New Silverado Hybrid Owner
#31
Re: New Silverado Hybrid Owner
Someone said it best: never buy anything revison 1.0, better wait for a few revisions while the bugs are ironed out.
That is the main reason I'm NOT updating to Windows Vista! At least not yet.
That is the main reason I'm NOT updating to Windows Vista! At least not yet.
#32
Re: New Silverado Hybrid Owner
I hear what you say! I know now, and am a more informed buyer. The problem is, with trucks, they don't legally have to put the vehicle MPG on the window when they sell it. So when my questions of gas mileage came up, it was "Oh, it's good".
And yes, the Silverado IS NOT A HYBRID. It's like the claim of less fattening. How much less fat? Trans fat, good fat, bad fat?
Oh well, live and learn.
By the way, I finally got my vehicle (Silverado Hybrid) back from the dealer. They called me and said it was fixed. I told them I would be by, to pick up, in about a half hour. When I showed up, I stood around for about a half hour (they said it was being washed), until a service clerk told me the guy that washed the car had inadvertantely left the premises with the keys in his pocket.
And yes, the Silverado IS NOT A HYBRID. It's like the claim of less fattening. How much less fat? Trans fat, good fat, bad fat?
Oh well, live and learn.
By the way, I finally got my vehicle (Silverado Hybrid) back from the dealer. They called me and said it was fixed. I told them I would be by, to pick up, in about a half hour. When I showed up, I stood around for about a half hour (they said it was being washed), until a service clerk told me the guy that washed the car had inadvertantely left the premises with the keys in his pocket.
Also to add to the discussion, the silverado goes slightly beyond being a simple start/stop hybrid. If you look at the front of the engine, there is only the air conditioner and water pump taking power from the crankshaft. Absent is the power steering, radiator fan (might be electric on all newer trucks, I'm not sure), and alternator. The power steering is electric as well as the fan. The battery is charged by the electric motor that starts the truck through regenerative braking, so I suppose the reduced strain on the engine allows for better fuel efficiency, more than just shutting off the engine at stop lights.
Of course that is all in theory, and introduces added complexity and components harder to fix/access than an engine mounted alternator, power steering pump, and mechanical fan, not to mention more expensive.
So far I have around 1300 miles on my truck and no problems to report aside from the drive shaft (not saying much). I suppose once I begin driving it again this fall I will have more to report.
#33
Re: New Silverado Hybrid Owner
I've been driving the hybrid silverado for over a year now, and still averaging about 16 to 17 mpg not the 20 to 21 a sales guy told me, well i didnt listen to him anyways
It's a "pretty neat truck" as my diesel buddies say it
I did alot of research about this truck before i bought it, and thought well i'll give it a shot, it's been an ok truck. i dont have anything horriable to say about it, and i bet my diesel buddies cant say they've powered almost their entire house durring a power outage, WELL I CAN
It's a "pretty neat truck" as my diesel buddies say it
I did alot of research about this truck before i bought it, and thought well i'll give it a shot, it's been an ok truck. i dont have anything horriable to say about it, and i bet my diesel buddies cant say they've powered almost their entire house durring a power outage, WELL I CAN
#35
Re: New Silverado Hybrid Owner
Just an update, I now have a whopping 2,100 miles on my truck since I bought it new in December (it sits a LOT). I did get a chance to pull my parent's 22' boat over memorial day weekend and I was happy with the performance. Of course, in tow mode, it doesn't shut off at all, so its really just a regular truck at that point. Afterward, I changed the oil and added a quart of Lucas oil treatment which seemed to help the mileage of my last car (99 Mercury Cougar 4cyl 5sp). Mileage with the boat hovered around 13-14 while traveling to and from the Allegheny river which is fairly hilly.
I will be taking it with me on a new long-term assignment, so I will be driving it much more than I do currently. I'll be sure to post back after I hit a more substantial milestone than 2,100 miles.
I will be taking it with me on a new long-term assignment, so I will be driving it much more than I do currently. I'll be sure to post back after I hit a more substantial milestone than 2,100 miles.
#36
Re: New Silverado Hybrid Owner
Well I finally got to drive my truck some more (about to hit 5k miles!). After I changed the oil I drove about 300 miles from Pittsburgh to Baltimore and averaged about 21mpg (what the sticker says!!). I filled up and then drove back and forth to work for two weeks in beltway traffic, sometimes creeping along, sometimes cruising along at 65mph...depending on the time of day and traffic. I ended up getting about 19mpg (sticker!!) after two tanks of fuel. I'm impressed, didn't know it was possible to achieve EPA sticker numbers!
Now its getting transported to Seattle, WA for my new assignment, so I'll see how it does commuting to work in I-5 traffic. I'd have to say my truck's got more getup than the Impala rental I have right now...I can't wait to drive it again!
Now its getting transported to Seattle, WA for my new assignment, so I'll see how it does commuting to work in I-5 traffic. I'd have to say my truck's got more getup than the Impala rental I have right now...I can't wait to drive it again!
#37
Re: New Silverado Hybrid Owner
Well I finally got to drive my truck some more (about to hit 5k miles!). After I changed the oil I drove about 300 miles from Pittsburgh to Baltimore and averaged about 21mpg (what the sticker says!!). I filled up and then drove back and forth to work for two weeks in beltway traffic, sometimes creeping along, sometimes cruising along at 65mph...depending on the time of day and traffic. I ended up getting about 19mpg (sticker!!) after two tanks of fuel. I'm impressed, didn't know it was possible to achieve EPA sticker numbers!
Now its getting transported to Seattle, WA for my new assignment, so I'll see how it does commuting to work in I-5 traffic. I'd have to say my truck's got more getup than the Impala rental I have right now...I can't wait to drive it again!
Now its getting transported to Seattle, WA for my new assignment, so I'll see how it does commuting to work in I-5 traffic. I'd have to say my truck's got more getup than the Impala rental I have right now...I can't wait to drive it again!
http://www.go-ev.com/
These folks are putting electric motors in the propeller shaft to the rear axle. I'm wondering if a retro-fit of one of their units might give a significant MPG boost for short trips?
Their system looks like the old 'over drive' retro-fit systems and they are strictly plug-in power. Still, electric power is about half the cost of gas . . .
Just a thought.
Bob Wilson
#38
Chevy bigger vehicles have pretty decent longevity
The Chevy 1/2 ton pickups,and SUV derivatives(tahoe,Suburban) tend to stay on the road a long time.Many, many of them make it well past 150,000 miles.It is true that the QC wasn't up to Honda/Toyota standards in the past, but they are much closer now.
18 mpg in mixed driving is very good.My Tundra V-8 accesscab(4400 lbs) never got better than 18 mpg hy(at 55mph),and only got 13.5 in pure city driving.It turned a lot or revs-2000 rpms-at 60 mph.
I recently bought a 1998 2wd Suburban(5.7) with 196,000 miles on it.It came with full maintenance records which showed the trans was rebuilt at 185,000 miles(1st time),and the AC, intake manifold gasket and several other items were replaced at 165000.The seller didn't have any reason to conceal the maintenace record-it was selling so cheap $2950 no point.It has the usual 10 yo car rattles, but otherwise is pretty nice.It get 12 mpg in pure short trip(2 miles or less with full cool down in between)city driving with the ac blasting.My scanguage shows it getting 20 mpg at 55mph,and about 19 mpg at 60 mph-not so bad for a 5400 lb brick.I expect that it will get 17-18 mpg on the same long trip route that the Pilot got 21 mpg on.In city driving the Pilot got 13-14 mpg.
Motor shutdown standing alone is a good thing.The V-8s use about .7gal per hour at idle(Pilot about .4 gal per hour).Most folks who spend 1 hour per day in city driving probably are stopped for 15 minutes of that hour-roughly .2 gal per day-65 gallons per year saved.
I'm pulling for GM.Their biggish vehicles-commercial pickups,SUVs-are what will make or break them in respect to USA manufacturing.
Charlie
18 mpg in mixed driving is very good.My Tundra V-8 accesscab(4400 lbs) never got better than 18 mpg hy(at 55mph),and only got 13.5 in pure city driving.It turned a lot or revs-2000 rpms-at 60 mph.
I recently bought a 1998 2wd Suburban(5.7) with 196,000 miles on it.It came with full maintenance records which showed the trans was rebuilt at 185,000 miles(1st time),and the AC, intake manifold gasket and several other items were replaced at 165000.The seller didn't have any reason to conceal the maintenace record-it was selling so cheap $2950 no point.It has the usual 10 yo car rattles, but otherwise is pretty nice.It get 12 mpg in pure short trip(2 miles or less with full cool down in between)city driving with the ac blasting.My scanguage shows it getting 20 mpg at 55mph,and about 19 mpg at 60 mph-not so bad for a 5400 lb brick.I expect that it will get 17-18 mpg on the same long trip route that the Pilot got 21 mpg on.In city driving the Pilot got 13-14 mpg.
Motor shutdown standing alone is a good thing.The V-8s use about .7gal per hour at idle(Pilot about .4 gal per hour).Most folks who spend 1 hour per day in city driving probably are stopped for 15 minutes of that hour-roughly .2 gal per day-65 gallons per year saved.
I'm pulling for GM.Their biggish vehicles-commercial pickups,SUVs-are what will make or break them in respect to USA manufacturing.
Charlie
#39
Re: New Silverado Hybrid Owner
My dad owns a hybrid Silverado.. He went and bought one when I told him that it was already available, according to a Chevrolet truck blog I follow.
#40
Re: New Silverado Hybrid Owner
I just purchased a new 2006 Chevy Silverado hybrid and was wondering if there are any other owners here in the forum to compare experiences and/or horror stories.
So far I have owned it around 2 weeks and gotten about 18 mpg combined highway/city. The rear drive shaft broke after 500 miles so I was unable to drive it for 4 days because the dealer was closed for christmas. Since then I have drove it another 200 miles before parking it while I am out of town for work.
I am wondering if it is better to have someone drive it periodically, or to disconnect the battery and leave it sit for the full 2-3 months till I get back?
So far I have owned it around 2 weeks and gotten about 18 mpg combined highway/city. The rear drive shaft broke after 500 miles so I was unable to drive it for 4 days because the dealer was closed for christmas. Since then I have drove it another 200 miles before parking it while I am out of town for work.
I am wondering if it is better to have someone drive it periodically, or to disconnect the battery and leave it sit for the full 2-3 months till I get back?