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General Forestry => General Board => Topic started by: barbender on April 19, 2017, 04:42:35 PM

Title: Used Full Size SUV Opinions
Post by: barbender on April 19, 2017, 04:42:35 PM
Hey all, I'm looking at updating my wifes tired Suburban ('97 with about 250K on it).  I want to get her in an 07 or newer Suburban, Yukon XL, or would even consider the Ford Expedition EL. The newer engines and transmissions are completely foriegn to me, so I'm looking for your experience and opinions on these rigs, and especially as the miles go up. For what we can afford, I'll be looking at 70,000 miles+, and we buy something and tend to run it til the next stop is the scrap yard so long term reliability is important. Thanks in advance!
Title: Re: Used Full Size SUV Opinions
Post by: Hilltop366 on April 19, 2017, 06:15:10 PM
I would avoid the ford 5.4 myself, some of the gm 5.3 will burn a lot of oil some do not.

Sometimes you can get some good info on the car complaints website but you have to keep in mind that usually the more units of a particular vehicle that are sold the more complaints you can get, but not always.

Happy shopping!
Title: Re: Used Full Size SUV Opinions
Post by: snowstorm on April 19, 2017, 07:23:42 PM
Here is what I have Lincoln mkt. All wheel drive. Lots of room. 3 rows seats.with the 3.5 twin turbo. It will get a little over 20 mpg. If you are gentle with it. But that's no fun
Title: Re: Used Full Size SUV Opinions
Post by: DelawhereJoe on April 19, 2017, 08:07:33 PM
What will you be using it for?  Near all new 07 or new suv's are 1/2 ton, the ford excursion stopped in 06 I think, they were 3/4 ton I believe. Soccer moms have turned the suburbans into, well, 4x4 mini-vans.
Title: Re: Used Full Size SUV Opinions
Post by: pabst79 on April 19, 2017, 08:08:39 PM
Even though we switched our personal and work trucks over to Ford, I would recommend an early 07 or older Chevy Tahoe or Yukon, we owned an 01 and 04 and I still miss them, both are still on the road and I see them weekly. The reason we switched all the vehicles over to Ford is that from 08-12 Chevy made some real xyz IMO. If you buy a 5.3 or the under powered 4.8 in these years, watch out for oil burning and much worse. Granted there are plenty of them on the road and I suppose I'm biased because we had so many issues. GM didn't quite have the 4cyl off at low RPM figured out, and many people had early engine failure or at a minimum a skeeter fogger.

IMO there isn't a more bullet proof vehicle than a late 99 to early 07 Full Size GM truck or SUV with a 5.3 motor, we had 11 of them, plus a couple vans (350's) all were virtually bullet proof. When we upgraded to some newer 08,10,11's we were shocked at the issues we had. So now we have Ford's, even my wife drives a Flex (she loved her Tahoe's). BTW the Ford's do not ride as nice as the Chevy's but still seem solid so far. Rant Over  :-X
Title: Re: Used Full Size SUV Opinions
Post by: barbender on April 19, 2017, 09:23:16 PM
Keep it coming, I appreciate any and all info- rants included ;) I come here so I can listen to the rants of others, I don't want to buy something that makes ME rant :D This vehicle will basically be a rural soccer mom rig, I could probably just buy her a mini van again. I like having real 4x4, V8 horsepower, being able to pull the boat, and we spend a fair amount of time out west, and I HATE the way a lot of rigs downshift 2 gears and rev to the moon when you're in the mountains. I like the '00-'06 Suburbans, but finding one without holes in it up here is tough.
Title: Re: Used Full Size SUV Opinions
Post by: TKehl on April 20, 2017, 08:40:36 AM
No comments on the SUV.  My newest SUV was bought last year.  A 99 Suburban 3/4 ton with 4x4 and 321k miles.   ::) 

I have looked at newer minivans though.  The increased number of gears in the transmissions have really cut down on the harsh downshifts you mentioned.  (I have had the same gripe.)  Maybe get  a newer van and keep the old Burb for when you need it?

Second thought, are you willing to travel some?  Older Burbs in other parts of the country have a lot less rust.  Only part of the country salts their roads like theater popcorn.   ;) :D  Missouri is decent, Arkansas or Oklahoma would be a lot better.
Title: Re: Used Full Size SUV Opinions
Post by: DeerMeadowFarm on April 20, 2017, 08:52:47 AM
My wife's Tahoe has 188K on it and is still going strong. 5.3 uses less than a quart between oil changes. I'd buy another in a heartbeat. (No Chevy pun intended...)
Title: Re: Used Full Size SUV Opinions
Post by: red on April 20, 2017, 09:29:54 AM
Sometimes your the windshield, sometimes your the bug. Don't buy in a hurry , keep what you have running until you find something that meets your wants and needs. Or just flip a coin and buy new.
Title: Re: Used Full Size SUV Opinions
Post by: barbender on April 20, 2017, 12:49:23 PM
I've thought of traveling out of the "rust belt" to find something, I have family in Texas and friends out in Oregon. Both places have older rigs that make a rust belters eyes bug oht, they're so clean. Don't let me get started on my feelings toward road salt >:( :D I've also strongly considered just buying a new or newer mini van, and just keep the old Burb. There's nothing really wrong with it, it's just getting old enough where there's always something little going wrong. Little things I can fix on the fly if I'm driving it, but they can really wreck my wife's day👎
Title: Re: Used Full Size SUV Opinions
Post by: barbender on April 20, 2017, 12:50:21 PM
DeerMeadow, what year is your Tahoe?
Title: Re: Used Full Size SUV Opinions
Post by: DeerMeadowFarm on April 20, 2017, 03:10:17 PM
Ours is an 02.
Title: Re: Used Full Size SUV Opinions
Post by: scsmith42 on April 20, 2017, 05:58:07 PM
I have an 03 diesel Ford Excursion that I bought new. It gets 20 mpg on the highway and is the best towing SUV that I've ever towed with.  Currently has 220k miles and I'm planning on at least 300k before retiring it.

We had a 98 Tahoe before that, and it was ok but not in the same class as the Excursion.
Title: Re: Used Full Size SUV Opinions
Post by: pabst79 on April 20, 2017, 06:18:40 PM
I should have added that I used my wife's tahoe's for "boys trips". Like... pulling my 12' trailer across many lakes with 12"-24" of snow on them, in 4 low, yes I put chains on. It never over heated or anything. Her 01' in particular made multiple summer trips to a local sand pit, the running boards were the limiting factor to how much trouble I could get in  :D, I sold the 01' with 250,000 on it, the motor and tranny had never been touched, the 04' with 180,000 both vehicles I would trust to drive anywhere, my cousin has an 09' Yukon it burns 1 quart of oil for every 300 miles of travel if he pulls a small 20' camper. It also is awesome because when it rains both passenger doors fill with water and then leak rusty water out on the rockers and the interior (awesome), BTW I had a 2010 crew cab that did the same thing. Still upset about that one... One final nod to the the Tahoe, my good buddy has had a 2000 model year Tahoe since new, he has 325,000 on it, everything original besides a water and fuel pump and of course some lights in the dash are burnt out. He treats it like a rented mule during duck and deer season, I really thought he would have wrecked it by now, but him and his girlfriend just got back from Alberta with it, he said no issues other than the mud tires he bought are too loud. :)
Title: Re: Used Full Size SUV Opinions
Post by: plowboyswr on April 23, 2017, 11:30:02 AM
Quote from: TKehl on April 20, 2017, 08:40:36 AM
No comments on the SUV.  My newest SUV was bought last year.  A 99 Suburban 3/4 ton with 4x4 and 321k miles.   ::) 

I have looked at newer minivans though.  The increased number of gears in the transmissions have really cut down on the harsh downshifts you mentioned.  (I have had the same gripe.)  Maybe get  a newer van and keep the old Burb for when you need it?

Second thought, are you willing to travel some?  Older Burbs in other parts of the country have a lot less rust.  Only part of the country salts their roads like theater popcorn.   ;) :D  Missouri is decent, Arkansas or Oklahoma would be a lot better.
I will add my own .02 Oklahoma and northern Texas would have the best pickings for the suvs  and prices. Wife wanted a new mini van ours came outta Texas bought in Oklahoma. Don't think that van had ever seen snow before we got it and just barely has with us. I had tried to get her to get a suv but that woman is almost as stubborn as me! :D
Title: Re: Used Full Size SUV Opinions
Post by: caveman on April 23, 2017, 01:38:45 PM
We got an '07 Suburban for my wife when they first came out and my dad bought on a few months later.  They are almost identical (5.3, auto, 2 wd w/locking rear axle, not all of the bells and whistles).  Ours has had a lot of issues, his has been pretty reliable.  Ours has had to have a new computer, rack and pinion steering, transmission rebuild, and last year the engine was replaced after it lost oil pressure.  All of this occurred with less than 160,000 miles.  Ours gets 11 mpg with my wife's driving style and 15-18 when I drive it. 

My dad's has 225,000 miles on it and has had a lot less issues.  Both of them have a variety of dash warning lights that work tirelessly, even after repairing and resetting.  The suburbans made in the 90's were a lot more comfortable for me to drive and hauling 4' x 8' material flat was also an option on the older ones.  I do really like the locking rear axle.  It is a good car if you need to move 9 people from one place to another and have some room for stuff in the back-ours just has had a lot of issues despite regular maintenance and synthetic oil.
Title: Re: Used Full Size SUV Opinions
Post by: barbender on April 23, 2017, 02:28:28 PM
I'm glad i asked on here, I wasn't aware of all the issues the '07 and newer had.
Title: Re: Used Full Size SUV Opinions
Post by: MartyParsons on April 23, 2017, 05:08:08 PM
Hello,
  We have a 2008 Suburban purchased it new. It is a great vehicle. This is our third Suburban. It has about 120,000 miles on it. 5.3 gas. It does use some oil, strange thing it will go and go and not use a drop. Then it will need a quart. There are many bulletins and I have been to the dealership. ( I once was a Mr. Goodwrench) I have some connections. A friend said I could remove the pistons in chassis and put new rings. :o It works too good for that. Tire pressure sensors, I put new aluminum rims on last year, the clear all came off. Lift gate shocks last week about $ 100.00 for both. It has never been to the dealer. I have done all the work to it. There is a recall on it for the heated windshield wiper system. I don't want them to disable it, It works well when needed. Now the air bag light is on and we did a scan and the sensor is bad on the front. Replaced the upper control arms and lower ball joints last year with the new wheels and tires. A deer got to close to the front end at 50 mph. Son was a new driver I said deer three times before WACK, he asked should we stop now? The parts they replaced were not GM the head lights are fogging up now. ( another story)
Good to excellent vehicle.

Hope this helps.
Marty
Title: Re: Used Full Size SUV Opinions
Post by: coxy on April 23, 2017, 07:33:12 PM
man you guys are lucky my wife says her santa fe is to big  so I told her I was buying her a smart car  :D
Title: Re: Used Full Size SUV Opinions
Post by: BigZ La on April 23, 2017, 10:51:06 PM
I just bought an 05 Tahoe. The 02-05 Tahoe's were some of the best made and will last over 250,000 easy if taken care of. I was going to buy a new one but being unsure if my wife would be able to get in an out easily, as she has serious back problems, if she couldn't I would have to get rid of it and really take a beating on a new vehicle. So I started looking at used and what they wanted for the 07 up used was borderline of new. So because this was an experiment, I started looking at the 04 - 06. Finally found a decent one with only 80,000 miles. It was cheap enough to experiment with (lowering if needed, for the wife) and if I need to get rid of it I can and not lose to much money.
Title: Re: Used Full Size SUV Opinions
Post by: barbender on April 23, 2017, 11:56:55 PM
Thanks for all the comments, keep 'em coming👍BigZ, the '07 and up definately take a big jump in price.