Any 2006 Chevys in here? How do you like it?

[Blacksdieselhp]

I have been thinking about getting a 2006 chevy because they will haul a**!!!! Anybody got one here? How do you like it? What kind of trouble are they giving? What kind of power will they handle?

 

[ChrisKringle]

I've been test driving them too, looking at 500hp with one box on a six speed auto that you can shift manually with a + or - button. Not to mention lighter and lower first with variable turbo. They are very fast.

 

[HNelson]

I test drove an early 06 for about 6 weeks thanks to a drunk driver. 6 speed Allison and the old 305 horse engine. Transmission worked good, would hold 6th gear pulling my 6k trailer up most hills. Up my favorite tow test hill it ran 61mph compared to my Dodge 6 speeds 66 mph. But it accelerated faster thanks to being an auto versus the Dodge's manual. The rental place delivered the truck to me with 600 miles on the odo, but I still got 19+ mpg empty. My Dodge was 16-17mpg with that few miles on it though was up to 20mpg by 9k.



They Chevy is definitely an older truck... but wasn't too bad. It had a weird hop, like the stiff rearend would transfer weight to the soft front as the truck went over bumps. The Dodge is more balanced with a little better steering feel.



The shift lever on the Chevy is idiotic, it blocks the view of the climate control so I had to keep looking around it to see if the button was on or not (can't remember if it was the A/C or recirc button that was blocked). It obviously was designed for the new bodystyle truck and not the old ones. I appreciate that they give you the option of choosing your own gear with the rocker switch, but found it gimmicky 99% of the time. The transmission did a good job of choosing it's own gears. And when I wanted to use it I would have prefered to just move the shift lever rather than hit the button. I'm guessing the button was used because they didn't want to modify the shifter hardware for the extra positions on the 6 speed transmission.



The extra tall OD on the 6 speed makes it a real quiet cruiser on the highway and probably contributes to the excellent fuel economy. In 5th gear it's as loud as the cummins, but in 6th the db drops off noticeably.

 

[CTDFreak]

My buddy has an '05 GMC Duramax (not an '06) and his truck gets better fuel ecomony and faster 1/4 mile times than my '05 CTD. We both have 35" Toyo M/T's. He has a 6" lift and I have a 3" leveling kit, so he sits even taller than I do. He is running mid 14's in the 1/4 mile with just a "boost stick" and Predator programmer. He just bought something called EFI Live that guys are getting into the low 13's with, with everything else stock.

Not sure how long it will last, but right now it is a sweet truck. Don't really like the IFS (he had to upgrade some parts as he broke some front end parts). I'm not ready to get rid of my truck, but his truck is very nice.

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

chevys have such a plain look to them these days, I think they are more for people who trade their trucks in every 4 yrs or so

 

[CATCRACKER]

they look pretty bad leveled on 20's and nitto's... sweet! the duallys are wretched :-laf

 

[TCDiesel]

Thier are Two Engines for 2006 D-Max , Early 06 LLY with LBZ electronics and Accessories, and the True LBZ... Big improvement over the LLY 05.

 

[mgoncalves]

Have an 06 GMC LBZ at work, it's a fast truck empty, but does not handle the weight as good as my dodge (power wise).



Also, I like the manual control over the transmission, but it overrides the manual when the trailer is on and just does what it wants to anyways, so no point in having the manual option.



If you drive around empty all the time, the chevy is fun. If you need to use the truck, the dodge will shine through.





One other thing, we just got the snow plow monted on it, and there is no choice but to add weight to the bed as it just about picks up the rear wheels with the plow lifted.







Matt

 

[MHorne]

if i were you i would consider waiting until we all see if that new 6. 7 comes in the 2500 and 3500 trucks and see how the power feels behind those. Just MHO

 

[Jack in Alaska]

What is a "Chevy" ?????

 

[BHolm]

What is a "Chevy" ?????

Jack, A chevy is what people buy when they don't need a TRUCK, they just want to pretend they have a truck. They go for the cushy ride from the car based front suspension. They can get in and out without getting mud on their pantleg on the way to the office because their 4x4 truck sits nice and low on little tires. They also like the car-like acceleration the Isuzu engine gives them, never mind it doesn't pull for beans if you use it like a truck. The chevy is a nice 4wd car with a turbo diesel. I don't understand why people that want to go fast don't just buy fast cars and leave the work for trucks as was originally intended. Fast truck? Why?

 

[nobull60]

Isn't this a DODGE SITE??? Chevy"s are something I don't want to read about here. If I wanted to read about them I would go to a Chevy site. :-{} #@$%!

 

[RailroadJim]

Nobull, i agree with you but the moderators will take the politicaly correct stance of "we are the diesel world" the only thing i would say is this thread should probably be in the diesel conversations forum. Darn those early 90's looking chevys are quick but they're built more car like to begin with.

 

[CTDFreak]

Isn't this a DODGE SITE??? Chevy"s are something I don't want to read about here. If I wanted to read about them I would go to a Chevy site. :-{} #@$%!

just a thought... don't read the thread. :-laf

 

[ACoffel]

Jack, A chevy is what people buy when they don't need a TRUCK, they just want to pretend they have a truck. They go for the cushy ride from the car based front suspension. They can get in and out without getting mud on their pantleg on the way to the office because their 4x4 truck sits nice and low on little tires. They also like the car-like acceleration the Isuzu engine gives them, never mind it doesn't pull for beans if you use it like a truck. The chevy is a nice 4wd car with a turbo diesel. I don't understand why people that want to go fast don't just buy fast cars and leave the work for trucks as was originally intended. Fast truck? Why?

I think you hit the nail on the head with this explanation !! I can't believe that there are TDR members who have the audacity to refer to a chevy as a truck !

 

[Blacksdieselhp]

Well, I'll put it like this. I own a body shop and a diesel performance shop. And as far as the trucks (and cars for that matter) being built good and what not, Their all crap. I work on the body and suspension of all brands daily and none of the american made cars or trucks are worth a crap(especially ford). When it comes to engines, hands down the Cummins is king and everybody knows that. But what Dodge has done to cummins is just sick. Dodge has definately ruined their reputation in the last few years. And as far as warranty goes, I don't even care cause I don't want the dumba** people they hire to work on my engine. But when a guy pays $40-$50K for a truck and the air don't work and the injectors constantly go out and they deny warranty because he puts "dirty fuel" in it, thats bullcrap. Thats about as dirty as you can get. I know chevys are having trouble too with injectors, but at least the air blows cold and they fix their problems. At least they do here. I have several friends that have went from Dodge to Chevy in the last year because of the warranty and some of them have had injector issues, but every one of them has been taken care of. And not by replacing one injector, but all of them. If one is bad then they got 8 new ones. Thats the way its supposed to be. I'll always have a dodge cummins in my driveway. Probably not anything newer than 2005, but I'll always have one. And as far as handling weight, yea the dodge was the way to go until 2003. My friend just bought a 2006 4wd dually and we put a flatbed on it and when he loads it with his bobcat and several bundles of wooded fence posts, which is his normal every day load, the tires hit the skirts on the flatbed. Hes already blew out four tires because it squats so bad. So now I'm not sure what truck will handle the weight the best. Those tow ratings don't mean anything. Real world loads is what counts. And the reason that all the trucks are such pieces of crap are because they got a bunch of golfers in three piece suits designing a working mans truck, and it just ain't working. They let somebody who uses these things to give them a hand in desing, then they might come up with a real truck. And I'm referring to all brands. So all you crybabies who don't wanna see this post, don't read it. And why do we want fast truck, cause its fun, thats why. Theres a fast car on every corner in my town. But when the guy at the ford place pulls up beside you in the new supercharged cobra and you dump an unreasonable amount of smoke on him while you pull past his little hot rod mustang, now that what I call FUN .

 

[LAMiller]

One other thing - the Chevy/Duramax is not a big terd like every CTD owner claims them to be! The way I look at it is that the Dmax is a great engine that makes good power is very remarkable for the reliability that it offers but doesn't offer the longjevity of the CTD and is a total beotch to work on!!

Granted I give all my friends w/ chevy's a lot of crap about there aluminum Izuzu engine but I also have been humiliated at the drag strip by these tin cans and my trucks not slowest Dodge around either so I chose to give credit where credit is due!

Also I've had my truck towed by a Duramax when it broke and they tow very well! If I didn't compare it to my twin turbo cummins then I wouldn't have any complaints! So If you want a TRUCK that will make good power and look good for a few years before you buy a new one than the chevy isn't a bad idea but if you want a TRUCK that you wanna drive till the wheels fall off and plan on doing your own mechanic work then IMHO you'll be better off with a Cummins!!



Lavon

 

[BHolm]

Well, OK, sounds like fun but, if you are drag racing cars and beating them with your truck... ... I'm not so sure I would consider them very fast cars Unless of course you truck is into the mid 11's

 

[Luken]

I don't understand why people that want to go fast don't just buy fast cars and leave the work for trucks as was originally intended. Fast truck? Why?

I like having a fast truck for when I pull up next to people like you at a stop light



Anyone can make a sports car go fast... its more of a challenge to get a 7,000+ pound 4x4 truck in the 11's...

 

[GHarman]

A Real TRUCK?

Isn't this a DODGE SITE??? Chevy"s are something I don't want to read about here. If I wanted to read about them I would go to a Chevy site. :-{} #@$%!

The last time I drove a real truck was on Highway 9 between LZ Vandegrift and Dong Ha circa 1967 or so. It was a Dodge (civilian-powerwagon) 3/4 ton 4X4 P. C. USMC issue gasser (of course). I was distracted by some indignant personell=) and the steering was sloppy. I went off the mud track, over the bank into a rice paddy. I was able to double clutch it, downshift and mud flying climbed back up the bank onto the mud track. With no Shotgun with me to help out. Lets say that Divine Providence was helping me drive! That was a truck! You had to have been there. Glad you were'nt. Greg H.