Suburbans: GMT800 2500 vs. GMT900 2500 vs. GMT900 "Fancy" (Denali/Escalade)

[CTX-SLPR]

As much as I love Bruce (our 1998 K2500 Suburban with the 454), it's at 200k miles and it is a salvage title vehicle I got with a long backlog of neglected maintenance. Now while I've been putting good parts and effort into the truck, there's a limit to how much I want to trust it driving from the Bay Area, CA to Central TX with a family of 4 and two cats in the beginning of summer. I won't say I'm not going to but it's time to start thinking what the alternative is as with higher gas prices, the market for these things is starting to become a bit more tame. This is our "do everything we don't need very often" vehicle so it hauls people, car parts, tows, go light off roading, camping, etc. I can ride the bus or my bike (or potentially an e-bike) for most of my commuting so the gas cost of having something like this is irrelevant but the comparative costs inside of having such a vehicle is worth considering.

I'm not going to get something with a 4L60/65E, period. Also the 5.3L Flex-Fuels seem to have some issues more than their bigger brothers even after the 6L80E becomes the base transmission. This leaves the GMT800 2500s and the GMT900s either 2500 or with the fancy 6.2L (Denali/Escalade). I want 4WD as well. I'm partial to another 2500 but that's a hit on gas mileage but a simpler and more durable vehicle.

Voice your opinion and comments on what y'all think.

 

[stutaeng]

I daily drive a 06 2500 LQ4 2wd suburban. I bought almost 2 years ago with 235K, it just turned 251k. I'm really loving it.

My previous daily was a 99 NBS ECSB that I retired because I needed more room to drop off the kids to school.

The old school LQ4 is pretty reliable. 4L80e is buttery smooth. Rear axle is stout. 4 disc hydroboost brakes work well. Mine has 4.10/G80. The GMT interior is supposed to be nicer than the GMT 900, but I've never been inside a GMT 900, that just what I've read. Mine is the LT trim, but I honestly don't really care for fancy interiors.

I went back to seller months later because he was missing something on the title to sign. He had bought a 2020 Sierra 1500 fully decked out. He's a car enthusiast with a Corvette and a few F-bodys. Anyways, he said he felt better towing his car with the suburban and he missed it.

Only downside is 12 mpg, no matter how I drive it. I've read the 8.1 gets some gas mileage. I wouldn't be surprised, because it is a heavy vehicle.

The issue on GMT 800/900 SUVs 1500 vs 2500 is coil rears vs leaf and transmission differences.

I liked mine so much, that I actually bought another 2500 suburban, an 04 4x4 model. Same as my daily, but it needs some tlc. Was going to be for my wife, but we had to upgrade to a full size passenger Express van.

They also made GMT 900 2500 suburban, but they are really rare. I don't think they made many of the them. They still had the LQ4 (or L96?), but a 6L90e. The research I've been doing says the 6L80/90e transmissions are not are durable as the 4L80e.

Let me know if you have more specific questions.

 

[yevgenievich]

Big Block gmt400 would still be my vote. Gmt800 are better at a lot of things, but also start getting in to some complications. We used 91 v2500 before current 97 and it did good for driving across the country. And when we hit an elk, a trip to autoparts store and some minor parts later kept driving another 1k miles. I stuck with gmt400 because it has closer looks to 91 we used to have. 06 2500 with less miles would be better otherwise

 

[MrPink]

I have a GMT900 Suburban with the 5.3L/6l80E I enjoy it, actually. The 07-14 2500 Suburban were Fleet only, but they are out there, I almost bought a 08 2500 with the 6.0L/6L90 combo that was a former FBI truck.

Out of the few listed i'd go with a 00-07 2500 Suburban with the 6.0L or 8.1L(Allison trans only).

 

[618 Syndicate]

Anything with an 8.1 and 4wd isn't going to get double digit mileage, and I don't care how you drive it.

 

[618 Syndicate]

I have a GMT900 Suburban with the 5.3L/6l80E I enjoy it, actually. The 07-14 2500 Suburban were Fleet only, but they are out there, I almost bought a 08 2500 with the 6.0L/6L90 combo that was a former FBI truck.

Out of the few listed i'd go with a 00-07 2500 Suburban with the 6.0L or 8.1L(Allison trans only).

I didn't know you could get an Allison in the SUV's...

 

[stutaeng]

I have a GMT900 Suburban with the 5.3L/6l80E I enjoy it, actually. The 07-14 2500 Suburban were Fleet only, but they are out there, I almost bought a 08 2500 with the 6.0L/6L90 combo that was a former FBI truck.

Out of the few listed i'd go with a 00-07 2500 Suburban with the 6.0L or 8.1L(Allison trans only).

There are non-fleet 07+ 2500 suburbans.

And no Allison on the 2500 SUV/Vans .

 

[HotWheelsBurban]

Here's my experience with the 800 Burbs.
When our first 99 Burb got wrecked in November 2012, we needed another Burb, to haul people and stuff. The 90 R2500 had just gone down a month or so earlier, with what my dad believed was engine problems, but what I think was actually the fuel pump. At any rate, it was outta commission.
So we went Burb shopping, looked at many trucks, all over town and online. Ended up at a dealership in West Houston, choice of a 2006 Yukon XL Denali or a similar age/miles Chevy Burb Z71. Both black trucks, fairly decent looking for the money. He didn't want 4x4 so we got the Denali. AWD but they didn't mention that at the dealership. It had a bunch of minor problems with the fancy bits that the dealership fixed most of before we took it. Bought it with 136K on the 6.0/4L65E; by the time we'd had it a year, needed a bunch of AC work done. Then at around 170K the oil pressure started acting up. I think the screen on the sensor is clogged, because it does it on startup after sitting a while ( like overnight,or parked for many hours). The trans temp sensor went crazy after 200K, saying it was at 300° when just idling in park for a few minutes. That got it parked. The fancy stuff seemed to be the things that didn't hold up; extra charging ports,power seats, AC, etc. However, the seat heaters and Bose stereo work great! AC once fixed would freeze you out( not bad on a black truck in SETX!). If it won't run good though....
The handling was good for a vehicle of its size and weight, but once the shocks and rear coil springs wore out, not so much. My half ton 2wd 99 Burb can handle being stuffed to the headliner, and it barely levels it. I know how to load it though, heavier stuff ahead and above the axle. Same load in the 06 and it's gonna be practically dragging.
I know my experience with the 800 platform is not reflective of everyone's, but I don't really want another one. The only things I thought were better than the 400 were the blower motor position and ease of installing, the headlight bulbs' ease of replacement, and the door handles inside and outside are more substantial. Truck was more powerful off the line with 6.0 and 3.73 axles, but mileage was worse than my Burb 5.7. The LS will pass most everything but a gas station!

 

[618 Syndicate]

To echo what @HotWheelsBurban said, I've had an 05 Denali for 10 years, now with over 300k on it, the fancy stuff sometimes works, it's rusty and the mileage is rubbish, but it's a dead reliable winter beater. It was my wife's daily for a while, kids have driven it, I'd drive it to California tomorrow. The 4L65 hasn't been an issue for me, but I totally understand why you don't want one.

 

[yevgenievich]

i would add that 8.1l only if want to tow and like to keep it non diesel. Otherwise 6.0 would be fine.