Hmm, I was just looking at the 2004 models, and went to "build your own" vehicle... did the prices go down a bit?

For about $33k, you can get a 2500HD crew cab short box with a 8100 engine and a 6 speed manual trans! with

• Air cleaner, high-capacity (K47) $0.00
• Air conditioning, dual-zone, manual, individual climate settings for driver and right front passenger (CJ3) $0.00
• Battery, auxiliary heavy-duty, 600 cold-cranking amps (TP2) $135.00
• Bumper, rear, painted step, includes pad (V43) $0.00
• Cooling, external transmission oil cooler, auxiliary, heavy-duty air-to-oil (KNP) $0.00
• Differential, limited slip, heavy-duty, rear, | (G86) $0.00
• Emissions, Federal requirements (FE9) $0.00
• Engine, Vortec 8100 V8 SFI, (330 HP [245.8 kW] @ 4200 rpm, 450 lb.-ft. [607.5 N-m] @ 3200 rpm) (L18) $850.00
• GVWR, 9200 lbs. (4173 kg) (C6W) $0.00
• HEAVY DUTY POWER PKG. DISCOUNT (1SZ) $0.00
• Rear axle, 3.73 ratio (GT4) $0.00
• Suspension Package, Ride-Control, manual selectable, includes 2-position electronic control for shock setting and smooth-road/trailering (ZX3) $325.00
• Tires, LT245/75R16E, all-season, blackwall (QIZ) $0.00
• Trailering equipment, heavy-duty, includes trailering hitch platform, 7-wire harness (harness includes wires for: park lamps, backup lamps, right turn, left turn, electric brake lead, battery and ground) with independent fused trailering circuits mated to a 7-way sealed connector, 7-way to 4-way trailer adapter, instrument panel jumper wiring harness for electric trailer brake controller, and 1-way sealed connector for center high-mounted stop/brake lamp. Also includes (K47) Air cleaner, high capacity. (Z82) $235.00
• Transmission, 6-speed manual, heavy-duty, with overdrive (ML6) $0.00
• Wheel flares (B71)

and probably some other since I got tired of clicking thru the slow website....

Might not ride as nice as the SS and not as fast, but seems like ALOT more truck than for less!

 

All I know is that I priced a 2003 2500HD standard cab LS with the 6.0, power windows, locks, cruise, keyless entry, etc and after invoice pricing and rebates it was only something like 20.5k!

 

I did the same thing a few months back and someone correctly pointed out to me that the 6-speed in the 2500HD is a lower geared hualing type transmission and completely different from a performance 6-speed.

The best bang for the buck is the 5.3L and automatic combination. However, I swear to God my 4.8 has more power than the 5.3. This weekend I headed to LA with a full load in back of my Tahoe and I was blowing by LT Tahoes and Suburbans with ease over the Grapevine. Got 17.2 mpg... Fully loaded over that grade.

 

maybe you got a 6.0L by mistake

 

Yes, that GMbuypower.com website is terribly slow, and ends up crashing more often than not (or so it seems).

Yes, it's a tremendous amount of truck for the money! However, think very hard about getting the 8.1 L if you do a lot of driving - gas mileage is terrible with that engine. The 6.0 L is a better choice if you're going to put a lot of miles on the truck and plan only "light" towing (i.e. less than 7500 lbs or so). Get the diesel if you plan on towing a lot of weight over long distances. Most folks will be best-off with the 6.0 L.

The pricing doesn't seem all that cheap (but not expensive, either) - in general, truck prices have been going up slowly. A couple years ago, I priced-out a lower-end regular-cab Silverado 2500HD 4x4 with the 8.1 L and the Allison, and it came to about $31K with minimal options.