Would you buy....

[496 BB]

Either an 2004-2006 Escalade or Yukon/Tahoe? Wondering about if there is any probs inherent to those models. Wife has a 99 GMC Jimmy and I swear its only designed for 100K miles. After it hit that mark its been one thing after another. Are the fullsize SUVs this way also? Thanks.


Also does anyone have any experience with the Infiniti QX56? I know I know its an import but Im getting tired of working on cares for repairs...I like the upgrade working better

 

[JD4440]

Should be the same problems as those year 1/2 ton trucks.
Infinity is a nissan and I'll never own another. no big problems except for the sunroof but I just don't like it.

 

[ripmf666]

2001 1500 suburban 155,700 miles and runs fine other thenit needs a wheel speed sensor.

 

[TIM Z]

Ive been down the S10 blazer route, The only good thing about them is the 4.3, everything else is crap. They nickle and dime the hell out of you.

Wife had a ZR2 blazer, lots of problems, sister has a ZR2 blazer, more of the same.

I bought my Wife an 05 Tahoe Z71 back in 07 and NEVER looked back.

One of the best vehicles ive ever own , reliable, comfotable, runs great!!

Only have had to replace brakes/rotors and The Intermediate steering shaft.

The Tahoes/ yukons are some of the BEST vehicles on the road, they are reliable and easy to work on.

Most people dismiss them cuz they THINK they are gas hogs, Ours gets an HONEST 16.5 around town

And if my family gets in an accident they will have a chance unstead of being buried in a Little piece of shit Kia, or Hyunda or Ford escape cuz i wanted to save on gas. RANTOVER!!!

I would not be afraid of buying one with 150,000 or so miles. The Gen III engines run great!

 

[duratothemax]

I agree about the S10's. No offence to anyone who has one...but the S/T trucks were certainly not the best vehicles to ever come out of GM. Everyone ive worked on still ran great, but was otherwise falling apart.

They are not very safe either...

I would definitely buy any GMT-800 SUV. Not many problem areas other than the typical intermediate shafts, ABS pump motors, and front axle encoder-motor problems. As Tim said, coupled with the proven Gen III small blocks makes used -800's an awesome used-car deal.

Whatever one you choose, make sure it has stabilitrak. That could be the difference between swerving to avoid a deer/cruising away like nothing happened and flipping over down into a ditch. It was standard on all Escalades and optional starting in 2004 on the Tahoe's. Look on the glovebox sticker for "JL4".

My dad has almost 200k miles on his 03 tahoe. The engine is still sealed from the factory other than oil changes. I think its still even got the original spark plugs in it. Runs just as strong as new and has 35-40psi hot oil pressure. The interior has zero rattles, and zero body/suspension squeaks and groans if I drive it "hard". Doors still shut nice etc...

The only big things that have broken are the ABS module and the transfer case shift motor. The tranny feels a little "special" every now and then but hey, its a 4L60 with almost 200k on it and some decent towing too...what do you want from it?

ben

 

[496 BB]

Yea tell me about the damn encoder motors. This Jimmy is on number 3. I swear the 4wd only works when Im in it...never when wife needs it and I just replaced power steering pump last night and cleaned the pins on the TTCM so the damn 4wd would work again. Now it needs tires and Im really over it at this point. Ive dropped over $2000 in it this past year and Im already in the hole in this thing....Im not going to keep dropping coin in a POS. I LOVE the motors but everything else is junk like you guys say. I swear this thing has more rust under it than my 1979 K20 did. Like it sat in a pond for a year before we bought it about 8-9 years or so ago. It has been a GREAT SUV until it hit 100K other than the typical hubs (on set 3 or 4). But now its all down hill like they are only good for 100K miles.

Im looking at the 2003+ GMC Envoys (mid size) also. Whats the deal on these? I know they are basically a trailblazer but Im not up to speed on all those. The 6 cylinder is a straight 6 isnt it? Good or bad? Whats the V8 is those...a 5.3?

 

[ripmf666]

Yea tell me about the damn encoder motors. This Jimmy is on number 3. I swear the 4wd only works when Im in it...never when wife needs it and I just replaced power steering pump last night and cleaned the pins on the TTCM so the damn 4wd would work again. Now it needs tires and Im really over it at this point. Ive dropped over $2000 in it this past year and Im already in the hole in this thing....Im not going to keep dropping coin in a POS. I LOVE the motors but everything else is junk like you guys say. I swear this thing has more rust under it than my 1979 K20 did. Like it sat in a pond for a year before we bought it about 8-9 years or so ago. It has been a GREAT SUV until it hit 100K other than the typical hubs (on set 3 or 4). But now its all down hill like they are only good for 100K miles.

Im looking at the 2003+ GMC Envoys (mid size) also. Whats the deal on these? I know they are basically a trailblazer but Im not up to speed on all those. The 6 cylinder is a straight 6 isnt it? Good or bad? Whats the V8 is those...a 5.3?

Gas hog fronm hell. I did not like driving it but the 5.3 ran good.

 

[BombDocDiesel]

The Tahoes/Yukon/Subs are great. My brother had one and it was great. It recently was rolled, wife driving it she normally drives a Focus. They hold up just as well the trucks. Even for their size they get decent mileage, as Tim said.

QX56? Look at Nissan Titan fuel mileage; worst in it's class. Now subtract a bit from that due to additional weight. You're looking at 10-12MPG.

Trailblazer/Envoy? I would skip it. The 4.2 I6 is a torquey motor but loves some fuel. My other brother's wife owns one and it get 16-18MPG in a 2WD. The 5.3 probably get the same, but I've never played with one.

 

[duratothemax]

x2, skip the trailblazer/envoy...just get a full-size GMT-800.

ben

 

[KEVINL]

I drive a Sonoma at work and I must have got a good one when we got it I was thinking it was going to be a POS but it has 170k with no major work.


The breaks suck and don't last very long though.

We have a Nissian Frontier at work as well and that thing is a POS.

I definetly wouldn't be afraid to get a GM full size SUV we thought about getting one but felt it was redundant with already having the Duramax we didn't need two trucks. If I didn't have the Duramax I would love a 07 or newer Escalade to bad it didn't come with the Duramax.

 

[custom8726]

x2, skip the trailblazer/envoy...just get a full-size GMT-800.

ben

I would agree but some times a full size SUV is not what the little woman want's to drive We settled on a Envoy Denali for her and its been problem free other then a ignition switch, If the O.P. is seriously looking in that direction hit me up, I believe we are going to sell or trade hers in soon. 05, silver W/blk heated leather, 56k, loaded every option, 4X4, 5.3, etc...

 

[496 BB]

Hell Id be happy as hell with 16-18 mpg. I dont think this Jimmy is anywhere close to that...maybe 13mpg. Not sure why....actually I do..its got a plugged cat AGAIN. Thats the 2nd one on there also. If we keep it thats going away with EFI Live. Its just this little crap that seems to keep repeating over and over again. So what can I expect to get gas mileage wise with a Tahoe/Escalade?

 

[TIM Z]

Tahoe bout 16 MPG around town.

Esky is not the best if it has AWD .

Like i said mine gets 16.5 with a diablo tuner, but i have no CAI or exhaust yet. ( need a good EFI tune)

plus the wife is easier on the pedal than i am.

Still better than an s10 blazer.

 

[LBZ_Duramax]

Tahoe will get about 16-18 around town. Escalade will get around 12 arond town and mabye 16 on highway. My mom has a Envoy with the I-6 and it loves gas gets mabye 17 hwy.

 

[wes06dmax]

Get her this Escalade dont what kind of mpg its getting with the cummins

My dad has a 97 sonoma the motor does fine its all the other shit that goes flunk, It dollars him to death

Now the envoy with the inline 6 there is 4 around here and they love them get 20+ mpg range and there is a crap load of yukons and suburbans and they all get 15-16 mpg and some has well 200,000 miles without issues all but stuff that is gonna wear out anyways brakes,battery ext

 

[496 BB]

Cool guys.. I appreciate the info. Well I guess its narrowed down to finding the deal I want on either a Tahoe/Yukon or the Envoy.

Just wondering why you say stay away from the Envoy? Is there problems? I looked at EPA mileage and its roughly the same as the Tahoe setup. Hell anything is going to be better than my truck... even a semi...lol.

 

[Big Block 88]

Get her this Escalade dont what kind of mpg its getting with the cummins

My dad has a 97 sonoma the motor does fine its all the other shit that goes flunk, It dollars him to death

Now the envoy with the inline 6 there is 4 around here and they love them get 20+ mpg range and there is a crap load of yukons and suburbans and they all get 15-16 mpg and some has well 200,000 miles without issues all but stuff that is gonna wear out anyways brakes,battery ext

Im don't see an Escalade all I see is a Avalanche???????? We have had 2 tahoe/yukons dad is on his second escalade with his 06 platinum ESV AWD it gets around 12 city and maybe 15-16 highway the AWD sucks ass crack. Mom has an 06 Envoy XUV with the year sliding roof that turns it into a pickup and it is a sweet little truck she gets around 20mpg on the highway with the 4.2 I-6 and it's never had an issue

 

[03Tommy]

I have a 05 Yukon Denali. Love this thing. Gas mileage sucks butt as it gets about 13.5 in town and 16.5 on the highway. While I was looking I drove some Tahoes and loved them. Until I got in the Denali with the 6.0. Major power difference, plus they look better. Know a guy that is getting over 17 mpg in the city with a CAI exhaust and HP tuners tune. My vote is for a yukon denali or escalade.

 

[custom8726]

Cool guys.. I appreciate the info. Well I guess its narrowed down to finding the deal I want on either a Tahoe/Yukon or the Envoy.

Just wondering why you say stay away from the Envoy? Is there problems? I looked at EPA mileage and its roughly the same as the Tahoe setup. Hell anything is going to be better than my truck... even a semi...lol.

The wifes Envoy got 18.3 hand calculated on our 600 mile trip recently, running 70-80mph 90% of the time. Thats with the 5.3 and I believe 3.23 rear gears, I know they are the higher of the two available, I just don't remember for sure what the ratio is.