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2019 Chevrolet Silverado: A Pocketknife on Wheels

9/6/2019

 
PicturePhotos: Chevrolet, David Fluhrer
Since one in seven vehicles sold in the U.S. is now a pickup, Chevrolet and sister brand GMC regularly engage in an epic battle with Ford and RAM to see who can field the most advanced, best-selling light truck.  You’ll see all four brands well-represented on American roads and it’s hard to go wrong with any of them.
 
Best Foot Forward
Chevy puts its best foot forward with the redesigned-from-the-ground-up 2019 Silverado, and GMC with the companion Sierra.  In a crowded field that includes high-quality Asian offerings, Silverado boasts some key advancements:  an expanded range of eight models and six engine/transmission choices; an increase in almost every exterior and interior dimension; weight reduction up to 450 lbs. by combining high-strength steel, aluminum and composites; and best-in-class cargo capacity, with the short bed holding up to 63 cubic feet.  With so much versatility for just about any task or trip, Silverado and Sierra are pocket knives on wheels.
 
Our tester, a loaded Silverado LTZ Crew Cab in Summit White, was near the top of the range at almost $57,000, although the entry point is closer to half that.  For the big money, you get a full suite of luxury and mechanical amenities, all the way down to ventilated seats and a power sliding rear window. 
 
6.2 Liter is Shining Star
But the shining star of this model was its 6.2 liter V-8, a $2,495 option pumping out 420 horsepower and some stump-pulling torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission. If the “6.2 L” letters in chrome on the hood look familiar, that’s because the small-block engine architecture is shared with Corvette.  The Silverado focuses on hauling heavy cargo or a trailer up to 12,100 lbs., while the Corv
ette is tuned for fast throttle response and higher peak horsepower (460).
 
So this big rig can really deliver a whiff of Corvette-style fun, especially when you dial in one of three  engine/steering/suspension settings to Sport mode.  Just be sure to bring plenty of gas money.  While Chevy highlights its Dynamic Fuel Management system, this Silverado is rated at just 17 city/highway miles per gallon of required 93 octane.

Highway Driving a Treat
With the LTZ’s smooth acceleration and supple suspension, highway driving is a real treat.  So, too, is a plunge into snow or sleet, where you’ll feel more comfortable and snug than the proverbial bug-in-a-rug.  Be advised, however, that pockmarked pavement can make the Chevy’s wheels dance a bit.
 
As expected in a $50,000-plus truck, Silverado’s spacious leather interior was cushy, plump and well-finished in a brown-and-taupe combination that Chevy calls “Gideon/Very Dark Atmosphere.”  Dash controls are well-organized, although we’d prefer a console shifter to the column-mounted stalk.  The infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay is easy to use and you can add your own smartphone-based navigation.  In a nod to old-school style, a cool row of analog gauges decorates the driver’s binnacle.
 
Plenty of Storage
Around the interior, there are more bins and cubbyholes than you can shake a water bottle at, not to mention a double-decker glove compartment.  And in a rear cabin that could easily hold four, we were enamored by the storage units hiding behind the leather seatbacks.   
 
We could go on and on with the Silverado’s attractions, but we wonder who buys this pickup.  Is it the prosperous construction business owner, who also wants something good-looking and luxurious?  Is it the large family that prefers a rugged outer cargo bed to haul messy ice hockey gear or ATVs?

 
An Awful Lot to Like
​
Whatever the use, there’s an awful lot to like with this Chevy.  If we really wanted to have our way with it, we’d load up the family and its cargo, tune some Garth Brooks on the Sirius XM, slap on the Ray-Bans and make for New York's George Washington Bridge.  Once over the Hudson River, we’d head west for parts unknown.  After all, isn’t that what a cool American pickup is really about?
NOTEBOOK
2019 Chevrolet Silverado LTZ Crew Cab
Base Price: $50,195
Price as Tested: $56,785
Horsepower: 420
Torque: 460 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4100 rpm
Towing Capacity: 12,100 lbs.

2019 Corvette Grand Sport: Ready for Street & Track

11/15/2018

 
Picture
Chevrolet unveiled the Corvette nearly 66 years ago in New York City and it quickly became known as America’s Sports Car.  But from our northeastern U.S. home base, we consider it Long Island's sports car.  Over the decades, the region’s car buffs have fallen hard for the image, performance and camaraderie that come with driving one of these powerful two-seaters.

Today, Corvette dealers, aftermarket shops and enthusiast clubs dot Long Island.  Corvette attendance at weekend car shows seems almost mandatory, and there’s no shortage of local fans to ogle those bulging fenders.

The 2019 Grand Sport more than upholds the reputation as it resides in the sweet spot of Chevy’s sports car lineup.  If you’ve saved your pennies for a Corvette since high school or are just seeking some midlife fun, this version is the way to go.

Practice Restraint
Yes, the primary attention-getters among today’s Corvettes are the 755-horsepower ZR1, the 650-horse Z06 or the upcoming mid-engine Ferrari-killer shown in spy photos.  Practice some restraint, however, and belly up to the 460-horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8 Grand Sport convertible starting at $70,590, or the coupe for $4,000 less. 

​You’ll be rewarded with a trusted driving buddy that can take you from a comfortable daily commute to a pedal-to-the-metal track day without breaking a sweat.  The 2018 version made Car and Driver’s “10Best Cars” list and it’s an appropriate upgrade from the inherent goodness of Corvette’s basic $55,495 Stingray.

Our tester, a Ceramic Matrix Gray Metallic droptop, was loaded with $22,000 in options, bringing the total pre-tax price to nearly $93,000.  Almost 10 grand goes to the 3LT “Preferred Equipment Group” that adds a bundle of interior electronics and luxuries.  Another six covers the genuine carbon-fiber exterior bits that will surely turn heads at any Sunday morning cars ‘n coffee.  You can eke out even more performance by adding the $8,000 Z07 brake, tire and aerodynamic package.

​Standard Mechanical Goodies
While the price runs counter to Corvette’s bargain performance image, the base Grand Sport brings enough standard mechanical goodies – performance suspension, magnetic ride control, slotted Brembo brake rotors and multi-mode performance exhaust – as well as ample interior amenities.  To beat its rush to 60 miles per hour in just 3.6 seconds, you’d have to shell out $123,000 for a Jaguar F-Type SVR or $163,000 for a Porsche 911 Turbo.

At first glance, the Grand Sport looks oversized with its Z06 wide body.  But that feeling dissipates after a few miles.  Cornering on twisty North Shore roads is rock-steady flat and steering is precise.  The eight-speed automatic performs admirably, with or without paddle shifters. 

Five suspension settings – track, sport, touring, eco and weather – handle every road condition.  While we didn’t head off-Island to the track, a spin on the Long Island Expressway and romp through the Island's fabled North Fork were alternately exhilarating and comfortable . . . as long as we watched for police, and the road dips and speed bumps that scrape the ultra-low front splitter.

Leather-and-Sueded Interior
Interiors were once a Corvette weak spot, but you’ll feel cozy and contented in the Grand Sport’s optional leather-and-sueded cockpit, even in brisk fall weather with the top down.  Credit goes to exceptional climate controls and available heated-and-ventilated, magnesium-framed competition sport seats that seem to fit every torso. 

​While the infotainment system with navigation is just OK, that’s not why you buy this car.  Skip your playlist and listen to the roar of the exhaust and “pop-pop-pop” in track mode when you take your foot off the gas.  Use the way-cool performance data and video recorder to chart your best lap times and impress your garage pals.

If you know your automotive history, the track-ready Grand Sport may even remind you of Long Island’s legendary Baldwin-Motion Corvettes from earlier decades, with their flamboyant styling and robust mechanicals to navigate both streets and speedways.  This newest Corvette delivers all of the thrills and confidence you could want.  Reserve us one in Torch Red, please.
NOTEBOOK
2019 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport convertible
Base Price: $70,590
Price as Tested: $92,605
Horsepower: 460
Torque: 465 lb.-ft. @ 4,600 rpm
0-60: 3.6 secs.

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    David Fluhrer has been a classic car columnist for Newsday since 2008, as well as a new car reviewer for the auto section and a feature writer for Newsday's glossy magazines, Luxury Living and Long Island Living. 

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    Submit a classic car to be profiled in David's Newsday column by visiting www.inthegarage.net. If you hail from the New York metropolitan area, you may also use this site to submit show or club information for publication.

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