Vehicle opinions

Been looking for a new vehicle for quite awhile now. I asked about several we had looked at awhile back and got some good answers, so here I am again.

Ok, I am trying to hit a happy medium, that really isn't doable, in order to keep my wife happy with the purchase, because it's supposed to be 'her' vehicle. Thing is she has been all over the board on what she wants so I'm just looking for whatever I can find to meet as many of her wants as I can, and meet my want's as far as the price, repairability, etc, etc all goes.

That said, we have looked at minivans, midsized SUV's, etc, etc, etc. Now, tonight she starts talking about larger trucks like the Yukons, etc because they will have so much more room than anything else. Too, since we've decided to keep her PT Cruiser as her daily driver now, and use the larger vehicle only for times when we really need all the room, the MPG isn't really as important now as it was when we were origionally looking for her a new daily driver.

So, this evening, we stopped and looked at a 2000 Chevy Surburban. Based on what I can tell from the VIN it has the V8 with multiport injection, a 7000-8000 lb rear axel, etc, etc. In other words I think it will also make a good tow vehicle if I want to haul something with my trailer. Too it looks good inside and out with only a few dings outside, and the normal wear and tear on the front seats inside. It appears to be setup for the third row seat but it's currently not in the truck, and I don't know it the owner has it or not. I looked at ground under it and there are no oily spots where anything has been leaking so I don't think that will be a problem. To top it off all 4 tires also look to be about 80% so nothing will be needed there for awhile. In other words it looks, on first impression, like a really nice 12 year old truck.

My only question about the thing is that it says on the window that it has 350,000 miles on it. I know given the age of the truck alot of those miles have to be highway miles to manage nearly 30,000 miles a year. They are currently asking $3500 for it, but I imagine they could be talked down a little bit with a cash offer. At this point that's all I know about the vehicle as the owner wasn't at home when we stopped to look at it, but I intend to call and find out more on Monday.

I know gas mileage on the thing is only rated around 13 to maybe 15 but, like I said, it won't be an every day driver so that isn't a really big issue for us. So, my question is do any of you guys have any experience with the Surbans of this vintage, and if so what do you guys think about this truck, good, bad, or indifferent????? Thanks for any input. Wayne

Too much milage,keep looking.

With that much mileage the motor has either been rebuilt or is approaching rebuild--but you already know that.
Go to KBB.com they have a pretty good pricing system that can get you close to the real value of the vehicle.
As far as how they are as vehicles; they're not that much different then a 1/2 ton truck. Mt neighbor has a suburban about that vintage, she hasn't had very much trouble with it. Pretty reliable.

Theres plenty of used vehicles out there for sale (especially in the 100,000 to 150,000 miles range), feel free to do as you please its your money and choice BUT THERES NO WAY ID INVEST IN A VEHICLE WITH THAT MANY MILES NO FREAKIN WAY

John T

Fully agree with John T and 36 coupe: "way too many miles on it", (even for a southern state where I assume no salt/de-icer is applied to the roads).

We recently bought a quad cab 2003 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner with 130,000 for $8,000. It is in really nice shape inside and out and quite roomy for a mid-sized pickup. We will eventually add a topper to it. Took me almost 2 years to find it, looked at and tested a ton of pickups. I do the computer searching and preliminary test drives, if it gets past my inspection I bring them home for the boss to look at as he is the one who knows mechanics around here.

We did put a fuel pump in it - knew it needed it when we bought it (also new serpentine belt just to be on the safe side, and new tranny filter and fluid - also to be on the safe side). So we have about 9 grand into it, but we are still below the book value of the pickup.

And yes Kelly Blue Book kbb .com is a great resource for checking value when buying and trading. Also like findcars .com to looking for vehicles - and there is carsoup .com too, but have not used it much.

And on buying a used vehicle: we never rush into a decision... there is always another one out there - especially when you are not under the gun needing to buy one right now.

RUN ! ! ! away from it as fast as you can ! !
You"d be buying someone"s else"s problems !

Far too many miles.

Dean

The owners surely didn't put that many miles on this vehicle without good maintenance. I would at least find out what has already been replaced in the power train. It may still be a bargain or one to run from. You will be in the best position to determine which. Good luck.

I dont care how good of care it has had at 380,000 miles the whole drivetrain is shot

I would agree with the mileage commens. You could easily the same year with half the mileage for the same price. With good maintenance you could hope for 350K on a Suburban - buying one with 350K hoping to add another 100K without a substantial after the purchace investment is wishful thinking.

I'm in the market for another Suburban/Yukon right now and wouldn't even bother looking at something with that many miles.

We got our current 98 burban at 100K and now have 260K on it. It's cost me a tranny at 258K, fuel pump 250K, alernator about 210k. It's a daily driver. We get a little over 20 MPG at 55 MPH and about 18 on the interstate if we keep it under 68 MPH. After that 68 MPH the mileage goes down the faster you go. About 14 at 75. Has the 5.8 Votec engine. Been a really good vehicle that has been used as a farm truck plus passenger car.

Rick

You will have one problem after another. This is why it is for sale. It will not take long to exceed the purchase price in repair bills and repair bills normally do not help with resale value.

That outfit is worth $100 tops.

You'll promptly sink another 5K in it to get it roadworthy.

Allan

I just bought a 99 Tahoe, 160k on the clock, one owner, garaged, looks like new in and out Every single option woeks perfect Oner changed oil every 3k miles. $5500.
First refill mileage was 16.1 to and from and around town.
Look for the 5.7 and the 3.73 that's what this is.

I appreciate all of the comments so far and I too am somewhat concerned about the high miles. That said, I have also looked at the KBB value and in the shape it's in, with the options it has, and even with the high mileage, KBB value is still nearly around $6800, which is a far cry from $3500. I checked, and if needed, a brand new, crate motor from GM is only running $2700 so with the price difference I could easily buy a brand new motor if I had to and still have money to play with. Too I have looked at quite a few others within a year or two of the same vintage, in the 150,000 mile and above range, and with the options, etc, etc they all seem to be running in the $6500 to $9000 plus range.

That said I just talked to the owner a few minutes ago. He is the second owner as it was given to him by his father when he got out of college. The reason he's selling is that he is moving out of state and doesn't want to take it with him because he will have no longer have any need for it. The high miles were all put on by his father within a relatively short amount of years ((ie not spread completely through the last 12)))) who did ALOT of traveling, so it's 90% plus highway miles. He said the engine is origional and uses a bit of oil over time but nothing excessive, which sounds like the majority of old trucks I have ever driven. The rear end is relatively new because his father let the oil get low and it went out. Being that most of the miles were highway miles the transmission should still be pretty good also. As far as the guy new his father nor himself had ever done much towing with it so it hasn't ever been worked really hard. Because it was just his father doing all of the driving the interior is in extreemly good shape with the main wear on the drivers seat. The third row seat was taken out and put up when bought and is basically brand new.

If my day turns out right, hopefully I'll get thechance to go up this evening and take a better look at it, and test drive it. Yes, I know it has ultra high miles, but given the circumstances I also have to look at the facf that I have driven other vehicles with over 400,000 miles on them that weren't worn out yet because the majority of miles on them were highway, and they were also maintained pretty well throughout their life or they would have never made it through that many miles to start with. Too, knowing that i am wanting it for an occasional use vehicle and not a daily driver, it's crazy to spend big bucks for something that will set more than it gets driven. OH well, I guess like anything else, i the end, buying a used vehicle is always going to be a crap shoot, at best, but if the price is right it's often worth taking a chance.........IF the wife still wants it today and hasn't changed her mind again.....LOL Thanks again for the replies so far, and any other advice based on the little bit of new data is always welcome.

We will probably always have a Suburban in the driveway. About the perfect combination of people hauler with pretty good towing capacity. Had a "94 1/2 ton we kept on the road to ~340k miles with the 350 (?5.7?) engine. Currently have a 2001 3/4 ton with the 8.1 engine. Miserable mileage (~11 MPG), but feels really substantial when towing. You are an experienced, knowledgeable mechanic so know what to be watching for. GM changed engines in 99 (I think) so your available options are the 5.3 or 6.0 and maybe a smaller 4.?? in the 1/2 ton version. All are apparently good by reputation, I have no personal experience with any of them.

I would not buy anything with mileage that high, but it might be an OK fit for you if you get it for a real good price.

There was a discussion a week or so ago about GM engines which will apply to this as well.
Previous YT GM Engine Discussion

Always remember - Kelly Blue Book and NADA are written by dealers for dealers. To find out what they really think the value is look up the trade value. In my area assuming its a 4X4 KBB says its trade value is $2259 to $3334. Now you know why its priced at $3500.

The biggest problem with both "books" is they don't add enough for low mileage and don't deduct enough for high mileage. When I changed the mileage from 350K to a paltry 150K the trade value only went up to $2609 to $3684 so they think 200,000 miles of wear only deducts $300 from the value of this vehicle.

I wouldn't be worried abou thte miles if I had put them on there myself and knew the vehicle. I'm a little nervous about buying one with that many miles and not know how it was treaetd in those miles. Sounds like it is a clean one though. We have had a 96 with 340k on it and still going strong original motor, 2nd tranny and 4th fuel pump. An 01 with 200k. Got an 07 now with 110k on it. I'd buy another one in a heart beat! We bought all of these with around 50k miles.

First of all, I agree, Subs rule. My '99 is "new" yet at 140K. That said , I also agree with others that you can buy a pretty clean 150-175K Sub for around $4000 with gas prices how they are. Try to get one out of the "salt belt" or at least check out the door bottom seams (inside) as they tend to swell and explode from rust before you know it.

Bad deal. Very bad. Run. You keep ignoring everyone's advice and seem to be trying to justify buying the thing to yourself; even talking about complete new engine, etc. Get over it and let someone else have this dog. You will have nothing but trouble. Tom

If you can get him wiggled down on price some I would say go for it, with that many miles a lot of things have been replaced and it has probably been well maintained with regular oil changes, etc.

Year and mileage don't mean a thing to me, overall condition and maintenance is what matters.

And I don't even like GM's.