Topic: '01 Sierra - Should I buy it?

[WpgMonty]

I have an opportunity to purchase a 2001 Regular Cab 2WD Long Box Sierra (C 1500) with the 4.3 V6 and 4 Speed Auto transmission. I have researched potential problems, and read hundreds of owner reviews and there seems to be only three consistent complaints: fuel injectors need constant cleaning, the ABS brakes can seize on occasion if not regualry serviced, and the OEM driveshaft yoke is prone to breakage. The truck has 201,000 km's and a few dents, but other than that is is relatively good condition, although filthy dirty.

The price is awesome. I am trading my piece of sh!t 1996 Voyager Rallye Sport straight up. What is the consensus from other forum members, especially those who own Sierra's?

The background: I had just traded my 1992 Dodge Spirit (191,000 km's, owned it since it was brand new) two weeks ago when diagnosed with a fatal frame-member rust-cancer for 4 Blizzak WS-50 snow tires and 4 OEM Focus Sport wheels, when the Voyager (170,000 km's, bought it from the father-in-law 8 years ago, and he bought it brand new in '96) was diagnosed with a cracked block and broken cam-shaft. It's been a couple of weeks of hell with crappy Chrysler products. The van is on it's fourth transmission ( 1 done on warranty, 2 since it came off warranty), and I can't justify spending a further $2000 to fix a ten year old money pit. It's in mint condition, never been in an accident, and the interior is like brand-new. I have maintained this vehicle extremely well, it's super clean, but it's time to let go. The offer was to trade the van for the truck, through a friend who works with my wife at a Freightliner dealer who has a customer looking for an older Chrysler van.

I test drove the Sierra, and while the V6 is somewhat lacking in power, nothing else about the truck seemed to be a problem. It steers, brakes shifts gears cleanly and corners quite well for a truck, and the interior is quite roomy. There's no rust anywhere, no cracks in the glass, there's no oil leaking and the tires are all less than a year old. It's friggin' filthy dirty though; I'm going to spend many hours and a small fortune cleaning it.

The concern? I don't really need a truck, and it's going to be a pig on gas, especially compared to the Spirit, but I need a replacement vehicle fast, and this solves my problem, and in a hurry, as I can have the truck for the weekend. The price is right ( I think the guy is clinically insane for trading the truck straight-up, but my buddy insists this guy is not scamming us, as he has been a good, honest and loyal customer for many years). He has to work with my wife on a daily basis, so if there's a problem, he'll have to face her every day!

What do you Sierra/Silverado owners have to say?

[WpgMonty]

I have an opportunity to purchase a 2001 Regular Cab 2WD Long Box Sierra (C 1500) with the 4.3 V6 and 4 Speed Auto transmission. I have researched potential problems, and read hundreds of owner reviews and there seems to be only three consistent complaints: fuel injectors need constant cleaning, the ABS brakes can seize on occasion if not regualry serviced, and the OEM driveshaft yoke is prone to breakage. The truck has 201,000 km's and a few dents, but other than that is is relatively good condition, although filthy dirty.

The price is awesome. I am trading my piece of sh!t 1996 Voyager Rallye Sport straight up. What is the consensus from other forum members, especially those who own Sierra's?

The background: I had just traded my 1992 Dodge Spirit (191,000 km's, owned it since it was brand new) two weeks ago when diagnosed with a fatal frame-member rust-cancer for 4 Blizzak WS-50 snow tires and 4 OEM Focus Sport wheels, when the Voyager (170,000 km's, bought it from the father-in-law 8 years ago, and he bought it brand new in '96) was diagnosed with a cracked block and broken cam-shaft. It's been a couple of weeks of hell with crappy Chrysler products. The van is on it's fourth transmission ( 1 done on warranty, 2 since it came off warranty), and I can't justify spending a further $2000 to fix a ten year old money pit. It's in mint condition, never been in an accident, and the interior is like brand-new. I have maintained this vehicle extremely well, it's super clean, but it's time to let go. The offer was to trade the van for the truck, through a friend who works with my wife at a Freightliner dealer who has a customer looking for an older Chrysler van.

I test drove the Sierra, and while the V6 is somewhat lacking in power, nothing else about the truck seemed to be a problem. It steers, brakes shifts gears cleanly and corners quite well for a truck, and the interior is quite roomy. There's no rust anywhere, no cracks in the glass, there's no oil leaking and the tires are all less than a year old. It's friggin' filthy dirty though; I'm going to spend many hours and a small fortune cleaning it.

The concern? I don't really need a truck, and it's going to be a pig on gas, especially compared to the Spirit, but I need a replacement vehicle fast, and this solves my problem, and in a hurry, as I can have the truck for the weekend. The price is right ( I think the guy is clinically insane for trading the truck straight-up, but my buddy insists this guy is not scamming us, as he has been a good, honest and loyal customer for many years). He has to work with my wife on a daily basis, so if there's a problem, he'll have to face her every day!

What do you Sierra/Silverado owners have to say? (posted in the "Used Truck/SUV" thread as well)

[airbalancer]

Have not had a reg cab since 93, it was the 4.3l, had over 300,000 when I trade it in and had not problems with it
Been driving  a GM ext cab since 2000 without many problems

[HeliDriver]

I've never owned a Sierra/Silverado, but I 've got a few miles on our 2005, one-ton Sierra work truck. Not sure how relevant that is to your situation, but I do think it's a nice truck.  

Sounds like a great deal, so what the hell! I'd go for it. I'd be a little concerned about the filth, though. Not so much for its own sake, but because it suggests that the owner probably didn't take much care of the mechanical side of things either.

[WpgMonty]

I've never owned a Sierra/Silverado, but I 've got a few miles on our 2005, one-ton Sierra work truck. Not sure how relevant that is to your situation, but I do think it's a nice truck.  

Sounds like a great deal, so what the hell! I'd go for it. I'd be a little concerned about the filth, though. Not so much for its own sake, but because it suggests that the owner probably didn't take much care of the mechanical side of things either.

Here's a picture:



It's just the interior that's dirty. The exterior is fairly clean, and the engine compartment is close to pristine. Crap, they won't let me post a picture. Bugger.

[WpgMonty]

Let's try that again.

[HeliDriver]

Nice looking truck. But let me get this straight - he wants to trade straight-up for a ten-year-old Voyager with 170,000 kms on it, a cracked block and a broken camshaft? 

What are you waiting for? I'd be on that like Oprah on a baked ham. 

[articsteve]

If I read you correctly you have a severely disabled POS Dodge minvan and someone is willing to exchange that for a running 1/2 ton?   Is that on the road, as in legal, without any additional money from you?  If so, take it.

[AVToller]

Nice looking truck. But let me get this straight - he wants to trade straight-up for a ten-year-old Voyager with 170,000 kms on it, a cracked block and a broken camshaft? 

What are you waiting for? I'd be on that like Oprah on a baked ham. 

  I really don't get it either. The truck is 5 years newer and runs well but is filthy. The Van is clean, but essentially needs a new engine.  The van is worth a pair of running shoes. Sure, make the trade, especially if he doesn't know where you live. Does the truck owner know about the engine?? 

[AVToller]

Please don't start multiple threads for one topic. Thank you.

[articsteve]

Sorry dude I didn't start this thread.   


Where is the MOVER 

[WpgMonty]

I questioned my wife some more on this, because after re-reading everything, I too thought maybe something was sketchy about this. It turns out the dealership is buying the van from me, and selling it to the customer, and buying the truck from him and selling it to me, and as a favour to my wife for many years of loyal service, are covering the difference in pricing, so for me it's essentially a straight-up swap. The guy knows about the engine problem, but is willing to repair the van, so everybody's happy. So I'm going to take the deal, because even if there is some repairs required on the truck for a safety certificate, I'm still 5 years newer and a few thousand dollars ahead. Karma, I guess, for all the times I have stopped to help stranded motorists.

[articsteve]

OK, so that is a little more clear.  You are getting the truck "as is".  Well still not a bad deal even if it costs you 2K to renew everything.

PS.  whatever you do get that rad flushed out and do not reinstall the DEXCOOL.  The normal 2 year stuff is best, every 2 years.  Service transmission as well.

[mrthompson]

My father in law owns a '95 Sierra 2WD with the 4.3L automatic, purchased used.  The truck has approx. 200k kms.  He is a farmer, and the truck has served him well for the past 7 years.  The truck certainly isn't a powerhouse, but it does delivery decent fuel economy for a full size truck.  Any problems the FIL has experience with his truck have been minor.

Congrats on your new-to-you Sierra.   

[WpgMonty]

OK, so that is a little more clear.  You are getting the truck "as is".  Well still not a bad deal even if it costs you 2K to renew everything.

PS.  whatever you do get that rad flushed out and do not reinstall the DEXCOOL.  The normal 2 year stuff is best, every 2 years.  Service transmission as well.

It's not going to cost me anything. It's in getting a safety done today, and so far my mechanic has found nothing that will cause the truck to fail the inspection. There are some items that are at best passable that will need to be taken care of, but it's looking good.

I have already agreed to buy it; how could I go wrong?

[mdxtasy]

Like a fat kid on a smartie...that's a deal and a half.  I'd run after stealing that truck.    Congrats.

[Arthur Dent]

I'd do the trade right away - and don't leave a forwarding address. Clean the truck up - you could always flip it for something else later. The 4.3L V6 engine is pretty nice - basically a small block V8 with two cylinders chopped off.

[WpgMonty]

I'd do the trade right away - and don't leave a forwarding address. Clean the truck up - you could always flip it for something else later. The 4.3L V6 engine is pretty nice - basically a small block V8 with two cylinders chopped off.

I feel like that kid in the Volkswagon commercial; I'm half expecting the police to pull me over for stealing.

I get the truck on Tuesday of next week, and I am getting the cooling system flushed, the transmission fluid replaced, the fuel injectors cleaned and a tune-up, and then next weekend I'm taking it into the wash bay at the dealership where my wife works and spending the entire weekend cleaning. I'll start with an engine cleaning, followed by an undercarriage steam cleaning, a thorough washing of the exterior and finish up with a wax job. The interior is going to need a carpet and upholstery vacuuming and cleaning (thank God for the steamcleaner!) and a lot of detailing, but I'll make it look almost brand new again!

Wish me luck!

[AVToller]

LUCK!! 

[articsteve]

I'll start with an engine cleaning,

Don't.