Road Test - 2003 Chevrolet JGP Silverado

So you're a big-time Chevrolet fan but the new Silverado SS leaves you wanting, especially in contrast to its rivals. How does 14.5 at 97.2 in the quarter-mile sound compared to the Silverado SS' 15.0 at 89.1? Add better handling and looks--all for less money than the SS--and, for those of you that prefer to shift for yourselves, a manual transmission, which isn't even available on an SS. If that sounds too good to be true, fear not: Joe Gibbs Performance is building the truck of your dreams. Yes, that Joe Gibbs, previously in the NFL and currently of NASCAR fame.

JGP starts with a base standard-cab Silverado (the lightest model) with a 4.8-liter V-8 engine and manual transmission. The company adds on the JGP Base Package, which includes a Gibbs-designed front fascia with foglamps, Gibbs' exclusive tailgate spoiler; a Gibbs-engineered stainless-steel cat-back exhaust with dual tips, and fender and tailgate badges. Gibbs-designed 20x8.5-inch Hyper Silver wheels with Goodyear Eagle LS P275/55R20 tires are matched to a tuned suspension. Interior appointments include an exclusive JGP instrument cluster, logo-embroidered floormats and seat backs, a dash plaque, and an upgraded shifter, all for $6500 over the cost of the stock truck.

The JGP Silverado is allocated through select Chevrolet dealers via a ship-through code, which means you order and pick it up from the dealer. JGP offers three options--two JGP-installed and one dealer-installed. Our tester had all three, including the dealer-installed supercharger/intercooler package ($5000), which gives you a Gibbs-designed Roots-type intercooled-supercharger that Gibbs says makes 390 horsepower and 425 pound-feet of torque. It's so docile, powerful, and quiet, we had to lift the hood to verify it was a supercharged 4.8-liter engine. It's got enough power to trounce the 6.0-liter SS.

The JGP seat upgrade ($995) offers a sport-leather/suede combination that could come in handy when taking advantage of the improved handling characteristics. Lastly, the brake-system upgrade ($1150) has improved braking over a stock Silverado, but didn't do better than the heavier SS' numbers.