GMT900 1500 opinions?

[TFin04]

Looking for a daily driver/unimproved road traveler/infrequent tow vehicle for the family. Have been shopping Toyota but noted that early model (2007-8) Sub/Yukon/Tahoe's with around 100k miles fit my $20,000 budget.

I owned a 2008 Silverado 1500 and am aware of oil consumption issues (mine ate a quart every 3k miles). How prevalent has that issue proven to be?
What other major issues have these platforms had? I am most concerned with electrical and transmission problems, as I know of a number of GMT800 owners with those problems.

This would be a daily driver for an easy 15 mile 55mph commute, but would also be a road trip car and tow a camper/boat a few times per year. Modifications would be a 2-3" lift(probably just springs/spacers if I'm being honest with myself), good AT tires, and a drawer/sleeping platform system for gear storage. Not a serious off roader but fire/logging roads, sand dunes, and some mild mud/rocks would be necessary.

Thoughts on a high(er) mileage version of these?

 

[Oobray]

We've had many, many tahoes at work (law enforcement) and they've all gone around 200k. And even with those miles they had to be pried from the hands of the agents that had them. That's actually originally why I looke at the 3/4ton burbs and eventually found my Yukon XL. To me, if you're going older burb than 2500 is the way to go. The MPG isn't really much worse, towing is better but really all the major components are stronger. Suspension, CVs, rear axle. Just makes sense to me.

 

[Tiki]

I'm with Oobray, not a bad platform but the gmt800 K2500 Yukon XL/Suburban get the nod. That being said its all a bout the condition of the vehicle and what you can find. I'm a GMT800 fan and have two GMT900s; after you factor in the requirement of it pulling DD duties, new is almost always better unless you auto maintenance is your preferred hobby.

 

[justcuz]

The oil consumption problem is addressed in rayra's GMT800 fixes thread.
Some one correct me if I am wrong but I thought the GMT900 2500 3/4 ton Suburbans used the same chassis as the GMT800's. Torsion bar front and leaf spring rear if I remember correctly.
I think the 2007 and up with the Border Patrol bumper trim and skidplate don't look too bad.
Oobray, same with the guys out here. Ford under bid Chevy so now they are getting Ecoboost Expeditions, they are not happy. Since the new police Explorers are failing fast they are not looking forward to getting another Ford product and they love the Tahoes, especially in the mountains.

 

[Martinjmpr]

One thing I've noticed shopping these vehicles is that there is a significant price jump on the used market between 2007 and 2008. Since '07 was the first year of the GMT-900 platform I'm thinking that there were a lot of bugs that needed to be worked out and that's why people are dumping them at fire sale prices.

With most vehicles my general rule of thumb is: Never buy the first year of a completely new model as there are almost always issues that need to be resolved.

As far as GMT-900 vehicles, I'd just point out that starting in 2009 they got the 6 speed tranny. I have to say that there are a lot of times when I could use those extra gears, especially while towing in the mountains. The 4l60E 4 speed seems to have a huge gap between 2 and 3. When climbing a hill in 3 the drop down to 2 is really abrupt and the RPMs go way, way up (a few times while towing in the mountains when we would slow down and then the trans would drop into 2nd, my wife would ask "Do you want me to get out and push?" )