British Car Guy VS 2007 Chevrolet Suburban: My First Taste of An American Icon

[@JayEmmOnCars]

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[@lookoutforchris]

The Bronco is more a murderers car I think 😂

[@johnnygeorgopoulos4072]

You want a great little fast car that barely anyone has? Get a Pontiac Solstice or Saturn Sky or, since you're over there across that pond, the Opel GT... and then swap that 6.2L LS V8 from that Suburban into it along with a Tremec T56, some coilovers, wheels and sticky tires, and you've got yourself a very unsuspecting monster very similar to an AC Cobra, just new 😅

[@BJDOnline]

Never even sat in one? The idea is so foreign most of us have sat in hundreds of them.

[@fortheloveofnoise]

If my neighbor bought a Surban in black, white, sikver, or gray...I woukd think they were a Karen. In red, I would thi k they were a firefighter.

[@fortheloveofnoise]

Most sold...at least here in my state are RWD....because here in the south east it almost never snows so you dont need more than RWD.

[@richardh3587]

There’s something poetic about how your friend has a Jag as his daily driver and a suburban for special occasions. In the US it woukd be the exact opposite

[@narrowhwy114]

Except here, historically, they'd have 2 jags...one to drive while the other is in the shop!

[@jowens1126]

@@narrowhwy114 and you can easily afford 2 jags, because if you wait 3 or 4 years after they are made, they will be 5-10% of the initial sales price on the used market. They are woefully unreliable cars, so 2 are definitely better than 1.

[@zachmoyer1849]

nobody cares about jags anymore in the US, at least in my area.

[@jowens1126]

@zachmoyer1849 for sure. They have a terrible reputation in the US as stupid expensive and incredibly unreliable. They are still one of the most comfortable cars to drive though. A good 2007 xj vanden plas is probably one of the most pleasurable cars I've ever driven, when it was all working right.

[@zachmoyer1849]

@@jowens1126 yeah plus idk they just lost that appeal of uniqueness they had, nothing used to look like a jag. which is kind of all cars now as they have prioritized mpg and therefore aerodynamics which makes them all look the same. But you can get a pretty nice ride and arguably better performance from a Cadillac now without as you said the notably terrible reliability and the premium price tag.

[@spdcrzy]

If you buy this, it basically says "I AM the carpool parent" and "Let's go to football practice!". Underrated reason why this exists: road trips. You can stuff six actual humans AND a week's worth of all their stuff in this truck and go anywhere that has gas stations (and then some).

[@yungrichnbroke5199]

Minivan much better for road trips. Carries more, more stable, better handling, better gas mileage.

[@twistedpixel2558]

@@yungrichnbroke5199 There is absolutely no way in hell that a minivan carries even close to what a full sized suburban does. The suburban is either a half, three quarter ton, or one ton rated truck, same as the pickup trucks. The minivans are unibody, and aren't rated for much of anything, towing capacity wise, or any other way. I've owned both, daily driven both, and worked on both as a professional shop mechanic. The gas mileage the minivan takes on average, although the new full sized suv's aren't that far off anymore. Suburbans are known as the poor man's Cadillac for a reason. The ride is almost impossible to beat, from factory. Handling might go to the minivan, but that depends on the spec of the Suburban.

[@spdcrzy]

@@yungrichnbroke5199 you can't fit six 200 pound people AND six international suitcases weighing 50+ pounds each into a minivan. That's 1500 pounds of payload. The Suburban can carry a full ton of payload WHILE hauling a big ass trailer. A minivan can't do that in any way shape or form.

[@scrambler69-xk3kv]

They make for a very good tow vehicle. Strong chassis long wheelbase for excellent straight line stability. And Engine choices that really get the job done.

[@willsteele9249]

Big facts

[@jaceman81]

As someone who grew up in a very rural area of Texas, our suburban was our work horse. We were 30 miles away from anything civilized. We were a family of 3 athletes playing multiple sports and other extracurricular activities. The suburban gave us enough seating and cargo space to haul multiple gear bags, food, and equipment to essentially drive to the nearest city and survive there for a whole day without having to go back home. We also made a yearly trip from east Texas to El Paso to visit family in it (12 hours of straight driving, not including stops). We replaced a transmission around 120k miles, and eventually traded it in around 250k miles. It was a true beast that held up to our crazy family life. That’s why they were so popular.

[@malibukid71]

Most Brits probably don't realize when you say from East Texas to El Paso (12 hour drive) you are still in the same state. Pretty sure you can drive from one end of the UK to the other in 12 hours. lol

[@no_El_Collo]

We did something similar in our “murderers edition” suburban. Drove from El Paso to visit family in Texarkana: 821 miles (still in Texas, for our UK viewers). Loved that beast. Now I own 2 “squarebody” suburbans; it’s an illness.

[@hellypurcelly]

Replaced the trans at 120k miles. Typical GM garbage.

[@mrsmegz]

@@no_El_Collo and that's the short way across Texas, when you drive from Brownsville to Texline, you are more than half way to Canada.

[@malibukid71]

@@hellypurcelly I've had several GM products and have never had to replace a trans. 2000 Chevy S-10, 2004 Pontiac GTO (traded at 130k), 2004 Cadillac SRX V8 (traded at 180k), 2006 Pontiac G6 (totaled at 160k), 2008 GMC Yukon Denali (traded after 200k), 2011 & 2014 Chevy Traverse (2014 traded at 160k), 2016 & 2018 Chevy Cruze (still own both, the 2016 has almost 140k), and just bought a 2019 Cadillac CT6 Blackwing. Sounds like you were an exception. The only vehicle I've had to put a trans in was a 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS with the Dodge Neon drivetrain.

[@michaeln2768]

Suburbans are so ubiquitous here they're invisible. Nobody notices, much less marvels, at them.

[@joshuakhaos4451]

I still Marvel at the Square body ones of the 70-early 90s. Those things are beautiful.

[@michaeln2768]

@@joshuakhaos4451 true

[@jumpinjimmyg2164]

😆

[@ohshnit1]

Honestly, I think he should have driven the Escalade. It's the same vehicle, just with the luxury package. AS someone who lives on I-15, no matter ho fast you drive, some soccer mom in an escalade is going to tailgate you.

[@TheMW2informer]

Those were made in my hometown, my family worked at the GM plant for three generations. They built around 3 million Tahoe / Yukon and Suburban / Yukon XL and Denali SUVs and over 16 million total vehicles from 1923-2009. I would love to own a Janesville made car one day.

[@Kalepsis]

In America, it means, "I have kids and I don't care how much gasoline costs."

[@proehm]

You have either an 8 passenger SUV or an 8 passenger Minivan.

[@willsteele9249]

😂

[@danielzhang1916]

the same people speeding in the fast lane on the highway

[@kdaltex]

It means "I have kids but I'm still to vein to buy a fucking minivan." Seriously, minivans (V6) use less gas and have better comfort and utility.

[@donrichter3523]

But you won’t be towing a camper to Yellowstone with a minivan.

[@ShawnD1027]

One thing that I haven't seen noted is that this is a 17-year-old vehicle that's being reviewed, so the fact it reviews well says a lot about it.

[@mfree80286]

People made fun of the playskool plastics in this era GM... and it was a valid observation. It's also a valid observation that minus "sunburn" on the top of the dash, all the plastics in my '03 GM product still look and work the same as the day they popped out of the mold 21 years ago. Thick chunky plastic may not feel or look great, but it will be fair to middling for decades... some vehicles with 'alcantara' and soft touch plastics can look like they've contracted leprosy after less than 10 years.

[@ShawnD1027]

@@mfree80286, good points! This one, however, was post Bob Lutz when he declared all sorts of cladding had to go. Remember that this generation didn't have the cladding of prior generations.

[@mfree80286]

@@ShawnD1027 I'm not talking about the cladding, I'm talking about the dashboard.

[@ShawnD1027]

@@mfree80286, gotcha.

[@mistrsynistr7644]

@mfree80286 My 03 has a single crack in the dash. That is the only flaw in the entire interior. I have more cracks and pops than I did 20 years ago, so I can't say too much, lol.

[@AlainSTO]

American here. We don't care if we see another Suburban. It doesn't say anything here. In black, it's always seen as either Uber spec or Secret Service spec. A black Tahoe is seen as Police spec, so people always cautiously slow down around you.

[@Turshin]

Yes they're that common

[@8draco8]

Oh so like the silver BMW 3 series here, that's the police spec.

[@oWR3CKL3Zzo]

As an American, you missed the point.. As per usual.

[@joneaton3366]

What you say the point should be than? ​@oWR3CKL3Zzo

[@nickelarcade6934]

Agreed. Nothing special there. I drove a new Tahoe a few years ago(rental car company didn’t have a compact) and I couldn’t believe how big it was! I hated it and couldn’t imagine driving a bigger suburban. (I drive a mk7 GTI). Part of the issue was that it didn’t fit in my garage 😂

[@OurWorldIn5]

American here, when you see these in a driveway you know there is a mom at home who needs to get her 3 kids to hockey practice.

[@amazingjason455]

And tow a boat or camper on the weekends.

[@showoe3126]

@@amazingjason455 not always. my mom had a Nissan Armada/ Patrol from 2008. she never towed with it, nor was it a 4x4. She only got it as it had more space than the Honda Pilot we had before, even though that had plenty of space

[@OzzieMozzie777]

And all of them are 400 lbs +

[@RexKarrs]

Only three?

[@brandonchism6960]

@@RexKarrsthree for hockey, yeah. Front seats and second row. The third row is down and that entire compartment is filled with gear. But nearly the entire starting lineup for soccer, or the starting lineup for a high school basketball (very tall).

[@thejumbo]

We are creeping up on 200,000 miles on my parents' 2009 Suburban. We still use it for thousand mile road trips, and it is still easy to drive, and inexpensive to run. It will carry more than you can imagine, and tow effortlessly. GM knows (knew) how to build these well, and build them to last.

[@TrevorT7897]

Glad someone mentioned odometer, 87K that suburban is still new! These run till 250-275K miles usually.

[@christianbryant5617]

I love that generation.. how lucky yall are to have one of that year. But I don’t believe it’s inexpensive to run😅

[@plmn93]

@@christianbryant5617 It averages 3 MPG less than a comparable minivan from that era. So it's not as outrageous as people assume. Good reliability can more than make up for that.

[@joew717]

my '02 is still running strong!

[@glahtiguy]

Growing up we had an '87 I think it was. Back before they became a family/luxury vehicle. Towed dad's 3,000lb boat up the rolling hills of the north shore of lake superior like it wasn't even there, and had so much room for family road trips. Gave up the transmission around 200k, but being in MN that was well after most of the body rusted off.

[@ericgelinow]

The suburban wasn’t the biggest. Ford used to sell something called the Excursion. You could get it with a 6 L turbo diesel or a 6.8 L V 10. It was the largest family SUV ever. It was 4 inches longer than the suburban, half a foot wider, and Half an inch taller. It was built on the Ford super duty F250 frame. Curb weight was 7688 pounds (3487 kg). Because you mentioned the power output on the suburban, for context, the 6.8 L gasoline V 10 produced 310 hp and 425 pound feet of torque. The diesel V8 produced 325 hp, and 560 pound feet of torque. Much like the suburban, the gasoline version uses a four-speed transmission, but the diesel used a five speed.

[@wasidanatsali6374]

My wife has a low mileage 4x4 2002 Excursion with the the 7.3 Stroker diesel in it. It truly is a beast. She gets cash offers from people wanting to buy it every time she drives it.

[@retrocompaq]

i hate those rust buckets so much

[@MitchJohnson0110]

don't forget the 7.3 powerstroke diesel

[@JaredEaves]

You could get a 2500 suburban in the early 2000s with the 8.1 liter vortec too

[@mikehawkslong5529]

I miss that truck, always wanted one. Wish it would come back.

[@Zero_Ninety]

You could park that somewhere in London and rent it out as a flat.

[@orthodox-mp6hv]

I wonder whether the rent and the parking fines would be able to cancel each other out?

[@lsswappedcessna]

New York City, as well. It would probably be more comfortable than your average NYC studio apartment.

[@DanTheMailman330]

Sadly, that's pretty common lifestyle required to work and live in many west coast American cities😢.

[@rogermiller2159]

A flat what?

[@mdog2501]

​@@rogermiller2159Flat= apartment

[@elbowjoe361]

I still have my 2003 Suburban. I bought it new and it now has over 340,000 miles on the clock with absolutely zero engine or transmission issues. It sadly has a few rust holes in it as I live in the rust belt and the AC no longer works, but it’s been the best vehicle I’ve owned. For a large vehicle, it is fairly easy to park. My son is driving it now as his Honda Ridgeline was totaled as a result of being rear ended. It’s a great vehicle for family vacations. Cheers from the US!

[@kpz1234]

@elbowjoe361 it might be too late for the Suburban, but you can get yearly coatings of something like Fluid Film to help prevent rust. They have shops that will offer it or you could do it yourself, if you have access to a lift.

[@Bigrichie2001]

As an American, a Suburban is mac-daddy of culdesac living. They're on every corner, but they're reliable and utilitarian, so the average soccer mom can fit her 4 kids and all the gear no problem.

[@autobootpiloot]

European here. My wife can fit our three children and our medium to large dog in a Peugeot 206 just fine. They are getting old now, but ten years ago they were about the most common car you could find on the street. Nobody needs a suburban. At the most, people think they need a suburban.

[@TheSlugJones]

⁠​⁠@@autobootpilootI mean, most of us could do with less in many aspects of life. Larger equals more room, which usually means more comfort. I’m sure you could fit an adult and 3 kids in even smaller vehicles than your 206 if needed.

[@thebulgarianguy8461]

@@autobootpiloot and where do you fit? What about the luggage associated with 3 kids? Lastly, I seriously doubt that 3 booster seats will fit in a 206 especially with a “large” dog. The suburban is huge indeed (even for US standards) but it offers plenty of space for everything. It is also a cultural thing. Americans travel more with a car than Europeans and a big vehicle not only makes it easier but it also opens possibilities. Don’t forget that our parking spaces are much bigger so a big vehicle doesn’t really feel that big. Like I said - it’s a cultural difference and the suburban fits it perfectly.

[@autobootpiloot]

@@thebulgarianguy8461 when I go with, we usually take our Subaru legacy. Either that, or the dog needs to go in the back and luggage is compromised a bit. Fun fact: three full seats fit better in a small Peugeot 206 than in a 04 (to 09) Subaru legacy. I had to sell my beloved car to properly fit three car seats and now drive a newer gen Subaru legacy that’s a bit wider. Somehow a clever designed car doesn’t have to be large to be functional. Luggage is usually not that big of a deal. Before we had a dog, we didn’t even fill the Subaru legacy (wagon) up to the windows when we left for a week. And we use reusable dipers so they take up a lot of space. I honestly think we can’t even fill a suburban even if we tried to, we don’t have the baby stuff for that. And that’s not because a lack of funds btw.

[@autobootpiloot]

@@TheSlugJonesmy mother is one of seven children. Back in the 70’s my grandfather had a beetle. They went on day trips with the whole family in that beetle. The youngest went on the shelf above the engine (engine sits in the back, if you don’t know) and the rest just sat on top of each other.

[@DJWerkz]

British ex-pat living in Texas, had a Suburban in the past, absolutely fantastic vehicle. Good power, car ride comfort, superb passenger and luggage mover. Now have a 2021 full size Silverado pickup (with color coded camper shell) for work and everyday driving and that too rides like a super comfortable car...with all my tools in the back lol

[@JohnSmith-wx9wj]

You've gone full native.

[@time2blowstuffup]

How did you migrate to the US if you don’t mind me asking? Meet a lovely lassie or just got a job over there?

[@Turshin]

@@JohnSmith-wx9wj 🤣🤣he sure has.

[@DJWerkz]

@@time2blowstuffup when we emigrated in 1999 it was with my job and we were in Nevada for four years before returning to the UK. In 2017 we emigrated again with my wife’s job (she is a nurse and through medical employment you get a green card), this time we plan on getting our citizenship.

[@dogcatdogable]

traitor

[@encinobalboa]

2007 was one of the last great years for SUV's. No auto stop start. No cylinder deactivation. No GDI. Simple is better and lasts longer.

[@t436]

Anything newer I would have to DOD delete in the next month.

[@au1317]

Whatever year they stopped being used for sport utility and started being used as daily drivers was the last great year for them. Saw a yellow Hummer H2 today with perfect tread on the rears and nearly bald tread on the fronts. I bet most SUV drivers could change it out for a 90's Corolla/Civic and all they'd lose is that big feeling they get from the big thing.

[@TrevorT7897]

2007-2014 did have cylinder deactivation, only reason it could squeeze out that MPG. However, I do agree with simplicity 2015 was a huge shift to more tech and advanced costly features.

[@americancapitalist9094]

@@TrevorT7897Cylinder deactivation only really benefits the car manufacturer in testing. When I deactivated mine, I actually gained 1 mpg on average.

[@shanet7511]

The 2007-2014 Suburban 1500 all had cylinder deactivation, but the 2500 models with the 6.0 vortec didn't and were very reliable, they also had heavier duty transactions, bigger brakes, better cooling system, heavier duty suspension and read diff, etc. What's funny is they could only tow 2,000lbs more despite all the changes but they hold their value very well due to the increased reliability and the fact it was the last 3/4ton SUV built ever.

[@johnv9018]

Brit here, we rented a Suburban in the states back in 2009 for 1 month while driving it 9,000 miles from LA > San Diego > Texas > Dallas > Vegas > Lake Tahoe > San Fran > Sacremento > down the golden coast back to LA and it never missed a beat. We even got lost taking it down the Old Yosemite Road which was, let's say scary as hell, being one of the largest cars on a single track dirt road in the mountains.😮 But it never once missed a beat and have always been a lover of the Chevy Sub since then. Ours was a V8 and it pulled like an Ox, was in a champaign colour and at the age of 25, boy did it deliver what was needed. I even had it parked next to a Range Rover and it made that look small. 😂

[@ddtechie]

That sounds like an amazing trip across the US. I’m glad you enjoyed a Suburban. As far as the engine, all suburbans and tahoes come standard with a V8. No 6 cylinders or 10 cylinders.

[@redlight3932]

sick tvr i wish we got them in America

[@johnv9018]

@redlight3932 you know your TVRs 👍 they should be hitting the 25 year rule later this year for the early 1999 models, already seen a couple shipped over in prep. Mine is a 2006 so a few years till it's in scope.

[@ItsDaJax]

@@redlight3932 We did get TVRs here in America.

[@ItsDaJax]

​@@redlight3932 We did get them here.

[@samuelgoldstein6055]

American 🙋🏻‍♂️: people here still think these things are huge; but almost every part of the country has enough space to “make it work.” Even in tight, crowded urban spaces like NYC, there are still a ton of these being used for rideshare. My dad had the LWB Expedition when I was growing up, and he lived in Brooklyn. The size was never really an issue for street parking. And when it came time for us and friends and cousins to go ski for a weekend, 8 seats and the big trunk were perfect.

[@オルフェーヴルの夫]

Yuropoors minds can't comprehend that

[@ShaiyanHossain]

thats more of a fact that american cities are often built to be centered around cars, not people

[@オルフェーヴルの夫]

@@ShaiyanHossain "muh the people "muh think of the people" "muh yuropoors are much more humane"

[@ShaiyanHossain]

@@オルフェーヴルの夫 Americans are slaves to car dependency

[@jimjamauto]

All full size crew cab pickups are longer than the Suburban and some are wider, I have no idea why people think the Suburban is some sort of leviathan

[@michaelbirritteri8518]

American here from NJ. My dad bought a 1996 Suburban brand new. It became something of a family pet. It helped build our home, transporting building materials. It carried our family of 6 on countless road trips and vacations. I learned how to parallel park in it. When we sold it, it was 23 years old with 300,000 miles on the clock and still running strong. These vehicles will always have a soft spot in my heart.

[@terryrodbourn2793]

My high school taught us drivers ed in a suburban and my teacher would joke if you could parallel park in thing you could parallel park any car/truck!

[@Whole_Leash_It]

American here: Suburbans are very popular here. Suburban families own them a lot. We always rent one to go on family trips. Last year we rented one to go from Seattle to Whistler with 4 adults, 2 kids and 2 dogs plus ski equipment. We weren’t cramped.

[@robertharris7027]

Maybe I'm a little bit exotic on this topic - as a German. I had a Suburban (GMT400) 24 years ago and I loved it. It was the LT3500, the big boy with 8 nut wheels, AWD and the 6.5 liter diesel, called "the beast" by my friends. Much too big for a little town like Kiel (Northern Germany), but it was so nice to drive. Despite being a turbo diesel it was a guzzler, but back in the days I didn't think about that, just happy about the 150l tank. Looking at diesel price today and now living in Hamburg, I'm glad not to own it any longer. But the memories are still nice, we had a lot of fun with that car. I stlll think that the GMT400 was the best looking one - my personal opinion, of course.

[@sebastianwurtz5294]

Kiel is not considered as "a little town" in Germany, nor in the US, lol.

[@aik88]

Here in America I just bought a 2500 version with the 7.4 L gas V8 1993 model year and it's taking a lot of work to get back on the road but it's the coolest truck I've had

[@SomeOne_86]

As a east-european, I also think the GMT400 is the best looking generation, although the newer ones also look great. I never understood the hate for American cars, people either have no idea about them or they compare them to cars designed for the EU market, which are made with completely different design goals.

[@Turshin]

@@SomeOne_86 both reasons.

[@initialyeet3951]

@@SomeOne_86Well, the reason is (as an American) that they are usually cheaply made, fat, terrible at cornering, often ugly, and far larger than their owners actually need.

[@tylerwatts1649]

Suburbans are cars for big families who don't want a minivan. I am on my 5th suburban. In addition to hauling my wife & 4 kids (or up to 7 of my middle school students), I routinely haul full sheets of plywood or drywall, lumber up to 12', and all of my handyman tools. Suburban is _the_ most versatile vehicle you can own--it puts the U in SUV.

[@AlexAlex22023]

@@tylerwatts1649 yep true i had a Dodge Durango sold it got me a suburban absolutely love it!

[@scottkempton6085]

My brother used to live in Midland, TX - oil country. One Sunday morning he sent me to the grocery store to buy some milk. There were twelve vehicles in the parking lot, and SIX of them were Suburbans. People buy these because they can carry so much, and they're durable. They're something of a status symbol in some places. Drive one across the U.S. and you'll understand their popularity.

[@yy4uman]

My sister had one in the 70's. It allowed placement of children far enough back to prevent items from hitting the driver on the fly. Used it every day. But a Jaguar as a daily driver? Now THAT'S crazy!

[@rogermiller2159]

You don’t get jag parts at suburban prices

[@carguy862004]

@@rogermiller2159 despite the escalade and suburban being the same underpinnings (mostly) you don't get escalade parts at suburban prices either.

[@PossiblyYourDog]

Another American here, As many have already pointed out, the Suburban is so commonplace here that nobody notices or cares about them. But seeing one drive on UK roads with a British number plate certainly draws attention (at least from me and everyone else here!) - That being said, I'd love to see more videos of American cars being reviewed by you in the UK, especially imported cars that are fairly uncommon to see in Europe such as the Suburban (they don't all have to be that big either haha). Great review too, excited to see more!

[@qadrik]

The Suburban is a guilty pleasure of a car that charms with its honesty.

[@ghostwrench2292]

I would have to disagree. For me and my family, it would be a sentence in purgatory.

[@davidkilts1670]

I have a 2002 AWD Escalade I have been using in my real estate business. It went over 200,000 miles about 4 months ago. It has had no major issues and continues to serve me well! It is all about properly maintaining vehicles!

[@Unknown_Ooh]

Not buying anything off a realtor that looks like a hobo and drives an 02 escalade 😂

[@nicholasscott5696]

I had a 2005 ESV - Loved that vehicle sold it at just over 200k miles and bought a MB S63 - worst decision of my life!

[@davidkilts1670]

@@Unknown_Ooh That’s fine, I wouldn’t want to work with someone who goes out of their way to be unkind to someone they have never met.

[@filanfyretracker]

its the pushrod V8, if there is one thing about American pushrod V8s is they run for a long time if you treat them right.

[@patrickmcgowan7826]

American vehicle owners do tend to change the engine oil more often, and do a lot of freeway driving, so the engines do last a long time.

[@matt1315s]

American here. My parents had suburbans for about as long as I can remember. I have 4 other siblings, we kinda needed the space. My dad taught me how to drive in his black 07 suburban. I currently own a white 2002 Suburban 2500 with a Duramax diesel engine and an Allison transmission. It’s a tank and I love it!

[@xxDrLagxx]

American here. It is a very interesting take for me to see the suburban as rare! I’m from a smaller town and the suburbans and Tahoes and Yukons are all seen as “mom car” family haulers. Neither me or any family members owned one but over the years I’ve probably ridden in dozens. At 16 my best friend had an 04 Tahoe basically the shorter suburban. Hacked the mufflers off to let the ole 5.3 breathe and we had hours of fun cruising and mudding in it.

[@ThriftMachine]

America is a big country, the UK is the size of Oregon. We travel alot within our own country. The US is 2,800 miles long and 1,600 miles tall. Texas alone is bigger than France. The Suburban with a large family makes sense, it is very comfortable on long trips

[@michaeltutty1540]

Then you look at Canada. Second only to Russia in land mass, Ontario is roughly twice the size of Texas.

[@WillTheBassPlayer]

@@michaeltutty1540 yeah but most of that land is up in the tundra where even the first nations people say "what would we go there for"

[@paulmartin2348]

@@michaeltutty1540 Canada does not matter.

[@chublez]

Yup. Going 200 miles across the cascades in my 2015 this weekend. Short trip really. Had it just over 1000 miles each way into AZ and back last month.

[@poochyenarulez]

How often to you travel 2,800 miles across the country?

[@maxon1672]

I own two... They are fantastic to tow with, take all my friends with me, and still carry whatever I need to in the back - all in comfort. Whatever generation you prefer, Suburbans are awesome and don't deserve the negative stigma! Howdy from Texas 🤠

[@maxon1672]

Also something to consider, the more people you take with you, the better per person fuel milage you get! So, taking everyone in your Suburban is likely significantly more eco friendly than all of them driving alone in their more fuel efficient car.

[@exxonvaldeezy]

I don’t have that many friends…

[@Matthew_Loutner]

I am not sure Europeans tow things . . .

[@plmn93]

My biggest gripe with them today is the sheer cost. It's over 50% more expensive than their next largest option, the Traverse. Same with the Wagoneer. They have become more luxury/status cars than family utility trucks, which is kind of sad. Not that they aren't capable, it's just a lot harder to justify the cost IMO.

[@maxon1672]

@@plmn93 Everything is insanely expensive these days. The Traverse, though, is a unibody car designed to move people, and significantly mechanically different. The Suburban (Tahoe, Yukon, Escalade) is a body-on-frame Truck that can also tow quite a bit of weight, and off-road fairly effectively in the right configuration. With the 6.2 V8 or the unbelievable Escalade V, you can also move very quickly! Do people buy them as status symbols? Sure, it happens all the time with many other vehicles, too. Does that make them any less cool or capable? Nope.

[@Hipas_Account]

Viewer from Finland who enjoys American cars (American car culture among the northern countries is fairly big) and I own a 1991 Chevrolet Caprice Classic with the smaller 305cid engine (5.0L), that is getting a 454cid (7.4L) engine put into it this year... and I would absolutely love for more somewhat mundane American stuff to be shown on this channel, as from a Brits viewpoint it can be very interesting and give some good new perspective. I am also a French car enthusiast and so i have a similar curiosity to when Americans have a go in French cars.

[@Gewehr_3]

What I really like about Northern Europeans who like American cars is you see the beauty in our cars we don't normally care about. The 4th gen Caprice is such a badass car, and extremely comfortable. I think the Roadmaster which shared the same platform is the most comfortable car I ever been in, even more then modern Mercedes, Teslas or anything like that.

[@F8Tributo]

Greetings from California! You have interesting perspectives! About French automotive engineering- Those guys are so creative, so clever, almost to the point of being "strange"? Or "weird"? I was looking at all the admirable systems in the Citroen SM, and it just blows me away. Like it was designed by extraterrestrials! Hah ha!

[@Kernwaffe88]

​@MealTeam6 moro

[@SomeOne_86]

You're swapping a 454 into a '91 Caprice? That's AWESOME. Please upload a video of it.

[@Turshin]

Down south, we used to call those bowling ball Caprices. The it car to have was the 1996 SS impala riding on 20's.....dont judge me. It was the 90s in Georgia.

[@harrisonrawlinson5650]

Brit here: if I owned this bus, I would chain smoke cigars, wear big gold chains and rings whilst playing the soprano theme tune on repeat

[@Spenny909]

Brit here: if you owned this, I would sublet the rear left seat to a large family.

[@StevenDurette-bq7zd]

As an Italian American - You need the Escalade ESV for that- Suburbans are for families... Escalades are the sign that you're "made" ! (Trust me- I had one, of each lol).

[@harrisonrawlinson5650]

@@StevenDurette-bq7zd but in the UK where the yank tanks are very rare, it’ll still work

[@ryanrovere4023]

That's not at all how they're perceived here. We just see it as a generic family car, even sort of a "mom car". 🤣

[@paulmartin2348]

@@StevenDurette-bq7zd If you think what car you had somehow "made" you then enjoy being a small, little man.

[@watchamovie1000]

Texan here. Suburbans are all over the place. Totally normal sight. We like them here and think of them as a full sized pickup with the benefit of a closed cabin. They do everything - hauling family and friends, towing, etc. They also used to be super simple mechanically. Until recent years, you could fix anything at AutoZone. The downfall now is that they’re extremely expensive new. Love seeing the European perspective of such “normal” cars - love the channel. 🤠

[@08mlascelles]

I’ve always been fascinated by American cars because they are built perfectly for American roads, and are totally bonkers anywhere else. I remember seeing a 70s Cadillac (Coupe deVille I believe) driving past Guildford station. It was so wide that it was barely able to stay in a single lane, and the body roll as it trundled round a corner was comical. It looked like a boat on wheels, but I can’t deny I loved it!

[@robertstone9988]

They work well in Australia and vice-versa. It's the open roads and space. American roads are vast wide and not well maintained, so our cars are large comfortable and dont need to handle sharp switch backs. If you had a euro hach hear it would be small under powerd and ride to harsh. American cars don't do well in Europe for the same reason sharks don't work well in the African serengetti and lions don't do so hot in the middle of the pacific. It's not ones better than the other it's just they are adapted to there own home.

[@Biru_to]

@@robertstone9988 Corolla's and Civic's seem to do well anywhere, though?

[@robertstone9988]

@@Biru_to I didn't say they don't work only there Designed and optimized for a different environment. I think a lot of non Americans think american cars aren't any good, In reality It's like the shark in the African serengetti thing. Sharks are amazing predators in the ocean It's just a lump of gray flubber rotting in the sun in the serengetti. When I said European hatches don't do well here the car i had on my mind was the old beatles. woefully underpowered for American roads. Get a 72 super beetle on the interstate, and see how long until you're looking for an exit 😂 no one would say a 2024 civic is underpowered but have you driven a mid 80s civic? I have. You have to think that a lot of new stuff.Even imports are designed for american markets now.

[@seed_drill7135]

It’s funny, anytime I see a video about US land yachts, half the photos have EU or UK plates. The domestic collectors market just doesn’t care about non performance cars, so really nice ones go overseas and rusty ones wind up in demolition derby’s or donating their engines.

[@baronvonjo1929]

​@robertstone9988 As a American who has been around a lot of American cars. I think your argument is flawed. American cars are bad. They are really poorly built and unreliable. Toyota is now our best selling brand in the US. Maybe their cars in theory and on paper fit Americans tastes. But they are so cheap and terrible Americans have been fleeing from them for over 50 years. They are all husks with mediocrity all over.

[@IWrocker]

These things are some of the best when it comes to an ole American workhorse. These are remarkable vehicles, they have taken so many families on roadtrips and to daily activities. They are work trucks as well. I have 2 of them.. I love them. So easy and cheap to maintain as well 🎉 This was so fun to see a Brit’s perspective 👍😎

[@garysnell47]

Hey love your vids 🙌

[@TheDuds33]

I wouldn't bat an eye if someone bought one. I live in Utah and it's been an incredibly common SUV over the decades as we have the highest birth rates in the US. My family owned 2 different Suburbans over the years. One was an awesome custom supercharged build. Fantastic low mpg family hauler.

[@eclipseesx]

As an American who grew up in a '97 suburban, and watching this in my final year Avalanche, was fun to see the British perspective on a car I pass dozens of every day. Great video!

[@christopherg9806]

Jay, one thing that you appreciate that other British reviewers never understood: The big GM V8's are incredibly reliable and really easy to modify. And they're cheap to fix and physically small (no overhead cams), so they fit in anything, including a Miata, Volvo 240 and dozens of other cars. Plus, the horsepower and torque are all on the low end, where you need it. The newest 6.6 liter version is absolutely bonkers. As for the size, we don't give it a second thought. My daily driver is a four-door Dodge pickup with 4WD. I love being able to haul firewood, pull a trailer full of motorcycles and whatever else I want to do.

[@lsswappedcessna]

Sadly "incredibly reliable" is a bit less applicable 2007 and after, but delete active fuel management and you're right on the money. Size matters less in the US, as well. That road Jay was driving on reminds me of our one-and-a-half lane rural roads that go through the middle of BFE, meanwhile our normal highways look like you ripped two lanes off the M1 and stuck them in a corn field with nothing for miles. The Autobahn makes our interstates look like airport runways with how straight and flat they can be, and yet big brother always sets the speed limit laughably low, you'll be driving through the middle of nowhere, North Texas with nothing for miles, not even the stereotypical tumbleweed, and they'll be like "you know what? You can have 80, that's perfectly reasonable, top fuel cars routinely go over 300 mph down straight stretches like this, with even less room to correct for crosswinds and bumps in the drag strip and ever decreasing numbers of crashes as our understanding of aerodynamics, grippy drag slicks, and controlling 4,000 hp to the wheels improves, but you might or might not get pulled over or ticketed by a fucking unmarked speed camera mounted in a hollowed out joshua tree for doing 91 on this perfectly flat, straight section of 3 to 4 lane one-way highway with nobody and nothing else around for 50 miles but the distant cactus, dry riverbed, or orange pebble."

[@michaeltutty1540]

The best engine swap for the Volvo 240 is the old Ford 351 Windsor. A friend is installing a Dodge Ram 5.7 litre Hemi V8 into a 1990 Volvo 240 estate.

[@ryanconway6915]

Another American here. I have a Yukon XL (the GMC version if the suburban) with an 8.1 liter V8. I have no children. No one in my neighborhood has ever questioned it.

[@KangoV]

I had the lucky privilege of being taken in one from the centre of San Fransisco to Lake Tahoe. It towed a huge trailer with 4 race snow mobiles and workshop with ease. Yeah the snow was perfect. 60 mph on ice was awesome. The driver announced that he was going to run the toll on Golden Gate bridge. Us brits shouted "noooo, they have guns!". We nearly shat ourselves. Not to worry though, he had a transponder in the window :) I used to buy Nissan parts through an Australian company (PerfectRun) who would order from Japan and get them shipped direct to me. It took 4 days and cost half the price. Not sure if you could do it now.

[@lsswappedcessna]

fun fact: toll gate workers are also underpaid wagies. They probably don't really give a shit if someone blows the toll as long as they don't rip the drop arm off. My uncle once skipped a toll getting off the interstate in Oklahoma because the booth was unattended and didn't have a change machine. He managed it because we were in a 2000 Suburban. Just jumped the curb right into the dirt and drove around it. Of course OKDOT sent him a ticket, can't remember if he fought it or just paid, I hope he fought it because honestly fuck OKDOT for thinking it's okay to have a toll booth on the god damned interstate exit with no way to make change when we already had to go through multiple also unattended toll booths to get to that exit. Never driving through Oklahoma again, second worst state in the country other than Cali because of all the fucking tolls.

[@gagantron]

My uncle had a suburban because he has 5 kids. My father in law had a suburban when kids were in the house but has regularly owned a Tahoe (shorter cab/wheelbase version of the Suburban) since the kids moved out. I've been looking at used suburbans because I tow heavy stuff and need to carry people, too. Suburbans are just such great vehicles for this country: they're big, comfy, reliable, strong, simple. and tough vehicles. As such, they're everywhere and almost ubiquitous in the suburbs and rural areas.

[@dallasfrost1996]

Here in New Zealand we did for a brief period of time have the Chevrolet Suburban before it eventually left our market, the only full-size SUV's we get now are the Toyota Landcruiser 300 & Nissan Patrol (Armada). Within the last couple of years full-size American pickup trucks have started to become reasonably popular in New Zealand & Australia, the main players in the segement being Ram & Chevrolet. With the success of these full-size American pickup trucks entering our market, there is now some talk of expanding the lineup to also include full-size American SUV's. GM is already set to return to our full-size SUV segment beginning of 2025, this time around with the GMC Yukon, the sisterbrand of the Chevrolet Suburban.

[@bavelnaard]

Dutchy here. Back in 1999 my parents had bought a 72 6th gen Suburban (not the square body) with the barn doors and a 350 cui coupled to a 4 speed manual. It was sunfaded matte poopbrown with about 10 different colours beneath, ranging from red to yellow to blue to green and then some more. Somehow it had so much torque there simply was no need to change gears: just put in fourth and off you went. Brilliant car !

[@ericsundell9978]

American here: Suburban doesn't make you stick out. Regular burban's are usually soccer mom/middle class family transport. If you have the GMC Yukon version, you might be a car dealership owner or other upper middle class business owner. Older burbans usually are farm trucks or for less well off large family cars. If its all blacked out, it could be a government/fleet car. I learned to drive in one, its a middle class family staple of a car and a good one at that. You can fit a full 4x8 sheet of plywood or a whole shipping pallet in the back, which is super useful as well when you go to the lumberyards.

[@theposguy1435]

Usa here .. I drive that model well 2012 ... I love that truck it has almost 500k on it. It's interesting to see your take on it. I see 20 of them a day and don't blink an eye. Thanks. Also I have a 6 speed

[@mpersad]

The way you threaded it round our roads and villages was impressive, testament to the car’s build and visibility and your driving! A thoroughly capable car.

[@Turshin]

Actually they're quite easy to drive believe it or not. It's why you see lots of women buying them.

[@racekar80]

When we has our second child, I bought a suburban. The best family vehicle know (without being a minivan). Carries two strollers, numerous suitcases, a months worth of vacation supplies. Never having to tell your wife I can’t fit that extra suitcase is worth it’s weight in gold. Had it 15 years, just tires, brakes, oil and filters. Bulletproof reliability. My wife loved that vehicle, and could swing it into the smallest parking space. I used it to tow my race car, without complaint. If I had to buy one last vehicle, to do everything, I would buy another one.

[@ghostwrench2292]

lol, I’m always happy to tell my wife she has to limit what she brings on road trips. Women seem to think vacation = moving across the country. 😂

[@halflife103]

clarkson and may said the same thing about their trucks when they were in Canada. They're fantastic when you've got room for them. Lots of room, lots of visability, they handle well for their size. They're entirely location dependant. Interstingly, when i see a foreigner move to Canada, they often are seen in the biggest fullsized trucks and SUV's. Of course i live in the middle of nowhere though.

[@garyovermyer1050]

Hi Jay, America here... We currently own a 1993 Chevrolet Suburban Cheyanne 2500 (3/4 Ton) 4WD nicknamed the Beast by our Children. It's heavy, gets atrocious gas mileage but will take us ANYWHERE no matter what Weather Conditions and drives very well. Think of the driving experience as like a 1936 Rolls Royce. Steering heavy, adequate power, and so forth. Which means, if you need to pull your House off of it's foundation, it won't break a sweat!!

[@Pascini]

First time i rode in a Suburban on the back seat, i kept looking back when the driver sped up, because the exhaust is so far that it sounds like a whole other V8 car behind

[@jagtan13]

Yeah, with Suburbans or Escalades and Navigators, you sit in different area codes. Picture a very nice lounge chair and being able to spread, that's the idea of luxury here in the U.S. and I'm all for it.

[@THESLlCK]

@@jagtan13 same idea behind first class flights giving you leg room

[@countrygrammar806]

American here, I grew up with a 2005 Suburban since new and it really got me into cars as a kid along with a 2001 GMC Yukon XL with 94k miles I’ve had for nearly 2 years now. I enjoy these so much that they’re my favorite vehicles ever (along with the Escalades, etc.). If you want a vehicle that can bring all your friends along in, tow with, off-road on a budget, have abundant OEM and aftermarket supply for along with having a legendary engine platform all while having great reliability, these things are the only real answer which is why I will always enjoy them.

[@eriknorthenscold704]

My wife and I drove a 1989 three row Surburban from Minnesota to Playa del Carmen Mexico in 2011. We called it the Beast. It was a bit of a rustbucket but the interior was mint and it was fully equipped. 350 V8 throttle body... 4 Wheel drive that we never used. We were hualing a 10 foot trailer hauling all our earthly possesions and although we got to Playa with 1st and 2nd gear and reverse dropped out as soon as we got to Playa it got us there. Put in a rebuilt tranny and we drove it for another 4 or 5 years before it hit the scrap heap, Bought it for 750 USD probably put another grand into brakes.....shocks etc....the Beast was a legend among our friends. We're still here in Playa and the Beast holds a special place in my heart.

[@saratj1]

Sounds like your living the dream man

[@BikeFromTheBrink]

I ran a 2003 Yukon XL for 7 years in the UK. Excellent car, ran 7 people and 12 bags to the airport with room to spare. Pulled trailers and caravans effortlessly and loaded up with 8x4 sheets.

[@vivalesvegas]

I took my friend’s dad to the local timber supplier, as he needed some 8x4 sheets for his camper conversion. He wasn’t convinced we could get them all in without putting them at funny angles, or up on wheel arches. Back seat left at his, middle row down, and the look of shock and amazement on his face. Priceless. If I ever need to replace my ‘00, I’ll be on the lookout for another of the same generation. These are just awesome.

[@BikeFromTheBrink]

@@vivalesvegas it's great being able to shut the back with 8ft on the floor

[@phantom4167]

@@vivalesvegas Good news is if youre looking to import them there is a million of them in the US, plus they were all reliable and cheap to fix so you dont have to be too picky buying them

[@vivalesvegas]

@@phantom4167 I’m on the Suburban group on faceache, and I’ve seen that some of the members have picked them up for amazing prices, like just a few hundred bucks. And they’re in really good condition too.

[@markboozer3234]

Except, look for vehicles not from a rust belt state. Go southwest and the vehicles hardly have any rust at all!

[@Letsberealish]

My favorite SUV!! I could never afford a brand new one but yeah they're perfect. One thing I love about them is that others dont notice them too much. Perfect for people not craving attention or approval from others.

[@jamesinnc619]

US native here. I drive the competition vehicle, the Ford Expedition. The Chevy has the same features and I would be happy to drive one. As a younger man I drove VWs and BMWs. These land yachts with a v8 are incredibly fun to drive. The independent rear suspension and great bakes makes this type of vehicle a joy on the twisties.

[@Mournful3ch0]

That's really the glaring difference that used to exist between them. The Suburban was a solid rear axle with optional automatic locking differential for decades and decades, including my 2000 model. I believe the newest, 12th generation models are the only ones with independent rear suspension. The models with the live rear axle are excellent at towing and off road/soft road activities, but do not handle predictably. Mine tends to stick (with comical body roll) until it hits a bump mid corner, then it shimmys in an alarming way as the sway bar transfers energy to the other wheel

[@jamesowendesign]

My roommate in college had a seventh gen Suburban and that thing was great. Nothing could stop it (except a broken water pump) and he helped me move from Texas to Michigan with all of my stuff and towed my car on a trailer with that vehicle. Really unstoppable

[@lsswappedcessna]

The LS engines (4.8, 5.3, 6.0) take after their predecessor, they also love blowing water pump gaskets.

[@Nomadjackalope]

I notice them most in Alaska where these are especially popular. Based on a truck, 4WD, loads of interior heated space. But in the lower 48 they don't stand out.

[@DanielKMeyer]

We own a Range Rover HSE in Colorado and love it and have rented Suburbans for driving trips in other parts of the country. Last year we drove a 2023 iteration from Spokane, Washington through Glacier National Park Park and up into Jaspar National Park in Canada - about 2500 miles. The Suburban is surprisingly agile and,with 420 hp, plenty powerful. Where's the HSE feels a bit like an Audi A6 on platform sneakers over 100 mph, the long wheelbase Suburban is rock solid. The gas mileage was surprisingly good.

[@danielnorman6064]

Best car ever! Had my first one when I lived in Essex. Had 7 more here in New Zealand! All been 4x4. The only vehicle that I can go to car shows in, cart kids, their friends, tow the horse trailer, drive on the beach, cruise, road trip... ❤

[@asianinashed]

This is how the list goes in America Chevrolet Suburban: "I am middle middle-class, I have at least 4 kids, price of gasoline doesn't bother me because I live in an area where gas is $3 per gallon" GMC Yukon XL: "I am higher middle-class, I have at least 4 kids, price of gasoline doesn't bother me because I live in an area where gas is $3 per gallon" Cadillac Escalade ESV: "I am high-class, I have at least 4 kids, price of gasoline doesn't bother me because I have money" or "I am a Rapper" If my neighbor came home with a new Suburban, then my reaction would be "cool, nice new car" and never think of it again, because Suburban's blend into the suburbia of what is America If my neighbor came home with a new Yukon XL, then my reaction would be "they have quite a bit of money and are most likely living a stealth wealth lifestyle" If my neighbor came home with a new Escalade ESV, then my reaction would be "they are drug dealers because who tf has that much money to spend on a new car when they live in the most generic and boring suburbia city there is in the US of A" A lot of people in the state I live in participate in stealth wealth, you would never know that they were making over 6 digits a year unless you looked for minute things. Like a nice bass boat, with toys like an ATV, Sport UTV (Polaris RZR), and a decent chunk of land to play with these toys. They don't have a huge house, they have a normal house, they don't have a fancy car, they have a regular car that has all the options.

[@shermanInOR]

61% of US households earning over $250k DON'T drive a luxury brand. The #1 selling car for $200k+ households is the F-150.

[@dapper189]

I have the Avalanche built on the Suburban platform, because I have 4 kids, but 2 are older and I need to work on this house if I ever hope to downsize someday. (I also have the Escalade ESV because my Yukon XL Denali was destroyed by vandalism sadface.)

[@christianbryant5617]

@@shermanInORstill is a fancy car nowadays in my eyes if you have $75k+ to throw at a new truck..🤷‍♂️ just goes to show you what all goes into making one of them

[@TioMogi]

Also tbf, $100k income today is squarely middle class.. 200k+ is like the coveted "6 figure salary" from days of old unfortunately

[@LarryHatch]

"Escalade" is Spanish for "fool who buys a Suburban with a $30,000 grill".

[@norwegianblue2017]

Not really true anymore. The new Escalade is an exceptional car.

[@iluvcamaros1912]

Sorry, though that was true of the 1999 model, since the 2002 redesign an Escalade has a definite look that the Chevy & GMC don't have. It's like saying a Town Car is just a Crown Victoria -- it's not.

[@JimGames11746]

@@norwegianblue2017 that and the modern Tahoe/Suburban is super underwhelming. Sat in a 2022 Tahoe in an Uber and was really disappointed. Ride quality was poor, interior uncomfortable, and plastic everywhere

[@haier2]

@@JimGames11746 Interesting, as a die hard GMT800 owner/enthusiast, I rented a mid-spec 2023 Suburban for a few days and was super impressed with all of the above. Much to my surprise.

[@2007CamryToyota]

It’s French actually

[@alphakky]

Here in the Colonies, the ones who buy Defenders are poseurs who want to say they spent more than you did, but didn't want to be yet another BMW/Mercedes-Benz owner.

[@19jacobob93]

My uncle's older model Suburban (I think it was a 2001) was the first car I drove in Australia when I moved from the UK at age 18. GM sold them with Holden badges here and a bit of trivia that only Americans would pick up on, is that the Aus market Suburbans had Trailblazer dashboards! Anyway, it was absolutely TERRIFYING driving that around unfamiliar streets, after coming from just passing my test in the UK in my grandma's 1997 3 door Fiesta 😂😂

[@southbay1279]

Growing up, we had a 2000 Suburban 2500 (6.0 v8 married to a 4-speed transmission with overdrive, a 4.10 rear differential, and 4 wheel drive). The truck was unstoppable. I believe, at the time, the truck sold for $48,000 new. My brother and his wife currently have the truck. It’s been on family road trips to Yellowstone, MOAB, through the Rocky Mountains, and all over the Sierra Nevada mountain range, all while towing a pretty substantial travel trailer. It has around 200,000 miles on the odometer and still going strong. Only had to do minor maintenance and regular oil changes.

[@andrewanderson5297]

My Dad had a 1975 Suburban, heavy half ton with a 350. It went like hell, learned to drive it on country roads in Ontario. I drifted the hell out of it on dirt roads, got it airborne and had a blast with a smile from ear to ear. Great vehicle, burned dinosaurs at an alarming rate, and I have fantastic memories trailer camping across Canada from coast to coast. Enjoy the drive.

[@thisthat7238]

when i saw the title i honestly expected to see a video of a guy bashing an American made vehicle again. thanks for the honesty. enjoyed the content.

[@Wargasm54]

Suburbans are a very common sight here in America. I’ve never owned one. But every time I ride in one it’s pretty impressive. I’m a relatively tall guy. And it’s a very comfortable ride. And surprisingly, they are built like tanks. And have rock solid drivetrains. You see many of these from all eras with 200k plus miles still running around like normal. American cars might have a bit of a reputation for quality. But the trucks and SUV’s built in America are rock solid. Hence , the high resale value.

[@phantom4167]

Highest mile car ive ever personally seen was a 1999 Yukon XL (rebadged suburban), guy owned it since new and drove the socks off it. Looked pretty good considering its age and milage, especially since it was still original engine and trans. Mileage stands at 510k miles, and is still climbing as he still drives it

[@TheMW2informer]

Those were built in my town, especially the 90s and 00s ones, if the last letter in the vin is a J it was made here in Janesville. My family helped build them, too bad the plant closed down otherwise I’d probably be working there!

[@redlight3932]

@@TheMW2informer id proudly work at a plant if we still had them around (screw the gov)

[@christianmichael1970]

I had a couple when I lived in the USA and the last was a 2005 LTZ 4X4 which I had back in 2011 which had pilot mid seats, bench 3rd row, 3 DVD screens and 3 A/C zones. They are gas guzzlers for sure BUT ridiculously comfortable to drive on long trips with a big family and great storage. It kills me to admit it but on a long trip it was more comfy than my 2006 XJ8 but nowhere near as good on fuel. I might add, the asking price is about right, they do hold their value and that engine will be good for well over 200,000 miles. And nope I'm not american trying to sell you on it, I'm a brit that spent 21 years out there. The suburban is a VERY comfortable SUV, get it on the motorway and off those country lanes, you'll love it.

[@PatrickMeenan]

If you get a chance, I highly recommend trying a 2021+ version of the top trim Suburban (or Yukon XL Denali or Escalade ESV) when you visit next. The updates improve things significantly (Air + magna ride, fully independent suspension, 10-speed transmission and available in a diesel that gets close to 30 US mpg on the highway). It's still not sports-car handling but it no longer leans around corners like the boat that it is.

[@antoniovillanueva308]

I have had 2 Suburbans and currently own one Yukon (XL, baby). I bought the last 2 used, I sold the first 2 at about 300K miles, 292K on this one. I use them to haul a travel trailer. Not on a flat highway, every year I go towards Mexico in the winter, and to the central Rockies. These things are bricks if taken care of. The 2500 with the 6.0 and the 4L80 trans is a tank. Even the lowly 5.3/4L60 lasts with meticulous maintenance. They can tow, they don't break, they are comfortable, and parts are cheeeep and common. I like them because they are not delicate, I grow emotionally attached to anything that won't let me down.

[@Turshin]

My grandma used to own a bunch of cars. She would say, "if it gets me home, I'll fix her (the car)."

[@ConkreteMan]

This is probably the first video of you driving something I would actually buy. Most of your videos are of sporty cars that would be sooo much fun, but not practical for my life. As a Texan, I’ve had experience with suburbans since the 80s. Several white ones for our construction company because they can carry a crew. I drove a blue 4x4 in college and could carry all my friends. Once I removed the 3rd row seat, laid the 2nd row down flat and slid an entire couch inside and drove it to my first apartment. Mom drives a maroon one with all the bells & whistles. Also bought a Tahoe when my son was born because it was more room than a car and all the baby equipment/necessities were easier to slide into the back of instead of lifting up and out of a trunk.

[@ronhanway9384]

Ben driving Suburbans since mid 70’s. I have 5 children and 7 grandchildren so it’s an awesome people mover and comfortable.

[@mustpaike]

These may be rare in UK, but in mainland Europe where everybody drives on the "wrong side" they are a lot more common. Especially 9th generation and up. If rust doesn't get them they will run forever ending up as farm trucks for towing heavy trailers and also doubling as family vehicles when the government decides that paving and plowing that 5 mile gravel road to your village is just "too much money" to spend. The Gm models (Suburban, Yukon XL and Escalade ESV) are preferable, because while seating 7 or 8 or 9 people and 1 large dog, they still remain under 3500kg.

[@AnnatarTheMaia]

Yeah we see more and more of them here in continental Europe, but they are ludicrous, as the ultracapitalist country where I live has park places so narrow as to squeeze as many of them as possible for maximum profit, so these are a nightmare to park anywhere in a populated area... welcome to ultracapitalism, where greed and lust for profit rules supreme!

[@JohnSmith-wx9wj]

Wow, I'm shocked.

[@omegadomega]

​@@AnnatarTheMaiaIt's called pushing for smaller, safer cars. Your big SUV shouldn't be anywhere near a city.

[@AnnatarTheMaia]

@@omegadomega I don't have an SUV, I would never own one (unless it was a LADA Niva). I'm a station wagon guy at heart, who firmly believes that station wagons are the ultimate driving machines.

[@omegadomega]

@@AnnatarTheMaia Makes sense then, if the parking spaces are really THAT small, I think it's more from the city officials, not capitalism anyways.

[@LightTheUnicorn]

Someone brought one of these over? Honestly that's pretty awesome. While I'm glad the roads aren't full of things this size, it's actually kinda cool. The "normal" stuff we don't get is definitely more interesting in my eyes.

[@kaygeebee]

Live out on the prairies in Canada. There are lots of them and nobody bats an eye. If you have a large family AND dogs, it’s the only way to go. They are also a great winter driving vehicle. We had a 2000 Suburban and now have a 2012 Yukon XL (the GMC equivalent). We used to drive half way across the country on vacation and short of a motorhome, nothing comes close in travelling comfort.

[@liammistry37]

One of the things I love when traveling to the US, driving their big cars... Always surprised at how much I enjoy them.

[@MrSloika]

I met a Scottish man at a gas station in New Jersey who started a conversation with me for no apparent reason. He was absolutely delighted to be fueling the Suburban he rented while on his trip in America. He claimed that it cost less to fuel a Suburban in the US than it cost to fuel his car in Scotland which was 1/3 size of the Suburban.

[@ellarson1]

As an American in Montana I most often see families with one large truck and one large SUV, women in general prefer SUVs, those with children LOVE them.

[@wasidanatsali6374]

Same in the Smoky Mtns where I live. Momma drives a big honkin SUV and daddy drives a jacked up 4X4 truck. A truck, SUV, or tractor won’t sell here if it isn’t 4WD because there’s still a lot of dirt roads here and getting sideways on a mountain never ends well.

[@MrSloika]

@@wasidanatsali6374 I live in New Jersey. There's one of these things four door down. Black with a blacked-out glass. The people who own it have young children.

[@benchpressguy]

American here, I work at a Chevrolet dealership in the countryside where most have big trucks and SUV’s like this. The suburban is a large vehicle, but it isn’t even close to some of the trucks Chevy makes. A great video idea would be to compare this suburban to a 3500 Silverado Dually. Or heck, even a regular single axle 3500 for that matter. That is a large vehicle. I am 5 foot 11 and have to use a 2 foot step stool just to check the dipstick on one of those.

[@user-cm6tj2he4b]

I drive a Chevy Trailblazer here in Germany. The parts get here in 5 days from the US. Parts are cheaper than your average Golf. Tax is only 285€ a year. So it's only the fuel prices holding you back.

[@joshuakhaos4451]

What year of TrailBlazer?

[@user-cm6tj2he4b]

@@joshuakhaos4451 gmt360 platform, 2004. Not his cheezy successor.

[@balkanca]

I have an Envoy in my fleet with the 4.2L inline 6. I love the GMT360 platform; solid trucks.

[@user-cm6tj2he4b]

@@balkanca Definitely good engine. The only engine sold here in Europe. But with only 20ps less than the V8, it's enough. And relatively easy to work on. I did a revision of the gearbox myself, and it's perfectly doable.

[@Username-2]

Good to golf parts are a ripoff in Germany too… lol

[@brynjaminjones]

This was a great video, and a really fair assessment of the Suburban! I live in the UK, and we currently own the Escalade version of this. It's the same year (2007), but we deliberately bought the shorter version to make parking a little easier. The Escalade is 90% the same as these, but with a slightly nicer interior, a 400hp 6.2, and the 6-speed transmission. For us, the Escalade was the more "sensible" buy, because they don't hold any more value over here than a Suburban or Tahoe would, but they come with more options as standard. We bought the Escalade because we wanted something quick and spacious, 7 seats, good at towing, and with comforts like heated/cooled seats, heated steering wheel etc. We traveled in one on holiday in the US and we loved it, and we chose to buy one over something European because, being as simple mechanically as a Silverado truck, it's a very easy/cheap vehicle to look after, despite having all the creature comforts. RockAuto is a real life saver for parts, and I was already used to relying on them for my older Jeeps. It's been completely reliable in the 2 years we've owned it so far, and it's very easy to drive. We currently live in Cornwall where the roads are much tighter, which has been more of a challenge, but the roads here feel tight in any vehicle! It had a few interior rattles when we first got it, but a bit of time sorting out broken trim from previous owners helped hugely, and now it's a quiet vehicle to travel in. The rear captain's seats are an especially nice place to sit. The thing I like least about it is the 6-speed transmission. It's a little clunky and hesitant, and doesn't have the best reputation for longevity. I had a remote tune done on ours which improved things a lot, and I'm getting used to its characteristics now, but I still wish the transmission was a little better. We also recently rented a brand new 2023 Suburban for 2 weeks in the US, and I was surprised at just how nice it was. I like the interior of our 2007 Escalade, but it is a little plasticky in places. The 2023 Suburban on the other hand was legitimately one of the nicest interiors I've ever sat in - it took me completely by surprise! The 10 speed transmission in the new one was also fantastic, although I didn't much care for the cylinder deactivation. I should also add - we get plenty of FBI/secret service/US president/drug dealer comments in our Escalade, but other than that I get very few people speak to me about it.

[@dontworry1302]

I have an 08 Escalade, and had an 07 Suburban in the past. The Escalade interior is so much nicer, but in the US, it just doesn't make sense to buy it compared to a Tahoe or Suburban mostly due to parts costs. There are so many small items that were escalade specific that I can't just replace from a local junyard for $5. Personally I never found the short wheelbase to be any easier to park, but that may just be because the spaces here are much longer.

[@brynjaminjones]

@@dontworry1302 I have also found some of the cosmetic/trim pieces a little more difficult to find, but I feel like there are enough Escalades out there that it's no big deal. In terms of parking, it's not so much the ease of parking, rather the fact that the LWB/Suburban length Escalade simply wouldn't fit in a lot of the places I take it, and would stick halfway into the aisle in most parking lots. We have another vehicle that length and it definitely limits where I can take it, but the Escalade just about fits into parking structures just fine!

[@dontworry1302]

Glad you enjoy it, when running, they really are the best vehicles to go long distances. I'm curious how more consumable items are dealt with like batteries and air/oil filters, are the standards international, or are you importing lead acid batteries when they go flat?

[@brynjaminjones]

@@dontworry1302 That stuff is very easy! Oil and air filters and other service items are often available on eBay, although like the owner in this video had said, shipping from RockAuto in the US is usually cheaper, and somehow quicker too! I can usually have RockAuto orders here in 2-3 days. We don't have exactly the same battery size groups over here, but doing it by measurement means I can find something close enough that it's not difficult at all. The only other heavy things I've had to buy were brake rotors, but those were available in the UK.

[@Mr-Mag00]

This made me chuckle, Being American that's a daily driver for sure 🙂 glad you liked it. Those are like the Mom rigs Kids/Groceries/Football Gear/Hockey all around everything Vehicle & Awd always has been a must for me to have the wife drive (All Season Vehicle). Excellent choice for Rock Auto they are the ones for Parts. As always Have a great day!

[@Mc_Whitty]

You nailed it in this review. Its large and doppy, but its conformable, can carry so many things and people, it gets decent mpg, and its reliable. Its like a cargo van. They dont carve corners or win drag races, but drive at like 4/10 and you will be happy. Also, yeah that 5.3 is super under stressed. Its why everyone loves it. You can easily get over 200k miles with just basic maintenance or turn it into a monster with like $3k.

[@georgeprice5625]

I have one that went to 620k before it started knocking.

[@Jon651]

I live in Florida. If my neighbor suddenly bought a Suburban, the first thing I would think would be something like: "I guess they're expecting another kid; maybe twins!" And while the power numbers for the motor may not look good to a fan of European cars, you have to remember that it's making those numbers at what is usually a much lower RPM range. You don't have to rev the heck out of the motor to get any useful amount of power out of it.

[@danielzhang1916]

yeah it's not meant to be a sports car, but it will get you quickly on the highway

[@charlesbrown4483]

My answer to the engine power is just, like… have fun driving a European car from state to state in America lmao. That sounds like a form of capital punishment, my legs are cramping and my back hurts just thinking about sitting in some “sporty” little BMW for the drive from just Miami to Tallahassee, and I live in Kentucky so we’re still nowhere near home😂

[@marcellosands493]

American from Los Angeles here. I own a 1995 GMC Yukon SLT which is basically a rebagged Chevy Tahoe, the shorten version of the Suburban. Personally I think this era of GM’s Chevy’s and GMC’s is the best looking other than the current body style.. but I digress. I keep it as my “weekend car” mainly due to its 30 gallon tank and 10-12 MPG rating on a good day. There are 3 types of people that own something this big. At least here in LA. The 1st type of person is someone with a big family that actually needs the room and will not be seen in a mini van. The 2nd type of person will use it for work because of its durability and ruggedness. You can pull up to a construction sight and no one would bat an eye. The 3rd type of person (myself) has no actual need for the truck but is mesmerized by owning one. Someone that has not started a family but loves sitting high on the road. I can say I’m definitely your typical young adult that will throw the dogs in the back and go for a hike or use as a the weekend warrior, I don’t worry running the risk of it not starting. The average “older” GMC Yukon, Yukon XL or Chevy Tahoe, Suburban pre 1999 can easily run 300,000 - 500,000 miles with routine maintenance. They were definitely built to take a beating and just keep going unlike most american vehicles of the same era and even today. Not sure if it’s more of an American saying but “ They just don’t build ’em like they used to” is completely accurate for this vehicle.

[@mechanuts7191]

As an American I can confidently say we dont give a rats @$$ about seeing another Suburban 19ft, or Expedition 18ft, or Wagoneer 17.8ft... anywhere at any time. Hell my 2003 Lincoln Town Car is 18ft long and its a sedan...thats 5.5m for you Chaps

[@GuitarTalkunedited]

We also use ft and yards here btw

[@lookoutforchris]

@@GuitarTalkuneditedwhat a weird coincidence. Despite being officially metric the US uses traditional units unofficially.

[@GuitarTalkunedited]

​@@lookoutforchristhe UK is a weird one too. Some people love metric, some only work in traditional. No matter what anyone tells you - in the UK by law distance signs can only be in Miles and Yards (metres illegal) but offical signs for heights they must always be in ft but can show metres. Car speedos must be in MPH. Yet, until we left the EU 4 years ago, all weights must be advertised in KG (much to the annoyance of traditional butchers) but now lbs and kg can be used. Liquids always sold in millilitres EXCEPT Beer and Milk they are allowed to be sold in pints (but our pints are bigger than US pints).. confused yet? Britain is

[@DanPyjamas]

@@GuitarTalkuneditedI can do feet, but I can't do yards 😂 Honestly I wish my sat nav let me mix and match. I'd have miles and meters 😂

[@AWMJoeyjoejoe]

​​@@GuitarTalkuneditedMy favourite British idiosyncrasy is how we buy Petrol and Diesel in litres, but fuel economy is measured in miles per gallon. 😂

[@StephenRawlins]

Jay, I’m a Yorkshireman living in the US for the past 25 years. I currently drive a GMC Yukon XL - essentially the same as the Chevy Suburban. And I’ve owned 12 Chevy Tahoe/Yukon/ Escalades. It’s no big deal here, ultra common, like furniture. I love them. But not in Blighty.

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

Oh yeah one step below the Escalade in luxury. But cheaper on the insurance LOL

[@comfortablylostofficial]

You’re so correct about getting lads in the car and going to the game. These things have dragged us around from sports games, concerts, road trips, you name it. So many good things came from these rigs

[@markw4263]

US (California) here. I hadn’t driven anything like this in a long time, but I rented one recently and it was Nice. V8 sounds, decent ride and ok handling - woulda thunk it? Sometimes simpler (relatively) is ok.

[@connorPiper0]

Our family friends here in California demonstrated the Suburban's actual killer feature. They have 4 kids, they also have a boat. With the Tahoe (or any other 3-row car) you have to choose between the 3rd row, or cargo space. A minivan does not have this issue, but they can't tow much. The Suburban was the only car that could take 4 kids, luggage, and their boat all at once and that's why it exists. (And the expedition) Additionally the under-stressed engine, and heavy duty transmission make sense here. It's basically a pickup with a roof.

[@austinbaccus]

Actually if you read the comments you'd know you don't need a Suburban, you only **think** you need a Suburban. Now go live in a 300 square foot economy cube and ride a bicycle like the rest of us

[@connorPiper0]

@@austinbaccus Well I'm not saying it's not incredibly wasteful and a lifestyle that most cannot afford, it's just that there is a reason for a large SUV to exist other than just being large.

[@markballard9942]

I live in a very dense neighborhood on the north side of Chicago. If one of my neighbors bought a suburban, I would just wonder where they thought they were going to park it. Street parking is at a premium, and not many folks have garages or off-street parking.

[@thizz408]

American here. Taking my Range Rover camping this weekend and not quite sure if we'll be able to fit everything we need, might end up having to take 2 cars down . When I had my suburban this wasn't an issue at all. Man I miss that truck, perfect road trip vehicle.

[@davidmwood560]

I've had American cars, vans and pick-ups for the last 58 years. I was one of the fitst people to import American stretched Limousines into the UK when I owned a hire company; now I drive Lexus, but I still keep a Cadillac SRX as a workhorse. Wonderful 5·5 m beast!

[@aaronlancaster195]

I'm from Texas, very close to the GM plant that builds trucks & SUV's. Suburbans are everywhere here. I'm on my 2nd one, with 3 teenage kids and 2 dogs they can't be beat.

[@kylem324]

These are common and don’t get a lot of notice. Many different types of customers can justify these. They tow a lot. They’re quite durable and servicing them is easy and cheap. They hold a lot of people, and are a pretty comfortable thing to drive long distances on the highway. Some will get a suburban over something flashier like an Escalade or Range Rover because you don’t want the attention. Most of the time the use case doesn’t push the limits of its capabilities as noted above. It’s a solid truck that will do most things and short of a Land Cruiser is one of the most durable vehicles on the road.

[@skipast75]

I’m a 4Runner owner. 5th Gen and previously a 4th Gen. 10 years ago I worked at a major ski resort driving clients around all night in a Suburban identical to the one in this video. 400+ inches of snow a season…. And I can say with confidence the Suburban is the best vehicle ever made for driving in deep snow, ice and everything in between. (On road). With a good set of snow tires, it was glued to the road in all conditions. The 4wd system is designed for on road conditions and it is exceptional at it job. They all suffer from electrical issues but most are caused by wires hanging down in the rear that get covered in ice and break. And the interiors are not great on that generation but are nice now. If you have a family with a lot of stuff… they’re the best. They do ok offroad too as long as you have enough ground clearance.

[@Turshin]

It's the weight that makes so good in the snow. The Suburban is the right size. Ppl love them. I think they have the highest percentage of repeat customers for a single model.

[@radicalcrash]

American. I own a Suburban from this generation. It's a 2012. I got it this year after wanting a Suburban for years. This year, the Good Lord finally saw fit to bless me with one, and I said what I said. I could go on and on about the vehicle, but let's stick to what matters. It's not that bad on gas. It's no hybrid. You do have to keep it in mind. It's still not that bad. Some certain people like to talk about how you have to justify owning a Suburban. Like you have to tow every weekend or have at least five kids. You do not. A Suburban is just as good as a daily driver as it is a workhorse, special occasion, or retirement vehicle. Wanting one is the only thing that matters. And no rational argument can be made against wanting it. The size is no big deal. Everyone stays out of your way. Even other trucks and full-size SUVs. It's like being in a club. We know we could do a lot of damage to each other. Those smaller than us definitely know we could do a lot of damage to them. I feel no urge to bully anyone else on the road. Just peace in knowing my own stress is less. That, alone, makes a Suburban worth pretty much anything. Mine holds a little more status in my mid-west area than it would in most cities and deep countries, where there's more of them. Because of that, the capability of the Suburban is a luxury, not an expression. And the luxury is the status. Which is what the Suburban expresses. Yet the Suburban is special in a way its Yukon and Escalade family members are not. That humble mainstream position is more attractive in many ways than the outright attention-seeking bling of the more upscale versions. The Suburban is the longest-running nameplate in the world for a reason. It will probably continue to exist no matter what until the end of time. There is no other vehicle now or ever that fits everywhere, with such unswerving confidence and grace. Partly because they do live forever. I anticipate I'll never drive a different vehicle the rest of my life. What could be better? Even if there is something, I don't really care. I'll choose the Suburban.

[@longtailgt]

The reason I love these big old American SUVs is because, apart from their other qualities, they don't pretend to be something they're not. They're not a crossover, they're not a sports car, they're not a weird hybrid of different things, they're just proper, practical, comfortable big family cars that can easily swallow a whole family and their luggage without making a fuss about it. I also think they used to look badass back in the day (this one certainly does), but nowadays sadly they don't.

[@yungrichnbroke5199]

They really can’t. A minivan can hold way more stuff and people than a suburban can.

[@Username-2]

@@yungrichnbroke5199Uhh no. A minivan when fully loaded has almost no trunkspace compared to a suburban.

[@yungrichnbroke5199]

@@Username-2 minivans have tonssss of trunk space

[@Username-2]

@@yungrichnbroke5199 They do, but not nearly as much as this suburban. Especially not in 2007 when this came out. They’ve gotten much better in that regard.

[@michaeltutty1540]

The big difference between the capabilities of the two. Suburban can carry up to 8 people plus cargo. More importantly the Suburban can tow up to 6 tons of trailer. Minivans, being unibody front wheel drive things, are limited to 1¾ tons, but towing the full rated weight cargo and passenger rating is reduced. Suburban is by far more heavy duty than any minivan or crossover.

[@rightwingsafetysquad9872]

Buying a Suburban/Expedition/Wagoneer in America says that you likely have 3 kids aged 7-16 who play sports. Otherwise you would have gotten a pickup or a Rav4 - or if you have multiple children but they don't play sports you get a Chrysley minivan or Odyssey The street I grew up on used to have 10+ of the large SUVs and a handful of conversion vans. Now that all the kids are grown and out there are 20+ pickups and no Suburbans left. Kind of remarkable that almost every house on the street had school aged children at the same time.

[@danielzhang1916]

a lot of families had kids in the 90s to early 2000s, it's not surprising there would be a lot of children

[@dereklane5688]

Hired a 6.4 Litre version in Florida for 2 weeks in 2014, 6 adults and lots of cases, great fun and with USA fuel prices big smile on my face, None available in 2022 so we took the GMC Yukon for two weeks, big difference in those 8 years. Not as big as the Suburban. Great review as usual JayEmm