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4.3L Too Slow?

zibzer

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zibzer Enthusiast

zibzer

Posted
Posted

Hello,

 

 

Im looking at buying a 2000 silverado Standard Cab Stepside with a 4.3L.

for 167,000 KM,

$8800

OR

a 2000 Sierra extended Cab 4.8L 170,000KM

$11000

 

 

2 questions really in my mind..

 

Is the 4.3L kind of a dog to drive? When I test drove it it seemed fine but with the dealer next to me I didnt want to hit the gas too hard.

However I made this mistake when I bought my current sonoma with 2.2L 4 cylinder.. it seemed fast enough when I bought it... but after driving it a few weeks I realised how slow it really was!

 

Also what would the gas milage be like comparing these 2 trucks??

 

thanks!

 

(so far, i like the sierra better but 2000 bucks difference is holding me back)

ZZebes Senior Enthusiast

ZZebes

Posted
Posted

the 4.3 with the auto is an absolute dog, the manual isn't as bad. But remember it is still a v6 in a full size truck. The 4.8L is a V8 and has more guts. The 4.3L has been around since the begining of time and has all the bugs worked out. So it is your descision. Personally i would go with 4.8L

drumset5994 Enthusiast

drumset5994

Posted
Posted

Go with the 4.8.

 

Riding with a 4.3 is great if you're taking your grandmother to go see The 700 Club...

 

 

...but not if you're towing her trailer.

sjspor Enthusiast

sjspor

Posted
Posted

The 4.3 with a 5 speed is a nice combo, with the automatic, it's just okay. You will see almost the same mileage with the 4.8 and it's much smoother motor.

 

but... You should be able to work a VERY good price on the six(read several thousands less), and if you just looking for a full size car with a big trunk it works ok.

 

The 4.3 is very good motor.

02Express New Member

02Express

Posted
Posted

I've had two fullsizers with the 4.3, a '97 reg cab longbed auto and an '04 reg cab shortbed with the 5 speed. I agree with sjspor- it is OK with the auto and good with the 5 speed...but also that the 4.3 should be significantly cheaper (more than the 2K) than the V8, even without considering the reg cab vs extended. Overall I am happy with the 4.3 (I don't do any towing) but it does sound a bit harsh after about 4,000 rpm, especially compared to the sweet sound of a V8.

drumset5994 Enthusiast

drumset5994

Posted
Posted

My truck with 3.08's and a 4.3L really takes off fast...but then its all over.

 

 

My dad's 4.3L with 3.42s is pretty nice. Nice clean hard accelleration, able to keep speed in the top end.

 

Makes me wanna change my gears to 3.73's :cry:

Deep Blue Enthusiast

Deep Blue

Posted
Posted

The 4.8 with a stick in a regular cab with 2 wheel drive has nice acceleration if you can find one. GMT 800s with V8s and 5 speeds are not as common as the 4.3 with a stick.

jhm Senior Enthusiast

jhm

Posted
Posted

Freind bought a '06 reg cab 4x4 work truck with the 4.3 and 5 speed. He says it is great, climbing hills no problem. Good fuel mileage too. All depends on what you need. He dosent tow with it.

cmoore74 Enthusiast

cmoore74

Posted
Posted

My previous truck was a 2000 S-10 4X4 auto ext cab with the 4.3L V6 and 3.42 gears.

 

I always thought the engine was more than adequate until I bought a boat (total weight to tow was about 3500 lbs.). The truck did OK on flat land, but struggled on the hills.

 

If you're not planning on towing anything, I say the 4.3L would be fine.

 

I do agree the truck seems over-priced relative to the ext cab with the 4.8L.

 

One additional comment, if you're worried about gas mileage with the V8, don't. My 2006 Sierra crew cab 4x4 with the 5.3L gets only about 1-2 MPG less than the S-10 with the 4.3L around town and actually gets better gas mileage on the highway by about 1 MPG.

Cranky1 Enthusiast

Cranky1

Posted
Posted

I have the 4.3 in my 1993 4X4 Jimmy with 130,000 Kms. It works great and has lots of balls. My 2001 Silverado has a 5.3 and gets better fuel mileage with urban and highway driving then the Jimmy if I keep my foot out of it.

 

The 4.3 is the same bore, stroke as the 5.7 with 2 cylinders missing. It has been around for years. The only problem I have had is the EGR valve will plug up with carbon every so often and it will run like crap and you lose engine vacuum. I would go for the 4.8 or the 5.3 as it will have a better resale value down the road.

 

If you decide that you want to tow something, you will have a good tow vehicle as well. I wouldn't pull anything heavier the a 2,000 lbs with a 4.3 in a full size truck.

zibzer Enthusiast

zibzer

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Well i think im going to buy the V6 model... the v8 is VERY tempting but i suppose I dont NEED a v8 and I was able to take a test drive with the v6 on the highway and I realised its not going to make any land speed records and I DO tow somewhat often but the maximum i have ever needed to tow was 4700lbs and i did that with my 4 cylinder sonoma :cry:..(yes it was weighed at 4700lbs) so the v6 should do that no problem. I tow a 14' aluminum boat around most every other weekend in the summer but it doesnt weigh much. after test driving both (without the dealers) the more important factor to me ended up being the extended cab. I fish a lot and when i go away for a weekend i like to lock up the equipment.. but i suppose i could buy a hard tonneau (fold up style) or an aluminum tool box for the back.

Guest chevydeerhunter

Guest chevydeerhunter

Posted
Posted
Well i think im going to buy the V6 model... the v8 is VERY tempting but i suppose I dont NEED a v8 and I was able to take a test drive with the v6 on the highway and I realised its not going to make any land speed records and I DO tow somewhat often but the maximum i have ever needed to tow was 4700lbs and i did that with my 4 cylinder sonoma :cry:..(yes it was weighed at 4700lbs) so the v6 should do that no problem. I tow a 14' aluminum boat around most every other weekend in the summer but it doesnt weigh much. after test driving both (without the dealers) the more important factor to me ended up being the extended cab. I fish a lot and when i go away for a weekend i like to lock up the equipment.. but i suppose i could buy a hard tonneau (fold up style) or an aluminum tool box for the back.

 

 

 

 

Remember that the full size pickup is going to weigh more than the S-10 especially in an extended cab. I towed a 4500lb trailer with my '00 Silverado V-6 and had it floored and it really struggled to get to 60-65, and that was on a level grade. If you're going to pull that much weight, do yourself a favor and go with the V-8

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