Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
Today, whilst my '98 2500 was in for a couple recalls, I walked next door and test drove an '03 Duramax (4x4, short bed, 'quad cab', cloth power seat). List price was $40,000.
It accelerated nicely and drove nicely. The diesel clatter threatened to appear from time to time, then would go away again. It likes to run around 2500-3000 RPM, especially in tow mode. T/C lockup seemed odd and inconsistent; there was no telling when it would lock up and if it would stay locked up.
General things it has are 4 wheel disk brakes, zerk fittings on the ball joints, narrow-neck fuel filler tube.
There were some definite negatives. The cab door window latches have protrusions from the injection molding process that are sharp enough to tear skin. The console is small-ish. The seat was not comfortable for my body, and it doesn't go up high enough. The doors on the left side need to be slammed to close properly. The engine sounds like a V8, not a diesel. The turning radius seemed to be 2-4 feet wider than my '98 2500 LWB. Oh, and if the gauge near the bottom left of the cluster is an EGT gauge, it had to be malfunctioning - it never moved from 160. Oh, wait, now that I think about it, that's probably a trans temp gauge, so 160 is probably about right.
The oddest thing appeared when the trans was in tow mode. The trans would downshift as speed dropped in order to maintain revs and power, which is generally a good thing. It was disconcerting that when I was slowing down with my foot on the brake, the trans would downshift, but the engine *still* rev'ed up, pushing the truck for just a moment or two.
*I* wouldn't buy one. It just isn't comfortable enough for me. It's also much too 'GM'y. It's hard to explain; all I can say is that it just isn't my kind of truck.
Why, you ask, did I test drive it? Well, the dealer sent me something giving away 114-piece tool kits just for walking in the door. Whilst there, I figured I might as well test drive one, just to see what all the hoopla's been about. *I* didn't see it. It's just another GM pickup, though the engine does seem to be nice to drive.
Besides, it gave me something to do while awaiting the completion of the recall work on my truck. I would have driven a common-rail Cummins, but they won't be availble 'til mid-late September. Sales droid says Mexico is already assembling the new trucks, but they're being held for QA testing and so suitable quantities can be shipped to dealers.
Enough babbling. Just thought I'd share my opinion and notes.
Fest3er
It accelerated nicely and drove nicely. The diesel clatter threatened to appear from time to time, then would go away again. It likes to run around 2500-3000 RPM, especially in tow mode. T/C lockup seemed odd and inconsistent; there was no telling when it would lock up and if it would stay locked up.
General things it has are 4 wheel disk brakes, zerk fittings on the ball joints, narrow-neck fuel filler tube.
There were some definite negatives. The cab door window latches have protrusions from the injection molding process that are sharp enough to tear skin. The console is small-ish. The seat was not comfortable for my body, and it doesn't go up high enough. The doors on the left side need to be slammed to close properly. The engine sounds like a V8, not a diesel. The turning radius seemed to be 2-4 feet wider than my '98 2500 LWB. Oh, and if the gauge near the bottom left of the cluster is an EGT gauge, it had to be malfunctioning - it never moved from 160. Oh, wait, now that I think about it, that's probably a trans temp gauge, so 160 is probably about right.
The oddest thing appeared when the trans was in tow mode. The trans would downshift as speed dropped in order to maintain revs and power, which is generally a good thing. It was disconcerting that when I was slowing down with my foot on the brake, the trans would downshift, but the engine *still* rev'ed up, pushing the truck for just a moment or two.
*I* wouldn't buy one. It just isn't comfortable enough for me. It's also much too 'GM'y. It's hard to explain; all I can say is that it just isn't my kind of truck.
Why, you ask, did I test drive it? Well, the dealer sent me something giving away 114-piece tool kits just for walking in the door. Whilst there, I figured I might as well test drive one, just to see what all the hoopla's been about. *I* didn't see it. It's just another GM pickup, though the engine does seem to be nice to drive.
Besides, it gave me something to do while awaiting the completion of the recall work on my truck. I would have driven a common-rail Cummins, but they won't be availble 'til mid-late September. Sales droid says Mexico is already assembling the new trucks, but they're being held for QA testing and so suitable quantities can be shipped to dealers.
Enough babbling. Just thought I'd share my opinion and notes.
Fest3er
Anyways after rolling around in the mud I get the connection dry and back together. 
It does have a fair bit of noise when I thought they were supposed to be real quiet. 
(and how's that for a nifty word while halfways intoxicated?! ) my disc braked 2001. 5 2500 catches rocks between calipers and rims and cuts grooves as well... ... . the parking brake doesn't work hardly at all anymore either... ... what else can I whine about? It smokes too much... ..... 
