I've driven the Silverado a bunch and while I've generally walked away impressed, I absolutely can't stand the pedal position. The brake pedal and accelerator are too far apart from each other both length-wise and width-wise, which usually leads me to driving with both feet. Considering I'm 6-foot-3, I've found that pedal positioning usually affects me more than others.
The Tundra, on the other hand, has pedals that are much closer together, allowing me to comfortably drive as I prefer -- with my heal on the floor, fanning my foot back between each pedal. I also find that I can sit closer to the steering wheel and still have my legs comfortable in the Toyota...
Of course, I could be glued to the steering wheel and still not be able to reach the ridiculous radio controls. All together, I prefer the Silverado, but the pedal positioning could be a deal breaker that would lean me toward the Tundra.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor @ 12,333 miles
cruiserhead1 says:
11:51 AM, 02/22/08
how does the SIlverado feel with contractor boots on?
roar02ram says:
12:02 PM, 02/22/08
2 questions for ya, James:
1) Does the Silverado have power-pedals & if so, do they help? I wouldn't think so b/c your post has to do with the width, but I thought I'd ask anyway.
2) Have you driven a Tundra with the telescoping steering column, and if so, does it help?
thebigal says:
12:17 PM, 02/22/08
It's interesting how the small things matter. I notice that both trucks are fairly excellant and comparable vehicles. Neither one is wholly better than the other. So it's the small stuff that gets sweated out. Pedal positioning for one, radio control location for another, climate control knob preferance another and so on...
I notice that more attention is paid to these kinds of things over horsepower, fuel economy, towing capability, bed size, ride comfort etc. Which is good, because it is the small stuff that will bug you every single time you get in the vehicle to drive it.
If you hate the way the pedals are positioned, then you will hate driving the vehicle every time. Or when you go to change the radio station, it will bug you everytime. It's always the small stuff, not whether one truck gets to 60 MPH a second faster or slower than the other.
jriz says:
12:31 PM, 02/22/08
roar01ram: Yes, the Silverado does have them, but no, they don't help. It moves the pedals fore and aft, but the distance between them doesn't change.
And no, I haven't driven a Tundra with a telescoping column, but where the Tundra's is positioned was fine by me.
altimadude00 says:
04:15 PM, 02/22/08
never get a light interior for a truck (note carpets).
aspade says:
06:42 PM, 02/22/08
If you're worried about dirt showing up on the carpets, maybe you shouldn't get a truck at all.
altimadude00 says:
08:39 PM, 02/22/08
What's the point of having a shiny, waxed, undented or scratched show-car exterior when the inside looks like crap.
If they were going to use the truck to haul lumber, bricks, machinery and apartments, then I wouldn't have pointed it out. But this is a "luxury" truck. And from the comments from the Azera's light colored interior, we're bound to hear the same comments from this vehicle as well.
aspade says:
10:11 PM, 02/22/08
You have a point.
Personally, I wouldn't worry about the exterior on a truck either.
wulffman1 says:
05:26 PM, 02/23/08
Ha, I had exactly the same comment when I test drove a Sierra. I really wanted to like it, but that stupid pedal positioning would make stop start traffic a miserable experience. You would think this is an easy fix too, so why dont they just fix it.