MontegoMan Might buy a Non-Mercury

"MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner" (montegoman562)
08/02/2019 at 16:12 • Filed to: Non-Mercury, GMC, Yukon, GMT800, car shopping

I might actually buy a non-Mercury. It’s weird. For a road-vehicle I haven’t bought a non-Mercury for myself in close to a decade.

I was going to chase down a Mountaineer but it sold and a remarkably nice 2003 Yukon XL appeared. It’s a 2003 GMC Yukon XL 4x4 with about 105,000 miles. I’m making a choice to keep it car payment free and get something I can handle paying cash for which I’m sure will be supported by many on here lol.

I plan on going to see it tomorrow morning. The interior is just as clean. There’s a bit of surface rust starting to appear at the bottom of some of the doors, but with how cheap it is I could either leave it or get it repaired. With only 105k miles and looking like it has been babied, I can easily get 30-40k miles out of it as a daily driver. Oh, and they only are asking $6,600 for it. I’m sure the year is scaring off uninformed buyers.

DISCUSSION (28)

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
08/02/2019 at 16:22

These are good rigs, can’t go wrong. The 5.3 is not fast by modern standards but if you are not in a hurry it’s perfectly good. I’ve towed, offroaded, hauled, and camped in a suburban of similar age, loved it.

fintail > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
08/02/2019 at 16:24

Mountianeer too small?

Funny, out here on the west coast that isn’t considered to be particularly old.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
08/02/2019 at 16:26

Good choice! I support this.

Captain of the Enterprise > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
08/02/2019 at 16:30

That’s low miles for how old it is I’d probably go for it.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
08/02/2019 at 16:37

These were the best generation Tahoe / Yukon / Suburban. Didn’t realize they came in cloth! Buy it, especially if you can get it closer to $6k.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
08/02/2019 at 16:50

It’s got the ability to tow the Capri which is destined for RallyX in the future. It’ll pull the jet skis like there’s nothing behind it. Not worried about speed, I get those kicks on the jet skis and the Capri (once it’s running)

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
08/02/2019 at 16:51

It’s a tiny used car lot I’m going to start offer wise with 6k out the door. We’ll see where it goes from there.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > fintail
08/02/2019 at 16:53

Nah I love the M ountaineer, but if I got one I would want V8, AWD, and black interior . Hard options to find with reasonable mileage for a low production vehicle. I’m also trying to avoid financing which caps my spending quite a bit.

16 years of 4x4 in the salt covered winters of Michigan is pretty old.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Captain of the Enterprise
08/02/2019 at 16:53

Assuming it looks as nice in person tomorrow I plan to!

shop-teacher > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
08/02/2019 at 16:54

Looks great! I certainly support the buying of another GMT -800. Inspect the rockers and the brake lines for rust very carefully!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > shop-teacher
08/02/2019 at 17:00

I got detail pics of the rockers and there is some minor surface rust on them but zero holes. at only 6600 for the truck i can probably have that repaired. We’ll see how it looks in person. if it’s not nice in real life - I’ll definitely walk.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
08/02/2019 at 17:06

10/10 buy it if there are no hidden issues.

fintail > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
08/02/2019 at 17:07

I just looked on local CL, surprised by the dearth of Mountaineers, I didn’t know they were relatively rare. TIL. Found none with a V8 and black interior.

I was in MI last November, I can believe it - I saw 10 year old vehicles showing a lot of crusty patina, so to speak.

No luck finding local Yukon XL with such low mileage either, but these might be representative of local cars:

https://portland.craigslist.org/grg/cto/d/hood-river-2003-yukon-denali-xl/6931972220.html

https://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/cto/d/kent-2003-gmc-yukon-denali-xl/6929778829.html

Tristan > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
08/02/2019 at 17:10

DO IT! I absolutely adore my ‘01 2500 Suburban, and a big chunk of why I like driving it is the ‘03-’06 seats I swapped in. These rigs are supremely comfy, especially as half-ton versions since they got coils on all four corners. The 4L60 isn’t the most durable transmission, but has much better gearing than my 4L80. They’re a bit thirsty , but it’s manageable, especially since I’m always relaxed behind the wheel of my truck... I never want to push it, and hence it creates a less-stressed commute. It’s also wildly practical and can do anything you need it to do. Tow? Sure. Haul lots of butts? Definitely. Envelop the contents of a small apartment? Got it. Pick up 4x8 sheets of plywood at the Home Depot? Flop the seats down and get after it.

You’ll love it. Just be sure to squirt some oil/undercoating on every fall. These things LOVE to rust. I’m fortunate enough to have a California truck that has never and will never see salt.

shop-teacher > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
08/02/2019 at 17:16

My rockers went from that to really gnarly in one winter. I would use them as a negotiating point. The coated brake line kit is pretty cheap too. I regret not replacing mine last summ er as preventative maintenance, as one of them blew in the fall. That wasn’t fun.

Urambo Tauro > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
08/03/2019 at 00:24

Wow, t hat does look like a pretty good deal . Fingers crossed that it holds up to closer inspection!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Urambo Tauro
08/05/2019 at 09:19

It did NOT hold up. Front subframe was rotted through, no structure left to even weld. Passenger rear rocker split. Walked away.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > shop-teacher
08/05/2019 at 09:26

Yeah, the rust was bad, real bad. I walked away. The search continues!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Tristan
08/05/2019 at 09:46

Unfortunately this red truck sure did love to rust. Front subframe was crumbling to the touch. It would have crumpled like a piece of paper in an accident. Rocker on the passenger side was rusted and split, couldn’t stand on the running board.

I walked away, despite my hour ride to get to it.

Next target acquired:

https://www.julianautosales.com/details/used-2007-chevrolet-suburban/56622614

shop-teacher > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
08/05/2019 at 10:07

That’s unfortunate, but I’ m not surprised. Best to walk away.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > shop-teacher
08/05/2019 at 10:37

There were about a billion of these things built I’m not rushing it.

Check this potential one out: https://www.julianautosales.com/details/used-2007-chevrolet-suburban/56622614

shop-teacher > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
08/05/2019 at 10:51

Kinja'd!!!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > shop-teacher
08/05/2019 at 11:02

DAMN, I messaged them about it yesterday. I bet they sold it end of day S aturday and hadn’t dropped it off the site.

Tristan > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
08/05/2019 at 11:08

Sad! When I was replacing my rear main seal a couple months ago I couldn't help but be amazed at how little rust prevention there is underneath these trucks. They're pretty doomed in the rust belt. :(

shop-teacher > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
08/05/2019 at 11:20

Probably.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Tristan
08/05/2019 at 11:26

Yeah I’ve been looking around by parents house in SC as well. Maybe get one down there and drive it back.

Urambo Tauro > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
08/05/2019 at 12:16

Yikes. Good call.

functionoverfashion > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
08/06/2019 at 13:15

Side note - the wheels on that are the same as the ones I had on my ‘01 YukonXL but of course aren’t factory original, they came off an ‘08 Tahoe I think? But they were also used on a TON of other GM trucks of that generation. I love how they look. Anyway, old post I know, I just noticed and had to comment.