Please answer Q's about Tahoe......

nwc18 · February 2, 2003

Hi, I own a '99 Grand Prix (love it) and a 2003 Honda Pilot (sorta love it). I've had my Pilot for about 6 months now and there are some little(and nagging) problems that are starting to grow on me.

I would have bought a Tahoe last year but the price was simply out of this world....Pilot offered more and then some for only $30K! I had to go with the vehicle that had the most bang-for-the-buck.

But I'm finding Tahoes appealing again, lately (I am a GM guy at heart)....and I have a few questions:

1. Any ongoing issues with this vehicle? Engine problems?

I want to get one with a 5.3 V8. I've read on this forum

of oil/fuel problems with this engine, have they been

corrected?

2. Those who own the current-generation body style (99-

03), how would you rate it's durability? I'm looking at a

long-term purchase here, not a lease.

3. How much was your purchase? Being that the price is so

high, I can probably only look at getting a 4wd LS with

leather and sunroof.....can this happen for less than $35K?

I really appreciate any advice you can give. The Pilot is a great vehicle, but I fear it's slowly getting eaten up by first-year bugs. Good thing I kept my Grand Prix, I can't live without it, and I like it much more than the Honda!

February 2, 2003

Welcome.

I just bought a 2wd LS with the 4.8 for $31,000.

Although I haven't owned it for long, I can tell you that it is a really nice rig. Plenty of power, comfortable, everything that I need is there.

My advice is this;

1) Do you really need 4x4? I live in NW Florida, so this isn't a concern for me. I'm not goin' muddin' in the Tahoe!

Do you really need the 5.3? the 4.8 makes 10 less hp.

2) Do a lot of pricing and research online before you ever talk to a salesman. The info is out there, use it.

3) Check out www.carbuyingtips.com

I had my price before I walked into the dealer. I called, talked to the internet salesman, aske him if the price stood, and told him that I was on my way. When I got there, the Tahoe was waiting for me. I walked in and signed. No "hidden" or "extra" charges were there.

If you go into a purchase well armed, they won't try and mess with you as much.

KMT15 · February 2, 2003

Any ongoing issues with this vehicle? Engine problems?

I want to get one with a 5.3 V8. I've read on this forum

of oil/fuel problems with this engine, have they been

corrected?

I have the 5.3 in my 01 Tahoe and havnt had any problems at all

2. Those who own the current-generation body style (99-

03), how would you rate it's durability? I'm looking at a

long-term purchase here, not a lease.

no problems here either

3. How much was your purchase? Being that the price is so

high, I can probably only look at getting a 4wd LS with

leather and sunroof.....can this happen for less than $35K?

2001 Tahoe LT 4X4, Fully loaded- Talked them down to $37,000. Then added a Flip down Flat screen TV/DVD/PS2 with four wireless headsets. that option added $1500 +-

-KMT15

Shaners · February 2, 2003

I think you could be a happy Tahoe driver for the money you are talking. And the Honda will give you a decent trade.

The 5.3L and the 4.8L engines are both very strong and will do whatever you ask of them. Some of them have a startup knock, but it seems "normal" according to GM. I occaisionally have it in my 6.0L but I'm not terribly concerned about it.

These motors are very strong and deliver very good fuel milage for a large vehicle, and I don't recall any failures...

dukbludvl · February 2, 2003

I have a 2000 Yukon 2wd SLE with the 5.3L and 3.42 gears. Mine was built in the last week of production on the 00s (July 24, 2000), and I took delivery on Aug. 2, 2000, after ordering it in April. I paid $1500 over invoice which, at the time, was a good deal here in NC. The new modle vehicles were very hard to find. I think i ended up paying about $32,000 and change for it. I don't have leather, and sort of regret it, but I'll just wait til I get my next truck way down the road. Here is a summary of my experience so far --- I've got 46K miles on it now. By the way, I change the oil every 3K with dino (soon to switch to synthtic I think), and do all other routine maintenance as scheduled in the Haynes manual.

-- Both rear window motors failed and the motors and regulators were replaced under warranty with a re-desigend part. No problems since.

-- Driver rear shock developed a leak sometime after 20K. I replaced all 4 shocks at 40K out of warranty with Bilstein HDs. Happy with them.

-- Rattles -- this is my biggest complaint about this vehicle, but there's no way it would prevent me from buying another one and I have no regrets about buying this one. I have had rattles in the rear cargo door molding (could be b/c my buddy closed the wrong side once), aroudn the instrument cluster, and in the center console. I know the console has been redesigned to a one piece, i think, so that may be better. I took off the inst. cluster facia and broke off the little plastic tabs that were there and it stopped 90% of it.

-- Low coolant light came on at 25K miles. Found a loose clamp on lower radiator hose and replaced. No problem since.

-- I experienced some stalling and low idle around 35K miles and had to clean the build-up in the throttle body with some throttle body cleaner. No big deal.

-- I blew my speakers around 32K miles and had to make 5 trips to the dealer to get it all fixed. They kept replacing things and didn't check to make sure ALL speakers were working again before I drove off.

-- Have had steering wheel knock that others have experienced. Have not yet done the TSB to fix it, but will pack int. str. shaft with grease soon.

I would absolutely buy another large SUV or P/U from GM in a heartbeat. I love the styling, power, versatility, etc. I'm hoping to drive this one over 200K, so it'll be a while before I get a new truck. I can't wait to get some of the upgrades (steering audio controls, etc.) available on the new vehicles.

I drove a Civic -- my first car -- before my Yukon. I'd have to say that I'll never buy another Honda. I personally just didn't like it. Don't know much about the Pilot, though.

Hope this helps with your decision. I've seen 4x4s w/ leather advertised here for 35K and less. They were running 6K off sticker and "under invoice" deals around here in December. I think some may still be on. GM is really trying to move vehicles here early in 2003, so you should be able to get a good deal on one.

JoeChevy · February 3, 2003

Hello,

The Pilot is a good truck, but for me I wanted the V8. My

other car is 93 Prelude VTEC. It has 130 K on the odometer

and show no sign of aging. Its a great car, but, as you will

read below, I have also had a great experience with another

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smilie

I have owned my 2002 Tahoe LT for about 6 months now.

I have ~7,000 miles on it. I payed ~ $35,962 for it (tax

and license not included) This price did include a sunroof,

3rd row seat, and the factory wheel flairs.

1. Any ongoing issues with this vehicle? Engine problems?

I want to get one with a 5.3 V8. I've read on this forum

of oil/fuel problems with this engine, have they been

corrected?

No problems so far. I have not experienced the engine knock

or the steering gear clunk that has been reported. The 5.3

has delivered a high MPG of 17.8 MPG on a trip to Yosemite.

The low MPG has been 14.4 on a tank where all I did was climb

hills around the SF Bay Area at no greater than 30 MPH. I have

changed the oil twice and have not seen any oil consumption.

2. Those who own the current-generation body style (99-

03), how would you rate it's durability? I'm looking at a

long-term purchase here, not a lease.

I have been on 4 trips with it so far; Yosemite and 3 to Tahoe.

2 of the Tahoe runs were in bad snow. The FWD performed

very well. Cold starting and general operation was very good.

I like the handling on slick roads. The Auto 4WD is responsive

and predicable. I used the 4WDlo to leave an uphill snowed

in parking spot..no sweat..no worries. I too will own this truck

long term. My last truck was a 77 elcamino that I released from

duty in July02 to a junk yard (the EPA payed me $500 for it...

it ran great but the body was shot...). General durability looks

good so far.. I did add a bug gaurad to the hood and a set of

4 molded mud gaurds (recommended for snow trips).

3. How much was your purchase? Being that the price is so

high, I can probably only look at getting a 4wd LS with

leather and sunroof.....can this happen for less than $35K?

See above....prices may be looser now....I would not give up

a Tahoe with that spending limit.

Good luck on your choice. I have very happy with my Tahoe.

I like to do my own oil changes and general maint. The Tahoe

is very familiar to me and the shop manuals from Helm will fill

in the blanks when needed.

Other observations are: HVAC takes a little getting used to. I

works very well, but the unpredicable activation of the AC

compressor did iritate me. I learned about how it operated from

this fourm and the shop manual. I am satified now. It just took

a little reading.; Onstar is impressive, but to expensive. I use

the lowest membership level for emergencies only (1st year is

free @ lowest membership level); Stereo is ok, but I wish it

had more power and better speakers.; No rattles so far or

windnoise. I added a ski rack and bug gaurd with not problems.

Good Luck...and if you do make the decision..Welcome. This

fourm is a great place to learn about your new truck!

BIFFY · February 3, 2003

I would echo the general sentiments expressed ablove. I've had my 02 Tahoe Z71 for a little over a year now and really love it.

I encourage you to check out the gmbuypower.com site. You can 'search' actual inventory on local dealer lots, and can check the window stickers to find a vehicle that matches exactly what you want. You can then request a price - I did this and the price was honored with no problem.

Good luck!

Barry

sgiangregorio · February 3, 2003

For me, when I first saw the Pilot, I mistook it for a CR-V, my wife's old car. I don't think I would classify it as a truck.

As for Tahoes, I love mine. I have a 2002 Z71 model with the 5.3L engine.

No problems with the engine (no oil consumption either).

No probelms with the body, very tight. (10,000 miles right now).

Paid about $35K with the Chevy $2500 rebate.

I would get one again. I think in the future, my wife will take this Tahoe, and we'll trade her 2002 Pathfinder in for a new Suburban 2500.

silverado3500 · February 4, 2003

We have an 01 Tahoe with about 50,000 miles.

1. We have had no engine problems at all with ours.

However I know of several people with the engine knock, but none of them have had any problems or failure, and 3 of these are well past the 100,000 mile mark and still running strong.

2. Very Strong and reliable. We use it to pull our boat and an enclosed pace-american legacy motorcycle trailer and it performs flawlessly.

One word of advice: Get the tow package if you plan on doing any kind of towing as you will get the aux transmission cooler and this will greatly add to the longevity of your transmission.

3. 27,500 This is a 2wd tahoe LS with the 5.3 and tow

package.

As far as engine selection, I would go with the 5.3 as there is is little difference in the fuel economy, or price. And the difference in torque is noticeable.

Check out the "Build Your Own" on chevrolet.com and you can play with the options and see what the msrp will be, and take it from there.

Hope this is useful, and good luck finding your new Tahoe!

GEAUX · February 4, 2003

2003 Tahoe Z71

No problems at all.

Paid $36k 0% for 60 months and no payment for 90 days through GMAC.

You have to consider this ride.

It has 5.3 ,autotrac 4wd ,3.73 gears, leather, XM radio, power pedals, memory seats, auto dim mirrors, onstar, nerf bars(all the standard stuff for a Z71)

One point, the front end will change to look like the silverardo and avalanche, in the summer. So if you want that look wait, if not, make the move!

nwc18 · February 4, 2003

and we'll trade her 2002 Pathfinder in for a new Suburban 2500.

Her opinions on the Pathfinder? I tried that while shopping for the Pilot...very good, but not enough room for me or my passengers.

One point, the front end will change to look like the silverardo and avalanche, in the summer. So if you want that look wait, if not, make the move!

Ohhhhhh Myyyy Gaawwwd! That's exactly what I don't want to happen! I hate the new truck styling.....but they should have some even sweeter deals trying to move out the current generation Tahoes?

Wow, thanks for all the advice......Some of the price deals you quoted are unheard of around here. I'm not quite ready yet though, there's a big new car show in the area next month, and that's going to be my playground!

sgiangregorio · February 4, 2003

nwc18, my wife loves her Pathfinder. It's the SE model, a bit sportier than the LE. Very happy with it. And the 4x4 system is very good. If the Pilot 4x4 system is like the CR-Vs, it isn't a true 4x4 system at all.

But now that we have two kids, and will need higher towing abilities than the Tahoe can provide, we'll swap her Pathfinder for the Suburban.