Tahoe vs. Suburban 8.1L (long)

[ebod]

I've been farting around for too long. I need to decide between (i) Tahoe (4x4 LT w/ 5.3L and 4.10 axles) and (ii) Suburban (2500 4x4 LT w/ 8.1L and 4.10 axles). Pros (+) and cons (-) of each are listed below. Feel free to add others and/or to say which way you would go).

 

Suburban:

(+) 8.1L power (unloaded, how much faster would it be than the Tahoe).

(+) Hauls more and higher axle weight rating (I use a hitch mounted dirtbike hauler and I might try to put a hitch receiver on front too).

(+) Looks tougher.

(+) 8.1L sounds bitchen.

(+) Wouldn't need aftermarket wheels (I like the stock ones).

(-) a PITA to drive around town (I live in So. Cal. not out where there's lots of space).

(-) Supremely crappy gas mileage.

(-) More expensive than Tahoe (to buy and to own).

(-) My wife already drives one (4x2, 1500 w/ 5.3L and 3.73).

(-) My wife will be pissed (she thinks two Suburbans is too many).

 

Tahoe:

(+) More practical.

(+) More manuverable (both on and off-road)

(+) I don't haul anything more than a few dirtbikes--'burban could be overkill.

(+) Merely bad gas mileage.

(+) Less expensive.

(+) Wife happier (more likely to let me keep old BMW as fun car) (yes, she wears the pants in my house).

(-) 5.3L as opposed to 8.1L.

(-) Doesn't look as tough.

(-) Only a couple of colors (e.g., black, white and dark gray) look good (and my wife's 'burban is white and my best friend's Tahoe is dark gray). Black is hard to keep clean.

(-) I haven't seen aftermarket wheels that I love (and I don't like the stock wheels). There are good ones for a "street" look, but that's not what I'm after.

(-) Still macho, but not like a really tough 2500 'burban 4x4.

 

Please help this poor indecisive slob make a decision and pull the trigger.

[Shaners]

I'd get the Tahoe Z71 5.3L/4.10's. It's a good looking truck in my opinion, and well suited for what you need.

 

[Tucson_02Silverado]

FYI GM gives another $500 as Memorial day cash, must take delivery from dealer stock by June 2.

 

What about a Suburban with Quadrasteer and 6.0L? Although your wife would probably take this one and give you hers!!

Manuevers better than the Tahoe with more power and not quite the 496/4L85E fuel penalty.

 

Otherwise the Tahoe, get Z71 17" wheels. For that lite towing you won't need the 4.10, 3.73 would be fine as well as the MPG's. Even it you went with the Sub go for the 3.73 if available.

[2k3TahoeZ]

If you go with the Tahoe, I would still advise going with the 4.10's. The gas mileage is just about the same. My wife and I just took a huge road trip around all Nevada - over 1,000 miles. We went through quite a few mountain passes and the 4.10's really made it easy to get up those mountains, plus we still averaged over 19 mpg.

 

We also took it off-road for a bit. Climbed like a real champ and going down hill in 4-low was a nice slow crawl. It would have been the bomb, if we didn't get a flat (d**n stock tires). I'll be posting pictures soon.