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Monday, February 9, 2009

Two weeks with the Silverado

So, I've had my Silverado for two weeks now. It is a white crew cab 1500 4x4 1LT. I'm quite pleased with it so far. I'll answer a few questions here.

Now, the first thing you may want to know, is why give up the Dakota (2003 Dodge Dakota Club Cab SXT 4x4)? The answer is very simple - size and safety. I could no longer safely carry my family in that truck. Anthony has outgrown the car seat we have for him there, and nothing bigger would fit. I also could not fit another car seat in it for our pending arrival. So, after 92,057 faithful miles and five years and eleven months, I said goodbye to my first pickup truck. It did not have a lot of options, but it was very comfortable. In fact, 75,000 of those miles were driven for my then job of systems analyst at a national professional services organization. It was also the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned.

That last statement begs the question, why not get an all-new for 2009 Dodge Ram? The answer to that is very simple. The 2009 Ram is an awesome truck, and I know I would have been happy with it, but there isn't a Dodge dealer within 10 miles of my home. And frankly, the Chevy has always been my first choice. I do not like the dashboard in the Tundra, so that ruled it out. I have not had good luck with Fords, so that struck the F-150, also new for 2009, and Motor Trend's Truck of the Year, from the list. (Incidentally, the Silverado is the 2007 Truck of the Year.) I really like the Nissan Titan, but it's future is basically as a re-badged Dodge Ram. That leaves GMC. So, why not the GMC Sierra? Definitely considered it, as it is mechanically similar, but the same problem with dealers arises as with the Dodge. I also wanted a bow-tie again.

For not being very far up on the model line equipment totem pole, the 1LT has quite a lot of equipment, and it's really all I need. I also get six passenger seating, which in comparison, I really liked the bench seat over the buckets. It's the first time ever for bench seating for me. Also, new for 2009 on the Silverado, is the 6L80 transmission for the 5.3L Vortec V8 with automatic fuel management, both of which add up to better fuel economy than the 4 speed auto and ancient LA series/Magnum V6 in the Dakota.

Obviously, the Dakota has many more miles in her, and I hope someone will use those miles. It was a great truck. But, it did not have to room for me to safely carry my family, so it had to go. My cousin has a 93 K1500 with 180k miles on it. It was with this in mind that I purchased the Silverado. Wouldn't it be great, if in 13-15 years, I could pass this truck down to my son, as his first vehicle?

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