Got to drive my good friends brand new 2009 GMC Sierra 1500 last night. He got the 5.3L crew cab short bed 4x4. Its a pretty nice truck. Handles well and rides nice. The engine didn't feel too strong, or accelerate as well as I would have thought for a 5 liter V8, but it wasn't weak. Seemed to have less interior width than the Ram but the backseats definately had more leg room. I didn't get to take it on any back roads, he said he might let me this weekend so we can try out the 4 wheel drive. All in all it is a nice truck I just can't see dropping $33k on one.

 

I know a mechanic I work with that owns one from around '96 I believe. He treats that thing like crap. Parks in massive mud puddles, always has about 300 pounds worth of stuff in the cab, and the chrome tires are so dirty they look spray painted black. It never has a problem though lol. It just runs.

 

superbike7 what gears did it have in it?

 

sierras were awd I thought? I've raced a 6.0L sierra. Narrowly lost. Planning on a re-race soon.

 

Ok....

 

the engine felt weak? musta been a dud. all the ones ive driven have felt VERY capable. especially when you get into the 6.0s and 6.2s. but the 323 is a pretty sturdy engine..

 

yup specially if you find a regular cab short box 5.3l....yikes

 

ive got a friend with a z71 extended cab, on 20s, that runs low 13s/high 12s all motor... and 160k miles on it. the 5.3 is beef.

 

Cheap C channel frame is why.. cuts a lot of weight out.

Newer 5.3 is only 315hp/338tq...which is prob not too far from the hemi 345/375 after the terrible ~28% drivetrain loss Chryser tranny's have.

Fullsize pick-up pulling 12's on 20's..I call BS on all motor. No way! Maybe with a Vortech blower with an 8lb+ pulley. An extended cab GM pick-up weighs like 5800lbs. Every 100lbs cuts or adds ~.1 to your 1/4mi time. With 3,000lbs heavier than the next guy...That adds ~3 full seconds to your 1/4mi time using the same engine as the next guy for comparison reasons.
Stock camaro's that weigh like half your buddies truck and the same engine power if not more do not run 12's.

Was it strip down? Cuz all the Sierra 4wd 1500 Extended cabs I was looking at that were comparable to my Ram were over $40k.

My Ram stickered at $37,730...

 

I'm not sure about gears I'll ask him when I see him this weekend. As for price I know he traded in his 02 Tacoma. It had been in a wreck so they couldn't have given him that much for it, maybe 4-5k? I didn't ask if $33k was the MSRP or what he paid after trade. He got the leather seats so it wasn't stripped.