Buying any kind of car is a difficult decision mostly because it is a very expensive investment. If you are buying a truck, things get even more complicated. There are so many different factors you have to consider and they usually cost even more money than a regular car. You have to make sure that you are making the right decision before you make the purchase. Although, if you are here reading this article, you probably have decided that you are going to get a Chevy pickup truck. That makes things a little bit easier.
However, even if you have decided to go with just one brand, there are still a couple of models to choose from. It still not a simple as you thought. Fortunately, there is enough information about all the different models, so I think that you will be able to choose the Ideal Chevy pickup truck for your needs.
To make your decision a bit simpler, I wanted to give you a few tips when choosing the right Chevy pickup. I hope that you will find this article very useful and that it will help you with your decision.
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1. Increase your budget
Source: cnbc.com
As I said previously, buying a truck is much more different than buying a regular car. These vehicles are quite larger and made differently which is probably why they are more expensive. So, my first tip is to try to increase your budget. You have to be ready to spend a little bit more cash than what you originally planned. Naturally, the larger budget, the better and newer model you will able to find.
This will be especially helpful if you are looking at the used market. A brand-new 2024 Chevy Silverado is summer around $20,000 with the most trim and accessories. If you go with the most expensive trim, you will probably have to pay over $50,000. That is a huge bump in price and I imagine that you are not willing to pay for that.
However, the accessories and features that come with that most advanced trim are actually quite useful. But, that does not mean that you always have to buy a brand-new. If you buy a used 2019 model with the same trim, you could probably get it for half the price or less. It will depend on its mileage and what kind of state it is in. You could also go for an even older model, for example, 2016 or 2017, and buy it for around $20,000. Those 20 K will get you great features and accessories as suggested by RichardChevy. Sometimes, buying a used vehicle instead of a brand-new one is a much smarter and better investment.
2. Find the right size
Source: thecarconnection.com
One of the main reasons so many people choose to go down the truck path instead of a regular vehicle is mostly because they need the hauling power, the storage capacity, and other similar features. This is why it is so important to consider the size of the truck you want to get. Because obviously there are differences between a Chevy Silverado and a Colorado. For example, the top trim level of the Silverado is considered to be a full-size pickup truck while the Colorado is considered to be mid-size.
So what kind of side you are looking for? Do you need more room for passengers or in the back? If you are looking for a balance between passenger and bad sides, I suggest going with the Colorado models. Although, if you do decide that Colorado is the model for you, you should probably look at the 2014 and up versions because they offer much better features. If you want to save some money, you can go ahead and go with the versions that were produced before 2014.
If your priority is the bed size and towing capacity, the Chevy Silverado is definitely the choice for you. The Silverado 1500 has a max towing of 13,200 pounds with the 6.2 L V-8 engine. If you want even more power, the Duramax 6.6 L turbo-diesel V-8 has a max towing capacity of 23,100 pounds. That is a very powerful truck.
Whichever version of the Silverado you pick, you can get a short, standard, and long bed. The short bed offers 62.90 ft.³, the standard is 69.50 ft.³ in the long one is 83.50 ft.³. I think that the long one is more than enough to satisfy all your transporting and carrying needs.
3. 2WD or 4WD?
Source: autoevolution.com
Now, this is a factor that you definitely have to consider. A four-wheel-drive vehicle will deliver an experience that is entirely different from a vehicle that has only a two-wheel-drive. Naturally, 4WD offers more power, better traction, and maneuverability. 4WD can also offer much better-towing ability than 2WD.
However, if you do not really need 4WD, you can save some money there and go with the 2WD option. Obviously, all of this depends on where you live and on what kind of surface you mostly drive on. If you are mostly on the road, you can do great with 2WD. But, if you frequently go off-road, I suggest going with the four-wheel-drive Silverado or Colorado.
4. Choose the engine
Source: bismanonline.com
For some, this might be the most essential factor. The power of the vehicle. When it comes to pickup truck engines, you have a few options. For example, the Silverado 1500 comes with six different engines. You have options from 285 HP and up to 420 HP. Which one you should get truly depends on what you plan to do with your truck. For some, the 4.3 l V6 and 285 HP will be more than enough. But, if you looking for that extra bit of power, the 6.2 L V-8 is the option for you.
Of course, 2500 HD and 3500 HD come with even more powerful V-8 engines. One outputting 401 HP and the other 445 HP.
I assume there are a few other smaller details and features that might be important to you when buying a pickup truck, but I believe that these four factors I mentioned should be the most essential things to consider.
