I filled out a form at the Siverado Web page site for a brochure back in early August and got it last week. It was the short 8 page version with a closeup of the front grill on the cover.
I picked up a more complete brochure from a Chevy dealer in Indianapolis last week. It has a silver cover, is 50 pages and quite extensive. That's where I noticed the Sportside not being an option on the LT despite being reviewed that way in the magazines.
SilveradoMac, Thanks for the information and willingness to answer questions on this board.
Can anyone list the differences between the '99 Silverado and the Sierra? I believe the only difference last year was the grill, but I heard there were a few more this year, although I think they are all still cosmetic.
I hear a LOT of talk about when the 4th door is going to come out and why haven't they put one out with this new body style. I have one question, it is not meant to offend anyone, I'm just curious myself. I understand the concept of the fourth door and stuff, but why (seriously) do you HAVE to have a fourth door? Is it a cargo issue? What is the real reason for needing an extra door?
bdon, There is a "definite" difference up front by the way the headlights look and the grill, of course. Look for more and more differences through the upcoming years, I think. Liana, I agree with you on the 4th door. Sure it will come out but people look at the size of the span between the back of the cab and the front. There is a lot of stress there. Silverado now has the biggest opening of all. You put a lot of weight in a pickup bed and where will the frame bend. Next question. When all that pressure is put on a space that is supposed to be tight in the first place there could be jamming which Dodge is now seeing a little of when a lot of weight, such as a big sized fifth wheel trailer, is put in the bed. Chevy is just being careful. It will come out and it will be done right. Lets face it people, the improvements in the Silverado is to say the least MIGHTY impressive. A LOT of changes were made and they are really great. The 4th door will come but don't miss out on this great truck now!!
The largest reason for a fourth door is the convenience of having it on the driver's side. Like the third door, it provides quick access to secure/dry storage without having to go around the truck. If you've got something bigger than one bag of groceries, say a bag of gold clubs, and it's raining (sudden downpour) you're not going to want to go to the passenger side, open the front door, open the rear door, put the clubs inside, close the rear door, close the front door, go around, get in your door, and shut it. The biggest discussion now is laughing at GM and how STUPID they were to design a brand-new truck and not include the simple fourth door. It's been in a number of articles on the new trucks that, off the record, GM designers said (and I can't believe how STUPID GM is--well, yes I can) that they didn't add a fourth door "because we [GM] felt that we only had to match Ford's offering [3 doors at the time]. We thought that Dodge's Four-Door model wouldn't be accepted by the marketplace, so we didn't make a fourth door. But the time we realized it, it was too late." And GM wonders why no one buys their outdated products.
For the reasons SilveradoMac mentioned above, adding a third or fourth door is more than just cutting a hole in the side. It impacts the structural integrity of the truck. Chevy may be being extra careful. There were quite a few complaints about the noise made by the rattling of the third door in the Chevys prior to this redesign.
The literature for the four door supercab Ford Superduty specifically addresses the structural integrity issue. They explain how the four door design is different from other trucks and claim that the structural integrity of the cab is actually improved because of the four doors. I don't know anything about the new four door F-150 It's on a totally different chassis than the Superduty.
Although the fourth door is convenient, I doubt it will be a deal breaker for people considering the Silverado unless they are equally attracted to another truck.
AZChevyguy: Got my 50 page Silvardo brochure at Midway Chevrolet on Bell after 3 weeks at stopping at every GMC/Chevy dealer I passed looking for one. Dealt with Gary Mickelson, a no-pressure salesman who knows trucks and has an older 1ton himself he uses with a camper and a boat. Seems odd Chevy dealers here in PHX don't have 2500 series pricing... without brochures and pricing...how are they gonna sell any?
SilveradoMac: If the camper mirrors (electric slideout? ...they look manual to me...) and running boards are aftermarket items and not Chevy options...why even show them in the brochure? Also my understanding is that the tranny temp gauge is available and standard only with the 6.0L V8 autotrans otherwise you just get a readout on their new electronic driver msg center when it gets hot (too late by then...) Also wonder where their temp sensor is mounted???
Brutus et All: Having the 4th door would be nice, but you're right... not a deal killer for me, though I may pay a price in resale down the road when the 4 doors are common and mine is just a 3-door...but then again, I keep my vehicles many years so it may not matter... got that new Ford yet...? how's the mpg? I think you also made a good choice on the Bigfoot camper...
My dealer said he rec'd the new brochures the 17th. I tried to order an LT Sportside and the computer would not let us choose that option. Had to order an LS and deck it out with options. Came to about the same price. The only things you loose going this way is: heated seats, 2 position seat memory, and I think from looking at the new brochure the center console on the LS does not appear to have the air ducts built into it?
Observation: On the 2000 4th door issue. With the apparent confusion and difficulty Chevy is having getting this new truck rolled out to the public and their own people. If you have talked to anyone at Chevrolet there are very few people there that can answer any question about THE TRUCK with any certainty. I find it hard to believe that they are already planning and trying to put out a new 2000 truck within 7 or 8 months of releasing this model. We all know Chevy has been classically slow to respond to what the public wants. Like I said these are my opinions and not meant to provoke. With that said I am not going to wait for this 4 door that I would be surprised to see before the end of the 3rd quarter next year.
Has anyone heard anything about GM having trouble getting the parts for the locking differential on the new Silverado?
I ordered a 2WD LT Ext Cab about 5-6 weeks ago and still don't have a build date (preferenced 9/23). I heard that the delay may be due to the fact that I ordered it w/ locking diff and that Chev may go ahead and fill such orders w/o including that option. I would be miffed if they didn't clear it w/ me before modifying my order.
Any Chevy folks out there that can shed some light on this?
I am to be in the market for a new truck in 3-6 months and have pretty much decided on the Chevy 1/2 ton. The problem is that Chevy has come out With this new Silverado and totally messed up what I thought I was going to get. I had pretty much set my sights on a K1500, Extended Cab, with something like the Z-71 package and 5.7 engine. Now I see the new Silverado and all the acclaim it is getting. Smaller engine but better power and fuel consumption, bigger back seat, 4-wheel anti-lock disk breaks and all kinds of other stuff if you read the literature.
My question is this, it is just my wife and myself and our 2 labs for now. We live in town (I work at home) and I would be the primary driver. I like to drive trials (some of which are barely goat trails) and go hunting/fishing. I currently own a 73 Bronco which I love but am tired of racking up miles/wear as it is super clean.
Of the list of new things that the Silverado offers the new bigger back seat simply translates to more room for the dogs (and occasional short trip passengers). As the 2 new engines are only seeing their first year would it be better to stick with the tried and true 5.7 given the performance/longevity of the 5.7 is nothing to laugh at? The current K1500 has 4-wheel antilock with disc/drum while the Silverado has 4-wheel antilock with disc/disc. Are the new breaks and engines that much better?
The K1500 has a 10 foot shorter turning radius that the Silverado and given that my Bronco can pretty much turn on a dime will the extra 10 feet be to painful?
If you check out the pricing information there doesn't seem to be any real price difference between comperable K1500's and the Silverado's. Given the 1999 is the last model year for the K1500 is there any real possibility that Chevy/GM will be offering any rebates over the next 3-6 months for this truck?
Anyway, just my situation and any opinions would be greatly appreciated.
Boy you people really put a lot on there for me to read today. I won't probably use names to save confusion but about the mirrors and running boards being shown in the brochure and not being able to order from the factory.... Well it is a common practice in many of the manufacturers brochures to stick in things for after market, just look around. One thing I do want to mention is that, and I hate to bring it up, but you had better measure from the bottom of the bed to the top of the cab. A camper shell that used to be level with the top will now be short. My own measurements show that it is a little over 2 1/2 inches taller from bed to top of cab. Many dealers will maybe be mad for me telling this but why shouldn't you know this. Yes I sell them but I like everyone to know all the facts. The beds themselves are still the standard size they have been inside, but the wheel wells now sit in a little different place since the wheelbase is 2 inches longer due to the added length in the cab.
To the person who asked about his 2WD pickup not having a build date yet. Is this truck a 3/4 T? I assume it may not be. The problem with the G80 locking differential is most likely the problem though. I noticed today there is a restriction on ordering G80 for now.
Roitan, it seems as though you have about talked yourself out of the Silverado all by yourself, by what you have said. Let me tell you for a fact though that the brakes ARE that much better and bigger. The front disc is 12 inches and the rear is 12.8 inches. Thats another thing. For the reason of the size of the disc in the rear there will now only be 16 inch wheels for even 2WD. You can now even get a 255 size tire on them. It will be hard to tell the difference of a 2WD and 4WD without a second glance, I would guess.
And yes the engines ARE that much better. Something for all you grease monkeys. Did you know that the new V8's have six bolt mains???!!!! The new engines have smaller oil pans because the engine has skirted the block lower with the cast metal and so now there are two bolts going in horizontal besides the usual four bolts.
Rebates on the Silverado? Not for now, of course. There is only speculation when that will happen.
One final thing for now, just to perk you all a little more. It looks as though Chevy will be coming back with the Impala. From what I know it will be put on the "Wider is Better" frame.
Whew!!! Well enough for tonight. Working lots of hours at the dealership, and it is late. Hope I have answered the questions properly. I do appreciate being able to help but on the other hand I am learning more. It can only help when I sell one.
I don't think you will lose anything on resale with a three door. Buyers are going to be alot more concerned about well you maintained it. It's not a deal killer now, even when it's new. I doubt it will have any impact at all on resale.
I've had the new truck (F-350 Superduty) for two weeks. It's the most awesome vehicle I have ever owned. My previous truck was a F-250HD 4x4, which I thought was a great truck, but there is no comparison. I tower over everything on the road except the semis. The leather interior is very comfortable. I actually enjoyed sitting in rush hour traffic the other day.
Speaking of rush hour traffic, my commute is 40 miles roundtrip during rush hour with a combo of city/hwy. I've got the 4.30 axle ratio and the duallys with the V-10. During my first 700 miles in commuting traffic, I'm getting around 9.5mpg. It's suppose to get a little better in the first 10,000 miles. Stanford has almost the same vehicle with the V-10 and I think he is getting 10-10.5. I've heard that the V-10 owners with the the 3.73 axle ratios are getting about 2mpg more. If what I have heard is true, the 4.30 should give me better mpg than the 3.73 when I have a load.
I'm pretty psyched about the Bigfoot camper, but I'm in a hurry-up-and-wait-mode. The camper is paid, but it's in Canada. The closest Bigfoot dealer was Colorado Springs. I saved a couple thousand by going to Canada. I'll be picking it up on my way back to Alaska in January. That weather rating of -40 might get an early test.
Test drove an automatic 2wd ext cab short box with the 4800 V8 with the 3.42 locker. Dang thing kept lighting the tires up from a stop. Had city16mpg and 21mpg on the window sticker. You towers probably don't need much more for less than 4000lb loads... To replace my '89 crew cab 7.3L F350, I'm probably gonna go with the Silverado 2500HD 4x4 with the 5speed 6.0L. Looks like no trailer tow package with the manual, but you can get most of it with the snow plow prep. Anybody drive one yet? Ya, 4th door would be good, but would rather have that solid pillar behind me on the drivers side...... The dang new Crew Cab Fords are almost a foot longer than my old one and would require major garage fixing........
Hi all, I have another question about the towing mirrors. Initially I wanted the LT pkg with the camping mirror. I found out I can only get the camping mirror with the LS pkg. Has anyone towed a 5th wheel with the electric mirrors? I really liked the LT pkg. If the electric mirrors provide the field of view for towing and backing, I'll go that way. All information is appreciated.
The 1999 Silverado brochure shows dealer installed accessories on page 44/45. I'm curious about the hard tonneau cover. It looks like it folds up like a bifold door. Anyone know who makes this cover? And, if so, any comments about it?
I used to have a Guidon fiberglass tonneau cover. I liked it. The only debit was it did not lift high enough to reach in near the cab to load and unload. I'm not interested in soft covers.
I'm kind of hung about this because I previously mentioned magazines reviewed a Sportside LT version and Chevy doesn't show it as an option for the LT now.
I once owned a 1966 Chevy pickup with this box style. I don't think they called it a sportside back then. What is the purpose? The step was more practical back then. The box is easier to clean out without the wheel wells in the way. Is there another reason for this style? My lust vanities are getting to me. I just think it looks great but if I buy a new truck I'm going to go fully loaded LT. My last two trucks I traded in prematurely because I made dumb compromises (short cab in '91 and 2 WD in '94) I later regretted. I'm going slower this time (gotta stay outta those showrooms).
I'm going for 4 WD this time just so I can get up my 12% slope driveway when it snows and not have to depend on my Suburban owner neighbor to winch me out of the snowbanks when I slip back.
How do the rides compare between regular 4x4 package and the z71 offroad package? I see a lot of z71 Chevys in Minnesota commuting on the highways.
If I ever tow anything it might be a 1,600 lb. pontoon boat.
before these new silverados, the z71s rode better than regular 4x4s because of the Bilstein shocks. I have read some review that say the Z71 on the new trucks is not as nice. motortrend's team of reviewers agreed that the z85 package was a much smoother ride. If you can look up the past 2 or 3 motortrends, they give a very good breakdown and review.
The older GM trucks were called simply Stepside. The reason they were more practical was not so much the bed being a flat unobstructed box, but the built in steps on the sides to reach in. If you look at Chevy's and Ford's stepside trucks now, the "step" is above the lower bodyside molding, making for one hell of a climb just to get on the step. On the older trucks, the step was actually at the bottom of the body like a running board - much easier to reach.
Incidentally, Sportside is not GM's idea. The Jeep J10 stepside truck was the first to use the name Sportside in the early 80s.
Hey SilveradoMac...Help!! My local dealer told me today that his GMC rep. is saying that they can start ordering the new style Sierra in a short bed crew cab in January. They are not giving any promises on when they will be built, but I'm willing to wait on one if this is true...Could there be any truth to this? I really need to know... Thanks
Make sure that they're not calling the 4 door extended cab a crew cab. A lot of dealers seem to have the tendency to call any 4 door truck crew. I don't know that that's happening here, but double check with your dealer to make sure. That is when the 4 door extended cab is due out.
stanford-where did you find out about the four-door extended cab becoming available in January? I ordered a three dour in July and it is to be built on 11/16. If the four doors will be built in January, I'm inclined to wait. I've already waited four months.
Just to follow up: I did ask my dealer about the extended cab and his source tells him the crew cab will be available before the 4 door extended... I tend to believe just the opposite, but thats what I was told. Oh well... who knows... Obviously not me... James007
james007, I tend to definitely believe also that the four door extended cab will be out before the new style crew cab. Of course sometimes the dealers are the last to find out though. I just think with all the pressure for the 4th door in the extended cab, thats what will come first. Also right now I think they are waiting to see how the "new" crew cab short box will sell to figure out what kind of production to expect.
Lets look at little logic though here guys. They have JUST come out with the new pickup and the availability of the 4th door is expected to be after the first of the year. The rumor as you will remember was that the pickup we have now was going to be available after the first of the year of 1998. Well, when did we actually get them!!! Some of you are still waiting!!! With all these factors to look don't get your hopes up to see all this new stuff very soon at all. Just as they did on the new pickup, they are going to want to be sure it is right. The main idea is don't get pissed if it doesn't happen when you think it will. Also don't get pissed if you wait for another model year and low and behold your trade-in is another year older and you have lost a whole bunch of bucks because of the popularity of the new Silverado has dropped the value of the "old" body style. This is one TERRIFIC pickup NOW, so don't miss out!!!!!!
Hi people.. can anyone out there tell me where i can find a dealer that will sell for 100 bucks over true cost?? i seen one advertised in hemmings magazine(Bruce Glueck Chevrolet in florida) but wonder if these guys are for real!! and will these guys order for you or do you have to take what they got?? I have looked at the new silverados they are a awsome truck.. One of the things that impresses me (amougnst other things) the was the driveshaft.. it lookes like a 6 inch pipeline!! and its aluminum!! Any info will be welcome!!!
Many volume dealers will deal for a few dollars under and over invoice on a special order. This is because they're still making their 3% holdback and theoretically you're not going to use up much of their salesman's time.
Beware: some of these dealers run into allotment problems (talk to Brutus) and are also often reluctant to spend much time with you about your order (this cuts into an already slim profit margin). Make sure that you're not getting into a situation where it'll be weeks before your order is even placed with the manufacturer. Also, expect to pay $300-500 in additional fees (fuel, advertising, etc) above their quoted price.
What do you mean when you say make sure that you're not getting into a situation where it'll be weeks before your order is even placed with the manufacturer. Are you saying that the Dealer intentionally holds your order? Why would a dealer do this? Is there some savings to be recouped by the dealer or what? I have also been told by several dealers that a sold order does not go against their allotment.
My order was $445 over true invoice and the dealer said that my order was sent by the computer as soon as we finished on the computer? He selected some option to send the order??
Most dealers are given a maximum number of each type of vehicle that they can order in a given week (their allotment). If they can order 10 vehicles a week and they've already got 30 orders that haven't been sent to the manufacturer, it will be a month before your order gets sent. Its happened to many people on this list before.
If thats not the case with you, fantastic! Let us know when you get a build date.
Can you tell me about the Bigfoot Camper? Where can I get some info... or web site? I have an F250 SD CC due in soon and I was looking at a LANCE camper with cold weather package... but Lance is in California and they may not know about COLD. You can answer back at LaceyKent@AOL.com THANKS
Concerning the allotment, Stanford is right. I got my truck for $99 below dealer invoice, but it took at least twice as long to get it. My dealer had over 20 orders pending and he was getting 1-2 trucks per week from Ford. You can do the math and see the problem.
It's not that the dealer intentionally doesn't get your order pulled, but it is not out of the realm of possibilities. Imagine that you're the dealer and you've got lots of hungry salespeople that can't get paid until their truck orders arrive. With only 1-2 orders coming in per week, a dealer might opt to place higher priorities on the orders that make more money for the salespeople and the dealers. You can avoid alot of the delays in this area by starting to call you dealer after about the third week, and then continuing to call him at least once a week after that. Squeaky wheel gets the grease.
As far as extra costs, the only charges I paid other than the actual dealer invoice amount were $24.80 for gas and $75 for advertising.
Bigfoot campers are manufactured in Armstrong British Columbia in Canada. I've heard they might be opening a factory in Oregon. The number of dealers throughout the US is limited. For example, the closest dealership to Dallas is in Colorado Springs. The largest dealer of Bigfoot campers is located a few miles south of the factor
From what I can tell, people seemed most happy with the quotes they received from the dealer in Oregon and the dealer in Canada. I was quoted a price of $22,247 from a dealer in Oregon for a fully loaded 1998 10'11" Bigfoot 3000 with all the options (AC, microwave, thermalpane windows, canopy, outside shower, etc) except the generator. I initially put a deposit down on it, but the dealer returned the deposit right as I was closing on my loan. I think he had a walk-in who was willing to pay more.
I ended up going through the dealer in Canada. They seem to have a really good reputation for customer service and are obviously proud of the Bigfoot line of truck campers. My salesperson was Bob Morgan. The dealership is Rosman RV Sales. They have an 800 number on their website at www.rosmanrv.com.
Rosman quoted me a price of $22,600 for the same camper, except it was a 1999 model and it included construction of the platform I will need for my Superduty. The price includes installation. It's my understanding that the top of the line Lance may be a couple thousand less and the Fleetwood a couple thousand less than the Lance. After researching generators, I decided to get the Onan Microlite generator, which was an additional $2,500, so my total cost was $25,100. Remember that this is the top of the line Bigfoot. They have other models and you can get less options, which will lower the price.
The Bigfoot is the only camper that is weather rated down to -40, as long as you get the thermalpane windows. It's got the most powerful furnace. It's specifically designed for winter camping, although it's insullation will also keep you cool in the summer. It's not that you will necessarily ever need to camp when it is -40. However, if you knew you were going to camp in 20 degree weather, would you feel confident in your 20 degree rated sleeping bag or would you opt instead to bring your zero degree bag?
There were a couple of other options that impressed me. The headroom in the overcab bed is 42", so you can sit up without bumping your head. There is a separate shower stall, rather than the entire bathroom being the stall. It's got a motorhome style dinette. I've heard nothing but rave reviews about the Bigfoot interior. The only real knock is that I've heard the design of the entry step leaves something to be desired.
The most important thing you need to do first is to figure out much weight you can carry. As far as towing, there is no difference between the F-250 and the F-350, but when it comes to a slide-in camper, the figure that you need to be concerned with is GVWR. If I'm not mistaken, the GVWR for the F-250 is 8,800, the F-350 is 9,900 and the F-350 dually is 11,200.
You should go weigh your truck. Add in the weight of you and the average number of passengers and gear you are likely to carry on a typical trip and then see what's left over. You can get away with exceeding the figure by some, but you won't want to go way over. It will start impacting your handling. Air bags (aka air lifts) and Rancho adjustable shocks are fairly inexpensive ways help with the handling, but you still don't want to overload your suspension by too much.
The camper I am getting would be too heavy for a 3/4 ton. It has a dry weight of 3,000 pounds and that doesn't include the options (the AC, generator and thermapane windows add the most weight). One guy I talked with said that his camper weighed over 3,600 when ready for a trip.
Bigfoot makes two other slide-in campers. The Bigfoot 2500 is probably their most popular. It has a dry weight of around 2,500 pounds. I think the weather rating on that one is -10 or -15. They also have a 1500 lite model. I think the weather rating on that is 10-20 above zero. If I were you, I'd give the Rosman a call and tell them what type of truck you have and what camper they think would work for you. Based on the literature I've read, the Lance and other brands are about the same weight as the Bigfoot. It all depends on what model you get.
Can anyone explain the way the order process works from the placing of the order and how long it typically takes for the order to get preferenced? What the manufacturer does etc. As well as what information is given to the buyer at that point??
I haven't gotten hold of the Silverado catalog yet so can someone tell me if the truck will be available as follows. 2500 6 liter engine Manual transmission Extended cab with short bed Tow rating ?
I'm not too happy with Chevy at the moment. I placed an order for a '99 Silverado LT 2WD Ext. Cab (Pewter) about 6 weeks ago. It was preferenced on either 9/23 or 9/29. I still don't have a build date.
Chev. customer service says to call back in about 6 weeks and they'll let me know. My dealer is checking the weekly Wednesday sheet--nada so far.
The kicker is that I ordered it with the locking differential (G80) option, something that is important to me since I frequently drag a boat up a sometimes slippery ramp. A memo was sent to the dealers this week telling them that Silverados being built through mid Nov. would not have the G80 and that they now can't order it.
My fleet salesman told me that they received an LT this week that a customer ordered with locking diff. and that Chev deleted it from the order without telling them!! The guy was miffed.
Needless to say, I politely told him that I expected my truck to come as ordered or I may decline to accept delivery. I plan to check repeatedly to make sure that the only option I asked for (G80) doesn't get dropped during the process. Why should I go through the long wait for a specially-ordered vehicle if Chevy unilaterally decides that options that I deem important for MY truck don't matter?? What does that say about GM's commitment(or lack thereof) to customer satisfaction??
I've pretty much figured that if they can't tell me 2 weeks from now that I have a build date, or if they screw around with my order, I'm going to take another look at the F-150 Lariat. Who knows, that 4th door may come in handy.
jxyoung The order process is as follows. Let us assume that the dealer puts the order in the same day you agree on a price. This is done by computer and is received almost immediately. There are different factors after this point that now take place. You should be asking your dealer to tell you of any of the options have restrictions of any sort that might be on your order. Assuming that he is truthful with you, or if he actually does know, you will receive an answer. Assuming there are no restrictions, the next thing that happens is that it is "preferenced" which means it has been accepted for building. People, make sure your dealer puts on the priority that it is a sold unit or the big order computer just assumes it is a stock order for the dealer. A sold order goes before a dealers stock order. That may be why some of you have some discrepency in getting preferenced. Next comes the notification of build date. There are also several factors here, such as how many of the same type of pickup have been ordered, or maybe they ran out of locking differential parts, which as you read above has happened. One important thing to remember is that the dealer gets what is called a DCS sheet which shows the status of the orders. In the priority column it should show "SLD". Besides that there are different priority numbers. Also there should be an abbreviation of your name or something of the sort to show who it is for, so the dealer can't just show you any order on the sheet. There is also an order number which is the first column. Make the dealer tell you the order number so that if you come in you can go right to it and see the status. This DCS sheet comes out once a week. It might a different day of the week depending on your area. I am a salesman and have a 1 Ton pickup on order which has been preferenced for two months and still no build date, but yet the Silverado's have been going through fairly well. A dealer with a little pull can help get an order preferenced but to get a build date is another matter. We are at the mercy of GM at that time. As you can see there are many factors here but in actuality you should have a pickup between 60-90 days. The 3/4 Ton orders are a little "iffy" yet though. Also there will not be any half ton, long box, extended cabs built until after the first of the year.
I just certainly hope that your dealer is telling you all the facts. I have been on the forum here for some time now answering numerous questions as many of you might know. I will be glad to help when I can and am certainly learning as I go along myself. I suppose I might have some repeated questions, which will be fine but please go back in this forum and read previous entries because you will learn a lot about the Silverado.
I didn't mean to be too confusing there jxyoung but it is very hard to nail down an exact time line. Just too many factors. Also another big factor is the big vacation times the plants get for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Boy, can there possibly be any factors I haven't thought of??? Please don't get discouraged though. I don't mean to be discouraging. Just wish for you to know everything.
I can sympathize with the waiting, but it's not unique to Chevy. Ford had at least as long of a delay with deliveries when they introduced the new F-150 in 1997. It was at least as bad with the new Superduty. I waited quite a long time for my new Superduty, although some of that delay was of my own doing. The wait was worth it now that I have the truck.
If you're sure the Silverado is what you want, the best advice is to treat it like a business decision and try to block out the emotions. If you're going to change from the Chevy to the Ford, make sure that you are going to be happy driving that Ford and making the payments. In three months, you'll be driving whichever truck you choose. In a year, you won't even remember the extra 30-60 day wait. This is a big investment. Make sure you get the truck you want.
I've been a Chevy owner since I bought a new Z71 in '93. After waiting patiently for the introduction of the new 99's, I took a test drive and was thoroughly disappointed. It felt like they took my truck, mixed in some "blazer looking" front end and interior parts, and added a new engine that feels just like my old engine. I could not believe the new truck was out of the four-door race.
After over a year of waiting, I decided that GM isn't what is used to be, and drove over to the local Ford dealer for a test drive. This was my first close-up experience with the new Ford, and I was very impressed. The new 5.4l engine is every bit as good as the GM 5.3, and the overall fit and finish is definitely a step above The Truck's. That new floor console was especially "cheesy", and the much hyped larger back seat is still uncomfortable. If a long trip in the back seat is in order, you won't be happy in either the Ford or the new Chevy's back seat. The seat is still much more upright than a regular seat.
I wound up ordering a 99 ext. cab 4X4 Lariat. The process was much easier than what I experienced with Chevy, no option restrictions, no 4 month waits, generally a piece of cake. Go check out the Ford, you won't be sorry. I even got 7.9% financing!
Signa: I agree with your opinion. The floor console is really odd looking and out of place. I'm disspointed with the reduced torque too. I haven't checked out the truck in person yet, but from the pictures I have seen, the front bumper seems to be a bit narrow. I am not sure the lower part of the front bumper, which is covered by the balck plastic molding, weakens the whole front bumper integrity?? I see Ford does the similar thing to their front bumper too in their 99's. Perhaps due to pressure from various sources that accusing trucks and suvs causing too much damanges to smaller cars in a collision??? The only real improvement is probably in the 4whell disk brake which should improve the braking a lot. Also, the 265 tires look smaller in the new wider and longer body. Why can't they offer a set of 285 tires???
SilveradoMac, I ordered my 99 GMC on 9/4/98 just got a build date of 11/9/98 delivery 10 to 14 day after build date. The ninth is the build date, does that mean that they will build it that day or they hope to build any time around the ninth? I think that I will be lucky to have it the first few weeks of dec. what do you think? I live in maine and dealing with local dealer not the biggest in the state but not the smallest. I have heard that maine sells more GMC then any other state so I hope that will help in delivery time. Your opinion is appreciated, can not wait to get it.
MotorTrend magazine named the 1999 Chevy Silverado as the Truck of the Year. It's in their December issue now out on the newsstands. The Ford Superduty (not the F150) and the GMC Sierra received significant other commendation.
3436, What it means is that it is supposed to be built the week of the 9th. Delivery is normally a little longer than 10-14 days, so don't get too nervous if it doesn't get there before 2 weeks. At least out here in Idaho it takes a little longer.
davek3: You mentioned Bruce Glueck Chevrolet for buying a truck close to invoice cost. I talked to that dealership in early Sept. The dealership normally orders new Chevy's for $50 over invoice. They said they were NOT ordering the new Silverados for $50 over this year within a 90 mile radius of Jasper FL. This would exclude places such as Jacksonville and Tallahassee (where I moved from 6 months ago.) When I got to talk to Bruce, he said since I would be coming from Ft Worth, TX he would go ahead and order me a truck for $50 over invoice. Did I do it? No. I finally found a dealership in Ft Worth that would order a new GMC and let me use my GM employee discount.
wxfcstr: Thanks for the info .. I live in pennsylvania so I think I meet the 90 mile rule.. If i can save 2 or 3 thousand bucks on a new silverado I'll go to the place!!(I have a friend with a lot of frequent flies miles he will let me use!) If any body else knows of a dealer who will deal like this let me know!!( close to invoice) Oh -- unfortunatly I don't work for GM!! Thanks again!!
CDEAN, sorry about the late responce. I love the truck in most aspects. The only thing that I have been disappointed in is how flimsy some of the interior plastics are. they feel cheap and rattle a little when driving down the road. other than that, it is great! gas milage has been steady between 15.7 and 18.3 depending on what type of driving i am doing. I have been mudding with during duck season and it does very well in the mud, even surpised my father-in-law who is a devoted ford fan. any specific questions, just ask....
Comments
I picked up a more complete brochure from a Chevy dealer in Indianapolis last week. It has a silver cover, is 50 pages and quite extensive. That's where I noticed the Sportside not being an option on the LT despite being reviewed that way in the magazines.
SilveradoMac, Thanks for the information and willingness to answer questions on this board.
There is a "definite" difference up front by the way the headlights look and the grill, of course. Look for more and more differences through the upcoming years, I think.
Liana, I agree with you on the 4th door. Sure it will come out but people look at the size of the span between the back of the cab and the front. There is a lot of stress there. Silverado now has the biggest opening of all. You put a lot of weight in a pickup bed and where will the frame bend. Next question. When all that pressure is put on a space that is supposed to be tight in the first place there could be jamming which Dodge is now seeing a little of when a lot of weight, such as a big sized fifth wheel trailer, is put in the bed. Chevy is just being careful. It will come out and it will be done right. Lets face it people, the improvements in the Silverado is to say the least MIGHTY impressive. A LOT of changes were made and they are really great. The 4th door will come but don't miss out on this great truck now!!
If you've got something bigger than one bag of groceries, say a bag of gold clubs, and it's raining (sudden downpour) you're not going to want to go to the passenger side, open the front door, open the rear door, put the clubs inside, close the rear door, close the front door, go around, get in your door, and shut it.
The biggest discussion now is laughing at GM and how STUPID they were to design a brand-new truck and not include the simple fourth door. It's been in a number of articles on the new trucks that, off the record, GM designers said (and I can't believe how STUPID GM is--well, yes I can) that they didn't add a fourth door "because we [GM] felt that we only had to match Ford's offering [3 doors at the time]. We thought that Dodge's Four-Door model wouldn't be accepted by the marketplace, so we didn't make a fourth door. But the time we realized it, it was too late."
And GM wonders why no one buys their outdated products.
The literature for the four door supercab Ford Superduty specifically addresses the structural integrity issue. They explain how the four door design is different from other trucks and claim that the structural integrity of the cab is actually improved because of the four doors. I don't know anything about the new four door F-150 It's on a totally different chassis than the Superduty.
Although the fourth door is convenient, I doubt it will be a deal breaker for people considering the Silverado unless they are equally attracted to another truck.
SilveradoMac: If the camper mirrors (electric slideout? ...they look manual to me...) and running boards are aftermarket items and not Chevy options...why even show them in the brochure? Also my understanding is that the tranny temp gauge is available and standard only with the 6.0L V8 autotrans otherwise you just get a readout on their new electronic driver msg center when it gets hot (too late by then...)
Also wonder where their temp sensor is mounted???
Brutus et All: Having the 4th door would be nice, but you're right... not a deal killer for me, though I may pay a price in resale down the road when the 4 doors are common and mine is just a 3-door...but then again, I keep my vehicles many years so it may not matter... got that new Ford yet...? how's the mpg? I think you also made a good choice on the Bigfoot camper...
Observation: On the 2000 4th door issue. With the apparent confusion and difficulty Chevy is having getting this new truck rolled out to the public and their own people. If you have talked to anyone at Chevrolet there are very few people there that can answer any question about THE TRUCK with any certainty. I find it hard to believe that they are already planning and trying to put out a new 2000 truck within 7 or 8 months of releasing this model. We all know Chevy has been classically slow to respond to what the public wants. Like I said these are my opinions and not meant to provoke. With that said I am not going to wait for this 4 door that I would be surprised to see before the end of the 3rd quarter next year.
I ordered a 2WD LT Ext Cab about 5-6 weeks ago and still don't have a build date (preferenced 9/23). I heard that the delay may be due to the fact that I ordered it w/ locking diff and that Chev may go ahead and fill such orders w/o including that option. I would be miffed if they didn't clear it w/ me before modifying my order.
Any Chevy folks out there that can shed some light on this?
Now I see the new Silverado and all the acclaim it is getting. Smaller engine but better power and fuel consumption, bigger back seat, 4-wheel anti-lock disk breaks and all kinds of other stuff if you read the literature.
My question is this, it is just my wife and myself and our 2 labs for now. We live in town (I work at home) and I would be the primary driver. I like to drive trials (some of which are barely goat trails) and go hunting/fishing. I currently own a 73 Bronco which I love but am tired of racking up miles/wear as it is super clean.
Of the list of new things that the Silverado offers the new bigger back seat simply translates to more room for the dogs (and occasional short trip passengers). As the 2 new engines are only seeing their first year would it be better to stick with the tried and true 5.7 given the performance/longevity of the 5.7 is nothing to laugh at? The current K1500 has 4-wheel antilock with disc/drum while the Silverado has 4-wheel antilock with disc/disc. Are the new breaks and engines that much better?
The K1500 has a 10 foot shorter turning radius that the Silverado and given that my Bronco can pretty much turn on a dime will the extra 10 feet be to painful?
If you check out the pricing information there doesn't seem to be any real price difference between comperable K1500's and the Silverado's. Given the 1999 is the last model year for the K1500 is there any real possibility that Chevy/GM will be offering any rebates over the next 3-6 months for this truck?
Anyway, just my situation and any opinions would
be greatly appreciated.
Roitan
One thing I do want to mention is that, and I hate to bring it up, but you had better measure from the bottom of the bed to the top of the cab. A camper shell that used to be level with the top will now be short. My own measurements show that it is a little over 2 1/2 inches taller from bed to top of cab. Many dealers will maybe be mad for me telling this but why shouldn't you know this. Yes I sell them but I like everyone to know all the facts. The beds themselves are still the standard size they have been inside, but the wheel wells now sit in a little different place since the wheelbase is 2 inches longer due to the added length in the cab.
To the person who asked about his 2WD pickup not having a build date yet. Is this truck a 3/4 T? I assume it may not be. The problem with the G80 locking differential is most likely the problem though. I noticed today there is a restriction on ordering G80 for now.
Roitan, it seems as though you have about talked yourself out of the Silverado all by yourself, by what you have said. Let me tell you for a fact though that the brakes ARE that much better and bigger. The front disc is 12 inches and the rear is 12.8 inches. Thats another thing. For the reason of the size of the disc in the rear there will now only be 16 inch wheels for even 2WD. You can now even get a 255 size tire on them. It will be hard to tell the difference of a 2WD and 4WD without a second glance, I would guess.
And yes the engines ARE that much better. Something for all you grease monkeys. Did you know that the new V8's have six bolt mains???!!!! The new engines have smaller oil pans because the engine has skirted the block lower with the cast metal and so now there are two bolts going in horizontal besides the usual four bolts.
Rebates on the Silverado? Not for now, of course. There is only speculation when that will happen.
One final thing for now, just to perk you all a little more. It looks as though Chevy will be coming back with the Impala. From what I know it will be put on the "Wider is Better" frame.
Whew!!! Well enough for tonight. Working lots of hours at the dealership, and it is late. Hope I have answered the questions properly. I do appreciate being able to help but on the other hand I am learning more. It can only help when I sell one.
I don't think you will lose anything on resale with a three door. Buyers are going to be alot more concerned about well you maintained it. It's not a deal killer now, even when it's new. I doubt it will have any impact at all on resale.
I've had the new truck (F-350 Superduty) for two weeks. It's the most awesome vehicle I have ever owned. My previous truck was a F-250HD 4x4, which I thought was a great truck, but there is no comparison. I tower over everything on the road except the semis. The leather interior is very comfortable. I actually enjoyed sitting in rush hour traffic the other day.
Speaking of rush hour traffic, my commute is 40 miles roundtrip during rush hour with a combo of city/hwy. I've got the 4.30 axle ratio and the duallys with the V-10. During my first 700 miles in commuting traffic, I'm getting around 9.5mpg. It's suppose to get a little better in the first 10,000 miles. Stanford has almost the same vehicle with the V-10 and I think he is getting 10-10.5. I've heard that the V-10 owners with the the 3.73 axle ratios are getting about 2mpg more. If what I have heard is true, the 4.30 should give me better mpg than the 3.73 when I have a load.
I'm pretty psyched about the Bigfoot camper, but I'm in a hurry-up-and-wait-mode. The camper is paid, but it's in Canada. The closest Bigfoot dealer was Colorado Springs. I saved a couple thousand by going to Canada. I'll be picking it up on my way back to Alaska in January. That weather rating of -40 might get an early test.
To replace my '89 crew cab 7.3L F350, I'm probably gonna go with the Silverado 2500HD 4x4 with the 5speed 6.0L. Looks like no trailer tow package with the manual, but you can get most of it with the snow plow prep. Anybody drive one yet? Ya, 4th door would be good, but would rather have that solid pillar behind me on the drivers side......
The dang new Crew Cab Fords are almost a foot longer than my old one and would require major garage fixing........
I used to have a Guidon fiberglass tonneau cover. I liked it. The only debit was it did not lift high enough to reach in near the cab to load and unload. I'm not interested in soft covers.
I once owned a 1966 Chevy pickup with this box style. I don't think they called it a sportside back then. What is the purpose? The step was more practical back then. The box is easier to clean out without the wheel wells in the way. Is there another reason for this style? My lust vanities are getting to me. I just think it looks great but if I buy a new truck I'm going to go fully loaded LT. My last two trucks I traded in prematurely because I made dumb compromises (short cab in '91 and 2 WD in '94) I later regretted. I'm going slower this time (gotta stay outta those showrooms).
How do the rides compare between regular 4x4 package and the z71 offroad package? I see a lot of z71 Chevys in Minnesota commuting on the highways.
If I ever tow anything it might be a 1,600 lb. pontoon boat.
http://www.pace-edwards.com/
The older GM trucks were called simply Stepside. The reason they were more practical was not so much the bed being a flat unobstructed box, but the built in steps on the sides to reach in. If you look at Chevy's and Ford's stepside trucks now, the "step" is above the lower bodyside molding, making for one hell of a climb just to get on the step. On the older trucks, the step was actually at the bottom of the body like a running board - much easier to reach.
Incidentally, Sportside is not GM's idea. The Jeep J10 stepside truck was the first to use the name Sportside in the early 80s.
My local dealer told me today that his GMC rep. is saying that they can start ordering the new style Sierra in a short bed crew cab in January.
They are not giving any promises on when they will be built, but I'm willing to wait on one if this is true...Could there be any truth to this?
I really need to know... Thanks
I did ask my dealer about the extended cab and his source tells him the crew cab will be available before the 4 door extended... I tend to believe just the opposite, but thats what I was told. Oh well... who knows... Obviously not me...
James007
I tend to definitely believe also that the four door extended cab will be out before the new style crew cab. Of course sometimes the dealers are the last to find out though. I just think with all the pressure for the 4th door in the extended cab, thats what will come first. Also right now I think they are waiting to see how the "new" crew cab short box will sell to figure out what kind of production to expect.
Lets look at little logic though here guys. They have JUST come out with the new pickup and the availability of the 4th door is expected to be after the first of the year. The rumor as you will remember was that the pickup we have now was going to be available after the first of the year of 1998. Well, when did we actually get them!!! Some of you are still waiting!!! With all these factors to look don't get your hopes up to see all this new stuff very soon at all. Just as they did on the new pickup, they are going to want to be sure it is right. The main idea is don't get pissed if it doesn't happen when you think it will. Also don't get pissed if you wait for another model year and low and behold your trade-in is another year older and you have lost a whole bunch of bucks because of the popularity of the new Silverado has dropped the value of the "old" body style. This is one TERRIFIC pickup NOW, so don't miss out!!!!!!
can anyone out there tell me where i can find a dealer that will sell for 100 bucks over true cost?? i seen one advertised in hemmings magazine(Bruce Glueck Chevrolet in florida) but wonder if these guys are for real!! and will these guys order for you or do you have to take what they got?? I have looked at the new silverados they are a awsome truck.. One of the things that impresses me (amougnst other things) the was the driveshaft.. it lookes like a 6 inch pipeline!! and its aluminum!! Any info will be welcome!!!
Beware: some of these dealers run into allotment problems (talk to Brutus) and are also often reluctant to spend much time with you about your order (this cuts into an already slim profit margin). Make sure that you're not getting into a situation where it'll be weeks before your order is even placed with the manufacturer. Also, expect to pay $300-500 in additional fees (fuel, advertising, etc) above their quoted price.
What do you mean when you say make sure that you're not getting into a situation where it'll be weeks before your order is even placed with the manufacturer. Are you saying that the Dealer intentionally holds your order? Why would a dealer do this? Is there some savings to be recouped by the dealer or what? I have also been told by several dealers that a sold order does not go against their allotment.
My order was $445 over true invoice and the dealer said that my order was sent by the computer as soon as we finished on the computer? He selected some option to send the order??
If thats not the case with you, fantastic! Let us know when you get a build date.
You can answer back at LaceyKent@AOL.com
THANKS
It's not that the dealer intentionally doesn't get your order pulled, but it is not out of the realm of possibilities. Imagine that you're the dealer and you've got lots of hungry salespeople that can't get paid until their truck orders arrive. With only 1-2 orders coming in per week, a dealer might opt to place higher priorities on the orders that make more money for the salespeople and the dealers. You can avoid alot of the delays in this area by starting to call you dealer after about the third week, and then continuing to call him at least once a week after that. Squeaky wheel gets the grease.
As far as extra costs, the only charges I paid other than the actual dealer invoice amount were $24.80 for gas and $75 for advertising.
Bigfoot campers are manufactured in Armstrong British Columbia in Canada. I've heard they might be opening a factory in Oregon. The number of dealers throughout the US is limited. For example, the closest dealership to Dallas is in Colorado Springs. The largest dealer of Bigfoot campers is located a few miles south of the factor
From what I can tell, people seemed most happy with the quotes they received from the dealer in Oregon and the dealer in Canada. I was quoted a price of $22,247 from a dealer in Oregon for a fully loaded 1998 10'11" Bigfoot 3000 with all the options (AC, microwave, thermalpane windows, canopy, outside shower, etc) except the generator. I initially put a deposit down on it, but the dealer returned the deposit right as I was closing on my loan. I think he had a walk-in who was willing to pay more.
I ended up going through the dealer in Canada. They seem to have a really good reputation for customer service and are obviously proud of the Bigfoot line of truck campers. My salesperson was Bob Morgan. The dealership is Rosman RV Sales. They have an 800 number on their website at www.rosmanrv.com.
Rosman quoted me a price of $22,600 for the same camper, except it was a 1999 model and it included construction of the platform I will need for my Superduty. The price includes installation. It's my understanding that the top of the line Lance may be a couple thousand less and the Fleetwood a couple thousand less than the Lance. After researching generators, I decided to get the Onan Microlite generator, which was an additional $2,500, so my total cost was $25,100. Remember that this is the top of the line Bigfoot. They have other models and you can get less options, which will lower the price.
The Bigfoot is the only camper that is weather rated down to -40, as long as you get the thermalpane windows. It's got the most powerful furnace. It's specifically designed for winter camping, although it's insullation will also keep you cool in the summer. It's not that you will necessarily ever need to camp when it is -40. However, if you knew you were going to camp in 20 degree weather, would you feel confident in your 20 degree rated sleeping bag or would you opt instead to bring your zero degree bag?
There were a couple of other options that impressed me. The headroom in the overcab bed is 42", so you can sit up without bumping your head. There is a separate shower stall, rather than the entire bathroom being the stall. It's got a motorhome style dinette. I've heard nothing but rave reviews about the Bigfoot interior. The only real knock is that I've heard the design of the entry step leaves something to be desired.
You should go weigh your truck. Add in the weight of you and the average number of passengers and gear you are likely to carry on a typical trip and then see what's left over. You can get away with exceeding the figure by some, but you won't want to go way over. It will start impacting your handling. Air bags (aka air lifts) and Rancho adjustable shocks are fairly inexpensive ways help with the handling, but you still don't want to overload your suspension by too much.
The camper I am getting would be too heavy for a 3/4 ton. It has a dry weight of 3,000 pounds and that doesn't include the options (the AC, generator and thermapane windows add the most weight). One guy I talked with said that his camper weighed over 3,600 when ready for a trip.
Bigfoot makes two other slide-in campers. The Bigfoot 2500 is probably their most popular. It has a dry weight of around 2,500 pounds. I think the weather rating on that one is -10 or -15. They also have a 1500 lite model. I think the weather rating on that is 10-20 above zero. If I were you, I'd give the Rosman a call and tell them what type of truck you have and what camper they think would work for you. Based on the literature I've read, the Lance and other brands are about the same weight as the Bigfoot. It all depends on what model you get.
What's the word? how's the truck treating you?
What the manufacturer does etc. As well as what information is given to the buyer at that point??
Thanks in advance.
2500
6 liter engine
Manual transmission
Extended cab with short bed
Tow rating ?
Your tow ratings would be:
2WD: 8500 lbs. at 3.73 axle ratio.
4x4: 8000 lbs. at 3.73 axle ratio.
2WD and 4x4: 10000 lbs. at 4.10 axle ratio.
Ratings are with the z82 heavy duty towing package. Automatic transmission has the same ratings and ratings are the same for regular or extended cabs.
I placed an order for a '99 Silverado LT 2WD Ext. Cab (Pewter) about 6 weeks ago. It was preferenced on either 9/23 or 9/29. I still don't have a build date.
Chev. customer service says to call back in about 6 weeks and they'll let me know. My dealer is checking the weekly Wednesday sheet--nada so far.
The kicker is that I ordered it with the locking differential (G80) option, something that is important to me since I frequently drag a boat up a sometimes slippery ramp. A memo was sent to the dealers this week telling them that Silverados being built through mid Nov. would not have the G80 and that they now can't order it.
My fleet salesman told me that they received an LT this week that a customer ordered with locking diff. and that Chev deleted it from the order without telling them!! The guy was miffed.
Needless to say, I politely told him that I expected my truck to come as ordered or I may decline to accept delivery. I plan to check repeatedly to make sure that the only option I asked for (G80) doesn't get dropped during the process. Why should I go through the long wait for a specially-ordered vehicle if Chevy unilaterally decides that options that I deem important for MY truck don't matter?? What does that say about GM's commitment(or lack thereof) to customer satisfaction??
I've pretty much figured that if they can't tell me 2 weeks from now that I have a build date, or if they screw around with my order, I'm going to take another look at the F-150 Lariat. Who knows, that 4th door may come in handy.
The order process is as follows. Let us assume that the dealer puts the order in the same day you agree on a price. This is done by computer and is received almost immediately. There are different factors after this point that now take place. You should be asking your dealer to tell you of any of the options have restrictions of any sort that might be on your order. Assuming that he is truthful with you, or if he actually does know, you will receive an answer. Assuming there are no restrictions, the next thing that happens is that it is "preferenced" which means it has been accepted for building. People, make sure your dealer puts on the priority that it is a sold unit or the big order computer just assumes it is a stock order for the dealer. A sold order goes before a dealers stock order. That may be why some of you have some discrepency in getting preferenced. Next comes the notification of build date. There are also several factors here, such as how many of the same type of pickup have been ordered, or maybe they ran out of locking differential parts, which as you read above has happened. One important thing to remember is that the dealer gets what is called a DCS sheet which shows the status of the orders. In the priority column it should show "SLD". Besides that there are different priority numbers. Also there should be an abbreviation of your name or something of the sort to show who it is for, so the dealer can't just show you any order on the sheet. There is also an order number which is the first column. Make the dealer tell you the order number so that if you come in you can go right to it and see the status. This DCS sheet comes out once a week. It might a different day of the week depending on your area. I am a salesman and have a 1 Ton pickup on order which has been preferenced for two months and still no build date, but yet the Silverado's have been going through fairly well. A dealer with a little pull can help get an order preferenced but to get a build date is another matter. We are at the mercy of GM at that time. As you can see there are many factors here but in actuality you should have a pickup between 60-90 days. The 3/4 Ton orders are a little "iffy" yet though. Also there will not be any half ton, long box, extended cabs built until after the first of the year.
I just certainly hope that your dealer is telling you all the facts. I have been on the forum here for some time now answering numerous questions as many of you might know. I will be glad to help when I can and am certainly learning as I go along myself. I suppose I might have some repeated questions, which will be fine but please go back in this forum and read previous entries because you will learn a lot about the Silverado.
I didn't mean to be too confusing there jxyoung but it is very hard to nail down an exact time line. Just too many factors. Also another big factor is the big vacation times the plants get for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Boy, can there possibly be any factors I haven't thought of??? Please don't get discouraged though. I don't mean to be discouraging. Just wish for you to know everything.
If you're sure the Silverado is what you want, the best advice is to treat it like a business decision and try to block out the emotions. If you're going to change from the Chevy to the Ford, make sure that you are going to be happy driving that Ford and making the payments. In three months, you'll be driving whichever truck you choose. In a year, you won't even remember the extra 30-60 day wait. This is a big investment. Make sure you get the truck you want.
After over a year of waiting, I decided that GM isn't what is used to be, and drove over to the local Ford dealer for a test drive. This was my first close-up experience with the new Ford, and I was very impressed. The new 5.4l engine is every bit as good as the GM 5.3, and the overall fit and finish is definitely a step above The Truck's. That new floor console was especially "cheesy", and the much hyped larger back seat is still uncomfortable. If a long trip in the back seat is in order, you won't be happy in either the Ford or the new Chevy's back seat. The seat is still much more upright than a regular seat.
I wound up ordering a 99 ext. cab 4X4 Lariat. The process was much easier than what I experienced with Chevy, no option restrictions, no 4 month waits, generally a piece of cake. Go check out the Ford, you won't be sorry. I even got 7.9% financing!
I'm disspointed with the reduced torque too.
I haven't checked out the truck in person yet, but
from the pictures I have seen, the front bumper
seems to be a bit narrow. I am not sure
the lower part of the front bumper, which is
covered by the balck plastic molding, weakens
the whole front bumper integrity?? I see Ford
does the similar thing to their front bumper too
in their 99's. Perhaps due to pressure from various sources that accusing trucks and suvs causing too much damanges to smaller cars in a collision???
The only real improvement is probably in the 4whell disk brake which should improve the braking a lot.
Also, the 265 tires look smaller in the new
wider and longer body. Why can't they offer a
set of 285 tires???
I ordered my 99 GMC on 9/4/98 just got a build date of 11/9/98 delivery 10 to 14 day after build date. The ninth is the build date, does that mean that they will build it that day or they hope to build any time around the ninth? I think that I will be lucky to have it the first few weeks of dec. what do you think? I live in maine and dealing with local dealer not the biggest in the state but not the smallest. I have heard that maine sells more GMC then any other state so I hope that will help in delivery time. Your opinion is appreciated, can not wait to get it.
What it means is that it is supposed to be built the week of the 9th. Delivery is normally a little longer than 10-14 days, so don't get too nervous if it doesn't get there before 2 weeks. At least out here in Idaho it takes a little longer.
Oops!!!! Forgot to tell you that GM takes a fairly long vacation around Thanksgiving. Bet you don't get it until December.
sorry about the late responce. I love the truck
in most aspects. The only thing that I have been
disappointed in is how flimsy some of the interior
plastics are. they feel cheap and rattle a little
when driving down the road. other than that, it is great! gas milage has been steady between 15.7 and 18.3 depending on what type of driving i am doing. I have been mudding with during duck season and it does very well in the mud, even surpised my father-in-law who is a devoted ford fan. any specific questions, just ask....
later