question for current or past(06-up) tahoe/surburban owners

[zindy]

Well I was just wondering your experiences with them. I know they suck gas but don't appear to as bad as an expedition. With the prices for them so low and it's looking more and more appealing to me and my growing family. Is now the time to pull the trigger or do you feel the '09 will be at this price soon 10k-12k off msrp? I know the '09 do have the 6-speed auto, which should help a little with mpg. Thanks for you info.

Tim

[zand02max]

Got my Avalanche (same platform) for over $11K off. Gas mileage sucks now about 13 in the city 18-20 on the hwy, but still in break in!

Wait for the 09's, they have blue tooth capabilities but the deals are on the 08's!

[zindy]

good points now i got to guess if the '09 will be in this situation in the up coming months.

[bryan@Z1]

Well, my mom has an 07 Tahoe that she bought new in March of 07 I believe. It's a solid ride and I've considered getting one myself, but, it's been trouble.

In under 31k miles it has had:

2 ECM's
1 BCM
1 Transmission Control Unit
1 Transmission
1 A/C module
1 Rack & Pinion
2 sets of tires due to horrible wear

All of this was covered under warranty, but in the 20 months or so that she's owned it the dealership has had it for at least 2 of them.

[cwerdna]

Originally Posted by zindy

Well I was just wondering your experiences with them. I know they suck gas but don't appear to as bad as an expedition. With the prices for them so low and it's looking more and more appealing to me and my growing family. Is now the time to pull the trigger or do you feel the '09 will be at this price soon 10k-12k off msrp? I know the '09 do have the 6-speed auto, which should help a little with mpg. Thanks for you info.

To pull partly from my post at
http://my350z.com/forum/other-vehicl...l#post6667611:

Go buy something that's more environmentally friendly, uses less of a non-renewable resource (of which we import 60%), has better accident avoidance capabilities (Tahoes and Suburbans are crap in terms of handling and braking compared to the vast majority of cars) and is less of a danger to others on the road.

As "uncool" as they might seem to some, I'd suggest a minivan if you really need the room. Or, look into medium sized SUVs or "crossovers". Monstrosity class SUVs (curb weight >5000 lbs. such as Suburbans, Tahoes, Expeditions, Navigators) are NOT cool in my book.

Big deal about the money you're "saving" to buy monstrosities. Have fun when the economy recovers and gas prices go back up.

I looked at the Consumer Reports accident avoidance maneuver max speed chart that I cited in my other post and that Tahoe is tied w/4 other vehicles (Dodge Ram 2500, Ford F-250, GMC Yukon and Hummer H2) for DEAD last in that test w/a max speed of 44 mph. So, out of the 292 vehicles they tested, 287 did better. The Suburban was almost as bad w/a max speed of 45 mph, so only 281 vehicles did better.

In braking, the Tahoe had a 60 to 0 braking distance of 151 feet, meaning that 262 vehicles did better than it. The Surbuban got 147 feet, meaning 246 vehicles did better.

Great huh? Dead last or near dead last in accident avoidance handling and terrible brakes so they're poor in avoiding an accident. That combined with a insanely high weight (>5000 lbs.) means they'll do plenty of damage to someone else if you get into a multi-car accident.

BTW, ask an older person about the the gas lines during oil crisis of 1973 and crisis of 1979. We imported <40% of our oil in 1973 and now we're doing 60+%. I wasn't born yet in 73 and too young to remember much about 79 other than the odd/even flag rationing system.

[zindy]

Not quite 6 but we have 3 and plan on another one next year. We currently have a dodge ram which fits us, except if go to do shoping of anykind everything rides in back. Then if you go to another store you have to move everything inside and the back to the bed of the truck kind of a pita. I know they are huge and slow suck down gas, that's why I was wondering about the reliabilty of them. So far it's rather disappointing. Our other car is a tc which we can't take anywhere as a family. I know gas will go back up, but how much and when? If I knew that I could make a lot of money when it did!

[cwerdna]

Originally Posted by zindy

Not quite 6 but we have 3 and plan on another one next year. We currently have a dodge ram which fits us, except if go to do shoping of anykind everything rides in back. Then if you go to another store you have to move everything inside and the back to the bed of the truck kind of a pita. I know they are huge and slow suck down gas, that's why I was wondering about the reliabilty of them. So far it's rather disappointing. Our other car is a tc which we can't take anywhere as a family. I know gas will go back up, but how much and when? If I knew that I could make a lot of money when it did!

Nobody knows for certain, but I wouldn't be surprised if the economy is in the toilet for at least another year or two. It could even be bad until 2011 or so if you look at http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/20...set-chart.html (the chart comes from the PDF linked to it at http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/.../pdf/chap1.pdf). 60 Minutes did a piece on the next wave of possible mortgage disasters (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/...=mostpop_story).

Saudi Arabia wants oil at $75/barrel (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081129/...l_opec_meeting and many other articles). It's below $40 now and hit a peak of $147 earlier in the year.

Not that a Prius would suit your needs, but for comparison, I last filled my Prius w/7.666 gallons at $1.67/gal (that's was cheap for Nor Cal) which took me 335.9 miles and cost me $12.87. I got a not very good 43.8 mpg, hand calculated (trip computer read 46.2 mpg). There's a large amount of variance on the Prius hand-calculated mileage due to its bladder type gas tank but my lifetime avg is ~46 mpg.

[zand02max]

Originally Posted by cwerdna

Not that a Prius would suit your needs, but for comparison, I last filled my Prius w/7.666 gallons at $1.67/gal (that's was cheap for Nor Cal) which took me 335.9 miles and cost me $12.87. I got a not very good 43.8 mpg, hand calculated (trip computer read 46.2 mpg). There's a large amount of variance on the Prius hand-calculated mileage due to its bladder type gas tank but my lifetime avg is ~46 mpg.

ding ding ding......knew he was a prius owner!

[Scipher21]

Originally Posted by zindy

Not quite 6 but we have 3 and plan on another one next year. We currently have a dodge ram which fits us, except if go to do shoping of anykind everything rides in back. Then if you go to another store you have to move everything inside and the back to the bed of the truck kind of a pita. I know they are huge and slow suck down gas, that's why I was wondering about the reliabilty of them. So far it's rather disappointing. Our other car is a tc which we can't take anywhere as a family. I know gas will go back up, but how much and when? If I knew that I could make a lot of money when it did!

why so many kids, you are over-populating the world.

and dont complain about not being able to afford anything because you have 4 kids either. just like the family on obama's tv special.

anyway, go for the Tahoe. they are solid cars and I dont see too many of them in my dads GM service shop.

Check out the Buick Enclave, now THEY are ****ing great SUV's

[g35or350z]

I have an 07 suburban bought new. Its my first GM/American car. I've always bought Hondas, Toyotas, or Nissan (350z) and took to the plunge and bought a 1st year production model from GM.

So far, I'm impressed. It has a very solid and quiet ride. Handles very well and acceleration is adequate. I get 13.5 mpg mixed city/fwy on 87 octane. My Odyssey gets 17 mpg. No problems so far (16k miles). Just change the oil and go.

My only complaint would be the 3rd row seat is very small for such a large SUV. It has much less leg room than my Odyssey. I would recommend the Suburban over the Tahoe. You get a larger engine, bigger cargo space, and a larger fuel tank by 6 gallons (31).

[StefanZ]

I had a 2001 Suburban Z71 which had zero problems, and now a 2008 Yukon with zero problems. Great trucks, and great deals at this point.

lawl @ tree huggers talking up their Prius while bashing American metal. Speaking of environmental damage, has anyone seen the environment around the nickel mines, which are critical in Prius' battery production?



...and, just to tweak the environmental whackos more: I also have a Range Rover Sport Supercharged.

[stizzity]

they hold up pretty good in a crash. i was in an 08 suburban and we hit a stopped jeep cherokee in a white out @ about 35. 4 of us in the suburban no one was injured. also the onstar worked great until the battery died.

[Mike@Blackline]

Originally Posted by StefanZ

I had a 2001 Suburban Z71 which had zero problems, and now a 2008 Yukon with zero problems. Great trucks, and great deals at this point.

lawl @ tree huggers talking up their Prius while bashing American metal. Speaking of environmental damage, has anyone seen the environment around the nickel mines, which are critical in Prius' battery production?



...and, just to tweak the environmental whackos more: I also have a Range Rover Sport Supercharged.

**** YEAH my kinda man. Top gear says that over the life of the prius, that it does MORE environmental damage than a land rover discovery.
American trucks FTMFGDW
get the suburban

[Divergent13]

Originally Posted by StefanZ

I had a 2001 Suburban Z71 which had zero problems, and now a 2008 Yukon with zero problems. Great trucks, and great deals at this point.

lawl @ tree huggers talking up their Prius while bashing American metal. Speaking of environmental damage, has anyone seen the environment around the nickel mines, which are critical in Prius' battery production?



...and, just to tweak the environmental whackos more: I also have a Range Rover Sport Supercharged.

Stefan... you know I normally agree with you on many topics but this simply isn't one of them. Please don't tell me you are referring to that junk-science study done by CNW. That so called "study" that shows how the Prius does more damage than an H2 is completely absurd and has been disproven by cwerdna and many others here repeatedly.

Other than that, OP I hope you make a choice that fits your budget, that's all.

[Divergent13]

Originally Posted by Mike@Blackline

**** YEAH my kinda man. Top gear says that over the life of the prius, that it does MORE environmental damage than a land rover discovery.
American trucks FTMFGDW
get the suburban

Top Gear is full of sh!t and so is Jeremy Clarkson. It's for pure entertainment purposes only. The prius does NOT do more damage than any ridiculous land rover.

[iZdeadpeople]

Originally Posted by zand02max

ding ding ding......knew he was a prius owner!

So he's an idiot for driving a car that costs less to operate then yours? Great logic, but I wouldn't expect much more from a cop

[Divergent13]

Originally Posted by iZdeadpeople

So he's an idiot for driving a car that costs less to operate then yours? Great logic

lol

[cwerdna]

Originally Posted by StefanZ

I had a 2001 Suburban Z71 which had zero problems, and now a 2008 Yukon with zero problems. Great trucks, and great deals at this point.

lawl @ tree huggers talking up their Prius while bashing American metal. Speaking of environmental damage, has anyone seen the environment around the nickel mines, which are critical in Prius' battery production?



...and, just to tweak the environmental whackos more: I also have a Range Rover Sport Supercharged.

Good lord! Not that JUNK SCIENCE again that refused to die!

I already went thru all of this many times, once at http://my350z.com/forum/other-vehicl...ml#post5884289.

The story about the nickel mine in Sudbury was retracted. See http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/a...a-factory.html. Per http://www.sudburyontario.worldweb.c...ws//8-797.html, nickel's been mined there since 1891.

Originally Posted by Mike@Blackline

**** YEAH my kinda man. Top gear says that over the life of the prius, that it does MORE environmental damage than a land rover discovery.
American trucks FTMFGDW
get the suburban

TOTAL BULLSHIT. See above.

Where are the press releases from GM, Land Rover and environmental groups proclaiming that the Tahoe, Land Rover Discovery, Hummer H2, etc. are more environmentally friendly than a Prius?

[zindy]

[quote=Scipher21;6726751]why so many kids, you are over-populating the world.

just trying to get me a semi-pro basketball team going

[Divergent13]

Originally Posted by cwerdna

Good lord! Not that JUNK SCIENCE again that refused to die!

I already went thru all of this many times, once at http://my350z.com/forum/other-vehicl...ml#post5884289.

The story about the nickel mine in Sudbury was retracted. See http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/a...a-factory.html. Per http://www.sudburyontario.worldweb.c...ws//8-797.html, nickel's been mined there since 1891.


TOTAL BULLSHIT. See above.

Where are the press releases from GM, Land Rover and environmental groups proclaiming that the Tahoe, Land Rover Discovery, Hummer H2, etc. are more environmentally friendly than a Prius?

What's more annoying is that the same people who made comments like the posters above will never actually read posts like this, and will continue to believe whatever they want to believe. I would actually enjoy someone typing up a thoughtful response to your post... but we know that's never going to happen.