Cateye Silverado is famous because of its amazing look and upgraded features. The company updated the complete front end of the vehicle to give it a new look in 2003.
Is Cateye Silverado a Good Truck? Cateye Silverado is reliable with many potential features of a good pickup truck. It has a Cateye front end with an updated grille, bumper, headlights, and fenders. The 5.3-liter, 6.0-liter V8 or LBZ diesel engine has a good power and torque rating. It has a good fuel economy of 16-17 miles per gallon(mpg) in city areas and 20-22 mpg in highway areas. The truck has good ground clearance for off-roading but is challenging to step inside.
This article will review the various features of the first-generation Cateye Silverado after undergoing a major upgrade by the manufacturer. It will facilitate the truck drivers to select the vehicle for their family and work purposes.
What is Cateye Silverado?
The Chevy Silverado truck has been available in the market since 1999 in light and heavy-duty variants.
The manufacturer upgraded the complete front end and other 20-30 features and introduced a restyled version of the truck in 2003.
It is famous as Cateye Silverado because of its bold and stylish look and its headlights looking like the eyes of a cat.
It is available in the 2003-2007 model years in the first and second generation of the truck.
Moreover, it is popular amongst truck enthusiasts for its aggressive front-end, while conventional and rounded designs were standard at that time.
It is a capable truck with many new features that were not common 17 years ago at its launch. It includes an upgraded engine, aggressive look, heated seats, satellite radio, and heated seats.
Engine
It has 3 engine variants available for its half-ton, quarter-ton, and one-ton models. The 5.3L Vortec V8 engine is available in 1500 light-duty truck versions.
At the same time, its heavy-duty models have 6.0L Vortec V8 gasoline engines and 6.6L Duramax V8 or LBZ diesel engines in the 2006-2007 model years.
Due to their high reliability, both 5.3L and 6.0L V8 engines are still in use, and good aftermarket support is available in terms of spares and repair services.
Horsepower
It is available with a powerful engine to provide good power ratings keeping them alive in the market after elapsing more than 15 years.
Light duty models have a power rating of 290-315hp at 5000 rpm, which is a good figure for a half-ton pickup.
The 6.0L V8 engine provides 305 hp at 4300 rpm in heavy-duty models of this vehicle. The 6.6L LBZ diesel engine can deliver 365 hp at 3100 rpm.
Torque
Torque is a critical parameter for a pickup truck for towing applications. It has excellent torque ratings meeting the requirements to date for hauling, loading, and towing applications.
Pickups with 5.3L V8 engines have a torque rating of 310-340 lb-ft at 4000 rpm, which is at par with some modern pickups.
The 6.0L V8 gasoline engine has a torque rating of 355-365 lb-ft and is suitable for the quarter-ton Silverado.
On the other hand, the 6.6L (LBZ) V8 Duramax diesel engine gives a whooping torque of 640-650 lb-ft to full size or a ton Cateye Silverado.
Dimensions
It is available in 3 cab configurations: standard, extended, and crew cab. It has an overall length of 17-21 ft according to the bed option and cab style.
They have a sitting capacity of 5 persons making it suitable as a family vehicle. It has a spacious interior with more front headroom, rear headroom, and legroom than its competitors like Ford F150 and Dodge Ram.
You have 3 cargo bed options, including a 5.75 ft short bed, 6.1 ft standard bed, and 8.1 ft long bed. Due to the large room to carry your tools, spares, and other cargo, it is feasible to use as a working vehicle.
Appearance
One of the most prominent features of Cateye Silverado is its front-end look and style. Different trucks have more of a traditional and rounded face, but GM introduced aggressive style with high front end and new headlights to attract the customers.
Other prominent features are chrome grille, new bumper, fender, and hood. Rear-end also has a few modifications, including tail lights and removal of the Chevrolet badge from the tailgate.
Due to this significant facelift and dozens of upgrades, it still looks like a modern pickup after so much time.
Reliability
According to customer reviews, Cateye Silverado is a highly reliable truck and still has a high demand for used ones. I have a 2006 model Cateye, and it is still such a powerhouse to fulfill my requirements.
After 15 years, it has no faults in its engine or critical system-level faults. Its body and cargo bed are in sound condition with no wear and tear and rust signs.
Due to its powerful engine, comfortable seats, satellite radio system, and stylish appearance, it is a good choice if you want to buy a used vehicle.
Cost
Due to its reliability and tons of features, this vehicle has good resale value. You will find a truck in sound condition for $7000-$8000, with an operational history of above 200,000 miles.
Price for a vehicle above 100,000 miles operation is $10,000-$11,000.
However, some are available in the market with less than 50,000 miles of operation, but they have a considerable price of $20,000-$25,000. It is too large for a used 13-17 years old truck.
Fuel economy
Modern trucks have good fuel economy to meet EPA requirements with upgrades in engine electronics and compact designs.
Therefore, its fuel economy is not comparable with the latest models, but still, it is reasonable.
It has 16-18 mpg mileage in city areas and 20-22 mpg in highway areas. The combined average is 18-20 mpg, which is not bad for a two-generation old truck.
Drivetrain
GM introduced its latest Quadrasteer steering system in Cateye Silverado in 2003 to control all 4 wheels of the truck.
Therefore, it has good maneuverability and can tow a trailer or RV. However, it feels loose around corners; therefore, the manufacturer dropped it in later models.
It has 4-speed automatic 4L65E transmission in light-duty models and Allison 1000 transmission in heavy-duty models. Moreover, it is also available in both 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive options.
Wheels
Cateye Silverado has GM’s 6 lug nut wheels to manage some tire sizes. You can opt for 17 inches wheels for regular use.
You can also go for 22 inches tires for an elevated feel and off-road use. It is also compatible with standard lift kits available to change its appearance.
Upgraded electronics and Interior
It has an upgraded electrical system with a new instrumentation cluster and ventilation system.
In addition, it has an XM satellite radio system to enjoy music and news during the ride.
Other features are new airbags and comfortable seats for a comfortable driving experience. However, its suspension system is not up to the mark, and you will feel the road bumps even driving at slower speeds.
Conclusion
Cateye Silverado is a reliable and efficient pickup due to its potential features.
In addition, significant upgrades from the manufacturer and availability of aftermarket spares have kept their value. Therefore, it is an excellent choice to opt for the truck if you have a budget to buy a used truck.
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