2003 Chevy WT performance expectations

gregschevelle · July 12, 2006

To all,

Also posted in the engine tech section...Sorry for the dual post, I realized I should have posted this here...GN

Great Site...I am interested in a newer Chevy truck, and I am looking at a 2003 WT package truck (used) at the local dealer. It has approximately 30k miles on it and appears lightly used. It also has a manual trans. I like the fact that it is a stripper model without any extra stuff that can break (windows, locks, rubber floor mat)

What is the reasonable expectations for this truck with regards to:

1. towing (I may tow a small fishing boat or at the largest an open double axle car trailer with a race car on it every once in a while)

2. gas mileage - not towing anything, but in town and on the highway?

3. since it is a WT, there is no 4WD, so how does it do in inclement weather?

4. Any issues with loading up the bed with lumber from a weight perspective?

Thank you,

Greg Nelson

ZZebes · July 12, 2006

I drove an 03 ext. cab std. bed WT for a loaner car recently, all i know is that that 4.3L should not be offered in a full size truck. i really appreciated my 5.3L when i got it back

(I am not trying to start a fight, this is just my opinion)

SoCalChris · July 12, 2006

I've got a 2006 WT, with the 5 speed & 4.3 V6.

For the price I paid, I couldn't be happier with it. Before you buy an used one, look around. I was able to get mine brand new, for under $13k. The cheapest used trucks I could find that had less than 100,000k miles on the cost more than that.

I haven't towed a whole lot with it, but I did tow a 6,100lb trailer 70 miles, over a 6,000' pass with no problems. I wouldn't tow that much regularly with this truck, but it handled it well. If you're only towing every now and then, this should handle the trailers that you're talking about fine.

I get around 19MPG with my truck. That is mostly driving on unpaved mountain roads, with a lot of acceleration & deceleration. According to my GPS, I do about 3,000' of climbing, and 3,000 of descending each way to & from work, so if you're driving on fairly flat highways, you'll probably get considerably better mileage.

I got my truck towards the end of our winter, but I did do quite a bit of snow driving in it. My main complaint is that the front end is a few inches lower than the rear, so if you're driving through deep, unplowed snow, it is pretty easy to scrape the air dam on the snow. That's not too big a problem here, since the snow tends to be extremely powdery, but having the front end raised a little would be nice. Other than that, I didn't have any problems. Put a few hundred pounds of sandbags in the bed, get some good tires, and use some common sense, and you're good to go.

I haven't loaded the bed with too much weight yet, since I mainly use the truck for hauling our garbage to the dump. Supposedly the truck will handle 1,000-1,500lbs with no problems.

Good luck if you decide to get it, these are pretty tough trucks.

sjspor · July 12, 2006

The V-6 with the 5 speed is fine... My 97 with the 4.3 and 5 speed would turn out about 21 mpg, my 01 with the automatic stuggles to see 18, and is a dog. (both are extended cabs)

The six is old school, cast iron block and heads and will outlast all the other parts on the truck. The 5 speed is a pretty light one, but the seem to last.

Once you go through a winter with the rubber floors, you may never want a carpet in a vehicle again.

Shoot2Thrill · July 12, 2006

I have the 05 WT with the V6 and manual transmission. While it won't win any speed races, it is great for light duty hauling. I mainly use mine for hauling light items in the bed. Even with the crappy American General tires it seems to handle the road very well. I would consider replacing the OEM tires if it still has them on there, though. Provided that you don't have a heavy foot and the need to speed around, the WT with V6 is not a bad combination for those of us that just need a basic truck with a decent size bed. - Shoot2Thrill

gregschevelle · July 12, 2006

thank you all for your input...the truck is retailing at the dealer for $11K. That doesn't seem too bad, but looking at the new WT's on the dealer floor, they are in the $18K range, a little too far out of the budget.

Greg

Frozen001 · July 12, 2006

I have driven the a small 1500 WT(regular cab short box with the V6) and the 5 speed manual. Nice small trucks... get good gas mileage, and serve there purpose well. The only thing I do not know about is towing the car/trailer... I do not know how much the total weight it is, but as long as you do not over load the truck you should be good to go. Also with such a small truck make sure the car trailer had some sort of breaks or it will be a bear to stop.

Wingnut · July 12, 2006

thank you all for your input...the truck is retailing at the dealer for $11K. That doesn't seem too bad, but looking at the new WT's on the dealer floor, they are in the $18K range, a little too far out of the budget.

Greg

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You should be able to get that truck well under 15k out the door.

OUMike · July 12, 2006

To all,
Also posted in the engine tech section...Sorry for the dual post, I realized I should have posted this here...GN

Great Site...I am interested in a newer Chevy truck, and I am looking at a 2003 WT package truck (used) at the local dealer. It has approximately 30k miles on it and appears lightly used. It also has a manual trans. I like the fact that it is a stripper model without any extra stuff that can break (windows, locks, rubber floor mat)

What is the reasonable expectations for this truck with regards to:

1. towing (I may tow a small fishing boat or at the largest an open double axle car trailer with a race car on it every once in a while)

2. gas mileage - not towing anything, but in town and on the highway?

3. since it is a WT, there is no 4WD, so how does it do in inclement weather?

4. Any issues with loading up the bed with lumber from a weight perspective?

Thank you,

Greg Nelson

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I guess I'll be the only one to say it. I have a 4.3 (a very worn one at that) and an automatic transmission (4L60-E), and it is more than enough power. I've driven 4.8s and 5.3s and its a lot better power, but there a lot more money and a lot more gas.

I live in Houston, where the occasional downpour of heavy rain isn't unusual. With a good set of tires it does fine. Mine isn't a WT, but its a 94' Silverado. I guess its basically the same truck, except I have power accessories.

As far as power goes...again I live in Houston. I frequent two of the busiest freeways in Texas (and probably America) in I-45 and 610, and I have no problem passing cars ect. Sure a 4.8L V8 would be nice, but my V6 is plenty. I don't tow hardly ever, although a year or so ago we did tow a pretty good size UHaul and it did fine.

During last year's Hurricane Rita Evacuation my bed was completely loaded down with my belongings along with two completely full ice chests and 3 full gas cans and I had no trouble accelerating hard or anything.

As far as durability, I'm at 199,500 miles. Enough said really.

gregschevelle · July 13, 2006

Thanks Guys, I'll let you know how I come out. I am trying to thin my fleet of vehicles and eliminate an old beater truck and a Ford Focus with a truck that is still good for utility and gas.

There is not an easy answer, but you all have had your trucks for a long time and experience counts for something...

Thanks again,

Greg

OUMike · July 13, 2006

Thanks Guys, I'll let you know how I come out. I am trying to thin my fleet of vehicles and eliminate an old beater truck and a Ford Focus with a truck that is still good for utility and gas.

There is not an easy answer, but you all have had your trucks for a long time and experience counts for something...

Thanks again,

Greg

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Maybe consider a Colorado. I bet you could get some smokin' deals right now (0% / 72 month I think is still good), and that truck does pretty good with that little 5 cyl. Decent gas and I dun think theres much weight to pull around so its gonna feel as strong as the 4.3. I know it felt a lot stronger than my 4.3. Maybe even use your Focus as trade bait?

Just a thought. Good luck!

sonjaab · July 14, 2006

GREG.........My dad had a 99 WT 4.3, auto, PS, PB, AC.........

It is what it is. He towed his fishing rig everywhere. Used the

truck as a pickup with trips to the lumber stores, dump, and

always moving something with it !

It was great on gas and never in the shop....................

Some guys (like me) ALWAYS think bigger is better.........

big block v-8, diesel, 1 ton yada yada but for him it got the job done!

carneyman · July 14, 2006

During last year's Hurricane Rita Evacuation my bed was completely loaded down with my belongings along with two completely full ice chests and 3 full gas cans and I had no trouble accelerating hard or anything.
As far as durability, I'm at 199,500 miles. Enough said really.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So you had your truck loaded down for at least 12 hours and hardly any movin' I'm guessin'. At least you had plenty of gas, unlike most people that day.

OUMike · July 15, 2006

During last year's Hurricane Rita Evacuation my bed was completely loaded down with my belongings along with two completely full ice chests and 3 full gas cans and I had no trouble accelerating hard or anything.
As far as durability, I'm at 199,500 miles. Enough said really.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So you had your truck loaded down for at least 12 hours and hardly any movin' I'm guessin'. At least you had plenty of gas, unlike most people that day.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

12 hrs?? Hah. Try 38. Thats 38 hours to Dallas from Houston. But yea...gas was no problem for me. My dad's Z28 6-speed though sucked it down in lower gears.

Traffic was basicallly still from I-45 at League City's FM518 all the way to Huntsville where we stayed for a bit to get a couple hours sleep. Then again from Huntsville just about to Dallas outskirts. It'll be a cold day in Hell before I ever go through that again though.

You guys have to evac for that?

saltwater_addict · July 15, 2006

whew you boys should of come up to SA i had to go home and get the horses(from Brazoria) and it only took my family and I and extra hour 5.5 hours from Brazoria to Bandera not too bad i did have friends that headed up to naca-nowhere and spent 15-20 hours on the road hope yall are ready for this year haha

ps. god forbid it happen this year but if it does we just need to go to collegestation and wait it out worry about it from the dixie chicken haha