Opinions on best newish Suburban or Tahoe

[TotalyHucked]

Yeah the first few years of that gen 6.2 didn't get the AFM/DOD stuff, I know several people with Denalis and Eskys of that vintage with high miles and no mechanical issues. Heck, another forum guy I know just picked up an '08/09 Esky literally out a field with like 225k on it, got it going again and it's fantastic. Other than what you'd expect for wear items, he hasn't had to do any major repairs.

 

[DoubleDingo]

Been doing more searches lately. I really like the Yukon, but I'd prefer selectable 4x4, instead of AWD. So, that narrows it down to Tahoe and Suburban. There's some nice one's out there. Sucks the Yukon is strictly AWD because I really like the look of them over the Tahoe/Burb. For what we will use it for, having 4x4 is best. AWD is nice, but if we get into steep gnarly terrain, having 4x4 with 4lo is a plus.

I find it ironic that I am liking the GMC look over the Chevy look, because I always thought GMC looked ugly. Definitely the old GMC's. A face only a mother could love. Either my tastes have changed, or they have refined the look to not be so hideous.

 

[ByrdDog]

My Yukon is a selectable 4wd with low range. Think it's just the Denali models that are awd.

 

[DoubleDingo]

My Yukon is a selectable 4wd with low range. Think it's just the Denali models that are awd.

Good to know. I will exclude from any searches. All the yukons I've seen were listed as awd. Of course some don't know the difference between 4x4/4wd and AWD

 

[Grit dog]

Good to know. I will exclude from any searches. All the yukons I've seen were listed as awd. Of course some don't know the difference between 4x4/4wd and AWD

I had a car salesman tell me a new Ram diesel had a Torqueflight transmission in it. “The new Torque flight is Awesome “ I think were his exact words. Don’t believe car adds dealer or private….
GLWS.
And fwiw, both early gmt800 Tahoes we’ve had, had 2/4hi/4lo and AWD setting.

 

[DoubleDingo]

I had a car salesman tell me a new Ram diesel had a Torqueflight transmission in it. “The new Torque flight is Awesome “ I think were his exact words. Don’t believe car adds dealer or private….
GLWS.
And fwiw, both early gmt800 Tahoes we’ve had, had 2/4hi/4lo and AWD setting.

I let off of searching for a while, but started doing more in the last month. I was mainly searching GMC Yukon, no specific model, but after what I posted earlier, I did a couple more searches just to see what Yukon's are available, and they are all Denali, with an SLT mixed is, and all AWD. The interior photos don't show any way to select 2h-"Auto"-4h-4lo, so that tells me the description on those is correct as being AWD. I fully agree, you can't trust what people say. Some yes, but most, no, especially in the car dealer biz.

With my new found knowledge of the only true 4x4 is a Tahoe or Suburban in my search area, that is what I have narrowed it down to. I've searched up to 6 hours away from here, and basically the same results across the board. I wonder if it's because a lot of people have bought these just to gut the powerplant and chuck the rest of the vehicle, thus, limiting options for legit buyers wanting the whole vehicle?

I won't be buying right away, still feeling the waters, but I can feel the itch getting stronger, and my wife isn't saying no. I'll still have to sell something, but that's okay.

 

[Grit dog]

I let off of searching for a while, but started doing more in the last month. I was mainly searching GMC Yukon, no specific model, but after what I posted earlier, I did a couple more searches just to see what Yukon's are available, and they are all Denali, with an SLT mixed is, and all AWD. The interior photos don't show any way to select 2h-"Auto"-4h-4lo, so that tells me the description on those is correct as being AWD. I fully agree, you can't trust what people say. Some yes, but most, no, especially in the car dealer biz.

With my new found knowledge of the only true 4x4 is a Tahoe or Suburban in my search area, that is what I have narrowed it down to. I've searched up to 6 hours away from here, and basically the same results across the board. I wonder if it's because a lot of people have bought these just to gut the powerplant and chuck the rest of the vehicle, thus, limiting options for legit buyers wanting the whole vehicle?

I won't be buying right away, still feeling the waters, but I can feel the itch getting stronger, and my wife isn't saying no. I'll still have to sell something, but that's okay.

I’d say unless you’re looking at old beat up bombers, folks aren’t snatching them up for LSswaps. They are just very popular vehicles. Always have been.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

I’d say unless you’re looking at old beat up bombers, folks aren’t snatching them up for LSswaps. They are just very popular vehicles. Always have been.

And reliable. They're still being used.

 

[DoubleDingo]

I’d say unless you’re looking at old beat up bombers, folks aren’t snatching them up for LSswaps. They are just very popular vehicles. Always have been.

Not golden oldies or beat up bombers, but the year range mentioned by @TotalyHucked and extended up to 2009. So, 2005 to 2009. There is a wide array of very nice high mileage, beat up "low" mileage, and all the in-betweens. One that's jumping out at me right now is a 2005, one owner tahoe with 155k. Gold exterior, beige cloth interior. I want to say that one is around 6k.

 

[TotalyHucked]

Yep, as these guys said, there's still tons and tons and tons of GMT800s and 900s on the roads being used. I'm starting to see more of them show up in the junkyards or for partout on marketplace but the vast majority are still on the road and reliable.

Talking about the 4wd systems, all 4 of the options (Tahoe/Suburban, Yukon/Yukon XL) had 2wd, selectable 4wd and AWD as options. The Denali Yukons were all AWD, period. But some of the regular Yukons, Tahoes and 'Burbs also could be had with AWD. They're not super common but I have run across some Yukon SLTs and loaded Tahoes that were AWD.

I'm doing this from memory, but I think this is right. The NP149 is the full time AWD 'case that all the Denalis got and some of the Escalades/Silverado SS's (there were 2wd Eskys and SS's as well). There's no buttons/options for 4lo, usually just a traction control button in the dash.

I think the NP261 was the manual shift option 'case. These only came in trucks/SUVs with a front bench seat, never were offered with a console for obvious reasons. Common in trucks but I've seen a few super base model SUV's with a bench and manual 'case. There would be a small cubby in the dash for this one.

The NP246 is the AutoTrac case that comes in most of the Z71/4wd trucks and SUV's if they're push button. This is what I've had in all my Z71s. It has 2hi/4lo/4hi and Auto4wd (which you don't want to use unless your running in sleet or something. It's HARD on the transfer case and driveline). This is what you'll find the most of in the SUVs.

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[Grit dog]

^Ya have never had anything “AWD” before except those ‘Hoes.
It was nice to throw those into AWD mode a few times when it was wet but snowing or freezing.
Called it Oh ****! mode.

 

[DoubleDingo]

So, the photo you shared @TotalyHucked , the way that one works, sounds like it is very similar to my Cherokee. Get into bad weather, need 4x4, push the auto button. My jeep is pull up on the handle, and there is no auto mode, it's fully locked, but it can be switched to 4hi at any legal speed.

 

[DoubleDingo]

................One that's jumping out at me right now is a 2005, one owner tahoe with 155k. Gold exterior, beige cloth interior. I want to say that one is around 6k.

After showing my wife the listing last night, and a little discussion, we are going down to look at this one tomorrow. I was wrong, it's just under 8k, going to offer 7.5k. May or may not come home with it, but, if we do, I'll post up some pics in a new thread.

 

[TotalyHucked]

So, the photo you shared @TotalyHucked , the way that one works, sounds like it is very similar to my Cherokee. Get into bad weather, need 4x4, push the auto button. My jeep is pull up on the handle, and there is no auto mode, it's fully locked, but it can be switched to 4hi at any legal speed.

Sort of. I've only used the Auto a couple times and it hurts. It engages/disengages as it detects slip but it slams the tcase internals pretty good. Only way I'd consider it is in bad sleet conditions or something similar. Definitely not in just heavy rain or anything like that. I just stick to 2wd unless I'm offroad or in actual snow and ice.

 

[DoubleDingo]

Sort of. I've only used the Auto a couple times and it hurts. It engages/disengages as it detects slip but it slams the tcase internals pretty good. Only way I'd consider it is in bad sleet conditions or something similar. Definitely not in just heavy rain or anything like that. I just stick to 2wd unless I'm offroad or in actual snow and ice.

I would only engage auto or 4hi on dirt or in snow. Good to know it's harsh on the transfer case and not use it unless it's slick conditions.