Really tough decision on new truck purchase

[TJay74]

I went into the dealership to see if they had any 6.2's on the lot yet, nope. But they had a Sierra All Terrain there with the 5.3. I thought what they heck, I will test drive it to see how it is compared to my 2010 Sierra AT.

 

I have to say I was pretty impressed, one of the things I hate on my 2010 is how doggy it was before I tuned it and put a CAI kit on it. I can tell the new truck has some spunk under the hood for sure, still needs some tuning changes to make it 100% to my liking but it was really close.

 

So now I don't know if I should wait for the 6.2 (may order one) or just take a 5.3 and be happy. I am a huge HP junkie (other car is a 2008 Vette) so I love having the extra power under the hood.

 

Dealer found the exact truck I want (Crew Cab All Terrain with both of the AT packages on it, painted bumpers, 3.42 rear gear, NAV) and with my GM discount and the rebates I can get it for $40.500. Going to take the wife down this weekend to look at the one they have on the lot and got for a test drive and then decide if we are going to take the 5.3 or wait for the 6.2. As part of my agreement I put the Vette up for sale today, main reason for this whoe purchase is to eliminate one of the cars and reduce out monthly payments in order to be ready for when we start the family next year.

 

What say you all, wait for the 6.2 or be happy with the 5.3 and just do the normal bolt on mods???

[Horacio]

I'm sort of in your boat. I'm ready to pull the trigger, but think I'm going to wait for the 6.2. Hopefully by the time they're slightly more available, some of the bugs others have found in their trucks will be remedied at the factory. I had a 5.3 Avalanche and "talked" myself into getting it. Granted things have evolved, I was never really happy with the lack of power. I've driven the 2014 SLT and AT, they seem ok in power, but I see myself getting use to it rather quickly. Also, when I get on a freeway, I want to "get on it" and not have to wait for the thing to wind up before it decides to get out of its own way.

[redwngr]

Sounds like you NEED 'max trailering' so you can get the 3.73.

[bladz1454]

I went into the dealership to see if they had any 6.2's on the lot yet, nope. But they had a Sierra All Terrain there with the 5.3. I thought what they heck, I will test drive it to see how it is compared to my 2010 Sierra AT.

 

I have to say I was pretty impressed, one of the things I hate on my 2010 is how doggy it was before I tuned it and put a CAI kit on it. I can tell the new truck has some spunk under the hood for sure, still needs some tuning changes to make it 100% to my liking but it was really close.

 

So now I don't know if I should wait for the 6.2 (may order one) or just take a 5.3 and be happy. I am a huge HP junkie (other car is a 2008 Vette) so I love having the extra power under the hood.

 

Dealer found the exact truck I want (Crew Cab All Terrain with both of the AT packages on it, painted bumpers, 3.42 rear gear, NAV) and with my GM discount and the rebates I can get it for $40.500. Going to take the wife down this weekend to look at the one they have on the lot and got for a test drive and then decide if we are going to take the 5.3 or wait for the 6.2. As part of my agreement I put the Vette up for sale today, main reason for this whoe purchase is to eliminate one of the cars and reduce out monthly payments in order to be ready for when we start the family next year.

 

What say you all, wait for the 6.2 or be happy with the 5.3 and just do the normal bolt on mods???

 

$40,500! Wow, that's a heck of a deal man. If you don't mind me asking, what was the MSRP and break down to the final $40,500?

[TJay74]

Sticker on the build sheet I have is $50015 with the destination charges on the truck I test drove today. There is the $1000 rebate right now that everyone gets, a $1k trade in allowance rebate as long as the vehicle is GM and 99+ and a $1k owner loyalty rebate. I missed the USAA rebate and the dealer is going to check and see if there is any private offers in my name that I didn't know about thru GM.

 

That takes $3k off of the price, the rest if my GM-employee discount. But in the deals defense, the truck I want is about $1500 cheaper since I don't want the sunroof, trailer brake controller or the chrome gas cap. So that puts me at roughly $48,500 before rebates and my discount.

[Blue2500CC]

If your selling the Vette then 6.2 all the way WITH the 3.73 gears!!!! Lol

 

Good luck!

Chris

[TJay74]

As much as I like the idea of 3.73's, I would never have the need for them. Heck I don't have a need for the 6.2, I only want it for the pure power reason. I drive 35 miles a day for work and a bunch extra during the week and on the weekends driving to the mountain bike trails to ride so I really need a trucks that gets decent gas mileage.

 

That is the once nice thing on the 2014 versus my BB tuned 2010, the new truck will get almost 3-5 mpg more than the current truck. I only get at best 18.5mpg on the highway with the current truck, several of the new owners are reporting 22-25 mpg. That is a huge improvement.

[Natek]

The 5.3 has good power but having a vette and saying you are a power junkie I believe you should go with the 6.2. Once the new wears off the truck you will want more power and you will spend about the difference in price between the 5.3 and the 6.2 and still not have 6.2 power.

[nards444]

I have a camaro thats where I get the HP and speed fix. A truck is truck IMO, its a tool not a grocery getter or speed queen. Dont get me wrong I want power. But if its a good deal with a tune, exhaust and a few other things you can probably add 20hp

[sh00ter]

I had a 2008 Vette too but have been driving a '09 4WD Suburban. I have a TruckVault in it with the 3rd row seats removed so it's 5' long...with LOTS of stuff in it. That really makes the SUV very heavy & I miss the power of the Vette. I have a Denali on order with the 6.2 for that very reason. I think the new truck will still get better milage than the Suburban but wish it didn't need premium gas.

 

The larger engines are very capable of getting great milage if you can keep your foot out of it. That '08 Vette will get 30 mpg on the highway at 70 mph on a relatively flat highway.

[crushNchowda]

Here's the deal man. I'm buying a vette/camaro/stang or something of the sort in the spring to satisfy my speed fix, but the truck isn't where to look for that unless its you're only vehicle. You already got the vette, so why sweat how much is under the hood on the truck as long as its peppy enough for everyday use, and the 5.3 is PLENTY - I have the same truck you're planning on, AT 5.3 w/ 3.42s and it is plenty satisfying for daily driving. I had a bolted G8 before and the truck is fine for a DD. With a tune/intake I bet you're close to 400 crank hp and over 400 lb/ft - more than enough grunt.

 

Now, in my mixed driving 70%hwy/30%around town I'm getting 16.5 indicated, and the truck has 4,500 miles on it now. That's nearly 1mpg less than I averaged on my first 2014 3.08 truck. Going to a 6.2 w/ 3.42's you're probably realistically looking at between 15-16 mixed, and I just don't think it is worth it.

Throw a couple mild mods @ the 5.3 truck and you'll be plenty happy w/ it.

[ktreece]

Let me just say I called 40 dealers yesterday. Actually more than that looking for a denali 6.2. Ferguson, Bob Moore, and Hudiburg were way out of touch on their knowledge. If you were looking for a Denali, I could help you pin one down quick but did not check on All-Terrain.

 

HOWEVER, the jackass at Bob Moore actually called me a liar for saying that I drove a 6.2 denali at a local dealer and said "How does some small Arkansas dealer have a 6.2 and we don't. I don't buy it"

 

I insisted he call them.

 

Also, Hudiburg was blown away and thought the 6.2 was way away.

 

 

My point is, call around if you really want the 6.2. Don't settle. You will be happy till the new wears out and wish you had the 6.2. A lot of the dealers are being selfish with their 6.2's so you're going to have to probably do some work on your own end. Rick Jones in Tulsa has some 6.2 Denalis and know their stuff a bit better than those I spoke with in the OKC area. You might give them a shot. But you're going to see the 6.2's start rolling in within the next few weeks instead of late december at earliest like they previously were thinking. Just don't settle, I thought I could handle the 5.3 until a buddy let me take the 6.2 denali out by myself and oh my gosh it was nice. Sure, we're not going to be racing around being idiots but that torque felt great and because we're at positions in our lives now that we can have these nice things we might as well wait for what we want.

[fondupot]

I'm happy with my 5.3L paired with the 3.42 gears. Go with it. Good combo of power and economy.

[jj46]

I'm very happy with my 5.3... it is definitely more powerful than the previous version (not just on paper but seat-of-pants feel), and responsive. The 6.2 is nice, but if mileage is a concern, the 5.3 is a great motor. Between the lower mileage and the premium grade requirement, your fuel expenses will definitely be a factor.

[nards444]

I'm very happy with my 5.3... it is definitely more powerful than the previous version (not just on paper but seat-of-pants feel), and responsive. The 6.2 is nice, but if mileage is a concern, the 5.3 is a great motor. Between the lower mileage and the premium grade requirement, your fuel expenses will definitely be a factor.

Yeah I have the 6.2 in my SS camaro great engine. But crappy thing it means premium which is 40 cents or so more gallon, so not a big deal your talking an extra 10-12 bucks a tanks. I get 23mpg HWY cruise set at 75 in the car with 3.42 gearing, doubt youll come even close to that in a truck.