Hello Everyone,
I’ve never owned a diesel and am currently on the fence about purchasing one, which is why I joined this forum to get some honest feedback.
My backstory: I currently own a 2001 Chevy Silverado 1500 with over 170k miles. I had the transmission rebuilt about a year and a half ago, but unfortunately, it failed again. The guy who rebuilt it said, “Sorry, I only offer a one-year warranty,” and offered to rebuild it again at my expense. That said, I really can’t complain, I got 24 good years out of the truck. The clear coat has oxidized badly, and I think it’s finally time for an upgrade.
One of my friends owns a 2017 Silverado 2500 Duramax diesel and swears by it. I told him I wanted something reliable and long-lasting, and he recommended getting a diesel between 2017–2019, good years, according to him, with the Allison 1000 6-speed transmission and the L5P engine, which he says is solid.
The thing is, I hardly tow anything. I mainly use my truck for hauling around my mountain bike buddies all over the Bay Area, plus trips to Tahoe, Oregon, and Utah. So I feel like a diesel might be overkill for my needs. Another friend also suggested staying away from diesels older than ’07 because of DEF systems, but from what I’ve read, even the 2017s can have issues with emissions and DEF components. I’m not sure how common those issues actually are.
On the other hand, if I go with a 1500 gas. I know the GM’s have their own issues with the AFM from ’14–’19 and the newer DFM from ’19 to present.
So I’m really on the fence. I did find a clean 2017 Sierra 2500HD SLT Crew Cab (VIN: 1GT12TEY5HF171351), it’s a diesel and about a 3-hour drive for me to check out.
I’d really appreciate any thoughts, recommendations, or firsthand experiences.
Thanks!
Jason
I’ve never owned a diesel and am currently on the fence about purchasing one, which is why I joined this forum to get some honest feedback.
My backstory: I currently own a 2001 Chevy Silverado 1500 with over 170k miles. I had the transmission rebuilt about a year and a half ago, but unfortunately, it failed again. The guy who rebuilt it said, “Sorry, I only offer a one-year warranty,” and offered to rebuild it again at my expense. That said, I really can’t complain, I got 24 good years out of the truck. The clear coat has oxidized badly, and I think it’s finally time for an upgrade.
One of my friends owns a 2017 Silverado 2500 Duramax diesel and swears by it. I told him I wanted something reliable and long-lasting, and he recommended getting a diesel between 2017–2019, good years, according to him, with the Allison 1000 6-speed transmission and the L5P engine, which he says is solid.
The thing is, I hardly tow anything. I mainly use my truck for hauling around my mountain bike buddies all over the Bay Area, plus trips to Tahoe, Oregon, and Utah. So I feel like a diesel might be overkill for my needs. Another friend also suggested staying away from diesels older than ’07 because of DEF systems, but from what I’ve read, even the 2017s can have issues with emissions and DEF components. I’m not sure how common those issues actually are.
On the other hand, if I go with a 1500 gas. I know the GM’s have their own issues with the AFM from ’14–’19 and the newer DFM from ’19 to present.
So I’m really on the fence. I did find a clean 2017 Sierra 2500HD SLT Crew Cab (VIN: 1GT12TEY5HF171351), it’s a diesel and about a 3-hour drive for me to check out.
I’d really appreciate any thoughts, recommendations, or firsthand experiences.
Thanks!
Jason
