Buying A '04 Gmc Sierra 2wd Extracab

hi6EXdrive · September 5, 2008

Hey guys.. I'm new here.. I sold my Lexus LS430 and am planning on buying a truck for personal use. My dads side job is owning a small car lot. He has a 2004 GMC Sierra 2x4, 92k miles, 5.3, xtra cab, SLE in SUPER good shape. Its cloth... pretty basic (no steering wheel controls, manual seats, no upgraded audio, etc..) Only issue is that the speedo is not working (odo still does though). Has the typical knuckle knock in the steering.

I want a truck that will be reliable and last for a long time. Its totally stock, unlike many of your trucks. I am not new to forums or the search feature, but since most of you guys have mods, the "5.3 mpg" thread doesn't apply to me as much. What MPG can I expect from the truck, real world. Stock tires too. If I buy it, I will be throwing an airintake and exhaust on there immediately. (straight pipes on these trucks sounds pretty good, and has the sound I want. Is it gonna hurt my fuel economy?) The front looks lowered to me, maybe I need to crank the torsion bar or something.. OR maybe its just a 2x4

The price I am paying for it, it pretty good I think. $5,500, including taxes. (I do my own paperwork, so their is no "dealer fee's").

What do you guys think about this?

Here is the site to view the actual truck. http://safariautobrokers.com/page4/page8/page8.html ....Click 2004 GMC Sierra, Obviously!

Is the 5.3 a good reliable engine? From all the reviews, it sure seems to be.

Thanks guys for your input, and I apologize for the plethora of questions!

Ian --

P.S. If you are interested in any of the other cars on the website....let me know and Ill hook you up!

hi6EXdrive · September 5, 2008

Ideas, anyone?

Draenor · September 5, 2008

Thats a nice one.

The cluster could be covered under warranty, its a slim chance. (I actually just receive notice about a class action lawsuit on this). Both the cluster and the i-shaft are easy fixes, with a little cash thrown to them.

As for the MPGs expect 14-16. The 5.3L is reliable and would probably outlast the rest of the truck. The straight pipes will hurt your fuel economy. IMO I would put a cat back, i.e. magnaflow. As for intakes, its a toss up. From personal experience, I stay away from K&N.

No torsion bars on the '04 2WD. You will need to get some type of lift. The cheapest route would be a coil spacer.

Good luck...

hi6EXdrive · September 5, 2008

Thats a nice one.
The cluster could be covered under warranty, its a slim chance. (I actually just receive notice about a class action lawsuit on this). Both the cluster and the i-shaft are easy fixes, with a little cash thrown to them.

As for the MPGs expect 14-16. The 5.3L is reliable and would probably outlast the rest of the truck. The straight pipes will hurt your fuel economy. IMO I would put a cat back, i.e. magnaflow. As for intakes, its a toss up. From personal experience, I stay away from K&N.

No torsion bars on the '04 2WD. You will need to get some type of lift. The cheapest route would be a coil spacer.

Good luck...

Thanks a bunch Draenor, I really appreciate your input. I have heard from catback magnaflows that I definitely like...good mix of growl, smoothness, and aggressive sound.

MPGs don't seem too bad at all... my Lex only got about 17 city, but it also required premium, so it equally out nicely.

Zembonez · September 5, 2008

The 5.3 can run forever. Many have over 250K and are still running strong. The front end droop is original. Most folks drop the rear with shackles to level things out on a 2WD. (Cheap and easy fix that looks good too) These are really good solid and reliable trucks but like any used vehicle they can have issues. Most will be small though. Fuel economy of 14-17 is probably realistic... depending on your city/highway mix.

It looks like this one was taken care of.. and the price is one of those "write a check for it" prices. I say go for it!

DofD · September 5, 2008

Hi there and welcome to the site!

Sounds like a pretty good price for that truck. I can't really add to much to you questions from what's already been mentioned. Though as far a what CAI or cat back, there are lots of threads here that talk about them

hi6EXdrive · September 5, 2008

The 5.3 can run forever. Many have over 250K and are still running strong. The front end droop is original. Most folks drop the rear with shackles to level things out on a 2WD. (Cheap and easy fix that looks good too) These are really good solid and reliable trucks but like any used vehicle they can have issues. Most will be small though. Fuel economy of 14-17 is probably realistic... depending on your city/highway mix.

It looks like this one was taken care of.. and the price is one of those "write a check for it" prices. I say go for it!

Thank you DofD and Zembonez...

Zem, thank you for all that info... good to know that droop is normal, I guess This truck seems really solid, I'm looking forward to getting it. In the past all I have had are F*rds, but honestly did not like them all that much, as far as build quality. I do like the way they sound though! I have never had a car payment, on any of my cars (granted, they havent been new cars.. but i have had 2001 Vette, 2003 Cobra [sorry!], 2004 Lexus LS430, and other cars like those...)... but business is SUPER slow for me now, so I decided to sell the Lexus and buy a truck under my budgeted $8k. I don't plan to do too much to it, like I said. Huge lifts over 8"'s aren't my thing...lowering the truck with huge rims isnt really my thing either...but I do plan do something in one of those directions. I hate runnin in a completely stock vehicle! Looking forward to getting alot of quality info here..looks like i will!

DofD, thanks for "2nd'ing" the price on the truck. Obviously the deal is with my dad, and there is no pressure to buy it. I could ask him to lower the price down to 4500 and he would still sell it, but 1,000 isnt that big of a deal. I thought $5,500 was fair, so I told him thats what I would LIKE to pay. He agreed...