Re: [A/S] Chevy Silverado Duramax Allison

["Patricia V. Raimondo" <praimond@xxxx>]

Thank You Oliver!

I really appreciate you taking the time to explain all that you did. A 
lot of what you say I learned from the Chevy truck dealer I talked to 
yesterday but you expanded on it in a way I could follow!

I especially like that the engine knows to down shift on hills, saving 
the brakes. Two weeks ago I was pulling in W. VA, my first real 
experience with multiple up and down LONG hills! I hated braking too 
often but found that I had too to keep the speed at a reasonable rate. 
I also noted on that trip that my transmission temp. stayed a little 
over 200 while climbing the hills. This past Aug. I towed out west in 
temp. over 95 and the transmission temp never hit 200.

You mention the Quadrasteer option but it is not available on HD 
trucks. (2500-3500 diesel series) I could get it on the 6.0L 1500 truck 
but that defeats my purpose in switching from a 2500 Suburban to the 
Silverado.

Frequent oil changes makes me leary of where to buy the truck. I have 
several Chevy dealers close by but none of them are truck specialists, 
don't even inventory them on their lots. I went out to the end of Long 
Island to see the truck at a dealer that only sells Chevy trucks. I'd 
be afraid to have it serviced at a dealer that didn't have diesel 
experience. But this is a 45 min. drive each way! I don't even have a 
gas station here in my town that sells diesel! Long Island is rough 
for people with trucks and trailers! (I've mentioned before, when I 
leave town with the A/S EVERYONE knows its me! Hard for a teacher to 
sneak out with a "sick" day!)

Short bed does make more sense for someone who lives in suburbia and 
has to deal with parking lots. I like the crew cab cause I travel with 
my two dogs and need to have two crates behind me on the folded down 
seats. Having a truck vs the Suburban cuts down on flying objects if I 
had to stop short suddenly.

My problem now is not if but whether I can sell my 02 Suburban for 
enough to be able to do it! It's fully loaded with Sat. radio and 
remote start so I may advertise it first and if I sell it then buy the 
truck.

Thanks for the ramblings!

Patti