1989 GMC S-15 Sierra Classic review from North America
"Crude, but decent, does the job"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Head gasket blew, requiring expensive repair.
Alternator failed.
Air conditioner operates erratically.
General comments?
This truck had served me pretty well. It has decent power, nice interior, the paint still shines up nicely, and the four wheel drive system is easy to use. Typical of the early S-10/S-15 trucks, it's pretty crude. The ride is a bit jittery, but not intolerable. The motor is the early Vortec V6, throttle-body fuel injected, without counterbalancer, so at low RPM's, it has a shudder typical of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. It's weird, but not detrimental.
The A/C system has developed a habit of shutting off in hot weather. Need to have the dealer fix that headache. The seats are a bit uncomfortable after a long ride, lacking good lumbar support.
The nice thing about the S-10/S-15 trucks is that they are plentiful and cheap. Getting parts for this truck is easy, and almost any mechanic can work on them. A similarly aged Japanese pickup would have cost me twice what I paid for this truck.
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| 1989 - S-15 N/A 2.5L Iron Duke Four Tech The 1989 S15 pickup is a great tough truck that has a few problems but nothing is perfect. |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 2002 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2002 |
| Engine and transmission | 4.3 V6 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8/10 |
| Reliability marks | 8/10 |
| Comfort marks | 7/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 7/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 91000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 95000 miles |
| Previous car | Chevrolet S-10 |
| Date of Entry | 20th August, 2002 |