GMT 900 Improvements

[mcmlxv]

Let me open by saying that I believe GM dropped the ball on the styling of the new Silverado. Yes, it's a truck, and styling doesn't make a truck work harder. But with so many people buying these rigs as daily drivers, the very buyers who place a premium on appearance, GM should have been more careful with the Chevy. The GMC, however, hits the target much better. Here's where I believe GM missed the boat:

 

1. Silverado front end. The headlight pods pushed to opposite extremes give an illusion of front end width but go too far. The grille, as on the Sub/Tahoe/Avalanche, meets the top of the bumper at a strange angle. And it's too flashy. The bumper end caps look tacked on and don't integrate with the top center portion of the bumper at all. This thing's a mess, and it's not looking any better as time passes.

 

2. The fender flares are overdone, with the rear much more so. The side panels are bland and have no character line. The door handles look cheap in black plastic (why not chrome handles standard?) and appear as substantial as those on the Colorado.

 

3. The tailgate, after 8 long years, finally locks. But we're still charged for the spare tire lock. Taillights look like copies from the Dodge Ram. And this is something I haven't heard any talk about: the U-shaped sculpturing on the gate is odd. Also, no power ports in the bed? Why do the rear fender wells remain unlined?

 

4. Wheels.

 

Light Duty: The new aluminum wheels look good, but the standard wheels are still those bizzare daisy-pattern things that have been around since '05. Not truck like at all. How about a new interpretation of the old C/K 6-slot steel wheel with caps and rings for the WTs and lower level LTs?

 

Heavy Duty: 16" carryover wheels, both steel and aluminum, on the heavy duties? Maybe it has something to do with the limited availabilty of 17 and 18" E load rated tires.

 

5. The 4.3 liter 6 cylinder. Bulletproof, but crude and tired. 195 HP? And there's not much fuel savings. I was really hoping for the Atlas I6. The big block crowd is justifiably upset over the dropping of the 8.1.

 

6. The 4 speed auto. While this doesn't bother me personally, as I have owned a 4L60E and now a 4L80E and love them both, the market has moved on. The 6 speed can't come fast enough.

 

7. And whatever happened to Quadrasteer?

 

8. I like the "Pure Pickup" dash. But how about "Pure Pickup" switchgear? Many of those buttons look fragile. No oil pressure and volt gauges in the WT? No center-bottom seat cushion storage/12V power outlet, even optionally, in the WT? Where's the footwell and underhood lighting? Where's the dashboard grab bar? That corporate GM steering wheel is really boring. And the same old junky black plastic multifunction control stalk that GM sticks in every W and G body car really needs to go.

 

9. Desert Brown: unavailable in the WT (personal gripe). And the Dark Titanium (I'm so sick of gray, no matter what shade) interior on the WT isn't Ebony like on the LT/LTZ.

 

10. The upcoming ad campaign. Remember this when GM is wrapping itself in our flag: many of the 900 pickups are built in Canada and Mexico. That's the reality of our new economy. But I resent GM playing the patriotism card as Michigan manufacturing continues declining. Is the middle class expanding in Flint?

 

And where's the Regular Cab Short Box SS?

 

Any thoughts?

[gave20]

I agree with you 99.9%. I find it interesting GM whittles away truck options, the mainstay for the company, but offers the same suv rebadged by four different brands, I mean do we really need buick, GMC, Pontiac and Chevy offering a rebadged trailblazer? Pontiac touts the endless supply of options available, but why, and how much does all these option cost to sit there in plants waiting to be installed in cars? Mine opinion GM's really dropping the ball on this whole american revolution, I guess that's why most car companies make money per vehicle and GM loses $2000 per vehicle.

 

Boy the new 2008 super duty looks nice, 33k GCWR, gearing up to 4.88 and a big block gasser; at least someone's getting it right.

[PaulieK]

"7. And whatever happened to Quadrasteer? "

 

 

 

Don't even get me started about Quadrasteer

 

They screwed up the pricing and marketing and killed a FANTASTIC technology in the process. I own one and love it!

[C/K Man]

Quadrasteer was just too expensive. I think the styling of the Silverado is pretty bad, particularly the front bumper. If they do drop the 8.1L, it will be a bad mistake. I think the Duramax will get fewer takers if it becomes a $10,000 option. Looks like they are sticking to LT245/75R-16 tires on most models. Why? They are too small. It would have been nice to see a AAM 9.5 SFA on the 4X4's.

[PaulieK]

Quadrasteer was just too expensive.  I think the styling of the Silverado is pretty bad, particularly the front bumper.  If they do drop the 8.1L, it will be a bad mistake.  I think the Duramax will get fewer takers if it becomes a $10,000 option.  Looks like they are sticking to LT245/75R-16 tires on most models.  Why?  They are too small.  It would have been nice to see a AAM 9.5 SFA on the 4X4's.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

Quadrasteer was a $1900.00 option in 2005. Originally it was like 4 grand.

[davefr]

I agree with most of the comments.

 

The LD Silverado has grown on me somewhat but they really need to remove that wide middle horizontal bar in the grill and just place the bowtie emblem right on the grill itself. They also need to sculpture the wheel flares to make them look less like the butt ugly Dakota.

 

The HD Silverado is so ugly I don't know if it can be salvaged.

 

Sierra is pretty good in both HD and LD version. (I'll probably end up buying one).

 

What happened to wheel well liners?? I didn't see any. The tires also look way too small in relation to the wheel openings.

 

GM should have kept the good old 8.1 around for another year given the sticker shock and reliability risk of the new LMM Duramax. They should also make the 6.0 and 6.2 with 6 spd available in all LD models. (especially the ext cab/long bed versions) .

 

What happened to two tone paint or accent colors?? It sure makes trucks look better with it.

 

I don't mind the new car like interiors.

[921500Z71]

Boy the new 2008 super duty looks nice, 33k GCWR, gearing up to 4.88 and a big block gasser; at least someone's getting it right.

 

Wouldnt that require a class b? I also doubt that ratings for a 1 ton. I also wouldnt like the 3000 rpm pulling a trailer on the highway. However they do get 19.5 inch rims. Atleast thats what the duallies had on them at the texas state fair

[Tucson_02Silverado]

If they had QS at the final reduced at $1900 in 2002 instead of $4500, I would have definitely got it. I didn't and haven't yet warmed to the 03-06/07-classic front end, so trading in 05 was not considered.

 

Even today, I think $1900 would be a very good price for the QS option, if offered.

 

The 4L60/65E needs to completely dumped and just use the 4L70E and 6L80E trannies, as auto option goes.

 

Use the 4.2I6 instead of the 4.3V6

 

LS7 (7.0L/427CID) for the SS (make SS mean something), 6.2 for Denali, V12 for Escalade's (Cadillac world class exclusivity). Put the distinction back in the specialized models. Otherwise a V12 in a SCSB would be very very nice, but it brings the high-lines to mean nothing.

[Buggle_96]

Has anybody built a half ton on the website and notice they are back to the 05 gimmick of only offering 3.42 and 4.10s?

[ZZ327]

I agree with everything about the silverado, it just says too much nissan to me. My next one will be the SIERRA!!!

 

that 4.3L v6 needs to be replaced with something new.

 

what do you need a locking bed for, it isnt useful unless you have a bed cap cover. What would you ever need a spare tire lock for? Do they have them now?

 

and last, silverados and sierras are built all over the place. why does everbody always think mexico, canada, but always forget the Fort Indiana plant. My 05 has those stickers!

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and complaining about the steering wheels and plastic on the turn signal ? WHO CARES what is this? GMinsidernews.

[mmmikkke]

Send Bob Lutz back to Mopar and everything else will take care of itself.

[mcmlxv]

I agree with everything about the silverado, it just says too much nissan to me.  My next one will be the SIERRA!!!

 

that 4.3L v6 needs to be replaced with something new.

 

what do you need a locking bed for, it isnt useful unless you have a bed cap cover.    What would you ever need a spare tire lock for?  Do they have them now? 

 

and last, silverados and sierras are built all over the place.  why does everbody always think mexico,  canada,  but always forget the Fort Indiana plant.    My 05 has those stickers!

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and complaining about the steering wheels and  plastic on the turn signal ?  WHO CARES  what is this?  GMinsidernews.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

I referred to the tailgate, not the bed. Many people have been asking GM for this for years, hence the GM Accessories Locking Tailgate Kit. Ford and the imports have been offering a lock for years. Believe me, GM wouldn't have added it to the 900s unless they felt it necessary.

 

Yes, the spare tire lock is still available. But GM has hit us for $15.00 since it was deleted from the standard equipment list during the '03 decontenting episode. The replacement tires on my truck list for $165.00 each. I feel better that nobody can steal it.

 

The steering wheel has no character. Many have complained about the new GM corporate wheel. For example, look what Ford did with the Mustang steering wheel, and to a lesser extent, Pontiac with the Grand Prix wheel. They're a interpretation of heritage design updated for today while still allowing for an airbag. I don't know what the perfect Silverado wheel would look like, but anything is better than this. GM had a great opportunity to create a focal point for the new interior.

 

Millions care. The black plastic multifunction control stalk is a holdover from the 90s. GM has finally met the expectations of both the market and consumers with their new interior quality initiative. This rotten little lever is a blemish on what is an otherwise world-class interior. How it got past everyone is beyond me.

 

Thank you.

[ZZ327]

whats the big deal about the new steering wheel? Its awesome. on all the pickups and SUvs I dont think they put that on anything else

[ChrisNJ]

Has anybody built a half ton on the website and notice they are back to the 05 gimmick of only offering 3.42 and 4.10s?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

I priced up a 1500 CC 6.0 and it came std. w/4:10's with 3.73 as an option.

[Frank Sub]

Hi--My wife loves the "towel bar" on the passenger side dash of our 2001 Suburban, and is disappointed that the new Suburbans don't have one. I don't like the 2nd row seats which either flip up, or fold over for loading "stuff", neither of which is as handy as flipping up the seat base, folding down the seat back, flipping over the cover for the 3rd seat foot well, and ending up quickly with a large, low, flat platform to put "stuff". We haul all our grocerys on this platform, as our back end is full of "tool stuff". We had planned to buy a 2007 Suburban, but will not, as these two "improvements" are a "turn off" for us.--Frank Sub