Repaint / repair, or sell 1997 Suburban

[rubberchicken]

1997 Suburban, 454, 4wd,, 4.10 gears, LT trim with almost all options. Mechanically is good shape, but will need front brake work, and one front brake line just burst. Also has a somewhat rusty frame but nothing all the way through.
AC compressor is shot. 105k miles and the engine, trans and 4wd run great, interior is decent but shows typical wear- no major defects or tears in the gray leather. Michelin LTX with about 75% tread left.

The main thing- the paint is horrible- the top surface of the hood is peeling, and the roof has got lots of surface rust. I am right at the border between trying to fix it up vs. scraping it, vs selling it to somebody that wants either the driveline and interior, or to fix it up. I no longer really need it for family trips or towing my boat, and in Maryland we only get significant snow a few times a year.

Looking for recommendations: sell as is, scrap it, repair it and sell, repair and keep.

 

[Nick1994]

If you don't need a big gas hog, sell it to someone who needs one.

 

[dogememe]

If you were closer (and it wasn't rusty) I'd buy it in a heartbeat lol. But seriously if you don't need it or have any particular attachment then sell it.

 

[rubberchicken]

Its located in Maryland- I will be in SF in a few weeks, maybe I can put the Suburban in my carry on luggage

 

[daves87rs]

Sell it.......

 

[SeaJay]

If it was me, I'd fix the front brakes and redo the brake line. Then drive it as is, with bad paint and keeping the windows open in the summer when its hot.

 

[The_Jeff]

Fix the brakes and dump it. Imagine the savings on your insurance, and the space you'll have for other stuff.

 

[supton]

If you don't need it, I'd sell it. Fix the brake line so it "needs nothing" and let it go.

 

[wog]

Maaco it and enjoy

 

[andyd]

Fix the brake line and dump it quickly. That busted line is the tip of the iceberg. Somebody else can wring another 100K out of it. If it sits it will go down hill fast.

PS Brother was able to buy factory lines for his '99 Z-1 PU

 

[Andrew1972]

Fix the brake line and sell or just scrap it.

Repainting it makes no sense.

 

[JHZR2]

It's a pretty awesome beast, but I'd assume that the 454 and 4.10 gear should don't make it the best for highway cruising, on the ears or the wallet.

That body style is handsome and still looks good. But if there's rust, there's a lot of work to possibly get it back.

If you don't need it, you may not want to commit. AC is fairly straightforward, brakes aren't a big deal. But rust can be.

 

[rubberchicken]

It tows pretty good- best I ever got was 14.2 mpg on the highway, full load of kids and bags, 70 mph with a/c full on.

 

[wtd]

I would fix it and keep using it. I wouldn't really worry about painting it or you could get a cheap paint job at Maaco or some place similar. It's low mileage and should last for years. You can also buy pre-bent brake lines for it still.

The AC is fairly easy to fix on those if the compressor didn't grenade itself.

 

[grampi]

The paint work alone will probably cost you more than the vehicle's worth...

 

[rubberchicken]

Originally Posted by grampi
The paint work alone will probably cost you more than the vehicle's worth...

That is exactly what I am worried about, and I live in a high cost area.

 

[StevieC]

I'd fix it. The body work and paint job is going to be less than new vehicle payments for the next 5 years and that particular vehicle is a decent product from GM.

Let the TGDI's and the like / the 10 speed transmissions scare you back into this one.

 

[Falcon_LS]

Originally Posted by StevieC
I'd fix it. The body work and paint job is going to be less than new vehicle payments for the next 5 years and that particular vehicle is a decent product from GM.

Let the TGDI's and the like / the 10 speed transmissions scare you back into this one.

x2!

 

[supton]

If it's rusty underneath then who cares what it looks on top?

Heck, my cars aren't rusty underneath and I don't care what they look like on top. Means I can park in any spot I want when I go out and not care about door dings. Around here it'll just get rock chips over the winter anyhow.

Who cares what others say about your car--if they ain't paying you then their opinion doesn't matter.

 

[zzyzzx]

Originally Posted by rubberchicken
1997 Suburban, 454, 4wd,, 4.10 gears, LT trim with almost all options. Mechanically is good shape, but will need front brake work, and one front brake line just burst. Also has a somewhat rusty frame but nothing all the way through.
AC compressor is shot. 105k miles and the engine, trans and 4wd run great, interior is decent but shows typical wear- no major defects or tears in the gray leather. Michelin LTX with about 75% tread left.

The main thing- the paint is horrible- the top surface of the hood is peeling, and the roof has got lots of surface rust. I am right at the border between trying to fix it up vs. scraping it, vs selling it to somebody that wants either the driveline and interior, or to fix it up. I no longer really need it for family trips or towing my boat, and in Maryland we only get significant snow a few times a year.

Looking for recommendations: sell as is, scrap it, repair it and sell, repair and keep.



How rusty? As far as I can tell, cars don't seem to rust much in Maryland. Brake lines yes, body just surface rust that doesn't rust through. Of course that might depend on where in Maryland you live, but cars don't seem to rust out in the Baltimore-DC area. The only thing I have ever seen come close (and it's not particularly rusty) is a truck that's rarely used and parked on the grass.