NEW VEHICLE

[JJSZABO]

Well I finally did it - I bought a new vehicle for the misses.  With gas prices going up, up, up I think I am going NUTS

2006 Chevy Suburban 2500 LT w/autoride
8.1L BIG BLOCK

That's right - a Big Block!!  We are averaging between 11 and 14 mpg depending on how much we use the accelerator.  We needed a new tow vehicle to replace our 2000 Ford Expedition to tow our 28 foot travel trailer.  We love it - fun to drive - can you say EXCELLERATION!!!

Here are some Pics:

[Unofficial]

8.1?!

 

[VileZambonie]

Sweeeet!!

[choptop]

Looks great, I love my 8.1. Definatly a mule for pulling.

[Captkaos]

You must be crazy! Curious as I haven't looked, Is the diesel not more efficient?

[choptop]

The only way you can get a deisel in a newer suburban is to have it converted over. There is a company that does this, but it is not cheap. And once you consider the cost of the deisel engine initially ( about $7,000 to $8000) plus maintenance, and higher fuel costs, the desiel has to get around 20 mpg average to equal out to the gas at 13mpg. This is figured if both vehicles were run to 150,000 miles. Now, for constant heavy loads, the deisel would shine through over the gas, but not for weekend warrioir type rigs. I crunched the numbers when I was looking for a heavy hauler for my business, and though I can write of the costs in expenses, I came out ahead by buying a 1 ton with the 8.1 for the heav loads, and run a 1/2 ton as my primary truck. With 19mpg on the 1/2 ton and 13 on the one ton, and buying both used, it is still way more cheaper to run two trucks(for me at least) than to run one, new deisel. Dodge gets better gas mileage, and has an awesome deisel, but it is in an ugly truck.The one ton is only ran about 5% of the time, and I have less than $27,000 invested in both trucks. One is an 04 K1500 extended cab, and the other is an 01 crewcab dually with less than 60,000 miles on it. Works for me

[JJSZABO]

The only way you can get a deisel in a newer suburban is to have it converted over. There is a company that does this, but it is not cheap. And once you consider the cost of the deisel engine initially ( about $7,000 to $8000) plus maintenance, and higher fuel costs, the desiel has to get around 20 mpg average to equal out to the gas at 13mpg. This is figured if both vehicles were run to 150,000 miles. Now, for constant heavy loads, the deisel would shine through over the gas, but not for weekend warrioir type rigs. I crunched the numbers when I was looking for a heavy hauler for my business, and though I can write of the costs in expenses, I came out ahead by buying a 1 ton with the 8.1 for the heav loads, and run a 1/2 ton as my primary truck. With 19mpg on the 1/2 ton and 13 on the one ton, and buying both used, it is still way more cheaper to run two trucks(for me at least) than to run one, new deisel. Dodge gets better gas mileage, and has an awesome deisel, but it is in an ugly truck.The one ton is only ran about 5% of the time, and I have less than $27,000 invested in both trucks. One is an 04 K1500 extended cab, and the other is an 01 crewcab dually with less than 60,000 miles on it. Works for me

I came to the same conclusion.  I have heard that Chevy is putting the deisel back in the Burb in 2009 model year.  I can buy alot of gas for the price of converting the deisel.  Now don't get me wrong, I agree with the deisel argument, but the only thing that had a deisel right now, short of a truck (and the wife didn't want a truck) was a Ford Excursion.  It came down to us liking the Chevy Burb over the 04 and 05 deisel Excursions.  Time will only tell - I hope this wasn't a mistake

[choptop]

I think you will enjoy it, and not regret it at all. I will be doing some perfomance upgrades on my dually to see if I can squeeze a little more mpg's out of it. I have talk to a few who claim a programmer, exhaust, and a cold air intake put them at 16-17 mpg, but.... I'll have to see it for myself. Supposedly these are restricted because of noise emmisions. We'll see. I know the exhaust upgrade has made some improvement, especially when the skinny pedal is stepped on. MPG wise, maybe 1/2 gallon diff.

[ssgoodman]

i heard chevy is going to start offering a new diesel in their half tons, not sure where i seen the article posted but it seemed pretty nice if it does what they say it will do. 

Sutton

[Captkaos]

It's the 4.5L Duramax:  http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewmonthlyreleasedetail.do?domain=74&docid=37112

[choptop]

It's the 4.5L Duramax:  http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewmonthlyreleasedetail.do?domain=74&docid=37112

Might be kinda cool