People who are serious about their trucks and who see these vehicles as necessarily functional for work, but who also want to use them for play and for refined, upscale activities, are looking toward the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 LTZ Crew Cab.
A full-size ¾-ton body-on-frame truck, the Silverado 2500 was created as a blend of power needed in a work truck with the ability to pull and carry cargo, the muscle and stability to take on off-road challenges, and the looks, feel and interior environment to smoothly slide into the role of a luxury passenger ferry.
Built to tow 13,000 pounds, the 2500 has a maximum towing capacity of 16,700 pounds when equipped with a fifth-wheel hitch. That ability can be traced to its power plant. Standard for the 2500 is a solid Vortec 6.0L V-8 (LY6) engine that generates 353 horsepower and 373 lb.-ft. of torque on regular unleaded gasoline. Putting the work in this luxury workhorse, my test beast was outfitted with a 6.6-liter Duramax Diesel engine mated to an Allison 6-speed automatic transmission. That set-up provided a brawny, segment-leading 365 horsepower and 660 lb.-ft. of torque.
This thrust gives the driver the confidence to attack mud holes, pull out tree stumps, carry tons of equipment and supplies and accelerate in and out of trouble. The confidence is there, but the quick-power is not. At a robust 6718 pounds, the Silverado was sluggish in 2WD, and 4WD deprives the driver of the better fuel economy figures. While 2WD was slow to respond on the highway, I got an average of 15.1mpg at speed and around town, but was down in the 12s using 4WD over the same courses.
During tests in mud, ruts and rain-softened terrain during a Mid-Pennsylvania rainstorm, I found the 2500 to be very disappointing in two-wheel-drive mode there as well. The vehicle and its heavy weight got mired in the muck and as it sunk down it pretty much refused to move. As unsatisfactory as my test Silverado was in 2WD, it was brilliant in change-on-the-fly 4WD, as it sliced through the mud like a hot knife glides through butter. In four-wheel, this is one explosively powerful and effective off-road and poor-condition truck. The advice here is, save the fuel and go 2WD on the Interstates, but put it in 4WD when you really need the power to move in rough going.
I had several conversations with 2500 diesel owners who claimed rpm problems when the weather dropped below freezing, due to fuel gelling or bacteria build-up, but with snow flying, and temperature and wind-chill in the single digits, I found no problems starting, revving and powering my test 2500 through all venues and examinations.
The direct injection diesel engine is also environmentally friendly, albeit at 15mpg. Outfitted with emission controls, it is turbocharged, intercooled, and offers a catalytic converter system and diesel particulate filter system with regeneration. The filter system helps provide a 90-percent reduction in particulate matter and a 50-percent reduction in NOx .
With a standard box, this Silverado is 240 inches long, 80 inches wide and 77 inches high on a 153-inch wheelbase. Minimum ground clearance is 9.5 inches and step-in height is 32.4 inches.
Outside, the Silverado 2500 with crew cab is muscular, athletic-looking and rugged. Inside, the driver and crew areas are comfortable, functional, well-appointed and attractive.
Interior dimensions are 41.2 inches of headroom up front and 40.5 in the crew cab; 41.3 inches of legroom in row one and 39 inches behind, with 65.2 inches of shoulder room in the front and 65.1 inches in the rear.
My Deep Ruby Metallic truck was accented by a Light Titanium/Dark Titanium interior scheme. Inside the cabin, you get XM Satellite Radio standard on all models, new 6-gauge instrument cluster that is bright and functional, driver information system, Bose sound system, AM/FM stereo with CD/MP3 format, auto dual-zone air conditioning, 10-way power-adjustable front seats with driver-seat memory and reclining, heated, custom leather-appointed front bucket seats.
A quiet ride was a noticeable improvement over past diesels and my LTZ luxury model added a leather-covered steering wheel, chrome trim, remote start, heated washer fluid, steering wheel radio controls, illuminated vanity mirrors and electronic shift transfer case.
The Silverado is also a study in truck safety with a sturdy ladder frame, crush zones and strong body structure to provide occupant protection. Standard on the model are dual frontal air bags, front safety belt pretensioners with both front and rear crash sensing, high-capacity four-wheel disc brake system with four-channel ABS and tire pressure monitoring system.
The 2008 Silverado 2500 4WD LTZ Crew Cab is base priced at $39,590, and my test vehicle was upgraded with the $7195 diesel engine, $1200 6-speed transmission, $795 power sunroof, $395 rear parking assist and $1565 in other charges that included EZ Lift tailgate, power sliding rear window, brake controller and cargo management. That worked out to a bottom line of $50,715, a price worthy of a luxury work truck that fills the bill from both perspectives.
Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.
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