2001 Chevrolet Silverado HD Review

For those who are considering Viagra, may we suggest the following alternative: Chevrolet's Duramax Diesel-powered Silverado HD. With over 500 lb-ft of torque available at only 1800 rpm, many a staffer has been tempted to race Camaros and Mustangs for pink slips. Senior Feature Editor Mead used the HD to pull a 5000-lb boat and trailer from a local lake, noting, "With the water down some 14 feet from normal levels, the launch ramp was a mess of mud and lake weed. Slipping the HD into 4LOW, we used a touch of throttle to ease the trailer out of the muck. At the top of the ramp, we had admirers and requests to pull fellow boaters out." While we're enamored with the diesel's pulling power, we can't get used to the standard drop-away mirrors (that make it difficult to see a trailer's fenders). And on the factory hitch, the safety chain loops are too far forward to provide adequate chain slack during tight turns. We took the truck to the dealer for an oil change, tire rotation, and brake-light recall (the warning lamp might not illuminate when the brake fluid is low), extracting just $103.11 from our back pocket. Other than the regular service, the HD is still tight as a drum and has given us nary a problem.