Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

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Feb 2, 2005
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I am going to buy a Silverado or Sierra in the next three months. I am looking for

2000-2002
2WD
ext cab, preferably four door (2 reg and 2 "suicide" doors)
V6, preferably 4.3 (I drive 90 miles a day round trip)
automatic transmission
100K on truck/motor/transmission or less

All of the other wants are not biggies. I'd like to have cloth seats, don't want bench seat up front, cd player would be nice etc.

Anything to watch out for? I had a 91 S10 Blazer, transmissions were to supposed to go up after 150K, mine lasted 300K (yeah, I got a lot out of that truck). V8 better than a V6?

I was going to go with an S10/Colorado or Tacoma, but after driving my buddies 2005 Silverado, I am not going to have anything other than a big truck.
 
The people I know with a V-6 in the big Chevys all complain about gas mileage and lack of pulling power. In fact one has traded his mainly because of the gas mileage. You may as well go with a V-8 from what I've heard.
 
If you don't mind me asking, why the 4.3 V6?

The V6 might get one or two miles per gallon better mileage on the highway but the V8 is going to offer better towing and a better power to weight ratio than the 6. If you haul anything, the V6 is going to be working a little harder and probably negate any fuel savings.

Of course insurance might be better on the V6 but thats just a guess.


I had a 4.3 in a Safari and it was a great engine. For a full size truck that might be pressed into towing, I'd go V8. You never know what you might be doing in a couple years. You might get a deal on a boat and wish you had the V8 to make towing a bit easier.

Look into the mileage thing. You're probably only looking at $20 or $30/month difference for a V8.

HTH,
Chris
 
You are way better off with the V8, i have had the 4.3 V6 and it only got 16-19mpg that was in a 2003 S10 now i have a 5.3 V8 and i get 17-19 mpg and can actually pull something.
 
The Chevys / GMC's are nice trucks, very comfortable...
I bought a new 2002 Dodge heavy duty 3/4 ton x-cab 4x4 with the Cummins diesel. In all honesty,the Cummins and the solid front axle was the only reason I bought a Dodge. It just turned 100,000 miles and is still doing great.

My boss has a new GMC CREWCAB 4x4 with the Duramax engine and Allison tranny. It is very quiet inside and outside. Has a totally different torque range than the cummins does. The interior on the gm's are much nicer and quieter than the Dodges, For some reason he can't seem to get any power out of it and the mileage sucks too

My Ideal truck would be a new Ford or Chevy with the cummins engine and Allison trans...
 
those year models are not the best from GMC or Chevy imo.. folks are now starting to get some issues with them (rear ends, tranny, and electrical malfunctions). the early 2000's was at the height of american made models "less quality" years.. if you still intend on getting one dont get the v6. underpowered by a large margin. keep the tranny fluid CLEAN along with the rearend gear oils as well.. i think a lot of folks look past this and they end up wondering why they have to pay for a new tranny or rear end at 80-150k miles..
 
hung-solo said:
the early 2000's was at the height of american made models "less quality" years..
Click to expand...

You must be young enough to not remember the 80's :p.

Lets not forget the Cimmaron, Citation, Celebrity, Bronco II, Aerostar, K-car, Geo Metro, Prizm, and Spectrum, Omni, Chevette, Fiesta/Festiva and everything built by AMC up 'til 1988 when Chrysler took over.:D

I could go back into the 70's for a list of real winners like the Pinto and Vega but I still believe the 80's were the low point in US auto quality. In fact, quality was so bad in the '70's we had to have the government step in and enact Lemon Laws! :eek:. Ahhh, the good ol' days :D

Chris
 
Bronco II and Omni, that brings back nightmares. Sitting, 8 or 9 years old, with my mother and sister on the side of the road on the way to Ocean City in her brand new Bronco II. That truck ran for about 6 months, and then gave it up.
 
hung-solo said:
those year models are not the best from GMC or Chevy imo.. folks are now starting to get some issues with them (rear ends, tranny, and electrical malfunctions). the early 2000's was at the height of american made models "less quality" years.. if you still intend on getting one dont get the v6. underpowered by a large margin. keep the tranny fluid CLEAN along with the rearend gear oils as well.. i think a lot of folks look past this and they end up wondering why they have to pay for a new tranny or rear end at 80-150k miles..
Click to expand...

Not true^^^. I work at a GMC dealership as a technician, the most reliable best "feeling" truck I service is anything with the 5.3L engine (8th digit of the VIN, engine code T or Z). This engine was put in 1999 and newer vehicles... on up to 2006 I believe. In 10 years I have put one camshaft in one (never saw another), a couple leaking intake manifolds (vacuum) and an occasional fuel pump. I have a 2000 GMC Z71 with a 5.3L in it, it has 110,000 mi., the engine has never needed a single repair... as a matter of fact the only component that has ever failed in it was the transfer case control switch (4x4 switch) and that was 70,000 mi. ago.

SilentThunderStudios, take everyone else's advice and don't buy the V6. The difference in gas mileage is negligible, but the torque and horsepower difference isn't. IMO GM's 4.3L has no place in a full sized truck.
 
GregS said:
Not true^^^. I work at a GMC dealership as a technician, the most reliable best "feeling" truck I service is anything with the 5.3L engine (8th digit of the VIN, engine code T or Z). This engine was put in 1999 and newer vehicles... on up to 2006 I believe. In 10 years I have put one camshaft in one (never saw another), a couple leaking intake manifolds (vacuum) and an occasional fuel pump. I have a 2000 GMC Z71 with a 5.3L in it, it has 110,000 mi., the engine has never needed a single repair... as a matter of fact the only component that has ever failed in it was the transfer case control switch (4x4 switch) and that was 70,000 mi. ago.

SilentThunderStudios, take everyone else's advice and don't buy the V6. The difference in gas mileage is negligible, but the torque and horsepower difference isn't. IMO GM's 4.3L has no place in a full sized truck.
Click to expand...

i wasnt talking about the motors boss man! :D electrical, tranny (auto) and rear ends was what i was talking about.. never said one thing about the motor and as a technician you should have picked up on that :)..... kidding around on the last sentence
 
Rupestris said:
You must be young enough to not remember the 80's :p.

Lets not forget the Cimmaron, Citation, Celebrity, Bronco II, Aerostar, K-car, Geo Metro, Prizm, and Spectrum, Omni, Chevette, Fiesta/Festiva and everything built by AMC up 'til 1988 when Chrysler took over.:D

I could go back into the 70's for a list of real winners like the Pinto and Vega but I still believe the 80's were the low point in US auto quality. In fact, quality was so bad in the '70's we had to have the government step in and enact Lemon Laws! :eek:. Ahhh, the good ol' days :D

Chris
Click to expand...

i grew up in the 80's and 90's and i was refering to the latest models of GMC and Chevy trucks 90-present..
 
i have an 01 rcsb sierra 5.3 4x4

i have a custom performance tune in it and see anywhere from 19-22 on the highway

dont get the v6, it will get worse mileage than the v8 and if your gettng a v8 do yourself a favor and get the 5.3 instead of a 4.8
 
hung-solo said:
i wasnt talking about the motors boss man! :D electrical, tranny (auto) and rear ends was what i was talking about.. never said one thing about the motor and as a technician you should have picked up on that :)..... kidding around on the last sentence
Click to expand...

Smart Azzzz.:D:thumbup:

The only differential problems I would say are common would be the front differentials in the Denali trucks, I suspect it has something to do with them being full time All Wheel Drive. For the most part GM's trucks with the body style I mentioned, 1999-2006, are essentially bulletproof. No real problems anywhere on the vehicle. The newer one's are a different story... too much fluff... but some people get off on fluff.:thumbdn:
 
hung-solo said:
i wasnt talking about the motors boss man! :D electrical, tranny (auto) and rear ends was what i was talking about.. never said one thing about the motor and as a technician you should have picked up on that :)..... kidding around on the last sentence
Click to expand...

Yes, please watch your years.

Am second owner (I knew the first) of a 99 GMC conversion van.

Regularly serviced (including tranny and rear end flushes and checks), babied, never towed with it, mostly highway miles, garaged, etc....

The 5.7L (350) just purrs and nothing but synthetic oil has ever passed her lips.

Ice cold air (you could hang a side of beef in it), great ride and handling.
Just a beautiful vehicle.

The POS tranny acted up at 65k! and the rear end soon after. :thumbdn:
 
GregS said:
What is a G80? Gangster fire cracker?

Bulletproof as in reliable commuters.
Click to expand...

g80 is the rpo code for the 8.6 10bolt locking diff in the 1/2 ton trucks, and the 4l60e tranny is no shinning star either

but they will work as commuters
 
I've got a 2003 GMC extended cab with the 5.3L engine. I get about 16-17 commuting and running around town. On the highway it gets 19-20. Once I got 22 but had a great tailwind!! It's still running good with 108,000 miles and I hope it makes it to 250,000.

Paul
 
hung-solo said:
i grew up in the 80's and 90's and i was refering to the latest models of GMC and Chevy trucks 90-present..
Click to expand...

Understood. I'd agree with you on the early 90's trucks. The later Vortec motors from the late 90's and early 00's were MUCH better performing engines. both in power and fuel economy. Performance does not equal longevity though. I've never had one so I can't comment.

I can say the TH-700R4 has proven to be a very good tranny for stock vehicles and as long as you aren't looking for a race transmision or a heavy towing trans, one should go 150K without any problems.

My 99 4.3 Vortec in a Safari ran great 'til 140K miles (with a 700R4) when I traded it in. I was getting some carrier bearing howl near the end but it never gave out on me.

Speaking of my 99' 4.3 liter...

SHS,

If I were to give any advise on the late 90's or early 00's trucks, I'd say look into the recalls involving the DexCool coolant and the failure of the intake manifold gaskets because of it. The 4.3 liter used from 1995 to 2000 was covered if used in the S10/S15, and SUV's on the S platform.

The same 4.3 liter was used in the Astro/Safari and C/K trucks but NOT covered by the class action suit. Be careful with the 4.3's from that time if you do go with the six.

I developed a leak in mine at around 100K and had to pay out of pocket to get a new gasket put in. No big deal on a truck but on the Safari, everything is under the dash and impossible for a do-it-yourselfer to tackle.


Good luck in your search,

Chris
 
i am just saying IF i had to pick a gmc or chevy truck it would an early 90's model as far as quality overall is concerned.... but again this is why i do not own an "american" truck either.. i drive an 02 tacoma 4door 4x4 and its possibly more american than gmc themselves lol... 134K miles and no shop time other than maintenance. i keep the fluids clean and she has been good to me. best damn truck i have ever owned and i have had Fords and Chevy. glad i switched.
 
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