Preliminary observations of my first 2014 GMC

[Derodeo]

I’m going to be buying a new light-duty truck this fall/winter and I’ve done a lot of comparison research into the F-150, Ram 1500 and GMC 1500. Before buying anything I will be waiting until the Denali and the 6.2 l. engine is available. Anyway I was finally able to see a 2014 GMC yesterday in a neighboring city; an SLT model with Z71 package. Salesman seemed like he had better things to do so I didn’t get to test drive it or even have the power turned on in it. In fact we walked way out in the lot and he didn’t even bring the key along so I could look inside (he did go back and get it, gee thanks). In any event I will be factory ordering a truck late in the year (and hopefully not utilizing a salesman at all) and waiting the 13 weeks it typically takes to get one.

For me test drives aren’t really worth a lot (factory ordered my last vehicle without ever seeing one in person as they weren’t manufactured yet). For my purposes, a useful test drive in a truck would include off-road or at least a badly rutted stretch of road. I do want to experience the driver-alert feature though.

I do like the look of the truck, both outside and in. I still prefer the Ram appearance, especially the interior, but the GMC is very nice too. I am not a fan of the Chevy truck front-end but that’s just me and the fact that I once owned a 1981 C-10 and those stacked headlights remind me way too much of it.

I'm somewhat concerned with the very low hanging front air dam. That means I'm going to have to be very careful off-road and even with city curbs –not something I've had to worry about with trucks in the past. Lots of bolts hold that thing on so it’s not something you would want to regularly take on and off.

I liked the step bumper but I won’t have that if I buy a Denali of course. And GM apparently offers no alternative like Ford’s fold-out side and corner steps or Ram’s full-length running boards. I’m not infirm yet but I feel like I’m definitely heading that way. Back to using the rear tire “step” I guess.

Front seats seemed very nice, wish they reclined a bit more for occasional sleeping. Found the straight up seatbacks in the rear borderline uncomfortable. No load flat floor in this truck of course but the floor was better than I expected in terms of relative flatness.

Other observations; the power fold mirrors are very nice and operate fast. While the console bin is huge, the lockable glove box is very small and the other one not much bigger. I noticed the repositioned door pillar right away – that might take some getting used to. GM used real aluminium trim on the dash yet kept that disgusting fake wood trim too? Sigh. Don’t like those thick (6” ?) running boards, hopefully 4” running boards will be an option. The Goodyear tires, even with the Z71 package didn’t have an aggressive tread at all. Rear axle looks very robust. Paint quality seemed very good.

Forgot to check the payload capacity on the door – that’s a rather important number for me but something a lot of light-duty truck buyers don’t seem at all concerned about (Ram 1500 buyers in particular…). Hopefully I won’t get sticker shock from it, like that 880lb payload I saw on a Ram Laramie Longhorn.

I really dislike the fact that as you go up in trim level all the manufacturers start really limiting available colour choices. For GM trucks, that means Sonoma red is the only vaguely appealing colour that is actually colourful.

Although missing a number of options like cooled seats, sunroof and driver alert package, sticker on this truck was about $55.6K (Canada eh). Makes me think a Denali with 6.2 liter engine and sunroof will be about $64K. That’s definitely getting a little ridiculous and I think GM is going to have put significant incentives on these trucks once the “gotta-have-one-first” crowd is sated.

[MikeNH]

First thing I'd do if I got a new GM is pull the air dam off. Did that on my 2011 the first week I had it and never had any issues. Just looks better and I didn't need to worry about snow or anything else removing it for me.

[07-Z71]

pull off the air dam and you are changing a bunch of the aero specifics. I ton of engineers spend a lot of time on these things in the wind tunnel.... the air dam isn't on the truck just for looks... it serves a real function.

[pendragon]

Although missing a number of options like cooled seats, sunroof and driver alert package, sticker on this truck was about $55.6K (Canada eh). Makes me think a Denali with 6.2 liter engine and sunroof will be about $64K. That’s definitely getting a little ridiculous and I think GM is going to have put significant incentives on these trucks once the “gotta-have-one-first” crowd is sated.

 

If you have a relationship with yor dealer you should be able to get close to wholesale price on the Denali, I know I will in BC, particularly if you're not trading in, I'll be traiding my 2010 Denali for the 2014, still waiting for them to get the pricing out, but it must be coming pretty soon

[therapy]

pull off the air dam and you are changing a bunch of the aero specifics. I ton of engineers spend a lot of time on these things in the wind tunnel.... the air dam isn't on the truck just for looks... it serves a real function.

 

I pulled the air dam off my truck and mileage went from an almost solid 15.7-15.8mpg to 14.9-15.2mpg. Curious, I put it back on, and the next three tanks were 15.7-15.8mpg again.

 

Then I pulled it off because I hated the way it looked and it was worth sacrificing the .5-.9 mpg for the look. But that's just me.

[MikeNH]

pull off the air dam and you are changing a bunch of the aero specifics. I ton of engineers spend a lot of time on these things in the wind tunnel.... the air dam isn't on the truck just for looks... it serves a real function.

 

Possibly fuel efficiency, which I could care less about. GM uses garbage like the air dam and AFM to boost their mpg in the CAFE test by fractions of a gallon with little or no real world benefit. It's a truck, if I was concerned about getting the most out of a gallon of gas I'd buy some tin can commuter car.

[07-Z71]

It's not only gas mileage... but also wind noise (air direction) air flow in relation to engine cooling..

Hey, but the great thing is the truck is yours! you can swing a sledgehammer through the windshield if you like.

But you won't see my removing parts from a brand new 45K truck.

[MikeNH]

It's not only gas mileage... but also wind noise (air direction) air flow in relation to engine cooling..

Hey, but the great thing is the truck is yours! you can swing a sledgehammer through the windshield if you like.

But you won't see my removing parts from a brand new 45K truck.

 

It's been off my 2011 since new. Towing, stuck in traffic on 100+ degree days, spent afternoons on the dunes running at WOT in low range. Trans hit just over 200 once and engine temp has never gone above the 210 mark. So if there has been a decrease in cooling efficiency I've yet to experience it. As you said though to each their own. GM and every other automaker needs to make vehicles that appeal to everyone so that inevitably means that for some the truck will end up being watered down for their tastes. That's why the worthless air dam was off the first non-rainy/snowy day I had the truck and why as soon as the exhaust came off backorder a couple months later I was underneath the truck in June cutting off the factory junk. Same reason I had a friend color match bedliner and spray it on the rockers to keep them from being scratched up from getting in and out and why the truck is tuned now. Now only if the govt would realize it has no business telling me how fuel efficient a vehicle I can own.

[MotoMedic]

Air dam is 99% for MPG. It's primary purpose is to force air around the truck instead of under it. Turbulent air flow under a vehicle creates drag.

If you look at the front profile, the air dam is below the crest of the bumper and too far from grille opening to affect cooling.

Any wind noise created by removing it is negligible. My truck is still crazy quiet on the highway even after removing the air dam, raising the front end (which creates even more turbulent flow beneath), and adding all-terrain tires.

[jeffreydc]

Worthless AFM??? I get 28-30mpg with AFM at around 65mph with the 2014

[MikeNH]

Worthless AFM??? I get 28-30mpg with AFM at around 65mph with the 2014

 

Doing 65 on the freeways here would get you killed.

[jeffreydc]

Not all highways and freeways are 75. At 75 I get around 24

[MikeNH]

You're assuming drivers do the speed limit.

 

 

 

I find these mid to high 20 mpg numbers a little hard to believe as something that is readily achievable in day to day driving (as in not having to make a specific effort to maximize fuel efficiency). Right now there are only a handful of people with 2014s on here so I guess I'll wait till more people have them to pass judgement but I doubt people would get numbers that good consistently.

 

 

[Porter_]

You're assuming drivers do the speed limit. I find these mid to high 20 mpg numbers a little hard to believe as something that is readily achievable in day to day driving (as in not having to make a specific effort to maximize fuel efficiency). Right now there are only a handful of people with 2014s on here so I guess I'll wait till more people have them to pass judgement but I doubt people would get numbers that good consistently.

 

a lot of people will cruise down the highway and reset their mpg readout, see it instantly pop up to something like 25 mpg while they're coasting, then jump on a forum and report it as consistent gas mileage. i'm not saying jeffreydc did that, just something i've observed across the glorious internet. i've seen people claim 28 mpg with a 4x4 CC hemi like mine. ALERT THE GOVERNMENT, we've disproved the first law of thermodynamics.

[gbieber05]

Not that I really give two craps about fuel economy but its always a bonus I know in mine it really fluctuates alot more here lately. I always reset the trips and calcs and my last two tanks which have a good bit if idle time ( 4 month old diaper changing and feedings) and good combinations of Highway and town the dic says 19 mpg at the fill ups. No I'm sure if I were to stay completely highway the entire tank which I did early on and had a thread about I can and did get about 24-25 mpg. That's with the cruise set at 75. All of these numbers too are with 100% 87 octane gasoline no ethanol. Now with the great summer months of Louisiana kicking in high gear right now that's all changing. Now all of that said does the air dam really put a huge damper on the equation for fuel economy? I tend to believe not, nor do I believe it's there just for looks it serves a purpose for one our beloved government and two possibly wind noise. But I'll tell you the cab of these trucks are sealed really well.