Talk to me about GMT 800 Tahoe's & Suburbans **Going to look at a 04 3/4 ton **

[hidesertwheelin]

My wife is looking at used tahoe's and found a 1997 w/ 170k for $2200 and a 2003 w/ 120k that they are asking $9k (way to high in my opinion). Anyways, what should I be looking for on these trucks? It's going to be a daily driver kid and dog hauler, and maybe to a small pop up and utility trailer and that is it. I know nothing of these trucks. The 97 has a 350, and he said the rear AC is in the center console. I always thought tahoes and burbs had them in the foor headliner. The 03 has 4.8, which I know jack diddly squat about. Thanks for the help every one.

 

[rayra]

'03 is about $3k too high for this region. They're great SUVs in general. So nice we bought'em twice. 3x actually, started with a '99 Tahoe Z71. Good power, relatively trouble free, room enough for everything. Keep looking, you'll find more 4x4 versions up there and San Bernardino / Riverside way. I just bought my '02 K1500 Sub Z71 out of Downey for $6k total out the door, tax, registration all of it. But I can't recommend the used car lot, buttholes took months to turn over my title.

There are several topics in the last several weeks about known and regular maintenance issues, almost all minor. The LT / LTZ have a pretty decent towing setup, but the 4L60E trans has a(n undeserved?) rep for not taking a terrible load often. A quick search in this subforum should turn up several general topics on Suburbans, the same mechanical and drivetrain info obtains to the Tahoes / Yukons. Also if branding doesn't matter, look for the GMC Yukon instead, same vehicle different badging, they generally sell for $1000-1500 less for no good reason.

Our Tahoes ('99 and '05, pretty much the same drivetrain and package) hauled a boat to Lake Isabella a few times, as well as full tandem axle uhaul trailers there, up to Fresno and over the Grapevine a few times as if it wasn't even there. Just had to watch the heat on the steepest / highest grades. Literally a 100+ trips over the Grapevine and up into Isabella heavily laden or trailering, had a vacation / investment house up there for 11yrs, spent most of it doing home renovation projects up there, tile tile and more tile, heavy lumber for decks and sheds. The Tahoe took it just fine, 146k mi on it now, still regularly commuting from Santa Clarita to Burbank without any trouble at all.


Don't know about the '97, but the next gen ('99-) the rear A/C is all in the right rear quarter panel with the ducting going up the pass side 'C' pillar. Can heartily recommend the 5.3L and 5.7 in the older model. All get between 13-14mpg depending on abuse. Unless you have a huge travel trailer, are traveling in the Rockies or trailer a lot of ATVs / OHVs, the K1500 will get it done just fine. Big family and heavy trailer loads, better step up to the 3/4-ton / 2500 series and bigger motors and heavier duty brakes.

 

[Mike1volfan]

Agreed, I would hold off and keep looking. I have a 2000 with the 5.3 which I feel is bit stronger mid range than the 4.8. I get about 13 mpg with a minor lift and larger tires. Great for loading the family up for some camping..

 

[hidesertwheelin]

Going to look at a 2004 K2500 Suburban tomorrow. It has a small lift, and the 8.1 w/ 148k miles on it. It's at a dealer and they are asking a little under $11k and they say they don't negotiate. It's under KBB value, but still more than I want to pay. I guess I'll see how much the wife likes it, since she makes more $ than me.....

 

[rayra]

well good luck with it. Again that seems $2k-3k too high to me. Especially for those big engines. They aren't typically in demand. Too, I found most of the used car lots in north LA. county and eastward to be more interested in the 'lease it out to marginal buyers expecting to re-possess it'. That seemed to be a real source of some of the hardline pricing. Looked at a lot of listed vehicles at lots that wouldn't budge, even when I gave them a list of faults. Had one guy in Riverside go thru the whole sales pitch right up to our sitting in the office, wanting my ID to run a credit check and my tellign him that wouldn't be necessary I intended to pay cash in full and he looked nonplussed. And when I told him we hadn't even got to the important part yet - what I was willing to pay for it - and he wouldn't even discuss it.


eta wow guess I'm talking out my butt, kbb.com says a '04 k2500 LT factory loaded LOW end of good cond. blue book is just over $11k

eta and again wow, says my 02 k1500 Sub z71 should have cost about $2300 more than I paid for it. No wonder I'm skewed.

 

[hidesertwheelin]

It's a large "No haggle" dealer near Riverside. But I was a purchasing agent for many years. I'll get it knocked down or I will leave.

 

[boss324]

I would go with the Suburban 2500 LT GMT800 with the 8.1. MPG difference between the 6.0L is negligible.....the only thing I regret with my rig is no big block. Love the cargo capacity 99K miles so far been a great family car lots of trips camping, off roading, road trips hauling...BUY the clean one seen alot out their that aren't clean and pretty banged up. Look for one with a G80 locker and 4.10s.