Finding a quality mechanic is important, but paying too much for work is unnecessary. You have to know when to fold or shop around. Spending local is nice when prices are similar. You could have easily spent half of that at another shop for the same amount of work. Parts are very cheap for the older Chevy trucks(most aftermarket parts are made in China), and any shop can work on one. You should have purchased a much newer Suburban.
Your money. Your choice. Might not have been the best financial decision but you'll have what you want and you know the mechanical soundness. Had a suburban of that vintage and it was one of the best vehicles I ever owned except for one thing. It ATE radiators. Put 6 or 7 in it over the 195+thousand miles I ran it. Heard the same thing from both my radiator man and my mechanic....something about the frame flex forward of the front axle putting stress on the radiator. After the second radiator, I bought one with a lifetime warranty. Local O'Reilley's honored it till the end.
We had a '98 Suburban, single worst vehicle I've owned, GMC took it back due to Customer Sat, the 2001 they replaced it with was much better, and drove way better.
A quick google search and you can likely find one for the other rig you mentioned.
There were several listings so check them all for best price.
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Ah heck, its so easy I did it for you.
http://www.buyautoparts.com/plabuyn...Uu3bFTXtsaeBrgwSwoDHPIo8WP367ZKm60aAh2R8P8HAQ
There were a few different listings so check them all for best price.
I agree. I love my classics, but for most trips and drives, I will take my '13. I have driven my GS across country, loved it. spent half a day fixing a bad fuel pump too...
Also on the safety thing- That always concerns me.
Always blows my mind with people think the 'big american steel' was safer. New car design has its faults, but man, the crashes most vehicles can sustain now is just unreal.
I rent on any long drive where I won't be offroad driving and need my Tacoma. I'm such a frequent renter at my local Toyota dealership I get the corporate rate (and sometimes free upgrades!) and and it's entirely hassle free. I drive to KS for work semi-often and take 1-2 600+ mile roadtrips a year (austin, denver, new mexico, etc). I just call and they have me a car ready. Pretty nice not to have to worry about wear and tear on your own vehicle. I mean gotdamn my tires alone are well over $1,000 bucks for 4. Plus I get like 11mpg in my truck. I can triple that in a rental. No brainer to rent.
Renting is always an option for people that may want an older gas guzzler as a DD/semi-local adventure rig, but a newer car for long drives. Until you go somewhere need that old 4WD. Then you hum that mud-tired gas-guzzling sucker (with your tools packed) to wherever you're going. That's what I'll be doing in August (New Mejico).
