by "Tristan" (casselts)
Published 06/24/2017 at 23:53
by "Tristan" (casselts)
Published 06/24/2017 at 23:53
No Tags
STARS: 5
I struck a deal on that thing I posted about earlier in the week... I’m paying more than I originally wanted to, but my ‘99 has burdened my wallet to the tune of about $1,200 over the last month, the transmission is dying, the AC is crapping out, it’s still gutless as hell and a terrible tow vehicle, the interior needs attention, and it’s just an all-around pile. The final straw was when I hopped in to drive home from work on Friday and the driver’s window refused to go down. It’s always worked flawlessly. Just before that I was walking up to it thinking “I still like it... maybe I should just keep fixing it and hang on to it.” That was the last straw. I love it, but it’s gotta get replaced. I’m sick of fixing my daily constantly while my 2 project cars go untouched. I paid a convenience upcharge because it’s close to me and I don’t have to travel to get it, I guess. Plus, it has everything I want- 6.0, barn doors, leather, relatively low miles... God I hope it’s reliable- the GMT400 half ton has been a major disappointment. I plan to keep this thing for AT LEAST 5 years...
"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
06/24/2017 at 23:56, STARS: 2
I keep waiting for my Suburban want to subside....and it keeps sticking around
"Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies" (jordanwphillips)
06/25/2017 at 00:00, STARS: 3
The 400 is overrated trash, romaticized by the people of Walmart parking lots. The 800 is quite good.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
06/25/2017 at 00:05, STARS: 3
Nice buy!
"Nothing" (nothingatalluseful)
06/25/2017 at 00:08, STARS: 1
I loved/hated my 400. Congrats on the new ride. I looked at those as well, but the bitter taste from my previous GM truck kept me away.
"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno)
06/25/2017 at 00:12, STARS: 1
Outside of brake lines liking to rust out (along with the rocker panels) and the odd electrical component failure (blower resistors, gauge steppers, ect...) the GMT800 is a solid ass truck. The 2500s have a 4L80 so it shouldn’t crap out on you and that’s about the only powertrain component that ever gives problems.
My dads owned his 04 Silverado since new and 148,000 miles later it’s still going strong without signs of stopping. The biggest thing he’s had to do is replace the brake lines. Other than that though, just plugs, oil, brakes, tires, and CV axles which actually is due to his lift kit more than anything.
"Tristan" (casselts)
06/25/2017 at 00:13, STARS: 0
If I let previous experience take over, I’d wouldn’t touch any GM product with a 10 foot pole... Maybe I have a problem.
"Nibby" (nibby68)
06/25/2017 at 00:14, STARS: 1
BARN DOORS NEED TO COME BACK
"Tristan" (casselts)
06/25/2017 at 00:16, STARS: 1
When my wife told me to buy something I’d actually keep long term, it’s the only thing that I know can do anything I need it to... Tow, haul, take long road trips in stride, fit kiddos... It’ll be great for anything the future holds aside from $5/gallon gas.
"Tristan" (casselts)
06/25/2017 at 00:18, STARS: 1
I’ve always known it, but I got suckered by the cheap buy-in. The only thing more expensive than a cheap luxury car is a cheap GM truck.
"Tristan" (casselts)
06/25/2017 at 00:25, STARS: 0
It’s a California truck that has now migrated to Oregon! Not one speck of the devil’s oxidation to be found!
"Tristan" (casselts)
06/25/2017 at 00:26, STARS: 0
Barn doors are best doors!
"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno)
06/25/2017 at 00:30, STARS: 1
You’re set then! A rust free GMT800 commands a high premium around me in the rust belt.
"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno)
06/25/2017 at 00:42, STARS: 1
That same sort of overrated trashiness extends down to the 2nd gen S10 which was conceived in the same era, to be honest. Mine even having low miles didn’t help. Steering was shit and I could never get it to align no matter what I tossed at the front end, brakes were iffy, the 4.3 leaked from everywhere and it rode like an ox cart. Later ones got a baby GMT800 interior so it wasn’t awful to be in and the gearbox wasn’t half bad but after 10 months I couldn’t take anymore of the rest of it. The Colorado that came after it wasn’t excellent by any means, but it was a marked improvement.
"Tristan" (casselts)
06/25/2017 at 00:44, STARS: 0
I spent the first 22 years of my life in Minnesota. My early years of being a gearhead taught me how to replace rusted brake lines, weld in patch panels, and free rusted fasteners. I don’t miss it. Last year Oregon got a whopping 6 or 8 inches of snow throughout the entire winter and everyone was begging for the state to start using salt... Please no.
"Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection" (itsalwayssteve)
06/25/2017 at 00:48, STARS: 0
As you may know I work in an upholstery shop. Most of what we do is new car upgrades. The top 5, 10+ year old vehicles we see are
96-02 4Runner
1st generation Tundra
GMT800
100-series LC
03-08 4Runner
Because after 250k miles the seats tend to wear out even though the trucks are running just fine.
Plus, the seat foam is easy to find.
"Tristan" (casselts)
06/25/2017 at 01:14, STARS: 0
theseatshop.com sells oem-style replacement upholstery for the fronts, and also new foam! The seat bottoms (the only part I’ll need to replace in the near future) run $199/ea. NP or CP? I figured that’s not a bad price, but you’re the pro!
"Tristan" (casselts)
06/25/2017 at 01:21, STARS: 0
My previous GM experience: a ‘92 S10 Blazer with a Vortec 4.3. I rescued it after it had been involved in a fire. It caught fire again after I rewired the whole thing. An ‘86 Celebrity... rust-free, mint condition, 65k miles... Engine threw a rod randomly on startup. An ‘01 Impala- I bought it with 12,000 miles, and sold it to a friend with 86,000 miles. It was mostly trouble free and a fantastic, economical car. The head gaskets went a week after I sold it to him. Then, my ‘99 Suburban. I bought it with 137k last November, shoveled a bunch of time and money into it, and it is still a total pile 7 months later at 150k miles.
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
06/25/2017 at 01:50, STARS: 2
I have never met a bad GMT800. The worst things about them IMO is the dash feels real cheap and I hate the radio but those are simple things that don’t break. I would 8/10 own one.
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
06/25/2017 at 01:52, STARS: 0
A “convenience upcharge?”
"Tristan" (casselts)
06/25/2017 at 03:03, STARS: 1
It’s how I justified overpaying for it in my mind... I didn’t have to board a plan and fly across the country to get it- it’s just one town over. This configuration (6.0 LT 2500 4x4 with barn doors and leather) is tough to come by without a billion miles, and this one was close to home.
"Tristan" (casselts)
06/25/2017 at 03:05, STARS: 1
The radios really are garbage up until around ‘03. The radio in this one is a carry over from the GMT400, though. Probably why it’s garbage.
"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
06/25/2017 at 06:52, STARS: 2
*checks commenter username*
Wow, the 800 must be awesome.
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
06/25/2017 at 10:28, STARS: 1
Even ‘05 still looked like a radio out of the early 90s. It’s dumb how long they kept it around,
"Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection" (itsalwayssteve)
06/25/2017 at 13:18, STARS: 1
For OEM style seat cover that’s about average. My shop would do it $200 installed but the sewing doesn’t match the factory seams exactly - it matches the seams on the cloth.