Budget for a 2500 burban?

What sort of ballpark figures should I be looking at cost wise for a 2000+ Suburban 2500?

I feel like here in Raleigh they are a) rare and b) over priced

Ideally an 8.1 model. Can they be found appreciably cheaper than the corresponding era crew cab trucks?

Are they worth a fly and drive?

I have looked extensively into this topic. you can find beat up ones for 5-8k some real clean ones are about 10-13k and some people try an offer 20k for them which is crazy.

the 2000-2006 is going to be your 8.1, all of the 2500 series suburbans are worth their weight in performance above the half ton if you do any towing. I hear people bitch about the 8.1 but it makes 400ft lbs at 1000rpm. pair that with the 4L85E and its pretty stout overall. You can save cash on a 6.0 powered 2500 burb but it gets similar fuel economy without the performance.

the 07-13 did not get the 8.1 option. but the differences between the GMT800/900 are slim - depends on your budget. I'm about to go down the rabbit hole and put an 8.1 in my 08 suburban

and for what its worth they are "rare" and overpriced - a diesel truck isn't that far of a stretch from there.

But you can't get the diesel in the Burban except by a crazy expensive swap.

For comparison, I sold my late dad's pickup a little over a year ago for $12.9. It was an 2000 Chevrolet extended cab 2500 with 49,000 miles on it.

Update: It had the 8.1 with the Allison transmission.

So really for decent ones we are looking at likely 5-10kish

This one looks pretty clean (I checked Atlanta because it seems to be a common place mentioned here)

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/d/2001-chevrolet-suburban-ltx4/6256159990.html

Are there any good mid east markets I should be eyeing? in VA or TN etc

Texas - unless something has changed over the years, I read that 50% of Burbs production goes to Texas.

I found a lot in the southeast and Texas when I was looking for mine. I would say anywere from 5k for the early models to 12-14k for a really nice, low mile 2006.

I just bought a 2004 2500 6.0 Suburban with Quadrasteer. 180,000 miles (motor has 120,000 and a 6 month warranty) for $6,100. New tires, battery, brakes, brake lines, loaded. It's a pretty cool ride and gets really bad highway MPGs (maybe 13 )

yeah, I paid $6500 for my '02 a few years back and could still get that today. The 8.1 version is definitely a bit more rare, they were generally well equipped and they hold their value pretty good as they are the desirable one. Still cheaper then a diesel truck with similar performance. I love mine, especially towing a 9500 lb travel trailer up a hill passing semis with ease.

KyAllroad wrote: I just bought a 2004 2500 6.0 Suburban with Quadrasteer. 180,000 miles (motor has 120,000 and a 6 month warranty) for $6,100. New tires, battery, brakes, brake lines, loaded. It's a pretty cool ride and gets really bad highway MPGs (maybe 13 )

Same MPG as my 8.1.

camaroz1985 wrote:

KyAllroad wrote: I just bought a 2004 2500 6.0 Suburban with Quadrasteer. 180,000 miles (motor has 120,000 and a 6 month warranty) for $6,100. New tires, battery, brakes, brake lines, loaded. It's a pretty cool ride and gets really bad highway MPGs (maybe 13 )

Same MPG as my 8.1.

shots fired!

Have a RAM 2500 Crewcab 4x4 rental for this weekend trip and next weekends trip to VIR, it has the 5.7 Hemi and is a bit of a dog without even towing and its getting 11mpg

Jaynen wrote: Have a RAM 2500 Crewcab 4x4 rental for this weekend trip and next weekends trip to VIR, it has the 5.7 Hemi and is a bit of a dog without even towing and its getting 11mpg

Yup, same experience last year. It's a disappointing combination. Since you're renting, ask for the diesel.

Wow, didn't know the 8.1 is actually preferred over the 6.0.

Blaise wrote: Wow, didn't know the 8.1 is actually preferred over the 6.0.

Not by all, I went for the 8.1 since it had power everywhere compared to the 6.0 and EPA estimates were 2mpg shorter. Real world seem to be even and the towing mpg #s don't drop as much since the torque is available from down low.

I think if the 6.0 was in a lighter truck like a half ton it would probably do a lot better. But I am guessing with the weight and gearing of the 3/4ton chassis trucks the smaller engine just gets worked harder.

Then again my F150 with the 5.4 (2004 crewcab) got 16mpg all the time so while % wise thats a big improvement over 10mpg it doesnt seem that much real world

chandlerGTi wrote:

Blaise wrote: Wow, didn't know the 8.1 is actually preferred over the 6.0.

Not by all, I went for the 8.1 since it had power everywhere compared to the 6.0 and EPA estimates were 2mpg shorter. Real world seem to be even and the towing mpg #s don't drop as much since the torque is available from down low.

I'm towing for first time with my 4.8/4L60E next week. Just a miata and open trailer... let's see how long I make it before wanting something bigger....

In reply to Blaise:

Just keep it in 3 and out of OD and it'll be fine.

Interestingly, my friend who teaches transmission rebuilds for GM said D and tow mode is good to go.

Yeah average mpg on this trip according to the dash was 9.8 mpg. I really don't think the tranny programming even in tow/haul knew what it was doing with the 5.7

And this was only towing a sub 3500 hybrid travel trailer.

Also I feel like that truck is much larger and higher than it needs to be. It is 4wd but when a 6ft man still needs to use the grab handle to climb in its ugh.

I need to find a local burban 2500 and test drive it to see if its any better

In case anyone Midwest is looking this 2004 2500 8.1L is in the Chicago area. Dealer has pics available and will send on request, not posted yet on their web site. I thought about it for a bit but decided a truck makes more sense for me. Haven't seen it in person. Carfax is available and lists a structural accident and repairs done in 2013.

http://www.garylangauto.com/used/Chevrolet/2004-Chevrolet-Suburban+2500-McHenry-934709ed0a0e0ae965f9dd843cb7d793.htm

I'll be curious what you end up buying and for what price range. I'm still 50/50 on the 6.0 vs. 8.1 debate.

In reply to Jaynen:

I've always felt, and have heard others say this as well, that the 4x4 GM trucks sit a bit lower than their counterparts from Ford and Dodge. I have no data to back this up, so it might be complete BS

I got my 01 2500 one owner 6.0 with 153k for a little over 5k, so deals are out there. If you find one without rust that you like I would not worry about it being a 6.o vrs 8.1 if you wait to long it will be gone ! I had 5 suburbans / yukons that I was going to look at get sold the week before I could look at them. Also hear that 8.1 drink almost as much oil as gas, is that true ?

scottdownsouth wrote: I got my 01 2500 one owner 6.0 with 153k for a little over 5k, so deals are out there. If you find one without rust that you like I would not worry about it being a 6.o vrs 8.1 if you wait to long it will be gone ! I had 5 suburbans / yukons that I was going to look at get sold the week before I could look at them. Also hear that 8.1 drink almost as much oil as gas, is that true ?

Apparently there was an updated head in 03 or something that reduced that consumption quite a bit. From what I read people were saying like a quart per oil change which is not that bad.

While the 8.1 is more rare I have not seen them be any more expensive than the 6.0's usually.

I feel like you pay a pretty big premium for the truck vs the burb tho? Like 2-3k at least in most cases and the trucks seem more clapped out.