I Decided To Keep My Truck Instead Of Buying A New One

[Little Red Wagon Repairman]

I got cold feet spending $72,000 on a new truck which would be $80K+ out the door. Not only that I wasn't looking forward to higher insurance and registration. I think I will wait and see where truck technology is in 5 years or so in addition to seeing the prices out there then.

Since I am not getting a new truck I will be renewing the one I have now. I have a 2014 GMC Sierra SLT Z71 with less than 50,000 miles on it. A friend of mine chewed me out about even thinking of giving up that truck. He was right. My Persian neighbor, who worships cars, was trying to pull me in the opposite direction. Super nice guy but not taking his advice.

Anyway, I think I'm going to put some custom exhaust, cold air intake, and maybe give it a 6" lift with some new wheels and tires. I only have one small sub-golf ball dent in the hood which will be removed when I detail it.

The reason I am making this thread is to see if there are any Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra people out there who may give additional recommendations on what to do. I'd like to add 70 more horsepower kicking it up to 425 if I can but it must pass California Smog Test and be 100% street legal.

 

[Torre82]

Go all ev. Environmental goodness, power and trendy.

 

[Little Red Wagon Repairman]

Go all ev. Environmental goodness, power and trendy.

How's the progress on the power grid? I may go electric in 5-10 years but we need to make sure we have a way to power all those electric vehicles. What is the clean method they are using to dispose the old batteries?

Do you have an electric car now or are thinking of buying one soon? I'm not against it but I tend to not have faith in new technology and like to wait awhile allowing the eager beavers to work the bugs out.

I was thinking of buying a 2023 Chevy Silverado ZR2.

 

[Torre82]

I like the trailblazing that musk did, like the commitment to add a ton of charging stations.. (he got subsidized to build more and make them all compatible with competing ev's)

But the grid is like California - ill prepared, and Tesla is using batteries that aren't the easiest to dispose\reclaim. But like a.i., growing pains while tech catches up to financial feasibility.

I'm just using public transpo. Biofuel ev hybrids on our public stuff and half the ubers have gone electric. (Oh and those damned rental scooter things are all over. Lime, byrd, etc)

They dipped on road repair and spent on the bus system in the last 5 years - catching up to Chicago

 

[Little Red Wagon Repairman]

My gas powered truck runs good. The 5.3 liter V8 gets 355HP and is fairly fuel efficient considering. An electric is a tough sell to me for now. Roads in Los Angeles are terrible but the worse the road the more the fun to drive over it in a good truck.

I rode the bus once about 7 years ago. When I got on I actually waved at the people like, "Hello, people of the bus."

 

[Torre82]

My gas powered truck runs good. The 5.3 liter V8 gets 355HP and is fairly fuel efficient considering. An electric is a tough sell to me for now. Roads in Los Angeles are terrible but the worse the road the more the fun to drive over it in a good truck.

I rode the bus once about 7 years ago. When I got on I actually waved at the people like, "Hello, people of the bus."

The ppl are a mixed bag, but in a freeones msg board kinda way. Most of the time friendly.

I got rid of my Ford focus in 2021. It was.. a sleeping car. I barely used it, i planned on fixing it up but the money just never rolled around. Downtown never bounced back.

The jobs i used to have werent so bad, but all went out of business.
Last legal job i had:

https://fox59.com/indiana-news/tiki-bobs-closes-as-owner-refuses-to-be-scapegoat-for-downtown-crime/

Downtown is a cesspool. Can't walk a block without the crazies acting up.
Can't dress nice, ya get pestered by the hobos.
Can't dress like a bum, the cops will pester you.

Sooo.. just doing the poor thing until spring. (Next 2 weeks look okay)

 

[Little Red Wagon Repairman]

That Tiki Bob's sounds like it was a wild spot. I worked a place similar to that but not quite to that extreme. I liked to work clubs by the beach out here better than Hollywood or Downtown.

 

[Torre82]

It was.. eventful.
Being a bouncer didn't get old. The customers dud - were of a certain mindset to go pick on the white guy after a few drinks.

Only in the ghetto, i swear. No dancing, no fun, just "fronting"and getting drunk.

You can do that shit at home and ya won't even have to smuggle your pistol into the club to pay 5 bucks per beer and threaten someone every Friday.

WHY DO PEOPLE (of a certain type) HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE AND RUIN THINGS?

 

[Pornfan99]

Oooooo - from that Tiki Bob's article, "”We had a number of females who were arrested for fighting in the club in November of 2022 and they were underage,” said IMPD Captain Chris Boomershine .." Cat fight!

Torre: are you also familiar with the neighboring bar, Taps & Dolls? Was it like a Coyote Ugly bar??

 

[Mr. Daystar]

All I know is, it isn't a truck, unless it's got a gun rack in the back window.

 

[Little Red Wagon Repairman]

All I know is, it isn't a truck, unless it's got a gun rack in the back window.

I keep a gun under the seat. Does that count?

Mr Dayster, aren't you a Chevy Truck guy too? I was advised to put a cam in to give my 5.3 liter V8 some extra power. You got any advice for a City Slicker wannabe truck guy like me? I, at least, wanna look the part.

 

[Mr. Daystar]

I keep a gun under the seat. Does that count?

Mr Dayster, aren't you a Chevy Truck guy too? I was advised to put a cam in to give my 5.3 liter V8 some extra power. You got any advice for a City Slicker wannabe truck guy like me? I, at least, wanna look the part.

I do have an 09 Silverado, with a 5.3, but I don't know much about getting more power out of them. I never really wrenched on anything but my old Harley, outside of simple brake jobs and such. Personally, unless you need the ponies to pull a trailer or something like that, I would leave it alone. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. But because you have a 4x4 your engine is likely geared for torque, so if it were me, I would want more of that, as opposed to being able to go 0-60 in a few seconds, if that makes sense.

 

[xfire]

I'm still driving the '99 Dodge I've had for the last five years. You couldn't pay me to buy a new one, depreciation is a motherfucker.

 

[Torre82]

Oooooo - from that Tiki Bob's article, "”We had a number of females who were arrested for fighting in the club in November of 2022 and they were underage,” said IMPD Captain Chris Boomershine .." Cat fight!

Torre: are you also familiar with the neighboring bar, Taps & Dolls? Was it like a Coyote Ugly bar??

Depends on what floor you went to. But sometimes yes! Depends on who is dating the manager at that time heh

It was.. "different"
Bottom floor was nice. Like rent it out for a private party thing. Stocked with better booze.

Second floor was just a dirty, sticky average bar. But with karaoke, regulars, 2 trashy but chatty tenders who spent 90% of the time yapping to 10% of the regulars.

Third floor was a sports bar, but not? Like noone went there instead of the downtown hooters. (The better, safer bar) but you could count on the being more alpha make obnoxious types. I heard there was a rooftop thing but never got to see it.

And my favorite place -
https://www.slipperynoodle.com/

The blues brothers bar. Aykroyd himself comes in a couple times a year, and the blues bands are always playing. The cops chill out in the game room, the food is better than a greasy spoon has a right to be. The wall out back still has the bullet marks where Dillinger stopped by to train shooting before going off on another killing spree.

There's like 3 stages. Ya have like, every culture in a tiny area. Noodle was white, tiki was black, brothers was young, blu was old, taps was everything and we hopped floors to see where the action was, tilted kilt was Irish.

Now do it drunk , high and walking with your bouncer buddies who get into each place for free and drink free. That was my 2016 to recent times.

 

[Little Red Wagon Repairman]

Torre, are you still working any security gigs? I did security because I enjoyed it; mainly I enjoyed working with my friends and getting paid for it even if it was crap pay. I bet when you tell a person a story sometimes you have to water it down because what happened was so insane no one would believe it if you gave them all the details. I'm glad I got out before everyone had a video camera in their pocket.

 

[Little Red Wagon Repairman]

I found this place in Burbank that I may go visit.
https://worldfamous4x4.com/

 

[Little Red Wagon Repairman]

I do have an 09 Silverado, with a 5.3, but I don't know much about getting more power out of them. I never really wrenched on anything but my old Harley, outside of simple brake jobs and such. Personally, unless you need the ponies to pull a trailer or something like that, I would leave it alone. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. But because you have a 4x4 your engine is likely geared for torque, so if it were me, I would want more of that, as opposed to being able to go 0-60 in a few seconds, if that makes sense.

Sounds like good advice. I admit to not being mechanical at all. I want to get as much dependable life out of that truck and not wear out the engine. Maybe just a little custom exhaust for fun. I received an E-Mail back from World Famous 4x4 and they mentioned I should call them tomorrow. Seems they can create a package of options for me.

I'm still driving the '99 Dodge I've had for the last five years. You couldn't pay me to buy a new one, depreciation is a motherfucker.

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I like Dodges too. Those Hemi-powered trucks seem to last a long time. How many miles are on it?

 

[Mr. Daystar]

Those raised up 4x4's look amazing, and they probably are fun to drive, but after a while, it's going to get harder and harder to climb up into it........age catches up quick. They also tend to wear out U-joints quicker. If you really want something like that, I personally would try to find an older truck, to restore, or tinker around with, and keep your everyday ride, everyday driveable. Plus, your wife and mother in law would have troubles with getting in it, in the event of some emergency, and they had to get in it.

I used to have to pick up my Aunt, and set her on the seat of my truck, and it's just a normal stock height.

 

[xfire]

I like Dodges too. Those Hemi-powered trucks seem to last a long time. How many miles are on it?

Mine's got the 5.9 Magnum, with 137,000 miles, I put half on there. I expect to get at least another 100,000 out of it, unless I find something else to trade into.

 

[Little Red Wagon Repairman]

Mine's got the 5.9 Magnum, with 137,000 miles, I put half on there. I expect to get at least another 100,000 out of it, unless I find something else to trade into.

That's great. Enjoy that Dodge of yours.

Truck technology is really changing too. Looks like in 2-3 years we will see real differences. Maybe when I finally get something new it will be an electric truck. It will have to be reliable and easy to find power charging for.

I just had an awning repair guy visit the house. He's a Ford guy and mentioned how Ford prices skyrocketed. It's true. I've seen those prices also.