Question,

I am looking at getting a new truck, obviously. I have looked at a couple used 04 lb7 and looked a new 05 LLY. All trucks I am looking at are 2500HD crew cab 4x4. The two lb7s have 13000 and 35000 miles on them. Both are LT with everything but dvd. I could probably get either for 31k or 32k, we will see. The new on with current pricing is 35.8k. It is an LS with everything but onstar, leather and has cd and tape. All trucks are black. The truck with 13000 miles has tan leather all others have gray interior, which I prefer.

Now, the question, what would you do? Particularly those who have had both engines.

I have considered the 6.0 gas, but really want the diesel. I have owned 2 previous diesels, a cummins and a 6.5-:t . I do not tow much currently and drive 20k to 25k per year, but that could increase with a new truck:D . Also will remain stock (no power adders) for the foreseeable future except for 285-75r16 tires and a ranchhand replacement.

Thanks.:)

for the difference in price I'd just get the new LLY.. as for doing mods, the LB7 will be more friendlier due to no emissions to worry about. If you plan on doing tons of upgrades maybe the LB7 is the way to go. Also keep in mind that finance rates are higher with used vehicles.

any other info you need just grab some coffee and start reading.. ;-)

If it were me, since you aren't getting the onstar or leather (and the bose, it really rocks!) on the 05 then save the money and get the LB7 with the dark grey interior.

If you plan to keep the truck for a long time then the difference in years won't matter much on value way down the road. Especially if you are planning to run up the miles.

I am with briano on the upgrades, the LB7 wins that hands down, so if you wanna be a power junkie in the near future the LB7 is your game. Get as good a deal you can on the low mileage LB7 and spend the savings versus the 05 to create one sweet ride. The difference in price already says you can upgrade the tranny and converter and get a nice tuner/box for it. You would be buying the tires and bumper for either one so thats a wash.

Good luck deciding!

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i would personally go with the new LLY, there isnt THAT much difference in price that would justify not going brand new. When i looked to buy my dad has an LB7 and i was looking used but when i noticed only a couple grand (3) difference i went new. Is the injector prob fixed on an 04? Also what about the ease of replacement on doing both... The LLY wins. As far as performance goes he already said he wants to do nothing to it, I also think in a year or two the LLY will be right in par with a LB7.
In my opinion go new...just my .02

Decisions Decisions......................................... .........................................

I have owned both. An '02 LB7 and an '05 LLY. Here's my take....for what it is worth. Stock, the LLY performs better than the LB7. The LB7 seems to be more upgrade friendly, at least for now. The LB7 will get 2-3 mpg (maybe more) better than the LLY. I would not get leather!!!! It just does't hold up well. I hate all of the emmissions crap on the LLY. So, to try and help you decide.......
If you plan on modding the truck the LB7 is probably the best option, but if you plan on leaving it pretty much standard, the LLY is probably goiong to be your best bet. Just my .02.

The 2005's have the employee discount program until July 5th. It's averaging about $10,000 off of the Duramax trucks. That's the route I'd go.

I was looking around and found a 2003 2500HD crew cab, white, LS, 4x4 with bucket seats, bose and redundant controls for 25,000.

Just to add to the discussion.

That employee program isn't any big deal. I got $5500 off the sticker plus 0% for 5 years. Now it's a year later and already the truck is even value versus loan.


And every payment now sweetens the deal for me.

So unless they are also giving great rates, this employee thing is just another way to do the same old thing. It sure looks like the dealer discount plus the old rebate wrapped up into one to me.
Hey as long as you are happy with the deal then thats all matters......:deal:

I am new here but i just picked up a new 2005 lly for 33k. 4x4 crew cab short box. If you work the deal right you can get under GMS plus rebates like i did and i stickered for over 44k

What interest rate did you get?

Its always give one thing take away something else.....in the end it seems the numbers come out about the same in the great auto sales shell game.

For example 2.9% is low and the rebate was nice but it was better for me to take the 0% and pass on the rebate because over the course of the loan I would have paid more taking the rebate and the higher interest rate.

So up front I would have a low number I could brag that I "paid" for the truck but the TOTAL I would have paid in the long run would have been MORE.

I went there with the money from the bank i got a 4.99 from our local credit union. best rate they have

Was this price out the door???????I am new here but i just picked up a new 2005 lly for 33k. 4x4 crew cab short box. If you work the deal right you can get under GMS plus rebates like i did and i stickered for over 44k

No still have to add tax(7.75%) and lic.(404 for Ca.)
So 33700+2612 tax+404lic=36716 OTD still under the GMS price which was 37200

I am in the process of buying a 2005 2500hd ext cab short box D/A truck, the invoice I have says msrp is 42,110, the GMS is 35,659 then subtract 3,000 rebate and the price is 32,659. Out the door with 6% tax and license will need to be added to that price. Basicly, you'd be saving money on taxes and the first year depreciation value of the truck. For me it's a no brainer, the used ones in my area are going for 28-29,000 with 40,000 plus miles. my .02

Go with the New LLY, I have had all three, 6.0 gas and have an 01 lb7 and an 04.5 LLY, there all good but new is new. Rates are about 4.75 with excellent credit and the employee price plus the three grand rebate is a no brainer!


P.S> my LLY gets about 3 MPG better than my LB7 and it out performes it all the way around. (stock that is I don't mod mine) but I also have over 255,000 on my LB7 without any problems.:grd:

Thanks for all of your input. I will let you know what I do.

I got a USED 2004.5 LLY exactly like you're looking at (black, XM, no onstar, wheel controls, etc) for 28.5 with a sprayed on bedliner added for free, and it had 33k miles. The interest on used may be slightly higher, but I'm glad I let someone else eat the depreciation. It DID take about a week for one to turn up at that price since most were going for 33k or so around that time. Keep a keen eye on the web-sales at dealerships around you, and some patience may save you 500,000 pennies! If they don't have them in your area, try texas. BFT's are very, very popular here, and a $400 plane ticket to pick up one and drive it home is still a schweeeeeet deal.

I have had both. The 01 LB7 I just traded was a 3500 crew cab dooly. I got 17 to 18 mpg empty. A good runner, 122,000 on the odometer when I traded.

The 05 LLY 3500 crew cab dooly gets 14.5 mpg tops.:eek:

I had an 03 now I have an 05. I would go with the 05 LLY with out a doubt. The BIG advantage is the new Fuel injectors. The LLY was infamous for injector failures and Diesel in the oil. My 03 had 25kmi and had 12 injectors replaced (Two diiferent times!) If one failes on the 05 its a LOT LESS labor for the job. As far as milage goes the LLY was getting 18.5 average for me. My 05 was at 16.5. I just added the Fingerstick/EGR plate and CAT removal downpipe and I'm back at 18.5mpg! THe LLY also has a lot better pickup. I can definately feel the increase in power and I just hit 8kmi. Not even broken in yet. I will say the 03 shifted better. The way they have the Allison set up now I'm a little dissapionted with the way it shifts. With the older ones you can almost garuntee you will have the "Steering Rattle" on turns also unless it has the new Intermediate shaft.
Also consider the NEW warrantee.

Good luck.

I had an 03 now I have an 05. I would go with the 05 LLY with out a doubt. The BIG advantage is the new Fuel injectors. The LLY was infamous for injector failures and Diesel in the oil. My 03 had 25kmi and had 12 injectors replaced (Two diiferent times!) If one failes on the 05 its a LOT LESS labor for the job. As far as milage goes the LLY was getting 18.5 average for me. My 05 was at 16.5. I just added the Fingerstick/EGR plate and CAT removal downpipe and I'm back at 18.5mpg! THe LLY also has a lot better pickup. I can definately feel the increase in power and I just hit 8kmi. Not even broken in yet. I will say the 03 shifted better. The way they have the Allison set up now I'm a little dissapionted with the way it shifts. With the older ones you can almost garuntee you will have the "Steering Rattle" on turns also unless it has the new Intermediate shaft.
Also consider the NEW warrantee.

Good luck.

cliffee, dude, run back thru your post please and clear it up some..... I think you confused LB7 for LLY a few times in there and it really confuses things. Just a touch muddled on which truck did/had/was like there......

True...the 03 has to be the LB7, which shifted better but ate injectors like candy.

Go for the lb7. Biggest dissapointment in my life was the lly. If there was a way to trade my 2004 for my old 2001 I would do it in a heartbeat. After talking to GM I fould they could care less about any problem I have. So I am convinced I have a 50k ash tray. :D