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Atlanta area. Fire engine red 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe with 119k on the clock. Loaded to the gills with everything save leather. One owner, no accidents, perfect Carfax. Looks like it just came out of the showroom. My older brother (who considers himself the world’s best bargain hunter and resident expert on everything) gave the Tahoe the once-over and couldn’t find anything wrong with it to point out where I’d done it wrong. I asked him how much he thought I paid for it. He said “hmmm… I’d say around $7500.” Bought at auction for $4825. Oh, and this one went to former TTAC Managing Editor Frank Williams, who also gave me a 1993 VW Eurovan for $750 that I’d bought for him a year ago.
17 Comments on “Hammer Time: How Much for A Mint Condition 1999 Tahoe with 119k?...”
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Exactly when did you buy it? Falling gas prices might start to breathe a little life into SUV sales.
I would have guessed $6K, but then Bob Barker never did call my name to come on down
LT – 4×4 with 190,000km(converting of course) shows a Canadian Blackbook wholesale of $7608.
I would likely bid this around 5,000 if it came to me as pre-owned car buyers tend to crap their pants over high km’s.
Before the anti-SUV caterwauling cues up, I will say:
Nice find, that’ll last Frank ’till hell freezes over.
I don’t get it. Are you claiming you got a deal? Sounds like you paid too much to me.
I bought a 99 Volvo wagon, about the same specs, last year for $4k, from a private seller I found on Craigslist. And I saw newer SUV’s for about the same price. But I didn’t want an SUV.
I picked up a 99 Tahoe SLT 4×4(loaded with leather etc.) for race-car towing duties at a public consignment auction 2 years ago for $6000 Canadian with 19x,0000 km on it. Not in the mint shape yours is in, but I haven’t had to put much into it, and works just fine as a race-car hauler and general beater for winter use and Home Depot runs.
Frank should be happy with it. The 5.7L Vortec is actually reasonably efficient if you keep your foot out of it. (I’ve flirted with 20mpg while towing the race car if I stuck to 100km/h.)
From my experience, I would rate this deal as fair, but not exceptional. I would have expected a bit better at a dealer auction.
Nice find. Properly maintained, that will ALWAYS be a classic automobile right there. Honestly, I’d expect to see it listed at a used-car dealer for $8000, I’m sure you could negotiate it down to $6500 or less. At $5000, that a HELL of a deal. The motor/transmission should be inexpensive to repair/replace, and honestly that mileage doesn’t scare me at all. I’d just make sure the transfer case and front drivetrain are in working order, those can be a PITA to deal with.
My neighbor has a black Tahoe Sport with the monochrome paint job and 5-star alloys on it. Still a looker after 10+ years. If he ever sells it, I’ll be the first to make an offer on it.
Thanks for the kind reviews and the constructive criticisms…
A little background. I used to inspect, appraise and liquidate vehicles for Capital One Auto Finance. At the time I averaged 200 a week, a little over 10,000 vehicles a year. Between that, buying on the side, and working as an auctioneer for six years prior I got plenty of experience when it comes to buying cars.
Miles aren’t nearly as much a concern in the Atlanta area compared to most northern markets. The roads are smooth here (smoothest in the nation actually) and the Atlanta area has always been at or near the top for the length of commutes. The average vehicle nets about 15,000 miles a year while most other non-Southern, non-Californian cities are in the 10,000 to 12,000 range.
Interior and exterior condition are heavy factors in Atlanta. Much more so than most other areas of the country. A garage kept car will look as fine as anywhere else. But one that’s left outside will often develop a variety of issues from scorched paint to excessive door panel, seat and dashboard wear. The Volvo wagon mentioned earlier would typically have the door vinyl scrunched up towards the A-pillar (biodegradable glue doesn’t hold up here) and the seats would be in dire need of reconditioning due to the creases and rips that would be at the front.
However, having said that you can also find a gem amongst the stones. In fact, I had a fellow fly in from New Hampshire not too long ago to pick up a 13 year old Volvo turbo wagon that had been diligently kept at a Volvo specialist. He met me one time in Concord, MA during my travels and we’ve periodically kept up with each other over the years.
In the beginning, Frank was looking at a pickup. But SUV prices being the way they are, you can pretty much get a far nicer vehicle with similar hauling capability for just about the same money these days. An uncomplicated and stout vehicle like the Tahoe was the perfect fit. But it was one of three or four potential buys at the sale. I would say that I only buy about 15% of the vehicles that I bid on and am less concerned about price than condition.
Most folks simply pay cost plus $500 when I do buy and their willingness to wait for the right one helps enormously. In a market like the one we have now patience is a fantastic virtue to have.
As for the most important things to look at for a used car… that’s simple. Condition, history, condition, history. People often buy with their eyes instead of focusing on the more important beauty within. That’s why 1990’s Volvo wagons still sell for discounts out here given their condition compared to most other import makes. A conservatively driven and well maintained car simply isn’t as important to most folks as having the car with the right emblem. I consider it a shame… and an opportunity.
Maybe Frank can chime in with a review of the 99 Tahoe for others who are trolling the bottom for a good used SUV/truck deal?
I would have guessed $4000…the exterior body style didn’t change much over the years and I have a hard time telling an early and late model apart. I should have asked you to help me look for an M3 a few months ago!
Maybe I am missing the boat here, but with gas prices what they are (albeit $0.80 less where I am in past month), the truck being almost 10 years old with > 100k miles, I think $4825 is a bit high. I would think more like $3000. Of course, if it’s really showroom new and Frank thinks it will last him another 5 years…$4825+500 seems reasonable.
Actually Frank paid exactly what I paid at the auction. Frank had a 1993 Eurovan that I bought for him a while ago and I ended up getting that at a very reasonable price. He even threw in a two volume factory manual that is almost as heavy and voluminous as the van itself.
I think we are forunate to have Mr. Lang with his expertise,shareing with us, used car values real time. THANKS
Very valuable info. Too often lacking here. Thank you for the insight. Your experience is real world- not that ethereal “bluebookworld”.
It sounds a bit high, average Manheim Market Report adjusted for miles is $2,900. Clean is only $3650. The most expensive one sold in the country last month had 86K miles for $5500. Not too much sold for even close to that.
But as it was stated earlier, if he is happy, and you made out some way. The rest is academic.
the exterior body style didn’t change much over the years and I have a hard time telling an early and late model apart…
1999 was the last year of the straight line across the window line; the newer ones have a swoop instead. At that mileage, less than half the useful life is used up. Parts are relatively cheap, too.
If he would have paid two bucks for it, someone would have chimed in how they picked one up for a buck with half the miles.