Lurking buyer....

[Qwazert]

Greetings all,

I am currently looking at a 2007 Silverado with the 8.1/Allison package and am looking to get some feedback from any members who have this same model.

 

I briefly owned a 2007 Silverado Duramax that broke my spirit by breaking down on virtually EVERY trip we've taken so far this year. I'd owned it for barely three months and got so tired of its UNreliable nature, that I sold it at a loss....just to get it out of my sight. I've never HATED a vehicle before...but this one did nothing to endear me.

So with that aside, I am partial to the ruggedness of the Allison, and the 8.1 L vortec has slightly more torque than my old 97 powerstroke, so it should be a wash when it comes to towing.

Why am I going back to gassers over diesel, when the diesels are made for towing?

 

Because this duramax revealed one thing to me...and that is, it takes a TECHNICIAN to service one of those...whereas a gasser can be taken to ANY competent mechanic.  With the DM, every visit to the shop was at least $1000.

I can't afford a diesel......

 

[john61ct]

Preach it brother, could not agree more.

If anyone sees a 3500 in 4x4, any body type please post here.

Locking diff G80 should be standard for that? Or not?

I know a manual's too much to ask for right?

[KARNUT]

Great combo, finding a 10 year old that’s still in good condition after doing what it was built for will be tough. Good luck.


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[Qwazert]

Actually, there are TWO of them in my area now....one is an 07 2WD with under 80,000 km and the other is an 05 4x4 with just over 97,000 km...so BOTH are a find.

I have to figure out whether I need 4WD with a short box, or 2WD and a crew-cab + longbox.

 

So is there anything in particular I should watch for when buying the vortec?

 

[davester]

I'm happy with my '04 Sierra 3500 cab&chassis that I bought 3 1/2 years ago.  It took me a couple of months to figure out how to get the motor running well, and then it's primarily been replacing worn out stuff (steering bits, rusting brake lines, u-joints, brake pads, stuff like that).  But I also have a shop with a good selection of tools and equipment, and I bought a good code scanner and the full-service manual for it to help with figuring out problems when they occur and how to fix them right.  It is buckets and buckets of money cheaper than anything significantly newer (say 2010+)...

 

But buying an 10 year old truck and having to take it to a shop to fix problems with it, even a gasser is going to cost a fair bit to keep running well.

[john61ct]

The key metrics are total cost per mile and total cost per year, including amortizing the purchase price, insurance / registration, taxes, fuel maintenance, repairs everything.

The first few years' depreciation on a new one will be **lots** higher than any repair costs.

And after 150K, those Duramax maintenance and rebuild costs will be much higher than a Vortec.

I bet $1 a mile would be a pretty close balpark for a gasser, start with a few grand in an account, add $1 per mile as you drive, or say $400 a month minimum when she sits, you'll probably see it grow fast enough to keep up, and even save for a rebuild, or its replacement.