killin for a silverado

my neighbor has an 02 silverado z71 w/ 5.3 and flowmasters, and ive fell in love with this truck, after driving it several times. I need some advice as to what i should do: I have a 2000 impala, couldnt ask for a better car, but im dying to own a silverado with a vortec. Im 17, still in high school, and i have a high paying job over the summer. I would like to get an opinion from some people, should i keep my impala, (because im still in school and drive about 200 miles/week), or should i get a late 90s silverado with a 5.7, 5.3, or 4.8? I know gas may hurt me a bit, but ive heard that the 5.7s get pretty good mileage. Or should i just wait and ask for a silverado for a graduation gift?

No one here can really tell you what you should do since it comes down to your decision in the end but this is how I would handle the situation. I would keep the impala since like you said you are 17 and im high school. I didnt get my full size till after i graduated high school and got myself a decent job. As for the OBS truck with the 350 they are good trucks but like any vehicle they will need repairs and I know from experience they arent cheap to fix. A friend of mine drove his 1997 K2500 Sierra throughout high school and I think he has dumped more money into fixing it then he has to make it unstock. And for fuel economy I think he gets 12mpg on a good day but I have seen others with the same engine get 15-18.

It doesn't cost anymore to fix an OBS than it does to fix a new 99-07. I just got back into a Chevy less than 3 months ago and its a 98 OBS Z71. It gets at least 15 mpg, and thats with me driving like usual, which is not easy. The vortec 5.7 (350) is one of the most reliable engines I've ever seen.

I had a 99 Z71 with the 5.3 and I lOVED it, but sold it b/c I got an offer I couldn't turn down and wanted to upgrade to a Ext cab. I had alot of trouble with mine engine wise, but I guess I just got a lemon of an engine.

If you can find a good condition, low mileage '99 or '00 model with the 5.3 I wouldn't pass it up. I would maybe even wait until you get closer to graduating high school, that way you can have a new(er) car for college (just assuming your going).

Do you plan on modding it either appearance or performance?

While the 350's may be expensive to fix, I don't really think they are, they're still cheaper to fix than a Ford.

Just don't forget to factor gas mileage in as well. I would personally get all of the injectors cleaned, replace spark plugs, etc to ensure your not getting deteriorating gas mileage. When I first got my '99 and spent lots of time on the highway I was getting close to 400 miles per tank.

Jeverett, I think you may have just had one of the bad ones. As you know with my '99 I didn't have any.

Jeverett, I think you may have just had one of the bad ones. As you know with my '99 I didn't have any.

Yup. I agree. The 2nd engine I put in it lasted forever and never gave a problem it had 65K when I installed it and well over 130K when sold.

thanks for the suggestions...but yea i love my impala and its a chevy and i couldnt ask for a better first car. And ill probably ask for a silverado for high school graduation or even college graduation, that way i can keep my car for a few more years and ill probably have a better job by then. My 3800 gets pretty good gas mileage, so yea..... But i can safely say a z71 silverado is my next vehicle.....thanks again for the suggestions