Alfamale33
New Member
Hello everyone
I was offered a 98 k2500 suburban td as a trade, and after doing a LOT reading I still can't make up my mind. I was already interested in an Suv but not in a suburban to be honest.
I live in Paraguay, South America:
$6 gallon diesel (premium gas more expensive), lots of diesel cars and trucks and many diesel tecs (most shade tree though).
Even though I manage a garage, I have never met a mechanic with experience with the 6.5 diesel. There are very few suburbans around (gas or diesel) and parts are nonexistant except for a few parts in scrap yards still at ridiculously high prices.
Anything auto related (whole vehicles or parts) cost at least 3 times more than in the U.S new or used, except labor that is dirt cheap in comparison.
I was planning a 6k trip around South America towing an ultra light (loaner) TT and 8 passangers, total weight 7600 lbs, and this is where the suburban comes in. I know it will need some mods for this.
The only Suvs that I've seen that can tow that and carry 8 people or more are Expeditions 5.4 and Excursions of which there are extremely few, other than a handfull of Armadas and new sequoias. All except the burb and the Expedition are way out of my budget. FYI, a diesel Excursion here goes for $25k (U.S dollars), an expedition for anything between 10 and 16k (years 98-2003) and explorers for 8k to 13k (2002 up), but I seriously doubt even the 4,6 v8 will handle the TT.
The Suburban has only around 130k (clean carfax, came from california in 2007 with 100k) since few use theirs here due to diesel prices. It appears to be in very good condition. Drove and inspected it, and couldn't find anything wrong, mechanically, electrically or body wise except that it could use new brake pads. I checked the rpo and it has 3.73 gears and posi traction, hd brakes etc etc... The pmd was replaced but located back in its original location. It doesn't have a tow bar and never had one from what I could tell. After twisting his arm the owner told me that not long ago it had a hard time starting when warm and that he had a new ip imported and installed. I cannot take his work since he is a used car salesman with a bad rep, but I was planning on replacing the ops, lift pump, and relocating the fsd among others.
Even though I will use the suburban regularly the main use it will have will be long trips maybe twice a year, and ocasional towing such as the trip I am planning. It will mostly be in Brazil, that has U.S. like roads surfacewise but a lot of steep hills. If everything works out fine I will keep the truck, if I have minor problems but can finish the trip I will probably sell it when I return (will see), now if I have a catastrophic failure (depending on where it happens) I might as well abandon the truck as it is where it is since the towing service, parts and labor will probably cost more than truck itself.
My budget (maintenance aside) for upgrading/modding the suburban is of about $2500 for parts. I figured that a good condition burb with the proper upgrades should do the job, then I think of the massive, often contradicting reliability info I have read in this and other sites and start having doubts. There are chevy dealers here and Brazil is one of the biggest gm manufacturers outside the U.S but there are no suburban parts in the area, I have checked.
Lets keep in mind that any 15 year old vehicle will have its fair amount of problems, moreover, as the owner of 2 Alfa Romeos I am no stranger to sudden breakdowns or constant repairs that require wrenching here and there and many other diys.
My objective question to you is, based on the above info:
1- Would you get the Suburban in my place?
2- If you start with a good conditon, non abused suburban and you throw at it less than $3k in parts, is it possible to make it stone reliable or as reliable as any other truck of the year and size?
I have posted something similar in another site but I am really having a hard time making my mind. I try to be objective or maybe I just have a boner for this truck, I don´t know, please let me know what you think.
Thanks in advance, Steve
I was offered a 98 k2500 suburban td as a trade, and after doing a LOT reading I still can't make up my mind. I was already interested in an Suv but not in a suburban to be honest.
I live in Paraguay, South America:
$6 gallon diesel (premium gas more expensive), lots of diesel cars and trucks and many diesel tecs (most shade tree though).
Even though I manage a garage, I have never met a mechanic with experience with the 6.5 diesel. There are very few suburbans around (gas or diesel) and parts are nonexistant except for a few parts in scrap yards still at ridiculously high prices.
Anything auto related (whole vehicles or parts) cost at least 3 times more than in the U.S new or used, except labor that is dirt cheap in comparison.
I was planning a 6k trip around South America towing an ultra light (loaner) TT and 8 passangers, total weight 7600 lbs, and this is where the suburban comes in. I know it will need some mods for this.
The only Suvs that I've seen that can tow that and carry 8 people or more are Expeditions 5.4 and Excursions of which there are extremely few, other than a handfull of Armadas and new sequoias. All except the burb and the Expedition are way out of my budget. FYI, a diesel Excursion here goes for $25k (U.S dollars), an expedition for anything between 10 and 16k (years 98-2003) and explorers for 8k to 13k (2002 up), but I seriously doubt even the 4,6 v8 will handle the TT.
The Suburban has only around 130k (clean carfax, came from california in 2007 with 100k) since few use theirs here due to diesel prices. It appears to be in very good condition. Drove and inspected it, and couldn't find anything wrong, mechanically, electrically or body wise except that it could use new brake pads. I checked the rpo and it has 3.73 gears and posi traction, hd brakes etc etc... The pmd was replaced but located back in its original location. It doesn't have a tow bar and never had one from what I could tell. After twisting his arm the owner told me that not long ago it had a hard time starting when warm and that he had a new ip imported and installed. I cannot take his work since he is a used car salesman with a bad rep, but I was planning on replacing the ops, lift pump, and relocating the fsd among others.
Even though I will use the suburban regularly the main use it will have will be long trips maybe twice a year, and ocasional towing such as the trip I am planning. It will mostly be in Brazil, that has U.S. like roads surfacewise but a lot of steep hills. If everything works out fine I will keep the truck, if I have minor problems but can finish the trip I will probably sell it when I return (will see), now if I have a catastrophic failure (depending on where it happens) I might as well abandon the truck as it is where it is since the towing service, parts and labor will probably cost more than truck itself.
My budget (maintenance aside) for upgrading/modding the suburban is of about $2500 for parts. I figured that a good condition burb with the proper upgrades should do the job, then I think of the massive, often contradicting reliability info I have read in this and other sites and start having doubts. There are chevy dealers here and Brazil is one of the biggest gm manufacturers outside the U.S but there are no suburban parts in the area, I have checked.
Lets keep in mind that any 15 year old vehicle will have its fair amount of problems, moreover, as the owner of 2 Alfa Romeos I am no stranger to sudden breakdowns or constant repairs that require wrenching here and there and many other diys.
My objective question to you is, based on the above info:
1- Would you get the Suburban in my place?
2- If you start with a good conditon, non abused suburban and you throw at it less than $3k in parts, is it possible to make it stone reliable or as reliable as any other truck of the year and size?
I have posted something similar in another site but I am really having a hard time making my mind. I try to be objective or maybe I just have a boner for this truck, I don´t know, please let me know what you think.
Thanks in advance, Steve
