Tahoe/Yukon vs. Expedition vs. Sequoia

I don't know anything about the Sequoia's. Just having bought my Tahoe in August I did look closely at Tahoe/Yukon vs. Expedition. My take was that the capability, load hauling, towing, and drive were very similar. Both platforms are very smooth, but don't handle all that well with the big SUV body roll. I didn't test drive a Tahoe Z71 with the tighter suspension, my guess is it handles better but I was looking for smooth and quiet. My Tahoe is extremely smooth, very quiet. I test drove the LT without auto-ride and bought the LTZ with autoride, thought it was smoother and wanted the automatic load leveling.

My take was the Expedition is a bit better dollar value, same vehicle capability for less money. But, I MUCH preferred the styling of the Tahoe, thought the interior was more up to date as well. I don't think you can go wrong with either as a super comfortable tow vehicle and people hauler.

Don't really know what kind of answers you expect. Your asking for real world current experience? Anyone who's just dropped 40,50k+ is not going to tell you that they didn't make the best buying decision of their life,it's just human nature. Other than JBear I don't think anyone here has put in more time,35 years,8+ hours a day in domestic vehicles. Worked out of them,ate in them,slept in them,abused them. Never paid for gas,repairs,or towing. For what it's worth Fords were first,GM's second,Chryslers distant third.

Tim, love the LC, always have, but the late model ones are just too much $$$ and are more geared for hard-core offroad rather than straight up interior space which is what we need and we are anti-minivan.

Gary, I said current version not current model year. All three platforms have been around for some time now, though I heard a major redo of the Tahoe/Burbo/Yukon is just around the corner.

tullfooter wrote: We have an Expedition (I drive an Avalanche). My buddy has Yukons, both a regular, and a Denalli. We both tow boats and other toys. Even though I own the Expedition, I like the Yukon better, with one exception. Our rear seats stow away in the floor when not in use. To remove the back row of seats from the GM, the seats have to be removed from the truck. That is the main reason we bought the Ford,and have not regretted it.

Steve, what do you think of the towing capability of the EX vs. your Av or the Yukons? When I as researching, there was a bit of an internet tilt toward the Ford for towing, that it had more low end torque. Then again, I saw a lot of criticism of the GM 5.3 as not having enough power, but for me it's as much power as I could need, really a strong engine from my point of view.

You are absolutely right about the seats, that feature sucks in the Tahoe. I've had one or both seats out a number of times and it's a pain, they are heavy, and then I'm thinking what if I need the seats with them back in my garage. I would hope they fix that on the next version.

New Tahoe/Yukon/Sub comes out for 2015. Avalanche is sadly gone.

Joel, based on your taste in vehicles, I think the LC would look a lot more appropriate in your garage than the other choices you mentioned! I hear you on the space thing... I assume youve taken a look at one and determined that its just not big enough? I havent, but I would guess that the LC and Tahoe/Yukon would be comparable size wise. Expedition and Sequoia are incrementally larger and have IRS, so should be roomier in back... and obviously the 'Burb is huge.

Cost is another thing thats hard to justify when looking at specs on paper... I suspect that the LC has a lot of intangibles that dont translate well to a spec sheet. Going with something a few model years older with slightly higher miles would probably get you close to the same ballpark though... if the size isnt a total deal breaker. The domestic offerings are pretty attractive, I have to admit (my next vehicle will most likely be a full size pick up)... but I think you're allowed to have higher expectations of a vehicle like a LC than the others mentioned. Youve been spoiled with the 4R and its barely broken in (165k on mine now)!

I am currently Resurrecting my 96 Tahoe 4X4. 250 Thousand miles on it. I have already rebuilt the trans,rear end, front end basically went completely through the whole truck engine and all. It was a great buy for me in 02 I paid $5K for it and it had less than a hundred thousand miles. Will post some pictures after it comes out of the paint booth next week.
Anyway these trucks are great and their are a lot of real nice garage kept Tahoe's and Suburbans on the market that are priced right.

David I will look closer, my 3rd row is 2 separate seats with a built in console in each chair, rarely have them in the truck, only when needed.

I'm in no hurry but I have been starting to look too,as we now have 2 vehicles per family member and something needs to be done.I am leaning toward an Avalanche as I like their look. If it wasn't for the poor seats in the Lincoln,I'd just keep using it,in my case for what I have invested in it no car or truck can match it.

my wife has a sequoia, it's been an awesome vehicle. i have a tundra, it's been an awesome vehicle. sequoia has 160K, drives like new, tundra has 100K, drives like new. batteries, tires, oil, filters, repeat.

i don't think you can really go wrong with any of your choices though.

Call the Suze Orman show payments suck but interest rates are good right now. If it's a good deal and you get a good rate and don't finance too long it is not too bad buying something new.

Gary S wrote: Other than JBear I don't think anyone here has put in more time,35 years,8+ hours a day in domestic vehicles. Worked out of them,ate in them,slept in them,abused them. Never paid for gas,repairs,or towing. For what it's worth Fords were first,GM's second,Chryslers distant third.

you got me beat Gary...only spent 33.5 years sleeping in mine..but after driving them all I gotta agree with the way you got 'em rated.

BTW..10 years today..last time I pulled outa the Lorain Rd garage..wow did that go fast!



john

Joel - Keep your old vehicle & just rent a land yacht when you take the family out on the road.   You will be money ahead if you count the depreciation of a new vehicle.

If you really want it to tow, Excursion with a 7.3.   Everything up to 03 had the 7.3 and some 03's got them as well. Quick search the other day and I found a handful that had less than 100,000 miles, and most were priced around $20000.     

Tim D wrote: I'm a Toyota guy, 3 4Runners and a Sequoia. I would recommend the Sequoia, never had any problems with it. Great pulling power, it weights 5,200 lbs and will get up and go, and it's more American made than the others. Stay away from the 4WD Yukon/Tahoe. The pump in the transfer case eats a hole in the transfer case, slowly looses fluid and then locks up. I know three people this has happened to.

Really, My Yukon XL just hit 210K Miles. Now needs a brake change for the second time Power steering shaft broke once. Other than that, nothing but routine maintenance. Just drove it to Tahoe this weekend. 70 to 80 mph, uphill into the Sierra Nevada Mountains - 16.8 mpg up the hill. It has spent 20 to 50 days per year in the Mountains for the last 13 years with no issues of the 4WD system.

My brother's Suburban is now at 190K. Similar record of reliability.

Toyota's may be fine, I don't know. But to say stay away from the 4WD GMs is, IMHO, Bull.

BKH

Love my 99 Yukon. Bought with 20k miles on it...officially branded a lemon law buyback, it's been great for the last 130k miles. Paid 20k back in 2000.