Over the weekend, we welcomed home the newest addition to the fleet. A 2018 GMC Sierra SLT Z71 Crew cab.
Found this gem in St. Louis, at all places, on a Honda dealer's lot.
It was a one owner Arkansas truck. 43,180 miles. 5.3 V8.
No accidents, no body or paint work that I could find... anywhere.
No rust or corrosion on the frame, undercarriage, or wheels... it has probably never been on a salt covered road before.
6 speed transmission (not an 8 speed), with a 3.42 rear end.
Bright red with tan leather seats (IMHO, much better than black leather in the summertime).
New Goodyear Wrangler tires, and new brakes (pads and rotors) on all four corners.
Painted ARE bed lid, with a spray on bedliner.
Z71 package. (Why... on a truck like this? I have no idea. But it was only a $350 option.)
Navigation, Bose audio and a factory trailer brake controller.
6" factory step rails with mudflaps.
The window sticker was carefully folded up inside the glovebox.
It was a late 2018 build, that didn't get sold and titled until April, 2019. It sold new from a small town (population 2,000) Arkansas dealer who only sells GMC's. I never imagined that would be possible anymore... a dealer who only sells GMC, in some little town.
One of the trip odometers had never been reset from new. It read 43,180 miles, with an average fuel economy of 20.0 mpg. That tells me right there that this truck has led a fairly sedate life. You're not going to see 20.0 mpg over 43,000 miles if you're regularly towing or hauling with it, or commuting with it in bumper to bumper traffic.
The only thing that it is "missing" is a center console. It has the fold down storage armrest with the skinny seat. Although a center console from the salvage yard can quickly fix that issue. That's not a big deal. Easily fixable. Can't get too picky in the market like this, when the rest of the truck was in excellent condition.
It had everything that we wanted, and really nothing that we didn't want (except maybe the Z71 package, LOL). Possibly the "Rancho" shocks that come with the Z71 package are worth it? I wasn't even considering 8 speed units when looking for this truck. No desire. I realize that the 6 speeds aren't the best performers, but they don't have issues like the 8 speeds. I've driven an 8 speed with issues. They're flat out awful.... near constant shuddering, and slamming into gear when shifting. While looking for this one, I spotted 2 - low mileage 2018's with 8 speeds, that have been sitting on the dealer's lot for a YEAR. Not good.
So, yes. Despite all of the crap that is out there, there are still a few nice vehicles to be found... and at a reasonable price when compared to the competition. You just have to take your time, be patient, and do a lot of searching.... and don't scoff at the poor GMC Sierra that somehow got stuck on a Honda lot. It was by far the best truck that I found, and at the best price.
Oh yeah, and that spiffy $29 silver tape pinstripe, that the dealer in Arkansas probably charged someone $299 for... LOL.
Found this gem in St. Louis, at all places, on a Honda dealer's lot.
It was a one owner Arkansas truck. 43,180 miles. 5.3 V8.
No accidents, no body or paint work that I could find... anywhere.
No rust or corrosion on the frame, undercarriage, or wheels... it has probably never been on a salt covered road before.
6 speed transmission (not an 8 speed), with a 3.42 rear end.
Bright red with tan leather seats (IMHO, much better than black leather in the summertime).
New Goodyear Wrangler tires, and new brakes (pads and rotors) on all four corners.
Painted ARE bed lid, with a spray on bedliner.
Z71 package. (Why... on a truck like this? I have no idea. But it was only a $350 option.)
Navigation, Bose audio and a factory trailer brake controller.
6" factory step rails with mudflaps.
The window sticker was carefully folded up inside the glovebox.
It was a late 2018 build, that didn't get sold and titled until April, 2019. It sold new from a small town (population 2,000) Arkansas dealer who only sells GMC's. I never imagined that would be possible anymore... a dealer who only sells GMC, in some little town.
One of the trip odometers had never been reset from new. It read 43,180 miles, with an average fuel economy of 20.0 mpg. That tells me right there that this truck has led a fairly sedate life. You're not going to see 20.0 mpg over 43,000 miles if you're regularly towing or hauling with it, or commuting with it in bumper to bumper traffic.
The only thing that it is "missing" is a center console. It has the fold down storage armrest with the skinny seat. Although a center console from the salvage yard can quickly fix that issue. That's not a big deal. Easily fixable. Can't get too picky in the market like this, when the rest of the truck was in excellent condition.
It had everything that we wanted, and really nothing that we didn't want (except maybe the Z71 package, LOL). Possibly the "Rancho" shocks that come with the Z71 package are worth it? I wasn't even considering 8 speed units when looking for this truck. No desire. I realize that the 6 speeds aren't the best performers, but they don't have issues like the 8 speeds. I've driven an 8 speed with issues. They're flat out awful.... near constant shuddering, and slamming into gear when shifting. While looking for this one, I spotted 2 - low mileage 2018's with 8 speeds, that have been sitting on the dealer's lot for a YEAR. Not good.
So, yes. Despite all of the crap that is out there, there are still a few nice vehicles to be found... and at a reasonable price when compared to the competition. You just have to take your time, be patient, and do a lot of searching.... and don't scoff at the poor GMC Sierra that somehow got stuck on a Honda lot. It was by far the best truck that I found, and at the best price.
Oh yeah, and that spiffy $29 silver tape pinstripe, that the dealer in Arkansas probably charged someone $299 for... LOL.
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