Chevrolet C/K 1500 Forum : “I have a 96 Chevy 1500, is there any new full size truck I can buy using the new...”

Im not sure if you can buy the new trucks or not, either way, it would be a shame to see the best designed pickup by any company get scrapped.  What kind of driving do you do?  My '98 with 4wd, 350 and a cut off exhaust (less gas mileage) gets 18+ at 65 mph.  

Which engine and transmission do you have? The CARS program goes by the combined rating, which is 15 mpg at the lowest on any C1500. The full-size truck being traded for must have a 2 mpg better combined rating, so if you have a 5000 or 5700, your choices (1/2 ton from GM) would be a 4.3L 4-speed 2WD, 5.3L 6-speed 2WD w/ XFE package (extra tall 3.08 rear end), or a Hybrid with the 6.0L and 4-speed in either 2WD or 4WD form (also with 3.08). If you have a 4300, you're stuck with the Hybrids as your only choice. I have not looked at other brands, but considering GM is generally more efficient when it comes to full-size trucks, you likely won't have much better hope with other brands.

After telling you all of this, if you trade in your C1500 with the CARS program, I will track you down and kill you unless you can provide evidence that it's in very bad shape! I'm sure it's worth the $3,500 you'd get for trading for an eligible full-size, so if you want something more efficient, just sell it (and I bet you could get more than $3,500)! It ticks me off how many nice, good condition vehicles (easily worth more than the maximum $4,500) have been destroyed by this program, often out of pure ignorance and laziness, so please don't become another statistic for this program and sell your truck to someone who'd love a nice, reliable OBS!

i agree dont let another good truck die i went by the local chevy dealership and they had a 99 classic sitting out side for the cars program it made me sad and sick at the same time