A Few Miles on the Clock
By Tom Stephens
Group Vice President
GM Powertrain
2005 Chevy Silverado HD
Today, J. D. Power and Associates released their 2005 Vehicle Dependability Study and the highest-ranked vehicle in the Heavy-Duty Full-Size Pickup category was the Chevy Silverado HD, with the GMC Sierra ranked third. It is a source of pride for us at General Motors, as it is an independent measure of the hard work and attention to detail that does into all of our vehicles. In fact, of the study’s 19 categories, GM vehicles top eight of them.
Not coincidentally, both the GMC Sierra Heavy Duty and Chevrolet Silverado Heavy Duty also topped their segment earlier this year in the 2005 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study.
No doubt, one of the factors in the heavy-duty trucks’ top rankings was the performance and durability of their Vortec small-block V-8 engines. Perhaps no other vehicle is purchased as much for its workload capabilities as a heavy-duty pickup, whether that means towing a trailer or a heavy payload in the bed. We are continually amazed at the uses customers put our trucks through, especially those with the tried and true small-block V-8.
I could rattle off a dozen reasons why GM’s Vortec small-block V-8 truck engines helped the Sierra and Silverado climb to the top of the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study and Initial Quality Study, but the best example comes from correspondence we’ve received from Emily Wiles, starting in March 2003. She and her husband, Gary, run Wiles Enterprises, a transportation and delivery company that shuttles auto parts and other items between auto dealerships throughout the Midwest. In that first letter, Mrs. Wiles explained that the company’s three 2002 Chevy Silverado trucks – all powered by Vortec 6000 small-block engines – had each already accumulated about 200,000 miles after a little more than a year on the road. These were trucks that pulled freight-loaded trailers with gross combination weights of about 10,000 pounds.
We were enthused to hear of Mrs. Wiles’ experience, but frankly, not very surprised. Our heavy-duty engines are routinely tested and validated to 200,000 miles. The funny thing is, she kept writing with mileage updates. This past spring, she wrote to tell us that each of the trucks was nearing the 500,000-mile mark. She also stated that all the trucks have had only regular maintenance work performed on the engines – there have been no unscheduled repairs with the engines. Let me say that again: only scheduled maintenance with no repairs.
A single truck achieving such performance over a couple of decades is noteworthy, but the Wileses have had consistent and duplicated performance from all three of their Silverado pickups in just a few years. These are trucks that have traveled nearly a million and a half combined miles – several lifetimes’ worth of work squeezed into just three years of service. Two of these trucks are still on the road, making freight deliveries almost every day of the week. The third was delivered to us to run a battery of tests to determine the real-world performance and wear on our powertrains after more than 460,000 miles of rugged use.
Real-life feedback from customers like Mrs. Wiles is validation we take back to the drawing board. We are continually refining our small-block V-8 truck engines to provide enhanced quality, performance, fuel economy and, most importantly, durability. The Vortec 6000 engines in the Wileses’ trucks are great, but there are improved small-block engines already waiting in the wings and they promise to give our customers even more reasons to be excited. I wish I could tell you more about them, but you’ll find out soon enough.
Yes, the J.D. Power and Associates citation is something we’re proud of at GM. But stories like that of the Wileses are the accolades we really appreciate. It’s an affirmation that, after more than 50 years, the GM small-block V-8 is one of the best engines ever produced – and it’s only getting better.
We’ll continue to post updates from the Wileses on the performance of their remaining vehicles as they eclipse the 500,000 mile mark and approach 600,000. And this will be the first place we post the results of the analysis we conduct on the truck they provided to us. Be sure to stay tuned.
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Congratulations once again. I knew GM was good but I don’t think anyone was prepared for GM to take nearly half of the top long term vehicle segments in the JD Power study.
As far as the Vortec your preaching to the choir, when you have a business you don’t have time to experiment with competitors engine durability. The full-sized vans with the same V8’s are just as important too even thou they are not evaluated.
Once again Buick shows that its quality focus is paying off. I hope they are rewarded with the Velite and a red carpet ride to the Hummer showroom.
Buick/Hummer = Romeo & Juliet
Pontiac/GMC = Sonny & Share
Pontiac/Buick/GMC = The Smiths
“You still alive baby?”
2’s company 3’s a crowd.
Tom’s Tale
Tom Stephens, Group VP of GM Powertrain, posts to GM’s Fastland blog today.
“You pay what we pay, not a penny more.”
That is music to the ears of every mom, student and anyone that just feels like the dealer walks away with the bank everytime they enter a showroom.
Your employee discount program is effective because it introduces fairness, integrity and honesty to the price of every vehicle for every customer. It is like you took Saturn’s system and made it company wide.
Not only did you increase slaes exponentially but you increased the customer satifaction rate with the buying experiance.
Don’t stop now, keep this thing until the Solstice and HHR comes out and then introduce the
NEW DEAL!! “With your new lower pricing on the sticker strategy.”
Once again congratulations! 30% market share.
Hay maybe you don’t have to disolve Buick’s independant showrooms after all, not with their success and GM’s sales. Or better yet how about Buick/Hummer and Pontiac/GMC. (;
Tom,
Chevrolet has had the finest V8 engines since 1955. The problem is that until recent years you had great cars to put them in. The chevrolet engines can produce more horsepower per dollar than any engine in the world. Why not build some RWD cars to put them into. The Camaro comes to mind.
Mr. Schrage
I guess the Pontiac GTO, Chevy Corvette, Cadillac CTS, SRX, STS, XLR, as well as the upcoming Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky don’t count?
Every one of them are rear-wheel drive and are, as of the last time I looked, passenger cars.
Granted, GM needs a new mid-size and full-size RWD passenger car, but they will come. In the meantime, there is choice out there from the General.
Greg
Congratulations to everyone at GM for such great work.
My wife and I have experienced GM durability with our famous Roach I (LT1) with over 390,000 miles of heavy abuse and use and still going strong around town (though new owner).
Variable Valve Timing on both intake and exhaust, direct injection, variable valve lift, 7500+rpm redlines is the way to get respect. I have a cavalier, it has great tq, but its no fun in the upper rpm ranges. The getrag shifter is lousy and toy like.
That’s great to hear that GM has some very reliable cars and trucks. I myself have always known that. But the consumer must know that they are more reliable. How do you plan to do that?
Oh, and another plug for a Camaro. Stop messing around. Just build one, and build one right the first time please.
Diito on Edward Hayes post.
No haggle pricing, baby!
And you MUST increase your warranty!
GO!!!!BUICK!!!. Great quality,Very patient dealers!!
Let’s see how those single point Buick dealers stack up in sales in the month of June!!!!!.GREAT QUALITY, GREAT DEALERS.PRICED RIGHT!!!NO ONE BETTER THAN A BUICK DEALER.JUST THINK WHEN THEY GET THE GOT TO HAVE PRODUCT.THANK YOU BOB LUTZ!!!!!!
Ditto on the longer warranty. I can go buy an Isuzu clone of the Colorado/Canyon pickup and get a 7/75,000 powertrain warranty, 3/50,000 bumper-to-bumper, *and* pay less! What’s up with that?
Mr. Stephens great points on the small black, I have a 6.0L myself, like everyone else on here I am going to beg for a Camaro, and RWD sedans, so talk to the right people so we can get them built! Also that truck in your post is an 04′ Silverado HD, it has the old grill.
thanks
I totally agree about the RWD cars comment
Put those vortec engines in some rear wheel drive cars and then offer the customer a choice between 2drs and 4drs. The decline of GM began with the CAFE inspired lineup of transportation appliances of 1986-1988. GM never recovered from that debacle. Lets hope these blogs have some effect. The collective wisdom of hundreds of common bloggers is probably greater than any executive. Good luck to GM, its important that the US retain its manufacturing base and not be dominated by foreign mercantalists.
I wish my 96 Jimmy was as dependable as these heavy duty trucks… I’m excited about the new 900 series trucks coming out, i have a feeling the competition will be hurting for a while.
“Variable Valve Timing on both intake and exhaust, direct injection, variable valve lift, 7500+rpm redlines is the way to get respect”
posted by rgw
GM are you listening? These type of features are becoming common place at other auto manufacturers. Please no more pushrod engines in anything else but a truck or a Corvette!
Congrats on the JD Powers report and employee pricing for all, that is a great step in the right direction.
Hey Tom Stephens, Bob Lutz, and Mark LeNeve… extract more of this information out of your database on all the “Wiles’” and start producing commercials. You have real live employees on TV now, get some real live customers on too! When I worked at one of the division’s customer assistance centers, I too used to hear countless stories of vehicles with hundreds of thousands of miles on them and still running strong. The stories never failed to put a huge smile on my face. Start tooting your own horn and get the word out!
To Greg, while we’re in agreement that the Pontiac GTO, Chevy Corvette, Cadillac CTS, SRX, STS, XLR, as well as the upcoming Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky are all rear wheel drive, they’re not affordable to everyone’s budget as was the Camaro and Firebird.
I think what Mr. Schrage and every other person here that doesn’t have GTO, SSR, Corvette or XLR money are asking for is an affordable RWD vehicle. GM does not have an affordable RWD vehicle at this time.
The upcoming Solstice and Sky are cute, but don’t offer the horsepower, the heritage nor the rear seats.
Bring back the Caprice or Impala in RWD, as the 1996, but more compact, and you’ll have a winner, 4 door sedan with the qualities of the Camaro.
Congratulations on your latest reviews from JD Power. Keep up the good work.
El Verdugo
Forget the trick stuff and keep building great simple reliable engines that make low end torque and class leading fuel economy.
(And don’t forget to mention the bulletproof Allison 1000 trans in the GM HD pickups.)
About the RWD I Think the new Monte Carlo and Impala SS are RWD because on Chevy.com they said they have V8 and unless there going to have the old 55 Cadillac hoods. they should be RWD a V8 FWD would be ridiculous. Isn’t the CTS RWD too. hmmm there is RWD cars Just have to look harder. also according to Chevy the new Monte Carlo and Impala will have 303 HP!! Yeah
The Camaro and Trans Am Firebird And Regal GNX would be nice to have on the market again though.
Congrats with the dependability awards. also congrats with the Pontiac Prototype racing, way to take 1st and 2nd. Also 50 Years With a Small Block.
The Trucks are dependable I seen one on a construction site that was pulling stumps as good as a bulldozer. Honestly the funniest thing was a S10 4wd was pulling a F-150 out of the ditch. Also they get decent MPG for HD trucks.
Craig
I have not bought a GM vehicle for years but if you do the emplyee pricing and rebates on the 2006 models I
will consider one.
I have the 6.0L Vortec V-8 in my 2002 Denali XL and it is the most attractive feature of this vehicle that force me to buy. I use it only on long extended driving vacations. It has extremely low miles for a 3 year old plus truck but runs better than new. It has gobbs of low end torque and a definitely scrumptious V-8 exhaust burble. I love it really. What I don’t like is the dealership experience with purchasing it. I mean, that was the worst. I wound up buying mine from a dealer 250 miles away who delivered it to my door without ever having met. I bought it during the 0.0% financing deal after September 11, and I do love it. GM and its dealers should take note that the current employee pricing buy plan is really successful because it eliminates the greed and shadyness of dealers who have to try to stick it to you at every step of the buying process. Take not here, when this program stops, so too will the sales momentum gained. Simply, because your dealership arm is literally forcing customers to look at alternative models from other manufacturers who treat the potential customer better. I have looked into buying the 2006 Solstice and the sharks out there at local dealers are amazing. Absolutely amazing. Then, previously, I looked seriously at the 2004 GTO when it first hit the dealers and the frenzy was even worse then. They ruined the sales of this car for the 04 model year with their market adjustments. I think it is sad commentary. Yes, I am proud to own a GM vehicle. I will not be held prisoner financially by a “stealership” just to buy a new mass produced vehicle.
Steve
WHERE IS LUTZ????
The new Impala and Monte are front wheel drive.
I’m glad to hear that GM improved over last year. Personally, I’m pretty happy with the mechanical quality of my ‘98 Grand Prix. I finally replaced the original front brake pads after 95,000 miles! I did a good amount of city driving too! The mechanic told me I may never have to replace my rear brake pads. The engine drives as good as new. Now if only the CD player still worked… I think GM does very well with mechanical durability, but I think the durability of the electronics have room for improvement. Hopefully, GM makes even larger improvement in durability next year.
I want HHR. But I have only one request on it. Please I want a factory installed Navigation.
Drop me an email if it can be done. I really want it. But without that option, I am almost certainly not getting it.
Mr Stevens, Congratulations in your teams success in further development of the famous and long lasting Chevy small block V-8.In addition to your provided testimony of your customers,I too can attest to the durability and dependability of these v-8’s.I have one in my 1972 Chevy LB 4×4 with 240+K miles.Earlier in its age it could burn the rubber on all 4 wheels and could beat some newer Z-28’s in its day and was used to pull fence posts regularly.A relative had twin 327’s in a 40 foot Chriscraft boat(17.7 tons empty) for over 30 years that were problem free except during later years developed a wrist pin slap in a single cylinder and NO other problems.Just my experience,but it seems that the 327/350 have better oil control and are overall stronger than the 305 engine was.The vehicles I had with a 305 seem to start losing oil control around 150K miles at least this is my experience.It would be good if we could get vehicles like the Camaro back into production as they have historically been viewed as the poor man’s Corvette.Sporty,and more affordable to more people than its more expensive cousins or marqee names.I think Chevy truck would do better if they stop using that Avalanche front end and made factory fog lamps available as an option,The looks of the these trucks pushed me into trading my 2001 for a new GMC.Good luck and continued success in your product development going forward, Sam
Wow, Steven has the right name for them, “STEALERSHIPS”, that’s great, Steve, you should copyright that one.
It’s great that GM is doing well after all the negatives noted against GM. Work on your dealer standards and it will be much better for the company.
Who can give me an analysis over GM’s Manufacturing, or a place I can go to, to get an overall analysis on GM so I can write a 60 page paper of an internal and external analysis? I’d really appreciate it if someone would lend a helping hand.
Mr. Lutz – your cars are beginning to interest me, but I can’t stand the oversized Chevrolet logo on the grill of Chevy products. VW’s have the same problem.
Thanks,
Thorn
HIRE THIS KID AND GO INTO PRODUCTION!!
http://www.popularhotrodding.com/features/0309phr_5camaro/
http://www.popularhotrodding.com/features/0312PHR_Fifth_Reloaded/
I just read something on Autoblog that I hope isn’t true. They are reporting the 900 series of trucks is just a “refresh” of the current model. I was under the impression this was to be a new truck, from the frame up. I think in order for GM to take the lead from Ford, it needs to be just that, new from the frame up. Don’t get me wrong, I own an 04 GMC and I like it. It’s just that everyone is waiting for GM to “break out” and lead. A “refresh” won’t do, I believe to lead you need really stretch here and build clearly the best truck, not “as good as”, the best. I hope the 900 series will be just that and I’ll trade for one.
hello, just wanted to say a few words about chevy, and gmc,the first truck that I had was a 1992 chevy chyanne..I put over twohundred thousand miles on it and about the only thing that I had to do to it was put a water pump and belts on it,man talking about staying power, the next car was a 1995 pont. sunfire, I still have it and she has 180,000 miles and is still going strong..all my friends were trying to get me to buy a new f150 ford , but they just wasted there time because nobody could ever get me to change my mind. my latest gm truck is the serria, its a 2001 model with the 5.3 v-8 man what a nice truck its the serria extended cab sle.. as of power well lets just say pull your f150 next to it and well see whos the best.
Mr Stephens
I drive a 2004 GMC 3500 crewcab with custom utility box. Gross weight day in and out = 9700 lbs. Then I some times tack on a 10000 lb trailer. I have a 6 speed manual transmission for control in mountain driving. Going forward is excellent. Reverse needs to be re geared so that on straight and level back up you only go about 2 mph. Even backing up hill I have to ride the clucth to maintain steering control. A heavier manufactured cluth wouldn’t hurt either. My first one went out at 22,000 miles. I know some who are on clutch 3 by 50000 miles. We are all horseshoers, so it is road driving but a lot of in and out of tight barn yards. I don’t find the Allison transmission to be adequate in steep mountain terrain.
Glen
Hi Glen,
Thanks for the comments on your crewcab.
The 5.23 reverse gear ratio in your truck is actually a very deep gear. We usually keep reverse similar to 1st so the crawling speed is not abruptly different when moving back and forth in tight spaces. (5.23 vs. 5.79 feels similar in the vehicle). For your type of application where more ratio is required for off-road or in soft-soil barnyard situations, we would suggest
a 4WD truck that includes 4 Low. This would give the added 2.72:1 ratio.
On the second issue, clutch wear is directly tied to the amount of energy going into the clutch during launch events. High energy generates heat and heat breaks down the clutch resin material. In your description you note that you are always slipping the clutch to move small distances. This causes high clutch temperatures and high clutch wear. If you were to have a 4WD and use 4Low you would be able to easily creep at low speed and have
a more acceptable level of clutch wear. The bottom line is that 4WD is very useful for more than just snow and deep mud.
Hope that helps and thanks again for your comments.
Tom Stephens
Their’s more old chevrolet trucks on the road than any other brand PEROID.
I have a 2002 Denali with Vortec 6000 V8, Everytime I go on business trip and leave car at airport parking for 3-4 day battery is dead when I return…… Car has low mileage 41000 and I am on my 3rd battery…. Has anyone else had this problem? First happened when car was 2 weeks old. I have had car serviced by dealership and they can’t seem to find solution! HELP!