Car/Truck Advice Needed

[CryBoy]

Wife wants to buy 2007 GMC Envoy Denali with 160,000 miles. Guy wants $7000. Vehicle has V-8, 5.3L Vortec engine. We anticipate keeping this SUV for about 5 years. The purpose is for road trips once a year in the summer (~4K miles/trip). Short trips will total about 3 miles/year. I have test driven this SUV. Everything is in working order. All regular maintenance has been performed. But I am not a mechanic.

Should I buy this SUV for the purpose described above?

What is your experience with the V-8 5.3 Vortec engine?

 

[yyz]

When gas goes back to $3.50+ you won't be happy.

 

[Old School]

When gas goes back to $3.50+ you won't be happy.

you are being nice..

he will be flat slammed pissed off.

 

[THE KOD]

too much money and too many miles


I would pass on that

 

[Old School]

too much money and too many miles


I would pass on that

based on 7 years of driving that's a lotta miles per year..

nearly 23,000 ...that pounding the pavement..

bluebook.com for specs and price..


http://www.kbb.com/gmc/envoy/2007-g...0&condition=very-good&pricetype=private-party


19mpg hwy when new..

15 mpg combo...

22 gal tank..

educated guess w/those miles ...flash 5 grand and if he wants to unload ...take it to a shop and have it put on the rack for inspection head to toe..

 

[CryBoy]

Thanks for the suggestions. It looks like I will tell the wife that we need to pass on this SUV.

 

[Old School]

this is the man for you to have talk w/

PaSprint

he can tell what last and what doesn't and what holds up under the flashlight test..

 

[PaSprint]

Wife wants to buy 2007 GMC Envoy Denali with 160,000 miles. Guy wants $7000. Vehicle has V-8, 5.3L Vortec engine. We anticipate keeping this SUV for about 5 years. The purpose is for road trips once a year in the summer (~4K miles/trip). Short trips will total about 3 miles/year. I have test driven this SUV. Everything is in working order. All regular maintenance has been performed. But I am not a mechanic.

Should I buy this SUV for the purpose described above?

What is your experience with the V-8 5.3 Vortec engine?

General Motors 5.3L is basically the same mechanical platform as the ole 327 CI engine from way back. When that Denali was new the buyer probably paid mid 40s or upward of 50 grand for the thing. $7000 may sound like a deal but hold the phone.

If you are buying it from the owner, the first thing I'd want to know if he has the service records. I guarantee you in that 160K some shit has gone wrong with it. As sad as this sounds.... American made cars are shit for the most part (believe me it pains me to say this, but truth hurts sometimes) Off the top of my head, at that mileage, suspect items are ball joints. I've replaced a many of ball joints on chevy trucks (which is basically the same platform as a Yukon) with less miles than that. Most guys check those incorrectly too. You must check them with the suspension loaded. This means if its hanging on the lift you will not feel the play in them. You have to jack it up under the lower control arm when its on the ground and place a bar under the front tire and lift. If there is play there you will feel it. Other things I've seen wrong with those are intake leaks. Crawl under it and look and see if its wet with oil on the oil pan. Of course the intake is up top, but a leak up high will run down over everything and make it all wet. The intake will leak in the back and it will puke oil down the backside of the block and it will be wet on the pan and the bellhousing. I'm not saying don't buy it because anything is repairable, but if you want reliability, and a big ass SUV, buy a Toyota Sequoia.
If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask.

 

[Old School]

PaSprint:0074

 

[CryBoy]

Wow! Thanks PaSprint for the detailed info.

Guy selling the Denali apparently flips cars for a living. He is not the original of this SUV. I am trying to get a buddy to run a Car Fax on it. Seller has agreed for me to test drive it again with a mechanic. However, he is against me taking it to the shop to have it thoroughly inspected. He does have all maintenance/repair records. Original has only used synthetic motor oil. My logic for buying this particular high mileage SUV would be even if it does need repairs, it will still be under 10 grand total. I want something that will give me about 4 years. A Toyota Sequoia is too big for my wife to drive around town. Plus a decent Sequoia will be well over 10K. We want an SUV for long road trips in the summer. We have two little girls, 5 and 8. I can't afford a new vehicle.

Thanks again for a great review.

 

[Old School]

Wow! Thanks PaSprint for the detailed info.

Guy selling the Denali apparently flips cars for a living. He is not the original of this SUV. I am trying to get a buddy to run a Car Fax on it. Seller has agreed for me to test drive it again with a mechanic. However, he is against me taking it to the shop to have it thoroughly inspected. He does have all maintenance/repair records. Original has only used synthetic motor oil. My logic for buying this particular high mileage SUV would be even if it does need repairs, it will still be under 10 grand total. I want something that will give me about 4 years. A Toyota Sequoia is too big for my wife to drive around town. Plus a decent Sequoia will be well over 10K. We want an SUV for long road trips in the summer. We have two little girls, 5 and 8. I can't afford a new vehicle.

Thanks again for a great review.

ya tell him to flip it somewhere else..

ya don't want it on the rack I don't want your car..

 

[REFLOG]

Had an 07 Trailblazer, same vehicle but with V-6, drove it 167k miles. Sprint is correct about the ball joints, also tie rods. A few more things, power window motor and switches had recall, no longer covered, dealer fix is about 500, did on my own with used switch paned and import window motor for about 150 total, the traction control sensors go bad, big fix, about 900.00.

 

[PAChicky]

Wow! Thanks PaSprint for the detailed info.

Guy selling the Denali apparently flips cars for a living. He is not the original of this SUV. I am trying to get a buddy to run a Car Fax on it. Seller has agreed for me to test drive it again with a mechanic. However, he is against me taking it to the shop to have it thoroughly inspected. He does have all maintenance/repair records. Original has only used synthetic motor oil. My logic for buying this particular high mileage SUV would be even if it does need repairs, it will still be under 10 grand total. I want something that will give me about 4 years. A Toyota Sequoia is too big for my wife to drive around town. Plus a decent Sequoia will be well over 10K. We want an SUV for long road trips in the summer. We have two little girls, 5 and 8. I can't afford a new vehicle.

Thanks again for a great review.

That right there is a red flag. Example: We had a customer bring us a GMC Jimmy last month that he bought from the local used car dealer. This dealer gives a 30 day warranty on used vehicles. He brought it to us, we put it up on the rack, and proceeded to tell him everything it was going to need to remedy the issues he was having. With an estimate of upwards of $500 he went back to the dealer and asked that these items be repaired under the warranty and they refused. So he had us fix it. There were still some other things that were going to need to be addressed at a later time that weren't critical. He called me this morning to tell me that he has now dumped the vehicle because of all of its issues. If someone is not willing to let you have a mechanic go over it then there is some thing he is hiding in my opinion.

 

[Birds of Prey]

Wife wants to buy 2007 GMC Envoy Denali with 160,000 miles. Guy wants $7000. Vehicle has V-8, 5.3L Vortec engine. We anticipate keeping this SUV for about 5 years. The purpose is for road trips once a year in the summer (~4K miles/trip). Short trips will total about 3 miles/year. I have test driven this SUV. Everything is in working order. All regular maintenance has been performed. But I am not a mechanic.

Should I buy this SUV for the purpose described above?

What is your experience with the V-8 5.3 Vortec engine?

Rather than go through the hassle, pay monthly insurance, to run a car 3 miles/year, why not rent a minivan or one of the white church vans once a year for your 4k road trip? Am I missing something?

 

[Jamaica1997]

Wow! Thanks PaSprint for the detailed info.

Guy selling the Denali apparently flips cars for a living. He is not the original of this SUV. I am trying to get a buddy to run a Car Fax on it. Seller has agreed for me to test drive it again with a mechanic. However, he is against me taking it to the shop to have it thoroughly inspected. He does have all maintenance/repair records. Original has only used synthetic motor oil. My logic for buying this particular high mileage SUV would be even if it does need repairs, it will still be under 10 grand total. I want something that will give me about 4 years. A Toyota Sequoia is too big for my wife to drive around town. Plus a decent Sequoia will be well over 10K. We want an SUV for long road trips in the summer. We have two little girls, 5 and 8. I can't afford a new vehicle.

Thanks again for a great review.

Send me the VIN. Get email from Jack. I have unlimited Carfaxs for my business!!

:0074:0074

 

[Scrapman]

LISTEN TO ME about buying any used car.......... i was told this when selling new cars way back in late 70's by old timer NEVER buy any car truck that was made on a MON or Fri.

WHY because thats when people are not at best attitude MON is always blue mon. who the fuck want to be spot on that day fri. PAY DAY i'm outta here baby party time tonmight.

YOU have to contact Manufactuere to get the born on date like 12/10/2001 or whatever

then go this website to find the day of the week http://wis-kit.com any dau no matter what year it was it shows the day of the week .dunno how far back you can go but who cares what day of week julius cesar was born on.

:mj07: Lat car i bought did not check born on date was a beautful fire engine Buick riveria

fucker was made on a MON bad engine out of gate lasted two years blew the replaced engine driving home from AC casinos in 1984 at 3 am ........

 

[Franky Wright]

Send me the VIN. Get email from Jack. I have unlimited Carfaxs for my business!!

:0074:0074

:0074:0074

Could you check a couple for me Jamaica?:toast:

 

[CryBoy]

I'm not saying don't buy it because anything is repairable, but if you want reliability, and a big ass SUV, buy a Toyota Sequoia.
If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask.

What is your take on a 2006, 2007, or 2008 Lexus GX470? Are they reliable?

Do you prefer newer model with more mileage or older model with low mileage?

Listed in Arlington, Texas area.

2008 119K miles for $17.5K

2006 88K miles for $17K



Renting to too much of a hassle. We do take frequent trips down to Austin/San Antonio area for camping, rafting, and such.

 

[REFLOG]

If you are going to spend 10 k more, then why not look for a low mile Envoy, just saw an 09 up here w/ 24k miles for 18k, or a mid mile (40-50K) Traverse:shrug:

 

[CryBoy]

If you are going to spend 10 k more, then why not look for a low mile Envoy, just saw an 09 up here w/ 24k miles for 18k, or a mid mile (40-50K) Traverse:shrug:

Wife is adamant about leather seats. PaSprint thinks American cars suck. RX350 is not big enough. Not in big hurry to buy.