What would you like to see GMC do to the Terrain?

38377 Views 64 Replies 29 Participants Last post by rhp195, Nov 16, 2010

TerrainKamchi

Discussion Starter · Oct 10, 2010

Hi all... I have had my 2011 GMC Terrain SLT2 for 2 weeks now, and am enjoying it a lot so far. I also have noticed some things that I feel would make a good car even better, so I wanted to put together a list, and ask you to contribute to it so that if any GM marketers / engineers are looking, they can get a few ideas as to how to continue the development of the car. Here is what I have so far, broken down into 2 categories - key improvements / secondary improvements - I appreciate your contribution to this post

Key Improvements
---------------------

Turn signals built into the side view mirrors
Push button start
Smooth out transmission program
Drivers side window 1 touch up
Remote control driver / passenger window down feature (to vent the car on hot days)
Close all windows / sunroof from remote control

Secondary Improvements
-----------------------------

Better stereo controls on the sterring wheel (the power button is too far away from the drivers sitting position, and I'm 6'1'')
Thicker / stronger sheet metal
Less cheap plastic, especially in the front grille
More cabin sound management
A little more ground clearance / a little less wheel well gap

I look forward to seeing what people have to say!

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TerrainSLT2

· #2 · Oct 10, 2010

Accident avoidance features such as:

Forward Collision Warning
Blind Spot Monitoring
Rear Cross-Path Detection

that are needed to be included to keep your family safe.

DavidPJ

· #3 · Oct 10, 2010

We love our Terrain and there's not much I would change. Here's several suggestions off the top of my head:

Place to put sunglasses overhead (there's no dash storage when you have NAV)
Homelink buttons
Better use of center console space
Backup sensors available as on option, not just included with SLT-2 (we have SLT-1)
Smaller inside rear fenderwells for more cargo space
Better location of ignition key or future pushbutton so you don't have to look behind steering wheel
Blue/Green dashlights instead of red (or maybe user selectable)
Upgraded interior option with real wood accents, more leather, less plastic
Continue making I4 even smoother at idle
Place to hang gas cap when refueling
Hybrid with I4 if fuel economy could be dramatically improved

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fourmoremarine

· #4 · Oct 10, 2010

Roll up windows
no power door locks
bench seat in front
rubber floor mat instead of carpet
no remote start and/or unlock use your key like your supposed to
am radio only
metal dash so you can hit your head good in a accident
no seatbelts
no airbags
get rid of the power steering
tires that go flat about every other week
no air roll those windows down with the hand crank
get rid of the tint on the windows
shifter on steering wheel 3 speed only
Now this would be a real vehicle like they used to make

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quantumbyte

· #5 · Oct 10, 2010

fourmoremarine said:
Roll up windows
no power door locks
bench seat in front
rubber floor mat instead of carpet
no remote start and/or unlock use your key like your supposed to
am radio only
metal dash so you can hit your head good in a accident
no seatbelts
no airbags
get rid of the power steering
tires that go flat about every other week
no air roll those windows down with the hand crank
get rid of the tint on the windows
shifter on steering wheel 3 speed only
Now this would be a real vehicle like they used to make

I agree! But allow me to add a few:
Make it a fastback (who needs cargo space anyway)
Remove rust protection (cars should neatly fold in half at the end of their life)
Make it a RWD, with solid axles
Give the engine 1000 lb/ft2 and 85hp
More head room (for more hair)
Add a couple of fire extinguishers, standard.

I can see it now! Forget about the 2012 Terrain, we can call it the 1972 GMC "El Terreno"

Sorry, I couldn't stop laughing after reading your post, had to take it too far.

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RSchleder

· #6 · Oct 10, 2010

DavidPJ---- look again, there is a little "hook" to hang the gas cap from.

Phantm006

· #7 · Oct 10, 2010

RSchleder said:
DavidPJ---- look again, there is a little "hook" to hang the gas cap from.

You beat me to it.

DavidPJ

· #8 · Oct 10, 2010

RSchleder said:
DavidPJ---- look again, there is a little "hook" to hang the gas cap from.

OK, I ran right out to the garage and checked it out. I totally missed the little hook! Thanks!
Of course, even without the hook the cap hangs just under body fender which works good too.

iidon

· #9 · Oct 10, 2010

Power front passenger seat; either standard or optional.

RIT333

· #10 · Oct 11, 2010

DavidPJ said:
OK, I ran right out to the garage and checked it out. I totally missed the little hook! Thanks!

Wierd - I thought a hook would be a good idea also, and never saw it, til NOW - THANKS !

Royalott

· #11 · Oct 11, 2010

I would like to have more road clearance, I like to run the boonies a bit, that front shield is not going to last.

I would like to see a smoother transmission, something just does not seem right when shifting.

Rear camera on demand, not just when in reverse.

fourmoremarine

· #12 · Oct 11, 2010

Royalott said:
I would like to have more road clearance, I like to run the boonies a bit, that front shield is not going to last.

I would like to see a smoother transmission, something just does not seem right when shifting.

Rear camera on demand, not just when in reverse.

Hate to tell you, but this is not a boonies type vehicle
Maybe you should have looked for a 4x4
You did look underneath the vehicle when you were buying it didn't you?

GMCdriver

· #13 · Oct 11, 2010

I'd trade my spare tire for a cramped thrid row seat(suitable for a pair of kids booster seats) that folds flat into the floor when not in use.
Infact, I'd have paid as much as $1000 to be able to check off that option as a free flow option even if it mean that the sliding 2nd row had to loose some range of motion to allow the type of folding needed to access the 3rd row.

I'd like to see a different rear hatch opening for the Terrain then what is used on the 'Nox.
Keep the one piece, full lift hatch for the 'Nox but go with a glass up/tailgate down set up on the Terrain(or even a pair of L/R doors like they used to use on Yukons) & a liftgate with seperate opening glass for the SRX. Just to differentiate between the models a little further.

Royalott

· #14 · Oct 11, 2010

fourmoremarine said:
Hate to tell you, but this is not a boonies type vehicle
Maybe you should have looked for a 4x4
You did look underneath the vehicle when you were buying it didn't you?

I am sorry but I thought the question was what we would like to have. Should I have checked with you first? Mine is a 4X4, by the way. Did I step on your toes or something?

fourmoremarine

· #15 · Oct 11, 2010

Royalott said:
I am sorry but I thought the question was what we would like to have. Should I have checked with you first? Mine is a 4X4, by the way. Did I step on your toes or something?

Just statting that you seem to be complaining because your vehicle isnt built to do wht you want to do with it ...
AWD is not 4x4 btw

GARYD

· #16 · Oct 11, 2010

Unless I have a defective sensor, I'd like to be able to adjust the brightness of the NAV screen. I did change it to the Day setting, but it doesn't brighten up enough until I'm actually in sunlight for at least 3 or 4 minutes and don't go into the shade again. I wonder if it is tied into the time of day also?

DavidPJ

· #17 · Oct 11, 2010

I forgot the door lock buttons on the center dash. It would be much more convenient to have them where they're usually located with the window switches near the arm rests.

NoobNox

· #18 · Oct 11, 2010

I have a Nox, but since our vehicles are so similar....pretty much every change i could wish for has been covered already. One thing that I didn't see mentioned is the size of the key fob. Going to a flatter blade style key would make the fob less "fat" and better for those of us who pocket our keys. For that matter, I'll bet if you cracked open the current key/remote combo you would see that there is empty space that could be done away with.

Mrmidnite2

· #19 · Oct 12, 2010

1.. A slightly longer seat belt buckle (where the driver has to plug his seatbelt into..the location right alongside the console makes it difficult to locate and even plug in, especially when wearing gloves.....)

2..A 4cyl engine that does not sound like a can of marbles when accelerating gently..(yes, we know it is preignition, but why has it not been rectified by an ECM upgrade yet..Having to use Premium fuel all the time is uncalled for, except to alleviate this awful pinging noise..

3...Door locks that DON'T lock as soon as you put the vehicle into "Drive".....very annoying when pulling out of the garage to let a passenger in...the doors have already locked...how about a time delay, say 20 seconds, or even better, doors don't lock until 15mph has been reached (just an example)

4....Side windows, passenger and drivers doors, tinted darker from the factory...

5..A higher mounted drivers seat. Even when fully raised, you seem to be sitting so low in the vehicle...I use a cushion, and get much better visibility..and I am 5foot 11 inches....imagine what shorter drivers must feel like as they barely peer over the steering wheel, even if it is lowered fully!!!

6..Wipers that can be obtained easily, and replaced easily...(they are hard to find and bloody awful to install)

7...Can't imagine trying to replace a headlight bulb (either high or low beam) in winter...when the wheel wells are coated with ice etc, trying to get that circular access door open ((that's if you can even see the tiny TORX screw which has to be removed first) and then standing on your darn head to get a look inside the area where the bulbs are located....dumb idea for those of us using these vehicles in the "frozen north"....Up here, with no street lighting once away from the town, if a bulb blows (and they do on occasion) it would be nice to be able to replace a bulb easily..cannot be done easily on this vehicle...(btw..try and replace a fog light bulb under similar conditions..impossible...)

..But I really DO like the Terrain....honestly!!!

;D ;D

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DavidPJ

· #20 · Oct 12, 2010

Mrmidnite2 said:
2..A 4cyl engine that does not sound like a can of marbles when accelerating gently..(yes, we know it is preignition, but why has it not been rectified by an ECM upgrade yet..Having to use Premium fuel all the time is uncalled for, except to alleviate this awful pinging noise..

3...Door locks that DON'T lock as soon as you put the vehicle into "Drive".....very annoying when pulling out of the garage to let a passenger in...the doors have already locked...how about a time delay, say 20 seconds, or even better, doors don't lock until 15mph has been reached (just an example)

I don't hear pinging under acceleration with our I4 and I run only 87 Octane regular gas.

Regarding the door locks, there is a delayed door lock configuration setting. Check out page 5-35 in the owners manual. The manual doesn't state the length of the delay and I haven't tried it.

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