1997 GMC Sierra SLE V8 5.7 Vortec 5.7 from North America
Summary:
I love this truck, needs some repairs though, but I think its worth it
Faults:
When I first got the truck the pitman arms needed to be replaced.
The windshield wipers do not work sometimes or not at all.
When started, especially in cold weather, there is a knocking sound, but once the truck warms up there is no problem, I have been told by a co-worker that something beside the engine needs to be tightened because it is loose.
Rough acceleration/hesitation when taking off sometimes, I have used fuel injector/carburetor cleaner and it seems to have solved the problem.
There is a leak somewhere in the radiator and occasionally I have to check to make sure the coolant isn't running dry.
General Comments:
This truck has good off-road cabability, snow, mud, or rain.
It's a handsome truck, people have come up to me saying what a nice truck it is.
The front seats are very comfortable and roomy, however the backseats are not as comfortable unless you are a small child and the backseat is completely vertical.
This truck has good towing cabability.
The interior of the truck, especially the dashboard is plastic, and has a greasy look, and is a bit loose.
I can hear rattling like the dashboard is loose, or creaking sounds sometimes when driving, but it is a truck and it's an older model so its expected.
The truck has a lot of power and when accelerating at highway speeds or passing somebody I can feel it "kick" with power.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 24th February, 2008
20th Apr 2013, 14:04
I have the same vehicle (97 SLE Z-71) and have owned over a dozen GM vehicles in the last 20 years. I've also used vehicles from GM and Toyota in extreme environments overseas. As much as I like the size of the Suburbans, I will take a Hi Lux any and every time my physical well being may be tied to the durability/reliability of the vehicle. No one wants to support our domestic manufacturers more than I. With that said, I will unequivocally state that GM not only cannot compete with makers such as Honda and Toyota, they do not seem to care. Powertrain failures are much more common under 100K with the big three, and it's not because there are more of them on the road. It's because they realize they have a loyal customer base willing to overlook glaring deficiencies because they somehow identify with the brand, much like having a favorite sports team. Even when they continually lose, you cheer for them.
4th Dec 2008, 22:26
I bought my 97 in 2000 with 59,000 miles on it. It had the engine knock the first winter I owned it. I was worried (not too bad, though, because I didn't do anything about it) but I now have 259,000 miles on it and it's still knocking when the engine is cold. No complaints. I've done nothing to this truck over the last 200,000 miles except change the oil. I did put a water pump and alternator on it (at different times) but, to me, that's just general maintenance. You can't tell me GM can't compete with foreign quality!