Need Advice Buying 99 Suburban ???
 

I need some advice.I am wanting a Suburban to have as a extra vehicle and drive to work.I have a friend his boss offered this Suburban to him for $4500. as is!! Its a 1999 Suburban 101k miles ,She (55yearold) quite driven it when she got a new one.Its been sitting for at least 3-4 years.2 years at the coast ,while there rebuilding there weekend Katrina house,So its showing signs of surface rust on the frame and the alumin stuff under the hood.A friend said they don't have much paint from the factory, said pretty norm.No body/etc rust any were else.It needs a good buffing and detail,the sun has made the black trim/stuff a little chalky,The paint with 2 years of dirt looks real good!! ,cant see any dings or scratches,Just the pass door had a screw drive thingy pop the door handle(broke into) It has the usual coke spills around the console and cup holder. The floor mats don't have any stains, the seats all look real good, it doesn't have any smell to the interior, non smoker,no makeup(female) on the knobs or handles,sun visors etc.they have been hauling some materials in the back,You can see it still has some plastic on the rear carpet, its suppose to have the 3rd seat.
There is no leaks,none hitting the ground ,it looks like no leaks maybe some seapage,it looks pretty clean ,like no wet gravel roads, less than norm road grime stuff.The engine compartment is pretty dusty,not really greasy, prob From sitting up.prob clean up pretty good,has rear air working.Its a 3 hour trip for us to see it.

the outside black plastic mirrors are pretty faded,
windshield cracked
last oil change 2005,pretty thick/black,but not many miles on it
inspection sticker 2004
Radiator needs flushing
break fluid has a little dark tint to it
belts look dry but not rotted
front ac doesn't work
Tires dry rotted bad,prob has less that 10k on tires
has new hitch,looks like it never had one when new,
looks like never wrecked,no paint line in Jams .etc
dash pad looks good
the driver seat entrance that wears. is not worn
dead battery,couldn't hear run
ashtrays have no dirt etc in them
exhaust has slight surface rust,was told its aluminized?
gas mileage should be around 12.About $1000 more a year over what I have now.

It looks like while she was driving it, she took care of it, the body(no chips,door dings),under side floor plans(cleaner than expected),and rear interior(not stained,spoted,no kids also)


Cant make my mind up,I also don't need it to pull anything. I know I will have to put some money into it,I do not want to be upside down, but one way to look at it ,at least once I go thru it I know what I have,I can do most of the work my self,get deals on stuff etc. I'm pretty anal,so it will clean up almost new.Just wondering if I need to look newer,spend littel more ,keep looking,but then you don't know what ya getting,double the price .

Thanks for any advice and opions
Rob:ernaehrung004:

is it a 4x4??....what motor?

2 wheel dr, no towing package, plan one

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ck out the gas tank cover,not real dirty

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I guess I am more worried about the looks of the bottom and the dirty engine compartment compared to the top.One thing is You can see the reflection of my Dually in the side.


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big pick
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Hit the engine compartment with cleaner degreaser, spray it clean, then soak in tire shine. You must have never seen the under side of a vehicle that has seen a northern winter, that is normal for us, actually pretty clean for a 99. In my market no 4x4 kills it. I would say 4k would kill it dead all day long.

We had a 99 4 x 4.....this ones gotta be a 2 x 4 with a 350 V8...

They are good trucks. The vortec engine is a great, reliable design. You will need injectors soon, about 50-65 each, and a lot of labor. It is doable yourself, not really to hard just time consuming. Lower intake gasket will need replacing as well, thats another common issue.

Upper ball joints will probably be shot.. is the 2 wheel drive still chevy's 4 link steering? If so, figure on replacing the pitman and idler arm/support. Trans will go by 130k miles if it hasn't already been replaced. Rear next.

Other than that, the truck is a great truck. These are just a few of the things to expect. Oh yeah, module will fail, so might as well do a complete tune up, possibly replace the module if its not that expensive. Replace the belts.. The AC has a problem where usually the one lower AC return line to the condenser clogs. These are not cheap parts.

wow, you hit it dead on. my mom replaced all that stuff!

Unless you are gonna keep it on the govener your gonna do better than 12MPG! Should be 13-15 city and 16-18 hiway. I can get 20 on the road with no problems with my 2004(highest was 22!). Had a 97 with a 454. Didn't matter within 1/2 MPG how ya drove it! 12MPG on the road!

2004 is a different engine than the 99. Very different, with better mileage. That being said, my dad's 07 is only averaging 13.7 by the computer. Thats with displacement on demand.

with all that I would be definalty upside down, some of the newer less miles ones are 15-20k 04-05 big jump$$

We see snow/ice about every 6-7 years, this winter we got a inch,no need for 4x4 for me ,just something else to go out, I allready have a 2003 Chevy 4dr 4x4 dually, its never been in the dirt:DTrying to keep the miles off it

Veteran owner here starting in 95! 95 got the milage I am stating unless the hammer stays down! :D I've owned 4...the one I have now has 52k on it, more than all the previous. I can relate to the rearend problems,everyone I had prior had problems. Knocking on wood the one I have now has a clean slate! The 02 had to have the whole dash replaced because it cracked where it was mounted!

I got rid of a 98 recently. It was a pig. Poor mileage, falling apart around me. I wouldn't buy an older suburban, only if someone gave it to me would I take it, and even then you'll freak at how bad the gas mileage is. I'd bet maybe 8 miles to the gallon city, 44 gallon tank, not enough power...no thanks. You aren't planning on hauling anything? That's about the only reason to own one. Or if you have a big family. And my wife has an 02 yukon that will tow anything that old suburban would.

Rob, I'd pass on that one. Way too many "ifs". Let a mechanic buy it.

96.5-99 were relatively unchanged. 96 has only a driver's side air bag. 97 and up have driver and passenger.

If you decide to go with one, get the 96.5 or newer. The 96.5 introduced the Vortec heads and a much better injection system.

I bought a '97 model new and still have it. Don't worry too much about the surface rust on the frame rails; mine has had some just about since it was new.

At 55k miles I had to replace an alternator. At 85k miles the starter. At 100k miles the lower intake gasket. That's it and I'm at 120k miles now. Still get about 14mpg in town and 17 on the highway but only 11-12 pulling a 20' runabout.

Have had good luck with mine. There were some problems with the '98 models (brakes among other things) but I think they sorted 'em out in '99.

No planes on using it to tow,The 03 dually can do that,no family just a bunch of free loaders:rolleyes:They said my beer taste better that theirs.Main thing I'm trying to keep the miles off the dually.need The room for caring parts etc stuff for boats and my cars.Like if I received a outdrive while at work, I would have to wait to the next day and drive the truck to carrie the drive /stuff home.Thanks for the input:D


I figured my fuel bill for 07 on my Caddy 21.5mpg vs a Suburban at 15mpg ,it would equal to $1000.00 more a year

I've had two drives in the back of a Mazda 626. Getting them in there is EASY compared to getting them out. :D

I would try to find a lower milleage version. Or at least 4x4 so that way its still worth something when you go to sell. That is after you sink loads of money into it.

We still have our 99, since its worth more to us than to sell. I only had to do a few things: New engine, trans, rear, steering components (twice), ball joints, shocks, fuel injectors, ac repair, three way cat system (forgot you'll have to change that too), door locks all freeze up.

Engine was rare..lost a valve...So I build a new one. But the other stuff is common. They were great trucks, unfortunately they need some work with miles.

We have had a 93 to 120 K miles, 95 to 110 K miles and sold to friend who has 158 K on it, 99 to 105 K miles, 03 to 105 K miles, and still drive an 05 with 105 K miles. they were all 3/4 ton, 4X4, big block trucks. Very little trouble over all. The new ones just got better.

i dont know much, but 4500 bucks still seems good.

if you are looking for a 1999 i would look for a 6.5 diesel decent on gas and good for towing

Strip, I think 15mpg is optomistic. I replaced my motor at 147,000. Needed a lot of work when I got rid of it. And I cared for it well. Regular maintenance etc. Have you considered an s-10 with 4.3 v6? Just to tool around and have a little room to haul things, that's what I'd do....And make the free loaders ride in back, they can hand you beverages around the post.:evilb:

I have a 99 Tahoe 4x4 that I've had since new. It's been a great truck.
Now has 114k on it and have had almost no issues other than normal maintenance. Depends on what your using it for, but can be a great vehicle. Only thing negative are the brakes (don't feel very strong).

Wouldn't plan on towing much weight with it. Mine with the 3.73:1 limited slip rear and towing package is rated for 7000lbs. Same year suburban with standard rear is probably rated around 6000-6500.

I plan on keeping mine indefinitely.