What kind should I get??

Getting ready to trade in my old bucket of bolts on something a little more dependable. 95' Grand Am.
I'm wanting a Tahoe....but not exactly sure if there are many problems with them.
Has anyone here ever had a Tahoe??
I need a fairly big car because my kids are not getting any smaller (3 boys, 9 11 14)LOL
I want a SUV of some kind, but wanted to ask you all what kind you would get if you were me??
I don't like Fords...so that lets out that LOL
What about a Suburban of some kind??
Going Monday to look and see what we can do about a trade in. So I need your advice here Please!

Wish I could offer a good suggestion for ya MB. I've never owned a Tahoe or a Suburban. Both are really nice vehicles though.
I'm sure someone will come along in a minute and be better able to provide ya with some good suggestions and tips.

TC...

Thanks for posting anyway Tc :)

Mollybee, did you read the discussion on the thread Badseed started on buying a new SUV? It covers more than Fords... http://davesgarden.com/t/398326/

Hi MollyBee, My brother had a Suburban for years and LOVED it.
Not great on the gas mileage but other than that they are great vehicles. My neighbor also has one he loves. You might try checking Consumer Reports Car issue though, sometimes things vary year by year.

Good luck!

Jerri

Mollybee, for gosh sake's, get a Consumer's Reports article and the book with the repair histories. This is where CU shines. They even have a packet that you can get and negotiate a price. Please buy something safe and reliable; they are too expensive to wing this on your own. If you don't get the subscription, your library will have it. Look through the index for the SUV comparison's and look at their annual book on repair record histories.

Mollybee, when I saw this thread I thought you were wanting to know if you should get a male or a female kitten from me...! ;0)

Check out this linkhttp://www.carbuyingtips.com/carintro.html while it will not help you to make up your mind on what kind of car, it sure gives good info on getting the best prices. We were thinking of maybe getting a new truck and I found this link very helpful.

This message was edited Sep 20, 2003 8:29 AM

Mollybee, we have had a Tahoe for 2 years and love it. The sales people must of thought we were crazy, but my DH does a lot of wood projects so we took a tape measure out to make sure 4x6 sheets of plywood would fit and it works great.

We have made several trips to Washington state in it and it is very comfortable and we also have a trailer and have had no problems with towing it.

We have never had any mechanical problems with it and basically just get the regular oil change as it says and nothing else.

I have to admit my favorite part is the heated bucket seats...first thing in the morning, on the way home from the gym or after working in the yard.

I would think a 95' Grand Am would be plenty big enough, although difficult to park.

We just got back from shopping around, and we test drove a 99 Yukon. It was a super nice ride indeed!! I fell in love with it for sure. It seem to have alot of room(for the growing leggs LOL) Lots of extra's too. Dh drove it and he really liked it, said it turns on a dime! As where his Chevy Z71 is hard to turn and park. Dh told the man we would be back on Monday....so guess we'll see.

Thanks for all the help ya'll. I'll go to the links and check them out now and see what info I can find on it.

John...My Grand Am is VERY easy to park and scoots around town real good....just with my kids getting bigger and older they think they have to spread out when they sit in the car LOL My oldest is 14 and already 150#...and he's not finished growing yet! Plus my middle son almost 12 is also up to 140#! So I got big kids! LOL They take after their Mom I guess LOL

Who makes the Yukon?

I think Yukon Cornelius makes em wood, ya know? the bearded dude on Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. ;~)

TC...

You just aren't right! LOL

Try GMC. :)

roflmao. well, I still hope she checks out the safety and reliability of the Yukon before buying it.....

Must me something in the air. I am getting ready to get my first ever new vechile. I am looking at Blazers. Would really like a Trailblazer but for the difference in the money, looks like it will be a Blazer. As ya know I have to stick with Chevrolet..... lol

Tc, you nut!

Yep, we are leaning towards a Yukon. Although I keep telling dh that we shouldn't go with the first one we find.
But if we don't go with the first one....we'll be looking and looking and then wind up coming back to the first one! LOL Usually if one goes with their first pick...a better deal will be just around the corner...if ya don't go with the first one then ya usually go back to it.
Works that way with us anyhow LOL

Am thinking that GMC makes a pretty good car and are usually good cars, also the Chevrolet is a good kind as well.

Mollybee, have you tried autotrader.com for price comparisons? I like to use it to get a good price range between dealers and private sellers and new and used. This is a great time to buy new since they are introducing next years models.

Ahhh now that is a good idea. Think I will go do that now.
Thanks!

Here it is!!!!! We got it!!
I love it!!!
Black 99 Yukon 4X4 Sooo cool!
Doing the happy dance here!

Very nice truck, now your kids will want to ride with you all the time.

O yea, they are soooo thrilled too! They can't get enough of it. They had to turn every knob, and push every button too! I bet I said ya'll quit ya'll stop 10000 times while they were in it LOL Maybe they will settle down once the new wears off a bit, at least I hope so anyways!LOL

Molly, nice looking ride you have now.

:D Thanks Ruth

Really nice vehicle there. You should be able to get your gang of boys in there without anyone being cramped. But now you will have to go clothes shopping so you have new duds to ride in it with. The other clothes you have are all muddy now. (wink wink) lol

LOL Yep kinda stinky too! Guess I am going to give it a bath today and might just have to get myself one too lol

Might have to have a bath??? LOLOLOL

Congrats Molly! I lost this thread and had to go searching for it. I just got off the phone with a Chevy dealer after all the Ford bashing and wanted to see what you ended up buying. LOL Nice looking Yukon!! We are going to test drive a Suburban later today. The kick backs sure are good on the 2003s!! They gotta make room for the 2004s. :)

Keep us posted as to what ya'll get. I bet you are excited too, I know I was. Mine is soooo roomy too! I think the bigger the better, for safty as well as comfort.

Glad you found the vehicle that suites you! There are so many options and opinions on which is best that it all boils down to which one is right for you. Wonder if I can find one that is Sawdust and mud colored....would sure make my life easier!

LOL Zany! I know what cha mean. This black one is going to be hard to keep clean with 3 boys, but hopefully it will make them learn to take better care of things that don't belong to them...well its theirs too, but you know what I mean.

Ooooooooooooooh Molly! I was just a few signatures away from driving home in a 2003 Suburban! The big dilemma, is it worth $3000 to get a sunroof and leather interior? LOL Woe is me, such trauma!!! Would you believe $11,000 off right now?? I can get a brand new one for just a couple thousand more than a used one! I came home to think about it. Supposed to be at two different dealers tomorrow. Wonder if either wants to wheel and deal just a weeee bit more. snicker.

Actually mine is loaded! Leather seats, a/c controllers in front, back and far back, Rearview mirrors have a defroster, am fm radio, Cd player, cassette player, cruise control, running boards,350vortec engine(dh says its a good one...I'm clueless) automatic 4 wheel drive, low miles looks brand spankin new on the inside too! only found 2 small dings in the trim around the tires where it looks like a car door hit it. I feel like a big dawg when I drive it too! LOL
Its a 99 model, but we couldn't beat the deal we got on it.
and we thought we were going to have to trade in my Grand Am on it but got the paper work all fixed up and didn't have to trade it in! So now we'll have a car for our oldest son to drive when it turns 16(2 more years) So we lucked out big time!
Most every car salesman will work with you...and do just about anything to please you!! They just wanna sell that car! Practice your wheeling and dealing before you go, and trust me it will pay off!

It sounds like you are thrilled with yours Molly! I am so happy for you!! It looks like my new car will be a 2003 Suburban. I got all the goodies too. :) Dark gray exterior, light gray leather interior, 6cd, 4WD, heated seats, rear radio, cargo kit, all the stuff for pushing and pulling stuff (hitches, etc), heated mirrors, blah blah blah and a sunroof too!! Of course the banks were closed late this afternoon so he is going to call me and let me know what the best deal financing is on Monday. So, before I let them have my van, anybody want it?? LOL

Chele, how long would I have to babysit to earn your van? LOL

LOL The interest rates are pretty good right now. :) Um, you want to babysit for it? You better pack a bag. LOL It is a nice van and I hate to have to pay to give it away! It only has 56,000 miles on it. Leather seats, four captains, one bench that electronically folds down to a bed, tv/vcp, am/fm, cassette and cd player, only a few little stains on the carpet and minimal food and toys in the seats! ;) You'd have to fly in though, you know darn well that I am not driving to Idaho! LOL Well, maybe I could follow hubby in the Suburban. :)

Mollybee welcome to the GM family!!!!What a sweet one,may it give you many trouble free miles!I just rolled 82K on my 94,and plan on 82k more!
Waiting to see yours Chele!!bet your Cited!

I found the window sticker online (and no folks, I am not paying THAT much for it! LOL).

SUBURBAN 1500 - 4WD
VORTEC 5300 V8 FLEX FUEL ENGINE
4-SPD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DK GRAY METALLIC
GRAY TRIM


MANUFACTURER'S SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE


STANDARD VEHICLE PRICE $ 39,750.00

Options installed by Manufacturer
ELECTRIC SLIDING SUNROOF INCL:
ELECTRONIC AIR CONDITIONING
HOMELINK UNIVERSAL TRNSMITTER
$ 1,285.00
FEDERAL/NY/VT EMISSIONS
NO CHARGE
DESCRIPTION NOT AVAILABLE
$ 295.00
FRONT SEAT LEATHER SEATING
SURFACES
$ 900.00
P265/70R16 WOL TIRES
$ 125.00
SUBURBAN LS PREFERRED EQUIPMENT
GROUP:
AM/FM STEREO CD WITH RDS
FRONT HIGH BACK BUCKET SEATS
INCLUDES IN DASH 6 CD PLAYER
REAR SEAT AUDIO CONTROLS
AND BOSE PREMIUM SPEAKERS
$ 1,335.00
7,200 LB GVW RATING
NO CHARGE
REAR AXLE - 3.73 RATIO
NO CHARGE
LIFTGATE/LIFTGLASS
$ 250.00
TOTAL OPTIONS $4,190.00
TOTAL VEHICLE & OPTIONS $43,940.00
DESTINATION CHARGE $815.00


TOTAL VEHICLE PRICE* $ 44,755.00



STANDARD EQUIPMENT
Items Featured Below are included at NO EXTRA CHARGE in the Standard Vehicle Price Shown at Right


SAFETY AND SECURITY FEATURES
• DUAL LEVEL FRONT DRIVER & RT
FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WITH

RT FRT PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM
• 4 WHEEL DISC BRAKES WITH ABS
• POWER DOOR LOCKS WITH KEY FOB
• DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS
• AUTOMATIC HEADLAMPS
• INTEGRATED SAFETY BELTS
• THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION
• CHILDPROOF REAR DOOR LOCKS
• DRIVER LOCKOUT PREVENTION
• FOG LAMPS
CONVENIENCE FEATURES
• NO DEDUCTIBLE BUMPER-BUMPER 3 YEAR/36,000 MILE LIMITED WARRANTY SEE DLR FOR DETAILS
• POWER WINDOWS
• POWER DRIVER FRONT SEAT
• FRONT SPLIT BENCH SEAT
• TRI-ZONE MANUAL AIR COND
• AUXILIARY REAR HEAT
• AM/FM RADIO WITH CASS & CD
• TILT STEERING WHEEL
• CRUISE CONTROL
• ROOF MOUNTED CARRIER RAILS
• REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER
• SIDE MOUNTED ASSIST STEPS
• CARPETED FLOOR MATS
• UNDERBODY MOUNTED SPARE TIRE
• POWER & HEATED OUTSIDE MIRRORS
• 24 HOUR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE
• GAUGE PACKAGE W/TACHOMETER
• VEH FUNCTION MONITORING SYSTEM
• INSIDE MIRROR W/COMPASS & TEMP
POWERTRAIN/CHASSIS FEATURES
• AUTOTRAC TRANSFER CASE
• AUTO TRANS WITH TOW/HAUL MODE
• 16" TIRES AND ALUMINUM WHEELS
• LOAD LEVELING SHOCK ABSORBERS
• EXTENDED LIFE ENGINE COOLANT
• STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST



While every effort is made to assure this information to be accurate, variations in the manufacturing process, dealer installed accessories and mileage figures may cause this window sticker display to vary from that on the vehicle. Check with your dealer for complete information.

*Includes Manufacturer's Recommended Pre-Delivery Service. Does not include dealer installed options and accessories, local taxes or license fees.

http://www.chevrolet.com/suburban Well, if you haven't see one, this is what I am getting. I HOPE!! Technically it is the third one down (don't you hate stock pics?). I HOPE!! Pick up is 24 hours away. Anything could go wrong. I don't count chickens till I have them. LOL

It must be the season for upgrading cars. We just went from an Aerostar, a 93, to a Mercury Mountaineer. We had looked at Ford Explorer but after driving a couple of Mountaineers we were hooked. It too has leather interior and some fun extras. Would love to have had the sliding sunroof but here in Oregon with all the rain we won't probably miss this feature. We bought a 2000 model in a gorgeous red. We did test drive a Tahoe but I wanted something a bit smaller. I have driven a Suburban too but we wanted a mid size SUV. Now just need to sell the Aerostar. It is in great shape and very clean but 127,000 miles. We will just have to see.

Badseed, I couldn't agree more about autotrader. That was such a valuable tool for us and then Carfax was too.

Congrats on yours too Lenjo! I had one really important factor in my buying, aside from saftey. I had to get maximum buttage! LOL In several months we will be a family of 8. That pretty well limits me to choices. LOL