Ken S

Hmm, I was just looking at the 2004 models, and went to "build your own" vehicle... did the prices go down a bit?

For about $33k, you can get a 2500HD crew cab short box with a 8100 engine and a 6 speed manual trans! with

• Air cleaner, high-capacity (K47) $0.00
• Air conditioning, dual-zone, manual, individual climate settings for driver and right front passenger (CJ3) $0.00
• Battery, auxiliary heavy-duty, 600 cold-cranking amps (TP2) $135.00
• Bumper, rear, painted step, includes pad (V43) $0.00
• Cooling, external transmission oil cooler, auxiliary, heavy-duty air-to-oil (KNP) $0.00
• Differential, limited slip, heavy-duty, rear, | (G86) $0.00
• Emissions, Federal requirements (FE9) $0.00
• Engine, Vortec 8100 V8 SFI, (330 HP [245.8 kW] @ 4200 rpm, 450 lb.-ft. [607.5 N-m] @ 3200 rpm) (L18) $850.00
• GVWR, 9200 lbs. (4173 kg) (C6W) $0.00
• HEAVY DUTY POWER PKG. DISCOUNT (1SZ) $0.00
• Rear axle, 3.73 ratio (GT4) $0.00
• Suspension Package, Ride-Control, manual selectable, includes 2-position electronic control for shock setting and smooth-road/trailering (ZX3) $325.00
• Tires, LT245/75R16E, all-season, blackwall (QIZ) $0.00
• Trailering equipment, heavy-duty, includes trailering hitch platform, 7-wire harness (harness includes wires for: park lamps, backup lamps, right turn, left turn, electric brake lead, battery and ground) with independent fused trailering circuits mated to a 7-way sealed connector, 7-way to 4-way trailer adapter, instrument panel jumper wiring harness for electric trailer brake controller, and 1-way sealed connector for center high-mounted stop/brake lamp. Also includes (K47) Air cleaner, high capacity. (Z82) $235.00
• Transmission, 6-speed manual, heavy-duty, with overdrive (ML6) $0.00
• Wheel flares (B71)

and probably some other since I got tired of clicking thru the slow website....

Might not ride as nice as the SS and not as fast, but seems like ALOT more truck than for less!

Threxx

All I know is that I priced a 2003 2500HD standard cab LS with the 6.0, power windows, locks, cruise, keyless entry, etc and after invoice pricing and rebates it was only something like 20.5k!

jg95z28

I did the same thing a few months back and someone correctly pointed out to me that the 6-speed in the 2500HD is a lower geared hualing type transmission and completely different from a performance 6-speed.

The best bang for the buck is the 5.3L and automatic combination. However, I swear to God my 4.8 has more power than the 5.3. This weekend I headed to LA with a full load in back of my Tahoe and I was blowing by LT Tahoes and Suburbans with ease over the Grapevine. Got 17.2 mpg... Fully loaded over that grade.

Z28x

maybe you got a 6.0L by mistake

Eric Bryant

Yes, that GMbuypower.com website is terribly slow, and ends up crashing more often than not (or so it seems).

Yes, it's a tremendous amount of truck for the money! However, think very hard about getting the 8.1 L if you do a lot of driving - gas mileage is terrible with that engine. The 6.0 L is a better choice if you're going to put a lot of miles on the truck and plan only "light" towing (i.e. less than 7500 lbs or so). Get the diesel if you plan on towing a lot of weight over long distances. Most folks will be best-off with the 6.0 L.

The pricing doesn't seem all that cheap (but not expensive, either) - in general, truck prices have been going up slowly. A couple years ago, I priced-out a lower-end regular-cab Silverado 2500HD 4x4 with the 8.1 L and the Allison, and it came to about $31K with minimal options.