Jump to content

Help, About To Buy A New Truck!

BK2008

By BK2008
in Southwest

Recommended Posts

BK2008 Enthusiast

BK2008

Posted
Posted

Hello to everyone,

 

Another newbie here. :lol: I am about to purchase a truck in the next couple of weeks and was looking for some help. I found a 2008 GMC Sierra (Silver Birch SLT 6.0 w/ebony leather, power seats, 2WD, and 20" wheels). The sticker had 37,489 and they were going to sell it for 30,000 + TTL. My question is.....

 

1) Is that a good price for that truck w/ those options? :fume:

2) How are everyone liking the 08's? (ride,interior noise,power w/6.0L, & MPG)

3) Should I wait to find a 4WD? (I don't pull anything EVER, but will put 5K miles a month on it)

4) Are there alot of mods for improving MPG and/or performance?

 

I know you guys probably get people asking these questions all the time :thumbs: , but just look at like a chance to brag or rant about your new purchase!! Well thanks for any help and will post PICS the day I buy it!! :lol:

2000DV4.8 Senior Enthusiast

2000DV4.8

Posted
Posted

Sounds like a good deal to me.

 

Personally, I would never buy a 2wd truck, but that's just me. What part of the country do you live in? Do you get a lot of snow? How often would you use the 4wd?

BK2008 Enthusiast

BK2008

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I live in Houston, TX, have not seen snow in 20 years. I would like a 4WD but am affraid I would only be buying it to have another "cool " option. :thumbs: I don't pull anything nor do I go off the pavement, hell I barely drive off the highway!! I need a truck that will last (if taken care of) 250k miles. What do you think of the 6.0 over the 5.3?

GMCgui New Member

GMCgui

Posted
Posted

I got the Texas Edition 5.3 2008 GMC Sierra. I got the 5.3 cuz I wanted to save gas it gets 24-26 (mpg) and in my 2006 tahoe I was getting like 14(mpg) so I save gas and money(and with gas prices of today that was most important). This is a powerful truck.. im a Chevy guy but I have to say I liked GMCs look alot better this year too. I pull an 18ft boat and it tows it like a CHAMP!!!I know you dont tow but its good to know you can. GOODLUCK with your new buy... :D IM HAPPY WITH MINE>>>

Darkanion Senior Enthusiast

Darkanion

Posted
Posted
I live in Houston, TX, have not seen snow in 20 years. I would like a 4WD but am affraid I would only be buying it to have another "cool " option. :tear: I don't pull anything nor do I go off the pavement, hell I barely drive off the highway!! I need a truck that will last (if taken care of) 250k miles. What do you think of the 6.0 over the 5.3?

Living in Houston and saying you'll never go off-road, I would suggest not spending the extra money on the 4WD. 1) You don't need it. 2) It'll get worse mileage than the 2wd would. At 5k miles per month, that'll add up.

 

Between the 5.3 and the 6.0, I'd probably get the 6.0. There's not a lot of difference in the gas mileage between the two and the 6.0 would probably run a little "easier" for all those miles you'll be racking up every month, which could make it last longer. Additionally, if you're not always "on it" the 6.0 might get a the same or even better mileage than the 5.3. When I can keep my foot out of my Denali (which doesn't happen a lot, I'll admit), I can get 21 or so, out on the road.

 

Nearly $7500 off sticker? Yeah, I'd say it sounds like a good deal. Post pics when you get it! :nonod:

2000DV4.8 Senior Enthusiast

2000DV4.8

Posted
Posted
I got the Texas Edition 5.3 2008 GMC Sierra. I got the 5.3 cuz I wanted to save gas it gets 24-26 (mpg) and in my 2006 tahoe I was getting like 14(mpg) so I save gas and money(and with gas prices of today that was most important). This is a powerful truck.. im a Chevy guy but I have to say I liked GMCs look alot better this year too. I pull an 18ft boat and it tows it like a CHAMP!!!I know you dont tow but its good to know you can. GOODLUCK with your new buy... :nonod: IM HAPPY WITH MINE>>>

 

 

No offense, but I find 24-26 mpg in a 5000 pound brick a little hard to believe...

 

Post some pics of the truck! :tear:

omegafiler Senior Enthusiast

omegafiler

Posted
Posted

Yeah, mid 20's in a full-size truck? Perhaps if all of your driving was downhill. :nonod:

 

As for truck features/options. That just depends on whether you decide to go with a more practical approach or not. Are you shopping for something you "need" or "want." But since you're buying a full-size truck, your mileage is what it is. And don't expect much from the aftermarket to help make it better. Mileage is never great in these things. Especially if you go with the 6.0l. You can search around the forum. The 6.0's typically get worse mileage. And by worse I mean a couple MPG.

 

I figure I'm already going to get crappy mileage... why not make it a bit worse and have power to go with it? But I'm not the most practical vehicle shopper either. :tear:

BigJayDogg3 Senior Enthusiast

BigJayDogg3

Posted
Posted

If you can afford it I say go for it. Which would you rather, spending a little more and getting what you really want, or spending less and being miserable for the 250K? As for the 4wd, I say as long as you don't need it, skip it. It doesn't snow and you don't go off-road, I think you would be fine with the 2WD and be very pleased.

 

As for the gas mileage I have a 1500HD with the 6.0 and 3.73s. I do about a 40/60 mix of city and highway, and I pull consistent 13-14 MPGs. This truck should be a little lighter and get somewhere around 15-17 especially if you get the 4.10s with the AFM.

  • 3 weeks later...
AdioSS Enthusiast

AdioSS

Posted
Posted
I live in Houston, TX, have not seen snow in 20 years.

Didn't it snow in Houston on Christmas Day 2004? Or was it the year before that?

 

Deciding between a 5.3L and the 6.0 really depends on how you drive. There are times when I wish I would've gotten a 6L truck, but I tow occasionally and have a very heavy foot. When I take it easy, I get 17-19mpg with my 05 5.3L. Mine doesn't have AFM, the aluminum block, or the aerodynamics of the new ones either. I do have 3.23 gears and 245/75R17s compared to steeper gearing and heavier wheels/tires that most of the newer trucks have.

 

I don't know if you are into it, but when I was in Houston street racing was pretty fun. A stock 4WD+6L combo would blow a stock RWD 5.3L combo away on the street!

BK2008 Enthusiast

BK2008

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for all the info guys! I know I would rather have the 6.0L but they are HARD to find! As for the 4WD, if the truck I find has it then I'll get it, if it doesn't then I won't. That makes it simple. Yes the street racing down here (Houston) is great but haven't actually gone out to the hot spots in like a year. Well I will have something by the end of the week so I will post pics as soon as I can! I can't wait to see what I find? By the way, I looked at an LTZ Avalanche lastnight and actually liked it alot. It was loaded (nav,sunroof,rear camera,etc.) But the lowest they would go was $42500.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • newdude
      Transmission Woes :-(

      By newdude · Posted

      You need a better code reader/scanner.  You are missing codes.  Did the dealer give you a copy of the SAVI scan from that visit?     If the fluid hasn't been changed, change it.  Shudder will likely go away.  
    • newdude
      Can anyone decode a VIN to determine if this truck has had emissions issues or a recall?

      By newdude · Posted

      TLDR to my other post...   Hard. Pass.  Too many what ifs.     Are you set on a 3.0 Duramax?  Have you considered anything not GM just in case?  If you don't have to have a pickup, lots of other options for $27,000 out there.   
    • newdude
      Can anyone decode a VIN to determine if this truck has had emissions issues or a recall?

      By newdude · Posted

      I see some red flags.   - No mention in the Carfax if the oil pump belt was changed.  LM2s had a 150,000mi service interval, and its got 164,245mi on it.  So right out the gate it needs about $3000-3500 for that to be done before driving it another 150,000mi.  Belt is at the rear of the engine.     - If something happens to the transmission valve body, the special coverage is expired by mileage.  That will likely be an out of pocket expense, with zero or near zero GM participation if something happened even though its in by time.   - 2020 LM2s seem to need timing chains after 80,000mi at some point.  They fixed this end of 2020/starting 2021 model year engines.  They will usually set a P0016 I think?  There is another $8000-10,000 if it needs a chain.  The main chain is at the back, secondary at the front so the pump belt would be done at the same time if it needed chains.     - Long oil change intervals.  7,000-8,000mi on average, probably close to 0% or perhaps to or beyond 0% on the OLM.  Lots of them not at the dealer which makes me wonder how much of the oil ran through that truck was the proper Dexos D rated 0w20 oil and not just gas engine 0w20, which is not the same at all.     - Long fuel filter changes, again likely taking the fuel filter life to 0% or more.  First one went 28,603, second was done 43,094 miles later at 71,697, from there another 46,452mi to 118,149mi, and then the most recent one 37,026mi later at 155,175mi.  So counting its original fuel filter, its had only 4 fuel filters on it.  No bueno IMO.         Good news?    - It has had only two warranty trips to the dealer.  The first free service (end of December 2020 on the Carfax), and the transmission reprogram recall (end of August 2025 on the Carfax).     - Truck did a LOT of moving, so that might explain the lack of emissions related repairs like bad NOX sensors, bad exhaust temp sensors, bad glow plugs, etc.         The "emissions system checked" could just be how something was flagged for Carfax.  GM dealers have to do SAVI reports for warranty repair orders so they scan the truck.  So its possible that is there for that?  
    • cherryred21duramax
      Can anyone decode a VIN to determine if this truck has had emissions issues or a recall?

      By cherryred21duramax · Posted

      Thank you, @Z45!   NOTE - No all repair shop/Dealers reports to Carfax   That is my main concern.  The CARFAX looks way too clean for a 6 year old anything with 164,245 miles.  Even something known for reliability (like many Toyotas) typically has a lot more replaced, like a Nav screen, interior trim, shock/strut, or brake pads.  And surely the last set of tires (installed at ~58k miles) would be bald unless those were all highway miles.   I'm tempted to pay a local dealer to look up the VIN, but am not sure if that will be worthwhile.  Last time I did this, it was 100% useless, and I felt scammed - they noted the bumper was replaced years ago and that's it.  A 5-year old could spot the accident damage, even though nothing was on the CARFAX.   After giving the dealer a call, the truck may have a hard shift, but they have to verify with their mechanic if that's even a concern.  And I've test driven about a dozen of these now, many near Chicago, and half the trucks shift hard/odd at all throttle positions.  The ones with aftermarket lifts/larger tires shift terrible, and 3 stock trucks shifted so violently I thought the transmission valve body was going out.   At this point I'm conflicted, as I need a vehicle, and am coming up short locally.  Northern trucks in this price range tend to have either multiple owners, a lot of mods (lifts/oversized tires without re-gearing), and are generally in rougher shape.   If this truck showed up in your neighborhood for $27k and you had to purchase it sight-unseen, with the possibility of needing a 10L80 rebuild, torque converter, or rear end - would you do it?  I'm convinced most of the 10L80 trucks I test drove are broken, they can't all shift so bad, with massive flares/slipping/lurching and mis-matched downshifts like a teen driver learning stick.
    • Griffin Donovan
      2027 GMC Sierra Spot Shots + Undisguised Interior (BIG Changes!)

      By Griffin Donovan · Posted

      From the spy shots, the front end does look like it's borrowing some styling cues from the Canyon. I'm more interested in the powertrain news than the screens though. If the 3.0 diesel survives into the next generation, that alone will keep a lot of current owners interested.  

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...