Drove a new Silverado rental and my Tundra is way better!

ryanhokie2001 · #1 (**permalink**) 12-20-2007, 09:00 AM

I had to take my Tundra into the body shop for a couple days to fix a door scratch/ding and I got a new 07 Silverado rental truck to drive in the interim. I was really surprised at how "cheap" it felt in relation to my Tundra. Keep in mind that my last vehicle was a Chevy Trailblazer so I'm not a Chevy hater by any means. The cabin/wind noise was really pronounced on the Chevy compared to my Tundra. A lot of "squeaks" and rattles from the cabin. Also, their new v8 displacement on demand engine or whatever it is seemed really weak when compared to my 4.7L Tundra V8. If the 4.7L is more powerful and smoother feeling then I can only imagine what someone comparing the 5.7L Tundra must think! When you hit the gas on the Chevy there is a lot of hesitation and it isn't nearly as smooth as the Tundra. As for the interior, I can't see why anyone would say the Chevys have a better interior than the Tundra. I only have a SR5 and it's interior blows the Chevy's interior out of the water! One thing that I liked about the Chevy was the stereo/radio. The way it lists all your "favorite" channels on the display at all times and also where it tells you the radio station, artist and song is great. Why can't Toyota put this on their baseline radios? Even my wife's 4Runner doesn't have this on her stereo and my 2002 Trailblazer had this feature as well. I guess you have to get the dvd/nav to see the channel info but it must not seem that hard if Chevy has it standard? Just my 2 cents but it sure makes me feel good about buying the Tundra after originally considering looking at a new Silverado.

box · #2 (**permalink**) 12-20-2007, 09:08 AM

I'd have to agree with you. I test drove the Silverado and found the following:

-stereo is WEAK
-acceleration is sluggish and "delayed"
-loud interior in reference to wind noise
-dash is ugly and full of cheap plastic (guess the tundra is like this too though)
-ride was a tad stiff (compared to tundra)
-back seat wasn't nearly as roomie as a CM is...guess I'm spoiled now with the room the tundra has

there were some things better than the tundra, but no sense it typing it out.

Charley_S · #3 (**permalink**) 12-20-2007, 09:40 AM

I went to lunch yesterday with a guy who had a '07 Silverado 2500 LTZ Duramax. While the truck was nice, I too was surprised to find that the interior materials were not any better than the Tundra after hearing all the "raves" in the car mags about the new Silverado interior. In fact, I sat in the rear seat, behind the driver and the leather on his seat back was already separating at the seam. The leather in the Tundra may not be the best, but the Chevy's leather was not any nicer.

It was a nice truck but it did not make me sorry I chose the Tundra. In fact, the owner of the truck had very complimentary things to say about the Tundra when I mentioned to him that I had one. He particularly like the back-up camera feature, which is not avialable in a GM, because he hauls trailers alot.

As I have said before, dollar for dollar, the Tundra is a better buy, IMO.

ryanhokie2001 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-20-2007, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charley_S

I went to lunch yesterday with a guy who had a '07 Silverado 2500 LTZ Duramax. While the truck was nice, I too was surprised to find that the interior materials were not any better than the Tundra after hearing all the "raves" in the car mags about the new Silverado interior. In fact, I sat in the rear seat, behind the driver and the leather on his seat back was already separating at the seam. The leather in the Tundra may not be the best, but the Chevy's leather was not any nicer.

It was a nice truck but it did not make me sorry I chose the Tundra. In fact, the owner of the truck had very complimentary things to say about the Tundra when I mentioned to him that I had one. He particularly like the back-up camera feature, which is not avialable in a GM, because he hauls trailers alot.

As I have said before, dollar for dollar, the Tundra is a better buy, IMO.

I think you hit the nail on the head. "Dollar for dollar", I would have to agree that the Tundra is a much better truck and you get more for your money. I was also very surprised on how poor the Chevy interior was since it has gotten so many good reviews and how the Tundra's interior has been knocked. I guess the older Chevys must have had really pitiful interiors? This one had a cloth interior which was really ugly and not as nice as the Tundra cloth interior. I will say that at least the Chevy didn't have a painted dash!

But, the Chevy "knobs" seemed small and puny compared to the Tundra's bigger knobs on my SR5. I have even driven my father-in-laws F150 and it was a lot nicer than the Chevy!

thumbster · #5 (**permalink**) 12-20-2007, 11:08 AM

Silverado doesn't compare to the tundra's refined ride and better drivetrain. Also, the interior is far from what it's cracked up to be. You feel every pebble on the road in the silverado and not in a good way. I'd have to criticize the suspension on the silverado as being the biggest letdown. The 6.0l didn't compare in performance and response to the tundra's 5.7l engine.

Charley_S · #6 (**permalink**) 12-20-2007, 11:21 AM

A business associate of mine had a '05 Silverado that was white with tan interior and tan dash. His dash peeled to reveal black plastic underneath. I'm not sure if that is the same issue as the Tundra having a "painted" dash.

I do recall that he said GM would not fix it, even though the truck was under warranty, because they said the chemicals (Armor All?) that were used in detailing are what caused the dash to peel.

B Square · #7 (**permalink**) 12-20-2007, 11:30 AM

Not trying to steal your thread, but went to lunch with an associate last week in his 06, low mileage, Escalade. Couldn't wait to get out of that uncomfortable, underpowered, 80's designed tank, and back into my Tundra.

FlatironsDreamer · #8 (**permalink**) 12-20-2007, 02:15 PM

I test drove the Silverado and actually thought the ride was better than the Tundra. But I didn't like the outdated 4-speed transmission and huge Chevy badges on the exterior.

It is a nice truck - but as someone else said, the Tundra is a better value.

jaimr · #9 (**permalink**) 12-20-2007, 03:21 PM

Keep in mind that the Silverado has 2 different interiors. What it sounds like you are describing is the work truck version. The interior that is reviewed in all the magizines and gets all the raves is the upscale version.

5.7texan · #10 (**permalink**) 12-20-2007, 03:46 PM

I have a silverado as a loaner which i posted here as well and fair warning that it might get moved to off topic. but yea silverado sure made me appreciate my tundra

metrictundra · #11 (**permalink**) 12-20-2007, 05:54 PM

Something has gone wrong with this Chevy thing. I have a friend that sales them and he says they are way down on the sales. He says it is so bad that he is thinking of quiting after 25 years in the same spot.

iamnid · #12 (**permalink**) 12-21-2007, 01:29 AM

My brother just got a new 2500 duramax with the ltz interior. By far, the Chevy interior is nicer than in my Tundra. Additionally, it rides as nice as the Tundra. His interior has no creaks or rattles... wish I could say the same about my Tundra. I love my Tundra, but my brother's 2500 is an exceptionally nice truck... keep in mind his truck was $60,000 -- mine was about half that.

Only Toyota for me · #13 (**permalink**) 12-21-2007, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charley_S

A business associate of mine had a '05 Silverado that was white with tan interior and tan dash. His dash peeled to reveal black plastic underneath. I'm not sure if that is the same issue as the Tundra having a "painted" dash.

I do recall that he said GM would not fix it, even though the truck was under warranty, because they said the chemicals (Armor All?) that were used in detailing are what caused the dash to peel.

I'm sure it's probably the same painted dash like what we have.

It sounds like all the auto makers are doing this. WTH?

I wonder if the EPA stuck their nose in on this one? Was there a chemical in the older dashboard material?

Charley_S · #14 (**permalink**) 12-21-2007, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaimr

Keep in mind that the Silverado has 2 different interiors. What it sounds like you are describing is the work truck version. The interior that is reviewed in all the magizines and gets all the raves is the upscale version.

The truck I rode in was a "LTZ", I don't think they make a higher level interior in a truck.

Again, I'm not saying it wasn't nice, I'm just saying it was not nicer nor did the materials seem to be of better quality than the Tundra.