New winter beater

[CMNTMXR57]

Well, as much as I love my Caddy, it is an absolute bear to drive in this winter "stuff". So I finally broke down the Wife, and talked her into letting me get a 4wd on the cheap. I first started looking at Blazer's and Bravada's as I've had about 15 of them and loved them all, and spent my years working on all GM trucks. They were also in my price range. Well, I came across a couple Suburban's a little more than my price range and right away she said, "to heck with the Blazer's, I'd be willing to go a little more expensive and get a Suburban!" Well, that's what I did.

I was looking for a couple weeks. I looked across the country. It's amazing how many of them are in the 200k range on the odometer. Narrowed it down a few, they also happened to be nearby. So we went and kicked the tires today. Ended up at our second to last stop (Napleton's Libertyville ford). They had a Sunset Gold Metallic 1500 LT. This was a accident free California vehicle for the first 100k of it's life and was at 122k now (I did both Carfax and Autocheck). I found a few problems off the bat and was about to drive away, when the Wife said, "We're here, go talk to someone..."

So I did. First bad sign, it needed to be jumped...

Brought it inside, hooked up my T2, no DTC's, passed all I/M tests, got under it, frame was spotless, all dry (no leaks), still had black frame parts from the factory painting. Checked under the hood, no leaking valve covers, everything was clean. So we took it for a test drive. Right away I noted all the problems to the salesman.

End of story, used the last Suburban I wanted to go look at as a bargaining tool. It was blue (my preference), had 40k more on it, but looked equally as clean and had a clean carfax. It was also $1k cheaper. After this and noting everything I was going to have to fix, they came down $1,100, just less than the blue one. My Wife started walking out to put the kids in the van, I explained to them that I had to satisfy my own curiosity about the other Suburban, and the used car sales manager said "Hey, listen, we've had this truck for awhile... If I go $3,500 will you leave with it today? SOLD!

They basically took $1,500 off the vehicle! They had it listed for $5k. So I now have a Sunset Gold Metallic Suburban. I'm very happy, Low mileage, very clean, strong running. Can't wait to do all the little things I need to do as well as really clean it up.

Sorry, pics aren't that great, just taken at 11pm at night.

[CMNTMXR57]

Here is the ad;
http://www.napletonfordlibertyville.com ... 000060528/

They were lower than the $5,379 here. $4,979 was what it was listed at.

[wjcollier07]

Its amazing how huge and heavy that body style made the suburbans look, whereas the newer GMT800s and 900s look so light on their feet, while in some cases, being even heavier.

With the exception of the driver's seat showing wear, it looks exceptionally clean! Great job on the negotiating!

[GoldenBullet]

Nice. I was looking at Suburbans/Tahoes casually online earlier this winter. I've got a 2 mile commute now so MPGs aren't a concern and it would be nice to have something that is well equipped for the snow.

[CMNTMXR57]

Its amazing how huge and heavy that body style made the suburbans look, whereas the newer GMT800s and 900s look so light on their feet, while in some cases, being even heavier.

With the exception of the driver's seat showing wear, it looks exceptionally clean! Great job on the negotiating!

Back in the day, long before the Wife, kids, and responsibility (or something like that), I had a '97 Tahoe LT. I traded that for my '02 2500HD. I loved both trucks, but I truly, truly missed that Tahoe. That is something my Wife has known since I met her (we got on the topic of it, a Suburban is the first vehicle she learned to drive in, and I mentioned I had a Tahoe not so long ago). Anyway, I have a fond spot for this gen Tahoe/Suburban. Which I think is why she was also supporting me getting this thing.

[SSEiMan01]

I really love this body style Suburban! That is a pretty good deal you got too. Congrats!


Ok, I have to ask... Any plans for mods?

[CMNTMXR57]

No. One thing in the driveway that needs to be left alone. It was actually nice, driving a QUIET V8 for once...

I may fab up a CAI once I get to it, then maybe a nicer, yet still on the quiet side, exhaust. But really, I want to leave it alone. I need to do a couple of superficial repairs on it first, and probably some tires.

Today, I will take the Caddy over to the other garage and put it up on the lift for the rest of the winter.

[dangrus4060]

That was a sweet deal!!! I wouldnt mind getting a used Burb or Tahoe like that myself.....if i had the $$...

[vogie01]

Very nice. I love those kind of deals!! I bet they sold it to you for they paid for it or close to it.

[ga93sle]

That probably is what they gave for it, not a bad deal, IMO. Looks like a nice straight truck, and a very nice price!

[00Beast]

You got a good deal on that. I sold my 98 Tahoe with 200k on it for 3400 a couple years ago. They haven't dropped much in value since. Should be a great kid-hauler!

How many garages do ya got?

[sandrock]

Throw in new hingepins for the doors, new weatherstrip on all the doors, and a new sound system, and it'll be golden. No pun intended!

As far as mods, there really isn't much that has to be done. A popular upgrade is to ditch the black box PCM in favor of the 0411 pcm sourced from an 01-02 Express Van, as they are much more tunable and with some HPT loving can control e-fans for better mpg. Once the Bonne is done, the Tahoe is getting that done.

This one has Autotrac, right? Mines been quirky...auto 4wd doesn't work, but 4 hi and 4 lo work just fine.

[CMNTMXR57]

We were about to walk out the door, and he said, "well, I'm not gonna make any money on this thing, but it's been sitting for awhile, $3,500 if you take it now..." So yea, I don't think they made much on it. I know they took it in as a trade as the sales person told me the stock# code it had, denoted it was a trade-in.

When I was looking, Tahoe's were going for the price, if not more, mileage and condition comprable vs. Suburban's. So in the long run, you're getting more in the Suburban for your $$.

I haven't been able to pry the keys from my Wife today. She loves it! She is already planning our next few road trips. And she is already asking if come spring we can start looking at boats (she loves to fish). I did remind her that we could pull a fishing boat with the van too... I have the hitch on there for a reason...

Yes, it is AutoTrac. I noticed today, I think the switch is fubared. One minute the light is on, telling your what drive you're in, the next it's off So one more thing to the growing list of little things I gotta do to it before it's to my level of satisfaction. Hopefully it's just a shorted out switch and not something greater.

[sandrock]

I've had the switch apart and there isn't much to it. Reminded me of the steering wheel controls really, just microswitches, resistors, and the bulbs. Reflowed all the solder points and put in LEDs for the backlighting and a resistor to limit them. New replacements run about 120 bucks since the Autotrac switches were only on 98 and 99 models, and only Tahoe/Subs.

[Hotwheels]

Congrats! I've kinda wondered about going the full size SUV route being that you actually get more for the money buying the Expedition/Tahoe/Suburban equipment/miles/condition-wise versus their truck counterparts. Of course, I like having the truck, but the prices of a replacement down the road make me wonder about going this route.

[CMNTMXR57]

I would've preferred a pickup personally, but even an extended cab is still too small for critters and their seats, that I often have with me, so I had to go the SUV route. Anything crew, even a 1500HD, was well out of my price range. I did look for Avalanches too, but also out of the price range.

[CMNTMXR57]

Tonight I will give the radio and probably a bunch of other interior parts that have burned out backlighting to one of our local GTO guys that does all that sorta thing.

I have no clue WTF the previous owner did, but half the interior lighting on this thing is burned out.

Last night, I got the OEM key fob to work. At first I tried to re-program a few spare fobs I had laying around, but the vehicle was having nothing to do with it. It wouldn't even let me put it in pairing mode. And you can't do it with a Tech2 for this platform. Not even an option in any of the menus. :(

Anyway, I resorted to the original (which was already broken in terms of being held together with a rubber band), and I found out why it didn't work... Looks like the previous owner dropped it in his used oil... The motherboard and rubber button piece were all covered in oil. cleaned it off with electronics cleaner, dried it, then gorilla glued it back together (with a new battery). Works like a charm now.

You forget how dependant you are on remote keyless entry and start until you actually have to use this thing called a "key" to unlock your door...

[gweg_b]

I would definitely say you got a good deal on that! And a Suburban is something nice to have around. Makes me remember our green '78. I was actually looking at some fully loaded Yukon's for a winter vehicle not too long ago, but the devil on my shoulder forced me into buying a G8 instead.

Hopefully you can work out all of those previous owner quirks. I can understand relying on keyless entry - I went 2 years with dead batteries in both my LeSabre remotes, until I got completely frustrated one day at my laziness and finally bought replacement batteries.

[BonneMe]

You forget how dependant you are on remote keyless entry and start until you actually have to use this thing called a "key" to unlock your door...

That's *really* annoying when batteries go out, or there are problems. Luckily the BMW has a rechargable key and charges from the ignition

I had to drive our 98 Yukon a couple times the last few weeks, It was the car I learned to drive on, and it's nice to be back in the ol' girl from time to time. Heck, I've even taken it 4-wheeling in Moab, Utah after graduating high school. Doesn't drive the best on road, but as an all around vechicle it's pretty *dang* good. I still prefer the styling to the newer bulgy and overdone trucks.

It sounds like the truck may be coming to my house if my parents replace it with a sportier/safer car, as they've got the Jetta Sportwagen TDI for hauling/utility duties.

[CMNTMXR57]

Yea, the on-road handling leaves a lot to be desired. I used to drive these things all the time and don't recall them being this bad. Of course it may be that having several performance cars now as DD's have gotten me used to their athletic prowess. I drove the Caddy over to the other garage to store it last Sunday, and almost drove it off the side of the road when I went to make a correction on the wheel. I had gotten used to the 'burb needing more input on the wheel. So doing the same on the Caddy was nearly disasterous. Getting back in the 'Burban this week, the constant amount of "coarse" corrections I need to make to keep it on the road is amazing. I have it scheduled for an alignment on Tuesday and shortly thereafter, new tires. I hope that helps a lot.