Impressions of the GMC Sierra 1500 for 2003
In 2003 GMC released the Sierra 1500 SL to the truck-buying market. The Sierra 1500 came in five configurations: SLE, WT, SLT, and Base. The SL configuration is powered by the 5.3-liter eight-cylinder engine, which makes 19 - 21 highway miles and 15 - 16 city. The Sierra 1500 competes in the Standard Cab Pickup market segment, in direct competition with Lexus.
The Sierra 1500 SL 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 GMC.
The fuel system for the 2003 Sierra 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 Sierra 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.
133.00 of wheelbase allows for limited leg room for the backseat passengers. It sits a comfortable 71.00 inches off the ground. It seats a standard three passengers, with 2 doors. The dimensions of the Sierra 1500 SL are 222.10 inches long by 78.50 inches wide.
The original manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $19,662 when new, with a dealer invoice cost of $17,794. This price was in line with the industry average price for a 2-door Standard Cab Pickup.
The Sierra 1500 SL received a miles-per-gallon rating of 15 - 16 in-city driving and 19 - 21 when it came to long-distance. Being a flex-powered green truck, this was subpar.
In 2003 the Sierra 1500 came in the exterior colors of Carbon Metallic, Fire Red, Marine Blue Metallic, Onyx Black, Pewter Metallic, Polo Green Metallic, and Summit White. Other options were made available by the manufacturer.
The standard warranty period for the Sierra 1500 is 36 months, or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. This is standard in the standard cab pickup market.
There are several reasons why the GMC Sierra 1500 SL sold well in 2003. Mainly the increase in availability and a marked improvement in quality meant the buying public was more apt to choose a GMC, specifically a Sierra 1500.