the lines it, that'd rock!!! Sure, it had a fixed roof but still, it was a nice set up, still kinda miss it.
Unfortunately, GM doesn't have the offroad brand image that Jeep does, to be able to make a "hardcore" offroad rig. They might have been able to make something along that lines when they still had the Hummer brand BUT, that's long gone now. Yes, K5's are VERY capable in the forms that we have here but, in stock form (heresy I know), a Rubicon would run rings around a 91 Blazer. Yes, I agree, bad example, 20 years difference, BUT, think about it, was there any truly comparable (utilitarian offroad rig) vehicle made by GM since the K5? So, no matter how bad@$$ a rig they might build, it'll still be a hard sell.
OKAY, all the negatives aside- I would LOVE to have a new K5!!!!
Let's be realistic, CAFE standards would dictate that it not be a fullsize. So, Trailblazer/Colorado/H3 etc chassis would work (yeah, weak axles, blah, blah, blah). The straight six is a good motor (though the axle shaft through the oil pan is kinda lame), the optional 6.0 (SS) model would be an awesome limited edition, the transmission and transfercase are good, the chassis is realistic (not something we all like but, it is legitimately what GM would make), and could be modified fairly easily (body on frame). I think it would look good with a halfcab convertible top, two doors, a removable sunroof style panel, the H3's rear locker, a lever style transfercase and a stripped down weather resistant interior. The tooling for it would not be too difficult (basically akin to a regular cab shortbed Colorado with a the bed integrated into the cab), the chassis could be a shortened 4 door frame, add a fiberglass half top and boom- K5! The entry price could stay reasonable, low engineering costs and a stripped down trim package would ensure that.
aww, hell, for me it's a moot point anyway....I only make 60k a year, I can't afford a new anything......
djtejas
1/2 ton status
aww, hell, for me it's a moot point anyway....I only make 60k a year, I can't afford a new anything......
that doesn't stop a lot of people from doing it anyway...
seriously though, the price of automobiles has gotten outrageous...
that doesn't stop a lot of people from doing it anyway...
seriously though, the price of automobiles has gotten outrageous...
yeah, they are crazy.
A couple of weeks ago my Darling Bride and I stopped at a Nissan dealer...they were gonna give me 5K and charge me 39k on a USED Murano...(she loves them)...for ONLY 895 a month!
.
what a deal, eh...
that stupid light in my forehead must have been flashing furiously....P.s. ...I couldn't tell him what to do with it with her there...she doesn't like it when I get ....in that state of mind..
I was just going for apples to apples, since the Hemi was the only choice in the Power Wagon.
As you likely already know, you can forget EVER seeing a strait front axle in a GM product, from the factory, again.
It's too bad really.
