I was surprised the other day when my boss called and said the 2000 Dodge 4X4 we use was being replaced with a 2003 Chevy 4X4.

In the past the GOV as always gone with the lowest bidder and we ended up with some dandys. 1990 dodge pu with the V6, automatic and highway gears. A horrible truck in the mud with no low end power. 1988 chevy pu V6 with a stick. Actually a decent truck if driven in it's power band but early models ruined engine valves and bent tranny forks were common. A few 1995 straight six Ford's which took a beating and kept going. The only thing I dislike about them was the short wheelbase. A 1993 chevy 4X4 automatic with the 4.6. A decent truck but slow.

The 00 dodge pinged all the time while driving but it at least had a V8 and was 4X4. Never had any real trouble with it during the 36k we had it.

Now the '03 chevy.

I'm impressed. This truck comes with the 5300 motor and 3.73 gears as a 4X4. Quite frankly, the best equipped off road truck the goverment has purchased during my career. A co-worker just bought a brand new gmc 1/2 ton supercab 4X4 with the same motor and gears and his does not compare at all to the 2003. In fact we both thought my F250 felt very close to his 2002. He is actually ticked the way the 2003 seems to stomp his 2002.

It remains to be seen how the chevy will hold up. So far, this one does seem better engineered then previous models.

 

Were there big changes to the GM lineup in '03? (Other than that awful looking front end). I'm just wondering why the '03 "stomps" the '02?

 

I think the power to weight ratio of the 2003s is a lil' better due to the replacement of more metal pieces with plastic ones. jk

 

Nope, no drivetrain changes, just interior and exterior.

In 2002 GM eliminated the EGR valve, and despite the power ratings being the same, the accleration is considerably better than the older ones.