Peak quality large SUV

[eric1115]

I've always driven older vehicles, the thought of a loan/payment on a $50k++ depreciating asset makes me break out in hives.

We have a 2011 Expedition EL that is getting pretty long in the tooth. I've been looking at late teens to maybe early 2020's and it seems like major issues are there with both the newer Ford (cam phasers in the 3.5) and GM (continued AFM shenanigans). Have any of you had experience bulletproofing either of these?

At this point I'm thinking a mid-teens 5.7 Sequoia might be my best option. I don't need all 8 seats as often anymore, but do need that capability still from time to time. If I didn't need some cargo space behind the 3rd row I'd get a late 100 or early 200 series LC and be done. As is, the Sequoia feels like it might be on the edge of being too small.

I consider myself a Toyota guy at heart, I have a 2005 Sequoia with some go-fast suspension (Fox coilovers, Camburg control arms, etc) and an old Land cruiser that I love, but the space in a Suburban size vehicle is so nice with a big family.

I had been considering holding out for Ford/GM to get their shit together and sort out their mid to late teens issues, but it seems like reliability on both (and Toyota as well) is continuing to decline as complexity due to emissions/fuel economy restrictions increases. My gut says the wündertürbo motors (and hybrid power trains) are here to stay and the last of the NA V8's are going to represent the peak of the curve, with low mileage good condition examples getting harder to find.

 

[hunt25]

Understand what your talking about with the gmc issues lifter issues on those are absolutely hit or miss on if you’ll get a good or bad one but transmission wise on the gm’s as long as you keep up on maintenance like changing the fluids you’ll be good. Also only buy one if the the original owner has been doing maintenance on the transmission, I don’t know why but I’ve always been told if your fluid hasn’t been changed regularly on the transmission don’t start because somehow it will make it worse

 

[dbarrett4053]

I have a 2015 Suburban that i have put a 3 inch lift on and upgraded some suspension and other components. I have 238k miles on it and it runs like new. I expect I'll get another 200k out of the engine at least. If not I'll put a new engine in it. If I were to sell it I'd just buy another one so I may as well fix anything that goes wrong with it. That 5.3 engine is a piece of cake to work on and parts are cheap. I have atv's, a boat and 30' camp trailer that I tow with it many times a year. My son and I can sleep in the back of it when we go out and all of our gear stays dry. It's great. If I bought a pickup I would just put a topper on it anyway so in my mind the suburban is the best of both worlds.