How many miles is “too many” when buying used?

[Ski_rush]

I’m looking at buying a used Suburban. One in particular is a 2012 LTZ, but it has 212,000 miles. It seems well taken care of and there are service records (all routine maintenance things). The dealer is asking $9000.

Is 200k miles too much of a gamble to make this a sensible purchase? I’ve read that the 5.3 can have some longevity if it’s taken care of, but what about the transmission?

 

[Geotrash]

I’m looking at buying a used Suburban. One in particular is a 2012 LTZ, but it has 212,000 miles. It seems well taken care of and there are service records (all routine maintenance things). The dealer is asking $9000.

Is 200k miles too much of a gamble to make this a sensible purchase? I’ve read that the 5.3 can have some longevity if it’s taken care of, but what about the transmission?

I bought a 2007 Yukon XL Denali in December of 2018 for $9500 with 196K on the clock. 40K miles later and it's been one of the best vehicles I've ever owned. I've driven it from Colorado to Montana, to Cape Cod, to Florida, to Nashville - and it's been 100% reliable.

Take a close look at the maintenance history. At that mileage, it will likely need front suspension components (ball joints, tie rod ends, etc), and a handful of other things if they haven't been done already. The transmission has likely already been replaced but if not, at least plan on putting a new billet torque converter in it right away. The TC usually fails long before 212K and takes the transmission with it, but if it hasn't happened yet, you're on borrowed time.

 

[mikez71]

I paid 11.5 about 6 months ago for my 2012 with 202k. (too much, was desperate) No major repairs in carfax, just oil changes. (1 tranny fluid change) Had it about 6 months now. Pulleys and alt bearings going, slight oil leak (cooler port on oilpan I think, just replaced gasket and need to check on it) Front wheel bearings going. (got new ones to put in this weekend) Time to replace all fluids too.. Roof antenna has usual split gasket in back, driver floor got wet after some rains and a carwash..

Adds up, but nothing I wasn't expecting.

AND I need a new windshield it's pitted to heck, didn't notice when I test drove it. Notice it every morning now!

I like the transmission.. but plan to tweak shift points, it shifts into 2nd mid left turn, bogs coming out. Tow mode has better shift points. I hear about weak parts in the transmission, but it sounds like they can be rebuilt with good parts.

Reliable so far, but spent more money (hptuners and autosync with BCM tuning) to tweak some things that really bugged me.

So it's a money pit, like every car I ever had!

 

[OR VietVet]

Welcome to the forum.

Scary AFM problems on the 2007 and newer rigs, IMO. I bought my 2005 Z71 with 135k miles on it, for $8k. I love this rig. I did road test 2007 and newer and the seats are crap.

 

[mikez71]

Welcome to the forum.

Scary AFM problems on the 2007 and newer rigs, IMO. I bought my 2005 Z71 with 135k miles on it, for $8k. I love this rig. I did road test 2007

Wait! You don't like..

Flimsy cracked door pulls, flimsy cracked dash pad, having to subscribe to reprogram modules, AFM disable/delete and new torque converter/tranny rebuild?

Dealerships don't seem to want to work on the 'older' (new to me!) stuff. Tried to get BCM reprogrammed to undo auto doorlocks. None could/would do it even though it was a factory update. (Thank goodness for BT Dieselworks!)

With the number of them on the road, aftermarket will keep them running.
Though I will never buy a newer GM. We have a joke in my household, GM stands for Government Mandate.

Yet I still love my truck.. along with every vehicle I ever had.. except front wheel drives..

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

You are already receiving sage advice from the knowledgeable folks on this Forum.

 

[Mean_Green]

212,000 on a '12 is around 18,000/yr average. Used to be 15,000 was 'normal' but that's probably gone up a bit. I guess it's the type of miles. Commuter miles may not be as bad a hard recreational miles towing a large boat or RV.

I just bought a '98 with 195K for $4K, but I can't say yet if it was a good buy or not. Still shaking it down to see what falls out.

 

[Doubeleive]

I’m looking at buying a used Suburban. One in particular is a 2012 LTZ, but it has 212,000 miles. It seems well taken care of and there are service records (all routine maintenance things). The dealer is asking $9000.

Is 200k miles too much of a gamble to make this a sensible purchase? I’ve read that the 5.3 can have some longevity if it’s taken care of, but what about the transmission?

really hard to say usually 160k is when people dump vehicles because if they haven't maintained them well then several things start to go all at once and they don't want to spend the money repairing it so off it goes, being you are past that it's likely some of that necessary maintenance was done already but be prepared to put some tlc in to it just in case.

 

[89Suburban]

I bought mine at 290K and will be hitting 350K soon. Original engine, 2nd trans by PO, 3rd rear (one under my watch).

 

[MurkedDenali07]

Just got mine a few months ago $8,500 with 180,000 miles 2007. Only had to put in alternator so far.
When I bought it about 3 months ago

It Now!

 

[Marky Dissod]

I’m looking at buying a used Suburban. One in particular is a 2012 LTZ, but it has 212,000 miles.
It seems well taken care of and there are service records (all routine maintenance things). The dealer is asking $9000.

Is 200k miles too much of a gamble to make this a sensible purchase?
I’ve read that the 5.3 can have some longevity if it’s taken care of, but what about the transmission?

Could swear that there is a way to go beyond the mere odometer.
Isn't there an 'engine hours-ometer' in these things? For sure there's one in the 2012 Caprice PPV.

Divide the odometer by the hours-ometer = average speed over the vehicle's lifetime.

If 212,000 miles is ALL highway miles ... then I'd be ready to replace the lifters IMMEDIATELY.
If V4 mode is disabled, that's a big plus.
If the V4 mode hardware has been deleted, that's an even bigger plus.

As for the transmission, if the service records indicate at least 4 services, good; 5 is even better.
Anything under 4 would make me nervous about needing to replace a 6L80E soon.

 

[Coolman1987us]

Engine hour meter can be reset by the user. For reference, my 2008 had 198k when I bought it in August. Backwoods dealer, window sticker was 11k, I paid $9700, he took another $300 off because the rear ac had a leaking line. I used a block off kit I'll fix it later.

 

[CaptainAmerica1]

Bought mine at 220k in 2019 for $4k. Oil changes and regular maintenance so far rebuilt the front suspension back in December but that’s it…

 

[B-train]

I can tell you that a vehicle driven everyday for extended drives is way better than one that sits.......think of your body and exercise. Use it or lose it.

I've bought higher mileage vehicles for years and never had any issues. My 2007 Denali was probably my best SUV purchase. It never let me down, ran like a champ, and sounded cool AF with stock exhaust vs previous generation.

I have also bought newer vehicles that had higher miles as well. People that put on 18 to 25k per year. Bought them with 40 to 60k on them and had fantastic use out of them over the years.

If it has good maintenance, verifiable, just go for it. My only concern would be the AFM components, but if it's made it this far with good oil changes, you'll probably get good use out of it.

 

[XSGforce]

I’m looking at buying a used Suburban. One in particular is a 2012 LTZ, but it has 212,000 miles. It seems well taken care of and there are service records (all routine maintenance things). The dealer is asking $9000.

Is 200k miles too much of a gamble to make this a sensible purchase? I’ve read that the 5.3 can have some longevity if it’s taken care of, but what about the transmission?

I have a 2007 Yukon 5.3 flex fuel. I'm the second owner and know the original owner so I knew it was well maintained. I have all the service records that show the transmitted/torque converted were replaced around 175,000 miles. It pretty much had a complete front end rebuild with new tie rods, ball joints, sway bar links and bushings around 230,000 and currently still feels nice and tight. The fuel pump was replaced at just over 200,000 miles. The engine has only had routine maintenance and oil leaks fixed. I installed a Range AFM disabler at roughly 300,000 miles and have a little over 301,000 now. The only things I've needed to do since owning it are replace the fuel cap, reset the alcohol content and long term fuel trims, repair an oxygen sensor harness after something chewed the wires, replace a rear brake caliper and it just started getting hard to start after filling the tank so it probably needs a new purge valve. It was replaced at 220,000 miles and I haven't checked to verify the problem. The oil was changed at the dealer until the warranty ran out and it has had Valvoline full synthetic 5w30 since then with either Wix or AC Delco filters. I'm sure good maintenance and a little luck has kept it going but I'd still trust it for a cross country trip.

 

[ZKWBQD]

I’m looking at buying a used Suburban. One in particular is a 2012 LTZ, but it has 212,000 miles. It seems well taken care of and there are service records (all routine maintenance things). The dealer is asking $9000.

Is 200k miles too much of a gamble to make this a sensible purchase? I’ve read that the 5.3 can have some longevity if it’s taken care of, but what about the transmission?

Depends on the engine. With one of these unnecessarily complicated General Motors engines, I would be nervous on anything more than 50,000 miles. With a Toyota engine I wouldn't have a concern until 300,000 miles.

 

[07Burb]

Had my 07 up to about 235k on the clock and 10 years of ownership. Sold it to a buddy who daily drove it up until recently and he sold it. Had 270k on the clock (or thereabouts) and still running good. Had to put in a new trans around 225k which I considered just part of the deal. Had lifter failure at about 135k which I had fixed and immediately had AFM tuned out and no issues since. I'm currently on my 3rd GMT900 and enjoy the platform. It's got it's positives and negatives but overall it's a solid platform. My current one is an '09 esky. Bought it with 110k on the clock. currently has 120+ (in just 6 months time ) and runs flawlessly. We'll have this one for at least 10 years barring an unforeseen setback.

If it's got a stack of service records I'd say you're in good shape to go ahead and buy it. Just my 2 cents.

 

[petethepug]

$9k for a 12 Burb brute in LTZ trim is a good starting place if …

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GEN IV 2007-2013 GM Truck DOD Delete Kit w/ Texas Speed (TSP) Truck Cam KitTSP's Complete AFM/DOD delete kit includes the necessary components to delete your problematic DOD system as well as the standard VVT (Variable Valve Timing) delete kit w/ 3 bolt timing gear upgrade. This package also...

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You’ll get the remaining 100k+ left in the motor and remove the potential for the AFM giving you issues. It’ll also give you about a 15% performance boost or 365/356 hp/tq.

Verify the compressor starts up 3-5 seconds for the air shocks in back. Visually Check that all 4 Autoride struts are not leaking or if they’re removed. If equipped with ventalated front seats, verify both fans blow air. Verify all 4 seat heaters work. Only on the front doors, verify the door cards don’t feel floppy or want to pull away.

If it has the upgraded Navi with DVD then it’s run off of a digital data base and actually still usable plus it’ll accept an integrated music streaming module from any phone.

It has all the bones for a good truck if there’s no rust, front & rear hvac works and drive train is solid. Call a mobile vehicle inspector or take it to a local and try to price reduced enuf to buy the AFM delete kit.

Good luck!

 

[vcode]

Welcome to the forum.

Scary AFM problems on the 2007 and newer rigs, IMO. I bought my 2005 Z71 with 135k miles on it, for $8k. I love this rig. I did road test 2007 and newer and the seats are crap.

My 2010 seats are the most comfortable I've ever had in a vehicle....

 

[vcode]

I’m looking at buying a used Suburban. One in particular is a 2012 LTZ, but it has 212,000 miles. It seems well taken care of and there are service records (all routine maintenance things). The dealer is asking $9000.

Is 200k miles too much of a gamble to make this a sensible purchase? I’ve read that the 5.3 can have some longevity if it’s taken care of, but what about the transmission?

What part of the country? 212K in most upper midwest trucks is a rust nightmare....