Just an Observation.......

[SierraHD17]

It's tough to find those old heaps in decent shape anymore. I own one with under a 100000 miles that never sees anything and looks new top to bottom...but that's not practical to own as a driver.

[newdude]

I had a 2004 Silverado 2500 (nonHD) for many years until the rust worm started to show it's ugly face. Had the 6.0, 300 horse. Bit the bullet and purchased a 2016 2500 HD for the additional HP for towing. The old truck had seats that felt like a favorite sofa, had a firm but very comfortable ride and towed my crap but really needed more HP. Wasn't 16 feet tall so I could actually work in the engine compartment and wash the roof by hand. My new truck has the HP I needed but the ride quality is poor even with tire pressure set at 50 unloaded, the seats are hard as a rock, can't wash without a ladder and forget about working under the hood without a lift creeper. My opinion.......new doesn't necessarily mean better.......2016 Chevy.......MEH.......Other brands offer the same so not a slam on Chevy per se.........

 

You are coming from a much older frame (c channel on the 04 vs. boxed on the 16), MUCH larger hubs, axle components, stiffer springs, stronger and stiffer front ends, etc. Lots of changes from your 2004. The 2011+ up frame CRAPS all over the GMT-800 HD frame (1999-2010) in every way possible. Newer sure is better IMO, and in GM's case when they changed everything in 2011, way better.

[SierraHD17]

Depends what you are doing. Are you loaded to gvwr and towing heavy a lot... yep you might care. You drive empty like 90% of people and tow a moderate load... all that extra strength don't mean a hell of a lot of anything other than heavier and taller to get in and out of. The front ends aren't any stronger or better built... kind of step down without greaseable inner tie rods really. Good trucks but unless you are really taxing what you have now it's not going to show any real benefit.

[SMiller]

It's tough to find those old heaps in decent shape anymore. I own one with under a 100000 miles that never sees anything and looks new top to bottom...but that's not practical to own as a driver.

I still have my 2000 GMC, had 7 new trucks since I bought it, always say I am going to sell it yet somehow I still own it...

 

58,000 miles

[SierraHD17]

Still an old heap lol. What good is it sitting all the time... none. Nothing about mine is stock anymore and it's just a toy... terrible choice as a toy but I like the 03 to 07 trucks so why not.

[8lugCT]

just bought a 2017 hd2500 gas and sold my 2004 2500hd duramax. there is 4inches height difference, a lot stiffer ride. seats are hard like a rock. are all these changes for the better. i hate my new truck. gm is going backwards.they are following the othe manufactures. why not be a leader. and make a truck that is easy to get into. that has plush seats and doesnt break your back. whats even worse ,when i bought my 2004 i retired a 94 2500 light duty. it had issues but was 6 inches lower than the 2004. for a long time i hated crawling in an out of the 2004, but got used to it. the 94 had the best seats. now from 94 to 2017 they cant even make better seats? wheres the progress were supposed to see? the new truck is full of electronics that we will not ever use. everything is switched by a computer. no manuals switches and timed. how many of you out there are tired of this new and confused options.why do we need a stepladder to get in our vehicles or to even reach in the truck bed. ive got a 2007 slide in pickup camper. didn't fit in the 2017 , spent 2 days cutting and reshaping it so I could use it and had to put 2 sheets of plywood under it so it would clear the raised sides of the box. try taking the tailgate off? you have to take the spare out to get the camera wire loose. engineers, what are you thinking? Enough complaining. hope some one reads this that can doo something. otherwise stuck driving the new and improved JUNK.

I'm assuming the height difference comes from improving tow ratings... No? Manufacturers have to be competitive amongst each other, and improving tow ratings means difference in ride heights. What are the tow ratings for the 04 duramax vs 17 duramax?

 

Did you not sit in the vehicle before you bought It? My seats are firm and nice. They'll hold up better than any plush seat.

 

New trucks are full of electronics that people WILL use, and need to be there to compete with the other manufacturers. What do you think the truck has that you won't use?

 

If you think your truck is such JUNK, why did you buy it? Most of your 'observations' could have been made prior to purchasing.

[4x4Pete]

Just an observation..... people who complain on here more than likely can't be satisfied. I wonder what they would think of being nitpicked to death themselves. These complaints are all first world problems really. I like the new trucks, they are WAY better than anything before in All aspects. My '04 rattled, gauges failed, wheel bearings failed, on and on problems. But so will the new truck after a while. It is nature of the beast and to complain on a forum is just dumb- what can we do? GM isn't going to rebuild your truck, or any part of it because your unhappy. You bought it in the first place and that is what they look at. Complaining after the fact doesn't work. Next time be sure of what your getting yourself into- you can only blame yourself if you're not happy. It isn't GM's fault or problem to address it's yours.

[Grumpy Bear]

'Best bad choice' is also a reason. I love my truck actually and think it one of the better designed transports I've owned but that does not mean I love all it's features nor use them all or even understand them all...yet. To think otherwise, IMHO, assumes perfection has been obtained. Anyone what to argue it is a perfect truck?

[8lugCT]

'Best bad choice' is also a reason. I love my truck actually and think it one of the better designed transports I've owned but that does not mean I love all it's features nor use them all or even understand them all...yet. To think otherwise, IMHO, assumes perfection has been obtained. Anyone what to argue it is a perfect truck?

Definitely not a perfect truck... but why call it junk after buying it if someone's aware of virtually everything they're complaining about before they buy it? Just seems like a silly decision.

[SMiller]

I'm assuming the height difference comes from improving tow ratings... No? Manufacturers have to be competitive amongst each other, and improving tow ratings means difference in ride heights. What are the tow ratings for the 04 duramax vs 17 duramax?

 

Did you not sit in the vehicle before you bought It? My seats are firm and nice. They'll hold up better than any plush seat.

 

New trucks are full of electronics that people WILL use, and need to be there to compete with the other manufacturers. What do you think the truck has that you won't use?

 

If you think your truck is such JUNK, why did you buy it? Most of your 'observations' could have been made prior to purchasing.

Height difference is much like the torque ratings, can't have a Super Duty sitting tall and a GM HD sitting low, everyone wants the big truck, can't have a Duramax making 650tq and a Powerstroke making 1000tq, big numbers and big trucks sell.

 

I always liked that GM trucks were not extremely high and that I could reach into the bedsides, I would like to think that after we get the trucks a couple inches higher and hit the 1000tq mark we can quit having peter measuring contest and get back to making useable trucks...

[8lugCT]

Height difference is much like the torque ratings, can't have a Super Duty sitting tall and a GM HD sitting low, everyone wants the big truck, can't have a Duramax making 650tq and a Powerstroke making 1000tq, big numbers and big trucks sell.

 

I always liked that GM trucks were not extremely high and that I could reach into the bedsides, I would like to think that after we get the trucks a couple inches higher and hit the 1000tq mark we can quit having peter measuring contest and get back to making useable trucks...

And isn't GM still the least tall out of the 3 majors?

[bobsiding]

no! my freind superduty is over an inch shorter at the tailgate and you can barely touch the box floor fron the outside but you can touch it. when gm in there infinite wisdom made the box sides highe, it eliminted you fron getting something out of the box without an extra step or a ladder. where was the wisdom in that. how many people use onstar and how many wish it wasnt there? how many use the 110 outlet or the chaging port?how many use the heated rear window. gm keeps changin the box and you have to buy a new topper every new truck. i hauled lots of stuff in my 94 and 2004 and never bent the box up, then why change it. i bought my truck online and out of town. when i went to pick it up, I was told the the running board were adjustable and guy showing me the features knew all the electronics and couldnt even figure out how to extend the mirrors. on the way home noticed how stiff the ride was called the dealer back. told to live with it.but I got my money back on the running boards. lots of complaining, but lots to complain about. wish I could have my old truck back. old truck had a stick try driving a new on in the mountain passes and count how many times it shifts. old truck hardly ever had to shift that will discust anyone.

[SierraHD17]

Well dump your new truck and buy a clean old one..... no sense keeping something you don't like. Kind of stupid in fact..... I have sold a few new trucks a year or so in because they were useless lol.

[8lugCT]

no! my freind superduty is over an inch shorter at the tailgate and you can barely touch the box floor fron the outside but you can touch it. when gm in there infinite wisdom made the box sides highe, it eliminted you fron getting something out of the box without an extra step or a ladder. where was the wisdom in that. how many people use onstar and how many wish it wasnt there? how many use the 110 outlet or the chaging port?how many use the heated rear window. gm keeps changin the box and you have to buy a new topper every new truck. i hauled lots of stuff in my 94 and 2004 and never bent the box up, then why change it. i bought my truck online and out of town. when i went to pick it up, I was told the the running board were adjustable and guy showing me the features knew all the electronics and couldnt even figure out how to extend the mirrors. on the way home noticed how stiff the ride was called the dealer back. told to live with it.but I got my money back on the running boards. lots of complaining, but lots to complain about. wish I could have my old truck back. old truck had a stick try driving a new on in the mountain passes and count how many times it shifts. old truck hardly ever had to shift that will discust anyone.

Well in all honesty you should never buy something without testing it. ESPECIALLY in todays day and age where there is so much choice in what you can get.

 

I use the 110v outlet quite often, I can't believe you're complaining that it's there. LOL... Onstar is debatable, but that's been a gm thing for awhile, and whether you use it or not shouldn't be a complaint. Why go Gm if you don't want the Option of onstar in your vehicle. I pay for it and use it. The app works great. I can lock/unlock my doors, start my truck, and check the location from anywhere in the world. Not sure if I actually need the onstar subscription for that, but it's awesome. I also can call in directions and have them sent to my On-screen nav while driving using on star, AND I can tell them to have it avoid certain roads if I want them to.

 

I'm sorry your salesman sucked, and didn't know how to show you what your vehicle is capable of, but that has nothing to do with the trucks performance, or lack there of. Heated rear window.. uhhhh seriously? You don't want a heated rear window?? LOL maybe you do need to get an old truck. Probably roll down windows would be better.

 

I understand about the tall box, but seriously... Either you're stuck in the past, or are trolling us hard.

 

Edit: yeah charging ports should probably be taken out... No one needs to charge their phones, or take advantage of Android auto.

 

Second Edit: you probably don't have a cell phone do you?

[SMiller]

And isn't GM still the least tall out of the 3 majors?

I would say they were all the same but the '17-'18 Super Duty is even taller, they are all ridiculously tall.