I've put a big chunk of the miles on our new long-term Silverado and I like it more and more with each trip. It's easily one of the most comfortable trucks I've ever driven and the fact that it rides as good as it does with the heavy-duty suspension is remarkable. That said, I've started to pick up on some of the truck's minor annoyances.
For one, the climate control system isn't all that effective. If you want it warm you have to set the temp to 80 degrees or you're not going to feel a thing. Same goes for the A/C as it doesn't feel cool unless you set it to around 65. This wouldn't be a problem if the system used knobs for the temperature control. Instead, it has buttons and pushing them 15 times in a row every time you want to get from one extreme to the other is lame.
On a more truck like note, I picked up a new couch today and it dawned on me how ridiculous it is that our rig didn't come with a bedliner. Given its $43,000 price tag it should have not only included a liner, it should have Chevrolet's new cargo management system which adds adjustable tie downs. Strangely, the well designed system is a dealer option only, so no matter how loaded your Silverado is from the factory you still have to fork over a few more bills to get this handy feature.
Like I said, minor annoyances.
Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor
UPDATE: I stand corrected. The cargo management system can be ordered as a stand alone option or installed later at the dealer. Either way it will cost you $175.
On a more truck like note, I picked up a new couch today and it dawned on me how ridiculous it is that our rig didn't come with a bedliner. Given its $43,000 price tag it should have not only included a liner, it should have Chevrolet's new cargo management system which adds adjustable tie downs. Strangely, the well designed system is a dealer option only, so no matter how loaded your Silverado is from the factory you still have to fork over a few more bills to get this handy feature.
Like I said, minor annoyances.
Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor
UPDATE: I stand corrected. The cargo management system can be ordered as a stand alone option or installed later at the dealer. Either way it will cost you $175.
jerrywimer says:
04:53 AM, 12/ 5/06
I agree on all counts. I assume your test truck has the dual zone automatic climate control system, since the dual zone manual uses rotary knobs. My Avalanche has the same setup as this truck, and while I haven't noticed the issue with the A/C, I've definitely noticed the heat (or lack thereof). That's too bad, because the manual systems in past GM products have never failed to impress me with how quickly and efficiently they heat up and how warm they get.
sddoc07 says:
06:03 PM, 12/ 5/06
I've always thought they should include the bed-liner as a no-cost option...but maybe they have a deal with all the bed-liner companies. In any case, there are some people out there who, for some reason, actually don't want a bedliner so that's probably why it's not standard.
silverado21 says:
07:08 PM, 12/ 5/06
In the new Suburbans (which has similar A/C controls to the Silverado) holding the button for two seconds does the same job as mashing it 15 times. About the bedliner, I don't know a single person in my region who would want one. A truck is a truck! It's meant to be banged up a lot! Although, i guess on the more expensive models, you'd want one. So, you can get one as a dealer option.
kratas101 says:
08:44 PM, 12/ 5/06
Actually I see many trucks down here in Dallas with bedliners. I know if I bought a Silvy I'd have one in mine. The more durable my bed is the better.
thebigal says:
10:42 PM, 12/ 5/06
I would think that a bedliner at least should be offered as an option - maybe even a no-cost option. I'll bet you would get some takers and some no takers. I would be a taker. The cargo management system is a bigger deal. I would rather have to opt to not have it, than have to opt for it. They can build the price of it into the base price of the truck for all would care... I think the system is pretty slick especially if you carry a lot of stuff in the bed all the time.
On the climate control issue, I have always hated automatic climate controls. They never seem to work right and I never feel like I can really control them. I would much rather have a regular dial marked red-blue for the temp and a dial for fan speed with indicators - low, med-low, med-high, high etc. or dots or even a reostatic switch with infinate control, but none of this 65 degrees, 80 degrees stuff..... simplicity simplicity simplicity is how I like it.
So basically I guess I am saying I would probably be very happier with a base model crew cab and not an LTZ fully optioned one huh???
ak_gringo says:
11:32 PM, 12/ 6/06
Going back to the comfortable ride, does anyone own a Silverado with the performance suspension(z60) and is there a noticable difference between the different suspensions available?
jerseypr5 says:
02:27 PM, 12/ 9/06
does any other manufacture give you a bedliner? I am not a truck person, so I do not know personallyBTW, the link from the road tests main page does not work. I have to add the "LT" part of the link my self.
jerrywimer says:
05:43 AM, 12/11/06
I believe you can get a spray-in liner with the Nissan Titan.
chevy598 says:
10:27 PM, 12/16/06
If you go over to Edmonds online forums you'd think the new Tundra blows the Silverado away by a mile. Me personally, I think Toyota has a long way.