You do realize, Tommy, that the more you come out of your shell the more fun you are to watch as a presenter. You really know your stuff and your comments are hilarious - Fisher Price window switches! You're gonna end up taking over TFL from your dad one day and you guys will always have me as a fan. Great review, great laughs first thing in the morning!
My '99 Suburban has over 383,000 miles on the original engine and transmission! My parents purchased it back in March of '03 with just 81,000 miles. I have to agree with Tommy, they are very comfortable both inside and while floating down the highway.
This is my favorite type of content you guys create. Back in the 90's you didn't really think about buying a 20 year old vehicle to be your reliable daily...now it's pretty common. Just goes to show you how good these were. Thanks for another great video!
Yeah how clean this thing is for 4k? I could definitely pay that no issue given the absolute trash prices of new trucks now. I’ve got a 97 Tahoe that has the same rear doors that are essentially falling off and everything needs to be replaced essentially lol. We just use it to tow some stuff in town from time to time.
I own a 98 K2500 with the 454 and absolutely love it. I brought it 7 years ago with 89k miles from original owner for $4k. I'm confident it will outlast any modern SUV. Yes, it is thirsty but I can buy a lot of gas for less than a huge monthly payment for a newer one.
Love the fact it still has a Burt logo. That thing never left Colorado. My father's daily driver is a 96 Suburban my parents bought in 97. I learned how to drive in that thing. It was our family car that replaced our Astro van.
You missed the GT4 option = 3.73 gear ratio. Also with those miles if they haven't failed already, change the intake gaskets before you get Coolant in the oil and the infamous spider injectors. Also replace the distributor for good measure and your good for another 200,000 miles.
Couldn't agree more! I got my '97 GMC suburban K2500 last year for $2400, minimal rust with the 454, it's got 285k miles on it now and still running strong
Absolutely love the GMT400 trucks, and this one is no exception. Personally though, I would have rather seen a GMT800 model go up against the Excursion in the upcoming series! Either way I'm looking forward to it!
Wikipedia for some weird reason shows the GMT800 as the 9th gen Suburban, this being the 8th. And they somehow say that the 2500 Surburbans came in 2015 for the 2016 model year. I know that the 2nd one isn't true, because the 8th gen also had a 2500 version, but I'm not sure about the 1st.
It'd be no contest. The excursion was built on a ¾ ton platform and came with a diesel engine. The GMT800 suburban wasn't released to the public as a 2500 and they didn't come with a diesel.
@@CaptainRudy4021 the gmt800 suburban and Yukon xl were released in a 2500 platform, you could get them with an 8.1l V8 and you could also get them with quadrasteer. Also they are comparing it to a 6.8l V10 Excursion not a diesel so the 8.1l V8 suburban 2500 would probably fair pretty well. Although I will agree I wish they would've gotten a 3/4 ton suburban to compare with the Excursion even if it's a gmt400 model, I feel like it would be a lot more even.
I grew up in the backseat of one of the 1994 suburbans 1500 LT model I remember when my mom traded it on a 2002 chevy tahoe. And having a cd player was awesome in 2002 She still drives that taho to this day. 180,000 and still trucking along in 2022.
My first vehicle was a ‘97 Tahoe that I got for $4500 back in 2007. Durable, comfortable, plenty of power from the 350 to pull my boat. Wish I still had it. And he’s not wrong about those seats! Best seats in any vehicle ever, way more comfortable than my ‘19 Silverado!
Na bro. There going up in value like crazy. The Millennials are getting settled in their careers & making money now. They want these due to nostalgia, everyone had them back in the day. Kinda like 70's & 80's I seen growing up
I’m definitely a fan of this era of gm, I grew up with these things. My parents had a 98 suburban and a 01 1ton durmax, my neighbor’s both had 99 1/2tons, then my first truck was an 02 s10 zr2. Very fond of these old gms because when something breaks they ain’t hard to fix or figure out what’s going on, and there’s all kinds of aftermarket support. Overall they’re some good vehicles.
We have had 4 Suburbans over the years, and all of them have been an exceptional vehicle. While some complain of the gas mileage, all, but our 1984 with a 454 cu in, got similar gas mileage to my father-in-laws gas guzzling and small 4-runner. We never sold them due to reliability issues, but rather because we wanted a newer one. We have since switched to a 2019 Traverse which took us from 15-18 mpg to 27 mpg, but will definitely reconsider the Suburban again when they go electric.
I have a 99 Tahoe that I bought 11 years ago with 72,000 miles one owner. It came with the tow package but it had never been used to tow and the passenger door and rear doors were still stiff from not being used. It's our "tow and snow" vehicle. I'm retired so I've got it up to 123,000 miles on it and it's still going strong. Soon after purchase I had all the fluids changed out - transmission, transfer case, differentials, coolant, and replaced hoses since they were aging. It should last me the rest of my life.
I really enjoyed that, Tommy. I bought one of these new (1999 GMC version with barn doors) in 1998. There was also a version with a lifting tailgate which provided a rear washer/wiper. The only problem I had with it was a leak at the manifold. Otherwise, it was a great personal & work vehicle so long as it was fed lots of fuel. Then again, the 42 gallon tank gave it a range of over 600 miles before a bit more pain at the pump. It had a full front bench seat so it could seat 9 people - most of them comfortably. Mine did have the auto 4WD function but there was, so far as I can recall, no center differential so it wasn't an ideal vehicle for mixed winter traction. But it was great for towing and hauling people. It also ate up long distance trips up and down the east coast. The triple 12 volt outlets were handy for CB, bag cell phone (external antenna, great range for the time) and one extra. Fisher-Price controls all over for sure, but I came to like them and they work a lot better than a lot of modern screen based controls. Yes, that overhead thing is a CD holder. I imagine yours has lost some compression over the years but when the truck was new it actually had plenty of power - esp. for towing. You're right about the sound of the 350. We picked up a client from Austria once, in the 'Burban, and he said: "Now, that's the sound of America". He just loved the whole truck.
I have a 1994 Chevy Suburban K1500 that has been in our family for 22 years. It's been a loyal companion through many stages of my life. It's old, rusty, and the clear coat is faded but I love it and I will never get rid of it. I don't know why but when you get in and start it up; it just feels like you get transported back to a more simplistic era and for a little while, the problems of today go away. If my wife would let me, I'd buy one for each day of the week lol. Thanks for posting this and sharing the simple pleasures of a 90s GMT400 truck. They are really a piece of 90s Americana
Personally, I think this is one of the best looking generations of Suburban. I think it just has a clean timeless style, and the interior is still fairly modern looking without being overly complicated. I would love to have one of these with the later 6.0 V8 swapped in.
The 4L60E is a good transmission, what kills them is people tow with them and don't turn off the overdrive, the torque converter becomes overworked, which kills the torque converter, which takes the entire transmission with it. As long as you don't tow in overdrive or use tow/haul mode on newer vehicles.
tommy youve really come a long way since you first started appearing on camera. youre really a lot more fun to watch than a lot of people on youtube. keep doing you my guy never change
Got a 93 4x4 with the 454 and 4l80e I love mine and can’t wait for the next adventure. Also a 98 Tahoe in amazing shape with 113k most everything stock. Thanks TFL for covering this great SUV.
My dad's last vehicle before he went blind was a 96 Chevy Suburban in Cherry Ice. It was a great vehicle for NW Minnesota and brutal winters. Probably the best AC of any vehicle I've ever experienced to date. I wish I could have afforded to buy it from them back then.
I grew up as a kid riding to school and hockey practice in two of these...one was a brown 1994, and the other was a Cherry Ice Metallic 1998. My first vehicle when I got my license at 16 was my dad's 1997 Sierra 1500...lots of good memories from the GMT-400 platform for me. My grandmother even still has my grandfather's old 1998 Sierra 1500...barely over 70,000 km on it. It's like a time capsule, and it brings back fond memories of my first truck every time I drive it...mine had about 215,000 km on it when I started driving it and I sold it when it had almost 300,000 km if I remember correctly...would have been the better part of 13-14 years ago...still miss that truck.
As clean at that Suburban is, for $4000 it was a steal! I would've snapped that up in a hearbeat! I may drive Toyota and Lexus now, but I always had a thing for Suburban's. They are special vehicles and those were truly the last of the great ones for GM! Used to love when I came across them in the car business and they were always great to take on vacations before I sold them. My first car was also a 75 Suburban!
Love the GM full size SUVs. I had a 97 Tahoe I bought brand new, now I have an 02 Suburban I bought for $6k. Having had both, I prefer the GMT800, but not by much. They are both great!
Hey I don’t know if someone mentioned this yet but when you fold the rear seat up towards the front seats there are two holes that hold the rear seat headrests allowing you to fold the seat down completely and giving you a flat surface for work or storage. Sharp looking truck! 🤙🏽
I have the same suv except a different color that my dad bought new in 1999. We’ve took that thing on many trips over the years and we still drive it sometimes. It has probably 150,000 miles on it now and runs like a top. It’s been garage kept since day one and will never be sold.
Well, as a GMT400 owner, I'm obliged to love this series! 😄 The "CD holder" was there before the trucks had CD players - I don't really know what it is for my mine is full of fast-food napkins.😉
Just bought a '99 K1500 Z71 5.7 and its a beautiful truck. I got it for $6000 but it only has 140k miles, clean title, and zero rust. Only thing it needed are new tie rods.
Awesome truck! My family used to have a 99 Chevy suburban 2500 LT 7.4 w/ 4.10 axle. Same color combos as the truck you got. My dad sold it about 8 years ago with only 75000 miles…great condition. Can’t imagine what it would’ve been worth now. Excited to see what you guys do with it.
To me, this series of the Suburban is the best. Timeless styling. Vortech power (97 to 99), compliant suspension but heavy enough to tote some serious loads and very much an everyday driver. With the right tires, pretty adept off road. Fuel mileage isn't great but nothing of this class does much if any better. I had a 97 and 99. Great service from both of them.
We had one when i was a kid. Went all over the country in that thing with a family of 5. Had a play station 2 and a 12 inch tube tv in the back seat my brother and I would play on long trips. It was awesome and I’ve seriously thought about getting one in good shape now that i have my own family just because it was so roomy and we never had any serious issues with it at all. Cant beat an old 350 Suburban!
These are awesome truck.. i have a 1999 tahoe with 325k miles and running strong.. i also have a 1996 2 door tahoe with 225k miles.. i want a 1990s silverado.. i have lifetime warranty on multiple parts from Auto zone and orealys.. most of the parts are all interchangeable… super awesome trucks
You guys are right about current used market. I bought a '99 f150 4x4 with 185k miles about 10 years ago for $1400. Put a new spring in valve body to fix hard 2nd gear shift at the time. Only maintenance since then while it racked up another 90k miles. Sold it about a month ago for $4700. People being crazy out there.
Loved this review! I worked for a dealership in 2001-2002 that sold these off lease, wish I would’ve bought one then and just held onto it. Great video Tommy!
when i bought my highlander they kept trying to shove a lease at me, i was almost starting to get offended how bad they wanted the car back after I paid for it.
The size difference is truly massive. A family member parked her newer F150 beside the 95 Chevy in the driveway and the Ford looked to be near a foot wider, taller and longer.
@@mikedawyd4054 That’s unbelievable. The thing I noticed was how Tommy standing next to the front fender - the top of the fender / hood only came up to his waist.
It is pretty wild. My 1994 K2500 Chevy Suburban actually has almost the same dimensions and wheelbase as my 2008 4x4 crew cab Nissan Frontier long wheel base 6ft bed.
While I love the GMT400's when I was buying I went with the GMT800 (Tahoe) as I feel it is GM's best ever truck. However the 400 would be 2nd in my book.
Great video Tommy! Last year my brother in law borrowed $2000 from us, and in lieu of a lengthy repayment period offered his 1999 GMC K2500 SLT with the 454 and 183k miles. Runs great, no leaks of any kind. Just like yours the carpet was a disaster, but it sits in our garage right now with the interior gutted to replace the carpet, new lower seat cushions in the front, new leather, new sound system, cameras front and rear, etc. Also replacing the entire cooling and AC system. Come spring it will be almost like new for not a whole lot of money. Great trucks!
Yessh!!!! I owned a 1997 GMC Suburban SLT 1500, and I loved it, picked mine up for $1200. Long stoy short, it sat in a womens yard for 2 years after her husband passed. She advertised it on craigslist as "running, MAY need work, ran before it was parked." It ran for me for 6 years, I actually miss"SOPHIE" that was the Suburbans name. It did EVERTHING and went EVERYWHERE
My 97 my grandfather have me right before he passed away has been amazing barn doors Are helpful with my job can carry huge loads and be fully loaded with people never had one fail me and she's got 307k miles all original mine though I have had some in the past with over double that and still keep going strong however My 97 has the floor shift 4wd which I absolutely love Over the push button good solid trucks Great overlanding rigs cheap to fix Spacious safe reliable good looking and well rounded Machines in my opinion
We had two of these a GMC and Chevrolet both 95s. My favorite feature was the little light in the engine compartment that you could unhook and use to look around the whole engine bay
I have had every make and model of truck, imports and domestic, 2wd and 4wd, 2017 to 1940, I love my 97 Chevy Suburban Regency. It wheels with my xj, hauls with the big dogs, and seats the crew + with comfort. Great video
I bought a 94 k1500 Gmc suburban 2 years ago with 170k on it for a whopping $700. Absolutely rust free, perfect interior, and i only put a fuel tank and fuel pump in it. I'm currently having the trans rebuilt, cause who wants plastic accumulators? Other than that, the best $700 i've ever spent!
You won’t regret it, Have a Rubicon LJ, Take my 99 two door backroading, Bout same wheelbase, MUCH more comfortable, And that 5.7 runs, You tube Cadillac Don, Everybody drives a Chevy…
Love my Tahoes and suburbans all years, my parents had a ‘98 with the 5.7, then an 04 Yukon xl Denali with the 6.0, and I have a 2011 tahoe with the 5.3. All of them have pulled the boats and hauled the kids over the years without a problem.
I have a 2000 Cadillac Escalade which, along with the GMC Yukon Denali, were the last consumer applications of the GMT400. I have a lot of the same options as you have on your Suburban, but mine only has 133k on the clock. It's a wonderful truck and soooo comfortable to drive. I definitely think the Chevy had the best look back then, but they're all very timelessly styled machines.
I was so happy when I researched and found my 05 Suburban Z71 4x4 LS based rig for just $2300 and it was rusted to hell. It only needs a good interior cleaning and blend door for heat/cool maintenance. Always blows cold when i want, but sometimes the actuators dont close/open the doors for heat to flow every time. Will keep it forever and completely rebuild it when needed.
The Good 5.7 chevy V8 truly the best engine chevy has put out. The 5.3 and 6.0 vortec engines are great. My 05 avalanche 1500 I love it sure the Interior isn't amazing but. Big gm trucks are just the best. The older ones before the big rims nice thick sidewalls love it.
I was too busy looking at the reviews of whatever vehicle that Tommy was showing at the time to notice that he grew up! Great job, you’re the best but you learned from the best, your Dad. Thank all you guys at TFL.
Tommy: Don't film that Cameraman : *zooms in* 🤣🤣 Great channel guys, been a viewer since almost the beginning! It's been great watching Tommy grow into his comfort zone. Keep up the great content
My dad purchased one of these in 1999 and I was happy to take it off his hands in 2021. It is simple and has timeless utility that is also surprisingly comfortable. Works perfect as a dedicated road trip, camping, and ski mobile.
Man hell yeah we had a green 96 gmc suburban with the barn doors and vhs player and we took that thing everywhere. Brings back some damn good memories. Thanks tommy!
Recently bought a very clean k2500 1999 with 4:11 full floater and a 454. It pulls my trailer like there is nothing behind it. I paid 11,000 with 108,000 miles. I at first thought I'd paid way too much but after driving it over the road I feel that it was a steal. Comfortable, stable, simple, roomy, and wonderful for towing.
Our 99 tahoe still going strong at 170k. Just had to replace the sun gear in the trans common problem. It is the best one made they had all those years to develop it and made it the best it could be then the new model after it everything was new and untested crap.
I’ve had no less than 9 of the GMT 400 variants. Including a 2wd shorty step side with a v6 manual. I don’t own it any more, the the fellow I sold it to has close to 300,000 miles and he says he still loves it. It’s pretty hammered, but he still won’t sell it back to me! Also had a 1992 K1500 blazer (not taohoe!) 2door strippo 5speed 4x4 and a 95 2wd 2500 6.5 turbo diesel king bed! They were all fantastic driving with only minor, inexpensive repairs and maintenance. Even when fairly new. I still love how they look. GMC is still my preference! Great clip!
Love the suburban I have had a 94 98 2007 and 2011. Been thinking about getting another GMT or 2000 to 2005. Suburban save my life in bad 15 car accident. I walk away but my 94 was hit hard in the back. No glass broke just would not open. They told me I would have died it I was in any other vehicle. That day I became a true fan of the suburan. Thanks
I recently bought a 99 Silverado 4x4 w/ a 5.3L for $4500 w/ 150k miles and that was a pretty good deal to me. Only needed a couple things and it’s in great shape. I plan to sell it soon to make some profit, but it’s an awesome truck. I plan to buy another one after it sells 😅
Hey Tommy, great video! Just a quick clarification- it’s my understanding that the GMC brand was used in places where there were no Chevy dealers, or for other GM brand stores to be able to have something to expand their lines if there was a Chevy dealer already in the region, hence why we still have standalone Chevy dealers most places and Buick/GMC/Cad elsewhere. This model was the tail end of that era. This is off the top of my head so I fully expect other gentle readers to correct me if I’m wrong! Either way, this is fantastic. Love your channel and style!
Yeah, I think for a while that was GMC's whole reason for existence. GMC, Buick, and Pontiac seemed to typically all be sold together, because I guess none of them had enough draw by themselves to warrant a complete dealer. Meanwhile, in my area the Chevy dealers were typically standalone. Obviously Pontiac has been gone for some time, but there's still a Buick/GMC dealer near where I work. Not sure if they have any other cars at that location. I remember when I was a kid, my uncle was a GMC guy, he used to say that the GMC used stronger frames and thicker sheet metal. I don't know, maybe back in the '30s and '40s, but for decades they've been the identical truck other than the grill.
Great Video Tommy!! I had a 95 Yukon GT for 20 years. Ran awesome, and was incredible in the snow. The bolt pattern allowed me to put rims from 2015 1500 Sierra and 285s under it. Loved that rig. I was in Denver last week and stopped at Snarfs!!
You nailed it buddy! Once you have evolved to the sheer logic and use ability of owning the Chevy Suburban you’ll never own anything else. Suburban’s have always checked all the boxes for me. Best TFL ever made.
I had a 97 Chevy Suburban ànd regret getting rid of it. Thing was a tank. I was able to fit a scout troop in it with all the gear in the back. Although it did hurt everytime I would hit the pump.
17:51 Not to mention if the engine goes you can just go to the parts store and literally buy a new 350 small block or if you want to spend a bit more, go for a LS engine OR a small block 350 and buy a Holley Sniper EFI and MSD ignition to replace the carb and points
These Trucks are sooooo comfortable!! And you're good for 300k miles easy in these! But if you want one, get it now. They are becoming collectable real quick! And the nice ones are getting hard to find.
I had a 1999 2500 4x4 Suburban and now a 2005 Excursion 6.0. Both are very good driving trucks, the Excursion does feel more robust with the solid axles and better fit and finish overall. But I do feel that the Suburban had just as much usable cargo space even though it's about 12 inches shorter than the Excursion.
Absolutely love everything from the square to the GMT-800 trucks. Best vehicles you can get for the money. My most recent one was an 03 Yukon Denali. It has all the comfort of this gen, but the 6.0 and AWD made it a completely different animal to drive. It handled and stopped way tighter than I had expected it too, it drove like it was on rails, and was darn quick for its age. Ended up selling it to get a more fuel efficient Pontiac solstice, but I'm definitely gonna own another someday.
Absolutely right, Better design, less door sag, 6.0 is an animal, I use Seafoam, Every 6 months, A/C Delco oil oil filters at Wally $4. Use real premium gas, Hwy 20 mpg at 54 mph !
Paid the same for mine and it is a 95 K1500. Love it and since these SUV/Truck GMT 400 line was produced so much parts are prevalent. You can modify them the way you want but do not buy them for fuel efficiency!!!!!!! Mine has 240k and hasn't slowed down yet!
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You do realize, Tommy, that the more you come out of your shell the more fun you are to watch as a presenter. You really know your stuff and your comments are hilarious - Fisher Price window switches! You're gonna end up taking over TFL from your dad one day and you guys will always have me as a fan. Great review, great laughs first thing in the morning!
Thanks for the kind words! -Tommy
Between him and Mr. Smirnov it’s a freaking quality tv show. Other folks are great too but im a truck guy so I listen to Mr. Smirnov
I agree been watch TFL for years and love your commentary.
Definitely an improvement from even 2-3 years ago
Right? He's been hilarious lately!
My '99 Suburban has over 383,000 miles on the original engine and transmission! My parents purchased it back in March of '03 with just 81,000 miles. I have to agree with Tommy, they are very comfortable both inside and while floating down the highway.
This is my favorite type of content you guys create. Back in the 90's you didn't really think about buying a 20 year old vehicle to be your reliable daily...now it's pretty common. Just goes to show you how good these were. Thanks for another great video!
Part of that being how good they are, part of it being how expensive vehicles have become.
Great truck - $4000 is actually a really decent price for a good condition truck.
Looking at $7k for one with more miles albeit a little cleaner in Indiana. A 2004 with 380K miles is $6995.
Yeah how clean this thing is for 4k? I could definitely pay that no issue given the absolute trash prices of new trucks now.
I’ve got a 97 Tahoe that has the same rear doors that are essentially falling off and everything needs to be replaced essentially lol. We just use it to tow some stuff in town from time to time.
I wish all muscle cars cost $4000
@@missingremote4388 I used to buy muscle cars for 200.00 to 600.00 when I was in my teens. I kick myself now for not hanging on to them.
I just bought a 1976 c20 suburban with a turbo 350 400 sb dana 44 front axle and the big 14 bolt rear end.
The suburban is the longest running production vehicle in the world first introduced in 1936 still in production today pretty cool
Nope , since 1933.
The GMT 400 platform has aged so well. Such a sharp, clean design.
Tommy is quickly becoming my favorite automotive host across any channel
Thanks!
Agree.
$4,000? That’s awesome! I love this generation of Suburban. Plus the fact that it’s a GMC makes me like it even more.
I own a 98 K2500 with the 454 and absolutely love it. I brought it 7 years ago with 89k miles from original owner for $4k. I'm confident it will outlast any modern SUV. Yes, it is thirsty but I can buy a lot of gas for less than a huge monthly payment for a newer one.
Amen to that!
I don't know man Toyota hilux can run forever
99 k2500 burb is my daily driver, with 251k and climbing!!!
Love the fact it still has a Burt logo. That thing never left Colorado.
My father's daily driver is a 96 Suburban my parents bought in 97. I learned how to drive in that thing. It was our family car that replaced our Astro van.
You missed the GT4 option = 3.73 gear ratio. Also with those miles if they haven't failed already, change the intake gaskets before you get Coolant in the oil and the infamous spider injectors. Also replace the distributor for good measure and your good for another 200,000 miles.
While you’re in there swap the fuel regulator too, mine took a crap at 86k on my 96(first truck) and dumped fuel on startup lol.
Couldn't agree more! I got my '97 GMC suburban K2500 last year for $2400, minimal rust with the 454, it's got 285k miles on it now and still running strong
What kind of mileage do you get? Looking at getting one with the 454
@@michaelmccondochie1550 I'm on 285/75/16 all terrain tires and I get like 10-12 mpg on the highway
@@KyleLunsford For a 454 V8, not bad.
Absolutely love the GMT400 trucks, and this one is no exception. Personally though, I would have rather seen a GMT800 model go up against the Excursion in the upcoming series! Either way I'm looking forward to it!
Wikipedia for some weird reason shows the GMT800 as the 9th gen Suburban, this being the 8th. And they somehow say that the 2500 Surburbans came in 2015 for the 2016 model year. I know that the 2nd one isn't true, because the 8th gen also had a 2500 version, but I'm not sure about the 1st.
It'd be no contest. The excursion was built on a ¾ ton platform and came with a diesel engine. The GMT800 suburban wasn't released to the public as a 2500 and they didn't come with a diesel.
@@CaptainRudy4021 the gmt800 suburban and Yukon xl were released in a 2500 platform, you could get them with an 8.1l V8 and you could also get them with quadrasteer. Also they are comparing it to a 6.8l V10 Excursion not a diesel so the 8.1l V8 suburban 2500 would probably fair pretty well. Although I will agree I wish they would've gotten a 3/4 ton suburban to compare with the Excursion even if it's a gmt400 model, I feel like it would be a lot more even.
@@KyleLunsford I know they came with the 8.1L V8 but they never put a diesel in one and I'd rather have a diesel.
@@damilolaakanni The 2500's went away after 2013 on the GMT900 and came back for the 2016 MY on the K2's.
I grew up in the backseat of one of the 1994 suburbans 1500 LT model
I remember when my mom traded it on a 2002 chevy tahoe.
And having a cd player was awesome in 2002
She still drives that taho to this day. 180,000 and still trucking along in 2022.
My first vehicle was a ‘97 Tahoe that I got for $4500 back in 2007. Durable, comfortable, plenty of power from the 350 to pull my boat. Wish I still had it. And he’s not wrong about those seats! Best seats in any vehicle ever, way more comfortable than my ‘19 Silverado!
So glad to see you guys giving old Suburbans some love! Vastly underrated amongst “overlanders”.
Na bro. There going up in value like crazy. The Millennials are getting settled in their careers & making money now. They want these due to nostalgia, everyone had them back in the day. Kinda like 70's & 80's I seen growing up
I have a 1999 GMC suburban just like that one and has virtually no rust I paid 3,500 for mine 4 years ago and absolutely love it.
They all came down the same assembly line . reliably came down to how you took care of them and service one of the best ever 🇺🇸🇺🇸
I’m definitely a fan of this era of gm, I grew up with these things. My parents had a 98 suburban and a 01 1ton durmax, my neighbor’s both had 99 1/2tons, then my first truck was an 02 s10 zr2. Very fond of these old gms because when something breaks they ain’t hard to fix or figure out what’s going on, and there’s all kinds of aftermarket support. Overall they’re some good vehicles.
When shopping for sofas It took a 3 stores and 20 attempts to find something as comfy as my late 80's caprice. GM had excellent seats back in the day.
We have had 4 Suburbans over the years, and all of them have been an exceptional vehicle. While some complain of the gas mileage, all, but our 1984 with a 454 cu in, got similar gas mileage to my father-in-laws gas guzzling and small 4-runner. We never sold them due to reliability issues, but rather because we wanted a newer one. We have since switched to a 2019 Traverse which took us from 15-18 mpg to 27 mpg, but will definitely reconsider the Suburban again when they go electric.
I have a 99 Tahoe that I bought 11 years ago with 72,000 miles one owner. It came with the tow package but it had never been used to tow and the passenger door and rear doors were still stiff from not being used. It's our "tow and snow" vehicle. I'm retired so I've got it up to 123,000 miles on it and it's still going strong. Soon after purchase I had all the fluids changed out - transmission, transfer case, differentials, coolant, and replaced hoses since they were aging. It should last me the rest of my life.
Same here Vance,
Been really pleased, lots of
parts cheap to keep, enjoy
I really enjoyed that, Tommy. I bought one of these new (1999 GMC version with barn doors) in 1998. There was also a version with a lifting tailgate which provided a rear washer/wiper. The only problem I had with it was a leak at the manifold. Otherwise, it was a great personal & work vehicle so long as it was fed lots of fuel. Then again, the 42 gallon tank gave it a range of over 600 miles before a bit more pain at the pump. It had a full front bench seat so it could seat 9 people - most of them comfortably. Mine did have the auto 4WD function but there was, so far as I can recall, no center differential so it wasn't an ideal vehicle for mixed winter traction. But it was great for towing and hauling people. It also ate up long distance trips up and down the east coast. The triple 12 volt outlets were handy for CB, bag cell phone (external antenna, great range for the time) and one extra. Fisher-Price controls all over for sure, but I came to like them and they work a lot better than a lot of modern screen based controls. Yes, that overhead thing is a CD holder.
I imagine yours has lost some compression over the years but when the truck was new it actually had plenty of power - esp. for towing. You're right about the sound of the 350. We picked up a client from Austria once, in the 'Burban, and he said: "Now, that's the sound of America". He just loved the whole truck.
we got one with 348,000 miles. proper maintenance + cheap parts means it can run forever.
I have a 1994 Chevy Suburban K1500 that has been in our family for 22 years. It's been a loyal companion through many stages of my life. It's old, rusty, and the clear coat is faded but I love it and I will never get rid of it. I don't know why but when you get in and start it up; it just feels like you get transported back to a more simplistic era and for a little while, the problems of today go away. If my wife would let me, I'd buy one for each day of the week lol. Thanks for posting this and sharing the simple pleasures of a 90s GMT400 truck. They are really a piece of 90s Americana
Personally, I think this is one of the best looking generations of Suburban. I think it just has a clean timeless style, and the interior is still fairly modern looking without being overly complicated. I would love to have one of these with the later 6.0 V8 swapped in.
The 4L60E is a good transmission, what kills them is people tow with them and don't turn off the overdrive, the torque converter becomes overworked, which kills the torque converter, which takes the entire transmission with it. As long as you don't tow in overdrive or use tow/haul mode on newer vehicles.
tommy youve really come a long way since you first started appearing on camera. youre really a lot more fun to watch than a lot of people on youtube. keep doing you my guy never change
Got a 93 4x4 with the 454 and 4l80e I love mine and can’t wait for the next adventure. Also a 98 Tahoe in amazing shape with 113k most everything stock. Thanks TFL for covering this great SUV.
My dad's last vehicle before he went blind was a 96 Chevy Suburban in Cherry Ice. It was a great vehicle for NW Minnesota and brutal winters. Probably the best AC of any vehicle I've ever experienced to date. I wish I could have afforded to buy it from them back then.
I grew up as a kid riding to school and hockey practice in two of these...one was a brown 1994, and the other was a Cherry Ice Metallic 1998. My first vehicle when I got my license at 16 was my dad's 1997 Sierra 1500...lots of good memories from the GMT-400 platform for me. My grandmother even still has my grandfather's old 1998 Sierra 1500...barely over 70,000 km on it. It's like a time capsule, and it brings back fond memories of my first truck every time I drive it...mine had about 215,000 km on it when I started driving it and I sold it when it had almost 300,000 km if I remember correctly...would have been the better part of 13-14 years ago...still miss that truck.
As clean at that Suburban is, for $4000 it was a steal! I would've snapped that up in a hearbeat! I may drive Toyota and Lexus now, but I always had a thing for Suburban's. They are special vehicles and those were truly the last of the great ones for GM! Used to love when I came across them in the car business and they were always great to take on vacations before I sold them. My first car was also a 75 Suburban!
Just bought the Chevy version LT 4x4 5.7 Vortec cold air power window all work 256k miles $3,300 great deal!
Love the GM full size SUVs. I had a 97 Tahoe I bought brand new, now I have an 02 Suburban I bought for $6k. Having had both, I prefer the GMT800, but not by much. They are both great!
Hey I don’t know if someone mentioned this yet but when you fold the rear seat up towards the front seats there are two holes that hold the rear seat headrests allowing you to fold the seat down completely and giving you a flat surface for work or storage. Sharp looking truck! 🤙🏽
I have the same suv except a different color that my dad bought new in 1999. We’ve took that thing on many trips over the years and we still drive it sometimes. It has probably 150,000 miles on it now and runs like a top. It’s been garage kept since day one and will never be sold.
Well, as a GMT400 owner, I'm obliged to love this series! 😄 The "CD holder" was there before the trucks had CD players - I don't really know what it is for my mine is full of fast-food napkins.😉
Just bought a '99 K1500 Z71 5.7 and its a beautiful truck. I got it for $6000 but it only has 140k miles, clean title, and zero rust. Only thing it needed are new tie rods.
Awesome truck! My family used to have a 99 Chevy suburban 2500 LT 7.4 w/ 4.10 axle. Same color combos as the truck you got. My dad sold it about 8 years ago with only 75000 miles…great condition. Can’t imagine what it would’ve been worth now. Excited to see what you guys do with it.
To me, this series of the Suburban is the best. Timeless styling. Vortech power (97 to 99), compliant suspension but heavy enough to tote some serious loads and very much an everyday driver. With the right tires, pretty adept off road. Fuel mileage isn't great but nothing of this class does much if any better. I had a 97 and 99. Great service from both of them.
We had one when i was a kid. Went all over the country in that thing with a family of 5. Had a play station 2 and a 12 inch tube tv in the back seat my brother and I would play on long trips. It was awesome and I’ve seriously thought about getting one in good shape now that i have my own family just because it was so roomy and we never had any serious issues with it at all. Cant beat an old 350 Suburban!
100% agreed! A 90s Suburban is the best car you can own! and you can own it for a VERY long time with little cost on repairs and insurance.
These are awesome truck.. i have a 1999 tahoe with 325k miles and running strong.. i also have a 1996 2 door tahoe with 225k miles.. i want a 1990s silverado.. i have lifetime warranty on multiple parts from Auto zone and orealys.. most of the parts are all interchangeable… super awesome trucks
I always liked the first gen, 4-door Tahoe’s. I do believe that this is likely the most loved generation of full size Chevy trucks and suvs.
You guys are right about current used market. I bought a '99 f150 4x4 with 185k miles about 10 years ago for $1400. Put a new spring in valve body to fix hard 2nd gear shift at the time. Only maintenance since then while it racked up another 90k miles. Sold it about a month ago for $4700. People being crazy out there.
I posted my truck online and had 15 emails on it day 1.
Great presentation 🎉.
Love the GMT400 Suburban!
Loved this review! I worked for a dealership in 2001-2002 that sold these off lease, wish I would’ve bought one then and just held onto it. Great video Tommy!
when i bought my highlander they kept trying to shove a lease at me, i was almost starting to get offended how bad they wanted the car back after I paid for it.
It’s crazy to see how small this thing is compared to current models.
The size difference is truly massive.
A family member parked her newer F150 beside the 95 Chevy in the driveway and the Ford looked to be near a foot wider, taller and longer.
@@mikedawyd4054 That’s unbelievable. The thing I noticed was how Tommy standing next to the front fender - the top of the fender / hood only came up to his waist.
@BL Dontmatter LOL!
It is pretty wild. My 1994 K2500 Chevy Suburban actually has almost the same dimensions and wheelbase as my 2008 4x4 crew cab Nissan Frontier long wheel base 6ft bed.
@@duncdunc76 but the k2500 suburban weighs twice that of a frontier crew cab
Absolutely love the c1500 with the Southern Comfort ground effects custom 🔥🔥🔥👍🏼👍🏼
While I love the GMT400's when I was buying I went with the GMT800 (Tahoe) as I feel it is GM's best ever truck. However the 400 would be 2nd in my book.
The best, indeed. I owned 1988 Chevy Suburban, and that 5.7/350 engine is just amazing.
Great video Tommy! Last year my brother in law borrowed $2000 from us, and in lieu of a lengthy repayment period offered his 1999 GMC K2500 SLT with the 454 and 183k miles. Runs great, no leaks of any kind. Just like yours the carpet was a disaster, but it sits in our garage right now with the interior gutted to replace the carpet, new lower seat cushions in the front, new leather, new sound system, cameras front and rear, etc. Also replacing the entire cooling and AC system. Come spring it will be almost like new for not a whole lot of money. Great trucks!
Smart, fine rigs…
They did a great job designing this truck. Frame on body design, simple strong built parts.
Bingo Ed, last new GM truck
2014, 6 recalls in 3 months,
Have several 92-2003 now, Very happy…
Still running the 2001 Yukon with the same 5.3 and tranny. 345K miles. Has taken us everywhere. One of the best purchases I've ever made.
Yessh!!!! I owned a 1997 GMC Suburban SLT 1500, and I loved it, picked mine up for $1200. Long stoy short, it sat in a womens yard for 2 years after her husband passed. She advertised it on craigslist as "running, MAY need work, ran before it was parked." It ran for me for 6 years, I actually miss"SOPHIE" that was the Suburbans name. It did EVERTHING and went EVERYWHERE
Got 98 2 door Tahoe. Had it since 2009 250k miles still going strong
Hi TFL! We still own a 1999 Chevy Suburban. This thing is a absolute tank. If you are looking for a comparison, we’re happy to lend ours!
My 97 my grandfather have me right before he passed away has been amazing barn doors Are helpful with my job can carry huge loads and be fully loaded with people never had one fail me and she's got 307k miles all original mine though I have had some in the past with over double that and still keep going strong however My 97 has the floor shift 4wd which I absolutely love Over the push button good solid trucks Great overlanding rigs cheap to fix Spacious safe reliable good looking and well rounded Machines in my opinion
We had two of these a GMC and Chevrolet both 95s. My favorite feature was the little light in the engine compartment that you could unhook and use to look around the whole engine bay
I’ve got an 05 Burb LT that just hit 367,000 miles, still going strong 😎
I have had every make and model of truck, imports and domestic, 2wd and 4wd, 2017 to 1940, I love my 97 Chevy Suburban Regency. It wheels with my xj, hauls with the big dogs, and seats the crew + with comfort. Great video
I bought a 94 k1500 Gmc suburban 2 years ago with 170k on it for a whopping $700. Absolutely rust free, perfect interior, and i only put a fuel tank and fuel pump in it. I'm currently having the trans rebuilt, cause who wants plastic accumulators? Other than that, the best $700 i've ever spent!
SO MUCH NOSTALGIA with the GMT400 Suburban. So many memories.
My aunt still to this day owns her 1999 GMC Yukon, these GMT400's are such iconic vehicles, my dream would be to own a 2-door Tahoe/Yukon.
You won’t regret it,
Have a Rubicon LJ,
Take my 99 two door backroading,
Bout same wheelbase, MUCH more comfortable,
And that 5.7 runs,
You tube Cadillac Don,
Everybody drives a Chevy…
I have a 96 K2500, 7.4L Gas. It is the best vehicle I have ever owned. It goes anywhere, fast.
Love my Tahoes and suburbans all years, my parents had a ‘98 with the 5.7, then an 04 Yukon xl Denali with the 6.0, and I have a 2011 tahoe with the 5.3. All of them have pulled the boats and hauled the kids over the years without a problem.
You guys have been giving the older full size GM SUV’s big time love in the last couple videos!👍🏿
I have a 2000 Cadillac Escalade which, along with the GMC Yukon Denali, were the last consumer applications of the GMT400. I have a lot of the same options as you have on your Suburban, but mine only has 133k on the clock. It's a wonderful truck and soooo comfortable to drive. I definitely think the Chevy had the best look back then, but they're all very timelessly styled machines.
I was so happy when I researched and found my 05 Suburban Z71 4x4 LS based rig for just $2300 and it was rusted to hell. It only needs a good interior cleaning and blend door for heat/cool maintenance. Always blows cold when i want, but sometimes the actuators dont close/open the doors for heat to flow every time. Will keep it forever and completely rebuild it when needed.
The Good 5.7 chevy V8 truly the best engine chevy has put out. The 5.3 and 6.0 vortec engines are great. My 05 avalanche 1500 I love it sure the Interior isn't amazing but. Big gm trucks are just the best. The older ones before the big rims nice thick sidewalls love it.
I was too busy looking at the reviews of whatever vehicle that Tommy was showing at the time to notice that he grew up! Great job, you’re the best but you learned from the best, your Dad. Thank all you guys at TFL.
Tommy: Don't film that
Cameraman : *zooms in* 🤣🤣
Great channel guys, been a viewer since almost the beginning! It's been great watching Tommy grow into his comfort zone. Keep up the great content
Always thought it was really cool that they made 3/4 ton suburban and excursions. Y’all should DEFINITELY, do a series on excursion vs suburban.
My dad purchased one of these in 1999 and I was happy to take it off his hands in 2021. It is simple and has timeless utility that is also surprisingly comfortable. Works perfect as a dedicated road trip, camping, and ski mobile.
This era GM trucks were rly good, & very well made. We had one for a while, & that thing was tough as nails. It just wouldn’t die.
More GMT400 content? Hell yeah!
Man hell yeah we had a green 96 gmc suburban with the barn doors and vhs player and we took that thing everywhere. Brings back some damn good memories. Thanks tommy!
Recently bought a very clean k2500 1999 with 4:11 full floater and a 454. It pulls my trailer like there is nothing behind it. I paid 11,000 with 108,000 miles. I at first thought I'd paid way too much but after driving it over the road I feel that it was a steal. Comfortable, stable, simple, roomy, and wonderful for towing.
Roman drives a $60K+ brand new Cummins Ram as a "ranch truck." Tommy drives a $4K 1999 Suburban as a "ranch SUV." The child is father to the man. ;-)
Our 99 tahoe still going strong at 170k. Just had to replace the sun gear in the trans common problem. It is the best one made they had all those years to develop it and made it the best it could be then the new model after it everything was new and untested crap.
I’ve had no less than 9 of the GMT 400 variants. Including a 2wd shorty step side with a v6 manual. I don’t own it any more, the the fellow I sold it to has close to 300,000 miles and he says he still loves it.
It’s pretty hammered, but he still won’t sell it back to me!
Also had a 1992 K1500 blazer (not taohoe!) 2door strippo 5speed 4x4 and a 95 2wd 2500 6.5 turbo diesel king bed!
They were all fantastic driving with only minor, inexpensive repairs and maintenance. Even when fairly new.
I still love how they look. GMC is still my preference!
Great clip!
My buddy had this in high school. Thing was absolutely bomb proof. He hit the cinderblock wall of a bowling alley and there wasn’t a scratch on it.
Love the suburban I have had a 94 98 2007 and 2011. Been thinking about getting another GMT or 2000 to 2005. Suburban save my life in bad 15 car accident. I walk away but my 94 was hit hard in the back. No glass broke just would not open. They told me I would have died it I was in any other vehicle. That day I became a true fan of the suburan. Thanks
I recently bought a 99 Silverado 4x4 w/ a 5.3L for $4500 w/ 150k miles and that was a pretty good deal to me. Only needed a couple things and it’s in great shape. I plan to sell it soon to make some profit, but it’s an awesome truck. I plan to buy another one after it sells 😅
Hey Tommy, great video! Just a quick clarification- it’s my understanding that the GMC brand was used in places where there were no Chevy dealers, or for other GM brand stores to be able to have something to expand their lines if there was a Chevy dealer already in the region, hence why we still have standalone Chevy dealers most places and Buick/GMC/Cad elsewhere. This model was the tail end of that era. This is off the top of my head so I fully expect other gentle readers to correct me if I’m wrong! Either way, this is fantastic. Love your channel and style!
Yeah, I think for a while that was GMC's whole reason for existence. GMC, Buick, and Pontiac seemed to typically all be sold together, because I guess none of them had enough draw by themselves to warrant a complete dealer. Meanwhile, in my area the Chevy dealers were typically standalone.
Obviously Pontiac has been gone for some time, but there's still a Buick/GMC dealer near where I work. Not sure if they have any other cars at that location.
I remember when I was a kid, my uncle was a GMC guy, he used to say that the GMC used stronger frames and thicker sheet metal. I don't know, maybe back in the '30s and '40s, but for decades they've been the identical truck other than the grill.
Great Video Tommy!! I had a 95 Yukon GT for 20 years. Ran awesome, and was incredible in the snow. The bolt pattern allowed me to put rims from 2015 1500 Sierra and 285s under it. Loved that rig.
I was in Denver last week and stopped at Snarfs!!
You nailed it buddy! Once you have evolved to the sheer logic and use ability of owning the Chevy Suburban you’ll never own anything else. Suburban’s have always checked all the boxes for me. Best TFL ever made.
I had a 97 Chevy Suburban ànd regret getting rid of it. Thing was a tank. I was able to fit a scout troop in it with all the gear in the back. Although it did hurt everytime I would hit the pump.
My 96 GMC Yukon went down other day she had right at 300,000 on her mad many trip in her! She aerved me well!
17:51 Not to mention if the engine goes you can just go to the parts store and literally buy a new 350 small block or if you want to spend a bit more, go for a LS engine OR a small block 350 and buy a Holley Sniper EFI and MSD ignition to replace the carb and points
When you brought up the "Knee Speaker"... It sounded like you were channeling Doug DeMuro lol
Tommy, I love the used car reviews from you, sir. Please keep them coming. No one else that I know in the states, does it. Could be your niche.
We had the same year tahoe 5.7 vortec 350 k and was still running strong
These Trucks are sooooo comfortable!! And you're good for 300k miles easy in these! But if you want one, get it now. They are becoming collectable real quick! And the nice ones are getting hard to find.
I’m lovin the straight forward “this is what you get” out of Tommy it is refreshing.
I had a 1999 2500 4x4 Suburban and now a 2005 Excursion 6.0. Both are very good driving trucks, the Excursion does feel more robust with the solid axles and better fit and finish overall. But I do feel that the Suburban had just as much usable cargo space even though it's about 12 inches shorter than the Excursion.
Absolutely love everything from the square to the GMT-800 trucks. Best vehicles you can get for the money. My most recent one was an 03 Yukon Denali. It has all the comfort of this gen, but the 6.0 and AWD made it a completely different animal to drive. It handled and stopped way tighter than I had expected it too, it drove like it was on rails, and was darn quick for its age. Ended up selling it to get a more fuel efficient Pontiac solstice, but I'm definitely gonna own another someday.
Absolutely right,
Better design, less door sag,
6.0 is an animal, I use Seafoam,
Every 6 months, A/C Delco oil oil
filters at Wally $4. Use real premium gas,
Hwy 20 mpg at 54 mph !
Paid the same for mine and it is a 95 K1500. Love it and since these SUV/Truck GMT 400 line was produced so much parts are prevalent. You can modify them the way you want but do not buy them for fuel efficiency!!!!!!! Mine has 240k and hasn't slowed down yet!
I purchased one last year for 4000. I purchased it because I could afford it. Now I have it because I love it. Except the mpg.