Hello,
I just drove up my 2004 chevy express 1500 awd from SE WA State/NE Oregon all the way thru canada to Anchorage, Alaska. I tried to utilize cruise control almost all the time and got 17 miles to the gallon. Here in Anchorage, with mostly city driving (stop-and-go traffic, red lights, etc) upon first fill-up i averaged 12 miles to the gallon.
I now see why a 2500 3/4 ton is better. The dips and potholes in the road were easily felt in my half-ton van with AWD.
Here in Anchorage, I test drove a 2015 chevy express 2500 with the 4.8 liter vortec v8 and the 6-speed automatic. It did not appear to have cruise control (I guess on the newer chevy/GM vans the cruise control is on the steering wheel, not on the blinker handle)
My question is because that now currently in May/June 2022 because gas prices are at a historic high, should I try to find a 2500 GM van with the 4.8 and 6-speed auto? The last year they put the 4.8 in was in model year 2017 unfortunaley. So now all those 2015-2017 vans with the 4.8 all probably all have a decent amount of mileage on them and are over-priced. Because of the vehicle shortage lol. I saw a 2020 GMC Savana 2500 cargo van with the 6.0 for sale on craigslist at a dealer's lot for $47k! Meanwhile I go on the GMC website and can custom build one on that website and have it come out to about $36k-$38K brand new from the factory! In other words, I can get a brand new van for $10k less than what that dealer is asking for!
I guess I would just like some advice on whether to hunt for a 2015-2017 2500 GM van with the 4.8 or go with a 4.3 Liter V6 mated to an 8-speed automatic or go with a 6.0 liter v8 2500 van, OR just have my funding and finances organized for a brand new GMC Savana 2500 with the 6.6 liter L8T gas engine mated to a 6 speed automatic.
Needless to say, I would first have to secure funding and have my finances organized before even getting serious about buying a new-to-me vehicle, however it never hurts to start the search early!
But yeah, in all seriousness, I'm just wondering what y'all would think with (current) gas prices being at a historic high, I can try searching for a 4.8 and possibly get 20mpg MAX or a 4.3 liter v6 or even better the newer (2021 model year and up) 6.6 liter L8T gas engine, but man that engine just sounds like a gas hog!
I just drove up my 2004 chevy express 1500 awd from SE WA State/NE Oregon all the way thru canada to Anchorage, Alaska. I tried to utilize cruise control almost all the time and got 17 miles to the gallon. Here in Anchorage, with mostly city driving (stop-and-go traffic, red lights, etc) upon first fill-up i averaged 12 miles to the gallon.
I now see why a 2500 3/4 ton is better. The dips and potholes in the road were easily felt in my half-ton van with AWD.
Here in Anchorage, I test drove a 2015 chevy express 2500 with the 4.8 liter vortec v8 and the 6-speed automatic. It did not appear to have cruise control (I guess on the newer chevy/GM vans the cruise control is on the steering wheel, not on the blinker handle)
My question is because that now currently in May/June 2022 because gas prices are at a historic high, should I try to find a 2500 GM van with the 4.8 and 6-speed auto? The last year they put the 4.8 in was in model year 2017 unfortunaley. So now all those 2015-2017 vans with the 4.8 all probably all have a decent amount of mileage on them and are over-priced. Because of the vehicle shortage lol. I saw a 2020 GMC Savana 2500 cargo van with the 6.0 for sale on craigslist at a dealer's lot for $47k! Meanwhile I go on the GMC website and can custom build one on that website and have it come out to about $36k-$38K brand new from the factory! In other words, I can get a brand new van for $10k less than what that dealer is asking for!
I guess I would just like some advice on whether to hunt for a 2015-2017 2500 GM van with the 4.8 or go with a 4.3 Liter V6 mated to an 8-speed automatic or go with a 6.0 liter v8 2500 van, OR just have my funding and finances organized for a brand new GMC Savana 2500 with the 6.6 liter L8T gas engine mated to a 6 speed automatic.
Needless to say, I would first have to secure funding and have my finances organized before even getting serious about buying a new-to-me vehicle, however it never hurts to start the search early!
But yeah, in all seriousness, I'm just wondering what y'all would think with (current) gas prices being at a historic high, I can try searching for a 4.8 and possibly get 20mpg MAX or a 4.3 liter v6 or even better the newer (2021 model year and up) 6.6 liter L8T gas engine, but man that engine just sounds like a gas hog!
