Questions from a prospective Tahoe owner...

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Hi all,

I'm looking into getting a 2025 Tahoe and have a few questions about +/- and what might be best for my use case. I absolutely want mag ride / air suspension, so I'm looking at either RST or HC trims, and for the price I'm thinking HC is the better way to go.

1. I'm strongly interested in the LZ0 Duramax, but a bit hesitant since I know nothing about the mechanical components of a truck in general, let alone diesel. I'd say 60% of my driving is local (15-30 minute drives), with the remaining drive time ranging anywhere from 60 minutes to up to 4 hours, depending on my week. I've read on this forum that the local driving can be a killer for the diesel due to the regen situation, but then have also read that's overblown and not an issue at all. I'm not asking as much due to concern for the cost of DEF as much as a concern regarding potential wear or maintenance issues this could cause.

2. I don't do any towing, so my interest in the LZ0 is purely from a range / mpg standpoint. Does that seem reasonable, or should I just stay with the 6.2?

3. Any major quality concerns or buyers remorse regarding specific packages that I should be aware about? I'm not so worried about the engine recalls, as it appears to be either earlier models (for the 6.2) or something I won't deal with until 150k miles (LZ0). I'm in that situation where I don't know what I don't know, and just am looking for good feedback. I've read through a bunch of the forum posts, and the general response seems to be that happy people don't post about it. Chevy reliability ratings remain at or near the top of most rankings, yet that's not model specific.

4. I've read the forum posts stating to shop around the GMPP and that this can be done separately from the purchase of the vehicle. I've also seen some specific posts mentioning specific dealers / salespeople that are recommended. I'm in NY (Long Island), and almost all of what I've seen posted is from out of state. Can the GMPP be purchased literally anywhere, and over the phone / email?

Thanks in advance for your time and feedback. I tried to source as much info as I could from the forums beforehand, but with the amount of money this will be, I want to be as comfortable as possible with my ultimate choice. Thanks again!

 

[Micahsd]

I’ve read on other posts too about the diesel is if you have a short daily drive each day and live in a cold climate, the motor probably won’t come up to temperature at all during the winter months which can be tough on diesel engines.

One of my friends had a Silverado with the diesel and they lived in a rural area and had no issues with it as they’d get it up to highway speeds each time they left the house so short trips were not a problem even during the winter.

I had a ‘21 Tahoe Premiere with the 5.3L which had the mag suspension. It was really nice…rode a lot nicer than the ‘25 GMC Sierra I have now. Gas mileage was bad in the city (13-16 mpg, more like 11 mpg during the winter due to warming it up a little), but on the highway I’d get 20-24 mpg depending on speed and such. Aside from a known lifter issue which my model fell under a TSB for the dates it was manufactured, I had no other issues with it.

 

[OR VietVet]

Welcome to the forum from Oregon.

GMT800...FTW!

 

[OBSandaNNBS]

Welcome to the forum from Oregon.

GMT800...FTW!

Didn't listen to him!

GMT900 FTW!

 

[OR VietVet]

Didn't listen to him!

GMT900 FTW!

GMT900 owners HAVE to become good at diagnosing and fixing or scraping the AFM systems.

 

[OR VietVet]

GMT800 Forum FTW!

 

[OBSandaNNBS]

GMT900 owners HAVE to become good at diagnosing and fixing or scraping the AFM systems.

That's true, but GMT800 owners have to...
They have to...
Hmmm.

Yeah I know it was a good generation and I want one. 05-06 ESV in white please. Will also take Silver Birch, but that color really belongs on a Tahoe

 

[OR VietVet]

That's true, but GMT800 owners have to...
They have to...
Hmmm.

Yeah I know it was a good generation and I want one. 05-06 ESV in white please. Will also take Silver Birch, but that color really belongs on a Tahoe

That is why my 2005 Tahoe Z71 is Silver Birch.

 

[OBSandaNNBS]

That is why my 2005 Tahoe Z71 is Silver Birch.

I thought so, and I'm not joking, this is the truth. That color looks great on a gmt800...but it REALLY shines on a 900. IMO. I think the flatter sheet metal suits it more.
Check out rocketman's build if you haven't. I absolutely love that truck. 900 in Silver birch.
It's rare on a 900, I've only seen one in person, and had I known it existed I would have tried to source one. But then I would probably not have gotten the triple bench yes, more seats than a school bus.

 

[OR VietVet]

I thought so, and I'm not joking, this is the truth. That color looks great on a gmt800...but it REALLY shines on a 900. IMO. I think the flatter sheet metal suits it more.
Check out rocketman's build if you haven't. I absolutely love that truck. 900 in Silver birch.
It's rare on a 900, I've only seen one in person, and had I known it existed I would have tried to source one. But then I would probably not have gotten the triple bench yes, more seats than a school bus.

There is only one thing I would change about my 2005 Z71........barn doors instead of the lift gate.

 

[OBSandaNNBS]

There is only one thing I would change about my 2005 Z71........barn doors instead of the lift gate.

I knew you had good taste! My 97 has barn doors, I love them. A lot harder to hit your head on!
It was weird how GM killed them in the middle of the gmt800 production run.
What's your opinion on pre CanBus versus post CanBus gmt800? The efans are nice but seems like they had electrical problems because of the new system.

 

[OR VietVet]

I knew you had good taste! My 97 has barn doors, I love them. A lot harder to hit your head on!
It was weird how GM killed them in the middle of the gmt800 production run.
What's your opinion on pre CanBus versus post CanBus gmt800? The efans are nice but seems like they had electrical problems because of the new system.

I am a very basic kind of guy. But, with the right scanner with Live Data and bi-directional capabilities I like to experiment and I miss my radiator fans that are on my 05 Tahoe and wish I had them on my 04 K2500HD. Fortunately, I have a shop owner friend that is very smart about the electrical and computerization on vehicles. I get stuck a bunch because I cannot put electrical 2+2 together sometimes. He helps me out and also explains while he does what he does. At 72 years of age, the easier the better but I also like the efficiency of CanBus communications, when they work properly. One thing for sure, do not cheap out on switches and sensors. get the Genuine GM or AC Delco or Delphi and even Bosch, for peace of mind.

 

[tuckerrnr1]

BREAKING NEWS: It seems the thread hijackers have narrowed their demands to either a GMT800 or a GMT900. We will keep you updated as this story continues.

 

[tuckerrnr1]

As complex as these vehicles have become, having an extended full coverage warranty is never a bad idea. One thing I found driving diesel vehicles, when there were runs on fuel and shortages, diesel fuel was usually still available.

 

[OBSandaNNBS]

BREAKING NEWS: It seems the thread hijackers have narrowed their demands to either a GMT800 or a GMT900. We will keep you updated as this story continues.

We are the captains now!!!


We are just constantly bumping this to amplify the OP's request. Trying to help, see?

Maybe a Mod can move us to a new thread...
"A thinking man's discourse: GMT800 vs GMT900"

 

[Johnny Fr]

Welcome! Was in your boat in Mid may. We wanted a Tahoe for maybe 6 years, total loss forced our hand.

Looking at the availability, years ago liked RST and wanted performance package to be like a cop car.

In 2025 due to seeing a friend “swim through Escalades,” wanted more luxury. For some reason preferred HC to Premier. At any rate we ordered a HC and the only option is HC Deluxe, which satisfies your magnetic and air rides. Haven’t gotten it yet TPW is 7/28. We’re so close to 2026, dunno if dealers are dealing on in transit vehicles? I would prefer late production to one on the lot since April (they are discounting those in TX FL but not here in PA). If not a 2025, I’d order. 2026. Apparently they can be unlocked and started with a card? Just don’t lose one’s wallet!

Edit Btw I looked it up and the LZ0
Has 29 psi of boost. My daily is a twin turbo I6 (gas) and the turbos are 8 psi. Just me I wonder at times how demanding we are on physical inanimate objects like engines

Edit 2 the L5P does 24 psi of boost, so my guess is my gas car to diesel boost psi is not a good comparison

 

[Johnny Fr]

As complex as these vehicles have become, having an extended full coverage warranty is never a bad idea. One thing I found driving diesel vehicles, when there were runs on fuel and shortages, diesel fuel was usually still available.

I would not have agreed 20 years ago, but today yes. So many simple innocent issues become thousands now (just the other day a person said dealer says need new screen update failed $2500). Just hope when the time comes the extended warranty is reasonable. We plan to get it prior to b2b expiration.

 

[LEsoftballdad]

Hi all,

I'm looking into getting a 2025 Tahoe and have a few questions about +/- and what might be best for my use case. I absolutely want mag ride / air suspension, so I'm looking at either RST or HC trims, and for the price I'm thinking HC is the better way to go.

1. I'm strongly interested in the LZ0 Duramax, but a bit hesitant since I know nothing about the mechanical components of a truck in general, let alone diesel. I'd say 60% of my driving is local (15-30 minute drives), with the remaining drive time ranging anywhere from 60 minutes to up to 4 hours, depending on my week. I've read on this forum that the local driving can be a killer for the diesel due to the regen situation, but then have also read that's overblown and not an issue at all. I'm not asking as much due to concern for the cost of DEF as much as a concern regarding potential wear or maintenance issues this could cause.

2. I don't do any towing, so my interest in the LZ0 is purely from a range / mpg standpoint. Does that seem reasonable, or should I just stay with the 6.2?

3. Any major quality concerns or buyers remorse regarding specific packages that I should be aware about? I'm not so worried about the engine recalls, as it appears to be either earlier models (for the 6.2) or something I won't deal with until 150k miles (LZ0). I'm in that situation where I don't know what I don't know, and just am looking for good feedback. I've read through a bunch of the forum posts, and the general response seems to be that happy people don't post about it. Chevy reliability ratings remain at or near the top of most rankings, yet that's not model specific.

4. I've read the forum posts stating to shop around the GMPP and that this can be done separately from the purchase of the vehicle. I've also seen some specific posts mentioning specific dealers / salespeople that are recommended. I'm in NY (Long Island), and almost all of what I've seen posted is from out of state. Can the GMPP be purchased literally anywhere, and over the phone / email?

Thanks in advance for your time and feedback. I tried to source as much info as I could from the forums beforehand, but with the amount of money this will be, I want to be as comfortable as possible with my ultimate choice. Thanks again!

I am from Long Island, too, and the LIE can be brutal in terms of mileage. One minute, you're cruising along at 75 MPH, and the next minute, you're in stop-and-go traffic.

I went with a 2024 GMC Yukon SLT. It doesn't have the magnetic ride, but I tested a Tahoe Premiere with that feature, and I couldn't tell the difference. I wound up getting mine from a dealership in Virginia called Joyce Koons. They shipped it to me for no cost (yeah, right), and they had the best price within 500 miles. I couldn't find one at any of the local dealers, so I had to shop around. I refuse to go to King O'Rourke or any of the Atlantic dealers, as I feel they are all crooks.

I have no regrets with my purchase. Good luck with your search.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

U

Hi all,

I'm looking into getting a 2025 Tahoe and have a few questions about +/- and what might be best for my use case. I absolutely want mag ride / air suspension, so I'm looking at either RST or HC trims, and for the price I'm thinking HC is the better way to go.

1. I'm strongly interested in the LZ0 Duramax, but a bit hesitant since I know nothing about the mechanical components of a truck in general, let alone diesel. I'd say 60% of my driving is local (15-30 minute drives), with the remaining drive time ranging anywhere from 60 minutes to up to 4 hours, depending on my week. I've read on this forum that the local driving can be a killer for the diesel due to the regen situation, but then have also read that's overblown and not an issue at all. I'm not asking as much due to concern for the cost of DEF as much as a concern regarding potential wear or maintenance issues this could cause.

2. I don't do any towing, so my interest in the LZ0 is purely from a range / mpg standpoint. Does that seem reasonable, or should I just stay with the 6.2?

3. Any major quality concerns or buyers remorse regarding specific packages that I should be aware about? I'm not so worried about the engine recalls, as it appears to be either earlier models (for the 6.2) or something I won't deal with until 150k miles (LZ0). I'm in that situation where I don't know what I don't know, and just am looking for good feedback. I've read through a bunch of the forum posts, and the general response seems to be that happy people don't post about it. Chevy reliability ratings remain at or near the top of most rankings, yet that's not model specific.

4. I've read the forum posts stating to shop around the GMPP and that this can be done separately from the purchase of the vehicle. I've also seen some specific posts mentioning specific dealers / salespeople that are recommended. I'm in NY (Long Island), and almost all of what I've seen posted is from out of state. Can the GMPP be purchased literally anywhere, and over the phone / email?

Thanks in advance for your time and feedback. I tried to source as much info as I could from the forums beforehand, but with the amount of money this will be, I want to be as comfortable as possible with my ultimate choice. Thanks again!

think that you'd be happy with either motor or Tahoe model. The folks here make a good point on the diesel needing enough run time to really warm up, but outside of that, it is your choice to make. The Magneride is a great feature.

 

[OR VietVet]

If you find a cream puff GMT800, even if out of state, as long as it has no rust, like my Oregon GMT800, you fly there and drive it home and then spend some money to make it yours and you will be way ahead on the expenditures. If you gotta have new and want a diesel, good luck and have fun.