Expedition vs. Suburban vs. Durango

This was taken at the Japanese Classic Car Show - I still appreciate a good 4x4 van.

I just picked up a 2002 Suburban, 4x4, LT with 65k miles. Happy with it so far. Last weekend I had three adults and five kids in it, stuff for a day at the lake behind the third row, and a 18' boat in tow for a two hour drive each way. Everybody was comfy and it is great on the highway.

Considered the Expeditions, they are a little less money than a similar GM full size but prefer the styling of the GM, particularly over the pre '03 Expy's. Also looked for Sequoias but they also command a premium price though I don't know that they are a better truck.

If you don't need lots of room behind the third row include Yukons and Tahoe's in your search.

In the choices you listed, I think Suburban is the hands down no brainer winner. They're a dime a dozen, so they're easy to find. Just check for rust. I had a '93 for several years and loved it. They'll have tons of squeaks and rattles and it's typical cheap GM interior, but the damn things run forever as long as you take care of them. At my job, when I see a Suburban, it almost always has 200k+ miles.

Try to find one for $750 under your overall budget and spend that extra money on a set of snow tires/rims (you could probably find a used set much cheaper). 4x4 Burban with snows will be unstopable in the snow...well, not literally, I hope you'll still be able to stop when you want.

LOL I'm finding 00-02 burbans for 3k or less little more for a nicer one. they all have ~200k or better on em, but most of em are 5.3's. 3-500 for a motor who cares? or rebuild it, port the heads, put a LS1/6 intake on it, cam and enjoy.

Datsun1500 wrote: Since 2002 Durangos are $5000 trucks and 2002 Suburbans are $10,000 trucks, we have no idea what you want, and hints don't work to well :) You asked what would you buy out of 3 specific cars and it looks like Suburban is the winner. How about " I want a large SUV, 4x4, that seats 7, for under $10,000" Any ideas?

Huh? Where do you live? $4k buys all three easily. My friends dad just bought a $2,500 loaded 2001 Expedition in excellent condition with 130,000 miles 4x4 for $1,800.

I just type in $4000 max on CL and I could just choose any of the three I listed

I love me some Dodges but the Durango is DEAD LAST and by a large amount. The Expedition is 2nd, also by a LARGE margin. So the suburban is the far and away CLEAR winner in this showdown.

Seriously, it's case closed. I've driven and worked on all three as a mechanic and the suburban is twice the vehicle or more, for the money, than the other two, AND is easier to work on when it breaks!

Just to point out for giggles, though, a 2g trooper is actually bigger on the inside than a Durango, imo. I would way rather have the trooper than any of the three options OP listed, but that's a moot point.

In reply to Datsun1500: Suburbans:

http://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/cto/3930630799.html

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/3918485748.html

http://providence.craigslist.org/cto/3926574713.html

http://worcester.craigslist.org/cto/3900493427.html

http://southcoast.craigslist.org/cto/3892061811.html

Definitely the Suburban out of the three original choices. All of the older Expeditions I see around here are sagging in the back, sound like they're gonna blow up, or just generally look like big piles of E36 M3. The Suburban has classic looks and a tough motor--trim stuff and door handles and stuff will probably break, but it's probably the best vehicle IMO. I'm not a fan of American vehicles, but if I had to choose between these 3 I'd get a 2500 Suburban.

Here is another option:

Under 4000$, unstoppable in snow, and available with three rows of seats.

Or a more obvious choice:

Durango and Expeditions:

http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/cto/3903100697.html

http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/cto/3878373348.html

http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/cto/3927574844.html

http://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/cto/3930688950.html

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/3922591868.html

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/3922591868.html expeditions seem to be higher mileage ones but I'm not looking for an 80,000kmi truck for $4k

In reply to fanfoy:

I have actually seen Trailblazers within my budget.

Another Suburban vote. You don't really need a 2500 unless you trailer alot or haul max capacity cargo.

Er....

2nd gen Trooper?

Tom Suddard wrote: Er.... 2nd gen Trooper?

Never heard of those! Do they even exist?

What about a 4Runner?

I'm really stuck on the larger less fuel efficient behemoths. It's what I was raised on!

Hmmm

Oh no you didn't Tom!!!

Suburban.

Parts everywhere. Actual usable 3rd row. Cargo room for days.

The Durango has almost no upside... it's physically smaller but still gets abyssmal fuel mileage.

I would go Suburban. Or Tahoe. Tahoe will be bigger than the Durango.

Entropyman wrote: I believe the 2002 model year for the Expedition does NOT have the spark plug issue. I don't think that came around until the 04 version of the modular V-8. I know my 03 F150 has no spark plug issues.

They did.......some of the 2V mod motors had the problem, 96-xx....some never had issues which was kinda funny.

If you can spring for it, the '03 or '04 restyle of the expedition(a year before the f150 restyle) is worth the extra over the bubble ones. They are more comfortable, don't look as dated, and tow better(which you evidently don't need)

Basically, think of it this way, the Durango is based on a 1/3 ton truck(the dakota), the Expedition on a 1/2 ton(f150), and the Suburban is based on the chevy 3/4 ton(1 ton option IIRC)

Twice even.......you could be a dick and buy an Excursion, that'd piss off every prius owner in the northeast.

In reply to yamaha: In typing "Expedition" I've almost typed Excursion instead. It's got me thinking I could add another option to my search!

In reply to ebonyandivory:

The excursion is the comparable beast to the Suburban XL.....the v8 would be ok for just tooling around, but the v10 or either diesel are required to tow. Prolly pull a premium over the Suburban though.