New toy! Well, it's not really a toy....and it's not really new, either.

[Meghan54]

Anyway, got tired of schlepping trash, junk, and generally dirtying up the GX, so we went out Monday and got me a new toy. Got talked out of getting one by a few people 6 months ago, much to my chagrin.

2003 Chevy Silverado, 5.3L V-8, reg. cab, short bed. Most options are on it. There are the usual ones, of course: p/s, tilt, cruise, p/w, p/l, radio w/CD, A/C, 4 wheel discs w/ABS....and a few nice and unexpected ones: heated outside power mirrors that power fold, with turn signals and auto dimming on driver's side, steering wheel audio controls, bucket seats instead of the typical split bench, overhead console thing, remote keyless entry/locking, hd suspension and towing package which also included elec. trailer brake controller, locking rear diff., rear window defogger, external trans cooler, p/s cooler and engine oil cooler, and a nice ARE fiberglass tonneau cover---painted to match. Even had a very newish set of Michelin LTX MS2 tires on it (and I'm of the opinion, however misguided it may be, that you can tell a lot about how well a vehicle was maintained by the tires on it.)

Has just over 100k on it. Previous owner, the first owner, was so anal about oil changes he rarely went over 3k between changes...he left a huge packet of service records in the glove box. Heck, he even saved the orig. window sticker and what looks like the production sheet.


So, here be the beast:

When we were looking at it, the dealer actually gave me the name of the previous owner and called him on the phone so we could talk. Found that a bit odd. And then the sales guy had the service dept. pull the truck into a bay, put it on a lift and had a mechanic go over it with me.....looked at everything.

In all, wasn't in bad shape. Needs shocks.


I'm kind of a happy camper right now. 😀

 

[slag]

Nice. Looks like the p.o. took great care of it. The 5.3 is a pretty decent engine.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Very cool. I'll always have a weird affinity to short bed reg cab GM trucks. It might look goofy but I'd probably get some old school wheels for it.

 

[Sluggo]

Just the tires are nearly $1000 new.

Take care of it, and it will easily go 250,000 miles.

Needs shocks.

Buy the Bilstein shocks for, well worth the money.

 

[nerp]

Looks like you bought like a pro. Nice truck. Nothing better than a well-cared for vehicle finding a new owner who will treat her well.

 

[Meghan54]

Just the tires are nearly $1000 new.

Take care of it, and it will easily go 250,000 miles.



Buy the Bilstein shocks for, well worth the money.

I'm hoping for that. Heck, I've been seeing Silverado's for sale with mileage in excess of 300K.

For the Bilsteins, damned hard to find anywhere for this truck. If it'd been a 4x4, they're all over the place. 2wd...not so much. I'm about to pull the trigger on some KYB's...GasAJust. Should tide me over for a while.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

My experience with a lot of the aftermarket truck shocks is that they are WAY too firm/stiff. Great for towing, terrible for around town stuff.

 

[twinrider1]

Really nice. What's the ballpark $$ on those these days? That's just the model I'd want to get; with a hitch, no 4x4. Something to keep forever and work on myself.
Just guessing you don't live in the rust belt. That is super clean for an '03.

 

[olds]

OP, you go off-road or in snow?
I put these on my old Ford and was pleasantly surprised at how well they did off the pavement or in snow.
http://www.firestonetire.com/tires/destination/destination-m-t

 

[sgrinavi]

Nice truck, I like the colors in & out. Big fan of tan interiors.

 

[SparkyJJO]

I'm hoping for that. Heck, I've been seeing Silverado's for sale with mileage in excess of 300K.

For the Bilsteins, damned hard to find anywhere for this truck. If it'd been a 4x4, they're all over the place. 2wd...not so much. I'm about to pull the trigger on some KYB's...GasAJust. Should tide me over for a while.

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=results&selected_model=3782&selected_year=2003

Very top, Bilstein HD 4600 set front and rear $262.80.

I wouldn't waste the money on KYB shocks.

 

[lavaheadache]

Looks nice. Good find. Missing the cape yet? Just had turned on the heat for the first time since last winter. 🙁

 

[Sluggo]

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=results&selected_model=3782&selected_year=2003

Very top, Bilstein HD 4600 set front and rear $262.80.

I wouldn't waste the money on KYB shocks.

To save a few bucks, I would only spring for Bilsteins for the front, most any half reputable brand of gas shocks will suffice for the rear axle.

 

[Agent11]

Nice truck, how much did it set you back?

 

[Meghan54]

Let's see.....from the top, sorta:

OP, you go off-road or in snow?
I put these on my old Ford and was pleasantly surprised at how well they did off the pavement or in snow.
http://www.firestonetire.com/tires/destination/destination-m-t

The worst place the truck will go is the boat ramp. Doesn't really snow down here in SC, and even if it does, very minor at best. The LTX's should manage anything we'll ever get into around here---I hope. 😉

Looks like you bought like a pro. Nice truck. Nothing better than a well-cared for vehicle finding a new owner who will treat her well.

We'll try. Wife already is saying I'm paying much more attention to this truck than I ever have to the Lexus.

Very cool. I'll always have a weird affinity to short bed reg cab GM trucks. It might look goofy but I'd probably get some old school wheels for it.

We were looking at extended cab trucks, but honestly, they do look goofy. The reg. cab, while short on interior storage space, just looks like what a truck should look like, esp. with the short bed. I'll live with the lack of grocery space in the cab. The truck just looks so darned good like it is.

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=results&selected_model=3782&selected_year=2003

Very top, Bilstein HD 4600 set front and rear $262.80.

I wouldn't waste the money on KYB shocks.

I've had Bilsteins, came on our Blazer, and they were quite nice. Only worry about them being too stiff, at least in the heavy duty set. I really don't want this truck to ride like a Ford. 😉

But I'm still looking at them, or maybe the light duty set.

And, really, the KYB's aren't that bad....way better than what most people put on as replacements---Monroe. Blech!

Looks nice. Good find. Missing the cape yet? Just had turned on the heat for the first time since last winter. 🙁

That's gotta suck, but then it's the Cape. Hitting mid-50's down here at night, but around 80 during the day.

Thx for the compliment. 🙂

Nice truck, how much did it set you back?

This is what they were asking for it:

We paid $8500, well a few bucks under that, actually, but the dealer "adjusted" the price around a bit to come in at $8500 after the $25 temp tag charge and other BS. TrueCar puts any price under $8690 for this truck as a "great price", and I concur, esp. considering the truck's condition, maintenance records, tires, etc., etc.

Nice truck, I like the colors in & out. Big fan of tan interiors.

Wife hates red vehicles. But our last three, Blazer, Murano, and our GX, were either grey or silver with black interiors. Honestly, I was getting rather bored with grey/silver and black. Really like maroon with tan interiors.....well, almost as much as I like deep, dark blue mets. with tan interiors. But that color combination is so darned hard to find, and with the shape this truck was in, just hated to pass it by. So, since it wasn't Coke can red, she relented on the color, and the condition sorta swayed her, too.



But I'm going to be honest, the truck does have on glaring fault. The intermediate steering shaft is going to have to be replaced. The truck has the infamous clunk on hitting bumps that's coming through the steering wheel. But I knew that when we inspected it. The shaft is $65 and replacing it is a 30 min. job with a 15mm wrench.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

THATS A STEAL! Good buy.

NICE!

I like it. Always been a fan of smaller trucks - that dates back to the days I used to drive a single cab, short box, 1989 Chevy S10 every day. Was a great little truck.

but I am disappoint in ATG right now... where are all the manditory "who drives a truck?!!" or "Those things should be banned!!" jeers from the peanut gallery.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

<snip>

but I am disappoint in ATG right now... where are all the manditory "who drives a truck?!!" or "Those things should be banned!!" jeers from the peanut gallery.

I've never gotten that vibe from ATG. From OT, definitely, but not the garage.

 

[NutBucket]

That's a really nice truck. Good work OP.

 

[CraigRT]

I personally like the color.
I wouldn't want it to be coke can red either, but I like the burgundy.
Plus, can't always condemn a color, some colors you don't typically like, like good on certain vehicles.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Those LTX MS2 are great tires, no reason to change them.

And I agree, you can tell a lot about the vehicle by the tires.

I think the burgundy is classy. Are those door guard things stock?

 

[twinrider1]

Those LTX MS2 are great tires, no reason to change them.

And I agree, you can tell a lot about the vehicle by the tires.

I think the [Ron] burgundy is[tay] classy [San Diego]. Are those door guard things stock?

Subliminal message detected and reported.

 

[gorb]

Nice truck! Looks to be very well maintained.

 

[Meghan54]

I personally like the color.
I wouldn't want it to be coke can red either, but I like the burgundy.
Plus, can't always condemn a color, some colors you don't typically like, like good on certain vehicles.

Agree completely. But I've always been kinda partial to burgundy, provided it's the "right" burgundy. Has to have a tan interior, tho. Otherwise, not.

Those LTX MS2 are great tires, no reason to change them.

And I agree, you can tell a lot about the vehicle by the tires.

I think the burgundy is classy. Are those door guard things stock?

It is classy. 🙂 Have no plans to get rid of the LTX's. We have them on the GX and love them. Had Conti LX20's on the Murano we had, and while I liked them also, they are a step below the LTX's at least in comfort.

The door guard things are stock. The entire truck is stock...which is why I've got spark plugs, spark plug wires, and shocks on the list to get.

As a bonus on the truck, the previous owner replaced the orig. battery last January with a NAPA Legend. Don't really know how good it is, but at least I don't have a battery waiting to puke and die (I hope.)

 

[SparkyJJO]

I've had Bilsteins, came on our Blazer, and they were quite nice. Only worry about them being too stiff, at least in the heavy duty set. I really don't want this truck to ride like a Ford. 😉

But I'm still looking at them, or maybe the light duty set.

And, really, the KYB's aren't that bad....way better than what most people put on as replacements---Monroe. Blech!

Granted it is a different vehicle and platform, but I have the Bilstein HD on my Trailblazer and they are awesome. Not too squishy like the original AC Delco "Bilsteins" (squishy things) or the Monroes, but not rough either. Just a guess on my part but I would think they would be similar on a Silverado 1500, while the light duties would be more on the soft side. But, again, just a guess.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Nice. I have a 03 Silverado. Mine is a v6 ext cab. I too have the clunk in the steering shaft. Doesn't really bother me enough to fix it yet. I hope you have an aftermarket stereo or plans to get one. The stock unit in mine was the worst stereo I've had the displeasure of listening to. A pioneer with Pioneer door speakers and a 10" sub really transforms the whole feeling I get when driving it.