5-speed Silverado?

I am looking at getting a new truck this summer. I qualify for GM family pricing, so I am looking at GM products. I have been debating between a Colorado and a Silverado. I'm leaning more toward a Silverado because I think they are a more tested/tried vehicle, even if the Colorado might be a fun little truck. Also, the GM discount on the Silverado is a larger percentage than the Colorado, and financing options on the Silverado are much better, so my payements would be lower and I will pay minimal or no interest.

I have been driving a 5-speed Honda accord for the last 4 years and I love the manual. I like the extra acceleration I can get if I need it, and I love the option to downshift in slippery driving conditions. But I have a feeling a manual in a Silverado, say with a 4.8l, would be much different than a 5-speed on a Honda. Still I might enjoy the 5-speed, and it could save me an extra thousand, and be something that people have to respect when they get in the truck.

Anyone have any experience with a 5-speed in a Silverado with a 4.8l? Does it add any acceleration, or is it more like a school bus? Any recomendations in general on whether to get an automatic or a manual?

I plan to try to find a WT (work truck) package without all the fancy bells and whistles (no power windows!), in a regular cab, with a standard bed. If it seems like the 5-speed would be a fun option I would get the 4.8l. But if it just feels like a school bus I'll probably try to find an automatic with a 5.3l. I would primarily use the truck to drive to work, but I do enjoy fishing, canoeing, and camping, and I want to get into ice fishing next winter. I also am a home owner and having a truck around the house to occasionally do some hauling would be very handy.

Thank you for any feedback.

Later,
AZ

I have a 5 spd in my 99 1500 it is a base model with the 4.3 v6. For a truck with a v6 it hauls ass the shifter is nice and tight not sloppy at all

automatics take a little of the horse power from the engine so given all perameters are the same a manual tranny will accelerate faster providing the driver knows how to use it.

You'll love the 5 speed and 4.8. Shifting is tight and precise and the 4.8 is a great fast accelerating V8.

You said you were going to use the truck for fishing and camping though. Does that mean you are going to be pulling a boat? If so, go with the automatic for safety reasons, I'd hate to see you fishing your TRUCK out of the lake!

A 5 speed on a boat ramp is NOT a good idea.

Scenario: You back your boat into the water, set your park brake, get out to unload your boat. You unhook it from the boat trailer and get into the boat to power it off and then the park brake on the truck 'pops' off and you sit there helplessly watching the truck and trailer roll backward into the water because the engine compression won't hold the weight of the truck and trailer in the gear you've chosen. Great fishing trip, huh?

I saw a guys truck roll into the water BEFORE he unhooked the boat, and it took the boat with it. What a mess! Only my:2cents:

-slacker

"Provided the driver knows how to use it"

I learned how to get good acceleration out of my Honda pretty quick. Hopefully the truck wouldn't have any more difficult of a learning curve.

What I found interesting while reading about gas mileage on a 4.8l is that the manual gets worse city mileage than the automatic, and they get about the same on highway.

Here is where I got that info, looking at the K1500 with the 4.8l:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymodel/2005_Chevrolet_Silverado.shtml

How does that work? I thought having five gears gave better fuel economy. Provided you don't drive like an ass of course... ...which I never do.

No I don't have a boat, nor will I be able to afford one after I get this truck. I prefer canoeing really, and I could just buy some racks to throw the canoe over the bed and put the poles, paddles, and (most importantly) the cooler in the bed.

But I agree the automatic would be better from a towing/trailering standpoint overall. And if I sell the truck in a few years the manual probably would be harder to sell than an automatic just because so few people seem to know how to drive a manual, and if they want towing the manual isn't ideal.

I guess I'll have to decide between the fun factor of the manual or the sensibility of the automatic. And price on a 4.8l with a manual is quite a bit less than a 5.3 with an automatic.

Thanks for the input all,
AZ

i thought about gettin a 5 speed on my 4.8 because it was cheaper too, but keep in mind that $1000 you save by not gettin auto will prob hurt you when you go to sell it. Alot of people don't want a 5 speed truck, when it comes to resale. Just a thought.

You'll love the 5 speed and 4.8. Shifting is tight and precise and the 4.8 is a great fast accelerating V8.

You said you were going to use the truck for fishing and camping though. Does that mean you are going to be pulling a boat? If so, go with the automatic for safety reasons, I'd hate to see you fishing your TRUCK out of the lake!

A 5 speed on a boat ramp is NOT a good idea.

Scenario: You back your boat into the water, set your park brake, get out to unload your boat. You unhook it from the boat trailer and get into the boat to power it off and then the park brake on the truck 'pops' off and you sit there helplessly watching the truck and trailer roll backward into the water because the engine compression won't hold the weight of the truck and trailer in the gear you've chosen. Great fishing trip, huh?

I saw a guys truck roll into the water BEFORE he unhooked the boat, and it took the boat with it. What a mess! Only my:2cents:

-slacker
The other scenario is: back up the truck, put the parking brake, turn off the engine and leave the truck in 1st GEAR! if you have a bad parking brake and the truck pops out of first gear on its own, that truck deserves to be in the bottom of the lake :lol: