Originally Posted By: CKN
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Originally Posted By: CKN
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Tahoe’s have a 5.3L, which is pretty gutless and has to spin at high RPMs to get anywhere.
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This is the same motor that is in million of vehicles....right? The 5.3 is not a gutless motor. It is a great motor for moving a heavy vehicle around plus it to tows the weekend travel trailer nicely.
You can qualify your statement.
I'm waiting.
I own a truck with a 5.3 in it...so I know hat I'm talking about.
You own a newer one with a 6 speed auto, the OP’er is looking for an old one, with a 4 speed auto. Totally different animals. My grandfather had an 03’ Silverado with a 5.3L and another family member has an 05’ Tahoe with a 5.3L. I was speechless with how those vehicles can’t hardly move. With the Tahoe in the mountains the gear spacing is so far apart, it’s unbelievable. Slowing down in the hills means slowly giving it more and more throttle and then all of a sudden it shoots down to 2nd gear and it’s screaming, 4,000+ RPMs and then it moves and speeds up. Hunting and hunting because it can’t keep its speed in 3rd gear because not enough RPMs. A newer 6 speed would help tremendously.
Same situation with this. My grandmother has a 2011 CRV that is totally gutless in the hills too, it’s great around town but going up a hill, it has a 5 speed auto and it can’t get into its power-band, only 3,500-4,000 RPMs totally floored in the mountains, if it had a 6 speed or a CVT, it would be able to get the RPMs to where it can make some power and do much better.
My grandparents also have an 02’ Trailblazer with the 4.2L 6 cylinder, actually the same 4 speed auto as the Tahoe, I’ve driven it thousands and thousands of miles, it could run circles around the Tahoe, has MUCH more power.
On the truck forums-not enough power-even from those that own older trucks just doesn't seem to be a complaint. They STILL HAVE SOLD several hundred thousand before the 6 speed transmission was introduced. So-maybe your expectations for a half-ton pickup truck or Subrban are different than most people.
I had a 1999 Suburban-bought brand new. And while the general build quality was absolute junk-especially for a $29,000 vehicle back then -I never felt for a family hauler it lacked power.
I guess our experiences differ. However-I have owned the vehicles in question-now your back peddling. You said the 5.3 can't get out of it's own way-now you inferring if it's matched to a six speed things are different.
I was talking to the OP'er, who was considering an old one, and nowhere near one that could have a 6 speed auto.
What I have to refer it to was my 96' C1500 Silverado 5.7L. It really moved! Instant throttle response and all the power you wanted down low.