Price vs Mileage Tahoe/Yukon

[Instrument 41]

In our continued search we have decided on a Tahoe or Yukon. Since the brain trust here has been great for helping me see things in a different light here goes the dilemma.
I have found that I am looking at 2010 to 2008 year range. Prices generally range from $24K to $16K. The top end of the price range are trucks that have anywhere from 80K miles to 105K depending on package and condition, down to $17 to $16 for some that have 130K miles to 150K miles. I'm paying cash, so...is it worth the extra $6 to $7000 more dollars for 30 to 40K fewer miles? Considering how reliable they are and resell and after looking in a 300 mile radius I am now lost in trying to decide what is the best direction to go in. Thanks in advanced.

[stomachmonkey]

Are we talking 2wd or 4wd?

The only major expense will be a motor, transmission, or both.

Either truck is good for 200k miles.

So the questions are will you have either long enough to need a drivetrain before either bottoms out in value?

Put another way, you probably have 5 years where the higher mileage vehicle would be cheaper even if it needed a drive train during that time.

After that depreciation likely equals things out.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

The only major expense will be a motor, transmission, or both.

The transmission will go before the engine in my experience. I would get an even higher mileage if the trans has been rebuilt with warranty. 4x4's bring more money as well.
IMHO I don't see the money worth it for a lower mileage one, as you might as well go new at that point, and get the factory warranty.

[gchappel]

I had a 2004 4x4 and sold it with about 120,000 miles on it.
Never had a mechanical issue- never once.
But multiple electronic issues developed in its last year.
Dash went out, no lights no gauges. Found it was a common problem. Pulled the dash and sent it off for repair. Was intermittent after that.
Windows would work when they felt like it- some would randomly go up and down.
I had to open and close the rear hatch to turn off the radio.
I could go on.
Mechanically these are tanks. The electrical goblins can haunt you.
Gary

[onewhippedpuppy]

I typically tend towards buying an early year of a newer body style and shooting for lower miles. If you get an older car you save money there, and can get lower mileage for less money.

I looked up Manheim wholesale book on a 2008 LS 2wd Tahoe with the 5.3L, above average condition is $13,140 with 62k. That is an average of actual wholesale sale prices of that Tahoe rated in above average condition at auction. If you are interested in buying one from wholesale let me know, I can help.

[Instrument 41]

Thanks for the replies folks. As to some questions...two wheel drive only. With my wife's aggressive driving a 4 wheel drive in her hand would cost me more money! I'm looking for the LTZ or SLT (GMC) trim levels. I may be out of line but I assumed that cars that go through the auction typically have issues?? My hope is to find one that belongs to maintenance minded old fellow.

[onewhippedpuppy]

If you buy from a car dealership, the odds are very good that you are buying a car from auction. My 2013 F150 and my wife's 2012 Nissan Quest are both from Manheim auctions. Ever lease a car? When you turn it in, it goes to auction. Most large dealerships have a strict used car inventory policy, they keep a car XX days and if it doesn't sell, it heads for auction. Sure there is junk, but 3rd party inspections help to root those out. I've seen $300k+ cars sell at Manheim - Ferrari, Rolls, Bentley, etc. Lots of misconceptions about wholesale auto auctions.

[Hads930]

If you are dead set on a Yukon/Tahoe disregard the advice, but a few things to consider if you're still looking at options.

In December I got rid of our 08 Tahoe 2WD LTZ, (135K Mi). We bought it new when we had an infant and wife drove it until the summer of 14, she got a new MDX and I got rid of my Honda Accord that I owned since new and started driving the Tahoe because it was newer and fewer miles. I hated that thing and regretted getting rid of my 190K mi Accord.

It was nice, big, comfy, etc, but just huge and cumbersome and drove heavy. There's the cracked dash phenomenon that will cost you a grand if you cant live with it or buy one that has already been replaced. I am a nut about maintenance but nothing seemed easy. I thought about setting on fire in my driveway when I was changing an oil sensor, something that should have been simple drove me nuts. LTZ has the air/auto suspension that has a pump that is always going out and the shocks are expensive.

I am writing this after spending the past 10 hours changing the timing belt and a bunch of "while you're in there" parts on my new to me 04 Lexus LX470. You can imagine the conversation in December when I told my wife I bought a 12 year old car sight unseen 1800 miles away in FL. Low miles, I think I bought it fair and could make money on it. I really wanted a LandCruiser but found this one and could not pass it up, one owner, low miles, great service history, blah, blah.

It drives a lot lighter, its heavy but not too cumbersome, the driving experience is completely different, and it is 4WD. Archaic LCD screen but I love this thing, will never get rid of it. It also has a fairly specialized suspension that is expensive to fix but I will upgrade with mechanical LandCruiser stuff when it starts to fail, I never checked into doing the same with the Tahoe but I would assume there is aftermarket stuff available for it as well.

Found IH8MUD forums with lots of help like here on PP. Have a resource for dirt cheap parts from a Toyota dealer that has a 'Cruisr expert that is wonderful to deal with, and did I mention he's cheap.

My wife came out this morning to check on me and asked how things were coming and I told with the exception of a couple of boneheaded things I had to run to the dealer for, it was really a breeze to work on and a bit enjoyable.

Anyway, food for thought, I wanted that Japanese reliablilty and am very happy. To be fair the Tahoe did what we bought it for and never stranded us, thats about the nicest thing I can say about owning it.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Hads930

If you are dead set on a Yukon/Tahoe disregard the advice, but a few things to consider if you're still looking at options.

In December I got rid of our 08 Tahoe 2WD LTZ, (135K Mi). We bought it new when we had an infant and wife drove it until the summer of 14, she got a new MDX and I got rid of my Honda Accord that I owned since new and started driving the Tahoe because it was newer and fewer miles. I hated that thing and regretted getting rid of my 190K mi Accord.



It was nice, big, comfy, etc, but just huge and cumbersome and drove heavy. There's the cracked dash phenomenon that will cost you a grand if you cant live with it or buy one that has already been replaced. I am a nut about maintenance but nothing seemed easy. I thought about setting on fire in my driveway when I was changing an oil sensor, something that should have been simple drove me nuts. LTZ has the air/auto suspension that has a pump that is always going out and the shocks are expensive.

I am writing this after spending the past 10 hours changing the timing belt and a bunch of "while you're in there" parts on my new to me 04 Lexus LX470. You can imagine the conversation in December when I told my wife I bought a 12 year old car sight unseen 1800 miles away in FL. Low miles, I think I bought it fair and could make money on it. I really wanted a LandCruiser but found this one and could not pass it up, one owner, low miles, great service history, blah, blah.

It drives a lot lighter, its heavy but not too cumbersome, the driving experience is completely different, and it is 4WD. Archaic LCD screen but I love this thing, will never get rid of it. It also has a fairly specialized suspension that is expensive to fix but I will upgrade with mechanical LandCruiser stuff when it starts to fail, I never checked into doing the same with the Tahoe but I would assume there is aftermarket stuff available for it as well.

Found IH8MUD forums with lots of help like here on PP. Have a resource for dirt cheap parts from a Toyota dealer that has a 'Cruisr expert that is wonderful to deal with, and did I mention he's cheap.

My wife came out this morning to check on me and asked how things were coming and I told with the exception of a couple of boneheaded things I had to run to the dealer for, it was really a breeze to work on and a bit enjoyable.

Anyway, food for thought, I wanted that Japanese reliablilty and am very happy. To be fair the Tahoe did what we bought it for and never stranded us, thats about the nicest thing I can say about owning it.

I think the op is set for a Tahoe or Burb' and not an LC. Big difference in size there even compared to the Tahoe.

you buy that stuff form Dan? He's a good guy.

I am shock to hear about your experience with the big SUV. For the most part, i hear they are reliable. The all drive like a big boat.

[Arizona_928]

Eh I would be hesitant to buy an auction car. My sister was completely screwed on an 11 or 12 Yukon xl. They saw her coming.
I have seen the auction cars that go through here in az. There's a reason why they go to auction, and most of the time it's because they can't sell that car or truck on a name dealer lot.

[widgeon13]

Don't most 100K mile cars go to auction.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by AZ_porschekid

Eh I would be hesitant to buy an auction car. My sister was completely screwed on an 11 or 12 Yukon xl. They saw her coming.
I have seen the auction cars that go through here in az. There's a reason why they go to auction, and most of the time it's because they can't sell that car or truck on a name dealer lot.

Coming from someone that has bought probably 50 cars at auction over the last two years, sorry but you are wrong. That's like buying a POS on Craigslist then stating, "all cars on Craigslist are crap". The absolute certainty of ignorance on the part of most used car buyers is why I'm going to quit buying and selling cars when my building lease runs out. It's frustrating as hell to be honest and upfront with people, then see them walk with confidence into the nearest dealership and get violated from behind. How little people know is only matched by how much they THINK they know.

[Instrument 41]

One whipped I may be calling you about a Tahoe. Yukon in about 2 weeks. Looking for a 2008 to 2010, because of the cost that I have seen. Nothing in Black or burgundy, leather interior, preferably SLT or LTZ. Thanks