Ok, so I kind of hijacked this thread and I am sorry I did that, but here is what I offered the owner of the 2004 Tahoe Z71:
"Ok, as promised I wanted to get back to you. The best I could do is first lower the asking price based off Kelly Blue Book as a good condition vehicle based off what I found and what you had said. The high value at KBB Good Condition is $7500. But, IMO, even that is too high with the paint problems you pointed out and I found. Let's say $7000.
Then I have to figure in what I found during my inspection. Leaking trans cooler lines that will be about $50 for the pair. Steering wheel controls that do not work means a steering wheel, which is available for $315. Coolant reservoir showed slight sludge but the worst part was that is was way low. You have a coolant leak somewhere. Would have to pressure test to find the source of the leak. The worst is the sludge at the oil fill cap and the rust color on the threads of the cap where it twists in to the filler tube. This may mean that the oil pump pickup tube, in the oil pan, will have the sludge build up as well and restrict oil flow through the system. The constant water drip in the oil breaks it down and therefore hinders the lube capacity of the oil. It could even indicate a possible small head gasket leak and that could also be the source for the low coolant in the reservoir. That is major work there. Something going on for sure but until is diagnosed, cannot know for sure. That would require a cooling system pressure test, compression test with inspection of the spark plugs, check for exhaust gasses in the coolant. At the minimum, after the tests, it means dropping the oil pan and replacing the oil pump pickup tube O-ring and cleaning out the pick up. Again, major work. Plus, at least one if not 2 tire pressure sensors with the labor involved for that. Those sensors are $45 each. Plus you said something about the Bluetooth with a problem, I THINK, can't remember for sure, so maybe not. Plus anything else I find during road test and wheel removals for bearing and seals and brakes inspection. Plus labor for the trans cooling lines and steering wheel replacement.
This seems like a lot but when you let a former service manager look at a rig and a former ASE Master Tech, like myself, we tend to know weak areas for vehicles. Low mileage does not always mean great condition. I bought mine used from a tenant here at my facility. She had all maint and repair work paperwork since she bought new when work done at Kendall Chevy. I looked it over and knew what was going to be needed and did that as well. My Tahoe is 2 years older than yours and has 30k more miles. It is in perfect shape.
Best I can offer for your rig is $4000 cash. I know you don't want to hear that and likely will turn me down and you have every right to. If you want to sell, fine. If not, good luck to you."
He did email me back and said no thanks. All good.
