|
|
Posts: 392
Location: KY | I have stumbled onto a 1999 K1500LT Suburban with 55000 miles for $17,250. I would be buying it from someone I trust. I have checked the NADA and the price looks good. It has a transmission cooling system for towing. It will be used first for groceries and second for pulling a 2000+/- lbs. boat distances of 100-600miles. I am told it will get 12~14mpg.
Has anyone had any problems with this vehicle that I should look out for? Will it get 10+mpg? If properly maintained can I expect to get 150000 miles out of it? Would you buy it or keep looking?
Thanks,
Bruce |
|
| |
|
Posts: 155
Location: Watertown MN | Bruce
I have been looking for new vehicle lately and was looking at suburban and the main thing I heard is bad brakes, consumer reports gives the pre-2001 the worse rating for brakes. If replacing brakes is not an issue the rest seem to be OK
Good luck
Troyz |
|
| |
|
Posts: 260
Location: Kentucky | I've got a '95 K2500 and its great!! 166,000 miles! Tow my boat (18' w 90hp) from louisville to the cave alot. Never a problem. Someone mentioned brakes, if you think about it, how easy can it be to stop that big of a vehicle?? I bought brakes with a lifetime warranty, free brakes when ever the old ones wear out!! Just pay my neighbor to put them in! Greatest truck ever designed!! The price is good, I just prefer a little heavier truck. Best of luck to you! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1023
Location: Lafayette, IN | Question....Does your trailer have surge brakes? Also, talk to your "gearhead" friends about Raybestos "no-dust,no-squeak" brakes.I have them and they are worth the extra money in my opinion. I have a 1998 C1500 4WD with a 350 Vortec and get at least 12-14mpg. My 19' deep-vee aluminum boat and trailer has surge brakes. Great feature! I wouldn't be a bit afraid of the Suburban version. It's the same platform as the half ton version of pickups. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 392
Location: KY | Thanks for the responses. I found an article on the Consumer Reports web page that said “In our tests, power was strong, but the brakes were awful.” They didn’t elaborate. Does this mean they are a safety issue, i.e. stopping distance, or do they wear out every 25000 miles. mavmskyb8 have you had problems with stopping? How frequently have you had to replace the brakes?
Thanks,
Bruce
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 1536
Location: God's Country......USA..... Western Wisconsin | Bruce, excessive break wear was the problem on the pre 2001s. I had a '99 1500 pickup that had 58,000 miles on it when I traded. I had not done any break work up to that point. I tow a 21 foot Ranger with a 225 Merc and got 13 to 14 mpg while towing most of the time. This was with the 326 engine though. I also have surge brakes on my tandem trailer. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2361
| I think you are looking at a good deal. I would buy at that price, particularly with no crash or mechanical problems in the background. I think with good maintainance you can look at a reasonable run of 150,000 miles. It will eat some gas, and on a long term basis you might want to think about that. If you are looking at it in terms of current market value though, it is pretty good, and if you don't like it you have a very reasonable expectation of being able to turn around and resell without eating any large scale depreciation, something else to think about there. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 20281
Location: oswego, il | I had a 79 and now an 88 suburban. They pull fine and I haul a boat and 6 people up north every year without problems. Just keep it maintained and it will last.
The 79 was a 3/4 ton with no overdrive so 12 on the hwy was it. The 88 is a 1/2 ton and gets 16-18 pulling my boat, will probably be a bit less pulling my dad's.
Edited by ToddM 5/12/2003 8:26 PM
|
|
| |
|
| I run a 97 Burb pulling an 18' glass boat. 13 mpg towing, 14-15 normal driving. Awesome towing, family, hunting,etc vehicle. Plenty of power, no sway, am unsure what the brakes problem is that you mention. I replaced mine at 60K after going up and down the Rocky Mts. Original rotors, tranny, motor. I reccomend them to anybody asking. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 364
Location: in the white boat | I'm on my 3rd Chevy tow vehicle now, and wouldn't own anything else. Current vehicle is a '97 Tahoe with the 5.7l Vortec V8. Previous was a '96 Tahoe with the same motor. Both had(ve) the tow package. I have had friends with problems wearing brakes out early in their Tahoes/burbs, but I can't say I've had the same problem. Might be luck? Either way, for as good of a job as they do as tow and family vehicles, I think I can deal with replacing the brakes a little earlier than most.
Buy the 'burb, you'll love it. |
|
| |
|
Location: Woodstock, IL | I have a 2002 1/2 ton with the 373 rear end and the 5.3 powerplant. My boat runs about 3,000 lbs. loaded down and the lightest suburban pulls it like nobody's business. Around town, I get 13.9 mpg, towing on the highway with my old boat (1800 lbs.) gave me about 17 mpg. Haven't had the new boat on the highway yet. I'll know in two weeks.
Sounds like a good deal. If you're comfortable with it, go for it. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 109
| My grandparents have owned nothing but suburbans as long as I can remember. They towed a 30' camping trailer from MI to FL every year for who knows how many years and then bought a 45' camping trailer and towed that back and forth for a long time. They've since bought a mobile home down there and stopped towing. However, I would guess they had at least 200k miles on their previous suburban before they traded it in for their current one which has around 150k on it now. |
|
| |
|
| Bruce, I also had an '88 burb and loved it! I took out the 3rd seat for even more room. The only downside I saw w/ mine was the electric back window/tailgate combo; all the peeps here prefer the "barn doors", as they are easier to load/unload. The next best setup would be the rear window that pops up. Here they are converted to "beach limos", and you can put ceiling rod holders inside for even more storage. They make great sleeping quarters too. We live a half mile up a steep winding road, and I never had trouble w/ my brakes; I sold it because we have 2 other 4x4s, and now wish I had kept it. My next ride will be a similar vehicle. Sounds like a good deal! |
|
| |
