Thinking About A New 2011 Silverado Or Sierra

lesZ71 · October 10, 2011

I currently have an extended cab 2004 Z71 Silverado. Just found out that we are expecting our second kid to arrive next May and I am thinking that I will probably need some extra cab space. So I am trying to determine if it would be worth it to trade in on a new 2011 crew cab Silverado or Sierra. The only real issue that I have with my current truck is that I think the brakes are pretty crappy. They have been checked by my local dealer and a reputable brake shop in my area. The brake shop basically told me that they are fine...just typical Chevy brakes! For those that have a newer truck, are the brakes any better?

Stevens03 · October 11, 2011

I currently have an extended cab 2004 Z71 Silverado. Just found out that we are expecting our second kid to arrive next May and I am thinking that I will probably need some extra cab space. So I am trying to determine if it would be worth it to trade in on a new 2011 crew cab Silverado or Sierra. The only real issue that I have with my current truck is that I think the brakes are pretty crappy. They have been checked by my local dealer and a reputable brake shop in my area. The brake shop basically told me that they are fine...just typical Chevy brakes! For those that have a newer truck, are the brakes any better?

Much improved in my opinion. There even better than the 07 I owned

tjm80 · October 11, 2011

I currently have an extended cab 2004 Z71 Silverado. Just found out that we are expecting our second kid to arrive next May and I am thinking that I will probably need some extra cab space. So I am trying to determine if it would be worth it to trade in on a new 2011 crew cab Silverado or Sierra. The only real issue that I have with my current truck is that I think the brakes are pretty crappy. They have been checked by my local dealer and a reputable brake shop in my area. The brake shop basically told me that they are fine...just typical Chevy brakes! For those that have a newer truck, are the brakes any better?

I made the jump 2 weeks ago from a 2008 extended cab to a 2011 crew cab and haven't looked back! Only problem is the 08 was half paid for.

lesZ71 · October 11, 2011

I currently have an extended cab 2004 Z71 Silverado. Just found out that we are expecting our second kid to arrive next May and I am thinking that I will probably need some extra cab space. So I am trying to determine if it would be worth it to trade in on a new 2011 crew cab Silverado or Sierra. The only real issue that I have with my current truck is that I think the brakes are pretty crappy. They have been checked by my local dealer and a reputable brake shop in my area. The brake shop basically told me that they are fine...just typical Chevy brakes! For those that have a newer truck, are the brakes any better?

I made the jump 2 weeks ago from a 2008 extended cab to a 2011 crew cab and haven't looked back! Only problem is the 08 was half paid for.

Yeah...I think my biggest issue is that mine has been paid off for just over 2yrs, so not having a payment has been pretty awesome. I know the wife is gonna want something else in a couple of years, so it might be a good time to suck it up and make the trade so we don't have two car payments at the same time.

MikeNH · October 11, 2011

Brakes in my 2011 are waaaay better than the ones in my 03 and that's with my 2011 having the drum brakes everyone loves to hate on. Truck stops real well and controlled.

khancock · October 11, 2011

I don't have kids so I have no clue but wouldn't there be enough room for a few more years? Having a payment sucks....

MikeNH · October 12, 2011

I don't have kids so I have no clue but wouldn't there be enough room for a few more years? Having a payment sucks....

The cabs won't be bigger by much but if the OP goes from an ex-cab to a crew he'll be golden. I watched a friends 7 y/o son Saturday and frankly I was disappointed with how poorly his booster seat fit in my truck (ex cab). For the back of his seat to be against the seatback in the truck the booster had to be slid real far forward which put it at a lousy angle and it didn't seem terribly stable. It'd be one thing if the seat used the LATCH clips or the top tether but it doesn't, just routes the belt through slots to make it line up better with a little one's body.

98 Z71 SLT · October 12, 2011

don't buy a new truck

buy a used one with under 30k miles on it

save yourself a ton of cash this way

plus you have 6k miles to nit-pick the truck as far as 3-36 warranty

and then you have 5yr100k powertrain warranty

buy 08 or newer

lynchmob723 · October 12, 2011

don't buy a new truck

buy a used one with under 30k miles on it

save yourself a ton of cash this way

plus you have 6k miles to nit-pick the truck as far as 3-36 warranty

and then you have 5yr100k powertrain warranty

buy 08 or newer

I have been looking myself, and think the better deal is a 2011 new with all the discounts they have at the end of the year now. All the 08+ are still well over $23k with around 30K mile. I can walk off the lot with a brand new one 11K off MSRP here in MN. So a total cost around $27-29K

Just my .02

robertfootball · October 12, 2011

I think '04 was the first and last year they had disc brakes on ALL the 1/2 tons. they went back to drums in 05-present.

I agree, the brakes were good initially on my '04 Z71 but once I replaced the oem pads with another set of GM brake pads they just never were the same. It always felt like they had air in the lines but the many trips I made to several trusted mechanics determined that they seemed fine. All I know is when I pressed the brake pedal to make a sudden stop I would hear a whooshing sound and could only press the brake pedal half way down. Something wasn't right, the truck just didn't stop the same, and I didn't trust it anymore. I had fooled with it enough, and also read the same complaints from other owners of this year model truck. I never heard of a recall on this issue and maybe it wasn't a widespread issue but for me it was.

I don't know how much you want to spend but if you prefer disc brakes, the only way you're gonna get them on a GM 1/2 ton truck is with the NHT package. This bumps you up to the 6.2 engine, among other upgrades. I won't have drum brakes on a truck, heck I got rid of my Honda atv because I got tired of the drum brakes it had.

It's 2011, brakes have come a LONG way and it's time to get past the drum brakes and offer vented disc brakes as standard equipment in my opinion. Ford and Dodge do it so why not GM?

APT · October 12, 2011

don't buy a new truck

buy a used one with under 30k miles on it

save yourself a ton of cash this way

2009+ for the 6-spd. Makes such a large difference in how they drive.

But I disagree. 2-3 year old used vehicle prices are way to high to consider vs. just buying new. $25k for what you list or $27k for new? Hmmm. Not a lot of savings in the used market right now.

Stevens03 · October 12, 2011

Not a lot of savings in the used market right now.

x2

The price difference to make it justifiable just isn't there. There selling discounted New vehicles for almost the same price as a used 2-year old truck and in some cases cheaper.

ChevyTech77 · October 12, 2011

Not a lot of savings in the used market right now.

That's why I bought new. The used trucks were grossly overpriced and they were blowing the new ones out so with all of my discounts and incentives, I literally paid $3-4,000 more for brand new than I would have for 2-3 year old with 30k or less miles on it. Plus, I got to order it and get exactly what I wanted.

nselders · October 12, 2011

I currently have an extended cab 2004 Z71 Silverado. Just found out that we are expecting our second kid to arrive next May and I am thinking that I will probably need some extra cab space. So I am trying to determine if it would be worth it to trade in on a new 2011 crew cab Silverado or Sierra. The only real issue that I have with my current truck is that I think the brakes are pretty crappy. They have been checked by my local dealer and a reputable brake shop in my area. The brake shop basically told me that they are fine...just typical Chevy brakes! For those that have a newer truck, are the brakes any better?

I have a 2010 Silverado LTZ and i love my truck. However, whoever at Chevy made the decision to go back to drum brakes on the rear is an idiot. I know they were trying to save some $ on production costs but come on. I have taken mine back multiple times for un-true drums. if your drums arent perfectly round, you get a pulsating, thumping noise/feel. I spent a lot of $ on this truck and have a a full warranty and expect a new truck to not be like that. Long story short, they have changed the drums/pads twice on my truck.

Chevey should do themselves a favor and go back to disc all the way around!!

ChevyTech77 · October 12, 2011

I have a 2010 Silverado LTZ and i love my truck. However, whoever at Chevy made the decision to go back to drum brakes on the rear is an idiot. I know they were trying to save some $ on production costs but come on. I have taken mine back multiple times for un-true drums. if your drums arent perfectly round, you get a pulsating, thumping noise/feel. I spent a lot of $ on this truck and have a a full warranty and expect a new truck to not be like that. Long story short, they have changed the drums/pads twice on my truck.

Chevey should do themselves a favor and go back to disc all the way around!!

Known issue. Your servicing dealer is failing to call GM and get the information necessary to fix this concern. Fairly quick and certainly painless. Once set up right, the rear drum brakes on the 1/2 ton pickups present no real determental loss to the rear disc.