GM: We Still Have Too Many Pickups

[William Maley]

GM: We Still Have Too Many Pickups

William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com

September 27, 2011

GM still has a problem of too many pickups. Supplies of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra have been going down from a high of 122 days in June to 108 days in August by idling plants over the summer.

However this isn't enough as GM wants a 90 day supply of trucks by the end of the year. To help reach that goal, GM will be idling their Fort Wayne, Ind for a week in November.

“We make adjustments at our plants based on demand, whether it means adding overtime or in this case taking a down week,” said GM spokesman Chris Lee.

Sales of the two trucks have been going up with the Sliverado seeing a 7% increase in August and the Sierra seeing a 18% increase.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

[daves87rs]

No need for new trucks...yet.

[GMTruckGuy74]

No need for new trucks...yet.

Well, that depends on how you look at it. New body styling with further differentiation between the Sierra and the Silverado, new models (i.e. Sierra All Terrain HD Concept), and new interiors would do wonders for GM's full-size trucks. The chasis and drivetrains are near perfect, though an upgrade to the 5.3L V8 would be nice (maybe bumped up to 5.5L) and the addition of the 4.5L V8 diesel engine for the 1500. A new body with a new interior could really spur sales of the full-sizers, especially since they've been on market for 5 years now (debuted late 2006 as 2007 models). However, I believe that's the plan, with this becoming a reality as 2014 models in 2013.

[hyperv6]

Based on the present trucks there is room for improvments. The others have moved on and have hot selling points while GM has really a good truck but it has gained little since intro.

The GMC still looks good but the Chevy needs some styling help. Based on my MPG in my 2010 LT 5.3 they need not so much more power but more MPG. Also they need to get the engine and tranny to kick down faster like when you get on the highway. Mine as a lag in it that is annoying and nothing is wrong with the truck.

Also they should option a lower suspension package. My 2 two wheel drive sits as high as a 4X4 which is ok for me but many people complain about having to climb in. My elderly mother has never been in it as she can get in it like my past trucks.

I would like to see them add things like they should have already on bed storage like the Avalance and other useful tools.

Finally I wish GM would make a more basic truck with tires that looked like they are correct for the truck. Too often the tires look stilly unless you get the top line wheel package. They could still offer a better cheaper package that at least fit the looks of the wheel well size.

Don't get me wrong I love GM trucks but I am also not to the point to know that they can do even better. I expect the changes in the new truck to be great and will address many of these issues.

Two key improvment. Lose all the chome on the nose or make it better. Stone chipped plastic chrome grills look like crap here in Ohio after a couple of winters. Also fix the gold bow ties as they represent Chevy and when they look like hell in 2 years it says little about your brand in a positive way.

[daves87rs]

No need for new trucks...yet.

Well, that depends on how you look at it. New body styling with further differentiation between the Sierra and the Silverado, new models (i.e. Sierra All Terrain HD Concept), and new interiors would do wonders for GM's full-size trucks. The chasis and drivetrains are near perfect, though an upgrade to the 5.3L V8 would be nice (maybe bumped up to 5.5L) and the addition of the 4.5L V8 diesel engine for the 1500. A new body with a new interior could really spur sales of the full-sizers, especially since they've been on market for 5 years now (debuted late 2006 as 2007 models). However, I believe that's the plan, with this becoming a reality as 2014 models in 2013.

New engines for now.....

[Drew Dowdell]

No need for new trucks...yet.

They need interior refreshes NOW.

[Robert Hall]

No need for new trucks...yet.

They need interior refreshes NOW.

The full size interiors look fine...maybe not as nice as Ram, but better than the hideous plastic mess that is the F150 interior..

Edited October 11, 2011 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[Drew Dowdell]

Not really. They are out of date and out of sync with the quality level of the rest of GM's new stuff. They have switchgear in there from the Alero and Lucerne, the Navitainment systems need to be updated as it is already two generations behind now, the plastics (where used) need to be brought up to par.

They look fine in pictures. Sitting in them basically side by side as I did with the GMC Sierra Denali 2500HD and Ford F-350 Super Duty review, the more modern interior becomes clear.

[Robert Hall]

Not really. They are out of date and out of sync with the quality level of the rest of GM's new stuff. They have switchgear in there from the Alero and Lucerne, the Navitainment systems need to be updated as it is already two generations behind now, the plastics (where used) need to be brought up to par.

They look fine in pictures. Sitting in them basically side by side as I did with the GMC Sierra Denali 2500HD and Ford F-350 Super Duty review, the more modern interior becomes clear.

I've sat in a couple Silverados, for a truck they seemed fine, likewise for the Suburban (same dash as higher line Silverados). I had an F150 rental last year, the dash was a mess of too many wierd elements, too many cutlines and very cheap plastics.

[GMTruckGuy74]

I have to agree with Oldsmoboi in that the interiors should have received a redesign for 2011 or 2012 (the full-size trucks have been on-market since late-2006). What really sucked was this year's Sierra All Terrain HD concept truck (as seen in my signature), which used the production Sierra cab and interior (with Escalade doors) but dressed up with more soft-touch material, new seat design, and embroidery on the headrests). Some new bodyside moldings and an interior job could have breathed new life in the 2011's or 2012 models. But I guess GM figured the new full-sizers will be on-market soon enough (2013/2014) to pass over a MCE with the GMT-900 interiors.

[Robert Hall]

It will be interesting to see where GM goes with the next full sizers. Haven't really seen or read anything yet. With the new CAFE standards coming, I would think there will be emphasis on greater efficiency across the line..wonder if there will be a slight downsizing and some weight loss...(isn't a typical Silverado today about a ton heavier than one from 20 years ago)?

[GMTruckGuy74]

Not really. They are out of date and out of sync with the quality level of the rest of GM's new stuff. They have switchgear in there from the Alero and Lucerne, the Navitainment systems need to be updated as it is already two generations behind now, the plastics (where used) need to be brought up to par.

They look fine in pictures. Sitting in them basically side by side as I did with the GMC Sierra Denali 2500HD and Ford F-350 Super Duty review, the more modern interior becomes clear.

I've sat in a couple Silverados, for a truck they seemed fine, likewise for the Suburban (same dash as higher line Silverados). I had an F150 rental last year, the dash was a mess of too many wierd elements, too many cutlines and very cheap plastics.

Personally, I like the "basic" dash layout offered in the W/T, SL/LS, and SLE/LT model interiors of the Sierra/Silverado (not that the luxury dash [sLT/LTZ] isn't nice, but to me it's too car-like for a truck). But as Oldsmoboi pointed out, they share in parts with models no longer produced by GM and the new interiors of GMs vehicles have gone far above and beyond what any GM interior has offered to the consumer, so why should the cash-cow pickups and SUVs suffer still? I also agree with your sentiment on the Ford F-Series interiors. I've driven one 2011 F-150 (last November), the model below the XLT but not the basic work truck, and sat in F-150s of differing models at both the Philadelphia and New York Auto Shows this year and feel as if Ford is trying to be 'techy' & 'busy' with their dash design. I did not like the feel of the $37k XLT or the higher priced models dash/interior and thought that GM should not be the only one suffering from critics reviews of full-size truck interiors.

[GMTruckGuy74]

It will be interesting to see where GM goes with the next full sizers. Haven't really seen or read anything yet. With the new CAFE standards coming, I would think there will be emphasis on greater efficiency across the line..wonder if there will be a slight downsizing and some weight loss...(isn't a typical Silverado today about a ton heavier than one from 20 years ago)?

I think all vehicles today that have a model produced 10 or 20 years ago has 'gained' weight and girth (Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra, etc). While at the AACA show in Hershey I saw a newer Silverado parked next to a mid-'80s one and remarked to myself how much bigger the new trucks are to their distant past incarnations.

[Robert Hall]

I like both the basic and deluxe GM dashes..a materials and switchgear upgrade would have been nice...the basic design is pretty clean compared to the busy Ford design.

Of course, time moves slowly in full-size truck land--the Nissan Titan interior is pretty much unchanged from '04 IIRC.