RE: Honesty From Chev Owners
 

This is my honest opinion. I traded in my 5.0L explorer which was flawless for 5 years on a new 2004 5.3L 4x4 Sierra (same assembly linea Silverado). I bought a chevy truck because I believed in it lasting a good ten years but it has been a warranty queen and my warranty is almost up. Dash went out, new U-Joints, New power mirror, steering shaft lub kit, Oxygen Sensor died, Door Solenoid went out (and there is no way to unlock the passenger door with a key- STUPID), clanks in tranny, erratic shift points, and possible tranny hesitation when leaving really slow up a hill. However, itis a bad a** truck andgone through some really deep snow without hesitating. I don't think that I will buy another GM product. I had two LS1 Z28's both of which were also warranty queens (way fast and cool but problematic). My 5.0L Mustangs never sawa dealer even after severe modification. So, Ford has been much more reliable to me then GM but that was back when Quality was Job 1. It might now be Job 23!

RE: Honesty From Chev Owners
 

I own a 1997 chevy silverado 1500 that has 206k miles on it and besides still having stock shocks and a fuel pump going outa year ago I love it. I am however planning on completely revamping it starting this summer into a power house racer. Im pretty sure it was either some sort of company truck or maybe even a dealer's truck at some point before I bought it. My dad owns a 2000 silverado z71 with manual tranny and has had problems with only the recalled items and the dealership was less than happy with having to deal with it especially after they couldn't fix it right the first three times. Then again, chevy blood is easily passed and I definitely have it. Honestly, and this is the true truth, all trucks have problems it just depends on personal experience with them. I sell shoes as a temporary job and some shoes come back because they start to fall apart no matter what brand but all brands have those that are outstanding but could be the same exact shoe that someone just returned due to damages from the factory. So before you jump to conclusions about trucks just try all your options out and make an educated choice based on your knowledge and experience with each you tried not based on your bias. Pretty much the best brand is based on chance and timing on which one you get a faulty model with because they all have em.

RE: Honesty From Chev Owners
 

My thoughts on the Ford vs Chevrolet:

First off, while I was growing up my Father, Grandfather, Uncle, Aunt, and a Cousin all worked at Ford. I say this simply to dispell any question in your mind that I was born loving Chevrolet. My love of Chevrolet products has only begun to blossom after I have owned one of their vehicles.

Prior to owning my truck, my wife and I traded in her 02 Mountaineer that was V8 AWD with almost every option available. When we traded in our Mountaineer, we drove home a 2004 CC-SB Z71.It was pretty much "fully loaded". I traded that truck in on a 2007 Chrysler Town & Country this past January due to a growing family (we're due to have a little girl in August. Hopefully soon I'll have a 95-98 EC Z71.)

My truck had the 5.3 with a 4.10 ring & pinion. It didn't have the low end grunt I expected it to have (then again, it weighed around 5,000 lbs). Speed wasn't a concern when I purchased it, I just wanted truck that would be good to have when needing to pull a trailer or to simply haul the family around.

If it were up to my wife, we would've purchased a 04 Ram 3500 4X4-CC-dually-diesel (how cool is she! - when I asked what the **** we'd pull with that, she responded "whatever we want!" Yeah - no ****!)

Gripes about my truck: I had the little reflector piece that's on the inside of the back doors fall off, and wouldn't go back on. I wasn't thrilled when I found out, the hard way, how easily the plastic bumper on the front is ripped off! [:@]
Gas mileage. I don't have a heavy foot, yet could "only" manage 15mpg in the city. I don't know what I expected it to have, but I would have liked a little better (think around 18mpg's).

I loved the truck overall. When I went home to Ohio (which is 1,300 miles from Cheyenne, WY) I averaged 16mpg with nothing more in the truck than our needed suitcases/personal items, me, my wife, my little boy, and my lab. Also, take into account that Cheyenne is at about 6,000 feet above sea level where Northern Ohio is about 800 feet. When I was returning from Ohio (keep in mind that I have to climb back to 6K feet) I had a SBC in longblock form (figure at least 325 lbs), 2 rims & tires that are 12" wide, 2 rims & tires that are about 7" wide, a few other car partswith the rest of the bed being filled with toys from my son's 1st B-day party and I averaged 15mpg.

It was comfortable, very dependable (never had any mechanical problems), great-looking,and had a good amount of power. When given the chance, I will definetly buy another Chevy truck.

RE: Honesty From Chev Owners
 

I have had a lot of luck with Chevy products. My current truck has 75,000 miles on it and runs better than new when it comes to power and fuel economy. It is more comfortable than anyother truck I've ever seen (LT), and there is plenty of room in it for me, the wife, and 3 larger-than-normal adults in the back seat. It looks much better than any 2002 truck I've seen around here.
The only complaint I have is the buzzing sound that comes from my passenger door when I lock it with the remote, orbutton. It stilllocks, just annoys the **** out of me. But I still can't bitch.

RE: Honesty From Chev Owners
 

I like my truck as it is silverado :D

RE: Honesty From Chev Owners
 

Well this is what I can say. My 93' Z-71was a great truck. I know alot of people that had problems with theirs, but little with mine. I beat the **** out of it, and it was great. I think these trucks need to be abused as that is what they are made for. Everyone that had issues babyed their trucks and never used them for what they were designed for. I many times tows 12k + in scrap metal with no issues, and I think this is why it lasted. arounf 80K after I quit towing heavy loads the tranny went (283K) and the repair shop screwed up the rebuild so I traded it in. The only other grip I has was the back seat (extended cab) was tight for adults.

RE: Honesty From Chev Owners
 

smoke20. You get 26.1, or 16.1 on the hwy? I had a 2002, 5.3 ec LT with synth oil,and the BESTI ever got was 18 running in the 65-75 range.

I'm looking at another ec or maybe a crew. Ever had an ec? How do they compare?

RE: Honesty From Chev Owners
 

i think i finally found the advantage to my 4.8... 24 mpg cruising at 72 mph

RE: Honesty From Chev Owners
 

I actually got 26.1 mpg consistently several times. BUT, that was optimal conditions, 60 mph on cruise, completely flat, stock tires, no traffic, 70 degrees ambient temp. Now with the larger tires Iaverage 16.7, but I have a very heavy foot so I never drive at 60, just did it a few times before as a test. I think now with the mods and tires I tested it at 22 in optimum conditions.

RE: Honesty From Chev Owners
 

yeah... im running 275's in high humidity and high 80s temps... not exactly perfect conditions, but oh well