And so it was, I took control of the Silverado keys when it suited my needs. I admit it, I'm not really a truck guy. However, like everyone on the planet who isn't a truck person at heart I have no problem borrowing someone else's when it's time to move something big. In this case I was making a parts run and I knew neither the family Malibu, Challenger, Sonett nor the GT was going to get the job done. But the Silverado swallowed 12 boxes of parts (some of them quite large) without batting a tow/haul setting.
However, as noted in our recent Full-Size Truck Comparison Test, while the Silverado's engine power isn't in question the way it delivers that power needs some fine tuning, especially with the new Tundra hitting showrooms next month. There are two elements here; first is the sluggish response of the cylinder deactivation that inhibits throttle response. Jump on the throttle and there's a brief but annoying delay as the engine switches from fuel-miser mode to power mode. Combine that with the four-speed automatic and you've got a capable V8 that still isn't as rewarding as the horsepower specs suggest. It's got plenty of power for most truck duties most of the time, and it hauled those parts through the Santa Monica Montains with confidence. But if you drive it back-to-back with the Tundra you'll be wishing GM would hurry up with the six-speed auto (coming next year). As for the fuel-saving technology, remember that the Tundra was not only quicker than the Silverado in our comparison test but also got better fuel mileage...
Karl Brauer, Editor in Chief, Edmunds.com @ 6,150 miles
graboske says:
08:33 AM, 01/29/07
What about the family GTX?
orangutan says:
09:27 AM, 01/29/07
Barrow? What does Alaska have to do with you driving the Chevy? ;)
editor_karl says:
10:06 AM, 01/29/07
Um...Alaska is where I'm taking the parts? Not really. The GTX is still being restored (18 months after dropping it off...).
7driver says:
12:09 PM, 01/29/07
The title of this blog entry reminded me of a list that a friend of mine had for 100 ways to enjoy life. Somewhere around the 20's or so was "Don't own a truck". Somewhere around the 60's or so was "Make friends with a truck owner".
roar02ram says:
01:40 PM, 01/29/07
I'm convinced that the only reason the Silverado gets poor fuel mileage is the 4-speed automatic. I had a Ram regular cab with that wretched 5.9-liter V-8 and while the thing could average around 20 mpg in 4th gear, any downshifts (or significant throttle applications) knocked the thing down around 10 mpg. You might suggest that some of your staff keep an eye on the instantaneous fuel mileage readout and see if a similar phenomenon happens with the Silverado. I'm guessing that with 6 gears and more grunt the Tundra's able to minimize those disruptions, yielding better mileage even if the Silverado's engine is more efficient.
editor_karl says:
06:54 PM, 01/29/07
You could be right, roar. I owned a Mini Cooper and loved it, but it got horrible mileage, at least for a 115 horsepower 4 cyl car (around 24 mpg). Why? Because between the low HP and the lame CVT you basically had to floor it all the time to keep from getting run over by typical Southern California drivers. That meant gulping down the gas, even though the car could theoretically get much better mileage.