As a kid who rode in one of these in the 90's, it's wild to see the back seat area so clean. No sticky cupholders, no spill stains, no loose wrappers jammed in the ashtrays. It just doesn't look right.
The rear door ashtrays are also great for holding coins for toll roads (back when they weren't all electronic payment of some sort). I used to do that in ours, cause the toll roads would save us an hour or more, getting out of Houston, Texas area.
My father bought a 1996 Chevy Suburban (With a Turbo Diesel) the day i was born. That truck would pull state official utility vehicles out of snow and ice... drove me to every baseball practice and game i had from age 6-16. i know every little detail of this truck and damn do i miss it and my father. Thank you for reviewing this one Doug.
My dad had a diesel too, I believe it was a 98 or 99. When the new body came out they never made it in the diesel. That thing was loud but the fuel economy was great!
11hr road trips to Grandma's in this as a kid always felt like traveling across the Atlantic in a great wooden ship of old, trapped with your siblings until you reach dry land. Dad was the ship's captain, and him threatening to pull over on I-95 was like getting threatened to walk the plank
Ive got a 99 like this and I still get people saying how comfortable the seats are. They've also got decent tech at the end with garage/gate openers, seat heaters, dual zone AC, sunroof
This will always be to me: The Tony Soprano Suburban. A friend of mine had a lt blue one for awhile, super useful. And a dark blue one near me sold very quickly a few yrs ago, but I looove this green color.
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who thinks the GMT400's simplicity looks stylish. Not a 90s kid but growing up in the 2000s, I remember seeing these Suburbans all the time. This whole video was such a nice surprise, much like the Oldsmobile Silhouette.
Love my 98 Barn door Suburban. Bench seats front and back. Covered work truck, Family hauler, comfortable highway eater. Had it 8 years now and has cost me next to nothing in maintenance. The 350 is a little thirsty when you mash the pedal. But it's not bad as long as you get it up to speed then hold it there.
I remember growing up and moving up the 3 row car hierarchy of moving from the 3rd row to the 2nd row and ultimately the front seat. You know you made it when you were in the front seat
I was the younger brother, my older brother got the middle row and I got the rear. This is absolutely true. I used to be able to lay flat in the 3rd row like a full size bed on long road trips to the beach. By the time I moved up to the middle row, my brother had already picked off the rubber covers from the ceiling handles. Good times.
I am not a Chevrolet fan but one thing I have to give them credit for: their interiors are always form-follows-function and user-friendly. No fluff; just straightforward stuff that works.
@@IMDGEN Having a chevy pickup with this interior I gotta be honest, it's more comfortable than my moms 2019 nissan, and rivals my dads leather seats in his truck, the cloth is pretty comfortable and you don't have to worry about it being very hot or very cold due to climate concerns, it'll always be comfy.
Thank you for a great review. I had a 1996 just like this, LS, with the 5.7. He forgot to mention that this car had a 42 gallon gas tank and had courtesy lights under the dash. The power from the 5.7 was fine. I also agree with him on the looks. Definitely the best looking Suburban of all time. Although, I preferred and had the barn doors. I hated to give mine up.
I remember that my sister's Yukon sucked gas, too. That and her current Suburban suck up $150 at the gas station every time she fills it up! She has four kids so she needs that large of a vehicle. She also has an extended cab pickup for all of the uses that is more appropriate for.
I was also going to bring up the 42 gallon tank. Much larger than current gen. I drove a ‘96, black with barn doors, and even had it up until maybe 2007. The pain at the pump by the end was very acute with that huge tank. Removing the third row was tough even with barn doors, would have been awful with the tailgate to remove.
@@detroitdieselpowerI actually got 16 mpg on the highway driving the 1996. I drove all the way from Duck, NC to Concord, MA on a tank of gas - over $600 miles Car was full of 4 kids and vacation gear for a week on the outer banks. One of my best vacations. Even took the car on the 4 wheel drive area.
You fail to realize that parents LOVED ash trays in the back NOT for smoking, but because they also acted as mini trash cans for the kids for their candy wrappers etc.
The introduction is pure Gold…..The sheer enthusiasm of the initial “THIS…is a 1996….” Is really unparalleled! Doug’s love of vehicles and creating reviews is awesome !
lmfao people calling doug's enthusiasm cringe end up being cringier themselves purely cause they feel like showing any emotion higher than neutral and bland is fake and gay or something lmaoo ya'll should grow up and eat a burger, get some more dopamine
Not in my part of world, where parts should be ordered overseas and rust eats them up in no time. It also requires non-metric tools and some platform knowledge to service properly, so they are rarely properly maintained. It's almost impossible to find one in such state as in this video, no matter how much you are ready to spend. Still love 2500 burb that we managed to find with friends, it's still amazing how versatile and cool this car is.
Same, I see a ton everyday, but 99% have dents, crappy paint, or falling apart. But yes they keep chugging along, very reliable. It is cool when you see a very clean example.
@@ErrorTH The Tahoe version of this generation is still reasonable common here in Norway. I don't think there are many Suburbans around though but then again I don't think it ever was particularly popular here.
3 years ago I bought a 1999 Suburban K2500 with the 454 Big Block, Mint condition save for some paint chips. 150k Miles now, put away for winter time (im in New England) wanted one since I was a kid, and now it will never leave me. Best Suburban Chevy ever made IMO.
So we’re 12 brothers in my house. As a kid my father used to have one GMC Suburban (1999). It was a beast. We love it and was so spacious. As we grow up and the older ones move out, he change it to a smaller Envoy. Was nice, but didn’t felt as powerful as the Suburban. GMC and Chevrolet were going back and forward switching the Suburban for the Yukon between them. 12:00 *Fun fact* - We thought that little compartment was for fast food fries, so we used to fight between who get the fries compartment when eating in the vehicle 😂. Good to know it now that it was a tissue compartment.
@@automation7295 who said I am offended? It has been unusual for decades to have so many kids with the exception of a few devout religious groups. You sound like a Hillary / Biden supporter with your accusation.
I knew three families with GMT400s, two GMCs and one Chevy. They were cool trucks. Two had the barn doors and one had the split tailgate, and two were 4WD and one was 2WD. They were all kinda beat on from being family vehicles, which is why I'm shocked to see this one is in such good condition in and out. I mean this is fricken mint. My family had two GMT800s and a GMT900 over the course of about 16 years. They were great trucks too. I was kind of sad when the 900 was traded in a few years ago, but the 800s were probably the best combination of power, utility, comfort, reliability, and timeless style. The 400s and the 800s have definitely aged well over time. Lots of nostalgia watching this review.
@@billyray4716 buying a used one you find tons of deferred maintenance. I think that's why American brands have low resale value: people who "buy American" aren't as fastidious about upkeep. I've already spent close to $2k on rebuilding my front end, and there's another $500 to go due to incompetent mechanics.
So much nostalgia! Our family had a 93 suburban exactly like this one same color and all except ours had the spit swing out doors on the back. from 2008ish to 2011. It was our family truckster. I miss those days of my youth a lot.
Amazed that Doug didn't mention that these were available as either 1/2 or 3/4 ton and RWD or 4WD. I have one, a 3/4 ton 4WD version with the 7.4L (454CID). Absolutely a great vehicle.
I still have GMC 96 the same you are having 7.4L(454CID) still in very good condition cpmleted 400000 KM i like it too match. I have cadillac escalad 2016 i still love 96 more than escalad 2016. i am from suadi arabia.
Prior he made no mention that the 70s Cadillac Eldorado was FWD. He was more fascinated with how the (not yet electric) remote sideview mirrors worked. Doug's love of buttons is amusing though.
The directional map lights were awesome back in the day. Prior to everyone having a backlit cellphone in their pockets, we had to do things like read (with a physical book, I know), and even when there were screens, they weren't always backlit. (I'm looking at you gameboy color)
I love how simple the suburban is compared to modern standards. I really like when Doug takes a walk back into the 90's to review cars from an era when cars were much more desirable 💪
Doug didn't touch on it, but a big part of the reason _why_ fancier interiors weren't available in those days was because the prevailing belief (both among manufacturers and a lot of the buying public) was that if you put a luxury interior in a vehicle mainly used to haul children, the kids would just ruin it.
@@ZGryphon they were probably right, considering the quality of materials back then. Really good leather and plastics have gotten cheaper and viable only recently.
@@justabrokeredneck Sure people did, but they didn't want to pay for it, and most folks weren't leasing vehicles that were in reality far beyond their actual reach
Am I the only one who gets super excited when Doug reviews vintage or quirky cars? I could care less about high end hypercars but once he has a vintage on, I am tuned in.
Same! Those hypercars are pretty much all the same to me and lack all character. Cars from the 80ies and 90ies just breathe practicality and usefulness
This entire enthusiastic review, the Nineties style of the car, the materials, CD player, ashtray make me remember those lovely years and I'm not even American.
I would pay a premium to have an interior like that. I don't need gimmicks, I don't need screens. I'm there to drive, not be entertained. Simple, intuitive, ergonomical, reliable, that's what you need when you're driving especially something that big.
Ngl they already are going for big dollar, in the past year they went from 2500 for a decent rust free example, they trickled all the way up to 15+. Glad i bought mine when they were cheap
I remember these had a great sounding stock exhaust, and always had a weird humming/buzzing coming from under the chassis. The sound of the doors closing was also very satisfying.
And I love how disenchanted he is about what he calls "cheap plastic" in some of the newer luxury cars despite these materials still being (in my opinion), pleasing to the eye.
I think its weird to have it on a channel all about weird "quirks and features" 90s chevy is in my mind baseline normal. Everything else is actually degrees of weird compared to this thing.
We had a 98 LT 4X4 with the “ambulance doors” which I absolutely adored! One thing Doug failed to mention was the 44-gallon fuel tank which meant 650 miles on a road trip without a refill!
650? I don't think I ever got my Tahoe (with the same size tank) more than 450 on a tank. I guess I drove faster.... Amusingly, I get about the same range on my current car with a 12 gallon tank.
Learned how to drive in a 96 barn door! Was the best except for gas mileage. We put almost half a million miles on the original engine before it gave up on us after 20 years of use. From hauling marble for work to myself and my family around for soccer games or travel around Texas, this was definitely everything you needed in a vehicle.
this review makes me so nostalgic. I'll never forget when my dad came home with one of these and me and my brothers climbed though it counting cup holders because we never had any, I found the pop out ones and absolutely lost my mind.
I practically spent my entire childhood in a 98 Suburban. So many fond memories. Mom would take my brother and I, and would pick up all the neighbors kids and go to the water park on the weekends. Unfortunately, dad totalled it in 2013 and hit a concrete barrier going 65. Truck was so stubborn that it drove up onto the tow truck. When my wife is ready for kids, I wish I could convince her to drive one of these lol. Good times.
You know what I find funny and sad at the same time....When I was a kid almost every family in my neighborhood had one.....and I lived in typical blue collar Californian neighborhood....Fast forward to 2023 and now only rich folks drive Suburbans....
@@MrPland1992 In what fucking world are they 500$ in nice condition? One with a bad trans or rotten body maybe. But you're looking at 1500-2k for one that is streetable.
My Aunt and Uncle had a bright red 90’s Suburban. That car is damn near 30 years old and has survived countless Minnesota winters. It’s a rust bucket now, but she’s still running strong. Now I have a 2016 Suburban and hope I get as many miles and memories with my family out of it.
Still looks fresh and pleasant to the eye to this day, a really great design. I always remember these in every '90s action thriller movie used heavily by law enforcement and even the bad guys.
I am surprised Doug doesn’t bring up another advantage of having the rear glass lift independently from the rest of the tailgate: you don’t have to unhitch whatever you are towing to get something in or out of the rear. A full lift gate usually won’t clear the front of a trailer; especially boat trailers that have a post with a winch or a resting wheel.
We had an 80 suburban and we loved it. We were a family of nine and it hauled all of us comfortably anywhere. It was white with the blue vinyl interior. My dad bought it used in 1991 with lots of miles but it ran great and never let us down.
My first car was my family’s 1998 Silverado. It was in the same exterior color, same interior color, same engine, same everything (except mine had the passenger airbag so the passenger dash looked different). I miss that truck so bad but even more now that i watch this video!
Absolutely! I once drove over 1000 miles (14 hours) only stopping for gas and lunch on my way back from the Grand Canyon… just the right amount of padding and kiddos slept fine in all the back seats. All of our current luxury leather seats seem too hard and stiff in comparison.
I disagree, the front seats from that generation were the absolute worst. They felt small and seemed too push you out constantly, the armrests were short and positioned too low. The previous gen and next gen were superior.
@@jimbobjimbob8275 I had a Silverado from the following gen and those seats were superb, I'm 6ft and they were wide and tall and super comfy. I especially liked the integrated seatbelts.
The official transport vehicle for Hockey families. Leather interior kept the smell down a little bit but those fabric interiors soaked it up. Also mix a little wet dog in that bouquet
@@dereckdeutz get the TV/VCR combo going plugged into one of the many cigarette lighter outlets and you were living the high life on road trips, watching robocop or speed zone or space balls or ace Ventura. We also used to fold down the second row and sit in the 3rd row for extra leg room on long trips. Thanks for the memories!
And you know if you've really tried and looked in some of these specials you could have got yourself a value meal with a Powerade free of charge just search
Great review Doug. I also remembered when these "roamed the earth" in multitude. I finally found one about 15 years ago - a 2000 with barn doors, black, with grey interior. My young nephew thought I worked for the CIA as these were always shown as a government vehicle. It was a riot owning one, transported our three greyhounds and crates without even touching the roof rack. Like you said - "they don't make them like this anymore". Finally - yes I kick myself for selling it as it was gorgeous when I sold it, and replacing it would definitely be a challenge.
I was the smallest of all my friends so I spent lots of time in the third row of a suburban. Those ashtray doors were fantastic to fiddle with on long drives. I’m so thankful those were added lol.
I spent 5 years looking for a '98 or '99 Suburban, and I was determined to get one with four wheel drive and the incredibly rare tailgate. The barn doors were by far more popular. And I spent $9k on one when I finally found one like I wanted. I wound up settling for a 2500 with the 454, even though I wanted the 350 or the diesel. Overall, it was completely worth getting it, even at that absurdly high price, because it's able to tow anything I hook behind it, and once I get a couple of known issues repaired, it'll be ultra reliable and capable. Not efficient by any means, but there will be very few places I can't go. In my opinion, this generation (GMT400) are the best SUVs or trucks ever made.
The 7.3 ford excursion is my favorite suv ever. My parents had an excursion and a suburban and we would switch which one we used and I miss them both. Greatest suvs ever made
@@Nik-lk7mm 7.3 Excursions are pretty badass. Little bigger than my Burb. But I still like my Burb best of all. And that's what's so great about the automotive hobby! There's a vehicle for everyone! 😄
The GMT400 has a some faults, but they are easy to correct. A few areas prone to rust and the IFS to start, But even then, easy to fix. Sure they weren’t power house and the off road performance was terrible, but a normal daily driver and work vehicle that’d go well over 250k miles. It’s unbelievable how many are still running around in the west.
These are the kind of videos I enjoy seeing the most, cars and other types of vehicles from the past. Love seeing these 2000s, 90s, 80s and even 70s vehicle videos. All the hype for these futurist vehicles always bores me. I like these type of vehicles better!
You got it absolutely right in saying "nice" hadn't been invented yet. When I was young, this was actually a pretty decent interior. I still like these because parts were a dime a dozen (still are!)
My 90s Japanese cars were way nicer than this for interior design and not luxury cars. GM just sucked. I'm not trying to be mean, they just really lagged
@@chunkychuck On American cars "nice" didn't really existed in the 90's, Japanese and European cars have "nicer" interiors in the 90's. Your car may had nicer interiors, but most people who brought these Suburban didn't care at all about the interior. 1990's standards were different than nowadays.
My aunt and uncle had this exact same green suburban in the 90s and was a big part of my childhood growing up whenever I would hang out with my cousins lol
“Cars were just slower back then” Nobody appreciates this. During the past 10-15 years every average car has started putting out 200+ hp and being turbocharged. It’s actually a feat to try and keep up with traffic acceleration in my 90s 4 banger.
I agree haha, I have a 2008 Lexus and a 2009 Lexus, they're very quick for what they are. Our spare car is a 1999 Camry 4 speed with a 2.2 4 cylinder. Compared to most cars on the road, it is SLOW. You have to power the crap out of it to keep up. At least it stays at speed once you're there 🤣
@@divineoracle4809 Our first family car was 2004 2 liter Jetta bought in 2011. Tiny deutch beast. It always had some problem with oil in the motor, though you could easily pass-over brand new Passats. After selling it, father and mother wanted someething luxurious, so they decided on 2004 RX 330. American made (Detroit or Kentucky), metallic-silver color, LED-headlights, leather seats, good ol 3,3 liters V6. Had to get used to metering system, but I loved that car. New models stuffed with too much electronics. Lack of feel of the road and of steering.
I learned how to drive in a 1997 Suburban. I can still remember the plush seats, incredibly sloppy steering, and floaty ride to this day. It drove in such a distinctive way.
@@yungboicontigo9278 I truly believe this body style and era of GM full-sized trucks is the best, *still* to this day. No bullchit. I had a ‘99 Z-71 in high school, but it was stolen. I still have dreams of finding it to this day. She was a beauty with that smoke-grey factory paint.
I prefer the previous generation myself, but then, I was born in the early '70s, so that was just What New-ish Pickup Trucks Looked Like from when I was born until I was in high school.
@@yungboicontigo9278 A bit hilariously, GM's internal name for the 1973-1988/91 style was "Rounded Line" (which, to be fair, it kind of is compared to the generation before it).
@@yungboicontigo9278 Correct. Generation in this review, even though more square, is called the OBS (Original Body Style). Generation after (2000+) is called the NBS (New Body Style). Naming convention really makes no sense, as these are the most square. I have same as this, color, but with 4wd and barn doors in the rear. Found a 99 4wd 7.4 (454) for my son to buy-- that's the one to get for better engine, transmission, and stronger axles-- they're pretty hard to find, especially in good condition. His has the leather, heated seats, too.
My dad bought one of these in '05, indigo blue metallic with tan leather seats. He wanted something to tow with and a Suburban just so happened to be the best deal on the lot. We towed a camper with it once or twice every summer and got a whopping 7mpg while towing, but it had a hefty 42 gal tank. There's only four of us so roadtrips were comfortable and everyone had their own space. Ours had barn doors but the hinge on the right side door (of course the main one to open) broke so he had to keep a block of wood in the trunk to prop it open. We would keep a stash of restaurant crayons in that "secret" drawer in the center console. I learned how to drive in this thing! He had to get rid of it a few years ago because every summer the a.c. had to be fixed (something about tubes leaking in the roof?) and he couldn't deal with it anymore. I always say if I hit the jackpot I'd love to restore one of these to brand new.
Man if I was in the US and had the money, I’d definitely bid on this. Going long road trips and camping with friends in something like this is a dream of mine
@@yusufffff Wouldn't have it any other way, the 7.4 is great. It gets about 13-14mpg on the highway, not towing anything, and about 8mpg towing a 20ft car hauler and ~4000lb car. It pulls very, very well for being a gasoline powered 22 year old SUV. Brakes are it's weak point, that can always be fixed.
This is giving me such nostalgia for my first car - '95 Chevy Astro. Sane exact interior. Looking back on that car, it had so many well thought out features that were beyond cool for the day.
The Astro is an unsung hero of utility vehicles. I know they're technically a van, but they're body on frame and some had AWD! I still see them all over the place! :3
I used to dislike that interior, but i like it now. I want to find a truck in that body style. Just hard to find up north, gotta go to florida or something.
I too am really nostalgic for this era of American family cars. I had a diecast of one of these with opening doors. I think mine was made to look like a fire chief vehicle, but they were also produced as NASCAR diecasts with the paint schemes of the GM drivers. Pontiac drivers had GMC Suburbans instead of the typical Chevrolet-branded ones.
My family has owned 5 Suburbans in my lifetime, 3 of which were mine. A '99, which we traded in for the next: an '04 we bought new and just sold last year. A '69 that I bought and restored, a '92 I bought as a project, and my '99 I use as a daily driver.
Which do you like better: the styling of the original 1985-1994 Astro and Safari, or the styling used on the later ones from 1995 to 2005? Fun fact… the 1993 and 1994 Astro/Safari models had a driver's side airbag (I seem to THINK it was a standard feature, but maybe it was optional) which also used the name SIR (supplemental inflatable restraint) just like the Suburban in this video. I always thought the 1985-1994 Astro was UGLY especially because of the unusual WHITE Chevy logo on the front… the Safari looked a lot nicer with the stylish RED logo for GMC on the front
@Burger King oh definitely. Chevy has gone terribly downhill since about 2009. Even worse in the late 2010’s. Yeah, I mean that interior is absolutely pristine. It was probably owned by people who shampooed the interior every 2 years, & vacuumed it once a week
I have never seen Doug "The Giant" DeMuro have so much head space above him in a car ever. This is an absolute testament to how spacious the suburban really is. Unbelievable!
You see how easy it was for him to just get in the back seat? Like it was nothing. More fun watching him try to squeeze into the pathetic excuses for back seats most sports cars have. lol
My dad had at least 4 suburbans during my childhood. The first one was an 80's squarebody diesel and the last one was a late 90's version with an all maroon interior and rear captrain's chairs. He was salesman who traveled a ton and I remember that folding writing pad being his absolute favorite feature. Thank's for the trip down memory lane doug :D
Same with my dad.. He replaced his 95 with a 2003 Yukon XL and made a piece of wood to fill the console pocket so he could use it as a notepad too. I own that 2003 Yukon now and put a turbo on it lol
The GMT400 trucks in general have aged really well in terms of styling, especially for 90s vehicles. They were very tasteful and restrained, but not boring to look at, either.
Is it weird that I almost teared up at this? So, so many memories in the back of Suburbans exactly like this. My old 98 Silverado I had in college had this exact configuration as well. I enjoy reviews like this even more than modern supercars.
I still have my 99 suburban. This truck is so utilitarian. I’ve lugged kids, sofas, tables, all the way to a full sized fridge. Even though I’ve bought the newer version, this is my baby. “Swervin In my Burban”
Remember that wall of random head units in the dealerships? Like tape players CD players six cd changers and the fold down screens! I used to drive people nuts with that thing as a kid hahahaha
My aunt had the exact same year and color as this one. I always remembered the electric whine of the fuel pump when we stood outside in line waiting for our turn to climb aboard for whatever road trip the cousins and I were off to. Classic family bus
So THAT'S what that sound was! As a kid, I always thought they just had a noisy A/C compressor. Everyday after school, I knew a suburban was pulling in because I could hear it hissing! X3
My dad had a 97 when I was a kid. It was our third suburban, after an 89 and an 88. We’ve had big GM suvs all my life, and we all currently drive GMT800 Tahoe’s or Yukons. Love these things
@@jaysonvargas1126 I’ve noticed that greens are becoming available again, however, the dealer order rate on greens remains very low. I’d wager in the 90s green was probably 4-5 out of every 10 trucks/suvs ordered. Today it’s probably less than 1 out of 10.
My sister has a Surburban that is much newer (yeah, she paid out the nose for it). She did need to have the transmission rebuilt but otherwise it has served her well. She also has a mid 2000's Chevy 4X4 pickup with about 350K on it, it still drives just fine although she puts it through Hell so the body is a bit beat up. She crashed her late 90's Yukon but at that time she was still driving it at over 300K with only minor problems other than the rear driver side brakes failing (causing the accident on ice where she had brakes on three wheels, she rolled the damn thing and boy, I am glad no one was in the back seat at that time).
@@gm3353The idea of "sport" in a sport utility vehicle is that you use the vehicle to go sporting-e.g., fishing, hunting, or what have you-since it has the capacity, durability, and off-road capability to get you where you need to go and back for such activities.
Man this was pure nostalgia for me, we got one of these in the early 2000s and this video just took me back to the road trips and soccer games and band trips. I remember we had the white and brown one with leather seats and I thought we were so fancy. I loved all the little features you pointed out and would mess with them often as a kid. Thanks for the memory trip Doug !
I don’t care what anyone says. The GMT400 platform was one of the greatest trucks ever made. I had an 88 1/2 ton 4x4 regular cab short box that went over 250k miles before I sold it to a farmer down the road who still uses as hay hauler and plow vehicle. My 1990 3/4 extended cab 4x4 is still running strong as is my neighbors 1994. My aunt drove her 1997 Tahoe, all over the west, she works for a National parts distributor as a representative. It pushed well over 350k miles. I mean the GMT400 wasn’t as great off road as the square bodies. The IFS has weak points and the doors are way to heavy for the hinges. The quarter panels rusted out easily, but the weak points are easy to fix. The interiors are cheap, what wasn’t of that era for the common man? As of today they can be had inexpensively and modded on the cheap into anything from hot rods to full blown off roaders.
Would you say the GMT 800 was an improvement or a step down? I much prefer that platform because they had some of the best engines, attractive styles, and forward thinking features come from that generation.
"Keep your lap and legs cool"
Cmon Doug, thats the ball cooler.
I miss the crotch vent
that and the vents on the headliner are my fav climate vents lol
@@jamskatelake we all do..
Not if you ain't got balls.
@@catherinewilson3880 might get chapped lips
Can we take a moment to appreciate how clean this subruban is
It’s mint.
A 96 with only 88k miles. Unheard of
Is this the new thing now? 'CAN WE ALL JUST TAKE A MOMENT AND.... " getting old dude getting old
@@malicious_reeno do people in america make the miles back like in Europe? here you find cars with 200k miles on paper and they have like 400k
@@lorebringers pretty sure that's illegal
The old SUV videos are always entertaining
I didn't know that they had the vertical inside door handles already in 1996. The trucks had the square horizontal ones.
@@Toro_Da_Corsa 95 was the last year for horizontal interior handles, same for the Astro/Safari minivans
@@MrTaxiRob 94. Interior refresh was 95 and up.
As a kid who rode in one of these in the 90's, it's wild to see the back seat area so clean. No sticky cupholders, no spill stains, no loose wrappers jammed in the ashtrays. It just doesn't look right.
Came here to say this, pretty much verbatim 😆
Did you smoke in the back seat? 😂🤪
@@BillysWild As a kid who rode in the back of one of these, I was too young to understand what they were. I used them to just stuff gum wrappers in.
The rear door ashtrays are also great for holding coins for toll roads (back when they weren't all electronic payment of some sort). I used to do that in ours, cause the toll roads would save us an hour or more, getting out of Houston, Texas area.
@@HotWheelsBurbanolder suburbans are becoming so rare I never see them on the road anymore
I mainly see them super wrecked
My father bought a 1996 Chevy Suburban (With a Turbo Diesel) the day i was born. That truck would pull state official utility vehicles out of snow and ice... drove me to every baseball practice and game i had from age 6-16. i know every little detail of this truck and damn do i miss it and my father. Thank you for reviewing this one Doug.
Been on those heavy duty trim
You mean the 6.5L Turbo Diesel V8?
Your dad had the holy grail of suburbans with that diesel….a boat load of torque with amazing mpg’s(20+mpg)
My dad had a diesel too, I believe it was a 98 or 99. When the new body came out they never made it in the diesel. That thing was loud but the fuel economy was great!
11hr road trips to Grandma's in this as a kid always felt like traveling across the Atlantic in a great wooden ship of old, trapped with your siblings until you reach dry land. Dad was the ship's captain, and him threatening to pull over on I-95 was like getting threatened to walk the plank
OMG you nailed it , I feel the same way those are some of my favorite memories as a kid!
Regular Car Reviews type beat
So basically you drove from New York to Florida to visit your grandmother?
Try doing that in a 1957 Kerman Gaia. Five of us from New York to central Texas.
Karmann Ghia. Bloody spellcheck.
90's GM suv's had incredibly comfortable seats. Those vehicles literally felt like couches on wheels.
Very true
Not just the SUVs. Higher end sedans like the Buick park avenue or Chevy caprice were like that too.
Yeeeeessss
God I wish car manufacturers would go back to making comfortable seats again. Old Buicks were more comfortable than most peoples house furniture.
Ive got a 99 like this and I still get people saying how comfortable the seats are. They've also got decent tech at the end with garage/gate openers, seat heaters, dual zone AC, sunroof
This will always be to me: The Tony Soprano Suburban. A friend of mine had a lt blue one for awhile, super useful. And a dark blue one near me sold very quickly a few yrs ago, but I looove this green color.
Same to me! Was hoping he mentioned the sopranos.
I laughed so hard when Doug pointed out the ashtrays for children in the back.
Love your rings! Great craftsmanship and production. One day I hope to own one.
I remember as a kid we would put chewed gum and candy wrappers in there
Because you used to use ashtray for this purpose being a kid?
My grandma's Cadillacs had ashtrays with lighters in rear door pulls.
My mothers Chevy cavalier had ashtrays in the back as well , and I used it as a trash bin for my candy wrappers
That vent under the steering wheel is called a “ball chiller”.
Lmao!!
More like the "crotch cooler"
Those needa make a come back
Ball
Cooler
Yeah, why the hell do these not still exist!?
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who thinks the GMT400's simplicity looks stylish. Not a 90s kid but growing up in the 2000s, I remember seeing these Suburbans all the time. This whole video was such a nice surprise, much like the Oldsmobile Silhouette.
Born late 90s but my dad would get a gmt800 truck or suv quite frequently. I loved both of these generations
@@svpracer98 Ooh, I heard the gmt800 is one of the most durable. Do you know if that's true?
@@WorldCityStudios well in the rust belt of Michigan there's still plenty of them out on the road
I had two GMT400s. Both 350s. Once the electronics get age on them, like, >15 years, they really dont run well.
Facts I was born in 2000 and remembered seeing hundreds of these driving everyday when I was growing up
Love my 98 Barn door Suburban. Bench seats front and back. Covered work truck, Family hauler, comfortable highway eater. Had it 8 years now and has cost me next to nothing in maintenance. The 350 is a little thirsty when you mash the pedal. But it's not bad as long as you get it up to speed then hold it there.
I love how doug is just as hyped for this 96 suburban as he is for an 8 million dollar hyper car
He is quite an oddity
Because old cars like the '96 Suburban are starting to get cooler. You won't see another one in this condition.
Denton.
You're wrong.
He's more hyped for this one.
Ad big rims and its better than a hyper car 😅
I remember growing up and moving up the 3 row car hierarchy of moving from the 3rd row to the 2nd row and ultimately the front seat. You know you made it when you were in the front seat
Such a true comment
Yes this ^
I’d rather be in the 3rd row tbh. Roomy and cozy af.
I was the younger brother, my older brother got the middle row and I got the rear. This is absolutely true. I used to be able to lay flat in the 3rd row like a full size bed on long road trips to the beach. By the time I moved up to the middle row, my brother had already picked off the rubber covers from the ceiling handles. Good times.
I am not a Chevrolet fan but one thing I have to give them credit for: their interiors are always form-follows-function and user-friendly. No fluff; just straightforward stuff that works.
plus comfort
Interior of this one is pretty awful by modern standards
@@herrfister1477 it literally feels nicer to sit in then anything out today besides rolls Royces and shit like that
@@austinbatton4849 cap
@@IMDGEN Having a chevy pickup with this interior I gotta be honest, it's more comfortable than my moms 2019 nissan, and rivals my dads leather seats in his truck, the cloth is pretty comfortable and you don't have to worry about it being very hot or very cold due to climate concerns, it'll always be comfy.
Thank you for a great review. I had a 1996 just like this, LS, with the 5.7. He forgot to mention that this car had a 42 gallon gas tank and had courtesy lights under the dash. The power from the 5.7 was fine. I also agree with him on the looks. Definitely the best looking Suburban of all time. Although, I preferred and had the barn doors. I hated to give mine up.
I remember that my sister's Yukon sucked gas, too. That and her current Suburban suck up $150 at the gas station every time she fills it up! She has four kids so she needs that large of a vehicle. She also has an extended cab pickup for all of the uses that is more appropriate for.
I was also going to bring up the 42 gallon tank. Much larger than current gen. I drove a ‘96, black with barn doors, and even had it up until maybe 2007. The pain at the pump by the end was very acute with that huge tank. Removing the third row was tough even with barn doors, would have been awful with the tailgate to remove.
@@detroitdieselpowerI actually got 16 mpg on the highway driving the 1996. I drove all the way from Duck, NC to Concord, MA on a tank of gas - over $600 miles Car was full of 4 kids and vacation gear for a week on the outer banks. One of my best vacations. Even took the car on the 4 wheel drive area.
You fail to realize that parents LOVED ash trays in the back NOT for smoking, but because they also acted as mini trash cans for the kids for their candy wrappers etc.
that is true. i could remember several times finding gum wrappers & other little pieces of trash inside those ash trays.
Me and my brother did that in my dads 90s Grand Cherokee
Chewed gum! Always there was at least one wad of chewed gum in those things.
Gum, spat out candies. They were gross af.
@@yungboicontigo9278 and your point? He keeps sayin in every video “so the kids can smoke” and missing it’s other purpose for families.
The introduction is pure Gold…..The sheer enthusiasm of the initial “THIS…is a 1996….” Is really unparalleled! Doug’s love of vehicles and creating reviews is awesome !
Cringe
@@nicks2829 cringe is right…
lmfao people calling doug's enthusiasm cringe end up being cringier themselves purely cause they feel like showing any emotion higher than neutral and bland is fake and gay or something lmaoo
ya'll should grow up and eat a burger, get some more dopamine
Cop: "Let me see your hands"
Doug: " Before you get started be sure to check out CARS AND BIDS "
Yeah. That's definitely going to be problem for Doug!
First.....let me show you the quirks and features involved with rolling the window down.
"My hands are quicker than the eye"
We had a red one that took the family to both coasts multiple times.
As a young kid I remember every Mexican dad/Mexican family owning one of these. I remember thinking these were the most beautiful vehicles ever made.
I remember these old Suburbans HVAC system held like five pounds of refrigerant. It was insane. Their AC could cool an entire damn house.
My dad just spent 2k on his 99 to rebuild the AC
@@christophercarillo6342 rebuilding the rear AC is a BITCH
I've been watching The Sopranos for the first time lately and I drool everytime I see Tony's burgundy Surburban.
me too
Woke up this morning, got myself a 1990’s Chevy Suburban.
Greatest show of all time
Oh man me too
@@joeharley1423 Thanks to Cars and Bids now you can!
I still see at least 50 of these on the road everyday. The GMT400 platform is one of the most reliable and dependable platforms on the planet.
They are also cheap and easy to fix and parts are still everywhere for them.
Not in my part of world, where parts should be ordered overseas and rust eats them up in no time. It also requires non-metric tools and some platform knowledge to service properly, so they are rarely properly maintained. It's almost impossible to find one in such state as in this video, no matter how much you are ready to spend. Still love 2500 burb that we managed to find with friends, it's still amazing how versatile and cool this car is.
Same, I see a ton everyday, but 99% have dents, crappy paint, or falling apart. But yes they keep chugging along, very reliable. It is cool when you see a very clean example.
@@ErrorTH The Tahoe version of this generation is still reasonable common here in Norway. I don't think there are many Suburbans around though but then again I don't think it ever was particularly popular here.
@@ErrorTH I have one from 1994 and it is all metric.
3 years ago I bought a 1999 Suburban K2500 with the 454 Big Block, Mint condition save for some paint chips. 150k Miles now, put away for winter time (im in New England) wanted one since I was a kid, and now it will never leave me. Best Suburban Chevy ever made IMO.
So we’re 12 brothers in my house. As a kid my father used to have one GMC Suburban (1999). It was a beast. We love it and was so spacious. As we grow up and the older ones move out, he change it to a smaller Envoy. Was nice, but didn’t felt as powerful as the Suburban. GMC and Chevrolet were going back and forward switching the Suburban for the Yukon between them.
12:00 *Fun fact* - We thought that little compartment was for fast food fries, so we used to fight between who get the fries compartment when eating in the vehicle 😂. Good to know it now that it was a tissue compartment.
My parents had an Envoy brand new, we just sold it 20 years, and 248k miles of problem-free service. I still see it being driven around all the time.
12? are you Mormon or Jewish?
@@davidjames666 worse, he's Mexican
@@davidjames666 Are you offended that some people have 12 kids?
@@automation7295 who said I am offended? It has been unusual for decades to have so many kids with the exception of a few devout religious groups. You sound like a Hillary / Biden supporter with your accusation.
Reason to likes 90's vehicles: They had gooch cooler 9000's in them.
They need to bring them back it seems so simple to implement and there aren't any negatives since you can close the vent if you get too warm or cold.
@@nickmurphy4209 they were discontinued because women were getting Chapped Lips
@@yungboicontigo9278 benis yuuy
@@yungboicontigo9278 it’s ok because of your name 😌
We called them crotch coolers and most all cars had them at the time. People like Doug are the only one's who never figured out what they were for.
Doug: "This is a multimillion dollar supercar!"
Me: Meh.
Doug: "This is a 1996 Chevy Suburban."
Me: *R E A L S H I T .*
I love these old merican cars
100% agree
That's how it is
@@Movableobject you would love my truck from the 90s gm with z71 that's nostalgic
Doug: this is crappy old soviet junk
Me: Б Л Я Т Ь !!!
I knew three families with GMT400s, two GMCs and one Chevy. They were cool trucks. Two had the barn doors and one had the split tailgate, and two were 4WD and one was 2WD. They were all kinda beat on from being family vehicles, which is why I'm shocked to see this one is in such good condition in and out. I mean this is fricken mint. My family had two GMT800s and a GMT900 over the course of about 16 years. They were great trucks too. I was kind of sad when the 900 was traded in a few years ago, but the 800s were probably the best combination of power, utility, comfort, reliability, and timeless style. The 400s and the 800s have definitely aged well over time. Lots of nostalgia watching this review.
Oh yes a relic from the golden age. Big metal, a thing of beauty. I will definitely be watching this auction
😆
No kid or family wished they had a Caravan, have to disagree Doug and I rarely do.
My inner Steven Segal was screaming once I saw he had uploaded this.
@@richgallagher725 We had both a Suburban and a Grand Caravan and loved them both. You obviously have not experienced GC from the 90's.
@@normanmilquetoast1 We had a Plymouth Voyager, then my parents traded it for a Grand Caravan. Wouldn’t get a dodge now a days tho.
I love how at 03:00 you can tell how wobbly the suspension is because you can clearly see the car moving along with Doug's gesticulation.
Olha quem está aqui! obrigado por seus vídeos, estou assistindo com o shp300, bem interessante pelo preço
@Mert M It probably needs new struts/shocks. Not a big deal at all.
That's why they ride like lincolns at 90 on the freeway. My 99 is on 33s and it floats down the road. Not exactly fun to put 300 a month in it though
It’s old
@@billyray4716 buying a used one you find tons of deferred maintenance. I think that's why American brands have low resale value: people who "buy American" aren't as fastidious about upkeep. I've already spent close to $2k on rebuilding my front end, and there's another $500 to go due to incompetent mechanics.
Doug's parents: "Hey lil' Dougie.. say 'mum and dad'!"
Dougie: "Carz and Biiidz"
"New" Enthusiast auction website
Dougie: B..b..b..
Doug's parents: Aww, he's saying his first word!
Dougie: B..b..before I fill my diaper, be sure to check out Cars and Bids!
no no no , Doug: quirks and features
hahahahhahaha
Doug is a type of a guy who gave his parents a Doug score straight after the birth
So much nostalgia! Our family had a 93 suburban exactly like this one same color and all except ours had the spit swing out doors on the back. from 2008ish to 2011. It was our family truckster. I miss those days of my youth a lot.
Amazed that Doug didn't mention that these were available as either 1/2 or 3/4 ton and RWD or 4WD. I have one, a 3/4 ton 4WD version with the 7.4L (454CID). Absolutely a great vehicle.
Power House
I still have GMC 96 the same you are having 7.4L(454CID) still in very good condition cpmleted 400000 KM i like it too match. I have cadillac escalad 2016 i still love 96 more than escalad 2016. i am from suadi arabia.
My 98 is the 5.7 vortec 3/4 ton 4x4
you have a BEAST🚛
Prior he made no mention that the 70s Cadillac Eldorado was FWD. He was more fascinated with how the (not yet electric) remote sideview mirrors worked. Doug's love of buttons is amusing though.
I love that despite being able to review any luxury car in the world, Doug still reviews everyday cars and industry icons.
This took me back to a simpler time of soccer practices and family camping trips. Thank you, Doug I needed that nostalgia blast
🥰
I'm nostalgic for a different car, but I don't think Doug will ever review it lol, I mean why would he ever want to review a Lada Samara?
The directional map lights were awesome back in the day. Prior to everyone having a backlit cellphone in their pockets, we had to do things like read (with a physical book, I know), and even when there were screens, they weren't always backlit. (I'm looking at you gameboy color)
I love how simple the suburban is compared to modern standards. I really like when Doug takes a walk back into the 90's to review cars from an era when cars were much more desirable 💪
Doug didn't touch on it, but a big part of the reason _why_ fancier interiors weren't available in those days was because the prevailing belief (both among manufacturers and a lot of the buying public) was that if you put a luxury interior in a vehicle mainly used to haul children, the kids would just ruin it.
@@ZGryphon they were probably right, considering the quality of materials back then. Really good leather and plastics have gotten cheaper and viable only recently.
“desirable”. because you didn’t know what you could have.
@@justabrokeredneck Sure people did, but they didn't want to pay for it, and most folks weren't leasing vehicles that were in reality far beyond their actual reach
Love to see old cars with paint in great condition
Am I the only one who gets super excited when Doug reviews vintage or quirky cars? I could care less about high end hypercars but once he has a vintage on, I am tuned in.
Same! Those hypercars are pretty much all the same to me and lack all character. Cars from the 80ies and 90ies just breathe practicality and usefulness
Absolutely, because we can relate. We grew up with these and many of us rode in them. Supercars are unattainable for most of us.
Absolutely.
This entire enthusiastic review, the Nineties style of the car, the materials, CD player, ashtray make me remember those lovely years and I'm not even American.
I would pay a premium to have an interior like that. I don't need gimmicks, I don't need screens. I'm there to drive, not be entertained. Simple, intuitive, ergonomical, reliable, that's what you need when you're driving especially something that big.
Preach brother !!
Ngl they already are going for big dollar, in the past year they went from 2500 for a decent rust free example, they trickled all the way up to 15+. Glad i bought mine when they were cheap
So go get this one on Cars and Bids!
@@Screamn. Already did my dude. Nissan Frontiers still have the old-truck feel. On my second one now.
You're right. Screens are getting over used in new cars
“Woke up this morning, got yourself a gun”
Tony Soprano’s wheels 👌
But poor guy never had the makings of a varsity athlete 😕
I see this and the theme tune from The Sopranos starts playing in my head.
This thing was always a beast!
I remember these had a great sounding stock exhaust, and always had a weird humming/buzzing coming from under the chassis. The sound of the doors closing was also very satisfying.
I love how Doug is often more excited for an average old suv than some exotic supercar
And I love how disenchanted he is about what he calls "cheap plastic" in some of the newer luxury cars despite these materials still being (in my opinion), pleasing to the eye.
I dont know about others but I enjoy them more than supercars. There is something special about boxy, weird, quirky old cars.
Everybody: “Ah man the nostalgia is hitting that’s so old.”
Me who’s still riding around in one: 👀
I think its weird to have it on a channel all about weird "quirks and features" 90s chevy is in my mind baseline normal. Everything else is actually degrees of weird compared to this thing.
@@DrewLSsix
This. Totally this. My '99 Suburban is my baseline to compare every other vehicle in existence to.
Me: thinking about how much do you pay for gasoline
@@pablorello $4 a gallon I get about 11 mpg in my 2002 GMC Yukon Denali with the 6.0 and AWD. Costed me about $40 a day on gas
I own 4 vehicles and find myself driving my '88 most of the time because I like to. 1996? That's not old Doug.
We had a 98 LT 4X4 with the “ambulance doors” which I absolutely adored! One thing Doug failed to mention was the 44-gallon fuel tank which meant 650 miles on a road trip without a refill!
650 miles, geez.
650? I don't think I ever got my Tahoe (with the same size tank) more than 450 on a tank. I guess I drove faster....
Amusingly, I get about the same range on my current car with a 12 gallon tank.
@@jonc4403 prius?
@@Vampire_born_in_2006 Probably more like any modern 4 banger. My 2015 Dart SE gets almost about 500 on a 13.5 gallon tank.
@Tommy Gunn Oh thank you! Some people...
Learned how to drive in a 96 barn door! Was the best except for gas mileage. We put almost half a million miles on the original engine before it gave up on us after 20 years of use. From hauling marble for work to myself and my family around for soccer games or travel around Texas, this was definitely everything you needed in a vehicle.
this review makes me so nostalgic. I'll never forget when my dad came home with one of these and me and my brothers climbed though it counting cup holders because we never had any, I found the pop out ones and absolutely lost my mind.
I practically spent my entire childhood in a 98 Suburban. So many fond memories. Mom would take my brother and I, and would pick up all the neighbors kids and go to the water park on the weekends. Unfortunately, dad totalled it in 2013 and hit a concrete barrier going 65. Truck was so stubborn that it drove up onto the tow truck. When my wife is ready for kids, I wish I could convince her to drive one of these lol. Good times.
You know what I find funny and sad at the same time....When I was a kid almost every family in my neighborhood had one.....and I lived in typical blue collar Californian neighborhood....Fast forward to 2023 and now only rich folks drive Suburbans....
This was honestly one of my dream trucks for a long time. Even if i could get a "fixer-upper" suburban i would
Why not buy one? They’re like $500 in nice condition.
@@MrPland1992 In what fucking world are they 500$ in nice condition? One with a bad trans or rotten body maybe. But you're looking at 1500-2k for one that is streetable.
@@V0rt unfortunately, a previous gen throttle body /700r is much more reliable than the vortec/4l60e.
@@V0rt Aint that the goddamn truth
I gotta be honest. I don't understand why you'd want one, lol.
My Aunt and Uncle had a bright red 90’s Suburban. That car is damn near 30 years old and has survived countless Minnesota winters. It’s a rust bucket now, but she’s still running strong. Now I have a 2016 Suburban and hope I get as many miles and memories with my family out of it.
Still looks fresh and pleasant to the eye to this day, a really great design. I always remember these in every '90s action thriller movie used heavily by law enforcement and even the bad guys.
The new ones don’t look tough enough for that. But yeah the late 90s ones looked badass at the time.
I am surprised Doug doesn’t bring up another advantage of having the rear glass lift independently from the rest of the tailgate: you don’t have to unhitch whatever you are towing to get something in or out of the rear. A full lift gate usually won’t clear the front of a trailer; especially boat trailers that have a post with a winch or a resting wheel.
We had an 80 suburban and we loved it. We were a family of nine and it hauled all of us comfortably anywhere. It was white with the blue vinyl interior. My dad bought it used in 1991 with lots of miles but it ran great and never let us down.
My first car was my family’s 1998 Silverado. It was in the same exterior color, same interior color, same engine, same everything (except mine had the passenger airbag so the passenger dash looked different). I miss that truck so bad but even more now that i watch this video!
These vehicles had some of the most comfortable seats ever made
Absolutely! I once drove over 1000 miles (14 hours) only stopping for gas and lunch on my way back from the Grand Canyon… just the right amount of padding and kiddos slept fine in all the back seats. All of our current luxury leather seats seem too hard and stiff in comparison.
I disagree, the front seats from that generation were the absolute worst. They felt small and seemed too push you out constantly, the armrests were short and positioned too low. The previous gen and next gen were superior.
@@JP-rc2bz I hated the arm rests!
@@JP-rc2bz the 88 to 94 one's yes, but the seats were new from 95 and up
@@jimbobjimbob8275 I had a Silverado from the following gen and those seats were superb, I'm 6ft and they were wide and tall and super comfy. I especially liked the integrated seatbelts.
“Woke up this morning,got some gabagool,woke up the next morning and…got some more gabagool” Sopranos fans know this
Thank you! I was looking for this comment...
Every family had their own color in town. Each smelt of dried up french fries and powerade. Good times!
The official transport vehicle for Hockey families. Leather interior kept the smell down a little bit but those fabric interiors soaked it up. Also mix a little wet dog in that bouquet
@@neppcity right on the money!
@@dereckdeutz get the TV/VCR combo going plugged into one of the many cigarette lighter outlets and you were living the high life on road trips, watching robocop or speed zone or space balls or ace Ventura. We also used to fold down the second row and sit in the 3rd row for extra leg room on long trips. Thanks for the memories!
And you know if you've really tried and looked in some of these specials you could have got yourself a value meal with a Powerade free of charge just search
You got it! Watched dumb and dumber about 15 times on our drive down to Oklahoma! : )
Great review Doug. I also remembered when these "roamed the earth" in multitude. I finally found one about 15 years ago - a 2000 with barn doors, black, with grey interior. My young nephew thought I worked for the CIA as these were always shown as a government vehicle. It was a riot owning one, transported our three greyhounds and crates without even touching the roof rack. Like you said - "they don't make them like this anymore". Finally - yes I kick myself for selling it as it was gorgeous when I sold it, and replacing it would definitely be a challenge.
I was the smallest of all my friends so I spent lots of time in the third row of a suburban. Those ashtray doors were fantastic to fiddle with on long drives. I’m so thankful those were added lol.
I spent 5 years looking for a '98 or '99 Suburban, and I was determined to get one with four wheel drive and the incredibly rare tailgate. The barn doors were by far more popular. And I spent $9k on one when I finally found one like I wanted. I wound up settling for a 2500 with the 454, even though I wanted the 350 or the diesel. Overall, it was completely worth getting it, even at that absurdly high price, because it's able to tow anything I hook behind it, and once I get a couple of known issues repaired, it'll be ultra reliable and capable. Not efficient by any means, but there will be very few places I can't go. In my opinion, this generation (GMT400) are the best SUVs or trucks ever made.
The 7.3 ford excursion is my favorite suv ever. My parents had an excursion and a suburban and we would switch which one we used and I miss them both. Greatest suvs ever made
@@Nik-lk7mm
7.3 Excursions are pretty badass. Little bigger than my Burb. But I still like my Burb best of all. And that's what's so great about the automotive hobby! There's a vehicle for everyone! 😄
The GMT400 has a some faults, but they are easy to correct. A few areas prone to rust and the IFS to start, But even then, easy to fix.
Sure they weren’t power house and the off road performance was terrible, but a normal daily driver and work vehicle that’d go well over 250k miles. It’s unbelievable how many are still running around in the west.
Landcruiser's are
I accidentally got the exact one you were looking for for 5k and still low miles
These are the kind of videos I enjoy seeing the most, cars and other types of vehicles from the past. Love seeing these 2000s, 90s, 80s and even 70s vehicle videos. All the hype for these futurist vehicles always bores me. I like these type of vehicles better!
Thanks!
That is a straight up time capsule. Well done to the owner.
I've always been a big fan of this style of Suburbans and Tahoes. They just look clean.
I agree. This one and the generation after this were one of the best looking SUVs.
You got it absolutely right in saying "nice" hadn't been invented yet. When I was young, this was actually a pretty decent interior. I still like these because parts were a dime a dozen (still are!)
Doug was absolutely right indeed by saying "nice" hadn't been invented yet, unlike most people who thinks 1990's and 2020's share standards.
My 90s Japanese cars were way nicer than this for interior design and not luxury cars. GM just sucked. I'm not trying to be mean, they just really lagged
@@chunkychuck On American cars "nice" didn't really existed in the 90's, Japanese and European cars have "nicer" interiors in the 90's.
Your car may had nicer interiors, but most people who brought these Suburban didn't care at all about the interior. 1990's standards were different than nowadays.
My aunt and uncle had this exact same green suburban in the 90s and was a big part of my childhood growing up whenever I would hang out with my cousins lol
“Cars were just slower back then”
Nobody appreciates this. During the past 10-15 years every average car has started putting out 200+ hp and being turbocharged. It’s actually a feat to try and keep up with traffic acceleration in my 90s 4 banger.
Lol we basically went from the 96 Chevy Suburban being the average car to the 96 Chevy Impala being the average car
@@bentheg9793 or you could say 96 Camaro z28 being the average car
I keep getting outrun by soccer mom's in their RAV4s and CRVs in my 01 Miata D:
I agree haha, I have a 2008 Lexus and a 2009 Lexus, they're very quick for what they are. Our spare car is a 1999 Camry 4 speed with a 2.2 4 cylinder. Compared to most cars on the road, it is SLOW. You have to power the crap out of it to keep up. At least it stays at speed once you're there 🤣
@@divineoracle4809 Our first family car was 2004 2 liter Jetta bought in 2011. Tiny deutch beast. It always had some problem with oil in the motor, though you could easily pass-over brand new Passats. After selling it, father and mother wanted someething luxurious, so they decided on 2004 RX 330. American made (Detroit or Kentucky), metallic-silver color, LED-headlights, leather seats, good ol 3,3 liters V6. Had to get used to metering system, but I loved that car.
New models stuffed with too much electronics. Lack of feel of the road and of steering.
I learned how to drive in a 1997 Suburban. I can still remember the plush seats, incredibly sloppy steering, and floaty ride to this day. It drove in such a distinctive way.
The best body style of GM ever? I knew you were a real one, Doug. I’d trust you with my life.
@@yungboicontigo9278
I truly believe this body style and era of GM full-sized trucks is the best, *still* to this day. No bullchit.
I had a ‘99 Z-71 in high school, but it was stolen. I still have dreams of finding it to this day. She was a beauty with that smoke-grey factory paint.
@@kennybeans6115 also: 96 Impala. The 90s were a golden age, we just didn't know it at the time.
I prefer the previous generation myself, but then, I was born in the early '70s, so that was just What New-ish Pickup Trucks Looked Like from when I was born until I was in high school.
@@yungboicontigo9278 A bit hilariously, GM's internal name for the 1973-1988/91 style was "Rounded Line" (which, to be fair, it kind of is compared to the generation before it).
@@yungboicontigo9278 Correct. Generation in this review, even though more square, is called the OBS (Original Body Style). Generation after (2000+) is called the NBS (New Body Style). Naming convention really makes no sense, as these are the most square.
I have same as this, color, but with 4wd and barn doors in the rear. Found a 99 4wd 7.4 (454) for my son to buy-- that's the one to get for better engine, transmission, and stronger axles-- they're pretty hard to find, especially in good condition. His has the leather, heated seats, too.
My dad bought one of these in '05, indigo blue metallic with tan leather seats. He wanted something to tow with and a Suburban just so happened to be the best deal on the lot. We towed a camper with it once or twice every summer and got a whopping 7mpg while towing, but it had a hefty 42 gal tank. There's only four of us so roadtrips were comfortable and everyone had their own space. Ours had barn doors but the hinge on the right side door (of course the main one to open) broke so he had to keep a block of wood in the trunk to prop it open. We would keep a stash of restaurant crayons in that "secret" drawer in the center console. I learned how to drive in this thing! He had to get rid of it a few years ago because every summer the a.c. had to be fixed (something about tubes leaking in the roof?) and he couldn't deal with it anymore. I always say if I hit the jackpot I'd love to restore one of these to brand new.
Man if I was in the US and had the money, I’d definitely bid on this. Going long road trips and camping with friends in something like this is a dream of mine
This is one of the reasons I'm jealous of the USA's used car market
@@yusufffff fr. You can find so many nice things from the past there for good price
@@yusufffff I've bought two of these in 2500 / 4x4 / 7.4L in good shape for
@@incar4805 7.4L 😭😭😭😭
@@yusufffff Wouldn't have it any other way, the 7.4 is great. It gets about 13-14mpg on the highway, not towing anything, and about 8mpg towing a 20ft car hauler and ~4000lb car. It pulls very, very well for being a gasoline powered 22 year old SUV. Brakes are it's weak point, that can always be fixed.
I still have a 97’ Tahoe LT that is run down and needs a lot of work, but watching this makes me want to bring it back.
My great aunt is the same year and trim it was a blue or black
This is giving me such nostalgia for my first car - '95 Chevy Astro. Sane exact interior. Looking back on that car, it had so many well thought out features that were beyond cool for the day.
The Astro is an unsung hero of utility vehicles. I know they're technically a van, but they're body on frame and some had AWD! I still see them all over the place! :3
90s GM has so much nostalgia for me.
We had one of these with the ambulance doors instead of the tailgate. Spent MANY hours in the second row as a preteen!
Love the Suburban! I’ve owned a couple of them. Fantastic rigs.
Yep, I love my 2005.
I used to dislike that interior, but i like it now.
I want to find a truck in that body style. Just hard to find up north, gotta go to florida or something.
I’m surprised dug didn’t point out the maintenance light or the extra storage cubby under the hood. Those are some pretty quirky quirks.
IM SAYING
Uh Oh, don't let @God Demuro hear you say that. He'll freak out
That's a shame. Otherwise, this is a great review!
Funny way to spell doug😂
@@adnansaeed6618 you're telling me!
6:27 the ball chiller! It needs to make a comeback.
I too am really nostalgic for this era of American family cars. I had a diecast of one of these with opening doors. I think mine was made to look like a fire chief vehicle, but they were also produced as NASCAR diecasts with the paint schemes of the GM drivers. Pontiac drivers had GMC Suburbans instead of the typical Chevrolet-branded ones.
Doug, the rear seat tissue box wasn’t for loose tissues you had pulled out of the box, it was for those little pocket packs of Kleenex
Just rode in one of these in great condition the other day. Seats are so comfy, and the visibility is incredible!
Hoovie agrees!
If it was good enough for Tony Soprano, then it's good enough for all of us
anytime i see these cars all i think about is the sopranos lol
anyways 4$ a pound
Capiche?
My family has owned 5 Suburbans in my lifetime, 3 of which were mine. A '99, which we traded in for the next: an '04 we bought new and just sold last year. A '69 that I bought and restored, a '92 I bought as a project, and my '99 I use as a daily driver.
I’m loving this nostalgia trip. Please do a 90s Astro or Safari next!
Which do you like better: the styling of the original 1985-1994 Astro and Safari, or the styling used on the later ones from 1995 to 2005? Fun fact… the 1993 and 1994 Astro/Safari models had a driver's side airbag (I seem to THINK it was a standard feature, but maybe it was optional) which also used the name SIR (supplemental inflatable restraint) just like the Suburban in this video. I always thought the 1985-1994 Astro was UGLY especially because of the unusual WHITE Chevy logo on the front… the Safari looked a lot nicer with the stylish RED logo for GMC on the front
Yaaassss 2nd gen Astro!
2:28 Doug: "Its Not Really All That Nice..."
2:28 Me: "Damn! That MF Clean!"
@Burger King oh definitely. Chevy has gone terribly downhill since about 2009. Even worse in the late 2010’s. Yeah, I mean that interior is absolutely pristine. It was probably owned by people who shampooed the interior every 2 years, & vacuumed it once a week
@@yungboicontigo9278 It's crazy that they pretty much carried that interior through the next model as well.
I have never seen Doug "The Giant" DeMuro have so much head space above him in a car ever.
This is an absolute testament to how spacious the suburban really is.
Unbelievable!
You see how easy it was for him to just get in the back seat? Like it was nothing. More fun watching him try to squeeze into the pathetic excuses for back seats most sports cars have. lol
90s suburbans and expeditions are my childhood. Those knobs and switches are so nostalgic they reminds me of hot summer days and Bon Jovi CDs
My dad had at least 4 suburbans during my childhood. The first one was an 80's squarebody diesel and the last one was a late 90's version with an all maroon interior and rear captrain's chairs.
He was salesman who traveled a ton and I remember that folding writing pad being his absolute favorite feature.
Thank's for the trip down memory lane doug :D
Same with my dad.. He replaced his 95 with a 2003 Yukon XL and made a piece of wood to fill the console pocket so he could use it as a notepad too. I own that 2003 Yukon now and put a turbo on it lol
EXCELLENT! The '92-'99 Suburbans still look great. Timeless, understated style. GM should get back to that design philosophy.
The GMT400 trucks in general have aged really well in terms of styling, especially for 90s vehicles. They were very tasteful and restrained, but not boring to look at, either.
Is it weird that I almost teared up at this? So, so many memories in the back of Suburbans exactly like this. My old 98 Silverado I had in college had this exact configuration as well. I enjoy reviews like this even more than modern supercars.
@John Nordstrom no it’s not weird at all, it was bringing back sedimental value of your truck. Way more interesting than a supercar reveiw
I still have my 99 suburban. This truck is so utilitarian. I’ve lugged kids, sofas, tables, all the way to a full sized fridge. Even though I’ve bought the newer version, this is my baby. “Swervin In my Burban”
Anyone remember the outrageous dealer-installed kits you could get for these things? Like VHS players, pop-up roofs and built-in airbeds?
How 'bout the Regency conversions, the Escalade of the mid 90s?
Remember that wall of random head units in the dealerships? Like tape players CD players six cd changers and the fold down screens! I used to drive people nuts with that thing as a kid hahahaha
My aunt had the exact same year and color as this one. I always remembered the electric whine of the fuel pump when we stood outside in line waiting for our turn to climb aboard for whatever road trip the cousins and I were off to. Classic family bus
So THAT'S what that sound was!
As a kid, I always thought they just had a noisy A/C compressor. Everyday after school, I knew a suburban was pulling in because I could hear it hissing! X3
My dad had a 97 when I was a kid. It was our third suburban, after an 89 and an 88. We’ve had big GM suvs all my life, and we all currently drive GMT800 Tahoe’s or Yukons. Love these things
I truly love cars like this from the 90s, simple, cheap but solid plastics, pratical, large, confortable, if I was a car I would be a Chevy Suburban.
This is a beautiful color that needs to make a comeback.
The new pathfinder has a similar green
Yes the good old SUVs dark green
@@jaysonvargas1126 I’ve noticed that greens are becoming available again, however, the dealer order rate on greens remains very low. I’d wager in the 90s green was probably 4-5 out of every 10 trucks/suvs ordered. Today it’s probably less than 1 out of 10.
Yeah! Gave a classy look, its a veryy good looking car imho
Had a 98 Jimmy with that green. Loved it.
Sports utility vehicle. Key word utility. They should still build them like this. I had a Tahoe and it served its purpose.
never understood the moniker SUV. i mean what sport are we doing here?
My sister has a Surburban that is much newer (yeah, she paid out the nose for it). She did need to have the transmission rebuilt but otherwise it has served her well. She also has a mid 2000's Chevy 4X4 pickup with about 350K on it, it still drives just fine although she puts it through Hell so the body is a bit beat up. She crashed her late 90's Yukon but at that time she was still driving it at over 300K with only minor problems other than the rear driver side brakes failing (causing the accident on ice where she had brakes on three wheels, she rolled the damn thing and boy, I am glad no one was in the back seat at that time).
@@gm3353 Yeah, I can see something like a BMW X5 being called «sporty», but a Suburban?
@@gm3353The idea of "sport" in a sport utility vehicle is that you use the vehicle to go sporting-e.g., fishing, hunting, or what have you-since it has the capacity, durability, and off-road capability to get you where you need to go and back for such activities.
Man this was pure nostalgia for me, we got one of these in the early 2000s and this video just took me back to the road trips and soccer games and band trips. I remember we had the white and brown one with leather seats and I thought we were so fancy. I loved all the little features you pointed out and would mess with them often as a kid. Thanks for the memory trip Doug !
I don’t care what anyone says. The GMT400 platform was one of the greatest trucks ever made.
I had an 88 1/2 ton 4x4 regular cab short box that went over 250k miles before I sold it to a farmer down the road who still uses as hay hauler and plow vehicle.
My 1990 3/4 extended cab 4x4 is still running strong as is my neighbors 1994.
My aunt drove her 1997 Tahoe, all over the west, she works for a National parts distributor as a representative. It pushed well over 350k miles.
I mean the GMT400 wasn’t as great off road as the square bodies. The IFS has weak points and the doors are way to heavy for the hinges. The quarter panels rusted out easily, but the weak points are easy to fix. The interiors are cheap, what wasn’t of that era for the common man?
As of today they can be had inexpensively and modded on the cheap into anything from hot rods to full blown off roaders.
Would you say the GMT 800 was an improvement or a step down? I much prefer that platform because they had some of the best engines, attractive styles, and forward thinking features come from that generation.