Suggestions/Websites to get the best deal on a used Suburban?

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

We've been looking for a while for a used Suburban (2008-2009), and I'm surprised at the prices dealers want, especially considering gas prices! I'd like to buy a super clean, low miles one from a private owner, but can't seem to find many people selling? Does anyone know of any good websites that I might be missing? TIA!

 

[JENOS]

cars.com

you can view both private and dealer

 

[Cotton's Parrot]

Try autotrader.com. Also not sure where you live, but maybe try CarMax -- carmax.com. Also Edmunds.com is a good site to help you determine true market value which can help you in negotiating price.

 

[arihillfarm]

We're not selling them because we love them. I have a 2004 GMC Yukon XL Denali that we bought 2 1/2 years ago with 70K miles for $17,000 with ALL the options (Nav, DVD, heated 2nd row Captains seats, etc.). It now has 130K miles on it and according to NADA Blue Book, it's still worth a little more than we paid for it, $17,300. We got a screaming deal obviously, but even with the gas prices, it'll be a cold day in you know where before I'll let go of it. With that said, we found ours at a dealer that listed it on autotrader.com and have found most of our used cars there, both privately and sold through dealers.

-Astrid

Edited to add: We went to look at a Volvo XC90 that my husband was considering trading in his Chevy HHR SS for, but we took my Denali to go look at it. The salesman was salivating when he saw my Denali thinking we were trading it in. He even tried to get us to trade it in by offering a lot of money for it and a really good deal on the XC90. We turned him down of course, but he said he could sell 10 of those a day. They do hold their value and ours has been trouble free except for routine maintenance so if you do find one for a good price, I'd jump on it.

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

We're not selling them because we love them. I have a 2004 GMC Yukon XL Denali that we bought 2 1/2 years ago with 70K miles for $17,000 with ALL the options (Nav, DVD, heated 2nd row Captains seats, etc.). It now has 130K miles on it and according to NADA Blue Book, it's still worth a little more than we paid for it, $17,300. We got a screaming deal obviously, but even with the gas prices, it'll be a cold day in you know where before I'll let go of it. With that said, we found ours at a dealer that listed it on autotrader.com and have found most of our used cars there, both privately and sold through dealers.

-Astrid

Edited to add: We went to look at a Volvo XC90 that my husband was considering trading in his Chevy HHR SS for, but we took my Denali to go look at it. The salesman was salivating when he saw my Denali thinking we were trading it in. He even tried to get us to trade it in by offering a lot of money for it and a really good deal on the XC90. We turned him down of course, but he said he could sell 10 of those a day. They do hold their value and ours has been trouble free except for routine maintenance so if you do find one for a good price, I'd jump on it.

Wow! That is a crazy good deal! We just went and looked at a 2008 Suburban LTZ...fully loaded with 56,000 miles. He's asking 30,800...and we offered 29,800 and he said the lowest he will go is 30,500. Not sure what we'll do....

 

[eeyorethegreat]

We bought our 2002 Yukon XL in 2008/9 for 16000 minus a 6000 trade in so $10000. It has run great. Had to replace wheel bearings an U joints recently, the exhaust fell off and there was some sort of issue at WDW and we had to have it repaired at the Car Care Center. I forget what the problem was it was a major job we couldn't get it started. I think it had something to do with the fuel system all of these problems have been in the last year. I have about 129,000 on ours.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

You might get lucky but thats the going rate unfortunately. I have been looking for a Tahoe/Yukon 2007 or newer and still getting a $30,000 range and those 2 are smaller than a suburban.

The body style changed in 2007. I noticed if you go back to 2006 they are a little cheaper. May try that option.

 

[Swimalie]

http://www.carsdirect.com/

 

[kristenrice]

LOVE my Suburban! I have a 2004 (bought new in Dec 2004) and it just hit 90,000 miles. The only bad thing I have to say about it is that it's A/C isn't the greatest. The road salt here in Michigan is highly corrosive. Apparently, the aluminum parts to my Suburban are not handling the salt well and I've had a few corrosion issues. There is a leak in my A/C system so there is no freon pressure. This resulted from corrosion in the "pipes" (I'm soooo not a mechanic!) under the truck which now leak. The fans work, but since there is a leak, it doesn't trigger the coolant so it only blows "room air". They said it would cost about $1800 to repair it...or a mere $200 to clamp it off, resulting on only A/C for the front seats. For the last year, I've just sweated it out (literally) by driving with the windows down.

If you are looking for a used one, this is definitely something to check out. My truck has rarely left the road (a couple times on a 2-track on the hunting property) and it still fell victim to "damage" to the undercarriage. I've also recently learned that the valve stems on the tires are aluminum and prone to "breaking off" due to corrosion over time.

Good luck in your search. You'll love it!

 

[mtblujeans]

Lot's of good info, here. Thanks!

 

[mhsjax]

I have no info to help you, I just wanted to echo the fact that it seems most people love theirs including me. I don't care about the gas prices, I LOVE my Suburban. That is probably why you having a hard time finding one, but I am sure you will have success.

 

[arihillfarm]

LOVE my Suburban! I have a 2004 (bought new in Dec 2004) and it just hit 90,000 miles. The only bad thing I have to say about it is that it's A/C isn't the greatest. The road salt here in Michigan is highly corrosive. Apparently, the aluminum parts to my Suburban are not handling the salt well and I've had a few corrosion issues. There is a leak in my A/C system so there is no freon pressure. This resulted from corrosion in the "pipes" (I'm soooo not a mechanic!) under the truck which now leak. The fans work, but since there is a leak, it doesn't trigger the coolant so it only blows "room air". They said it would cost about $1800 to repair it...or a mere $200 to clamp it off, resulting on only A/C for the front seats. For the last year, I've just sweated it out (literally) by driving with the windows down.

If you are looking for a used one, this is definitely something to check out. My truck has rarely left the road (a couple times on a 2-track on the hunting property) and it still fell victim to "damage" to the undercarriage. I've also recently learned that the valve stems on the tires are aluminum and prone to "breaking off" due to corrosion over time.

Good luck in your search. You'll love it!

Try putting your climate control on the setting that is for both defrost and heat (that blows on your feet) and the coldest temp. setting and a high fan speed. In my Denali and my husband's HHR, that blows cold air even on hot days and we rarely use the A/C unless it's over 85 deg.

-Astrid

 

[Mic]

I have a 2004 Suburban we bought new in July of 2004. It practcally knows the way to Old Key West! I think we got a great deal on ours, but we took what was on the lot. My husband wanted the $38,000 Suburban that was decked-out with leather heated/cooled seats and a few convenience packages. Unfortunately, that Suburban had only 8 seatbelts, which is what I already had in my Safari van, and I could not see going that far into debt if I wasn't able to seat another passenger, especially since the van was paid for. The dealership had one Suburban with 3 bench seats(9 seatbelts), but minus all the expensive stuff, for $10,000 less. We added a DVD player and power inverter for my pre-teen son to play his video games for @$500 more, and I still love it! It has almost 130k miles on it, with nothing but routine maintenance. When we bought it my husband said it was so expensive that I would have to drive it until the wheels fell off...and I plan to! My good friend just bought a 2005 model with 80k miles on it from someone on craigslist for @$12,000. That may be a good place to look for a private-owner sale. Just be sure to run a carfax. My friend purchased a 30-day membership to carfax when she started looking at Suburbans for @$30, and ended up buying the first one she looked at! Good luck.