Pea Soup
October 31st, 2008Fine New Whip
You have to do me a favor.
Make me stop looking at this truck.
It’s a little confusing. It seems like the headlights and grille on this thing are different from the photos of other 2007 Silverados I’ve seen. But it’s automatic. It has the small V-8. And it has a regular bed with no ridiculous crew cab. And it only has 7,000 miles on it.
In some ways it’s fairly cheesy. The windows have cranks, and there’s no CD player. And vinyl seats? Won’t I stick to those? I like the durability, but I would think leather would be best, to avoid the staining you get with cloth, without losing breathability.
The appeal of getting a cheap used work truck is that it’s cheap. The downside is that I might want to make a truck my primary vehicle in a year or so, and then I’ll have no T-bird to back it up, and my only ride will be a pea-soup-colored truck with window cranks.
October 31st, 2008 at 1:58 PM
What’s wrong with cranks? Don’t dismiss them too lightly – you’ll cut down on your readership.
October 31st, 2008 at 2:14 PM
Cranks – who cares? Cd Player – $200 dollars solves that problem. Vinyl seats, though…Maybe a cabbie’s seat cover? Or shearling. Does shearling feel good in hot weather?
Plus it’s not red, like any good pickup should be.
That warranty looks kind of skimpy. Check out-state dealers; I think many offer to match the current 100,000 mile ones. A used ’08 would have the 100,000 mile warranty.
Can you tow with it? You’re going to want to pull a trailler once you get into competitive smoking or buy a gas-powered 480V welder.
October 31st, 2008 at 2:14 PM
Chevy, V-8. Only 7000 miles?!
This chick digs it — Oops. I mean, stop looking at that!
October 31st, 2008 at 2:23 PM
No CD player is an easy fix. But window cranks? Who knew they still made those?
I haven’t kept up with my Chevy history, but for years they made a 1500 W/T (Work Truck). It was a bare bones model much like the one you linked.
October 31st, 2008 at 2:25 PM
My first Honda had crank windows. But I could easily reach both sides from the dirver’s seat in it.
Vinyl can be covered with any number of materials that are non-stick and highly washable.
October 31st, 2008 at 2:54 PM
You can get the parts to change the window regulators from handcrank to lectric. And a new leather interior is less than a grand, installed.
October 31st, 2008 at 3:45 PM
window cranks are WONDERFUL. I had to replace an automatic window on a Toyota Camry and it was $300. Besides, think of the great biceps you’ll develop. Seat covers will take care of the plastic.
Go for it!!!!
October 31st, 2008 at 3:59 PM
And vinyl seats? Won’t I stick to those?
Wear Pants.
Seat cranks break less, cost less, weigh less.
October 31st, 2008 at 4:21 PM
I have this truck, with the long bed. Drives great. I live in Florida and I don’t have a problem with the vinyl. You can use the truck for whatever dirty work and you don’t worry about ruining the interior. Best, coldest air conditioner I’ve ever had. Definitely worth the $.
October 31st, 2008 at 4:30 PM
I only get crank windows if I can get it.
You will really appreciate the deisel ten years down the road.
Vinyl is just fine — and I live in Houston, which is hot and humid.
October 31st, 2008 at 4:33 PM
Yeah, that’s the “fleet” or “work truck” model, with a black plastic grille instead of the chrome consumer version. Adding a CD player or other entertainment system is just a matter of a few hundred bucks. There’s probably an autosound place close by.
I personally would prefer window cranks — the electric windows on my car have failed, and I ain’t got the scratch (or the time) to fix them — but that’s an ideal project for a God of Tools. Find a Silverado of the same body style in a wrecking yard, and make a deal with the proprietor to yank the mechanisms and wiring out of it and transplant.
The same Silverado would at least have cloth upholstery (much nicer in hot weather) or at least could be redone in leather — the consumer vehicle will also have power seats, which fleet trucks like that one typically do not. If not, aftermarket seats aren’t all that expensive. They make a nice project, too.
Leave the outside just as it is. In fact, take it to Mancamp and have the guys bash it a bit. Nice-looking trucks are magnets for the free-lance share-the-wealth brigade.
Stop looking at that truck, Steve.
Regards,
Ric
October 31st, 2008 at 4:44 PM
Leather is not all that breathable. And sweaty thighs, well, they’re interesting in certain situations but not when you’re hopping out of your truck on the way into Costco. Shearling is cool, comfy and very breathable.
October 31st, 2008 at 6:10 PM
It looks to me like another “learning” period. Remodeling work truck. Sanding, upholstery work, electrical work…..you might need more tools.
October 31st, 2008 at 8:52 PM
Do you operate the passenger window frequently?
A crank on the drivers side is nothing.
A unpretentious vanilla truck might suit your awakened sensabilities.
I’d buy it. And shearling. And a cheap radio to plug my mp3 player into. And a tonneau cover (extang).
October 31st, 2008 at 9:09 PM
I like the black grill better, the color is ok, and a hand crack won’t go out on you latter like a electric will. The vinyl may take some getting used to, but if there’s no carpet, you can wash it cab out with a water hose.
October 31st, 2008 at 9:19 PM
No, no, no. no…. South FL and vinyl seats are a no-no unless you want to roast. Ask the seller to swap for cloth seats if it is a dealer, otherwise you will have to find some good heavy wool army surplus blankets and fit same to the back and the seat to survive. Trust me, been there, done that.
November 1st, 2008 at 3:29 AM
You have my permission to buy it, but only if I get first refusal on buying the T-Bird. 😉
November 1st, 2008 at 12:04 PM
Steve — forget the CD player and windows. It’s hideous. You should buy it.
November 1st, 2008 at 2:05 PM
I don’t see anything to not like. Go for it!
November 1st, 2008 at 4:54 PM
Right now I’m looking at having to have my driver’s side window motor looked at. It won’t go down and if it happened to it might stay down, so a handy, dandy window crank sounds pretty good. That is on a Gran Marquis. What else do us old folks have?