I am looking into upgrading to a full size from my 2003 Toyota Tacoma.I found at a local dealer a 1999 Z71 with the LS trim. It has 97K miles and they are asking $7900. The carfax reprot is good and the truck has scrathes that were painted. Not bad since its 9 years old though. but anyway it is a 1999 but has the body of a 1998. Is that possible? The dealer said that half way through 99 they continued the 98 body style.

The truck rides nice and is quite and dosnet shake like my Tacoma does. What is the estimate MPG on the 99 Z71? My Tacoma gets a measly 15 MPG average. I mean measly because its only a V-6.

I am excited I just hope I am making the right decision.

Thanks for your time

 

well i dont know anything about the production ?, but i can give my 2 cents on gas mileage...i have a 2000 silverado and even though the body style id dif, im pretty sure mechanically they are very similar. right now im gettin about 14 mpg so if you make the switch you probably arent looking at an incease. with that beign said, you do get a v8 for the same gas mileage which is always a positive!...id say that the price may be a bit high? im not really sure

 

must be a 3/4 ton...350 engine?

 

My friend did own a 1999 half ton z71 that was the body style of the 88-98 trucks, just like GM did with the 07 classics and the NBS trucks, i guess. anyways his wasa good truck, the 350 is a strong motor (hopefully that is what the truck you are looking at has) those body styles in the later years 96-98/99 where comfortable and had decent power for their age. mileage depending on gearing will probably be anywhere from 13-15 city, i think my buddy was getting 17 with 3.73 gears but he actually did some highway driving.

best bet on price look up nada values, they are usually more acurate than kelly blue book. if you want a full size truck then that would be a good canidate. i would test drive the hell out of it though to check for any sounds or vibrations that dont seem right.

good luck on your decision

 

When I bought my NBS 99, I was also looking at a 98 in the same lot. They were both in identical shape (some scratches, roughly same mileage, same options but the 98 was a Z71). Anyway, out of the two the 99 NBS was quicker, smoother, more comfortable, and was rated at a higher MPG than the 98. The 98 was 1000 cheaper but I got the 99 instead. I am glad I did because I have been very happy with the powertrain (so far) and right after I bought it I took a trip with it to Florida. Man it was nice! I averaged 17 MPG in the mountains, then when I hit the Carolinas I was getting 19. Now that she is tuned up and modified, I can get 20 MPG average when driving conservatively (slow acceleration and doing the speed limit and such).

 

3/4 tons and up were old body style in 99 and 2000

 

I would have to differ on that one Argon. I have seen many '99 K1500 (with the OBS). They went to the silverado name that year also. The only reason that I know this is becouse when I got my truck registered in North Dakota, they told me that technically my trucks model name is K1500 not a silverado K1500. So it is very possible that you have found a 99 OBS and it will have the 5.7L and the older powertrain. Just to let you know, my rear diff went out at about 125,000 miles. I had it replaced with a positraction rear diff for about $1,200. So that is one thing, also if you cannot hear the fuel pump, then it has stopped working. That has happened to me, and I have replaced it. Other than that, you can look forward to lots of towing power if you can afford the fuel to do it. Speaking of that, I currently get 10-12 MPG in town, and about 14-17 on the freeway. When my truck was stock and only had 98,000 miles it got about 20-22 on the freeway, I don't know how I did it, but i really screwed that up with the 4x4'n and the HARD driving. I reccommend getting the newer truck style above the one that I have (2000-up). Mainly becouse of the aftermarket parts are easier to get for the newer trucks and motors that have been out longer. Good luck!!!!

 

it could be..i'd like to see the vin though..

anyway..a 350 r engine 4wd..your gonna get 14ish unless reallllly babied

 

Actually its a 1/2 ton with the 5.3l 350. The only noise came from the 3rd door. They said they would have it fixed. Had it checked out by my mechanic friend and he said its a solid truck. I'm still beat up about getting rid of my paid for 5 year old truck with less than 50k miles for a 9 year old truck with just under 100k miles. Now it is bigger and smoother but my head cant get past that! Now that GM is closing truck plants in the U.S. maybe I should wait and the prices would drop even more.

 

It has to be either a 5.7 350 or a 5.3 326. And it is either a squared off 98 lookin truck with a 5.7, or a rounded 2000 looking truck with a 5.3.