Chevrolet Silverado

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Comments

  • vectechvectech Member Posts: 1
    Need Reassurance..

    Visited a dealership last Sunday to look at the new Silverados and found a big problem with a new white on gray ext cab 4x4. Rust spots/pits coming up through the white paint all over. Had to do a doubletake to be sure but you could actually feel the rust pits. Thought about alerting the dealership/GM but haven't yet. Been waiting a long time to get a truck (White especially) and have totally been disappointed seeing this, especially with my concerns about GM quality. Might just wait on the new Toyota Tundra (T150). Has anyone seen or heard of similar paint problems on new Silverado's, any suggestions? Hard to pay 32K for what I saw.
  • jxyoungjxyoung Member Posts: 156
    I think the rust spots you are seeing are rail dust! It was all over my truck and would not rub off! They ran some cleaning wax over it and it came right off! I am pretty sure that is what you saw! I could actually see the rail dust rust! It looked like little splotches of rust everywhere spread out about 1/4 in apart at the most?

    Picked mine up today and it is great! Only drove it about 35 miles so far! The scratch is almost Gone and very hard to see! Will give another update later! Changed out tires to grip tires and will have to get speedo recalibrated next week!
  • shoozshooz Member Posts: 27
    Ordered 10/16. Allocated 11/24. Build date 01/22 and ETA 2/3: Received 2/4. Lt Pewter/Met w/graphite leather.
    Drove it to Vacaville today to have a Line-X strayed on. Truck is solid, quiet and flawless! The 5.3 IS silken! Worth the wait!
  • hogpilot1hogpilot1 Member Posts: 10
    only ordered my Silverado Ext.cab 1500 4x4 two weeks ago.... got a build date of 3-8-99... anybody out there ever wished away a month and a half of their life !!! Man I can hardly wait !!! Got to admit with all this talk of the power seats running amuck, I wished I'd ordered the regular one. Come on Chevrolet, I need a "warm fuzzy" about this one ! Incidently, we bought a 95 Blazer and only had it one week before the driver's power seat bound up completely and would not move. Chev. fixed it with a "improved" part and we never had anymore trouble out of it !
  • ladyblueladyblue Member Posts: 326
    hogpilot:

    I've been wishing away my life since the day I ordered my new truck. I know how you feel. Like a little kid waiting for Christmas...only worse!!!

    Now that I know it's been shipped and is on its way, I'm really going crazy. Hang in there! :)
  • chairmakerchairmaker Member Posts: 7
    Dave40,

    I am so sick and tired of your alleged sexual conquests (chicks...blow you away, etc). If you have something to say about your truck, fine. But leave your sexual references out of them. Last time I looked, real men referred to women as ladies. It's boys who do otherwise. Grow up! If you have anything off-color to reference, or if it really makes you feel like a real man, find another site!
  • ladyblueladyblue Member Posts: 326
    Thank you chairmaker. I couldn't have said it better.
  • RichinKsRichinKs Member Posts: 412
    From comments I've heard on this site, I gather those who have received allocations/orders in the last month have recieved a build date within 24 hours. Is that true for all? February 1st my 3/4 ton was ordered but as of 2/5 my dealer still had not received conformation or a build date. Could that be normal? Comments apprecieated. .... Rich
  • shoozshooz Member Posts: 27
    RichinKs:

    My experience was that the allocation and build date came in the same electronic 'package' to the dealer. If you have been allocated so have a build date. That date will always come on a Tuesday (at least in California allocations come once a week) The build date is always a Monday and is a reference to 'the week of...' your build could be that same week as late as Friday, 4 days later.
    My build date was later postponed one week.
    Once the truck is given to the transport company you should ask for a VIN # from your dealer. By the way, if the VIN # starts with a 1 it was built in Detroit, a #2 is Ottowa, Canada, a #3 would be Mexico. The VIN # is likely to be necessary to obtain insurance. In California 'proof of financial responsibility' (insurance) is required by the lender, if you finance any part of the purchase. It will expedite delivery if you have all the loose ends ready by the time you get that 'come 'n get it' call from the dealer.
    Good luck!!
    PS. This is one neat truck! Don't get discouraged about the negatives you may hear: My experience was the opposite. It is FLAWLESS!
  • dave39dave39 Member Posts: 5
    Sorry to take so long to answer the ? about towing a fifth wheel camper. For me the short bed is not a problem with the camper. My camper is a Shasta 24 ft, with a gross weight of 6000lbs and a tongue weight of right at 900 pounds. I was towing it with a 92 Chevy 1500 with the 350 and did not have a problem with it. I would think about a tran cooler and try to find out the tow rating for ur truck I think that the 8000lbs u talked about is too much for ur truck
  • dave40dave40 Member Posts: 582
    Now this ain;t no shuckin' or jivin'-- if you get there first, in style, the Chicks Flock around these BIG BLACK 3/4 ton GMC's like Awesome Dave-40's. No need to exaggerate; that black thing passing those Fords and dodges was not a UFO. That, my little chickadees, was Awesome Dave's 300 horsepower girl magnet honing-in on Monica. She won't mind the scratch marks left by oter Young Ladies on the doors and window frames___will she?
    Only need a bit of that RPM flattened torque from 6 liters of raw power to have the Dodges and Fords breathing my exhaust and gettin' off on it too! Keep in mind, if you want to get Monica's (well, maybe you can do anything) but for something to make you want to sleep for a day you need a Chariot capable of attracting such talent. Take Awesome Dave's advice. I'am not Commander In Chief ( 1" of the U.S Truck Force for nothing...as the chicks all know, heh,heh,heh.)
  • ladyblueladyblue Member Posts: 326
    dave40:

    Cut it out.
  • kent123kent123 Member Posts: 61
    Does anyone else get the impression that Dave40 is 16-17 years old and probably got the money to buy his truck via inheritence rather than hard work like the rest of us?
  • kend1kend1 Member Posts: 10
    16 or 17 in his mind? only...more than likely an aging boomer going through a midlife crisis. I thought this topic was about Silverados. Dave40, find another venue for your ravings.
  • hogpilot1hogpilot1 Member Posts: 10
    hey dave40... I first thought you were funny, but now you are just becoming a pain. Of course the more we complain about you the more you write. They have pychological profiles for this sort of thing!
    I just went to the dealer again today, and he said that backlog from the strike is over and the rate of production for the 1/2 tons is keeping up with demand. The talk about the production of the 3/4 tons not starting until March apparently is true, hence no build dates for those of you wanting them. When Chevrolet starts the "ball" rolling in the plants, then you guys will be getting build dates when Chev. figures out the production rate and "marrys" that with the orders they already have! So I am told.
  • randerrander Member Posts: 4
    Am I the only loyal Chevy truck owner that is very disappointed in the new Silverado?

    I've been waiting for these to hit the dealerships
    for 2 years, but my first look at them almost made
    me sick. The mechanicals of the new design look
    very good, but the styling doesn't do anything for
    me. And 3 doors! The design team must have been
    on vacation that year.

    I don't think I would ever buy a Dodge, but the
    Ford is looking awfully good. Plus, Ford offers
    some interesting options like the Sport truck (with no chrome).

    Apparently, Chevy is having trouble selling the
    Silverados. The lots around here are stacked with
    new Silverados and the January sales report shows
    GM with the only big 3 decrease in truck sales.

    I'm going to look carefully at the new Tundra this
    spring and try to wait until fall to see if Chevy
    can fix any of their mistakes - then, I'm going to
    buy something.
  • DavyddDavydd Member Posts: 121
    I'm very pleased with my Silverado. I doubt you were ever a loyal Chevy truck owner but more of plant desiring to stir up controversy.
  • DavyddDavydd Member Posts: 121
    I'm having no problems with my power seats in my Silverado LT. In fact, so far, knock on wood, my truck is the first zero defect vehicle I ever bought. Into it now 24 days and 1,100 miles.
  • sd99sd99 Member Posts: 65
    Dave 40 sure is giving the Chevy's a bad name
  • cdeancdean Member Posts: 1,110
    rander
    I liked the conservative look of the Chevy, but am disappointed in 1) the height of the truck (I'm 6'8", i don't like to sit 'down' when I sit down) and 2) the front grille. I think the sheet metal of the silverado is appealing, but the grill just doesn't look quite like it should be there.

    But I drove one a couple of weeks ago, and mechanically, it is an awesome vehicle. If you're buying a truck for looks, you probably should get a Dodge which is probably the biggest head turner, around here at least. but really, considering ride, power, comfort the Silverado is tough to beat.

    I saw the Tundra at the Houston car show, and was very disappointed. It's not even a true full size, somewhere between a Dakota and a true half ton. Add on the same boring looks of other Toyota trucks, and the limited options: no thanks.
  • DavyddDavydd Member Posts: 121
    cdean, I don't think I'd want to be 6'-8" tall (I'm 5'-10") but I envy you in one way. It's an awkward effort (especially in my icey driveway) for me to climb into my Silverado and I can't see the top of my cab. ;-) The Silverado is plenty big enough for me and rather comfortable.
  • DavyddDavydd Member Posts: 121
    I picked the Silverado over the Sierra because I liked the looks of the front end better. I guess that is a matter of opinion. Chevy remained true to many years of tradition. Sierra is trying to establish a similar identity but competes more directly with Ford and Dodge in grille appearance and comes off in third place.

    Dodge has established a very strong corporate identity. I agree it is a head turner. I'm not impressed with what's under the skin.

    Ford's F150 series is a dead end look (SD departs since) and looks to me like a fat man in clothes two sizes too small or a beached whale. I also think of a floater (dead bloated body in the water.) The Ford F150 honeycomb grille also looks tacky and cheap. Sorry Ford lovers, but its look will have to change once again to survive. Big mistake like the Chevy Lumina aerodynamic minivans.
  • DavyddDavydd Member Posts: 121
    sd99, Let us remember Dave40 actually bought a GMC Sierra. ;-)
  • strasgstrasg Member Posts: 6
    I ordered My Silverado 2500 the end od Dec. Build date Jan 4th. Picked it up Feb. 2nd. Full load pewter extend a cab. There sure doen't seem to be a shortage of either 1500 or 2500 models at our dealers. Anybody have any mileage figures on the 6L? So far the truck seems to be rattle free and very quiet. Friends of mine have had terrible wind noises from the drivers side door. These were the first ones to hit the lot. The true test will it make 150000 to 180000 K without many problems. I live in Canada.
  • davek3davek3 Member Posts: 31
    What kind of 2500 you get ex cab .. short bed .. longe bed.?? I ordered a 2500 ex cab long bed on dec 29. I haven't called to check status yet but from what im hearing on here its kinda tough to get a 2500.. seen tons of 1500's and NO ex cab longbeds at all..
  • page3page3 Member Posts: 54
    I ordered 2500 LT shortbed extd cab.on Nov.4, build date 1/11... some screw up with the order in the computer has delayed mine. Hope to here something this month.It's been a long and painful wait.I'm dealing with a fleet sales company so it's not easy to choke the salesman.The only thing keeping me interested is the $50.over invoice price.GM responded to my email stateing that production is to resume on 2500's mid Feb.I have waited this long,guess another month won't matter.
  • strasgstrasg Member Posts: 6
    Davek3 : I got the short box. I saw a long box ext a cab 2500 about a week ago. They aren't that common. I Never asked about aviabality on a long box. Our dealer is the largest in Western Canada. 100's of trucks. A town of 2000. Go figure. Our large city dealers can't even come close to the prices and don't have the selection or service.
  • jxyoungjxyoung Member Posts: 156
    Everything seems fine so far! Have 100 miles on it now. Will keep you all posted! Hang in there you will not be disappointed!

    I liked the Chevy grill better! I always used to like the GMC's better but this new truck changed my mind. I have to say that my Black extended cab, LS, Sportside, Z71 is very much a head turner. Put some bigger grip tires on it and it looks BAD! Even noticed some guys in some RAM's checking me out!!
  • jxyoungjxyoung Member Posts: 156
    Talking about rail dust anyone interested in removal check out this site, has a picture of it as well:
    http://www.erazer.com/page2.html

    also topic #970 has good info on the best wax and contaminate removal!
  • rwagonerrwagoner Member Posts: 338
    I am looking into purchasing a new Silverado. My only real concern is the lack of a fourth door on the extended cab model. I'm not even sure I need/want one (having never owned an extended cab truck), so I don't know if I should wait until it comes out with the additional door (and buy new tires for my S-10) or just buy one now (and save the tire money to use as part of my down payment).

    Supposedly having only three doors makes the cab more ridged.

    Also: Is the factory AM/FM/Cassette/CD any good?

    Thanks for any insight.

    Richard
  • quadrunner500quadrunner500 Member Posts: 2,721
    rander:
    Chevrolet reported to the Wall Street Journal that they are selling every Silverado (Sierra) as fast as they can make them. Their problem was production, not sales. That the lots are stacked Silverados, well the store shelves are stacked with 1/2 gallon containers of milk, but that doesn't mean milk is not selling.

    cdean:
    When you said you were disappointed in the height, that you don't like to 'sit-down' when you sit down. What do you mean by that? Do you have to duck down when seated? Do you want a taller cab, or just more headroom once inside?

    rwagoner:
    I have the regular cab, and I don't know if speaker placement is the same or not on the extended cab, but I think the sound system sounds very good, better than I expected. The amp is clean and un-distorted, the speakers have good transient response and dynamic range. On Sheryl Crow CD I have to turn down the bass, on Shania Twain I have to turn it up a bit so overall it must be about right. It has a speed compensated volume feature that is very nice. I thought the Infinity sound system on the Ram with controls on the steering wheel was the best, but I've heard they are having cooling problems with dash unit, and the Silverado steering wheel sans the controls is still nicer because the hub and airbag are more compact.

    to all:
    I like the looks of the Silverado. I liked the looks of the old one. Same for Sierras. But I would not make a decision based on styling first. It ranks under drive-line, chassis, ride, but above courtesy transportation, roadside assistance on the scale of importance to me. Basically, I like the grill. It reminds me of an old Cadillac. I like the sheet metal more than the F150 and Ram, about even with the F250 Super Duty to my eye, but with the lighter duty appeal I was looking for.
  • djstepdjstep Member Posts: 26
    To rwagoner, I also had great concerns with the forth door thing. I have never owned an exstended cab before either. Ford was in the running for a long time. Came to my sences two weeks ago and ordered the silverado. Reasoning is the gas mileage and horsepower. Conciderably better than Ford. For me Dodge never was in the running(personal I guess). My Father in Law has a Ford Reg. Cab with the 4.6. Best gas mileage he gets is 14. Climb into the back of a Ford and then try the Chevy, you won't need to think much about it any more. Also I didn't see that the Ford was any less money. I am getting the Chevy for about 2500 less than I figured I would have to pay for the Ford. I should be seeing my new 1500 first to mid April, as per my request for it to be no sooner than that.
  • cdeancdean Member Posts: 1,110
    quadrunner

    I meant basically the actual height of how the truck sits. A taller truck, like my dad's double cab 4x4, I actually have to step up into, almost slide right in. My current Chevy, and the new Silverado's, I am actually sitting 'down' as in the down direction. Basically, i wish the trucks sat higher overall.

    headroom in the silverado is actually excellent. My large frame fits the cab of the silverado with room to spare.
  • quadrunner500quadrunner500 Member Posts: 2,721
    cdean,
    I see what you mean. It's a truck, and it's nice to sit up high. Mine, with the P265 tires, I have to step up a little bit getting in, but I'm 5'9". Climbing up even higher is not something I would mind, but I want it to fit in my garage, and the Ford SuperDuty is the only one too tall to fit.
  • dhb58dhb58 Member Posts: 2
    Check this site out for tonneau covers. From the pictures it looks like the tailgate cover would fit just fine. They have soft, hard, and diamond finish tonneau covers that fit even with the top of the truck bed.

    http://checkerpro.com/welcome.html
  • agentboyagentboy Member Posts: 11
    I towed my boat (World Cat 266SF) for the first time this weekend with my new GMC Sierra 2500. The truck has the new 6l engine, auto tranny, 2WD, and has a built-in transmission temperature gauge. While cruising down the interstate at between 58-60 MPH, the transmission temperature rose to and stabilized at around 160 degrees. While driving in heavy stop&go traffic, the transmission temperature rose to about 180-185 degrees. Should I be concerned about this temperature? The ambient temperature was around 80-85 degrees. I seem to recall that 170 degrees is where you want to max out your transmission fluid at. I plan to replace the transmission fluid with a high performance synthetic fluid this week. Would a larger (than the factory) auxiliary transmission cooler also be recommended?

    Next question. The truck had trouble pulling the boat out at the ramp due to a lack of traction at the rear wheels. After numerous attempts using various tactics, we found that me and two other fat guys on the bumper did the trick nicely. What have you guys done to improve rear wheel traction when pulling a heavy boat on a (fairly) steep ramp?

    Other than the transmission temperature and the ramp trevails, the truck did really well. No swaying, or bouncing and the extendible (towing) side view mirrors worked great. The trailer has disk breaks on both axles and stopping the boat was no problem.

    Thanks for any info!
  • quadrunner500quadrunner500 Member Posts: 2,721
    I don't think I would begin worrying about the tranny temperature unless it started heating up over about 225. As for the traction on the boat ramp, this sounds strange but you might try putting on the parking brake a little bit while you accelerate. If one tire is spinning faster than the other, it will reduce this tendency somewhat and direct some torque to the other wheel.
  • tkabbestkabbes Member Posts: 14
    Agentboy
    I am curious whether you have the locking differential (order code G80 in the 1500) ? I also plan to use a 2wd Silverado to pull a 3000 lb. boat and my choice of ramps goes from crappy to really crappy. I would be a bit discouraged to spend this kind of money and still require three hefty boys to perch on my bumper.
    Thanks in advance for your reply.
  • markbuckmarkbuck Member Posts: 1,021
    Concur with Quad500. Don't worry about tranny temps until you get to at least 250F. Trailer Life magazine is a great source of info related to this topic. Bunch of old geezers that wanna pull their trailers at 80mph.......
  • fish6fish6 Member Posts: 50
    dhb58......Thanks for the address on the tonneau covers.......Good selection.....Great prices......Thanks again!!
  • cdeancdean Member Posts: 1,110
    it might be worth to money to see if you can get an aftermarket limited slip. Sometimes the boat ramps can be 14 karat pains in the butt, and I wouldn't want to go thru that everytime I go fishing.
  • KCRamKCRam Member Posts: 3,516
    cdean #572

    I know what you mean there. I'm only 6 even, but have long legs (34 inseam). My butt basically lines up with the cushion in my Ram 3500, and I literally slide right over.
  • agentboyagentboy Member Posts: 11
    Tkabbes,

    Yes, my truck has the limited slip differential. The boat (26.5 foot Catamaran) weighs around 8500-9000 lbs and it was a fairly steep ramp, so I wouldn't worry too much about pulling 3000 lbs.

    Quadrunner500,

    I tried the parking brake trick, it didn't work. The ramp (@Port Canaveral, FL) from the waterline had about 10-12 feet of very roughly textured cement and then a crown where it began smoother cement. The truck could pull the boat up until it got to the crown (and the smoother cement) and then it would lose traction.

    The reason I was concerned about the transmission temperature is because a recent issue of Trailer Boats magazine had a table of transmission temperatures and expected tranny life span, and the lifespan started dropping above 170 degrees or so. I only tow the both 5-6 times per year, so I probably won't worry about it unless it gets closer to 200.

    Thanks for the info.
  • djstepdjstep Member Posts: 26
    I caught the tale end of a news cast on the car radio this afternoon. There was some talk about Celeron and AMD, computer chip makers, and GM with long customer deliveries. Didn't catch enough of it to really know what was said. Did anyone here what that was about. I hope it was saying that there was some resolution with the chip makers and production was going on line.
  • DavyddDavydd Member Posts: 121
    Silverado 1500LT, x-cab, z71, 5.3 L running mostly in Autotrac option, suburban driving. Third tank load was 16.2 mpg. Previous were 16.7 (including 140 mile trip on freeway) and 16.1. 87 octane with 10% oxygenated. If similar to two previous vehicles, mileage should increase about 2 mpg come Summer.
  • DavyddDavydd Member Posts: 121
    With the z71 option bigger tires it is definitely a step up for us under 6 footers. The Silverado has more ground clearance than a comparable Ford and Dodge but the height of the step up is less. I measured mine to be about 23-1/2". Overall height of the truck is suppose to be about 74-1/2". I couldn't find a height in the Ford catalogs.

    I'm going to forego steps or nerf bars as long as my wife doesn't complain. The worst is now. Our driveway is glaze ice and getting a foothold to push up and in can be dicey at times.
  • DavyddDavydd Member Posts: 121
    I mentioned before I prefer NOT to have that fourth door because I don't want to hassle with my carpoolers loading on my side when I pick them up (and I don't have dependent kids). As long as you are hauling able bodied kids or adults the fourth door is not all that critical. If loading children in child seats I think it would be wise to have that fourth door.

    Remember this, with the rear suicide door, someone has to sit in the front seat because the person in the back seat cannot reach the front passenger door and close it. Able bodied kids and adults should be able to load without your help.

    Also, if wanting convenience to load on driver side, get the non-power seats. They move forward easily and there is ample room to climb in the back without that fourth door. The power seats are more inconvient. The power slide forward option is too slow. The back does flip forward manually. Resetting the power seats back to the proper distance is nicer though since there are two memory options built in.

    All in all, I'd sacrifice that fourth door than sacrifice the leg room and comfort of the deeper seat cushion and more back slope of the Silverado compared to Ford or Dodge. There's no comparision. The Silverado wins hands down.
  • RichinKsRichinKs Member Posts: 412
    Could your boat trailer touge (sp) be light or acually lifting the back of the truck on the ramp? The rear of the boat trailer would be low at this time. On level, does the boat trailer sit level? If not a lower hitch may shift weight forward to the rear of the truck. I use a receiver hitch and you can get the hitch with different drop levels. With my 4x4 I need to drop it to get my trailer level. ...... Another possiblity, purchase the long tubes of sand used for additional traction in winter weather. You could put a few of these over your rear axle when towing. . ........ Rich
  • RichinKsRichinKs Member Posts: 412
    Its been a week since my Salesman called that he had an allocation for me. Still have not got order conformation. ...... My wife is leaning towards not getting the 99 as 2000 models probably will be available early. Just about every thing will have the 2000 model early as a sales gimmick. But in reality the 99's will lose value at that time. The first 2000's will be just like the 99's. But by fall the 4 doors should be out. A problem I have is the door to the house from the garage is on the drivers side. It is difficult to get packages out of my truck from the passenger side. If I could only have three doors I would prefer it on the drivers side. I rairly park on the street so a drivers side door would not be an issue for me. Any one else have thoughts on waiting or not for the 2000? We're kind of looking at a build date of around April 1-15 as our cut off. .......... Rich
  • larry18larry18 Member Posts: 48
    If Chevrolet decides to provide a fourth door option on the extended cab I certainly hope they also enlarge the fuel tank on the short bed. Maybe they could steal Dodge's 34 gallon tank which would provide those of us who travel less fuel stops. My Suburban's forty-two gallon tank is certainly convenient on trips. I am holding on the Silverado until a fourth door becomes reality. The Dodge is beginning to look good especially with the Cummins option. I have driven Chevrolets for over forty years and hope the rumors of a four door in 2000 are correct.
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