Daily Driving a Square Suburban

[Ski-me]

My 89' K5 has been a daily driver for my kids for the past several years (maybe 7 years). Although I do have to fix small things from time to time, it actually has been fairly reliable. But I tend to be pretty pro-active keeping it running well.

But I do have the 04' Yukon xl, so I always have a backup vehicle if needed.

I wouldn't be too worried about it as long as you understand it will take some touching from time to time.

I'd stick with the 87'+ just to get the fuel injected engine. I'm obviously more partial to the 89-91's, too.

I did also have a 91' suburban.....a great truck and could haul anything! Tons of room in there!

[James Lamb]

I have had a 1989 Suburban 4 x 4 since about 2002. Was my daily driver until about 3 years ago. I'm the 3rd owner but have put the most miles on it - around 245,000 now. Mine is (was) a 6.2 diesel. Long story there, 3 engines later, one a $5000 6.5 turbo with a lot of problem solving and $$ spent to fit the turbo in and still have AC - it gave me 14,00o miles before locking up. Needless to say, while I love diesels, especially in 4 x 4 for low end torque, will not have another Detroit Diesel engine ever.

But I could get 23 mpg out of it, which is amazing on nearly 8000 lb 4 wheel drive. With cost of gas, my 383 stroker with rv cam gets around 15mpg for the same $ per mile.

My experience is with a little attention to a vehicle that's now 30 years old, it holds up well. They're generally easy to work on, although there are a few parts that are getting hard to find. Another perspective - insurance is nothing on a truck that age. But I also no longer use it as a daily driver, just for when I need to move something or need 4w, so that simplifies the equation for me.

The ride will never be as good as a new vehicle, although new stock springs which are cheap help a lot. I also added rear air shocks for when I tow to level the vehicle and that was also well worth the money. I keep them at about 10 lbs all the time and it seems to help the ride quality too.

Fuel will be more, but considering the cost of a new truck you can buy a lot of gas before you offset the price of a new truck. Plus there is the fact that they are cool, iconic vehicles. Why drive a cookie-cutter when you can drive something distinctive? My wife might disagree with me on that last one bu the way.