Any SV6 Owners Out There???

[swathdiver]

Just picked up our 2006 SV6. It's got just about every option available including the 3.9 LZ9 motor. Better ride then the '99 Montana we have and lots more power. Also noticed that 2006s have 6-lug hubs and wheels, was looking for gorilla wheel lock kit and have to find one that has 24.

Any things you love, hate, stuff to watch out for?

Thanks!

James

[swathdiver]

Nobody else has one? I'm the only one?

[mbeattie]

You're not alone. I have a 2006 SV6, and have been pleased overall. My one concern is the tires. The Continentals are not rated very well, based on some of the online tire ratings I have seen and I find they don't handle very well in the wet. I am not confident that these tires will do well in the snow or icy conditions. I am having a difficult time finding any decent winter tires that will fit this vehicle (225/60-17). Even a local GM dealer admitted this is a common problem. I am disappointed that GM did not do a better job equipping a family vehicle for the weather in this region of North America.

Mark

['97ventureowner]

I almost bought a '06 SV6, but the prices were a little out of range for our budget. We ended buying an Uplander instead, a sister to the SV6 ( with less standard equipment.) I, too was impressed with this vehicle as our former vehicle was a '97 Venture. It seems that GM finally listened to their customers in re-designing these vans,(oops, I meant "cross-over" vehicles as GM doesn't like to call them minivans anymore) I like the higher ride height that the 17" tires give, and it seems you sit up much higher. I also noticed the 6 lug wheels. I found snow tires on tirerack.com for these vehicles, but they are quite more expensive than the 15" my Venture took. I had Winterforce brand winter tires on my Venture, I thought they were excellent and the price was great. I will probably check with Sams Club and BJ's Wholesale club to see if they carry that size in winter tires. I like the fact that these vans have split up the second row seats into just 2 spaced farther apart. It's great when the kids aren't quite getting along at the time. My kids LOVE the dvd player, and I like the fact that the cd player is integrated into the radio, not separate as it was in the Venture. I also like the DIC (Driver Information Center), my only regret is that it does not tell me the outside temp. I'm still trying to get used to having the cruise control on the other side of the steering wheel, I've gotten so used to the GM corporate cruise on the left side with the turn signal integrated into it. Another thing I am trying to get used to is turning the high beams on. It seems they went the opposite way in designing these. I also love the roomier engine compartment. When they redesigned these vans , they made the front end a little larger , and that is a big positive. I can actually work on the engine now and am able to check the brake fluid and power steering fluid without a "half hour hassle" I had wished for a 3.9 but ended up with a 3.5, hey, anything's better than the 3.4 and their associated intake gasket leak problems! One last thing I like is the fact that they moved the radio antennae back outside the windshield again. The antennae in the windshield had caused me minor problems with my "EZ Pass" toll tag not being able to be read by the readers because the signal couldn't penetrate the windshield. I resorted to using a front license plate mounted tag. All in all I'd say the new vans that replaced the Venture and Montana are a big improvement. I hope to have mine for many years, and miles. Believe me, if I had a little more money, and the salesperson was willing to haggle a little more, I'd be driving an SV6, because of the fact they came equipped much better, and it was standard. But I'm still happy with my Uplander.