Yukon vs Tahoe

[mpicasso]

Looking at 2 auctions and trying to understand the MASSIVE price differences, 1, and 2, discern if paying the higher price is worth it.

2004 Tahoe LT, 4WD
5.3L engine
73K miles
2,551 engine hours
1-owner, no accidents
52 service records
Current bid - $15,500. Originally sold for over $20K but buyer backed out

2004 Yukon Denali
6.0L engine
43K miles
Engine hours not detailed
3 owners, no accidents
20 service records
Current bid - $6500

Based on photos/videos, both are very clean vehicles. 20 vs 50 service records definitely makes me a little concerned but wondering if worth 3x's the amount for a vehicle that old.

Understand this is a "stepping stone" vehicle for me. Wanting an '18-'20, 6.2L engine with 10-speed transmission but not wanting to spend the $45-50K+ while in the middle of a career change. Hoping to have this vehicle last me at least a few years and potentially hand it down to son, or keep it as a secondary, fix-em up.

Not wanting the '07-'14 MY... absolutely do not like the sear comfort. Would rather keep driving my '02 Tahoe as opposed to upgrade to that.

 

[Doubeleive]

it's your money I wouldn't bother with bidding on either one and would just go out and buy used with more miles on it but not excessive mileage.
the bang for the buck is way out of whack just because it has "low miles"
if you really want a low mileage vehicle have 10k cash in your pocket 24/7 and watch local daily postings of for sale by owner vehicles and get there first, that's going to be the win.
if they want over 10k walk away it's not worth it, you can buy cheaper and have money left over for any needed maintenance.
the reason for the price discrepancy is one currently has a higher bid than the other.

 

[DuraYuk]

A 2004 tahoe isn't worth that regardless of condition. Maybe a 2500 series suburban/yukon XL . The Denali is about what id expect to pay.

Someone just got in a bidding war on the Tahoe. Which is what auctions go really want to make happen.

 

[mpicasso]

A 2004 tahoe isn't worth that regardless of condition. Maybe a 2500 series suburban/yukon XL . The Denali is about what id expect to pay.

Someone just got in a bidding war on the Tahoe. Which is what auctions go really want to make happen.

OK, thanks. Have been watching the Tahoe, out of curiosity, but would prefer the Yukon, regardless. AWD/4WD is a bonus, as I live in Florida and occasionally go in to fields...though my 2WD Tahoe always gets me through.

 

[mpicasso]

it's your money I wouldn't bother with bidding on either one and would just go out and buy used with more miles on it but not excessive mileage.
the bang for the buck is way out of whack just because it has "low miles"

Yukon is currently at $6500. Had not planned to go over $10K, preferably less. Other good part - about an hour away, so cheaper to get it home.

if you really want a low mileage vehicle have 10k cash in your pocket 24/7 and watch local daily postings of for sale by owner vehicles and get there first, that's going to be the win.
if they want over 10k walk away it's not worth it, you can buy cheaper and have money left over for any needed maintenance.

That has been my thought process. Did find one in Oregon, really clean, for $12K. Sold mid-inspection, which my guy said it was shaping up very nicely.
Not necessarily looking for ridiculously low mileage, if proper maintenance has been performed. Just trying to find that happy medium where I will finish with about $15K, tops, out of pocket...and a vehicle I can rely on for doing road trips.

 

[mpicasso]

Also looking at an '05 Tahoe LT Z71, 115K miles, 1-owner, 41 service records. At a dealership for $9K.
If '04 Yukon and '05 Tahoe same price, and all else fairly equal, any reason to choose one over the other? In this scenario, would lean towards the Tahoe just because of more service records and 1-owner, if kept under $10K.

 

[Doubeleive]

Also looking at an '05 Tahoe LT Z71, 115K miles, 1-owner, 41 service records. At a dealership for $9K.
If '04 Yukon and '05 Tahoe same price, and all else fairly equal, any reason to choose one over the other? In this scenario, would lean towards the Tahoe just because of more service records and 1-owner, if kept under $10K.

the yukon has the 6.0 so it has a little more gittyup, but that means slightly less mpg also
the 6.0 would mostly likely mean it is a Denali and AWD which generally have some form of higher trim package leather, heated seats, rse, sunroof, etc
a regular yukon would have the 5.3 and would be 2wd/4wd and may or may not have a upgraded trim option

 

[mpicasso]

the yukon has the 6.0 so it has a little more gittyup, but that means slightly less mpg also
the 6.0 would mostly likely mean it is a Denali and AWD which generally have some form of higher trim package leather, heated seats, rse, sunroof, etc
a regular yukon would have the 5.3 and would be 2wd/4wd and may or may not have a upgraded trim option

Getting 10MPG on my Tahoe now...not sure I can do much worse.
Yukon is a Denali, with AWD. Tahoe is a 4WD Z71. Major differences I can see is the 5.3 vs 6.0 engine; AWD vs 4WD; bench seats and no 3rd row in Tahoe (not needed, as there is never more than 3 people in vehicle).

 

[Onlyone]

I would buy the GMC. It’s cheaper with less mileage and all around nicer.

 

[mpicasso]

Final price on Tahoe was $18,500. Nice looking vehicle but definitely not feeling that kind of monies...

 

[B-train]

I would buy the GMC. It’s cheaper with less mileage and all around nicer.

I agree with @Onlyone . Those rigs are a nice, quiet ride. The motors are bulletproof and the extra giddy-up is nice. Your fuel economy won't be any worse, but possibly better than what you are getting now. Those are nice road trip/daily drivers.

 

[mpicasso]

Getting close to my max budget, on the Yukon.
Question - mileage is around 45K but engine hours are almost 1700. Calculates out to around 27 MPH. Not seeing too much discrepancy from CarFax but only has 20 service records and not all have documented mileage. Should I have any concerns with potential rollback? Seems like the vehicle either idled extensively or was just used for putting around town. Looking for input from others more knowledgeable than myself.

 

[B-train]

If it's been a FL car it's whole life, most likely been short tripped and putting around. There are many shops who don't do the carfax thing.

 

[B-train]

What auction site are you looking at?

 

[MassHoe04]

I agree with @Doubeleive, that low mileage is not always "better".
Things still age and dry out and sometimes lack of use is worse than being driven.

Not always... But that can be a factor.

My father in-law had a 1972 Hatteras with high hours and many years of service. His ran like a top! It was the "weekend warriors" with newer boats that were always left at the dock trying to fix or get running.
Kind of like us, where you can end up being in better shape with regular exercise than a younger person who gets no exercise.

On these trucks, I would say anything around 100k miles is pretty low and anything with less than 200k with solid frame and body is still not anything to run away from.

 

[mpicasso]

I agree with Doubeleive, that low mileage is not always "better".
Things still age and dry out and sometimes lack of use is worse than being driven.

This vehicle just came up in my searches. Usually do NOT look for vehicles so low for reasons cited. Just not enough moving around to get it working.
That said - vehicle SHOULD come in under $10K, and only about an hour away for pickup. Attached some undercarriage photos as it has not always been a Florida car.

 

[mpicasso]

A few more

 

[mpicasso]

Different vehicle. 2005 Tahoe Z71, 115K miles. 1 owner, 41 service records.
Asked for undercarriage photos. Not sure what to think, usually only looking at mid to central Florida cars.

Video from Donald Durante - Koch 33 Ford

Video from Donald Durante - Koch 33 Ford

vidmails.com

 

[MassHoe04]

Second one not too bad. No holes or huge amounts of rust. They did kind of speed past the back end a little more as they went around the vehicle in the video.
The spare and the hitch are a little crusty, but the main rails and stuff did not look terrible. Be aware that Z71 plastic trim panels over the rockers and wheel wells can hide a lot of things.

First one with the still photos above is a MUCH cleaner example, though! I would pick the one in posts 16 &17, if it was reasonably priced.

Reasonable is a relative term and market driven.

My 04 had more rust than the 05 you have in the video on post #18 above. Last October, it was $6,500 with 180k+ miles and "weight reduced" aerated rocker panels. This was a hot market in New England for anything that was still able to stay in one piece and pass RMV safety inspections.
$6,500 in other markets would get something in better condition in terms of rust.

Under $10k for something with no rust would probably be about right for my neck of the woods.

 

[mpicasso]

The 1st one was Yukon with 45K miles. Currently at $10K, with 2 hours left on bidding.
Update: bid has reached over $12K. When they start pushing $12-15K for a vehicle that old, I would rather use that as a down payment for a 2018...