2002 Chevy S-10 standard cab, short bed

I have now owned my base model 2002 S-10 for two and a half years. The only other truck that I have owned and thus the only small truck I can compare it to was my 1989 Toyota which was also a base model. Comparing the two in many ways is like comparing apples to apples but in other ways it is like comparing apples to oranges.

Impetus to buy:
My consideration for an S-10 in the first place was incentive based. I had a GM Mastercard on which I had racked up a sizable cash back bonus toward a new GM vehicle. In late 2001 the incentives began to expire and I hated to see them go to waste. Also my Toyota had over 200,000 miles on it and being a carbureted model it was suffering from cold weather driveability problems and terrible gas mileage.

My intention before going to the Chevrolet dealer was to seek out a base model S-10 with a/c and a stereo, preferably one with a CD player, The first S-10 I pulled up to was a white standard cab, short-bed no less with a/c standard and only one option, an AM/FM 4-speaker stereo with CD player. The truck had no carpeting which I preferred. I don't think pickup trucks should have carpeting at all and few options. I do like cloth seats though since you can wear shorts in the summer without burning your legs.

Firsts:
Since I tend to hang onto vehicles for a long time this S-10 was a first on several levels. It was my first vehicle with fuel injection, first with anti-lock brakes, first newer than the 1980's, first with distributor-less ignition and first domestic brand in 13 years.

The Deal:
I got a fairly good deal with my slightly over $1100.00 in purchase incentives, $2500.00 rebate and $1000 down. I financed a little over 11,000 for 60 months including an extended warranty to 5 years and 60,000 miles.

Interior:
The interior of my base S-10 had most of the features I needed and wanted. I found it to be roomy for a small truck much more so than Toyota and had ample headroom. I like the full gauges with tachometer, the vinyl floor covering, cloth seat, built-in headrests, CD stereo and the small platform behind the seat for placing small tool boxes. I also thought the jack and tire tool cover was a nice touch although it does consume some behind-the-seat storage.

I think a bench seat in a standard cab with 5-speed is pointless since nobody other than a small child could fit in the middle which is only useful for placing small items. Therefore bucket seats would make more sense. But since this was a no-frills truck then a bench seat is the only way to go for a manufacturer. If you're riding as a passenger with a short driver (my wife) then your knees are right against the dash and thus the airbag. Also the foot well on the passenger side has a large bulge coming off of the transmission hump which hampers already tight foot room.

The a/c is first rate in terms of cooling power. My criteria for a good a/c is that it should produce stinging pain on full power mode. Then it is an effective a/c. The heater and defroster are effective as well and warm up quickly. One area of needed improvement on domestics over Japanese ventilation systems is the need for a separate control for fresh and re-circulated air flow. My Toyota had that making the system very versatile. I could chose fresh or re-circulated air in any mode. This feature is priceless when behind some offensive smelling vehicle or driver. The only way to control the flow on the S-10 is by using max a/c. I also miss the separate compressor switch. I don't always want the compressor running while the defroster is on. The ventilation system does only a fair job in preventing outside odors from coming through. A filter is needed.

Exterior:
The S-10's exterior is clean and smooth and it is actually a fairly attractive truck. The white paint was of good quality and still is although there are a few chips now. I had a Line-X liner sprayed in after the second week so the cargo box has never received any scratches. About seven month ago I had a very nice Leer cab-height fiberglass shell installed. The bumpers are typical wimpy stock pieces. I prefer sturdy thick bumpers on a truck. I like the large size outside mirrors.

Performance:
The S-10's performance only fair. The 2.2 liter 4-cylinder engine is very smooth and quite at idle and starts easily but that it where it ends. I has a very flat and poor power curve. With most engines you can feel the torque peak kick in but not with the 2.2 GM 4-banger. Under hard acceleration it is very raspy and vibrates until you hit about 4000-4200 rpms and then it smooths out. This engine does not hold a candle to my former wonderful bullet-proof Toyota 22R engine. Fuel economy has also been a disappointment probably because I must flog the engine so much of the time in order to keep up with traffic. I average 22 mpg for mostly stop and go driving which is a not a trade-off for diesel-like power. On all highway trips I have managed almost 26 mpg still below the EPA rating of 28 mpg.

The clutch is smooth and easy to modulate. The 5-speed manual gear box is somewhat notchy and prevents fast shifting. The throws are fairly short. When the transmission is in neutral and the clutch pedal is up there is a strange grinding sound that comes from the clutch or bell housing. Not sure what that is. There is also lots a slop in the drivetrain. When the clutch is let out after shifts there is a noticeable clunking sound from the driveshaft.

The ride while comfortable is too car-like and should be firmer for hauling loads. I have actually hauled quite a bit of cargo with my S-10 such as lumber, drywall, concrete, riding mowers, etc. Many truck owners never haul anything. Large bumps and dips produce floating and excessive bouncing. The ride is fairly comfortable but if I wanted that I would have bought a car.

Handling is mediocre with pronounced body roll while cornering. The 4-wheel anti-locks brakes work very well and are a big improvement over my Toyota's barely adequate brakes. They do pulse excessively on wet pavement or while braking going over sharp bumps but they have never locked on me.

Reliability:
I now have a little over 22,000 miles on it now which is a bit under average. I carpool with my wife to work and we use our 1992 Honda Civic which averages 11 mpg better and is much nicer to drive. We use the truck on very hot days in summer because of the a/c being much more powerful than the Honda's. I had one problem early on at around 3800 miles. The truck failed to start right out in front of my house one evening. Everything else electrical worked but it would not crank at all. I had it towed to the dealer the next morning and the problem turned out to be a defective terminal on the starter solenoid. It didn't cost me anything and I have not had any problems since then.

Conclusion:
I will probably not buy another S-10 again unless it is an extended cab with a V-6. I can tolerate the manual transmission though. If you don't mind the uninspiring performance and floaty ride then the basic S-10 is not too bad.