Sure, I'd like to buy a new Chevy Tahoe but my other half says no!

This has been yet another long term relationship with a Chevrolet but all good things must come to an end. With just over 192,000 miles on the odometer and a recent clean bill of health from the last smog check my 96 Chevy Tahoe is doing OK but starting to show its age. Mechanically speaking there are several issues which require attention, nothing keeping me from driving cross country but I would really prefer having the air conditioning fully functioning in triple digit heat.

Over the years I've done all the mechanical repairs myself except replacing the automatic transmission at 158,000 miles. I'm on my third set of Michelin's (265-75-16 LTX m/s) tires which at this point may outlast the vehicle. Other scheduled maintenance and repairs have been limited and predictable. The only letdown was the electric in-tank fuel pump which left my wife stranded on the roadside, thankfully only five miles from my shop. This wasn't an uncommon breakdown for a 10 year old pump with 170,000 miles. I'm guessing running out of fuel the week before weakened it.

This is my second Chevy SUV with my first one being an 84 Blazer. My wife is the primary driver and with all its current flaws she doesn't want a new one. She's even got a name for it now, the "Jolly Green Giant". This one has the two tone paint job (green on top - gold on bottom). I'm able to work on and fix the current problems but they're starting to add up and get worse. The original engine is still tight, doesn't leak or use oil. It does have a slow pesky coolant leak I believe it's one of the engine blocks freeze plugs. I can take a weekend drive from California to Oregon and back (1,100 miles) and add nothing but gas to the 30 gallon tank. But each month it takes about a quart of coolant to top off the radiator and overflow bottle.

This Chevy Tahoe has been indispensable and very dependable for over 12 years. Trips to the mountains in adverse weather are not a problem as the Chevy Tahoe was designed for this. In all my years of ownership I've only had to use the 4X4 mode 3 times. There's nothing like coming up on a "chain control" area, watching and driving by all the motorists chaining up their cars in the mud and snow on their hands and knees. Four wheel drive on this rig comes at a hefty price though. It's $3,000 to push that little 4X4 button or opt for the $70 purchase for snow-chains.

Handling is so-so:

Not as good as a BMW but a lot better than a U-Haul truck. Parking and maneuvering this full sized SUV is not a problem. It fits easily into your average stall with about a foot to spare on each side.  Nothing to brag about but considering its 4,800 lb weight the brakes are very good. Women won't have any problems here as the effort it takes to come to an abrupt stop is minimal. 

I haven't towed a trailer but I seriously doubt you'll have any problems. There's plenty of power from the 255 HP, 350ci V-8 Vortec engine. I've traveled many times over steep mountainous roads without much on the throttle. On constant uphill demands the temperature gauge doesn't move much and I've never seen it go past the mid mark or 210 °F. Oh yes, the gauge is working properly. One time the water pump went out and the coolant got low, the gauge did get close to the red zone.

Last year about this time my wife took a trip to the grocery store and the engine suddenly started running rough. While at a red light the check engine light came on for the first time. She was barely able to get through the intersection and get it off to the side of the road. Turns out it was a bad misfire caused by a bad sparkplug wire. All it needed was long overdue tune-up. For about $140 and about an hour or so of labor, I performed my first tune up with a cap & rotor, plugs and wires.

If you bought this Tahoe today:

With a 12-13 year old vehicle there's a long list of items which would have been replaced. Depending on the mileage the list of repairs will vary. I've never heard of a GM truck or SUV get much more than 160,000 on an automatic transmission. Mine made it to 158k. The engine on my Tahoe should make it to the 250k mark, but everything that's bolted to the engine that moves would have been replaced. I've had quite a few thing happen as I approached the 160k mark. If you're considering purchasing this year make and model and the seller says "I've replace everything but the motor" you're possibly going to get another 60,000 miles without a major problem.

The gas millage hasn't change since the day we bought it. It's nowhere near the claimed 14/17 but in reality it's always been 11/15.  (city/highway)

Very Roomy Interior:

We've got the LT with practically every option GM offered, even comes with a compass in the rear-view mirror. The leather (pleather) seating is holding up great, except for the driver's seat (the section you slide on to get in) is starting to show the fabric beneath. 5 passengers will fit comfortably, 6 if you have younger ones. Only a few minor problems, one being a passenger vent insert fell out (as though it shrunk). The power door locks are acting up, they sometimes require being opened manually. I don't like where the dual retractable cup-holder tray is located. Putting a beverage in one almost completely blocks an air vent. Because of how high it's located a beverage (like coffee) is top-heavy, it sloshes out even with a vented lid. 

The cargo area is very spacious and with the rear passenger seat folded down you can easily insert 4X8 sheets of plywood or drywall with the rear door closed. Making the transition from a passenger hauler to lumber hauler only takes a minute.

Because of my optional 3.42:1 rear axle gearing and over-drive transmission this equates to lower engine RPM's, therefore the cabin noise is minimal. Only when we approach 70 mph the wind noise picks up a bit yet still quiet and enough comfort enough that passenger can fall asleep.

The original factory Delco AM/FM CD cassette stereo is still performing as it did when new with more than adequate power and quality sound. Power windows are functioning as they should except for the on-dash power release button to pop the rear window open is inoperative. All other electrical including the gauges work as they should except the fuel gauge has its own personality. When topping off the fuel it reads a full tank for almost 90-100 miles then quickly drops to empty. When it gets to the red you have about 2 gallons of gas remaining.

Exterior:

Decent paint, much better than Ford or other vehicles I've owned. The body side molding is still in place even with the driver's door that took a moderate hit. Chrome bumpers are holding up well but the front chrome grill is starting to flake. No rust appearing anywhere, even from the slight scratches and body scrapes but I'm in the Sacramento Valley far from any harsh environments.

Finally:

This would make a great second vehicle for a small family looking for a reliable utilitarian for a weekend trip to the mountains, camping trip or toy hauler. For those wanting a unique look there's lots of aftermarket accessories available to really dress it up or as my son says "pimp" this vehicle. Frankly I don't care what it looks like right now but it's still as reliable as ever, it just needs a little TLC. The Chevy Tahoe has a proven track record and decent resale value. I don't know who came up with the 17 mpg highway figure but that's way off, expect 15 mpg tops.
Amount Paid (US$): 29,550
Condition: New
Model Year: 1996
Model and Options: LT