2006 GMC Yukon Denali Review - My Love Letter To GMT 800's!

[@davinp]

Back then in 2006, GM's quality was better than it is today, so this may be more reliable than the new 2022-2023 models.

[@zythr9999]

Lol. Didn't help them since they filed for bankruptcy a few years later.

[@bwofficial1776]

Starting with the GMT900 GM put displacement on demand in the engines that would burn out camshafts and valves. Let it go long enough and you'd need a new engine. The GMT900 plastics feel cheap and hard.

[@TheLadiesman0815]

Mechanical quality yes, everything else, no lol

[@GiveMeYoSammich]

Not may be it hands down is

[@buddyrebel_Garcia]

@@TheLadiesman0815 it’s OK you can just replace the seats and everything and fix it. Those engines run forever and they’re easy to maintain.

[@codkiller2025]

Gm's early-mid 2000's leather seats are the best there is. Even their cloth seats are amazingly comfortable

[@clockbuilderhg]

Agreed! Those overstuffed leather seats are the best. They look great too.

[@larnellgardner7960]

You're absolutely right about these GM trucks from this era. I have a 2002 Cadillac Escalade AWD. I'm the second owner and it has almost 224,000 miles. It's an absolute beast in the snow. It's so easy for me to work on and fix. Parts are easy to find and reasonably priced!!! Great video!!!

[@noahh.8737]

that is the best looking escalade to date in my opinion

[@erikcopeland]

I miss our Escalade. It was an '06 last of the second gen. I loved that thing to death. Right now we have an '04 Yukon Denali equally gorgeous and badass!

[@p71owner53]

Ah man the nostalgia of a 2000s childhood merry Christmas to everyone

[@fordmuscleluis9710]

Beautiful upscale SUV Denali Merry Christmas

[@countrygrammar806]

I spent my childhood with an 05 suburban, and I feel the same way with these things. It feels like home. And that’s a feeling you really can’t top. Along with my suburban, I just got an 01 Yukon XL recently simply because there’s really no vehicle I enjoy more than these.

[@iHishams]

As someone who literally grew up with the 2002 GMC Suburban SLE. I’m 96 kid that truck is still going strong and used by my dad we are down here in Saudi Arabia so I know for a fact how family is all about and I lived in Ohio for 1.5 years and you’re right winter makes people stay close together which is considered as a part of being a family. The body shape and curves are timeless and you’ll find plenty of the 01-06 GMCs here.

[@MrLunatic417]

You are so right about the body shape and curves being timeless on those years 👍

[@dogone7262]

Almost in tears, man. Loved the "kid" episode. This is the best buy today if you can handle a wrench and a screwdriver. The inherent quality and enough bling (not to much) is hard to beat even with new cars. And I'm from Sweden. We have a Volvo too, but this is the car MY kids love.

[@PhilDaBank]

I just bought a 03 Escalade hope the reliability reigns true 💯

[@ogalief]

Lucky! Only thing that will kill those is rust. Make sure to wash and undercoat it, and change the fluids more than what the manual calls for. Then you'll likely have a great truck (and a 2000s cultural icon) for years to come

[@PhilDaBank]

@@ogalief thanks bro i live in the north east so I’m definitely gonna try to prevent it from rusting. Right now it’s almost spotless though 💫

[@richardnottelmann58]

Merry Christmas from Oregon. And a happy new year. I completely agree with you. The GMT 800 is the best looking Truck/SUV of all time. I love the Amber turn signals on the rear. And the Denali is awesome.

[@Cdub427]

Little story about my history with yukons. We had two when I was growing up. When it was time for me to drive my dad wanted to give me his yukon slt. Im a big car person and I wanted something cooler. Well fast forward 7 years, I build racecars and needed a daily. I found an 05 denali literally a couple streets over in my neighborhood. Ive had it for almost 3 years and I love it to death. Its not stock though. I lowered it, deleted the cats, threw a set of snowflakes on, and retrofitted c7 z06 front brakes on it. I contemplated selling it due to gas but it does everything I need to to perfectly!

[@antwanmcclain8909]

That blank space by the traction control used to be where the OnStar button was until they moved it to the rear view mirror.

[@Low760]

4l65e in the 6l SUVs you will find. The dash looks very similar to that era Commodore too. Interesting

[@anthony11aamu]

As an St Louis native that has spent the past two years in Texas and now back home for good☀️…… you beautifully and divinely captured the essence of our beloved Midwest and connected it perfectly to these GM trucks! Bravo 👏🏾 👌🏾 I have the exact same sentiments about these earlier model GM body on frame SUV’s. I’m determined to buy one as an weekend vehicle to simply enjoy. Excellent review and happy holidays to you and your family.

[@firebird890]

John Davis of Motorweek would appreciate the oil and voltage meter and that gm 4 speed auto is quite reliable the problem is when many owners were towing they never used to the tow/haul mode thus ruining the transmission over time

[@Osmium192]

Growing up my dad had a ‘97 Tahoe, ‘99 Suburban, and an ‘04 Suburban. Miss those old trucks.

[@ians.2826]

Loved the little blooper reel at the end!! Great video as always

[@erikcopeland]

I grew up with a 2006 Escalade and it was definitely the best family car we've ever had. But then i moved in with my grandparents, but thankfully they have an '04 Yukon Denali and its a beautiful beast of nostalgic machinery 😊

[@bradleymeyer9775]

My favorite body styles of GM trucks are the GMT 400 and GMT 800.

[@bwofficial1776]

Those were peak GM trucks. Everything before was just building up to it. Everything after is cheap and plasticy and overcomplicated. The 400 and 800 are modern enough to be usable every day, put together well enough, super comfortable, but not full of modern stuff like the displacement on demand that ruins engines purely by existing.

[@bhumiriady]

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you from Indonesia, Zack! Also, I really enjoyed the review of that T800 gen GMC Yukon Denali.^^

[@isaac24]

I'm a Ford guy, but I like the GMT800 trucks for one reason. Because most Ford trucks of that time had the 3v 5.4 V8, which is a reliability nightmare. I don't like much about these trucks, but they ARE more reliable than a Ford with the 5.4 3v.

[@mxss115]

I’m also a 97 kid. I just bought a white Yukon Denali. Thing is a dream to drive, although it has some issues but nothing deal breaking

[@ogalief]

I absolutely love those! Wish newer cars had seats like those. I'm trying to find a 2001 Chrysler Town & Country Limited, because it's the only year with a VCR (what some people now call a "VHS Player”) and a navy blue leather and suede interior

[@LuisBuenoLopez]

Man those rear radio controls really were the best

[@bwofficial1776]

I've said it before, but I'll say it again. GMT800 is best GM truck. The GMT400 and before are nice but they were building up to this. The GMT900 and later are cheap and generic and unreliable. The 800 has some of the best seats ever put in a car and the air ride rear suspension is superb. The plastics are good quality and screwed together well enough. The engines are modern but not full of complicated things to make them unreliable. It can haul anything or anyone you'd reasonably want to haul. Parts are available to do whatever you want. It looks good. The only thing that can kill these is deferred maintenance and rust.

[@petervalentin1879]

Saw this on my feed, I drive an 04 Yukon xl Denali and this video hit everything I love about this car, great review!!!

[@jewllake]

my 2006 GMC Yukon SLT is still going strong!

[@LSCBTHEWAVY]

I like this guy's mindset he's very humble

[@bricegraham8256]

I love GMT800s. My favorite Era of GM trucks

[@zmoorer]

I believe the Denali with the 6.0 came with the 4L80 transmission which was much more reliable than the 4L60e.

[@green_03_silverado14]

6.0 in the 3/4 trucks came with the 4L80 i believe these 1/2 tons came with the 4L65E believe the Denali the Escalade and the SS silverados all had the 4L65E

[@alisaleh2509]

Only silverado 2500hd came 4l80

[@philiplines6934]

Bought a 2006 with 345k miles. Prior police vehicle modded from the factory and we installed a TexasSpeed Cam with long tube headers. The 6.0 absolutely runs and sounds like a f250 powerstroke v8 that’s been tuned. Just runs like a beast and is more comfortable driving than my 2023 Explorer

[@robertvance1873]

Very well said, Merry Christmas Zack.

[@budweiserbundy1525]

The Maroon one was my favorite of these!! Merry Christmas sir, hope you’re toking on that good Illinois ZAZA today! 🎄

[@buddy8225]

Nice. Love these years of Denalis Merry Christmas 🎅

[@chitolopez3585]

Just got me a 2006 GMC Yukon Denali AWD 211,000 miles

[@EdwardBoicourtIV]

I was fully expecting you to tell us you bought it to replace the rx7. I wouldn't have been upset.

[@zythr9999]

Merry Christmas!!🎄🎅

[@miguelmadriz2880]

My mom was had a Yukon Denali xl I think it was 2000 or 2002 but yea it was pretty nice and just brings good memories from my childhood, since it was her daily that she dropped off all our siblings to school. Now I’m shopping for a Yukon or Tahoe myself hopefully I get a Denali

[@tony6oh]

Badass truck. My favorite of all time.

[@tony6oh]

How much u want for it😩

[@42luke93]

Merry Christmas!

[@lukeforbush8212]

On the Denali it’s a 4l65 trans. It’s awd and not selective like a 4x4

[@michaelantuna3648]

I feel like the GMT800 is one of those trucks that don’t break down but have modern technology from the early 2000’s while the GMT400’s are more powerful and durable and they last long

[@jelanijones1998]

Merry Christmas from Wisconsin, Zack!

[@andrewmarshall1142]

Had a 2004 Tahoe, sold it at 278k miles because I needed something with 4WD. Still ran like a top though

[@dave11686]

Merry Christmas Zack!

[@rolandlira5623]

Own a 2002 suburban with 185000 miles for 2 1/2 years and it been the most reliable vehicle I’ve owned daily driving or road-trips never getting rid of mine I choose it over a new vehicle

[@kevlarazalea]

merry christmas zack!!! 🎉🎄

[@expeditionjay]

Great video man, keep up the good work. Merry Christmas man

[@SmithReactions_]

I got a 2002 gmc Yukon Denali with a couple mods

[@petepeto9335]

It was family vid 😅😏. Anyway GMC Yukon Xl is my future car 💪💪 Greetings from Finland. Driven yukon XL denali 2005-06??

[@ariley126]

Checking in from Waukegan, Greta video, I have a 2003 Yukon SLT and I love it, Even in the winter

[@brentclark3627]

Like the video perfectly agree I have an 05 Yukon Denali feel it is the best vehicle of all time we drive it on every vacation

[@JDMSwervo2001]

The GMT800 platform was the Pinnacle of GMs badge engineering which turned of off of the brand

[@dgribble556]

Great review as always!

[@DTND]

Great video. Love these trucks. I still daily my 99 Suburban SLT with 130k miles and never ever want to get rid of it. It also has the Panasonic rear entertainment system. but mine has a VCR lol

[@darthdarthbinkss]

I could be wrong, but doesn't every vehicle with the 6.0 Vortec come with the 4L80 transmission?

[@UAE_8100]

There were 2 6.0 vortecs that came in GMT800s i believe , if you bought a silverado SS, escalade or a gmc sierra/yukon denali , you'd be getting the HO (high output) 6.0 with the 4L65E , the other 6.0 was on HD chevy and gmc trucks/vans and SUVs and came with a 4L80E

[@TheBlackAztec3]

10:00 felt like you were talking to me because my name is Zach lol

[@shaunwatson7485]

I have a 05 her engine just blew she now has a 5.3 but I adore this truck. I will get another 6.0 or another denali. I'm hooked

[@bennysmith5780]

Noticeable difference in performance?

[@green_03_silverado14]

Pretty sure denalis and escalades came with the 4L65E

[@kc0lif]

i like those it's similar to my 2003 tahoe.

[@RobRush]

This video gets me so pumoed on my old Denali.

[@devilbub8709]

Actually the 6.0L got the bulletproof 4L80E, instead of the glass 4L60E

[@lui1367]

doo doo 4l60e, pops went through 3 of them before saying fuck it getting rid of this pos. vehicle was spacious and seats were comfy but kinda blows gm likes being unreliable

[@elihamou6902]

Incorrect. 4l80 was on the 3/4 ton. These came with 4l65e..basically a 4l60

[@nc4335]

They came with the 4L65E in the Denali. Just FYI. 1:44

[@ryliemidwinter2816]

I would love to see you find a 4x4 gmt400 to review!

[@cletuskasady593]

9:36 is that a R32 I see?

[@retrosteven]

Merry Christmas

[@retrosteven]

Like the thumb nail

[@WeekendWarrior604]

Beautiful words

[@topfell8277]

Love my super pigs 05 yukon den

[@BeastyTank402]

Denali has 4l65e not 4l60e.

[@richardbeckmann6720]

After 06 the Tahoe, denali and Suburban and Escalade all went to shit.

[@GiveMeYoSammich]

Today's trucks have lifter failures and ect... after 12k miles give or take, my 04 silverado 2500 has had no issues besides hvac related things which wasn't expensive for a worktruck, after 300k miles it far exceeds the reliability of these overpriced shitboxes nowadays

[@michealp4160]

yooooooo

[@alisaleh2509]

U mean $590

[@captainamericaamerica8090]

FAR FROM GREAT.

[@captainamericaamerica8090]

These are rubber timing chains. A big expense! And they don't last

[@thechosen5805]

Lol! False. They have timing chains!

[@captainamericaamerica8090]

@@thechosen5805 not those earlier years. A few years after!

[@captainamericaamerica8090]

@@thechosen5805 We just verified it! On Google! You're WRONG!! IT'S RUBBER. SO DO YOUR HOME WORK BETTER. I'M 13, AND KNOW MORE THAN YOU

[@zythr9999]

@@captainamericaamerica8090 lol

[@ogalief]

@@captainamericaamerica8090 Damn, that's the kinda shit I'd expect an 8 year old to say

[@bitemyshinnymetalass1569]

I would advise on getting the airbag fixed. 🎄🎅

[@Obamaisgey]

I have been looking for an alternative to Doug DeMuro and I think I found it.