1996 GMC 1500 Sierra SLE: Regular Car Reviews

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This week on Regular Car Reviews, it's a Race to the Bottom as the 1996 GMC 1500 Sierra SLE gets its time in the hot seat! Is this the worst truck ever featured on RCR? Can GM be redeemed? Do GM fanboys even exist? What makes this truck one of the most frustrating vehicles ever featured on this channel? Join us for a test drive, a history lesson, and an exploration into what the 1996 GMC 1500 Sierra SLE offers - and everything it doesn't.
CR Stories videos mentioned:
The Life and Death of Pontiac: • The Life and Death of ...
The Case of John DeLorean: • The Case of John DeLor...
Cash For Clunkers: • Cash For Clunkers: RCR...
1983: The Year Without A Corvette: • Why was 1983 the year ...
Links to the RCR Christmas Song 2023:
Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/1tsgqL...
Amazon: amazon.com/music/player/album...
iTunes/Apple: / big-nick-energy-ep
Bandcamp: theromanrcr.bandcamp.com/albu...
Chapters:
00:00 Roman loses his mind
03:49 Giveaway Reminder
04:09 The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
08:44 The Story Behind This Truck
10:18 The Aesthetic of the GMC 1500 Sierra
12:29 Roman loses his mind (again)
14:00 I'm being unfair
15:22 Being fair to the GMC 1500 Sierra
16:43 Do GM fanboys exist?
20:55 Final Thoughts and Current Standings
23:17 RCR Christmas Music Video 2023
Credit to Monsterra Productions and Norma Mortenson, as well as the Pixabay community for stock footage featured in the music video. Thank you for watching, and have a great week and a wonderful holiday season!
Submit your car to be reviewed, sign up for exclusive content and enjoy more RCR brilliance here:
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New 2nd channel "Regular and Roman"
/ @regularandroman

[@RegularCars]

Click here go.getenteredtowin.com/regularcars To get entered to win the CL55 Amg

[@orderofmagnitude-TPATP]

Damn roman. I really felt that intro. Especially as my melancholy runs deep... Had a long comment explaining why I feel this way, but youtube deleted it! basically stating I will probably never own a desirable regular car, im banned for 4 years because of a broken law with drug driving (doctor prescribed and been on it for 20 years, drove buses, taxis, off road forklifts etc etc for a living and yet never had an accident on my meds....) But its also our future, tin foil hat not needed. The bull shite narrative of climate change, where over 50 years of predictions and not one correct - want corruption in government to own us totalitarian like, leaving us to rot in so say smart cities and owning nothing but allegedly happy..... I don't just fear for myself, but Especially my daughter. I long for the days where I relive freedom to just drive and escape!! .....single tear roles down cheek.😢

[@michaellowe3665]

Can first prize be the maintenance cost of the CL55 in cash value? Second prize could be the car.

[@orderofmagnitude-TPATP]

@@michaellowe3665 😆 🤣 😂

[@dznutsification]

I still have that RENNtech built 2015 E63s wagon for your review 700hp and 800tq to all 4 wheels

[@BlackPill-pu4vi]

Roman needs to review a BROWN truck or van. Preferably a Malaise Era BROWN truck. A BROWN custom conversion van would be ideal.... with a working 8-track sound system! Warning: it may put Roman in a coma but, we'll be entertained when it happens.

[@legendFROMnova]

This is my truck, so glad this episode finally came out! Thanks Nick for not holding back! Let me address some of the comments. I did no modifications to the truck, aside from repairs and maintenance like replacing dangerous 13 year old dry rotted tires. Yes 2nd gear went out about 2 months after I bought it. It would still drive fine, but hold first till about 35 mph, then drop into 3rd. I drove it to the shop to get it rebuilt. I replaced most of the brake hardware and the master cyl because the brakes basically didn't work. All the other mods to this truck are from the previous owner, who did in fact say "That's a good truck" every 4th sentence while I was talking to him. lmao

[@Dankcatvacs]

A real nice truck .a man can work on and not throw wrenches or beers.

[@legendFROMnova]

Thanks, "Its a good truck"@@Dankcatvacs

[@regularjeff8580]

I feel you man. I have a 96 chevy 2500 ext cab long bed 4x4. Same color interior and 60-40 seat with fold down. I'm jealous of that 3rd door. I don't have that. Managed little over 16mpg on a long freeway drive once long time ago, but I don't know what it gets now. It was actually totaled about 4 years ago. Last couple feet of cab along bottom and 1st foot of bed at bottom was all it took. I took the payout and kept the truck. Still a lot of little issues I need to fix though.

[@LimitedTimeRoman]

Ah, my bad! Sorry I misinterpreted and thought those were your modifications. Thank you again for offering up your truck, and for providing such a fun film day. I still don't think we've ever gotten such wild variation in light over the course of a single shooting day!

[@moontoon28]

Hey bud, that’s a good truck your got there

[@danichicago9140]

We have a 99 sierra 2500 at work. We hide it so they don't get rid of it. Everyone loves it. It's almost the same size as a modern Ranger but actually capable with a usable bed.

[@herbiehusker1889]

Why would they want to get rid of it?

[@lolbuster01]

​@@herbiehusker1889cuz it's OLD and they think it gets far worse milage than it does. The reality is these 350s get the same milage as the new trucks except on the highway where all the cylinder deactivation and computers go autistic.

[@danichicago9140]

@herbiehusker1889 it's a municipal fleet vehicle. They auction them off after a few years usually.

[@lockandloadlikehell]

HDs didn't fully carry over to GMT800 until 2001 There were both GMT400s and GMT800s in 2000 8600 gvwr and 9200 gvwr

[@Twominutedevotions]

I gotta say this, though I had an 87 Ford F150. It was a very simple truck with a bench seat. The only three options it actually had were an automatic transmission, cloth, bench seat, and AC. My band had a gig, and my truck didn’t have enough capacity to pull the equipment trailer, so my Pastor let me his truck, which was one of these. That was the most comfortable truck I’ve ever driven in my entire life. The seats were wide from my ample rear end, the seats were plush, it drove so smoothly, I think it even had carpeted fender wells.

[@mphilleo]

I'm guessing that 4" lift is responsible for some of the comfort and NVH issues Roman experienced. /not an apologist

[@_RiseAgainst]

I think GM trucks were way ahead of Fords in this Era. At least light duty trucks.

[@Twominutedevotions]

@@mphilleo Yeah. The mods done to this truck kind of remove the GM creature comforts from the 90s I remember

[@Twominutedevotions]

@@_RiseAgainst I think that mid-90s GM trucks were way better. I do think Ford caught up in 1997 though when they brought out the bubble trucks. Even if the trucks weren’t built as durably as they used to be.

[@lunarpking]

My dad had a 93 extended cab extended bed chevy truck that was a diesel. Minor problems aside that thing was definitely the most comfortable vehicle I’ve ever ridden in. Passengers would always fall asleep, it was quiet and until it was nearing the end the thing had great power. If it had the engine and transmission replaced with the newer duramax/allison combo it would be a damn near perfect truck. It was all stock minus a K&N filter and a mod that moved the temp sensor because GM had them so far down in the engine it would cause the thing to die while nowhere near overheating. That one nearly sent us into a river and off a cliff.

[@eamon317]

To me these and the GMT800s will always be what a truck looks like

[@herbiehusker1889]

We had a GMT400 Suburban. You couldn't kill it sold it with 250k. We replaced it with a GMT800 Yukon, sold it at 300k miles. Wish we still had it.

[@jamesgizasson]

​@@herbiehusker1889 These days, I'd say buy another one if the opportunity arises, and just keep fixing it up. Parts are still available, and they're much more DIY friendly than any current offerings! :)

[@bwofficial1776]

Those two generations were peak GM truck. Everything before was nice but merely building up. The GMT900 and later are cheaply built, boring, uncomfortable, and unreliable. The 400 and 800 are modern enough to be daily driven, reliable, decently well built, and extremely comfortable.

[@qwertykevin1]

Or a obs ford

[@seriouscatisserious]

Which is interesting, as when these came out when I was a kid, they were largely made fun of for being too rounded and car-like.

[@ethanwilliams1825]

Maybe you got a bad one, because the GMT 400 is a fantastic truck. All of mine have been awesome and the went down the road great.

[@Dankcatvacs]

Nick just doesn't Know trucks.

[@BreakStuffClub]

I have to agree, these trucks are still good looking and reliable. They have respectable power and a good ride with nice steering feel

[@ben501st]

It sounds like the truck was fine but the Roman didn't like the fact it was nothing more than just a truck. Or at least being a low option truck, didn't deserve the GMC badge. It wasn't more than a silverado.

[@TekuTaurus]

"Do GM fanboys even exist?" Nick has clearly not been to a Nascar race in a while

[@notanavrageloser]

THAT has some of the worst rot you’ve seen? Holy hell, I envy you guys. My dad’s 2000 K3500 was rotted MUCH worse than that when we had our falling out seven years ago. I can only imagine what that thing looks like now.

[@Cassinspace]

It's not frame rot until you can toss a 3/4" socket through both frame rails

[@rogue107]

That’s really nice underneath for Upstate NY. (I wish we had a word for “Midwest mint”).

[@notanavrageloser]

@@rogue107 exactly! I’m half an hour from Syracuse, and this truck looks like it’s 5 or 6 years old.

[@GoldenGrenadier]

I think Pennsylvania has inspection standards that kind of filter out most of the rust buckets.

[@notanavrageloser]

@@GoldenGrenadier New York does, but there aren’t really any enforcement mechanisms. You can’t get around the emissions testing for newer vehicles (you have to plug into the car and it phones home to Albany), but the safety part? You can pencil-whip that part all day long if you have no conscience.

[@jguerra0117]

Finally RCR takes on the GMT platform. Hope to see a 99-07 next.

[@jefferyepstein9210]

It all went downhill after the 400’s.

[@noobeenaut]

​@jefferyepstein9210 nah, the 800s are probably the best truck ever made. The 900 was far worse and it hasn't gotten much better

[@JuiceSpringsteen88]

​@@jefferyepstein9210The GMT400 and the GMT800 are nearly the same platform! The GMT800 is just the 400 platform with incremental improvements across the board.

[@herbiehusker1889]

​​@@jefferyepstein9210maybe stay on your island, bub.

[@seththomas9105]

My 2005 half ton 4X4 has been pretty damn reliable, other than upper Midwest body rot courtisy of the Iowa DOT salt brine brigade.

[@BFRPetrucci]

The 'bouncing' you were feeling most likely came from those tires. I put E rated KO2's on my 2016 f150, and it went from beeing a plush comfy ride, to a harsh, jumpy and way more 'truck' like experience. Story Time: Recently, I Spent 8hrs and about 600 miles in an 89 K1500 after rats chewed through the wiring in my truck, and we had to use the Chevy to get to the closest rental car. The truck lives at a rural property, has ~140k miles, and only gets driven 4-5 times a year. As I approached the end of my journey, I was in love with the truck. The simplicity, the way it just effortlessly handled 600 miles round trip when it hadn't gone more than 20 miles at a time since it was new. They're crude, un-refined, and not for the comfort minded. But I would take one of these over a 2024 model any day of the week.

[@BalooUriza]

Heh, I'm surprised the OBS trucks ended up on Race to the Bottom... and then discovered that Roman got a particularly bad example to drive.

[@B93R]

Noticed that too.

[@MoreCycles]

Yeah that thing is essentially a crackmobile.

[@BalooUriza]

@@MoreCycles I doubt it would pass inspection in Oklahoma. Also, Oklahoma doesn't have vehicle inspections.

[@OriginalPotatotube]

@@BalooUrizaVirginia has inspections too and I’m surprised this passed safety ( it doesn’t have the inspection sticker located on the drivers side windshield probably didn’t pass )

[@linusnottech]

Yeah that’s one of the few criticisms I have of RCR, sometimes the cars are just utter crap and don’t represent most units.

[@joehowe]

I have a 97 k2500 I have 220k on it. I absolutely love it. It’s pretty much bone stock other than a straight pipe, with a flowmaster. And a K&n intake. It is so comfortable, smooth on the highway. Drives a buck down the shitty Rhode Island highways every day, without a blink. It rides almost as good as my dads 2017 Silverado. I think this truck was so rough for you guys because of the body lift. I absolutely love these trucks. Tough, reliable, smooth.

[@ethancknight]

Absolutely cracked up at “don’t @ me unless your panel gaps are this wide”

[@Vicky-Hugh-Martini]

The 90s were truly the peak of trucks.

[@user-yi7zj3lv5t]

now theyre just status symbols, pavement queens

[@Turshin]

GMT 800 Was the peak of GM trucks

[@cavalierliberty6838]

​@@Turshinnah. The gmt800 is only famous cause of the third gen small block. At the core of it, they drive the exact same as the 400s. These don't try to be sleek while getting the same mileage. They just work.

[@SteezeCartel]

They don't drive the same. I know because I own both. The gmt800 drives way nicer, & they're both z71's. The steering is more precise and ride is better. I drive a 2014 chevy at work and it drives like crap compared to the gmt800

[@Turshin]

@@cavalierliberty6838 They're worse.

[@73dustpan]

My dad had a stock 94 4x4 Z71, bought it new and he drove that truck then the wheels fell off. Probably the best truck we ever had in the family. 94 1500 z71 4x4 350 95 3500 single cab dually 454 97 1500 single cab short bed 350 91 1500 extended cab 350

[@MrSupro]

This example is just a badly beaten example. I have driven many of the GMT400’s with 350 motors and they were fantastic trucks. Good examples with refreshed bushings and suspension parts still feel and drive great and better than some modern trucks. And as far as his transmission he just is not having the work done in the right places or he is getting a mild miss and the computer is taking it out of lockup and wrecking it. It’s a 28 year old truck. Believe me. 28 years ago it was just fine.

[@beansthecat2687]

That’s what I thought watching this video. It obviously needs shocks, the front end appears to need going through as evidence by constant minor steering corrections, and it likely needs new bushings. All of those components are normal wear items for any vehicle and easily replaced by a shade-tree mechanic or DIYer. This truck would be a pleasure to drive again once the worn components are replaced.

[@legendFROMnova]

@@beansthecat2687 This is my truck and yes, it does need all of those things. I'm sure it would drive twice as good with shocks alone, all of that stuff is factory and in bad shape. It will get new bushings, shocks and body lift removed eventually... just not right now. I put enough money into it to get it back on the road safely for now.

[@legendFROMnova]

As far as transmission goes, nope pump was dying and killed 2nd gear clutches and torque converter. I drove it to the shop with first and third gear to get the rebuild. If you reset the obd2 codes with a scanner, which were calling out 2nd gear slipping. It would try 2nd gear again, slip instantly, throw CEL and shift from 1st to 3rd.

[@beansthecat2687]

@@legendFROMnova Hey, thanks for responding! The GMT-400 platforms are legendary and a true piece of Americana. I owned 3; 1994 Z-71 1500 swab single cab, a 1994 k-1500 extended cab with a 6.5 turbo diesel, 4l-80, and a 14 bolt rear end, and a 1996 GKM Sierra K1500 extended cab short bed with the 5.0 VORTEC engine. Anyway, cool truck, my dude! Glad to see you’re keeping the legend alive!

[@legendFROMnova]

Those are some pretty cool trucks. I'm just happy to get this thing back on the road, even if its not my daily. Thanks!@@beansthecat2687

[@RUSTYCHEVYTRUCK]

I learned to drive one of these, it’s one if my favorite truck platforms, reliable, parts are cheap and easy to find, super easy to work on and easy will outlast any Toyota (as long as It doesn’t rust out). I’ve seen 3 of these with over 400k miles

[@natestaub5113]

I like that 90's GMC Sierra

[@VulpesHilarianus]

Age and condition have a lot to do with one's impression of the final C/Ks, owing to just how barebones they are. Having experienced these when they were new or near new they were actually quite nice. Nice enough to fall asleep riding in them. The steering's always been loose just because of the steering and suspension design, but the GMCs specifically always had nice seats and were quieter inside than my family's contemporary F-150. If they built these new, people would like them. If you drive one that's survived this long you question how people even put up with them in the first place. The reason for the latter is so many people drove them into the ground precisely *because* they were that "functional" kind of nice when new. The '92 Dodge Ram got a lot of sideways glances and made people tense up, and the '96 F-150 made a lot of traditional truck buyer shake their heads and say it was too much like a car, but these were just... An Truck. Nothing more, nothing less. Just An Truck.

[@mitchellmorgan-bursey4975]

Had a 1998 GMC best truck I've ever owned period, miss it every day. The absolute epitome of what a truck should aspire to be.

[@krackerjacked]

I had a 97 GMC z71 and that truck was an absolute gem. It actually kinda ripped for what it was too. Had a 96 c1500 after that ran a 15.8 stock besides h pipe and muffler.

[@FCT8306onTwoWheels]

We had a 1997 Suburban and it was great, gas was just under $2 at the time and it was a great highway cruiser

[@ethanruckert3871]

Gmt400 is one of the trucks of all time

[@dawsongranger4940]

They’re the best generation of trucks ever made

[@Wyatt_James]

God's work truck, as said by a buddy of mine

[@lockandloadlikehell]

They are definitely one of the trucks of all time.

[@Loathsome_Lynx]

Yeah this generation was pretty mediocre. It lacks both the antique charm of previous generations and the luxury of newer ones. That does however make it the perfect work truck, since there's nothing worth taking care of.

[@RageTH22]

I absolutely adored my 96 Silverado. But to be fair, it was also well cared for. I owe it my life, and I'm serious about that.

[@VoreAxalon]

What do you mean, you owe it your life? Im curious because my dad hit a deer with his 96 Silverado and I remember tge broken windshield and hood but dad claimed the truck caged him

[@RageTH22]

@@VoreAxalon I got t-boned by a semi at speed. I don't have any memory of the incident, but where I was sitting in that truck was the only intact part of the whole thing. Everything else was destroyed. If I had been in anything smaller or less well built, I'd be dead.

[@Valkyrie_Coach]

Nick- your music skills have come so far from the early years of RCR, I absolutely love this single. I know I’m one internet stranger, but keep doing what you’re doing man, you’re killing it. 🤘🍻 (Also, I enjoyed your review 😂)

[@LimitedTimeRoman]

Internet stranger or no, your comment means the world to me. Thank you!

[@Moondog66602]

I love the gmt400s and 800s. Some of the best trucks ever made. My 98 is at 385k, and still daily driven.

[@flagarage9498]

You don’t see those miles as often with ford or dodge.

[@clevelandmaker386]

​@@flagarage9498MERRY CHRISTMAS

[@Dankcatvacs]

My dad's Dakota 339k 318 v8 5 speed

[@wut0.o]

I have 2 98's one rcsb and one extended cab 😬👍

[@bwofficial1776]

Those two generations were the peak of GM truck. Everything before was nice but building up to the peak. Everything after was cheaply made, unreliable, dull, and uncomfortable. The 400 and 800 have enough modern features to be daily driven, they're reliable, comfortable, put together well enough, and look good. They're old but they don't look dated like some Fords and Rams.

[@danielcloutier6431]

I gotta say, I've had probably 4 of these platform trucks and I absolutely love them. Two were 3/4 ton 6.5 diesel suburbans. They were awesome, so much so that when one got totaled, I went out and bought the exact same one to replace it. I will say on the bigger size trucks the brakes leave a bit to be desired. But they are just a truck, way more comfort than a square body, nicer ride and Interior, but still basic. Everything you need, nothing you don't. I currently run a 04 ram 3500 crew cab dually cummins 6 speed, and it's phenomenal since I actually tow heavy and need the power, but I'll always have a soft spot for the gmt400.

[@rudi_ghuliani]

I drove a couple 2500 Suburban 454s for work and I loved them. Super comfortable for a work truck; could haul pretty much anything (including eight people). Decent on rougher/muddy roads even with street tires. Brakes were ok; could have used an upgrade especially when used for towing horse and ski boat trailers (lots of manual shifting was needed lol).

[@sergeantspeed5941]

I've had 7 of these, a 99 tahoe (lifted and featured on my channel) and currently have a 92 c3500 dually Sierra. I love these trucks. A good blend of electronics but reliable mechanical components. Mine is a 454 tbi and a 5 speed nv4500 transmission with a 12 bolt full floater. About as bulletproof as you can get in a truck.

[@rudi_ghuliani]

@@sergeantspeed5941 As long as you keep an eye on the fuel pump (at least on the 5.7)! You're totally right about the blend of mechanical end electronics. Clamshell or rear hatch?

[@triptheroad]

The only thing I don't like about the 400s is how horrible the brakes are, I've tried a few tricks and stopping distance leaves a lot to be desired

[@jessebrook1688]

Suburbans with a gas engine drink like crazy. I think our '96 with a 350 might have touched 10 mpg. Towing nothing, full of nothing. Mind you, towing or hauling didn't make the mileage any worse. It stuck together pretty well, except for the 4WD unit (pushbuttons didn't do what they were supposed to). The one surprising failure was the door handle. They're metal, how did it break?!

[@SombreroKnight]

Damn, I never thought y'all would do a GMT400. I daily drive a 93 C1500 Chevy and this video was hilariously ralatable.

[@wut0.o]

Why would you buy a truck that's not a 4x4 😅

[@dawsongranger4940]

@@wut0.onot everyone needs 4x4. Also with the front ends on this generation the 2x4s are much more reliable and cheaper to work on

[@TonyWitThaTommy]

@@wut0.obecause not everyone needs a four wheel drive

[@openphoto]

I own a 92 k1500 z71 this makes me appreciate my truck more.

[@Twominutedevotions]

Me: got up at three in the morning, worked out, journaled, told myself I was going to have a very productive morning, RCR video comes out and I’m like squirrel!

[@gte717v]

“For Another Straight Year I’m Broke for Christmas” kicked me off on a career change. Every weird interview or overnight project had that song playing in my head.

[@Iamthestig42069]

Yes the vortec 5700 was the final form of the gen 1 small block. Basically a 50s engine with a goofy OBD2 compatible fuel and ignition system jerry rigged to the top.

[@theunknownone5990]

It continued for several more years as the Volvo Penta and Mercruiser marine engines. That version is best known for powering James Bond's boat (probably the other boat, too) in World is Not Enough. It's final version had full MPFI.

[@jaydubb71]

I used to own a 1995 Chevy K1500. 5 speed w/ manual transfer case. I installed a new clutch, alternator, brake lines all the way around, new u-joints, rear brake backing plates, etc. That thing just plain worked. Slow AF but it hauled and worked in the slow. Fricken rust bucket. But now I miss it. Was gonna do a 5.3 swap. Now I have a 2007 Chevy Silverado 1500 LT. This new 2007 has given me more problems in 2 years than that 1995 did in 11 years. That says a whole lot.

[@1234tche]

I had a '97. I loved that truck. Pulled everything I needed, super reliable for the 4 years I owned it, got relatively good mileage, and was pretty comfortable. I wish I never would have sold it.

[@isaac24]

I am about as Ford-biased as it gets with trucks. I've driven a bunch of these and never understood why people think that they are the greatest creation of all time. (Yes, the 350 is good, and that's about the only think I like about them.) THAT SAID, as someone who spent their entire life in Michigan, it is really *REALLY* refreshing to see one of these with a body that still has its rocker panels and wheel wells. I can't remember the last time I saw really any truck from the 90s that looked this clean. Even for a GMC, it looks good.

[@Par_x3D]

First thing I noticed 🤣 I see NNBS 07s and up with rotted panels, this is impressive

[@backroadsquid5280]

Take a look around-the-clock PNW. We have tons of rust free GMT400's on the road. The GMT400 Suburban I bought a few months back for $3k has a boat load of miles, but no rust.

[@isaac24]

@@Par_x3D Oh for sure. It's not rare yet, but uncommon to see the GMT900s with no rust, especially the pickups. Ram seems to be the worst offender, I regularly see 2012-2013 Rams with rocker panels and wheel wells that match 90s trucks. The last F150 with a non-aluminum body (2009-2012) seem to be holding up the best, but they aren't totally perfect either. Ford learned after the 10th and 11th gen F150 body and frame rot issues how to (mostly) fix it for the 12th gen, before they went to aluminum. Interestingly (or unsurprisingly) the newer Tundras seem to be the most immune, at least body wise.

[@isaac24]

@@backroadsquid5280 Lucky...if only I could routinely go to the other side of the country easily 🤣 if I could go out there and bring back one truck rust free to keep, it would probably be an OJ Bronco. I *love* those things and finding one rust free (or with less than 200k miles) is basically impossible.

[@legendFROMnova]

That's because they replaced the cab corners before I bought it!

[@thomasxl200]

Shout-out to whoever made the decision to label the intro "Roman loses his mind"

[@Axophelioma]

Taking the runner up prom Queen up to make-out point like “let me tear out this dash carpet and lay it on the ground so I can tear yours up”

[@_trudge]

i learned to drive when i was 7 in a 1994 GMC sierra stepside . my grandpa gave me that truck and i i drove it until it had 387k miles . i pulled the motor and started a rebuild , someone stole the truck . towed it away . i looked for weeks . i think about that truck every day , it felt like home . listening to your valid critisims was harder than it should have been . it wasnt the best truck , but it was everything to me and i would do anything to get it back . sometimes the rust and creaks of a cheap vehicle can transcend its own limits , and become a part of a human being . i wont ever forget that gmc , or all the memories i had . have a good one roman thanks for the great artwork .

[@jaredralls9221]

The writing has hit the event horizon in this episode! Kudos I owned a 2000 Sierra bought new in ‘99. I loved it and I love this episode

[@ultramagnus4374]

I love how Roman gets more unhinged the closer he gets to the bottom

[@MrCrousenn]

I caught myself at the fact, that I watch now more often race to the bottom vids than classic reviews. Really enjoying those

[@ben501st]

Half the regular reviews are ads for raffle tickets to win a car they already reviewed 8 years ago.

[@ynotw57]

Great episode! Always look forward to a new Race to the Bottom. Also, fantastic song, Roman. It’s the hit of the season. Happy Holidays!

[@aj06bolt12r]

Brutal.. Those are actually excellent trucks with excellent engines. Transmission not so much but they are pretty cheap to fix. I’d love to have a clean rust free regular cab short bed 2wd with that same power train.

[@bobhill3941]

A very nice surprise this morning Nick, I enjoyed hearing your thought process on this. I grew up with these as a kid in the 90's and in my early teens in the early 00's. My uncle and the dad of a girl I knew had one and my great uncle was the chief engineer for them in Oshawa Ontario Canada❤🇨🇦🇧🇲👍

[@jhelora]

I learned how to drive in a 94 1500 silverado that my family sold at 240k in 2001. such a great vehicle, i miss it very much and i put in at least 40k of those miles on it. The most comfortable vehicle i've ever driven, fun, and it's sad to see less and less of them on the road. I can't help but notice the ones that remain, though!

[@samphillips4925]

The problem I have with GM is that they are a massively huge company and time after time they take shortcuts. Its not like they don't have good ideas, it's that they screw them up at the end. The Vega could have been GMs Datsun 510, but, they screwed up the valve stem seals and made the radiator too small. It's like they rush the final steps in the process.

[@ericdoe2318]

You missed the most amazing part of this truck.. it’s doesn’t appear to have the rust spots at the rear bottom corner of the back suicide doors… this would be first one I’ve ever seen without it

[@legendFROMnova]

That's because they replaced the cab corners before I bought it!

[@ericdoe2318]

@@legendFROMnova noice!! It’s a good lookin truck

[@legendFROMnova]

Thanks!@@ericdoe2318

[@MoreCycles]

That always happened on higher trims because the extra insulation would trap moisture behind the panel. Not an issue on base model trucks.

[@AdamG1983]

When Roman does a review, you just know it will be 🔥🔥🔥

[@habibullahas-safaasabahsha365]

I owned a F150 for about 3 years and finally got myself a Corolla. Full sized truck are nice when you are staring at it in the parking lot, but as soon as you start driving it’s a chore.

[@Iamthestig42069]

Lots of people, especially in rural places are still comfortably relying relying on gmt400s for work and daily life. The Rubbermaid interior becomes unimportant when it just starts and goes whenever you jump in.

[@98erics]

My last truck was a 96 Tahoe. It was four wheel drive not the Z71 package. It was worn out. I sold it for scrap after the 4l-60e checked out at around 220,000. I've now got a 96 4Runner and never been happier with a tuck before.

[@Acoustic_Theory]

The official truck of "I'm a volunteer fireman, and I drive pedal to the metal to every call because one of them's gonna be the BIIIG OONNEEE"

[@aidantanny7230]

I just bought a gmt400 Tahoe, and can confirm, these things are way quicker than they should be. Found myself doing 80 on an entrance ramp for the freeway and then found out that the ABS on mine did in fact work.

[@eduardoareingdale]

Bro the song holy shit!!! Killer job Roman and great review man Loved the insight

[@noahgaray7923]

Man, I love that truck. No rust, manual transfer case, extended cab, the vortec 350, and to top it off, the underhood storage! If you don’t like driving this truck, boy, imagine driving a slush box 5.0 automatic transfer case BS.

[@briank.8925]

I love how the owner held onto his can of Coke instead of using the cup holder.

[@GhaleonStrife]

That's because the cupholders don't hold anything of appreciable size. It just flops around in there. Trust me, I've tried.

[@usernameisusername]

The writing is incredible. .

[@hunterbigelow9327]

This was a bit of a surprise to see today, my dad still has his 96 SLE 8' Bed with the same brush guard sitting by his pole barn. It still runs and drives fine, just extremely rotted and barely holding together, also with a leaking fuel return line under the cab. He has a 2022 Silverado now, but uses his GMC for dump runs and property stuff. 13 years, 100k put on it 200k now, 3 trans rebuilds, 1 transfer case, and a bunch of stuff replaced, but still turnkey. Great motor, I drove it through high school with a bad water pump pulley that vibrated so bad it eventually cracked the water pump fully in half, no power steering for a couple months was fun too

[@SNerd42]

"Do you want your girlfriends IUD to fall out every time you shift"? Oh my hell, bro, that is cracking me up!

[@hakarumonoka]

Awesome review! In '99 I was a senior in highschool in Alaska and I remember falling in love with this truck. One of the hockey players at my school became my friend at the end and let me drive this truck. I never ended up getting it but it definitely made an impression on me. Also, fantastic song at the end!!!

[@pdpyoshi]

These with the captains chairs with the folding arm rests are some of the comfiest rides in 2wd that you can get in the 90s

[@stevieraysmith]

I had a 96 GMC 1500 Sierra SLT. It was the strongest vehicle I have ever owned. Several front end accidents - just replaced panels & lights. Weekly to daily brakestands - including one where it got accidentally thrown into reverse mid-burn. Shattered a one-piece driveshaft. Drove it 15 miles in FWD, got new driveshaft, transmission was unharmed. It masqueraded as a mud truck - all it needed was a set of KO2s and it would eat and eat. Sure, it ate door handles & serp belts like a fat guy eats french fries, but when it blew up, it blew up gracefully. 2nd gear & the torque converter were pretty slippy towards the end, which ended up being the steel drain plug self-welded in the aluminum transfer case (just wasn't worth the trouble anymore). The leather was ripped (& blue). The speakers were blown. It was 2 different colors. But it also saved my life, and made countless memories by being just capable enough to do so. I wouldn't have made it through my teenage years without this truck. TL;DR these trucks are old & clapped at this point, and haven't ever been GREAT, but in their heyday of existence (2007-2013), they were the best price-to-value truck you could get in the Midwest, and they have a weird way of creating lasting memories

[@BCaldwell]

That outro was 🔥

[@GhaleonStrife]

Love the intro. Roman or Mr. Regular going berserk is always a treat.

[@davidmcdowell7791]

Really glad to see they FINALLY did a GMT400 Truck, I do wish it was done by Mr. Regular. I do think Nick's opinion of these would be more positive if he reviewed one that was actually in good shape.

[@VoreAxalon]

I just turned 41 Roman...I get it. My dad got a nearly new 96 Silverado extended cab (without the extra door) and he beat the piss out of that two tone red/silver chev hauling seed corn and trailers of it...went through one tranny and rear end but kept driving the piss out of it..and by the time my brother got a hold of it in Atkin MN or New Ulm it was spinning tires, jumping railroad tracks, blasting The Urge's Master of Styles out of the tape deck, and kicking up dirt road dust and throttiling it around every right corner pretending you were James Bond... I swear that 96 Silverado shared some of the best times of my life.

[@gman6081]

You guys have mad skillz and talent. Great review. Great christmas song.

[@ebonwestbrook5580]

What makes these obs chevy/gmc trucks great is they have catalogs upon catalogs and so much aftermarket support you can make these trucks into whatever you want them to be , classic restore to completely modern with new interior etc -

[@VGMO17]

We must collectively protect the Roman. He's too wholesome for this world

[@ericbell5466]

I spent a majority of my childhood in a ‘95 2wd we affectionately called black beauty. I never heard dad ever question if it would start and go. It was tough and it never gave up until the day he crashed it. I myself owned a ‘98 Cheyenne and it was the same way even beaten and worn. Chevy (and GMC) knew what they were doing when they played “Like a rock” in the commercials to sell them. They were damn near indestructible

[@wut0.o]

Bob Seger is the 🐐

[@Too_many_projects]

My first truck was a '94 Sierra 2500. It was one of our old glass trucks, already worked to death when I got it. I remember when it was still in service, wondering if we'd make the hundred miles back to the shop after picking up way too many sheets of glass from a cousins shop, the whole time having a killer rod knock and no oil pressure. It made the trip that way many times before getting an engine replacement. It really wasn't a great truck, but despite our best efforts it's still on the road.

[@bawintermage8351]

Your wry sense of humor is always on point. Clever, concise, compelling and ultimately creative! I imagine your highschool English is either spinning in her grave or smiling down upon you for being great...not quite sure!

[@TBustah]

I learned to drive on my dad's 1989 K10 extended cab (not unlike this one, same color, though it was a Chevrolet and obviously the pre-facelift version) and earned my license in my mom's 1999 Tahoe. It's like the 3rd gen 4Runner: a perfect balance of the simplicity of its predecessors and the creature comforts of its successors.

[@PhoenixsWorldVideos]

took me 3 minutes to even be reminded this was 'race to the bottom' and not a regular, regular car review.

[@ChevyDude81]

One of my top 3 favorite trucks I've owned was a '97 Chevy Cheyenne. Manual everything and nothing ever broke on it. In my opinion, yes, "that is a good truck." 90s vehicles are probably the last generation of vehicles that were built to last.

[@ethanwilliams1825]

It hurts way more than it should to have Roman crap all over one of my favorite trucks. I truly love those GMT 400's.

[@Dankcatvacs]

Are you surprised though?

[@warthunderpro6791]

yes@@Dankcatvacs

[@teddieteddie7535]

Thank you for the awesome song at the end of this video. I think you summarized this truck up quite well. This particular truck you drove is one of the more tired examples and I'm curious how a more pampered truck would feel.

[@MichaelBennettEFAddict]

thanks for the joy you bring us in the endless love for everywhere 4 wheels bring us in life

[@gharkun]

thank you, nick. thank you. that opening was unbelievably good

[@allenpiper1935]

Absolute banger of an outtro!

[@B93R]

I love these trucks they go on forever, i have mine lowered 4/6 on 22s.

[@darksu6947]

Big ghey ballin!

[@bigdude101ohyeah]

I've always loved the GMT400s, especially in Chevy form with the stacked headlights. It's surprising how "GM" it looks. They badged the Suburban as a Holden here (and used the dash from an S-10 to convert it to RHD), and It fitted in better than the Isuzus it shared showrooms with. Channel 7 used them as OB Vans for many years, only now being replaced by the typical Sprinters and the occasional Crafter. Would I prefer it to a locally-assembled 80s F-series ex-ambulance? no.

[@TBustah]

I grew up with these, and am aware of the Holden Suburban. I want get a post-facelift 400 (or a pre and swap out the grill) just so that I can put that badge on it. The Suburban actually wasn't the only 400 that you got or even the first. There was another, but it wasn't available to the general public (they were sold through Holden dealerships, though). Beginning in 1992, Holden brought some 400 cab chassis pickups to Australia and New Zealand, and a couple of local companies converted them to ambulances. Unlike the Suburbans, which left the factory in Mexico with those modified S-10 dashes you mentioned, they arrived LHD. The same company that built the ambulance bodies handled the RHD conversion. They also didn't have Holden badges. They retained the GMC badges that most of them originally left the factory with, and some of the New Zealand units were Chevrolets (with the Sierra model name for whatever reason).

[@richardmcgrath61]

I have a '96 C1500 single cab long bed with the same Vortec 5.7 V8 as this truck. I think its engine was the last of the first gen small block, as you suggest. Somewhere around '99 the 5.3 LS engine came out, with more grunt than the old 5.7. I like my truck, it has enough tech to be reliable and easy/cheap to maintain but not too much, hence none of the cylinder deactivation BS that ruined later truck engines. I think the '88-'98 generation were a great truck. Luckily mine doesn't have the rust that this one has - it was never driven on salted roads. Mine still does serious work - tomorrow I'm doing a 200 mile round trip and filling the bed with furniture and boxes. The ride becomes more comfortable with a bit of load.

[@michaelanthony508]

Speed of lightning, roar of thunder Fighting all who rob or plunder Underdog. Underdog!

[@brettstueland-yt6dl]

Having had a C2500 pickup and Suburban, Tahoe 4x4 and C1500 pickup, I can't disagree with everything stated, but I can say that I have enjoyed all of them for what they were, cheap, practical and capable of hauling. Will say that the 3/4 and one tons are the GMT400s to get since they have the heavy duty 4L80E transmission which doesn't seem to have any of the issues that plague the 60s.

[@joshguldin2095]

Roman's rant game is LEGENDARY! I was on the floor at 13:45!

[@joeldanei5563]

I appreciate your review! Man, I love these trucks.

[@Jessticks2319]

Wow I have never been so happy that I didn’t skip the end of a video

[@michaelstasyszyn8857]

I thought I was the only one who used sarcastic "Merry Christmas". Glad to see others doing it. 😂

[@jake6483]

I spent my life from 10 to 18 showing chickens around the midwest, riding in a 94 silverado 4x4 with a 350. The gaudy red interior was so comfortable to ride in for 10-12 hours to a show. It never let us down, but now it's a 200k mile beater with a heater. Runs like there is at least 1 nearly dead cylinder, transmission slips like nobody's business, but it runs.

[@Dankcatvacs]

200k miles is just broke in

[@jake6483]

@Vulgora not with wisconsin's use of salt. Bolts slowly rusting apart in the engine bay and the body disintegrating makes works on it difficult.

[@camgreen7178]

I've been daily driving my K2500 extended cab long bed with the 6.5L Turbo Diesel mated to the 4L80E for a year and a half and this video sums it up pretty accurately, but I still love this truck without question.

[@Pit-Boss1977]

Ouch. I'm not a GMC fan but that was harsh. In all fairness it was a 2+ decade year-old truck. It had to be worth something in order to last that long before he made all the modifications. That being said, I do like your channel and Content.

[@notkyle2933]

That's me, I'm a GM fanboy😂

[@patrickbateman9887]

Roman is correct about the small block. It traces its lineage to the original 1955, though it evolved several times since then to add modern features like fuel injection. The LS that replaced it in '99 was a clean-sheet, even if they kept some dimensions the same (I think the bore spacing) just to preserve some historical ties.

[@GlassFoxGear]

this series is fantastic

[@thejunkman]

I remember when these were new and riding in a brand new one. I remember being underwhelmed and also trying to think how these would stand the test of time 30 years later as compared to our 1970's chevy's that were (then) 30 years old.

[@dawsongranger4940]

And now people are driving modern trucks and thinking about how much better these were

[@thejunkman]

@@dawsongranger4940 Rose colored glasses. I am guilty of it.

[@davidhochstetler4068]

We all had this truck in high school. And loved it

[@JesusBehindtheWheel]

I still own my ‘97 Sierra 1500 that I got with 118k miles at age 16 in the mid 2000s. It’s nicknamed “La Toxica” because it’s been a toxic relationship replacing or tinkering with every drivetrain component. Yet!…. I love it.

[@ericdoe2318]

I gotta say that’s a good truck It’s a good truck

[@PrydeWater901]

This truck is what Santa would drive if he didn’t have slave elves to build toys for him.

[@zook_291]

I daily a 95 Silverado K2500 ECLB with a 350 and I love how this exposes the flaws.

[@HumbleHonkingEnthusiast]

I've been suffering with a gmt400 in our fleet for closing on 2 years and this is probably the best written/most accurate review uploaded to this channel

[@erikmacaluso]

This song is absolutely incredible man. Liked the video for it alone.

[@user-eq1kg6bd4z]

My dad had one of these, I can still smell the interior, farts and old spice.