I may buy a used Suburban. Any Dopers have em? How do they hold up? Good strong engines? Weak lame engines? Maintenance problems unique to Suburbans? I seek the straight dope 
Cartooniverse
The people I know who have one (BTW it is one of few SUV’s considered safe for hauling horses) complain of somewhat flukey “weird” steering. However these are older vehicles, at least 5 years old, some getting on to 10 years.
OP is looking for opinions. Moved to IMHO.
samclem GQ moderator
We bought a 1999 for my wife and she Loves it! It has been very good for us. Drives/rides well, hauls a trailer easily thru mountainous terrain and LOADS of storage space (which she needs all the time).
One down side, however. Last month, at about 130,000 miles, the transmission grenaded and cost $1700 after tax. When we started to call the transmission shops they knew what the problem was. “Same thing happens all the time with these” we were told. We must of been taking care of ours, though, because they usually go at about 70 or 80,000 miles.
Other than that, it has been a great truck before and since. If you’re shopping, find out the transmission history or have it checked out.
Where I come from, they’re known as MAVs: Mormon Attack Vehicles. Take that as you will.
I take it as an appallingly racist remark that is in no way fit for The Straight Dope. That’s how I take it. You need to write that stuff, take it to The Pit and keep it out of this thread please.
Transmissions, eh? Okay, I appreciate that warning.
More?
I have vehicle in the same general body class. A 2003 GMC Denali (like a pimped up Yukon with all the gadget candy).
1: Comfortable vehicle -XM radio is the bomb!
2: GMC control electronics are sometimes flaky. Controls are not that intuitive. You really need to read the manual.
3: Superb (amazing actually) engine power and very crisp handling for a vehicle that size. I think the pre-2003’s had a considerably wider turning radius
4: Just an absolutely insane gas hog- approx 12 mpg in around town driving.
5: Less room inside (in my version) than you might expect.
6: Pulls a trailer like nobodies business.
7: Clumsy control ergonomics & just hideous dash styling. The 60’s meets the new millenium and has a crack baby.
The 'Burb is a truck at heart. Imagine a full-size Chevy 3/4 ton pickup with the cab stretched all the way to the back bumper. Many used ones are tricked out like custom vans, with the swivel arm chairs and maple cup holders. Most carry big engines, and they’ll gladly pull a big boat or an Airstream.
I have one. Me wuffs my suburban.
It is awesome in snow and icey conditions. I’ve never had a 2wd to 4wd option before and the traction is bar none.
I love the fact that I can haul 6 kids plus two adults and a buttload of gear AND a trailer of stuff, if I am so inclined. I have three levels of air/heat comfort range button do-dads to keep the kidlets in back happy.
My son has the 3rd row, my daughter has the 2nd row. This is awesome for cutting down infighting. If only there were some kind of ejector seat option…that would be da bomb.
The only drawback, besides filling the ga$ tank is the slow takeoff from a stop. Yeah, all those little cars and minivans can beat me from a red light or on the entrance ramp onto the freeway, but once I get up to speed…sheeeeit…it is a very comfortable ride and it is a wunderbar feeling knowing that I am driving something equivalent to a tank.
If I fold down the 3rd row I can shove shitloads of crap back there that I find at a Garage sale/salvation army. Moving/folding the seat isn’t as easy as the seats in minivans are now, but my truck is 10 years old.
I find it easy to park ( I park anywhere I want, merge this way too.) and actually very easy to negotiate in reverse…though the blindspots are a bit of getting use too.
The hardest part for me really was dealing with the hood that is the size of an aircraft carrier. ( after driving an Econoline for years where you practically sit atop the engine.)
I wuv my truck.
I see them all the time, here in the heart of SUV-land; they were my second choice after buying an Econoline for my utility vehicle. Solid, stable, strong, sturdy, comfortable, and they can suck down the gas like nobody’s business. Probably gets about 13 mpg. Less, if doing anything useful, but that’s about what you’ll expect from any utility vehicle.
I used to drive a Dodge Sportsman, where you get to sit *next *to the engine…
Probably not much use to you, since it’s so old, but I have a 87 'burb, 1/2 ton 4x4. It’s a great hunting rig, but I had to get rid of the running board because they really reduce ground clearance (ok, I took them off after I got hung up on some big rocks and sort of tore them off while getting unstuck). I put in a new engine about three years ago so it runs strong, but I get 13 mpg no matter what (in town, highway, empty, loaded) so I usually have it parked these days. It’s geared fairly tall, I think it has 3.40:1 gears in the diff, I may swap them out to 4.10’s one of these days. I don’t think that will hurt the mileage since I’ve run it on the highway in both overdrive and in 3rd, and get the same mileage either way. The 87 was available with a throttle body injection, which means that it always starts with no fuss.
I don’t even know if they are making them in 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton configurations these days, but if you expect it to see hard use, I’d suggest looking for a 3/4 ton, otherwise the 1/2 ton is fine. Unlike a truck, the burb has a pretty good amount of weight over the rear wheels, so traction is pretty good even in 2 wheel drive.
Had a '96 1500 for about 5 years, really enjoyed it.
Comfortable for long trips.
Back has less storage than you would expect.
Went through lots of brakes. My friend that knows cars told me all of the cars like the Suburban use undersized brakes, it costs too much to put in the right stuff.
Hmmm. Can one put IN the proper sized brakes, or is one stuck with undersized brakes? And, who goes cheap on brake size when designing a freakin’ tank?
Hmmm. Still, I do love the idea of a 'Burban.
I think it depends on the vintage. Dad’s 3/4 ton 97 Silverado had HUGE brakes. Our 2003 Avalanche (nominally a burban with the back end sectioned into a truch bed.) has really good brakes…It’s a friggen TRUCK! What do you honestly expect? If you tow, you’ll use up brakepads more quickly, budget for it.
Our 1500 Avalanche had NO problems towing a 6500 lb trailer at Denver’s Mile-high altitude with its 5.3 V-8. It’s had a few recalls, and a broken plastic bit or two (replaced under warrantee), but it’s been a great vehicle to haul two kids, the trailer, and stuff, around in.
There was a BIG leap in vehicle design and capability around 97 (the changed the trucks then, the burban may have been a 2000/2001 redesign). But with used prices what they are, you should be abple to get a pretty good deal on a newer used one.
Do you need 4x4? If not, you get better mileage, more towing capability, and less cost (both initial and ongoing).