2500 Vs 1500 (cost/option Comparison)

[RyanbabZ71]

Ok I am starting to look at new trucks (can you tell I am bored this Sunday morning). I figure in about a yr I will hopefully get a new one since my wife does not want a new vehicle and my truck will be 10 yrs old, it will probably close to 100K miles then so it should still have some value to it (I know probably not much). I was playing around with the build your own on the chevy site. I did the 2500 4wd Ext Cab vs the 2500 4wd Ext Cab vs the 1500 4wd CC

 

(Options, all comparable except for the engine size in the 2500 and 1500 (flex fuel), 1500 also has a sunroof)

 

Below are the price differences.

 

2500 4wd CC LT MSRP after options $44,284

2500 4wd ext cab LT MSRP after options $40,024

1500 4wd CC LT MSRP after options $43,380

 

1. I currently have an extended cab. For guys with kids/dogs and have had both types what is your preference? My ext cab works well and I also like the 4 doors on my tahoe. I dont know if the price difference is worth the extra $$$ and I am leaning towards ext cab.

 

2. power rear sliding window. How do you like this option? Can it just be opened slightly? Is there a button to control on the dash? I think this would be a nice option for my dog.

 

3. gas milage between 5.3 and 6.0. I get 13 in my 5.3 truck now so I am not to concerned but would like to know what you guys are seeing.

 

4. Exterior plus package outside mirrors do they have turn signal in the mirror? It doesnt say other than heated, power folding, dimming.

 

Thanks!

[Z71kris]

I read on hear somewhere that the 2500's ride a little rougher. Some of you 2500 guy chime in and let me know. If you need the extra umph of a 2500 then go with it..

[RyanbabZ71]

I would rather it ride like a truck so rougher isnt a concern of mine. I changed out my shocks on my 2000 to Bilsteins because I wanted a firmer ride.

[Z71kris]

well then go for it..

[99silverado1500]

We have a CC 2500HD Duramax/Allison. Its the crew short bed, and it actually rides pretty damn nice. It is a hair rougher then my 1500 but not by much. For brakes, tires, gas, the 2500 is going to be more of a cost then having a 1500. Pretty much all other maintence items are the same. The 2500 should get like 12-13 city from what i have seen and about 16 highway. Ours gets 15/19 but its a Duramax. The crew cab is more convenient for quick loading and unloading of passengers, cargo, etc, but an extended cab will also comfortably hold my large doberman, and pretty much everything I need. The 2500 should have more of a resale value, since they are a harder to find truck, and there is still a big market for HDs no m atter what anyone says. Im really torn right now too between a 1500, and a 2500, I really could care less about MPGs, but for the little I haul 8000+, im not sure its so worth it to go to a HD for me.

[66nova]

Ok I am starting to look at new trucks (can you tell I am bored this Sunday morning). I figure in about a yr I will hopefully get a new one since my wife does not want a new vehicle and my truck will be 10 yrs old, it will probably close to 100K miles then so it should still have some value to it (I know probably not much). I was playing around with the build your own on the chevy site. I did the 2500 4wd Ext Cab vs the 2500 4wd Ext Cab vs the 1500 4wd CC

 

(Options, all comparable except for the engine size in the 2500 and 1500 (flex fuel), 1500 also has a sunroof)

 

Below are the price differences.

 

2500 4wd CC LT MSRP after options $44,284

2500 4wd ext cab LT MSRP after options $40,024

1500 4wd CC LT MSRP after options $43,380

 

1. I currently have an extended cab. For guys with kids/dogs and have had both types what is your preference? My ext cab works well and I also like the 4 doors on my tahoe. I dont know if the price difference is worth the extra $$$ and I am leaning towards ext cab.

 

2. power rear sliding window. How do you like this option? Can it just be opened slightly? Is there a button to control on the dash? I think this would be a nice option for my dog.

 

3. gas milage between 5.3 and 6.0. I get 13 in my 5.3 truck now so I am not to concerned but would like to know what you guys are seeing.

 

4. Exterior plus package outside mirrors do they have turn signal in the mirror? It doesnt say other than heated, power folding, dimming.

 

Thanks!

 

I think I can help on a few of these.

 

After having both, the CC is a no brainer for me. The room in the ExC is not bad, but I prefer the extra space and not having suicide doors. Those bother me. Plus, I love to fold the seats up and I can lay 2 beds down on the floor for the dogs (I have 3...Two 80 pounders and a 14lb). I also don't need the extra bed space of the ExC.

 

I don't have the power sliding window, but I believe you can open it part way. I let someone else say for sure.

 

Mileage. Are you wanting to compare the 5.3 in a 1/2 ton to the 6.0 in the 3/4? If so, there are big differences. The 13 that you are getting now, is probably about what you will get on the highway with the 2500. The vmax motor in my 1/2ton does pretty well. I average about 14-16 with daily driving (depends on how much highway vs back and forth to work). I have averaged as much a 20.9mpg on a long trip once, but normally it is 18ish =/-0.5

 

I don't know what you will be towing or if you just want a 2500 because you like big trucks, but if you don't need the 2500, I would be looking at a 6.0 or 6.2 with or without a 6 speed. After driving my Vmax and comparing the mileage that most are getting with the 5.3, I wouldn't go smaller than the 6.0. Especially if you are going to be towing something.

 

Mirrors. Not sure, but I thought they had turn signals, but I would have thought they wourl say.

[cfeiring]

I have a 08 crew long bed 2500

I have the remote rear window and yes there is a button on the overhead console and yes it can be opened part way as you want; I use it all the time part way

 

I have 16 yr old twins and they could not fit in the xtened cab back seats comfortably so it was a crew cab for me and I wanted a 8 ft bed so the 2500 was the given choice.

I have the heavy duty towing and the z71 off road package and my truck rides far better than a ford f 250 that i use at work.

I have the duramax engine so i paid extra for that but i can pull/tow anything I can hook up to and not worry and I get better fuel mileage over the gas engine as well

 

I would get the crew cab then decide on the bed length and hauling needs determine the 1500/2500/3500 truck as you noted they will cost about the same unless you get the duramax then its about 10,000 extra.

I love what I have and have not been disappointed by what I bought.

[REV353]

I went from a 98' 1/2 ton with the 5.0 extd cab, very nice truck, but my 2500 hd with the 8.1L and crew cab, the ride is way better than the 98' and just being able to pull when and what I want is Kool!. I would never go back to an extended and the rear sliding window is a very nice option. Last, keep in mind, the crew does not turn near as sharp.

[RyanbabZ71]

It would be a short bed

 

Thanks for all the replies

[rogerf]

1500 vs 2500 choice depends on how the truck is going to be used. Need to tow, or plow, or carry a lot of heavy stuff on a regular basis?...consider the 2500 for the extra iron in the frame and stronger axles. Otherwise 1500 will service your need just fine.

[Outbacker]

I have the rear sliding window, and yes you can open it as much or as little as you want. I guess the only question is what are you going to use the truck for? Do you need the 3/4 ton, or does a 1/2 ton meet your needs? Are you towing, or hauling heavy stuff? If so, then go for the 3/4 ton. I tow a trailer that is well within my towing limts of a 1/2 ton, so I went that way. 6 months later the price of the 3/4 ton was less then what I paid for mine, so that kinda sucks. If I could afford the larger truck at the time, I would have gotten it. But I am happy with the 1/2 ton. No kids, so we went with the extended cab. You said you had kids, go for the CC. You will not regret it.

 

Cheers.

[Spurshot]

I have a 99 GMT800 2500 Ext Cab I've had since new and a 2008 GMT900 1500 Crew I bought a month ago, both 4wd and both have 6.0L engines.

 

The 99 2500 gets about 12.5 mpg in the city and 14.5-14.8 depending on whether I drive 70mph or 80 ish. Never gets better than that, but I never drive it at 65mph for extended trips so I probably could get a bit better.

 

The 2008 1500 Vmax seems to get 13.5 around town and 14.5 ish at the 80-85 mph speed on the highway. If I drive it around 65-70, it seems to get 16 ish, but I don't have enough trips on it to tell.

 

Frankly, if I were to buy a truck today, I would just buy another 2500 in a crewcab gas 6.0L if I could find one. I actually looked using the GM customer service search service for a CA legal 2500 crew gas shortbed and it couldn't be found by them. Apparently, all the dealers ordered diesels in crews.

 

The ride in my 2500 is better than the 1500, no question. My wife noticed it first. I was in denial for a few weeks. The engine in my 2500 also is more driveable than the 1500, even after a Blackbear tune. I'm going to have a dyno tweaked tune from Justin soon, but I'm not impressed with stock 1500 Vmax driveability.

 

Just my 2 cents after my experiences.

[robertbick]

I was in the same boat as you almost a year ago. I mostly went with the 2500 because I wanted to put a nice plow on it. I don't plow commercially, just my own and the in-laws. I'm glad I got the 2500 because I also plan on buying a larger camping trailer in the near future (if the economy turns around). The CC is a must if you have kids.

 

p.s. my large mirrors have the turn signal in them.

[RyanbabZ71]

Those mirrors are huge, are they power folding? Nice looking truck. What rims are those? I see they offer 3 different styles on the 2500HD.

[music]

I was in the same boat as you almost a year ago. I mostly went with the 2500 because I wanted to put a nice plow on it.

 

I have a question that pops in my mind when looking at 2500's, but I've never asked anyone (including a family member who has one...). Is there a reason why most come with 16" wheels? Is that a "standard size" for 10-ply tires?