2019 loaner, from a 2018 owner

Yondu · June 11, 2019

Brought my truck into the dealership yesterday for a few minor annoyances. My truck is a 2018 Crew LT Z71 with 20" wheels and 275/60r20 (P, not LT) tires. My loaner is a 2019 Double cab Elevation Edition, X31, 20" wheels with 275/60r20 (P rated again) tires. They are very comparable trucks as far as trim level goes, but mine has the Bose sound and this truck does not - so a comparison there is not fair. My truck also has a center console which in my opinion makes the interior a bit nicer.

Thoughts -

The interior on my 2018 is noticeably nicer. 2018 seats are more comfortable, the dash seems like its made of better material, it has no blank buttons (2019's do, seems like no 2018 and earlier did, they just used bigger buttons to eliminate blanks).

The 2018 has a better backup camera. I've read you can get a "HD camera" for the 2019's, this one didn't have it and it is a crummy pic but funtional

The gauge cluster on the 2019 is very, very bland. My 18 has the z71 package which gets you nice textured gauge faces. I can't believe this truck had such a lame gauge cluster, what a silly thing to cheap out on.

I like the design/shape of the dash more on the 2019, It's a better look and a upgrade in materials and the center stack would go a long way.

I could have never gotten by on the 2018 double cab, but the 2019 double is just a little bigger and easier to get into. I could live with this double cab as there is just enough space for me (6'2) in the front and back.

2019 has a bit more get up and go. Now, this is a lighter double cab and I have at least 100lbs worth of accessories with my running boards, tonneau cover, bed mat, a few tools and tie downs. Probably 200lbs between the cab+ accessories. Even still, I like the 2019 power to weight ratio better.

2019 is a lot more fun to drive fast/aggressively. It just feels lighter on its feet. The sport mode may be helping too. It's still a long time to downshift, it just drives and turns better. Not a ton, but noticeable.

The 2019 doesn't have as sharp of a feel over bumps, BUT it has a worse ride. This truck has the Rancho's with 1200 miles and every bump, EVERY bump shudders afterwards. I didn't feel with with my 2018 Rancho's but I've also had Bilstein 5100's for the last 3k. I never remember the first 500 miles of my truck riding this bad. I think with 5100's the 2019 would get rid of this and still be slightly softer but I don't know for sure.

The rear end of the 2019 is really jittery and bouncy. Perhaps the smaller cab, no mat or cover is making all the difference but there is a road by my house that's especially bumpy and bad. The rear of the truck rattled (yes, rattled) and was jittery the whole time. I thought it was because of the loose tailgate so I jammed a rag in between it and the bed and it's a little better but I still sounds and feels like there is something loose back there. I also set the tire PSI to the same as my truck, 32psi up front, 34 in back - cold.

Overall in my opinion GM built a better truck and then cheaped out just before the finish line. While this is a really, really sharp truck and has the potential to be better, I have no interest in a 2019. Perhaps I'll look when the MCE rolls around if GM gets their act together. Sure looks good sitting in my driveway though!

xSHIFTxNASTYx · June 11, 2019

I have to agree on all of your points.

When I bought my used 2017, I took it back in to be factory certified so that I could reap the benefits of an extended warranty. I had a 2019 Silverado Custom Trail Boss (Double Cab) as a loaner. They were taking their sweet time with my truck, so guess what, I used it for free miles and ended up putting almost 1,800 miles on it.

My thoughts on the interior are the same as yours; rather bland. The interior felt lacking (granted, the Trail Boss wasn't built as nice as my Z71, but still...) considering I feel like every refresh always gets nicer (have always owned Dodge or Jeep so that is my experience with refreshes). The seats were definitely not as nice as my 2-year old truck. The Z71 gauge cluster is waaay nicer than the Trail Boss.

The 2019 did feel zippier, a little bit of gas and the bad boy wanted to GOOOO. I drove it pretty aggressively while still respecting that it was brand new and hadn't been broken in yet. Last thing I wanted to do was destroy a free loaner considering all of the work the dealership was doing for me above and beyond what is expected. But man, this truck wanted to move and felt like a lot of fun to drive. I didn't like the way it handle bumps either, it felt like my truck absorbed a lot more of the road than this 2019.

When I got my truck back, they still had one more thing to do, so a week later I dropped it off again for another 2019 Silverado loaner but this time it was just a Custom, base package with no Trail Boss upgrade. So now I'm going from the 275 Duratracs to 20" passenger tires, different ride with no Rancho shocks. This truck was REAAAAAALLY bouncy without the Rancho shocks. Hate 'em, but love 'em if they're still better than stock...

Overall, I personally don't care for the aesthetics of the new 2019's and I didn't feel like paying full price for a 2019 LD, so this gave me an opportunity to compare both styles to my 2017. I am glad that I went with the truck that I chose, because I enjoy it much better aesthetically and wouldn't change it for a thing. I do miss the engine responsiveness of the 2019's but I'll fix that with some upgrades and a tune down the road.

Glad to see someone else with the same experiences as me.

Sierra Dan · June 11, 2019

34 minutes ago, Yondu said:

This truck has the Rancho's with 1200 miles and every bump, EVERY bump shudders afterwards.

Operative word here is Rancho. Fairly Typical

It would not surprise me if they were made even cheaper for the T1 trucks.

36 minutes ago, Yondu said:

I think with 5100's the 2019 would get rid of this and still be slightly softer

Your assumption would not doubt be correct. Or with any other good Monotube.

Maybe not so much softer but more planted.

Jaychevy81 · June 11, 2019

I totally agree funny I am in a 2019 Silverado loaner myself my 2018 crew LTZ is at the dealer for clunking. All I say when I get in this thing is my 18 anyday over this. The ride is horrible ESP over bumps it literally hops and jumps. Def not upgrading.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

aseibel · June 11, 2019

1 hour ago, Yondu said:

I also set the tire PSI to the same as my truck, 32psi up front, 34 in back - cold.

Why higher pressure in the rear? are you hauling something? I would think you would want the opposite with higher psi in front since the front tires carry more weight when truck is empty.

Which number is that recommended by GM on the sticker inside the door jamb?

Edited June 11, 2019 by aseibel

crepitus · June 11, 2019

I cant see how they could make the seat less comfortable then the 2018s. I hate my seat. My 2008 with 100k miles are 10x better.

MaverickZ71 · June 11, 2019

Car & Driver magazine recently ranked the 2019 Silverado 1500 High Country dead last in a comparison test with the F-150 and Ram 1500 (winner) and said it was a $70K "kick in the nuts" compared to the other 2 trucks. Ride quality was one of their big complaints about the Chevy. They said the Silverado was hammering and bouncing over bumps that the other trucks didn't notice.

Sierra Dan · June 11, 2019

18 minutes ago, crepitus said:

I cant see how they could make the seat less comfortable then the 2018s. I hate my seat. My 2008 with 100k miles are 10x better.

Reports are the 2019 T1 truck seats are worse feeling than in K2

rah7777777 · June 11, 2019

How about the fact that Chevy screwed the pooch on the exterior looks of the 2019!!

BillyDee · June 11, 2019

9 minutes ago, rah7777777 said:

How about the fact that Chevy screwed the pooch on the exterior looks of the 2019!!

Personal preference. I couldn't stand the older truck style of the K2 and waited for a redesign... then jumped on the 2019 when I first saw one. Not crazy about them stock, but they look amazing jacked up.

TXGREEK · June 11, 2019

Currently, in an attempt to make sure I don’t have any of the transmission issues I’ve been hearing so much about, my 2018 GMC SLT CC Z71 6.2 is having a preventative transmission flush so I’m in a 2019 somewhat loaded out 2wd Texas Edition with leather, cooled seats, a 5.3 etc etc and I can immediately tell you with that I’m NOT at all impressed with it, very generic interior and after running errands in it with my wife she even noticed the horrible ride quality when compared to my CST Lifted truck with coil overs, I was thinking I’d be enjoying the smoothness of a new stock 2wd truck, NOPE! Only thing I enjoyed was the HD backup camera, the rest was very cheap looking, generic and for those that think the new 5.3 is faster....you’re very very wrong, all in all this 19 has me calling throughout the day asking “is my truck done yet?” This 19 is a POS and drives horrible, bounces, you feel everything on the road and mostly feels like your driving a boat

Sent from above

rah7777777 · June 11, 2019

1 hour ago, BillyDee said:

Personal preference. I couldn't stand the older truck style of the K2 and waited for a redesign... then jumped on the 2019 when I first saw one. Not crazy about them stock, but they look amazing jacked up.

I will say, I HATED the 2019's in pictures when released and in general I hate each one I see on the road, but once in a blue moon, i'll see one with a little lift, bigger tires and no chrome and think "thats not all that bad" haha

Rock1500 · June 11, 2019

I am happy to have kept my 2014. I took a look at a 2019 and I agree with most that I was not impressed with the interior. I still can't get over the new GMC grill. It's too ugly in my book.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

Wiggums · June 11, 2019

There are always people hating the way it looks for the first year then they warm up to it when others catch up with the ugliness.

I mean, people wanted giant fins on the Toyota Corolla when it came out in the 1960's because it was the norm. Now, we're getting used to this.

Anyhow, I just sat in a 2018 Silverado and was surprised at how nice the interior was. I think my 2019 isn't that bad, it is better than the 2016 XLT I traded in though.

One thing I'd be very angry over is the omission of two-speed transfer case especially since I thought all Silverado had that. Fortunately, I have Z71 so that's good.

Just like in 2001, I bought an Isuzu Trooper thinking all had 4x4, man, it cost me thousands to get another one! I was so mad at myself.

Sierra Dan · June 11, 2019

34 minutes ago, Rock1500 said:

I am happy to have kept my 2014. I took a look at a 2019 and I agree with most that I was not impressed with the interior. I still can't get over the new GMC grill. It's too ugly in my book.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

The 2019 T1 GMC is a beauty pageant winner compared to this! IMHO I do see a resemblance after-all !