Looking at 2 Suburbans. What should I know?
October 24th, 2018, 1:56 PM
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Looking at 2 Suburbans. What should I know?
Hello, I am new here. Finally decided to look into burbs. a 2001 and a 2002 are what I am looking at. Ill throw some specs.
1.) 2002 5.3 1500 4X4 LS w/ 165,000 miles. Leather.
2.) 2001 6.0 2500 2wd w/ 130,000 miles. Cloth.
The 02 appears to be super clean. Looks to need nothing from the ad description. BUT, I am leaning towards the 01. Everything I want, lower miles, 6.0, 2wd (Call me crazy, but I don't need 4wd) and the 8 lug hubs. I love the aluminum HD wheels and I cant do that with the 1500 6 lugs. The 2001 has the ABS/brake light on. I assume it is the electronic brake module?
The 2500 2wd appears to have a lower ride height than what I see on 4x4's online, is it lower from the factory? It appears to be about the same as a 1500 suburban, maybe slightly higher.
Anything that I should be advised to look at? Thanks!
1.) 2002 5.3 1500 4X4 LS w/ 165,000 miles. Leather.
2.) 2001 6.0 2500 2wd w/ 130,000 miles. Cloth.
The 02 appears to be super clean. Looks to need nothing from the ad description. BUT, I am leaning towards the 01. Everything I want, lower miles, 6.0, 2wd (Call me crazy, but I don't need 4wd) and the 8 lug hubs. I love the aluminum HD wheels and I cant do that with the 1500 6 lugs. The 2001 has the ABS/brake light on. I assume it is the electronic brake module?
The 2500 2wd appears to have a lower ride height than what I see on 4x4's online, is it lower from the factory? It appears to be about the same as a 1500 suburban, maybe slightly higher.
Anything that I should be advised to look at? Thanks!
Last edited by ChevyB; October 24th, 2018 at 2:59 PM.
October 25th, 2018, 3:58 PM
#2
No contest. If it was me, I'll take the 2500 every day, and twice on Sunday.
Everything on the '01 2500 is going to be more durable, and it'll be less likely to be a money pit. While the 5.3 from that platform is a great engine, the 6.0 is a complete beast.
My '01 4x4 Burb started needing some high-dollar repairs after passing 150k miles. On the other hand, my '08 2500 just rolled 185k miles, and it's been completely trouble-free. No major repairs whatsoever. Hell, I haven't even needed a brake job in the last 5 years and 80k miles.
What to look for? Rust is really the biggest issue - around the middle doors and rear rockers.
Everything on the '01 2500 is going to be more durable, and it'll be less likely to be a money pit. While the 5.3 from that platform is a great engine, the 6.0 is a complete beast.
My '01 4x4 Burb started needing some high-dollar repairs after passing 150k miles. On the other hand, my '08 2500 just rolled 185k miles, and it's been completely trouble-free. No major repairs whatsoever. Hell, I haven't even needed a brake job in the last 5 years and 80k miles.
What to look for? Rust is really the biggest issue - around the middle doors and rear rockers.
October 25th, 2018, 4:38 PM
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You think like me. I was attracted to the 8 lug wheels (I have been in love with the aluminum HD wheels since I saw them on my neighbors 8.1 Burb 15+ years ago.), the 4L80e trans and higher ride height.
The two trucks are very close in price. The 2002 5.3 seems to be in better condition with leather, but it has 45,000 miles more on the 5.3L. The 2001 6.0 has a lot of little things that need to be fixed here and there (broken this, broken that...) but the exterior is very nice..
Both are rust free at the moment. I will probably try to coat as much as I can with POR-15 like on the inner fenders and inner rockers that's if I can.
The 6.0 is known for terrible mpg though. I will rarely haul, neither vehicle would be considered 'practical' for my needs other than I've always wanted a 2500 Suburban, Tahoe police model, or a Silverado 1500/2500 and now is a chance.
So what mpg can I expect to get from a 6.0 Burb? I assume it has a 3.73 as opposed to a 4.10? I was anticipating 11 city, 14 highway. But I could be wrong, I look forward to estimates.
The two trucks are very close in price. The 2002 5.3 seems to be in better condition with leather, but it has 45,000 miles more on the 5.3L. The 2001 6.0 has a lot of little things that need to be fixed here and there (broken this, broken that...) but the exterior is very nice..
Both are rust free at the moment. I will probably try to coat as much as I can with POR-15 like on the inner fenders and inner rockers that's if I can.
The 6.0 is known for terrible mpg though. I will rarely haul, neither vehicle would be considered 'practical' for my needs other than I've always wanted a 2500 Suburban, Tahoe police model, or a Silverado 1500/2500 and now is a chance.
So what mpg can I expect to get from a 6.0 Burb? I assume it has a 3.73 as opposed to a 4.10? I was anticipating 11 city, 14 highway. But I could be wrong, I look forward to estimates.
October 25th, 2018, 7:14 PM
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Your avatar doesn't say where you're from. If you are from a rust belt state, like intheburbs mentioned about rust, I would not buy either one of them as they are 17 and 18 years old. Head South or West!
Tom
Tom
October 26th, 2018, 7:21 AM
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Well that's different, you're not in the rust belt, scratch that. I guess I should take my own advice and put my location in my Avatar. Like intheburbs, I am in the rustbelt (NH).
Good Luck.
Tom
Good Luck.
Tom
October 26th, 2018, 7:53 AM
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Thank you. You still have to be careful here as well. Though I'm not in the rust belt, these cars migrate over their lifetime. The 01 was a California car that moved to Kansas. I don't know about the 02, but the 02 looks like a garaged car.
Easily half of the burbs I've seen have rust even in Kansas.
Easily half of the burbs I've seen have rust even in Kansas.
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October 26th, 2018, 8:03 AM
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The 2500 has leaf springs in the rear, but it does sit pretty close to the height of a 1500 burb.
Were there lift blocks from the factory for the 2WD 2500 Subrubans? If there were, I have a feeling that someone removed them to lower it, but it's hard to tell from pics.
Either way I plan to put a 1" or 2" lift blocks on the rear. Visually, the 01 2500 looks dead on with the 02 1500 that I'm looking at (same color) other than the 8 lug wheels and the 2500 door trim that's on the 01 2500
Were there lift blocks from the factory for the 2WD 2500 Subrubans? If there were, I have a feeling that someone removed them to lower it, but it's hard to tell from pics.
Either way I plan to put a 1" or 2" lift blocks on the rear. Visually, the 01 2500 looks dead on with the 02 1500 that I'm looking at (same color) other than the 8 lug wheels and the 2500 door trim that's on the 01 2500
Last edited by ChevyB; October 26th, 2018 at 8:20 AM.