thoughts on a new (to me) GMC... 6.0 vs 6.6

[msgross]

ok, I know this isn't in the 99+ forum but we have the most traffic here, I can move it later if needed. My toyota camry (don't laugh) is slowly dying, it was free from the in-laws a few years ago so I sold the Ram to start on my 68.

anyway i'm leaning towards buying a truck but really want/need/told to keep it under $20K max (she'd be happier with $15K). If I wait another year I could go $25K or so but I don't know that I can wait that long.

I'm looking at our auto auction on Thursday for some crew cab diesels, slim chance to get one with under 100K for $20K though. And I found this truck for sale too... I don't really tow and only drive 15 miles to work so the 6.0L would work well considering MPG.

I must have a crew cab 4x4, other than that all options are open (except another HEMI)

I think I can get
1. '05 duramax crew diesel for about $21K+ w/100K
2. '07 1500 crew w/80K for $18K
3. truck below for $15K

I found this for $15,500 (might go down to under $15K)
has 3.73 gears per the PO
04 GMC Sierra 2500 Crewcab 4x4, shortbed, 6.0 liter, auto, 89,500 miles, cold air intake with K&N, loaded, On-Star, Bose stereo, power heated front seats, very nice leather int., tinted windows, tonneau cover, Rhino bed liner, like new tires, very clean in and out, runs great, all fluids just changed, no rust.

[Otsa580]

Sounds good to me. I had an 04 1500 crew cab Chevy and loved it. Having a full size short bed would be nice in the 2500 model.
And the GMCs don't have the cat eye front end!
At work they have 2500 series vans with 300,000+ miles on them with the 6.0 engine.

[Jim_PA]

I don't like leather. Had it in a Grand Cherokee, swore I wouldn't do it again, but somehow ended up with a Yukon with leather.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Do you need a 2500 with a 6.0L or diesel?

If you just want a great everyday truck to haul the kids around and tow at most 5 or 6K lbs, I'd recommend a 1500 4x4 w/5.3L. Should get you a couple mpg's better and you should be able to find one in your price range with lower miles than what you've posted. If you don't actually need it, a 2500 is just overkill, JMHO

HOWEVER, the one you posted for 15K seems to be a good deal, but the miles are a little higher than I would like to "start out with" for a used truck.

[msgross]

a 1500 would work for me and the 5.3L in my Tahoe is great (power nad MPG). I'm not that fond of the baby 5.5" beds that they put on the 1500 crew's and if I want to haul something with the family the truck is pretty maxed out.

If I can find a newer 07 at the auction for around 17-18K then I might go that route.

Thanks for the input, 89K miles on a gasser is a little more than I want to slip into as well. I plan 200K per vehicle

[67ChevyRedneck]

That's right, the bed size slipped my mind! That was one of the reason's I wanted an ex. cab. I didn't want a 2500, but I also wanted a real bed.

[Josh]

I have a 06 crew cab 5.5' shortbed 1500 2wd 4.8 truck. I'm not real fond of the little bed, but now that I have a crew cab longbed dually it doesn't bother me. The 1/2t is capable of a lot. I have had a trailer weighing over 6k behind mine before with the family in the truck. It does alright with the load on it and mines a 4.8 truck. The load capacity without a trailer isn't the greatest, but it gets the job done. I call it my car with a truck bed. Look at the 1500HDs too, they're a lil bit cheaper on registration and are a 6.0l crew cab with a regular 6.5' short bed. For the cost difference in a gas truck vs a diesel and the maintenance and the injector issues pre 06 duramax have I would go for a 6.0 or a 8.1 if I got a 2500... I bought my dually and would have to put 150k miles on it to break even vs buying a $20k diesel truck based on mileage savings etc....

[msgross]

they say about $2500 more per 100K miles to make up the cost of the diesel. That's MPG alone not counting maintenance cost and fuel differences. Not worth it to me.

I'm gonna look at some 1500's and 2500's tomorrow... more to come.

[roughedup72]

look for a 1500 hd crew. They have the four doors and the full size short bed and you can get it with a 5.3 or 6.0. I myself like the duramax which is what I'm working on getting. Just because I want one and need something to tow a heavy boat. I know where there is a 1500hd here in south carolina for sale. he's been trying to sale it for a while now.it's a nice looking truck but dont know the asking price. It's at kore motor cycles or motor sports or something like that in columbia s.c.

[Gray Ghost]

I've had 5500 behind my RCSB without an issue and I have the 5.3/auto. The 1500/1500hd's are more than most will ever need.

[msgross]

a buddy at work has the 1500HD and loves it..

I forgot to mention that this has 3.73 gears which is what i'm looking for. I'm trying to look at it tomorrow after work, I have the green light from mama to spend $15000 up to $20000 (kinda ) Maybe i'll fall in love with a low mile 07 new body style gmc at the auction...

[WestButteTruck]

Is it a public auction? I have the 1500hd and can't complain too much. I'm in the process of getting a custom chip burned, to get more HP and hopefully more MPG's too.

[msgross]

Originally Posted by WestButteTruck

Is it a public auction? I have the 1500hd and can't complain too much. I'm in the process of getting a custom chip burned, to get more HP and hopefully more MPG's too.

The manheim auot auction is 15 minutes from my house. Dealers only but I have one that will search the inventory, take you out on the HUGE lot, and let you pick a car for him to bid on. I set a cap price and he buys it. Auction ads $500 and he adds $500 to the price and the deal is done...

http://www2.manheim.com/

you can see how large it is in this link..

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&...19205&t=h&z=16

[msgross]

might be a slight change of direction. went to the auction lot tonight and found a few trucks. One was a 2007 King Ranch crew f350 diesel, my dealers company owns it and I could get it for $25,500 with 83K miles (nice rig).I need to keep it down around $20K though.

But i'm going to role dice on an 06 Titan crew cab 4x4 with only 36K miles. Dealer thinks I can get it for $20K after auction and his fees. He only charges $500 and the auction will cost $400 or so.

Thoughts?, seemed like a nice truck but I never thought about a Nissan, all good reviews and it has 305HP and 380 lbs of torque!

[Gray Ghost]

I'm not a Nissan fan, but good luck anyway!

[msgross]

Titan went for too much on the auction block today... so I found this one on CL...

2006 GMC 1500 Sierra SLT
51,539 mi, 5.3L V8, Automatic, Leather, Power Windows, Power Locks, Keyless Entry, Cruise, Bose Audio System, Rhino Bed Liner, Z71 Package, Heated Seats, Six disc CD Changer, Towing Package, 4x4, 1 owner

I purchased a New GMC Sierra so I am selling my old one.

he's asking $19,495 and it's a 1 owner with new tires. I think I found the one... but, he's out of town all weekend so I have to wait until Monday

I would take off the dorky chrome handles and mirror covers... and most likely lose the lights on the front and maybe the bully bar thing...

[72BlckButy]

Mike have you priced a new one? I know they are offering several good opportunities for people to purchase a new vehicle.

[msgross]

I'm gonna look into it since I get a family GM discount, doubt I will get a crewcab for $400/month though...

[Gray Ghost]

Nice find!

[msgross]

Originally Posted by Gray Ghost

Nice find!

The last black one? It sucks that the guy is gone all weekend, I have a check in my hand for a new truck...

The guy said he bought a new GMC and didn't want their lowball price for a trade-in. I'm guessing they offered him $17K and it reatails for $22K. I like the 5.3 in my Tahoe, I think the wife is jealous now since hers doesn't have heated leather or Bose...

[Gray Ghost]

Yeah...I love my GMC and that one looks like a good deal with the low miles. Hope you can get that one.

[msgross]

If it's like he says then i'll have it Tuesday... I think $19K is a fair price...

[Gray Ghost]

As loaded as that truck is I'd say it's a great deal.

[Boog]

That's a good looking truck Mike. I intend to put my wife in one like it when she gets tired of the Suburban.

[JohnC]

It may be a little too late for my input since you have found what looks to be a pretty nice truck. Here it goes anyway.

I have a 03 GMC Sierra 1500HD crew cab 4x4 with the 6.0L. I am extremely happy with it. My store also has a 02 Chevrolet 2500 crew cab 4x4 with the Duramax. The diesel is nice, but if you don't pull much I wouldn't buy one. Don't get me wrong the diesel is excellent, and we love the power it provides. However, for the extra expense in maintenance, and you not having a real need for the extra towing power it wouldn't be worth it to me. We were looking for another diesel when we bought the 03, but looking back I'm glad we went with the 1500HD. It really fits our needs really well. We can pull with it, but since we don't pull with it all the time it's still nice to drive around in. No loud diesel noise, and when diesel was so much higher than gas I was really enjoying it. Now that they are pretty much even here it's a toss up.

Another thing I noticed when we were looking for my truck. I drove a couple of 2500HD's with the 6.0's in them, and they felt a little underpowered to me. The 6.0 in the 1500HD really feels at home. It has plenty of power, and even pulls our gooseneck trailer fairly well. I best mpg I have got out of my truck is 14.5mpg. That was approx. a 300 mile round trip. All interstate, with a soft tonneau cover, and the cruise set at 75mph. Before this truck I had a 94 GMC Sierra ext cab swb with the 5.7L in it. I got about the same mpg. So I don't really have any complaints about the mpg out of my 03 for the increase in towing ability, and size of the truck.

Now the last truck you showed looks to be a real nice truck. If I didn't really use the full swb I would consider the shorter swb's. You really get used to them from what I hear if you don't utilize them a lot.

Good luck on the purchase, and keep us updated.