2003 Tahoe coolant system leak or head gasket leak?

[mattt]

OUCH!

 

[Tonyrodz]

NOPE! In addition...

6.25% Sales tax at time of purchase.
$25 Transfer existing registration (or $50 for new plate)

Then...
$35 Annual Vehicle Inspection
2.5% Annual Excise Tax
$60 every two years registration renewal (regular plates) or $80 annually for vanity plates

Don't forget insurance... That's a couple grand a year, even with an 18 year old Tahoe.

DAMN! I'm staying in Jersey!

 

[tomloans]

You ain't kiddin', man. The cost of new vehicles has gotten completely out of hand - there're lots of things I blame for this - but especially American SUVs and trucks. I drove a '21 Tahoe on vacation last year when my Tahoe left us stranded literally pulling out of town for vacation. It was amazing. I loved it. The comfort, convenience, the quiet smooth ride, I was entranced.

Then I looked at prices and just shook my head and wondered, like you, "How do people do this?"

I mean, I make a good living, although I've got insane school loans and business loans, but holy cripes! I see tons of these newer vehicles out on the streets and every time I think to myself, "That dude's gotta be paying $1200/mo for 8 years!" For ONE vehicle!

Not to mention insurance costs, I dunno. We (Americans) have just accustomed ourselves to living in untold, ungodly massive amounts of debt - it's just accepted as the norm! I'm doing my best to train my son not to follow in our footsteps, but he's 16 and doesn't listen to a GD'd word I say, I swear to God. I'm trying to GIVE him money, in terms of matching savings and IRA funds, and he just doesn't care, isn't the least bit interested.

It's enough to drive a man to drink - I didn't have far to go, as it is.

In the old days when I was young and really worked hard, I made a lot of money and hence I purchased my wife's 03 Tahoe new as we had a baby and I wanted something that can be reliable and safe. I had no time to fix things with 12 to 16 hours days along with working 3 to 8 hours on the weekends as well. I made lots of money but had no time. Now I don't make a consistent amount of income and don't work nearly as hard and even if I did, why in the world would I spend $80K for a new one or $65k for a used one? No way. Plus registration and insurance is much higher.

 

[tomloans]

NOPE! In addition...

6.25% Sales tax at time of purchase.
$25 Transfer existing registration (or $50 for new plate)

Then...
$35 Annual Vehicle Inspection
2.5% Annual Excise Tax
$60 every two years registration renewal (regular plates) or $80 annually for vanity plates

Don't forget insurance... That's a couple grand a year, even with an 18 year old Tahoe.

So we have 8.75% tax at purchase + some other crazy California additional taxes. Then registration for a new vehicle every year is $810.00 (on $75,000). So $75,000 would run you about $82,273.00 +

Insurance would be likely $2000.00 a year.

 

[tomloans]

Incidentally, so far so good. We put about 50 miles on it and it seems to be fine. Lots of power, perfect oil pressure and water level is still holding. It is funny how you can go over each and every step of the repair in your mind when you are calm. I think I did OK with the exception of the crazy rocker ARM tray. We will see if I come crying back to this post and begging for help in 6 months. LOL

 

[SnowDrifter]

NOPE! In addition...

6.25% Sales tax at time of purchase.
$25 Transfer existing registration (or $50 for new plate)

Then...
$35 Annual Vehicle Inspection
2.5% Annual Excise Tax
$60 every two years registration renewal (regular plates) or $80 annually for vanity plates

Don't forget insurance... That's a couple grand a year, even with an 18 year old Tahoe.

Couple.... GRAND??? For insurance????


I'm going to sound like a shill here.... But I recently told Geico to pound sand because they kept jacking their rates around. Moved to a new area, wanted to up my limits to reflect vehicle value. They wanted ~1500/6mo.

Just went to progressive. $500k CSL, rental coverage, underinsured/hit&run, etc etc. All the goodies was like $380/6mo.


Shop around.

Also, FWIW, I've done some testing on insurance rates. The don't seem to give a damn what vehicle you drive anymore. I priced my tahoe against a new tesla, and new sequoia, they were all within about 10% of eachother. Seems to be based more around average vehicle value in the area and your driving record.

 

[tomloans]

Couple.... GRAND??? For insurance????


I'm going to sound like a shill here.... But I recently told Geico to pound sand because they kept jacking their rates around. Moved to a new area, wanted to up my limits to reflect vehicle value. They wanted ~1500/6mo.

Just went to progressive. $500k CSL, rental coverage, underinsured/hit&run, etc etc. All the goodies was like $380/6mo.


Shop around.

Also, FWIW, I've done some testing on insurance rates. The don't seem to give a damn what vehicle you drive anymore. I priced my tahoe against a new tesla, and new sequoia, they were all within about 10% of eachother. Seems to be based more around average vehicle value in the area and your driving record.

Yeah you were right. Got some exact figures. My current is $750/year and with a new one it would go up to about $1300.00/year.

 

[Fless]

Yeah you were right. Got some exact figures. My current is $750/year and with a new one it would go up to about $1300.00/year.

Like @SnowDrifter said, shop around. Insurance companies prefer / penalize certain demographics that others don't. If you have an independent agent, ask him/her/it to do some comparison shopping with known good companies. They know which ones are not necessarily good companies to work with when you need their services.

 

[tomloans]

100 miles later all is well. When I come to a stop, the idle is so smooth, first few times I thought the engine stopped!

Question for you all. That buzzing from the sensors on the ceiling, how do you disconnect them or delete them?

Also what could I add to my rear end oil to reduce the chances of having to have to replace gears later than sooner? I have a slightly whine when on the gas. Stops when I let off the gas.

 

[Tonyrodz]

100 miles later all is well. When I come to a stop, the idle is so smooth, first few times I thought the engine stopped!

Question for you all. That buzzing from the sensors on the ceiling, how do you disconnect them or delete them?

Also what could I add to my rear end oil to reduce the chances of having to have to replace gears later than sooner? I have a slightly whine when on the gas. Stops when I let off the gas.

Just hit that sensor with some compressed air, just some dust clogging it up.