Test Drove 03 2500HD 4wd ext cab

[RyanbabZ71]

Well I finally broke down and went for a test drive.  It was a green 03 2500HD xt cab 4wd with the 6.0.  I would have to say it isnt as peppy as my 5.3 but once it gets going it cruises very nice.  It only had 150 miles on it and i did not stomp on it i took it easy.  Much more solid feel than my 1500.  Also inside the cab is much quieter.

 

Cons: Bench seat sucks, towing mirrors are wierd ( i wouldnt get em) doesnt turn as good as my 1500 (harder to park in between 2 trucks)

 

Pros: Steering wheel nice, powerful, brakes are awesome they stop on a dime

 

One thing i did notice was the 6 liter is VERY noisy (not the cold start knock) just noisy on acceleration and everything.  That was probably my biggest complaint.  

 

Also the pedal had a different feel.  is this the drive by wire i have heard about?

 

All i have to say is this drive is very TEMPTING!!!

 

arrival blue (or a 2 tone color) in my future?

[FloridaZ]

I'm thinking about trading my 03 GMC 1500 X-Cab in on one of the Chevy 2500's. I want the Duramax though... The 0% for 60 is awfully tempting...

[RyanbabZ71]

They had a ton of dmaxs at the dealership.  I didnt wanna drive one cause they all had plastic on the seats

 

I dont think i can bear to trade mine in.

 

I may try and get my dad to take mine off my hands so i can get a new one  

[gave20]

I'm going to take advantage of the overnight test drive next week.  I looking at getting a 04 2500 LD.  I'm going to test a 1500 HD should have the same ride and feel as the 2500.  So the 6.0 was real obnoxious sounding?  Not good

[RyanbabZ71]

It wasnt obnoxious.  I did notice it though much more than my 5.3 (i did have the radio off the whole trip)

 

It is a powerful engine i can say that

[CMNTMXR81]

All '03's are drive by wire.

 

Generally, the bigger the motor, the louder.    Also I imagine a 2500HD may not have as much sound deadening material as a regular more civilian 1500 truck.

[BlueRado]

 

 

I see arrival blue in your future!!  

[RyanbabZ71]

I could have used the 2500 today.  Hauled a half yard of dirt (bobcat bucket full, actually more than i thought it was) and a bunch of sod.

 

The noise wasnt all that bad of a thing.  I did like the ride height also much nicer than my 1500.

 

If i did get a new one Id only get a bedliner, rail caps, bug deflector, and bigger tires.  

 

Hopefully ill get offered a job soon

[clk7711]

I'm thinking about trading my 03 GMC 1500 X-Cab in on one of the Chevy 2500's. I want the Duramax though... The 0% for 60 is awfully tempting...

Yeah, me too. I think I'm gonna wait till the fall and see what the new colors look like.

[Shaners]

I think alot of the noise is from the large exhaust...

 

At idle stand behind the truck and listen to the exhaust note of the 6.0L HD and the 5.3L 1500, and you'll hear alot more exhaust noise coming out of that huge pipe on the 2500HD.  I get a little droning in my truck around 1500-1800 RPM, but with the windows down and you go past a building in town while on the gas, the truck sounds pretty darn good IMO.

[lovette]

Welcome to the HDark Side

[Stepside Z]

Nothing like a big truck.  :thumb:

[timk49]

My 03 HD is the best truck I've ever owned. if you liked the ride height put a set of 285's on it and then see how much more you like  it. I've only got 8500 miles on mine so it really isnt broken in yet. Definetly an improvement ofer previous models.

[k1500chevy97]

About the noise with the 6.0 , I have noticed that my new farm truck (a 03 4.3) is a lot more noisy exhaust wise (outside the vehicle) as the 5.3 and my 97 4.3 ??? weird