CHEVROLET SUBURBAN

You can pretty much figure that whenever General Motors launches a new pickup truck, a new Suburban jumbo-sized sport-utility is sure to follow. 

So it is right now, with GM introducing the re-invented 2000 Suburban (a couple of years after the launch of the all-new Chevy Silverado pickup). And so it was in 1992. 

That year the Suburban moved over to the platform of the then-GM pickup trucks. And a good platform it was, especially in terms of its ride and steering abilities. Very good for a pickup. Not only that, the move in '92 to a more modern pickup platform resulted in improved towing and cargo capacity. 
Indeed, '92 and newer Suburbans can tow 10,000 pounds and seat up to nine passengers if loaded up with the right options. Must be big. But how big is big?

}This giant sport vehicle/truck had a wheelbase that grew five cm. to 3,340 millimetres (131.5 inches) in '92. Overall length with the '92 re-make was 5,575 mm (219.5 in.), width was 1,956 mm (77.0 in.) and height of 1,770 mm (69.7 in.). Yes, that is big. Although step-in height was lowered 7.62 cm. or 3.2 inches in '92.

Truth is, through the '90s if you wanted a huge truck to pull a big trailer and carry up to nine people and their gear, you're only choice was the Suburban. Today, Ford offers the Excursion, but that fact doesn't help used truck buyers one bit. The point is, if the price for a new Suburban or Excursion is just a bit steep for you, an older Suburban is a reasonable alternative. 

Best years for me are those after 1996. Trucks from then on got the more potent Vortec engines and what a difference they make. The 5.7-litre V8 jumped to 250 horsepower from 200, while the 7.4-litre V8 moved to 290 hp. from 230. GM also added a push-button four-wheel drive system that year. 

The engines came on the heels of a new interior (with a driver's side airbag added) and improved seating for '95. In '94 a turbodiesel engine was made available, and in '93 the automatic transmission received electronic controls. Just so you know, in '97 a passenger side airbag was added, while for '98 the Suburban became available with an optional full-time four-wheel-drive system.

Clearly, the Suburban was a work-in-progress during the '90s, although the basic foundation introduced in '92 did not change. And it was a foundation designed to make the Suburban much more people-friendly.

For instance, in '92 the step-in height dropped 7.6 cm (3.2 in.), the glass area increased 30 per cent and the anti-lock braking system worked on all four wheels regardless of whether you had a two- or four-wheel model.

You should also know that the improvements to the 2000 Suburban address some of the nits associated with the '92-'99 model. For instance, with the older trucks access to the third row of seats is less than easy. The middle seat in the older trucks, a 70-30 bench, folds but in a troublesome two-step procedure. Also, the rear seatback does not fold flat, as does the middle bench. However, the third row is removeable.

GM brought along a new optional rear heating system and air conditioning system in '92, as well. Both systems came with separate overhead controls in the second-seat for passenger convenience and comfort.

For such a large vehicle, the Suburban is pretty easy for most drivers to manage. At the risk of stating the obvious, cornering in a Suburban brings on some serious body roll. Power, especially from '96 onwards, is very good. Not so fuel economy. Heavy, repeated braking can also bring on some rear-wheel lockup even though four-wheel ABS became standard in '92.

As for looks, the '92 Suburban's front end was identical to GM's full-size pickup truck of the day (redesigned in 1987). The rest of this truck was made rounder, beginning at the smooth sides and flush glass and extending back past the rear side doors, all the way to either a wagon-like tailgate or the tried and true pair of back panel doors. 

Suburbans have a history of holding their value quite well, so you'll be hard-pressed to find real bargains in the used marketplace. Quality has been fair for a truck model of that vintage.

Personally, I don't lead the kind of lifestyle that calls for a Suburban. But my rancher in-laws do. They are, though, looking at that new Ford Excursion, so maybe their older unit will go on the market. I'll keep you posted.

CURRENT RED BOOK PRICING (avg. retail): Chevrolet Suburban 4-door wagon
1999-$34,359 ($34,620 original MSRP)
1998-$30,350 ($33,965) 
1997-$26,325 ($33,335)
1996-$22,925 ($30,115)
1995-$19,300 ($27,775)
1994-$15,800 ($23,398)
1993-$13,325 ($22,363) 

BUYER'S ALERTS: Look for pulling to one side that may be traced to excessive front brake wear (TSB 990524001, June '99; 98865020A, Sept. '98); some vehicles equipped with 4.8-litre or 5.3-litre engines and 4L60-E automatic transmissions, and those equipped with 3.73 rear axles with the heavy-duty trailering package may not have been equipped with the proper auxiliary transmission oil cooler (99027A, Sept. '99; 99027, Aug. '99); a chirp or squeak from the engine could be traced to the serpentine belt tensioner (DCS/01312, Oct. '96); vehicles equipped with 7.4-litre engines may have come with a crankshaft balancer centre-attaching bolt that was under-torqued from the factory, and if bolt were to completely loosen, the balancer press fit would loosen, making accessory drive-belt noise, followed by drive belt coming off the pulley or breaking, damaging the crankshaft (RCL96057, Oct. '96); water leaking through the floor heater ducts (VOL5NO11/7, Nov. '96); hinges on the rear cargo doors that tend to corrode, requiring new hinge pins and bushings (761510, April '97); a potentially kinked automatic -transmission auxiliary oil-cooler Inlet hose (CAMP96C33(A), June '96); delayed engagement of the automatic transmission that could be addressed by replacing the pump cover assembly (9674L60E15, June '96); a catalytic converter that might have been welded into the exhaust pipe backwards (96C21, April '96); heater fan that operates only at high speed (661103, July '96); upper manifold gaskets that do not properly seal, possibly causing air to be pulled into the upper manifold, resulting in rough idling, hesitation, stalling, and a hissing noise (RCL/96C35, July '96); a transmission fluid leak from the pump body on 4L60-E units could be due to the pump bushing walking out of the valve body (677639, Feb. '96); hard starting, stalling and rough idling that could be addressed with a new optical sensor and ceramic rollers (676304, Nov. '96); poor performing AC units linked to a possible misbuild (CAMP95C41(2), June '95); excessive oil consumption, misfiring, rough idling or spark plug found could be traced to issues with the cylinder head (576115A, Nov. '96); no reverse or lack of power in second gear could be traced to improper shift linkage (467102, May '94; 4771120A, Sept. '94); 
leaks from the transmission case extension (transfer case) in four-wheel-drive vehicle (931857A, May '93); stalling, hesitation, low power and white smoke could be addressed with a revised oil pressure sender switch (932866A, Aug. '93); blue smoke on start-up could be addressed by new valve stem seals (376514, Dec. '93); rear axle pinion seal leak (922464B, Aug. '92); oil leaks from the rear of the engine could be traced to insufficient sealant around the camshaft plug (923046A, Oct. '92).

For recalls: 
1995-96: No. 1996062 refers to vehicles assembled with the throttle cable contacting the dash mat. 

1989-91: No. 1993153 refers to vehicles equipped with bucket seats that have a front seat recliner bolt that may fatigue and break.

1988-90: No. 1993141 refers to vehicles may develop an abnormal pressure build-up in the transmission
with the possibility of transmission fluid coming out of the filler tube.

1987-91: No. 1995096 refers to fuel tanks that may not meet specification.

THE VERDICT: Huge sport-ute that had the market cornered in the '90s. Units from '96 onward with the new Vortec engines are your best bet.

CHECK THE SPECS
1992 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 SERIES 4X2

Market segment: Truck/Wagon (nine-passenger four-door, lift glass and drop tailgate)
Typical market competition: There's really nothing else quite like it!
Drive system: (front engine/rear wheel drive) 5.7-litre V-8 engine with two-unit throttle body fuel injection; 210-hp @ 4,000 rpm, torque 300 lbs-ft. @ 2,800. Transmission: four-speed automatic with lockup torque converter.
Steering: recirculating ball, power-assisted.
Brakes: power-assisted front discs/rear drums with standard anti-lock braking system.
Tires: P235/75R15 all-season radials.
Pros
* Built for carrying passengers and cargo
* Towing capacity is impressive
* Four-wheel ABS
Cons
* Poor fuel economy
* Handling very truck-like

OVERALL SCORE: 7.0 (out of 10)

ROAD TEST REPORT CARD for 1996 Chevrolet Suburban
Access: C
Driving position: B 
Instruments/Controls: B- 
Visibility: B+
Climate Control: B 
Steering: C+
Brakes: C+
Handling: C+ 
Acceleration: C+ 
Engine: B+
Transmission: B 
Interior space: A 
Trunk/Cargo: B
Noise/Vibration/Harshness: C 

DURABILITY/RELIABILITY REPORT CARD 
Overall: C+
Mechanical: C+ 
Hardware/Body/Paint/Trim: C+ 

SAFETY REPORT CARD
Anti-lock braking: yes
Airbags (driver/passenger): yes/yes (from '97) 
Traction control: four-wheel drive available
Driver/Passenger Front Crash Protection (0-5 stars with five stars the best): NA

INSURANCE HISTORY
Collision cost rating: better than average
Comprehensive cost rating: average
Theft claim cost rating: average