Conference ssdevo::4wd

    
    
        Does anyone have any information on the Chevy/GMC 1998
        models?  Is GM going to introduce a new body style? Has
        Motorweek said anything?  Trade shows, gossip, Wall 
        Street Journal, any news? 
    
        Need to decide on a 97 purchase or order a 98. 
    
    
       -Rick.

    It used to be scheduled for '98, but GM supposedly pushed out the
    new style to '99.  Their complancency is causing their pickup market
    share to drop like a rock; most of it going to Dodge.
    Kratz
           

    
    
        I thought I'd mention some dirt I heard from a friend.
        No verification on this at all, so take it with a 
        grain of salt, (but I have to say, I like the rumor!)
    
        Chevy/GMC 1500's will have a high output, aluminum head,
        290hp 350CID available in '98.  
    
        Sounds nice but almost too good to be true.  The same 
        horsepower as the 454 in a 350 package!!!   God, I'm 
        feeling light headed from the thought of having that 
        engine.
    
        [Insert Tim Allen grunts here]  
    
    
       -Rick.
    
    

    
        Kratz, 
    
        How comfortable are you with the info?  Can you tell 
        me the source?  The reason I ask is...
    
        If the body change is in 99, then I will get a 97.  
        That way I won't be the proud owner of a truck that 
        will in one single model year, will be an antique.  
    
        The same value hit the the Dodge truck took once they 
        introduced the new style would get me.  Holding the 
        truck for two seasons gets me some mileage and also a 
        decent return.  There is a big narket for two year old 
        trucks out there.   
    
        If there is a chance that they do it in 98, then I'll 
        hold off. 
    
        So, how do feel about the source of your info?   Good 
        enough to bet a couple of grand of my money?
                                                        8^)
    
        Thanks in advance. 
    
     
       -Rick.
     
     

    
    
        ...and I have to ask myself, what the hell is a "narket"?
    
        Sorry for the typo.
    

according to yesterday's WSJ, a strike broke out at the chevy 
pickup plant in Kanas City Friday over all the overtime they are 
working instead of hiring back at a couple of former workers. 
evidently nobody has time to take a vacation.   According to the 
article, gm is not working real hard to remedy the situation, as 
they are trying to whittle down the stock of new trucks available. 
They said they currently are carrying 95 days worth when the 
"good" number is 65-67 days.

this could mean a  loss of a month of production if you were 
going to order that truck rather than take something off the lot.

    Motor Trend online (www.motortrend.com) has an article on the 99 Chevy
    C/K pickup. I recently read an article on line re: manufacturer's changes
    over the next 4 years. Could have sworn it was Motor Trend, but I can't
    seem to find the article. May have been in Car & Driver (www.caranddriver.
    com). I'm sure with some surfing you'll find the info.
 
    -Dom

    re .151  source
    I know it was Business Week... and I think this was it:
    Business Week, 10/21/96
    "Why GM's Pickup Trucks Need a Lot of Pickup"
    
    Unfortunately, BW's web page wants you to fork over some bucks to look
    at archives.  (www.businessweek.com)
    Kratz
    
    
    

    I seem to recall having seen it being model year 99 too. Could have been
    in AAA's bi-monthly magazine.

    >Per

    P.S. New fullsize vans are out though. Have seen a few already.

    
    
        Thanks guys.
    
        This puts me in a bad position.  We just took delivery 
    of Deb's '97 two months ago, so I'd like to space out the 
    new truck purchases by a year, at least.  If I order the 98 
    next month to be one of the first on the block to take 
    delivery, I'd be sitting pretty.  The mileage on the truck 
    would be projected at 72k with a October delivery. I'd prefer 
    to sell within the 60k range though.  Tends to be more 
    attractive to the buyers - which means a 97. 
    
        Then I have the 98 vs 99 issue.  If GM creates a new 
    version C/K body that goes the way of the Ford, then the 97's
    and 98's will skyrocket in value.  If they manage to do some 
    rounding in the design, (which they all seem to be doing) and 
    have it look like a Dodge, then the bottom will fall out on the 
    98's but the 97's (having already taken a year and a half 
    devalue) would be still attractive to the almost new buyers
    out there.   The flip side of the coin is if I wait until next 
    year September, I'll have about 92k miles on the truck. Clearly 
    a suck mileage to try to sell.  (Where in hell are all these 
    miles coming from?)
    
        If only they introduced the new body style this year I'd 
    be in a win - win position.  The only way I can be real 
    comfortable would be to get a peek at the new body style. 
    
        Looks like it's a 97.  (But I'll drag my feet some more.)
    
    
       -Rick.
    
    

    
    
        Made a quick stop at the GMC dealership and saw the
    exact truck I'm looking for to replace mine.  I almost
    fell over backwards when I saw the MSRP of 29.3K!!!  I 
    can't wait to get the invoice number. 
    
        It's hard to think that there are pick-up trucks out
    there that cost 30 thousand bucks.  I guess I'm starting 
    to think like an old timer. 
    
        "I remember when you could buy a truck for..."
    
    
       -Rick
    

    GM announced today they made $1.8 billion dollars this last quarter
    (or about $5200 per second).  Actually, it's not THAT obnoxious
    when you figure they sold 2.2 million vehicles, for an average profit
    of only about a grand per vehicle.
    K

    re:159
    
    	Was it a dually wheeled 4x4 with extra cab ? 
    
    	Ray

    I talked with friend who sells Pontiac, Buick and GMC's.  He told me
    that in an average month, they sell about 60 Pontiac's, 20 Buick's and
    over 100 trucks.  And the trucks have a 300% greater profit margin
    than the cars!
    
    f.m.

    I lived in southern CT [just outside NYC] in the 60's. The Chevy dealer
    HAD TO TAKE a pickup for every x number of cars he sold/ordered.
    
    I worked for a Dodge Truck Dealership in '72-73 and we only handled BIG
    trucks [we also handled other brands of over the road trucks]. Again,
    we had to take pickups (we had no trouble moving those) but we also HAD
    to take vans!!! When the ill-fated blaser look alike came out we were
    forced to stock all the parts including sheet metal!
    
    Howard

I thought I'd give an update to my note from back in 95 when I reported engine
chirping noise from my 454. Indeed I had it "fixed" a 7th time before they
finally rolled up their sleeves last fall. It was really driving me nuts that
noise. Very loud, too!

Apparently a new service bulletin had outlined this problem. The fix: they
upgraded the 93 engine to 94-95 accessories, where the layout is somewhat
different. Looked like a serious undertaking, if you want my  oppinion. The
problem has not been back since.

>Per

    
    
       The list on the truck is        29.2
    
       The invoice is                  25.5
       Sales                             .5
       title                             .1
    
                                       26.1  
    
       Not bad considering I'm picking up more 
       options on the 97 vs the 94, then looking 
       at the yearly price increases.
    
       Now to find out how much they'll give me
       for the '94.
    
      -Rick.