Maybe buying a truck

[joshs1ofakindxj]

This truck belongs to a co-worker of my father and I can get it for $22k...

2007 Chevrolet avalanche - $23000 (Blairsville )

2007 Chevrolet Avalanche very good condition. Black leather interior. New battery, digital trailer brake controller, tinted front windows. 83,500 miles.




It has every option but navigation and with the mileage, the NADA rough trade-in is about $24k, so it isn't a screaming deal, but fair.

It's come time to shit or get off the pot and buy a "real" vehicle I guess. Have to start looking professional at work and all. Plus I don't think the caliber of women I associate with are going to find my jeep "cute" for much longer.

80% of my yearly driving is on my motorcycle so mileage isn't HUGE for me, but the Avalanche does well at 20+ mpg on trips and 16-18 around town. My daily M-F commute is 40 miles total.

I'm doing just fine with my 89 XJ getting about the same mileage. I'm ready to make it a dedicated wheeler though. It's no longer cool I guess. And the electrical issue is still on-going. AND some ass clown broke the windshield with a beer bottle and that just isn't going to get fixed (no it wasn't me).

I'm drawn to the Avalanche because my dad is on his third and I'm used to driving, towing, and using the features of the Avalanche cargo area which have worked well for me. I like the dedicated hard top and the space in the quad cab is great.

I'm not excited about the monthly payment, but I can get a 3.75% rate through my credit union, which is affordable. I'm approved for it so I'm just contemplating it some more before pulling the trigger.

At first I thought about buying a newer XJ or even a beater car, and having that for a DD, then making the 89 XJ a street legal wheeler. That would certainly be the cheapest route.

Now I'm thinking I should get this avalanche, a cheap tandem axle 16' or 18' trailer from craigslist, and tow my XJ like I have enjoyed doing with my dad's truck and trailer in the recent past.

I feel like the Avalanche is a good size. Not too small that it can't tow an XJ on a trailer, and not a huge truck. I can only recall have one or two scary moments pulling a trailer with the Avalanche, and those were my own fault for not allowing enough braking distance or going too fast. When I really need to move something big I always have the Deuce to fall back on.

Borrowing my dad's truck and trailer is off the table. I'm a big boy now. Time to get my own junk.

So does anyone have some constructive advice? Reasons I shouldn't buy this truck or reasons I should do something else?

Those chrome door handles and mirror covers would have to go.

[DMG]

Seems like a lot of $ for a truck with 80k+ but otherwise pretty nice.

[2002wranglerX]

Seems like a lot of $ for a truck with 80k+ but otherwise pretty nice.

they hold their value like crazy.

there's an 03 or 04 2500 avalanche on CL with the 8.1 for like 10 k with similar miles btw...

[justin'sbig7]

Seems like a lot of $ for a truck with 80k+ but otherwise pretty nice.

This is kind of what I was thinking. I was finding '10 quad cab dodges and Chevy 1500 for around that kind of money with 30-40k mi. It's almost 6 yrs old. If what Dunbar say is true (and I don't doubt him a bit) then maybe it's an ok deal, but if it hasn't started depreciating yet, when will it start to do so at a rapid rate?

[OverkillZJ]

Wow, that's more than I just picked up a brand spanking new Grand Vitara with all options for, 0% APR over 4 years. Apples and oranges, I know, but I don't think I could pay that much for anything with 80k on the clock unless it's a 1 ton diesel!

[tjblair]

Make sure it does not have air ride.

[Super Scout]

I think you could get a lot more truck for a lot less money. I paid 10k for mine. In 2009 for a 2002 Chevy K1500 ext cab, z71 with 40,000 miles on the ticker. Something to think about. I always go a little older with less miles I seem to get much better deals that way.
I was told by a used car salesman once (so take it for what its worth). That used cars drop the highest percentage in value from 5-6 years old. So I always looked in the 6-7 year range.
My only real advice, decide what you need, decide what you can affor and stick to it.

[joshs1ofakindxj]

That's something to think about...

[joe_and_jeep]

Maybe I should sell my Silverado 2500, they hold their value like crazy.

[2002wranglerX]

i don't know what it is about the avalanches but they do hold their value. ventresco is trying to find a nice one right now and him and i were talking about it.

looks like that 2500 avalanche is gone. it's off CL.

[Meeke]

My 08 Tundra may be for sale shortly. It's the same one I brought to your house a while ago. I should be under the price of that Avalanche with less than 50k on the clock. I'd never sell the truck, but I have a company truck that I have full use of.

[joshs1ofakindxj]

Thanks, but I think I'm set on the Avalanche at this point, now I'm just looking at 2005 and 2006 models.



This ain't too bad...

[SirFuego]

Out of curiosity, what attracts you to the Avalanche instead of a half-ton extended cab Silverado or Sierra of comparable options?

[tjblair]

If you plan on towing with it. I would stay away from the 1500 because of the rear coils. And like I said before I would make sure it does not have air ride.

[2002wranglerX]

Does that have a 5.3?

[joshs1ofakindxj]

Out of curiosity, what attracts you to the Avalanche instead of a half-ton extended cab Silverado or Sierra of comparable options?

I guess mostly the way the bed is always covered, the tool boxes in the bed sides, etc. you can easily camp in the back by putting down the back seats and throwing an air mattress in the bed. You can keep most things you put in the bed out of the weather and secure from theft. A hard tonneau cover on a regular truck isn't near as easy to take on and off on a whim.

Oh and a lot of the time I find myself transporting lots of long guns when I'm going to the range. It's really nice to threw them all in the back of the avalanche that locks and is secure.

[joshs1ofakindxj]

Does that have a 5.3?

Yes

[Sycotik Skier]

not trying to thrw your decision one way or another but the Undercover tonneau cover is pretty secure and easily removed in like 15 seconds

[Leady]

My girlfriends dad and brother both have an avalanche. They are nice trucks but its essentially a 1/2 ton 4 door with a sweet tonneau cover minus that back seat deal. If the back seat doesn't make or break it for you, I would get a pickup. You can save $10,000 that way.

[2002wranglerX]

The 5.3 does nothing for me. I know some guys like it. But I was never impressed.

[justin'sbig7]

i had a k1500 with the 5.3 and 3.73 gears. it was an ok runner untill i towed. it struggled with the jeep and even towing a couple of jetskis was a chore with it.

[Super Scout]

I dunno, I must be the only guy with a positive exp, but I tow the Scout close to 7,000 pounds with my 5.3 chevy I think it does fine. Everyone who ever rode with me thought it was fine as well....

[justin'sbig7]

i got tired of towing the jeep (around 7k with trailer) with the engine screaming on any hill i came to. it did it, just not pleasantly. the turnpike tunnel hills were a different story. i needed the blinkers there

[joshs1ofakindxj]

I towed a Chevy Venture behind my dad's 2012 Avalanche yesterday with the 5.3 in it. Reinforced it for me. The Avalanche tows just fine up hills and all over.

[2002wranglerX]

i got tired of towing the jeep (around 7k with trailer) with the engine screaming on any hill i came to. it did it, just not pleasantly. the turnpike tunnel hills were a different story. i needed the blinkers there

That hill is a killer.

It'll get it done. But like you said, you'll be working it pretty hard in the hills.

When I bought the truck I have now I specifically looked for a hemi or 6.0 Chevy.