Thinking about a diesel

[Yamsi401]

Originally Posted by PerfectReign

It is a tough decision. I'll have to drive the 2500 again. They're not easy to find!!

In Texas you can't throw a dead Armadillo without hitting a dealership with an excess amount of 2500 and 3500 Diesels!

[PerfectReign]

Originally Posted by Yamsi401

In Texas you can't throw a dead Armadillo without hitting a dealership with an excess amount of 2500 and 3500 Diesels!

ROTFLMAO!!

Maybe I should pack up and move to Texas. Can't even find an armadillo here in California. (Just heard an Owl out my window though.)

Seriously, the sister and brother-in-law of one of my co-workers, just traded their SoCal dairy farm for one in Texas. IIRC, they had 60 acres here and traded it for around 2000 acres there. Sounds nice!

[Yamsi401]

Are Diesels even legal to register in the People's Republic of California? I've read the Jeep's new 3.0 Diesel Grand Cherokee might be shut out of the California market. Too bad, today's Diesels emit less particulates than gas engines? If they are then get with an internet dealership, fly to Texas, buy the truck and then drive it home.

I bought a Jeep once in Austin (about 3 hours away) because it was the best deal. Made the deal via email, never met a salesman and just went there and drove my Jeep home. Almost did the same when truck shopping recently, a great deal was being offered in New Mexico (eBay motors is worth looking in to) but then GM had kicked in real good sales incentives here in Texas and got my truck right at invoice + $500 with the Nerf bars, brake controller and a 5 year/100,000 mile extended warranty.

[dozerboy]

Every stealer I have gone to had at least one Dmax sitting on there lot in the San Diego area.

[LostBoy]

Originally Posted by PerfectReign

...based on a friend's recommendation, I'm now leaning more towards the '07 Avalanche. Sigh...so many choices! If only I could get the AV with a duramax... It is a tough decision. I'll have to drive the 2500 again

It's really not a tough decision at all, regardless of how you plan on using it (daily driver, tower, racer) the diesel's your best bet in any category, especially over the Avalanche, dirty abomination that it is.

If all you're concerned about is ride, then maybe go another way - IMO if a smooth ride is the deciding factor in a vehicle purchase (unless you're comparing apples-apples, which isn't the case here), the purchaser in question should be looking at cars, not trucks. Trucks are designed primarily for work, and they can only do so much for comfort w/out sacrificing something.

That being said, I've heard air spring kits (usually used for load-leveling) often have the side benefit of a smoother ride.

[PerfectReign]

Originally Posted by LostBoy

It's really not a tough decision at all, regardless of how you plan on using it (daily driver, tower, racer) the diesel's your best bet in any category, especially over the Avalanche, dirty abomination that it is.

Heh. Them's are fightin' words!

Seriously, I used to think the AV was a joke, now I really like the idea. I think GM did a very fine job with the AV. The new one is very nice, IMO.

However, I'd be very concerned about the fuel shutoff feature. Particularly in 50 or 60K miles, when it has been working hard. I have a mis-trust of GM in their 1st generation engine designs, having read about the early (Caddy?) fuel shutoff problems and having lived through the 1st gen EFI issues in my '95 Jimmy. Also, the GMC sales tech (he is a former mech turned sales) said the 4-cylinder option always shuts off the same four cylinders. That just seems to me like trouble waiting to happen.

I just talked to a guy the other day with an '02 AV who has almost 200K miles on his truck. He's "thinking" about maybe getting another in a few years. However, I do appreciate the longevity and resale value of the diesel engine. Yeah, my father-in-law has over 200K on his '86 Chevy Van 30 with the 350, but I know the diesel will double that mileage.

Originally Posted by LostBoy

If all you're concerned about is ride, then maybe go another way - IMO if a smooth ride is the deciding factor in a vehicle purchase (unless you're comparing apples-apples, which isn't the case here), the purchaser in question should be looking at cars, not trucks. Trucks are designed primarily for work, and they can only do so much for comfort w/out sacrificing something.

I don’t really want it to be like a car. I just don't want the ride to be "too" harsh. I know my wife will continue to bug me if it is. I really like the ride in the 1500 and in the AV/Suburban/YukonXL. There’s absolutely no complaint there.

With that in mind, I went out yesterday and drove the Ford 250 diesel. For comparison, I drove the same thing as what I'm looking for - crew cab, short bed, 4x2. I wanted to see how the 6.0 was compared to the Dmax.
Well, there was no comparison. The truck - an XLT - was ugly and stripped down. It felt and drove like a work truck. I've driven a TopKick a few times and this was comparable. It was noisy, vibrated like crazy and I felt it couldn't pull itself up to highway speeds any better than my mom's '73 Volkswagen. I don’t want to bash on Ford, because I know the F-150 is a nice truck. I just really didn’t like the 250.

Today, I went out during lunch and drove a 2006 GMC Sierra 2500 SLE. What a difference! That truck is smooth, quiet and fast. I really liked it. If I had the money now, I’d have bought it then and there. There was something about the interior and the drive which set it apart from the Silverado. Don’t know why, just that it was better somehow. (I drove over the same streets as the Ford and Silverado to make sure I was comparing right.) At this time, I figure I can get myself into a Sierra and get a Fold-A-Cover or similar to mimic the Avalanche’s locking ability. I don’t want to get a shell – I had one on my ’87 Nissan and it was a pain to take off. The drive of the Sierra seemed worlds smoother than the Silverado. Of course, both are smoother (and quieter) than the F-250.

Originally Posted by LostBoy

That being said, I've heard air spring kits (usually used for load-leveling) often have the side benefit of a smoother ride.

I can look into this. My wife used to complain on my Jimmy (4x4 SLE) that the ride was too obnoxious going over bumps and into driveways. Of course, she was driving a Maxima at the time. Now, she’s used to the Vue or the minivan.

Anybody got an extra $20,000 they can spare? It is for a good cause! :)

[rockme2]

Here is your $20,000 and just because I am a good guy here is $20,000 more.
I love my Fold-a-cover. No water leaks from rain. Car wash on the other hand gets a little water in. I need some weather stripping around the tailgate, and to adjust the front section. The best price I could find (here in Illinois) for it was at Zeibart $650 installed plus tax.

[LostBoy]

Originally Posted by PerfectReign

Heh. Them's are fightin' words!

Seriously, I used to think the AV was a joke, now I really like the idea. I think GM did a very fine job with the AV. The new one is very nice, IMO.

I can look into this. My wife used to complain on my Jimmy (4x4 SLE) that the ride was too obnoxious going over bumps and into driveways. Of course, she was driving a Maxima at the time. Now, she’s used to the Vue or the minivan.

Sorry - I tend to go off on a rant with these subjects. I've got a bit of an old-school "go big or go home" mentality w/ my trucks, and could probably spend all day sharing my philosophy on the subject, but I'd strongly doubt anybody would care to sit through it.

As far as your wife goes, I know the feeling. If you want a sure-fire cure for her complaints about the ride, just start driving like I do - She'll be too busy white-knuckling the arm rests and telling you to slow down to notice the suspension. After a couple episodes of that, you can revert to your normal driving, but she'll still be watching your speedometer like a hawk to preempt any speeding if she sees that needle crest the speed limit mark. All else will be secondary

[PerfectReign]

Originally Posted by LostBoy

As far as your wife goes, I know the feeling. If you want a sure-fire cure for her complaints about the ride, just start driving like I do - She'll be too busy white-knuckling the arm rests and telling you to slow down to notice the suspension. After a couple episodes of that, you can revert to your normal driving, but she'll still be watching your speedometer like a hawk to preempt any speeding if she sees that needle crest the speed limit mark. All else will be secondary

LOL!!!!! I showed this to her and we both had a good laugh. I guess I'll have to take her out to drive the trucks first. That'll get her involved. She enjoys driving her VUE so won't be in the truck too much.

Of course, considering the price of the trucks, I'm also looking at used. There simply aren't that many around! In my area (los angeles) I only got 30 trucks for sale today when searching on diesel Chevy/GMC 2500/Silverado from 1980 to present. Out of that, only two were crew cabs. I saw one '02 with 85,000 on the odometer for almost $22K. I can't imagine buying a truck with such high mileage. (Or am I being crazy?)

[red suburban]

your being loco. 85K miles on a newer truck, expecially a diesel, is nothing. considering the year thats probably mostly highway miles, which is better imo. that engine is really just broken in, its got PLENTY more miles to go. you very seriously might want to look at trucks in arizona/new mexico/texas. there are a WHOLE lot more of them.

biggest thing that i know to look out for on the early duramaxes, is that if the previous owner put a programmer on it, that the tranny has been upgraded as well. also check to see that if the truck you are looking at was brought into the shop for recalls on it. other than that test drive it, see how firm the shifts are, if there is alot of black smoke at startup (and i mean ALOT) then the injectors probably need work. alot of white smoke at start, glow plug system needs work, or it was water in the fuel. some smoke should be expected, expecially if its rained since the last time the truck was started (water collecting in the exhaust, sometimes the fuel tank). but you shouldnt be able to fill the parking lot with smoke.

[K5Fury]

85K on that truck is probably about 15K on a comparable gasser.

[TwoTone98Z71]

Originally Posted by eo2159

PROS...
9.being able to smoke countless Ricers with a 6,000 lb truck
10.always having a grin on your face while driving

and

Originally Posted by eo2159

CONS.....
2.will spit some smoke if getting on the pedal
3.may get more speeding tickets pulling or not
4. uncontrolable urge to mod for more power
5. uuuhhhhhh well thats all the cons I can think of, basicly get the duramax you won't regret it.

to all except 2. that is not a con

[dozerboy]

I wouldn't buy a used diesel if you want it to really last especially one from someone in CA X100 if it has any power mods done to it. Everyone I know with one runs the tunes on Kill and tells me "hey watch me do a 4 wheel burnout". Here are 186 Dmax with-in 100 miles of 90303

[LostBoy]

Originally Posted by dozerboy

I wouldn't buy a used diesel if you want it to really last especially one from someone in CA X100 if it has any power mods done to it. Everyone I know with one runs the tunes on Kill and tells me "hey watch me do a 4 wheel burnout".

He does have a good point - I'd suggest if you go thru a private seller, try to find one owned by somebody pushing retirement age with a rather small trailer. Much younger and your risk of getting a truck that was hot-rodded goes up. If they talk about how they can't get over all the power it has compared to the truck they had before, you can be reasonably assured that they never saw any need to turn it up or ever really get on it hard, because they were used to putting around in an unmodified 12V Cummins with half a million miles when they got rid of it.

[PerfectReign]

Ahh, my apologies. I should've posted here sooner. I ended up making my decision. Hopefully it will be a good one.

As of Friday, I'm the owner of an '06 Avalanche.



I got it for $24,000 and change, which is about $12,000 below the sticker. I pretty much couldn't resist. I'd been emailing one guy on the avalanche fan club site who had just switched to a 2500 DMax because of towing. I think this will serve my purposes better. Driving it is a dream and it is - IMO - almost as cool as the DMax -- and about 30" shorter. The 5.3 gives the truck good power so far, and I've already loaded my ocean kayak in the back to see how it goes. Also, the kids love it.

Thanks for all your help and advice!!

(Anybody want to buy a used minivan??)

[TwoTone98Z71]

[PerfectReign]

Originally Posted by TwoTone98Z71

LOL! Hey, better watch out! I see you're in Wyoming. I got lots o' family up on the ranch in Worland. And they're armed...





...okay, the picute is a bit old, but you can imagine they're taking good care of me!


I wonder if those cars were diesel...

[TwoTone98Z71]

k I dont want to get shot. and no they were just clattery like one

[LostBoy]

Originally Posted by PerfectReign

Ahh, my apologies. I should've posted here sooner. I ended up making my decision. Hopefully it will be a good one.

As of Friday, I'm the owner of an '06 Avalanche...

...it is - IMO - almost as cool as the DMax -- and about 30" shorter. The 5.3 gives the truck good power so far, and I've already loaded my ocean kayak in the back to see how it goes. Also, the kids love it...

Almost as cool as the DMax?!?!? IMO good power is nothing to MORE power... You have my pity

[PerfectReign]

Originally Posted by LostBoy

Almost as cool as the DMax?!?!? IMO good power is nothing to MORE power... You have my pity

Yeah, yeah, yeah...

My neighbor - who owned an F-350 powerstroke - just traded it in this weekend for a 2500 DMax with the Allison tranny. He heard me talking it up the past few months and decided to take the plunge. He's very happy so far.

Man, my AV looks small compared to his truck!

In any case, I can now live vicariously though his truck. I - or rather my wife - got the AV and he's now got the 2500.

I just hope I don't end up driving my wife's VUE.