2003 Chevrolet S-10 review from North America
"Good Truck, with room for improvements"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Water and in the gas tank and fuel lines. The dealer flushed the fuel system.
The horn button would stick on whenever a left turn was being made. The dealer replaced the horn switch assembly.
Both universal joints went bad at 37000mi. It was off warranty so the cost was just over $200.00 for parts and labor.
General comments?
The manual five speed is fun to drive, and is a must in a S-10 with a 4 cylinder. I replaced clutch-fan with an electric fan ($30), switched to a cold air intake ($260), added a throttle body spacer ($96), throttle position enhancer chip ($90), fuel enriching chip ($25), 2.25" high-flow chambered muffler ($89), and a switch that cut off the A/C pump at 75% and greater throttle ($8). It now has average acceleration for $509.
The truck handled fairly well in stock form. However, the rear springs were weak by "car" standards. The best upgrade was adding half-leaf helper springs ($20) to the rear. Along with lowering the front and rear 2" ($300), the truck handles much better and takes 600lbs in the box without squatting.
Recommended reviews
| The S10 is an adequate workhorse for those who desire fuel economy with function. |
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| 2002 - S-10 2.2 liter 4-cylinder Not really worth it |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 2003 |
| Year of manufacture | 2002 |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2005 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.2L Manual |
| Performance marks | 4 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 4 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 9 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 12000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 47000 miles |
| Previous car | GMC LUV |
| Date of Entry | 24th October, 2005 |