Faults:
~40,000 - The exhaust rotted away up by the manifold, replaced catalytic converter also because it had a small rattle.
~45,000 - The drivers side recliner handle broke off, which is very common and an easy fix.
~70,000 - Replaced rear U-Joint.
~75,000 - The fan clutch seized.
~79,000 - Had a small misfire at idle, new plugs and wires solved this.
~92,000 - Another exhaust leak, though very small. The catalytic converter problem has shown up once again, though I received a letter from GM saying this repair is now covered by them. It's not loud enough to offend anyone, and it actually rumbles like a V6 when idling now. It hasn't had any degrading effect on performance, so I'll wait.
General Comments:
I've fallen in love with this truck. It's a navy blue 2wd with the 5 spoke mag wheels. It also has the appearance package which includes molded plastic on the side and pin-striping, as well as chrome bumpers so it looks very sharp, I get compliments on it all the time.
When I bought it I needed decent gas mileage so I went with the 4 cylinder with standard transmission. I get on average 28mpg on the highway. Power is tolerable with the 5 speed, but it's a dog with the automatic. If you plan on purchasing a 4 cylinder S10 stay away from the automatic. It has enough power to bark the tires on a quick shift into 2nd gear.
In the last 20,000 miles I could really notice a loss in power, especially trying to pass on the highway without down shifting. I threw a bottle of Sea Foam in with a full tank of gas and this truck now has more power than the day I bought it. A couple of weeks ago I had to give my boss a ride to work, and he asked me if I had the V6. The combination of power and gas mileage has made me happy all over again, like I was the day I bought it.
Brakes are good and have lasted a long time. They fade a little under really heavy braking (like stopping quick going down a hill). The drums tend to lock up at slow speeds when you first start driving if it has been raining. I've heard this is common as well. They don't lock up and stay locked, It's just like you're not on the brakes at all, or you've got the pedal to the floor.
Personally I like the interior, everything is laid out nice and simple, and everything is within reach. The dash is made out of cheap plastic, but how often do you sit there and rub your dashboard? Gauges are bright and easy to read. The seats are comfortable for me, but I'm a small guy. The only problem I've had with it is the recliner handle breaking off, luckily my seat was in a good enough position when it happened.
Visibility in front is fine, though the A-pillars create huge blind spots, and I find myself leaning forward when driving anywhere with a lot of people, like a parking lot. Visibility in the rear is about the same as the front, the mirrors are big which helps a lot, but they're just a little too "narrow" so to speak. I put 2 small convex mirrors on them and I couldn't be happier with them now. The bed seems kind of tall when looking over your shoulder to see out the back window, but that could just be from me being short.
I put on a set of Cooper Discoverer A/T tires, driving in the snow is no problem with a little weight over the rear tires. I live in New England and have never had a problem with getting stuck in the snow. The stock Uniroyal tires are garbage.
Keep on top of the usual maintenance (oil changes, tune-ups, etc) and the truck will last forever. I love this truck, and I don't look forward to the day when I have to get rid of it.
