Davestuff

There are dozens of GM models to come in my annual extravaganza, but as an ex Chevy 3/4-ton owner, the 2500 is near and dear to my heart. Chevrolet has only just released photos of the 2011 Sierra 2500HD yet, but thanks to Davestuff, you'll know more about what's under the hood than GM--or your local dealer. Photo © GM Corp 2011 at a glance: Sierra 2500HD Deletions   (LY6) Vortec 6.0L Variable Valve Timing V8 SFI engine   (LMM) Duramax 6.6L Turbo Diesel V8, B5-Diesel compatible engine   (QB5) 16" x 6.5" (40.6 cm x 16.5 cm) 8-lug painted steel wheels   (PY2) 4 - 16" x 6.5" (40.6 cm x 16.5 cm) 8-lug chrome-styled steel wheels   (PY0) 4 - 16" x 6.5" (40.6 cm x 16.5 cm) 8-lug polished forged aluminum wheels   (N89) 4 - 17" x 7.5" (43.2 cm x 19.1 cm) 8-lug bright machined aluminum wheels   (QIZ) LT 245/75R16E all-season, blackwall tires   (QIW) LT245/75R16E on-/off-road, blackwall tires   (ZIZ) LT245/75R...

"Maintaining 12 mpg City is also quite an achievement." Quite a crappy achievement. Subject: our big SUV mpg As a failed engineering student, I've always been impressed by the way Toyota engineers can often improve the fuel economy of new-generation vehicles, even when the new vehicles are heavier and/or more powerful than the ones they replace. This is especially true with the big, new SUVs we've introduced for 2008 -- LX 570, Land Cruiser and Sequoia -- which have a 5.7-liter V8 in place of the previous 4.7-liter one. Comparing EPA mileage estimates between 2007 and '08 models can be tricky because the EPA changed its test for 2008 to better reflect real-world driving conditions. The 2008 test results are generally lower than 2007, even for vehicles that have not changed mechanically. However, a part of the EPA website -- http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/ratings2008.shtml -- allows you to view old/new mpg ratings for a specific vehic...

'Thought I'd post some short observations from Hershey last month. Here's the first of several. The big truck hobby is, well, big. Robert J. Kalbach of Wernersville, Pennsylvania, brought his 1959 Brockway, entered in the Driver Participation category of the Saturday show. Mack Truck acquired Brockway in 1956 but the name lived on, with the heavy-duty, Deluxe (with corner windows) cab Model 257 Huskie. It was the first full year for the Huskie, and Bob’s not sure what it’s rated at, but I counted 17 leaves in the springs, and may have missed a few. A 572-cu.in straight-six Continental gas engine powers the 9,800-pound tractor.