How can you afford the cost of a new SUV?

[DuraYuk]

From an advancement perspective, I disagree

Considering Performance:
1998 chevy 1500 4x4 towing 5k - 6k
1998 chevy 1500 4x4 with the 5.7, 255hp, 12/17 mileage

2023 chevy 1500 4x4 towing 8800 - 9500
2023 chevy 1500 4x4 with the 5.3, 355hp, 16/20 mileage
2023 chevy 1500 4x4 with the 6.2, 420hp, 16/20 mileage
2023 chevy 1500 4x4 with the 3.0, 305hp, 24/29 mileage

The 2023's are significantly more drivable, auto 4x4 wasn't in the 1998 version. The brakes, traction control, stability systems are night and day different. When you drive them they aren't the same, the 1998 is loud, handles worse, brakes worse, hvac is worse, performs worse, less comfortable, it isn't on the same level as a 2023 flavor.

Durability / longevity; its a crap shoot. Lots of high mileage vehicles across all the years.
Getting high mileage out of a 255hp power train is a lot easier then out of a 420hp power train.

My ecoDiesel has had a significantly lower total cost of ownership then the gaser gmc it replaced. My wife's denali duramax is also cheaper to run then the 6.2 it replaced (double the empty mileage, triple the towing mileage), maintenance has been a wash.

Dude you won't win against the advocates of the old stuff. The old stuff is junk compared to new and that holds true with any brand. I the old gm stuff was terrible.

Another thing. I hate anything that isn't obd2. I want data. I don't like guessing. Obd1 and older sucks. Carbs suck.

 

[Marky Dissod]

From an advancement perspective, I disagree

Considering Performance:
1998 chevy 1500 4x4 towing 5k - 6k
1998 chevy 1500 4x4 with the 5.7, 255hp, 12/17 mileage

2023 chevy 1500 4x4 towing 8800 - 9500
2023 chevy 1500 4x4 with the 5.3, 355hp, 16/20 mileage
2023 chevy 1500 4x4 with the 6.2, 420hp, 16/20 mileage
2023 chevy 1500 4x4 with the 3.0, 305hp, 24/29 mileage

Improved, considerably. That said:

a) was not going quite as far back as you, thinking GMT8xx or GMT9xx vs GMT11xx
b) still think the initial investment is not getting the same return on investment

I'm also betting that a greater number of features will either lead to a greater number of problems, or a greater number of things that will go obsolete as tech changes in the near future.
Yes, I COULD be wrong, let's wait and see. It'd be nice to be proven wrong, and things start getting better for a change.
But I've a feeling GM would prefer these 202x vehicles don't last 20+ years.

Only obsolete features in my Tahoe are the cassette players, and OnStar, the latter of which I effectively have on my phone.

 

[AlexMahon]

Just throwing it out there. For $50 an hour and out-of-pocket expenses, I'll check out any vehicle you find on Craigslist or another website (e.g., AutoTrader) within 150 miles of Tucson, Arizona (includes Phoenix; driving time/distance @ $25 an hour/25 cents a mile). Includes complete visual/hands-on interior/exterior inspection, including undercarriage and engine compartment, a test drive, an OBDII check for codes, an auto history report (Carfax, etc.), photos, and if in Tucson, a mechanic's pre-purchase inspection (you pay the mechanic). I'll put it through the same inspections I would do if I was buying it. I may also be able to arrange a ride from the airport to the delivery location. No guarantees, just my best effort to help you find the right low mileage/rust-free/southwest-only vehicle. Fee/expenses paid up front, whether you buy the vehicle or not. I'm not a professional mechanic or car salesman - just an old fart/shadetree mechanic whose bought about 100 used vehicles over 60+ years. [email protected]. 480-236-2081.

 

[mountie]

Just throwing it out there. For $50 an hour and out-of-pocket expenses, I'll check out any vehicle you find on Craigslist or another website (e.g., AutoTrader) within 150 miles of Tucson, Arizona (includes Phoenix; driving time/distance @ $25 an hour/25 cents a mile). Includes complete visual/hands-on interior/exterior inspection, including undercarriage and engine compartment, a test drive, an OBDII check for codes, an auto history report (Carfax, etc.), photos, and if in Tucson, a mechanic's pre-purchase inspection (you pay the mechanic). I'll put it through the same inspections I would do if I was buying it. I may also be able to arrange a ride from the airport to the delivery location. No guarantees, just my best effort to help you find the right low mileage/rust-free/southwest-only vehicle. Fee/expenses paid up front, whether you buy the vehicle or not. I'm not a professional mechanic or car salesman - just an old fart/shadetree mechanic whose bought about 100 used vehicles over 60+ years. [email protected]. 480-236-2081.

When I lived in SoCal, I went to Meadview, Az. ( about 10 miles from the Hoover Dam ).... Single properties spread out, on dirt roads..... a GOLDMINE for finding '60's and '70's cars to restore.

We bought a 1967 El Camino and a '70 SS 396 'bucket seat' El Camino. ( for examples )....

 

[mountie]

( About Meadview, Az.).... The vacation town was located along the hills around Lake Mead & Hoover Dam. Then......The Dept of the Interior decided the vacation town, interfered with the pristine 'look' of the desert hills. So they required the entire town to be relocated 10 miles away ( At Gov's expense ). ( most houses were mobile homes ).... ( A fun town... many dune buggies, and you can take dirt roads to the Grand Canyon )

 

[EddieC]

Why do so many people assume that folks buying these expensive SUVs is trying to keep up with the Joneses?

And here I thought it was a BMW or Mercedes that was needed to park next to the Harley.
Or is it the other way around?

 

[DuraYuk]

And here I thought it was a BMW or Mercedes that was needed to park next to the Harley.
Or is it the other way around?

Harley? Naw man. Yamaha for me. I have a few suzukies and kawasakis too.

Only Harley I'd ever consider would be a Vrod but they discontinued them and people these days want too much.

 

[mountie]

Harley? Naw man. Yamaha for me. I have a few suzukies and kawasakis too.

Only Harley I'd ever consider would be a Vrod but they discontinued them and people these days want too much.

2 bikes I had, and they were dyno-tuned / built by one of the best cycle shop guys in the business.
( black FJ1200 had 120 HP to the back tire .. FZ was like a canyon runner / 15,000 rpm all day with a racing clutch-transmission )

 

[EddieC]

You guys missed the Harley reference.
Have GM trucks been elevated to status symbol?
The pricing would have it seem so.

 

[mountie]

You guys missed the Harley reference.
Have GM trucks been elevated to status symbol?
The pricing would have it seem so.

Possibly a status symbol, but Ford, Infiniti and now, Jeep Wagoneer, are expensive,.......BUT with Range Rover, Jaguar, Aston Martin, Lamborgini, Rolls Royce, Bentley... These are REALLY expensive, I feel, these are a status symbol.