Think Tank, Tahoe edition 

"Stevo777" (Stevo777) 01/25/2016 at 16:55 • Filed to: None

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Anyone have experience with fleet vehicles?

For quite some time I’ve been thinking of picking up a used 4x4 PPV Tahoe as a daily beater with the added convenience of a large SUV. You know, for those inconvenient times where my car isn’t big enough... Plus I do believe it’s more practice than a 2 door pickup. As much as I love the new Tacomas they’re just wayyy too expensive, I priced one out with minimal options to be $28k and it doesn’t help that they still hold their value.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

$15K 63k miles

So what do we think?

My mindset; it’s a fleet vehicle so parts are most likely going to be cheap, plentiful and the car itself has some kind of added durability? I mean they have to expect these cars will be idle for long periods of time.

What do we think, good investment or would I be wasting my time and money?

Takuro Spirit > Stevo777 01/25/2016 at 17:01

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Personally and speaking from experience I would avoid any big city used unit, especially one from Chicago.

Small town departments and “take home” units would be better treated, but you’re still buying a truck that was driven as it was not their own and over curbs and run to redline constantly and whatnot.

Plus knowing GM, parts are NOT cheap, even if they are plentiful. Not sure about the PPV specific bits in these.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Stevo777 01/25/2016 at 17:16

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If it was my companies truck, I’d buy it because I take care of it and drive it regularily. I wouldn’t touch an ex cop car with a 20-foot pole. They idle 24/7 even if they have low miles on the ODO.

Stevo777 > Takuro Spirit 01/25/2016 at 17:16

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Thanks for the good advice! I believe this example was from Texas, Chicago motors is one of the bigger police vehicle resellers from what I understand.

TahoeSTi > Takuro Spirit 01/25/2016 at 17:16

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The truck in the picture is from Texas. Also city workers don’t want to lose their jobs because they drive like an ass.

Takuro Spirit > TahoeSTi 01/25/2016 at 17:19

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Ah, I see on the site. “Texas Government”. Still pretty loose, I would ask for clarification. Also those rips in the back seat and the truck having carpet scare me.

BorkBorkBjork > Stevo777 01/25/2016 at 17:55

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It’s my understanding that only the 2WD Tahoes are pursuit-rated vehicles, which means the 4x4 versions have probably not seen super hard use. Maybe it was used as some type of city vehicle for remote utility service, where the 4x4 would come in handy.

I would say that, at 63k miles, you have years of trouble-free running. I have a similarly equipped Tahoe, and I have only had to replace the brakes in the 173k miles I have had it.

As mention above GM Certified replacement parts can be a bit expensive, but if you aren’t above scrap yard specials and eBay parts searches, anything can be had for very cheap.

They are also surpisingly good off-road, but noone will ever believe you when you say it. The “Auto” 4WD setting is the tits when you are just a bit suspicious about traction.

Stevo777 > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/25/2016 at 18:32

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Right, at this point we’re more concerned with the amount of hours on the car rather than miles. Thanks for your input!

Stevo777 > BorkBorkBjork 01/25/2016 at 18:42

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Yes, I would specifically look for a 4x4 version because I figure some decent A/T tires would keep me satisfied.

With the minor amount of research I’ve done, I typically found that the 2wd versions were purchased by mostly highway/ state police.

referring to replacement parts, I wouldn’t care about where the parts come from, if i can get them for the right price why not get them from a scrap yard.

also 173k only changing one set of brakes is really impressive, I’m at 60k on my car and they’re due soon.

Thanks for your advice!

American Locomotive > Stevo777 01/25/2016 at 19:40

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Unfortunately the only fleet vehicle I have experience with was an ‘01 F-250 that used to be owned by United Rentals - so of course it was beat relentlessly before it was sold.

However, I wouldn’t be afraid of lots of idling. I think the bad effects of extended idling come from old carb’d cars that’d probably wash the cylinders down from a bad burn or something.