I bought my 1998 Suburban 3 years ago with 195,000 miles on it for $2950. We ran into financial problems and had to dump our Honda Pilot for $16000.We still needed something big to get the 3 adults, 2 dogs and 4 cats out of town in case of a hurricane-we live 4 miles West Of New Orleans.
The 1998 looked ok, but never in 1,000,000 years would I have ever considered buy a 10 year old 195,000 vehicle if we weren't broke in debt.
Well 3 year later 213,000 miles,I'm happy. We planned to use it in town,and to use it to get us 100 miles North in case of evacuation.
Turned out to be so reliable we drove it twice to Flagstaff AZ(3000 mile roundtrip-even let it idle for 6 hours at rest stops so we could sleep with the AC -save motel money and we fit a double mattress in the back).
Got 21 mpg on those trips(I put the CC about 65 mph and obey road work 45 and 55 mph zones).
The PO rebuilt/replace the trans at 185,000 miles and the AC at 155,000 miles.
I had to replace
1)Radiator $160 ebay
2)Brake booster-autozone $135
3)Water pump $160 autozone
4)Shocks-Bilsteins ebay-$210
5)Belt tensioner-$35 Chevy dealer
6) intake manifold gaskets $100+ $325 to shade tree mechanic-big mistake-had to redo his screwups stripped harmonic balancer bolt and hole and a couple of others(power tools in guy rushing not giving a darn)
7) anti sway bar clamp in front $20 GM
8) Stuff I forget
Maybe $1100 in parts-I did work.
Runs great-does have a rain leak in front, but doesn't rust despite wet floor.
I kinda doubt the 88-95 are more reliable than the 96-99 or 2000-2006. The old ones that are still left are ones that were really well taken care of and were the really reliable ones of their group to begin with.No one would bother to keep/repair an old POS that constantly broke down-they would be traded or junked., so it just seems like older ones are more reliable.
In medical studies it is called survivor bias.Folks who live to get really old are healthier to begin with(better genes), but researchers sometimes make the mistake of thinking Grandad is old because he drank a pint of whiskey a day, and maybe those folks who died early should have done the same.
I'm pleased with my Mexico built 1998-never expected much from a $2900 truck with 195,000 miles-but it has been really reliable.It is one of the few breaks we have gotten during our money problems.
I'm happy-great truck-do anything with it(well it is 2wd, but all we need is 2wd)
Charlie
PS Phoebe-recycled greyhound-also loves it-she can stretch waaaaay out and doesn't sleep on us like she did in the Pilot.