If You Bought A Silverado/sierra Over A Tundra

[mhagger]

I posted this in the HD section by mistake:

 

I would love to hear your real world experiences. I am looking at both and will be buying within the next week. They both look like great trucks, I would like to hear if you are happy with your decision and what you like/dislike about your truck.

 

For background info I do use the truck for work, usually light duty stuff. I have two kids age 6 and 7 and I tow a camping trailer about 5500 lbs. I am looking at a loaded gmc crew cab or a loaded toyota tundra crew max. The GMC would have the 6.0L engine (not the denali 6.2) I am in Colorado so 4x4 is important and I would use the truck as a truck and offroad.

 

I like the GMC interior, the Tundra engine, Toyota reputation, GMC apparent quality, GMC rear seat folding design, Toyota rear power window and back up camera.

 

Any input appreciated, please don't post unless you have one of the aforementioned trucks, or the chevy equivalent. Many people have strong brand loyalties for one reason or another, I just want to know about real world experiences with these trucks.

 

Mark

[04z71steve]

I like the GMC interior, the Tundra engine, Toyota reputation, GMC apparent quality, GMC rear seat folding design, Toyota rear power window and back up camera.

 

 

 

Mark

 

the reputation that toyota has gotten from the tundra has not been one of there strong points..

 

but other then that i would say go with the gmc... its an established truck from an established auto maker... they've found most if not all of their kinks... however there are lemons and god forbid if you do receive one... but when you look at the trouble that Toyota is having ie; drive shaft, steering column, airbag ,and engine problems... , i for one if i were u would go with the sierra.. because u don't hear many stories of sierra's being recalled bye the thousands... not saying it hasn't happened... and i am most definitely not attacking Toyota... i am just trying to state the facts about there present reputation with the tundra.

 

but then again thats just my American .02...

 

good luck with your decision!

steve

[jrrod2004]

Silverado vs Tundra, hmmmm, hard to remain objective, but here goes.... Tundra, more power; Silverado better fuel economy. Tundra, 6 speed; Silverado 4 speed (6 speed coming real soon). Tundra $47,353.00; Silverado $43,925.00 (Loaded Trim with Navigation, Power Sliding Windows, XM, Sunroof, 20" Wheels (Silverado Only) and Max Trailering Package on Silverado.

 

In terms of fuel economy and overall price, I would take the Silverado, it will save you more money and it has been around for the last 90 years.

 

 

Fuel Economy: Silverado: 14 city 18 hwy; Tundra: 13 city 15 hwy. Estimated Annual Cost: Silverado: $3106 Tundra: $3321

 

for a savings of $3428.00 on the purchase price of the truck and a savings $215.00 a year, total for a 4 year lease, (Hypothetical) $860.00, I would choose the Silverado over the Tundra because that extra $4288.00 over 4 years could go somewhere else (say toys to be added to the truck). We are not even talking the Smart Buy rates nor a GMS or Employee discount. By the way the invoice on the truck I quoted above is a vehicle that is in stock locally and that invoice price is $38925, I cannot comment on the way Toyota allows theirs to be sold, but with some skill and negotiation, you could easily have this truck for $39500 and be done with it.....pocketbook man and warranty, Toyota Basic: 36 months/36,000 miles (all components other than normal wear and maintenance items).

Powertrain: 60 months/60,000 miles (engine, transmission/transaxle, front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, seatbelts and airbags). GM, 3 yr/36,000 mile base warranty (including wear and tear if found to be defective) and a 5 yr/100,000 mile powertrain warranty. the value just keeps adding up

[shedberg]

I selected GMC over Toyota because of:

 

-price

-looks

-when I test drove the Sierra I knew it was what I was looking for right away.

[Steveman]

I have a new GMC Sierra 1500 with the 5.3 and I love it. Personally a GM vehicle is the only way I can go and will go because I get the GM family discount, also I dont like the look of the Tundra. But, aside from that I will say that the Tundra does have a very powerful engine and it does have the 6 speed transmission. But, the Tundra has already been plagued with a couple of problems that I dont think the GMC will ever have. One of them is, the Tundras tailgate was not designed very well and their have been many people documenting their tailgates forming cracks after just loading an ATV in their bed. Now I think that is pretty pathetic. I have put my ATV (more then 600 pounds) in my bed many times and because it is a 2-seater, the rear tires rest about half way on the tailgate and I have even driven from Minnesota to Texas (about 800 miles) with it like that and nothing happened. Also in my opinion Toyota just does not have the experience in building a large truck that will not get damaged by the everyday abuse put out on them by their owners. Now I would say go for the Sierra 2500 HD with either the Duramax (great engine) or the gasoline version, at least with the heavy duty versions you will get the new 6 speed, and especially with the diesel and the new Allison 6-speed which is being called the best engine/transmission combination out of all the diesel trucks. So I would go with the GMC just from the reliability stand point, Toyota has had a massive amount of recalls in the last coupld of years and like the other guy said and I pointed out the Tundra really does not have that good of reliability.

 

Ok well its your choice and choose wisely.

(Do a lot of research)

Haha I just noticed the other guys name is steve and so is mine.

Good Luck

[Bostonsfavson]

I think you should strongly consider the AWD Sierra Denali. I don't know exactly what truck you're looking at, but the Denali probably isn't too much more. It'll tow 5500 lbs. (and much more) without a problem and it's a beast as far as traction in the messy stuff goes. Unless you absolutely need 4 wheel drive low range for serious off roading, the Denali will be fine. I can say from personal experience that the StabiliTrak system, combined with the AWD and the Eaton auto-locking rear diff, makes for a very sure-footed truck. I've gone through mud and snow that have stranded 4WD trucks. Just something to think about!

[BAD2500HD]

I have had both GMC's/ Chevys i have also had 2 87' Toyota trucks so i kind of know both i do favor the Chevy/GMC's over the toyota always have just love GM's but when my lease was up on my 03'GMC 2500HD i went and tried out a Tundra , i really didn't need the 2500 so thought i would go back to the 1/2tons anyhow i first tried out a GMC ext.cab sle2 and loved it i went about a week and took out a Tundra i think it was the crew max but can't remeber thought right off the bat very nice truck till i went down a very low grade hill and the engine brake crap came on! the sales guy said that i had stepped on the brake 2 or 3 times ( i didn't ) and that made it come on i do not like that feeling of being held back i feel if i want to or need to slow down then i will do it not the truck , but i did look it over and i did like the room and the backglass but one other thing i found i didn't like was how high the doors came up , you would have to have the seat as high up as it will go to really see over the door so that was another minus so went and looked at the chevys and found them to be the same as the GMC i like the ride it has enough power (5.3L) sofar fit and finish seem good alot better the my 03'GMC it just seem like the new ones are built a lot better i am also getting a low (its cold now ) of 16.7mpg this fall i was getting 16.8 to 17.1 mpg and from what i have been told you won't get much more then 14mpg with the Tundra and for the money my new LT2 Extra Cab Chevy was better then any deal that Toyota could come up with ! i would really lean to either the Chevy or GMC .

[bosro]

Don't have the GM but do have the Chevy Silverado LTZ ext cab with the VMax package.

First off I'll just say that the Chevy is a great truck......but it is not perfect!!

The likes are things like ride comfort,interior comfort,fit and finish so far has been great as well.

Fuel economy with the 6L is'nt bad either,since new the average MPG is 14.5(truck computer is actually pretty accurate) and that includes a fair bit of trailer pulling this summer.

Only complaints I have with the interior are the storage space(or lack of) and small buttons on climate control and stuff,which did not bother till it got cold up here and gloves are always on.

The drivetrain is where I have most of my dilikes,mainly the 4 speed tranny(though some people don't seem to like the 6 speed in the 2500's either) and the torque management and computer programming of these trucks.

Drive a classic with a 6L and then an NBS back to back and you will notice a huge difference in how the truck reacts to the throttle,no comparison.Having to wait any time at all for your truck to get going when you punch it seems to be a pretty stupid idea on GM's part....

A programmer will help some,custom tuning can get rid of it....

Only other dislike I have is with the refinement of the 6L engine.

It idles rough and does some wierd things like at a stop light in gear will give a little surge once in a while...nothing really bad just annoying.

 

I will say that even before I bought the truck I had researched it to death even though it had only just come out,so I knew about most of the things I would not like and still bought it,feeling with a little more effort I could get it to where I wanted it.....still feel that way.

Perfrect no but pretty darn good!

[AllBlkdOut07]

I looked at the Tundra right before I looked at the '07 NNBS Silverado. Drove both, the Tundra's power felt really strong. But, I ultimately preferred the Chevy for a couple reasons. First, I wanted an all black interior(and wasn't going to settle for anything less), and the Tundra interior although much different, didn't appeal to me because it was lighter colored and looked a bit over the top. Second reason, my father is in contracting, and all he's ever had was Chevys/GMC's, and I know he's had much luck with all of them. A third reason, and this is really a small one, but it erked me. The front grille has this thin area where there is this fake grey plastic mesh section. It's not for air, it's closed off..and nobody at the dealer would tell me why it was there, it looked so stupid. What can I say, I'm a picky SOB. Go american, you won't be dissapointed.

[SinisterSS]

There's a reason the housing market is in the dumps, the stock market is scary and the dollar is losing value.

 

Please buy a GMC and keep America alive.

[unit731]

You had better read up on the Toyota trucks. I did. I looked at them also before purchasing my GMT900 2008.

 

Toyota has transmission problems. Read up on it. Don't take my word for it. My information came from Automotive News. Maybe it's fixed now. But I wouldn't buy off the lot. No way. Not Toyota this year model year.

 

$0.02

[NathanL]

You had better read up on the Toyota trucks. I did. I looked at them also before purchasing my GMT900 2008.

 

Toyota has transmission problems. Read up on it. Don't take my word for it. My information came from Automotive News. Maybe it's fixed now. But I wouldn't buy off the lot. No way. Not Toyota this year model year.

 

$0.02

 

 

Yeah I've heard that too....of course my NNBS Chevy Z-71 is on transmission #3 with 2700 miles on it now. One more and it qualifies for the Lemon law in my state.

[Raymond Lowe]

I've had a number of new Toyota's and was seriously considering a Tundra to replace my 96 K1500. Once I laid my eyes on the new GM body style and checked out the interior, it was a no-brainer. It just felt right. I went for the Denali and it's been an awesome truck.

 

I feel mad when I look at a Tundra DC Max. It's a stark reminder what a lame-ass design team they have. This truck could have been much more with a little refinement.

[jrrod2004]

Yeah I've heard that too....of course my NNBS Chevy Z-71 is on transmission #3 with 2700 miles on it now. One more and it qualifies for the Lemon law in my state.

 

Ouch, sorry to hear that, goes to show you nobody's product is perfect.

[Zembonez]

Nobody makes a perfect truck. Toyota will eventually get it right... count on it.

 

I had an 07 Nissan Titan SE for about 4.5 months, sold it, drove the Tundra, and bought a new GMC. I personally could not get past the styling of the Toyota. Very polarizing. It was also too car like in the suspension department. Maybe not bad for some but I wanted a truck to use. for truck stuff! I ws disappointed in my Titan for many of the very reasons that people are unhappy with their new Tundras. Won't bore you with every detail here but I don't think the Japanese have actually figured out the full sized truck market... yet.

 

All brand name loyalty aside the GMC was just better at being a truck. I didn't need another car.

 

I really like my GMC.

 

Good luck with your decision.