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looking to buy first Avalanche... 2 options local

20streetrod06

Full Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2020
Messages
273
Location
Central IL
I have found 2 options close to me that are in the ball park for what i'm looking for. the 2 i've found are:

2002 red Z71 with 168,000 miles. used car dealer asking $3,600. interior leather is pretty warn, tailgate doesn't latch, missing one piece of cladding at rear fender, factory tonneu cover is MIA, aftermarket radio needs proper mounting kit, to allow dash to fully clip into place. none of these issues are deal breakers, seats can be covered/ replaced and the other issues are easy to fix or live with.

2004 white with 165,000 miles. individual asking $3,500 on facebook. cloth seats, but less worn out, but everything is there and works. front bumper has been replaced with a steel bumper from a K5 Blazer, sounds odd, but doesn't look horrible and isn't a deal breaker.

what i'm curious to learn from you experts is, are there common issues with one year over the other? i know 2002 was the first year, but the small block chevy has been being used for generations. i know GM used a horrible clear coat on their red paint for several years, this doesn't look bad on this one, but even if it turns poor later, that's not a deal breaker. is there one that you guys would choose over the other, and if so, why? i've always been a chevy guy, but new to the full size market.
 
You should read this thread for some ideas and info:

And welcome to the website!
 
Not much of a difference between the model years. Personally, I'm partial to private parties than used car dealers. You end up paying a premium at a dealer for no real added value. The things I would consider is accident history, how many owners, etc. - all the general used car buying stuff. I'm partial to one owner vehicles or vehicles that have been owned by the current owner for a number of years. I'm generally leery of vehicles whose recent owners have changed every year or two.
 
thank you, i had read the mentioned post when i first found this forum. it was helpful, and i appreciate it.

is there a free source for finding vehicle ownership records? or are you at the mercy of the honesty of the person selling it?
 
is there a free source for finding vehicle ownership records? or are you at the mercy of the honesty of the person selling it?
Only free route I know of is to walk into a different dealership with the VIN number in hand and politely ask the service guy. Carfax is like $30 for one..
 
2002 is IMO the year with least issues since it was the end of a design era and computer things changed in 2003.
but I do not like it when peeps install the radio as they also tend to mess up other truck wiring..

Go drive and check over very good as maintenance on both should be the same except one may need more suspension front end parts due to age.
 
2002 red Z71 would be my choice if it drives well
 
does GM still run security features through the radio? is that what you mean by messing up other wiring? or do you mean people cut and hack wires that just didn't need messed with at all?

based solely on pictures and talking to the owner/dealership, I'm leaning toward the white one. the extras that come with the Z71 package would be nice, but it has a lot of "little things" that would nickel and dime a decent amount of extra cash.

here is a link to the red one at the dealership. you can see some of the issues through the pictures.
https://www.lightningautospringfield.com/details/used-2002-chevrolet-avalanche/68939453

i wish i could post pictures. the white one is for sale on facebook in Peoria IL, if you want to try and see it also.
 
does GM still run security features through the radio? is that what you mean by messing up other wiring? or do you mean people cut and hack wires that just didn't need messed with at all?

Somethings runs thru radio not sure security is though

And I mean peeps cut, hack, mise wire,leave things cut etc etc etc etc which then screws up something else.

Lots of peeps added Remote starts and alarms in 2002 and those thing would eventually end up with problems like not starting.. all do to integrating with trucks wiring...
With radio peeps would lose minor things...

My point is USED cars can have issues you cannot see until you live with it for a while.. and most peeps on here today come in with problems first thing we tend to ask is it USED and what did previous owner do to truck....

Check out our problem section... and scroll back to beginning some sections... Engine and drivetrain, as well as systems...


Good luck with what ever you choose...
 
and here is the white 2004. K5 Blazer front bumper/ brush guard. drivers seat armrest looks broken, is that common? or an easy fix? I'm glad the hood scoops on the floor in the back seat were never installed.
Screenshot_20201007-123819.pngScreenshot_20201008-062759.pngScreenshot_20201013-061425.png
 
If it were me, I would probably go with the 2004 because there looks to be less missing from it.

I wouldn't give more than $3K for either truck, and try to give a little less.

It is hard to feel bad about anything with a $3K truck.

You should be able to find and replace the front bumper on the 2004 with a little searching.

Depending on how good you are wanting to make the truck look, you are going to have your work cut out for you.

That kind of work does not scare me if I am into the project and I start with good bones.

There is potential here, if you are committed to the project.

Best of luck to you!

:) (y)
 
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$3,000 was what I was hoping to spend. everything else around me, is either way higher mileage, for similar price, or much higher cost for similar mileage.

I lean toward the 2004 also. outside of the front bumper, do you see anything missing from it? I would keep an eye out for a front bumper in a you-pull yard, but that would not be a priority for me as I don't mind the looks of it for the time being.

we have a 3 row GMC as our main family car. An Avalanche would be my daily driver, plus a spare that could hold the whole family if the GMC were ever to need work. we've got a 3rd kid on the way, so the little jeep wrangler has to go.
 
It is hard to say what all might be missing from the limited photos available.

The arm rest mounts to the seat frame with one post and another smaller post that slides in a curved slot on the seat frame to limit travel.

If the problem is just broken posts on the armrest itself, you can just get a replacement and swap them out.

If the seat frame part is broken, that's a bit more involved.

All of the front seat leather, including the armrest covers, is replaceable, but at a price.

Cloth seat covers are probably going to have to be made by a upholstery shop or just covered up.

I noticed rust on the 2002, is there rust on the 2004?

Severe frame rust should definitely be a consideration for either truck.

As I understand it, the plastic body cladding often hides body rust.

Make sure you understand where you stand with either truck in terms of rust.

Where I live, ANY rust would be a deal killer.
 
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i live in the rust belt, everything has rust. from all the pictures i have seen of the 2004 there isnt any body rust.

is there "common" spots on these frames that will typically rot first? (its the rear body mounts on jeep) since its my daily, some rust isnt an issue, it gives me an opportunity to learn how to fix it. if it was my wife's daily, rust would be a bigger concern. i just want ti to be safe, and mechanically sound. cosmetic body rust can always be fixed
 
I have had good luck finding used parts from Car-Part.com.

Maybe start looking for some of the stuff you are going to need there before you commit.
 
i live in the rust belt, everything has rust. from all the pictures i have seen of the 2004 there isnt any body rust.

is there "common" spots on these frames that will typically rot first? (its the rear body mounts on jeep) since its my daily, some rust isnt an issue, it gives me an opportunity to learn how to fix it. if it was my wife's daily, rust would be a bigger concern. i just want ti to be safe, and mechanically sound. cosmetic body rust can always be fixed

Rust is not an issue in my region.

Other members can give you better insight, in that regard.

Usually, any rusty cars around here have been brought down by people that brought them with them when they moved down here.

Rusty cars around here are just sent straight to the crusher or loaded on a truck and sent back up north.

No one here is going to buy one because no one here knows how to deal with rust.

:) (y)
 
lol. fair enough. ive got plenty of family and friends with Tahoe's, Surburban's, and Yukons of various ages, and none of them have had major frame rust issues. so i dont expect to find major issues with either of these when i go look at them.
 
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