The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Base for 2003: Improving on 2002
A lot has been said about the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 for 2003. As Chevrolet’s entry in the standard cab pickup market the Silverado 1500 (and in this case specically the Base version) has maintained a solid reputation. The 2-door Silverado 1500 is especially appealing to wide market segment, making it a perfect truck to help Chevrolet as a brand in general.
Performance
The Silverado 1500 Base is equipped with a General Motors 5.3 liter eight-cylinder engine that utilizes 16 valves. The Vortec engine is mated to a General Motors 4-speed Transmission. This configuration has proven to be a successful design for Chevrolet.
The fuel system for the 2003 Silverado 1500 is a traditional SFI, running on FLEX fuel. The fuel is controlled by an electronic system and is a fuel-injected MFI design. The capacity of the fuel tank is 34.00 gallons.
Steering control is handled through a power-steering gear-style configuration. The Silverado 1500 has power-assisted brakes, with 4-Wheel ABS support. The front brakes are disc while the rear brakes are disc. The truck uses coil front springs and leaf in the rear.
Silverado 1500 Base Statistics
The Silverado 1500 is 222.10 inches long, 78.50 inches wide, and 71.00 inches high. It has a wheelbase of 133.00 inches. It is able to seat 3 comfortably.
The listed retail price in 2003 (MSRP) was $19,250, with an invoice cost of $17,421. This price is slightly higher than the industry average price for a two-door Standard Cab Pickup.
The standard warranty period for the Silverado 1500 is 36 months, or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. This is standard in the standard cab pickup market.
Fuel Efficiency
The 2003 Silverado 1500 gets 19 - 21 miles/gallon on the highway and only 15 - 16 in the city. This is average for a standard cab pickup truck.
In Summary
The 2002 model began the promise of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The 2003 expanded on this success and has proven to be a strong seller in most markets. Even with strong competition from other manufacturers Chevrolet hopes that the Silverado 1500 Base will continue to be a profitable vehicle.