After Putting Over 100 Miles on Each of Them This Week

"Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies" (jordanwphillips) 10/09/2015 at 18:37 • Filed to: GMT900, Thoughts

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I have formed an opinion on the regular cab, 2wd, long bed GMT900s. It’s a mostly positive opinion, so I’ll get my biggest gripe out of the way: The awful seating position. Seriously, I have more leg room in my 4Runner, and it is known for it’s bad seating position. And no this isn’t based off that, this is based off other fullsize trucks I’ve been in.

But on to the matter at hand, the engines. We have two of these almost identical GMT900s, one with a 4.3 and one with the 5.3. Hands down, the 4.3 is the better engine. While nothing is wrong with the 5.3, the 4.3 is just so much better at everything but heavy hauling and acceleration(more on that in a sec). Around town it feels so much more powerful below 2500, and really that’s all I ever use. Except when merging on to the highway, I never wish for more power, and even then it is adequate(when the transmission doesn’t decide to not work). The 4.3 actually turns at lower speeds on the interstate. But that is where the 5.3 comes in to shine, above 3500 rpm the 4.3 seems to just stop doing anything, but that is when the 5.3 really starts to pull.

If it weren’t for the awful seating position, I would actually own one.

Also, nothing to really do with the particular trucks in general, but fuck long beds when you don’t need them.

boxrocket > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/09/2015 at 20:23

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Can’t stand the gm trucks.

There’s a bunch of things that’s wrong with them, including but not limited to poor ergonomics, to the interior door handles that are at knee level (even banging my knee while driving), awkwardly-shaped and too-small mirrors, horrid plastics, oddly-shaped wheel wells, uncomfortable seats, and wheezy engines, there’s little to redeem them. The rear doors on the extended cab models (pre-2014) were nice in that they folded against the bed side, but it’s not a unique feature, and gm abandoned them in favor of tiny rear forward-opening doors on the current trucks.

I’m of the opinion not to settle for anything other than the closest perfect match to what you need. When it comes to full-size trucks, it’s darn near impossible for me not to gravitate to a Ford. It’s just so much better executed on every level.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > boxrocket 10/09/2015 at 20:24

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Oh, I know it’s not the best, saying I somewhat liked the truck makes me feel naucious. When my Dad’s ‘08 Ram’s interior is better in every way, you know you fucked up. But the 4.3 is the best base V6 out there.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/09/2015 at 20:56

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So I’m not crazy when I say the 900s front seats don’t go back enough. Okay, good.

Your assessment of the 4.3 sound about right though. Feels decently powerful all the way up to about 3k then it sort of hits a wall. Even the old non-Vortec 4.3 in the Safari is like that.

I'm not the biggest fan of the 900s to be honest. The interior felt like a step back from the 800s (which I didn't think was possible) and every one I've been in felt like the people who put it together had ran out of shits to give. I'd much rather have a GMT800 or new K2xx.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 10/09/2015 at 21:01

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Yeah, where in my Dad’s Ram I can’t even put the clutch to the floor with the seat all the way back(I’m 6’), in this I was just uncomfortable. I think my 4Runner’s seat goes back farther, and it was pretty much designed for someone below 5’7”. Overall though, it drives well enough, though the long bed really messes it up.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/09/2015 at 21:19

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Long beds are the worst IMO. It throws everything off.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 10/09/2015 at 21:21

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I don’t even know why they spec’d them like that either, because we also have a Tacoma reg cab, standard bed that holds everything.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/13/2015 at 09:21

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1. I have to disagree about seating position... but then, I’m short.

2. Are you sure you have the 5.3? They are pretty easy to confuse with the 4.8, and those characteristics sound more like 4.8L+3.73 rear end. We have one, but with the 4.10 (4.11?) rear afaik, it goes fine in the city, on the highway it's a dog. I imagine if it had 3.73's it would be the other way around... it just doesn't like to make low-end torque. I find my 5.3, with 3.42 gears, to be very well suited to both city and highway. Sure I've got a lighter vehicle, but I also lose 20hp to the fullsize trucks.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 10/13/2015 at 09:23

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Tall people problems. :/

Whatever the 900 is like inside, I assure you it's nicer to drive.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > boxrocket 10/13/2015 at 09:26

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I love those handles. Big, easy to grab with gloves, and a smooth pull straight up towards you. If you don't like them though, the higher trims had ordinary ones.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 10/13/2015 at 11:20

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A. Sitting in one right now, it’s awful. Pic in a sec.

B. One hundred percent positive.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 10/13/2015 at 11:23

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Brake pedal is depressed.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/13/2015 at 11:28

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See, I don’t have this problem. I must be that much shorter.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/13/2015 at 11:31

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A. Covered on your other comment. Being short has it’s benefits :)

B. Interesting. Do you know what gears it has? Actually, that goes for both of them. And transmissions... this intrigues me.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 10/13/2015 at 11:33

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I’m only 6’ tall, so I’m not that tall. Also, I must add, I will take the Dmax over the 4.3. It’s been idling for over 24 hours, and it’s only pitched one fit. And the just the DPF clogging.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/13/2015 at 11:43

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I'm somewhere in the 5'9" region as far as I can tell. Anyway, never sit in the passenger seat of a new style Sienna. If it bugs me, you would have to put hinges in your calves.

boxrocket > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 10/13/2015 at 13:41

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The biggest problem with them is, as essentially always, Ford does it better, even with thick winter gloves.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > boxrocket 10/13/2015 at 13:54

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That’s arguable. In this situation Ford absolutely does NOT do it better. GM’s big, bulky, open handle will always beat the conventional lever on winter-glove-access, no matter how big the conventional handle may be.

Throw something you think Ford does better, and I’ll do my best to refute it. Or don’t, this will just become a brand-loyalty bash and nobody’s opinion will change.

The fact of the matter is certain people became fans of certain brands because those brands to certain things certain ways.

boxrocket > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 10/13/2015 at 14:15

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I drive for a living. I’ve done multi-state runs more times than I can count in 450- and 550-class trucks and medium-duty semi tractors hauling up-to-the-limit loads. It’s not blind loyalty, it’s a developed, curated set of beliefs. The only thing I can think of that gm did that Ford didn’t that I liked (until the 2015 F-150) was the fold-flat rear doors on extended cab models. However, GM has lost that going to forward-opening doors on the 2014+ trucks (and they’re tiny and hard to get into if you’re an adult, though once in it’s not bad, but feels claustrophobic due to the large B-Pillars). I will say I’m disappointed that Ford didn’t continue to integrate the seatbelts in the front seats for 2015+ F-150s (and likely the 2016+ Super Duties since they’ll share the same cabs), as it means every time the rear-opening rear doors need to be opened (where the seatbelts are now mounted), the driver has to unbuckle their seatbelt.

I’d sooner drive a Dodge/Ram - even the Fiat-based ProMaster and ProMaster City - than any of GM’s offerings, especially the Nissan NV200 in disguise.

Thankfully, I get a choice for what I drive on these runs, and the company I haul for has phased out all their non-Ford trucks, so it's not just me.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > boxrocket 10/13/2015 at 14:56

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I never said anything about blind loyalty. I was making the point that certain people like certain brands due to the way the company does things lining up with their train of thought. Blind loyalty is when you don’t even consider the features, you just go for the badge you recognise. I have to admit to being primarily a GM fan—if the vehicles come close at all I’ll go GM every time—but I don’t mind conceding other brand’s strong points.

Going back (again) to the original example, the handles. You don’t like them. I do. You therefore chalk it up as a negative, I as a positive.

I really don’t give a shit which way the rear doors open, but given the choice, I’d rather they were hinged at the front, because it means I don’t have to wait for the person in front of me to get out. Note I had no opinion on this at all until the Tundra got them.I don’t like seat-mounted belts. They feel so awkward. That was a sticking point with me over the 1999-2006 GMT’s actually.

The last F150 (I haven’t driven a 2015) I liked, overall. It handled well, rode really well, and felt very controlled over rough stuff. It felt very solid. Transmission was very smooth. Downsides? Well, it was a good thing the tranny was smooth, because it constantly needed to shift. The 5.4 really doesn’t put out enough torque low down. Next one I’m not counting, since it’s not really an issue to me, but it’s worth mentioning—all that hard plastic interior trim. To me, good. It’s a truck for fucks sake, and it’s a durable material. Then we have the interior styling, and while I quite like the exterior, I don’t care at all for the interior. The aforementioned handles. It felt fucking huge, even though it’s roughly the same size as a Silverado. It also handles well. Better, actually, imo. It also rides well. As a tradeoff, it doesn’t feel quite so controlled over rough terrain (a result of having the dampers further inboard. Look up Ford’s frame rigidity comparo, the Silvy and F150 both have very little twist, but the F150 takes an almost dead straight path whereas the Silvy driver is really earning his keep that day). It also feels solid. Tranny (old 4-speed, don’t know on the 6) needs help. But—engine HAS the torque to eliminate much shifting. Interior is of a lesser quality, definitely, but feels more usable to me. You can stuff a TON of stuff into a GMT cab without getting disorganized. The aforementioned handles. Feels smaller and more nimble. Trades this off with lower visiblity—those stepped window frames on Ford’s are awesome. Overall it comes to this. I have nothing really to hold against the F150, but overall I’d have the Silverado because it suits ME and MY driving style and sensual preferences better.

I have no liking for the Promaster, and until recently I would have maintained that the superior van available was the Express. Compared to the E-Series, it was better in every respect I can think of except tow rating. With the introduction of the NV and the Transit, GM needs to get their shit together.

As to the last point—Just as so many companies have phased out their non-Dodges. Or non-GM's. Or Non-Toyota's. It comes down to the guy purchasing them, ultimately, and what they like in a vehicle. On a sort of side note, most of the tow trucks (people who spend much of their time sitting in their trucks) I see around here are GMT's.