Why The Chevy/GMC ?

SouthpawHD · February 14, 2016

In the past year I have looked a lot at the big 3, and I found dollar for dollar, the GM line of trucks offered better value, better interior, and better technology than the others.

I am not saying GM has the best tech, but when comparing similarly equipped trucks in a specific price range, I found GM to be better at that price point. For example, I just looked at a 2015 Ram 2500 and at that price point, they had no LED lighting (not even the roof lights), the DIC was poor looking, and the seating just wasn't quite as nice. So the GM won out because I like the dash and DIC way better, the lighting is better and I liked the LED roof lighting (I really, really like the GMC LEDs but could not find one in that price point).

YJGUY · February 14, 2016

This is the first pickup truck I've ever owned. I've owned over 27 vehicles over the years (Mostly Jeeps, Subarus and VWs) but with some recent back issues I decided it was time to get something I fit in generally well. I'm 6'6" and not exactly small so getting out of a sedan and into this was nice.

My main selling point for the Sierra I ended up with was value. I couldn't justify spending $60k on a new truck so I was set on used. At first I didn't want to spend more than $20k but I quickly learned anything in that price range is either really high mileage or a beat up work truck. I looked at the last generation F150 but in the end I didn't want to spend a lot on that old design. I considered a new, left over 2015 as the 0% for the long term wasn't bad, but I couldn't find any left over 2015's with the options I wanted, either they had no options or out of my budget.

There are a few reasons I never considered the Dodges;

1) (petty) One side of my family all drive Dodges, and I don't get along with them

2) Styling, I really dislike the look of them

3) The Nav/Climate control system is really annoying. I hate that you have to go into the infotainment screen to change climate control setting or turn on the heated seats. Extra steps that take your eyes off the road when a simple knob, switch or button would do. I drove a Jeep Cherokee with this setup and it was very frustrating to me.

I also looked at Tundras but the used prices were high even with high milage. I also didn't like the fact you only get an AWD setting on the Platinum model. That's something I wanted for foul winter days.

That left the GM and Chevy's. I didn't know anything about them but after looking at a couple I decided the styling of the GMC was for me. I found a few with the All Terrain package and really liked the look of them. The interior design and features were nice and the smooth quiet ride sealed the deal. It did take a few weeks of getting used to after having the BMW but I'm now used to driving this behemoth around.

If I had to do it again I'd look for the same truck, 6.5" bed but with the full crew cab instead of the double cab. I hardly ever drive people around but the extra storage in the back would be nice since I have my seat all the way back. My truck only has 34,000km (21,000 miles) and I drive less than 10k km (6200 miles) a year so I think I'll have this for a while.

15slvrDbl · February 14, 2016

I got the employee discount, I like the looks outside. Its so much less of a truck than my 10 year old Ford was. But it is what it is. Three years and I'm on to something new. The interior is just tiny coming from the super duty. I needed less truck and that's what I got.

Robert.jean1 · February 14, 2016

Only drive GM and chose the GMC due to the different front clip. I think is looks better but hey that's why we have choices

jagabom (Esquire) · February 15, 2016

I also don't like the snub nose of the Ford or the wheel wells of the Dodge or Ford.
Jim

HondaHawkGT · February 15, 2016

Yeah the Ford and Dodge guys like to rip on square wheel wells but I don't get why they like rainbow wheel wells so much. ;)

royrjs · February 15, 2016

Anybody can have a Ford, as a buddy's dad said the other day (they are Chevy loyals too) hehe.

I first fell in love with the Silvy when the '99 model came out; when I flipped the cover of a Car&Driver magazine circa 2004 and saw the brand spanking new Colorado, I immediately fell in love, materializing my romance in 2011 when I bought my '06 Crew Cab Colorado, being the plan to have it for 5 years and then move over to the next acquisition. I didn't want a mid size truck, I wanted a Colorado.

Time came and I did what any grown man would do: graduate from the 5 cyl to a brand new, full size, V8 Silverado.

entreri · February 15, 2016

Been a Chevy guy as long as i can remember like the looks, ride, reliability better than the rest. I used to be a parts guy and sold less parts for Chev trucks than the others.

Debra in Cali · February 15, 2016

I come from a family heritage of Ford and Dodges. But I married a Chevy man. (30+ years). He was a mechanic when we met. He explain why Chevy put out a superior product. I drove my little Dodge for many years into our marriage. When we purchased a new vehicle it was a Chevy. Drove that for 24 + years. It died with 338,000 miles on it. I noticed that whenever I met someone that was a mechanic, that about 95% of them drove Chevy trucks. I even took the time to ask a few of them why they drove a Chevy. Most of them came up with the same logic and beliefs that my husband had previously told me.

Chevy/GMC original parts are available for many many years. Fords only produce parts for about 5 years after the release of the vehicle.

Ford has had more recalls that any other car company combined.

Ford has long term problems that they don't bother to resolve, even when they obviously know that they have a problem.

I personally love the look of my 15. The main problem that I have with my truck is convincing men that it is my vehicle and that I picked it out.

chuckl1218 · February 15, 2016

The main problem that I have with my truck is convincing men that it is my vehicle and that I picked it out.

My wife's says the same about her Trans Am. ?

jamesonjc · February 15, 2016

I have had four fords over the past 15 years. 1 F150 xlt and three f350 work trucks - xl.

I have test driven all of the other brands, and I make apoint to each year, including Nissan.

The Chevrolet (and GMC) current sierra and silverado is bar none the smoothest driving experience in a pickup from 2014 to current.

ChrisNJ · February 15, 2016

Been GM truck since the 90's, about 7-8 of them. And I even tried a ford when GM pissed me off about something, but couldn't stomach the horrendous engines/transes they had. To be fair I have not driven a eco-turbo, but could care less, now that we have the glorious new 6.2 ('14+). Even seriously considered a Dodge, after I got so pissed at the first 6.2 (07-13). And it was never the 6.2 itself, but the horrendous trans tuning GM put behind that first gen 6.2. But I blame CAFE for that, probably not GM's fault.

So, been up a down, but always stayed with GM, and my '14-6.2 is hands down the best there has ever been. And I truly dislike the headlights, as others have said, but it's my only compliant in an otherwise great vehicle. Glad they attempted to fix the headlights on 16+'s, but I haven't seen them with my own eyes yet.

ps: just rented a ford on a trip and I didn't make it 5 miles before I turned around and asked for a GM, it was that bad. I had to be in it for a month, no way I was dealing with that crappy truck. To be fair, I have no idea what engine was in it, but it sucked bad, and rode crappy too. They tried to give me a Dodge but all they had was the smaller crew cab which didn't work for me, so they found me a GM crew and I was happy.

Delta Hotel · February 16, 2016

This Chevy ('15 Crew, Std box, LT ) is the first truck I've ever owned after renting from Enterprise for 20 years.

I got such a great rate $15-$20 a day, that owning didn't make sense.
Now that said, I've spent hundreds of thousands of miles behind the wheel of Dodges (Enterprise loves those) and Ford F150's and the occasional Chevy which I always felt was the most luxurious but the Ford handled slightly better and controls were more intuitive than GM I thought as I drive Audi cars and like basic controls.

Dodge has a strong motor but that's it. Ergo's are REALLY bad with that rotary knob gear selector (you often raise HVAC fan speed when your trying to shift to D or R.) Bouncy and noisy ride is vastly inferior to my Chevy and truck is butt ugly.
Interior seems really cheap and seats are mushy.

Ford has a goofy looking interior now and I didn't and won't buy 1st year anything and the alloy body scared me as I remember how bad insurance rates got on the Audi A8 (alloy) came out years ago and how few body shops could effectively repair it.
Also heard from a mechanic friend that works on Fords how Ford REFUSES to remedy past problems and deems it cheaper just to repair under warranty the F'd up stuff rather than upgrade a later model year. (leaks, tranny issues, etc)

Toyota builds a quality product but a friend has one and it's a real gas pig (12-13 mpg) and looks outdated now.
Plus, I feel a truck should be from an American manufacturer.....

So after test driving them all again, I am now a Chevy owner and other than wanting a little more power (should have got 6.2 vs 5.3) I am extremely pleased and I took it last month to visit family in Georgia (1500 mile round trip) and I've never driven such a quiet and refined vehicle on a long trip. Nicer than my older Audi car by far !!

I hope this truck is good to me and the next one will likely be an LTZ 2500 just because if some is good, more is better. Maybe.....

tayloch · February 16, 2016

This is my first pickup truck. Last time I had anything close was back in high school when I drove a 1972 Chevy Blazer back in 1985. I loved that beast! It would go anywhere and do anything....and I loved how the top came off all the way up to the windshield. I should have never let it go...and I always knew that one day I would get another Chevy 4x4....so, here I am in a new 2015 Silverado LT. I love this truck...I should have bought one a long time ago but I was always driving what I felt was best for the family. I feel like it drives nicer than most cars on the road and is way more useful. There was never any other choice for me...and it is a damn good looking truck!