1987 Chevrolet Suburban Silverado 5.0L V8

Summary:

People Mover with Comfort and Space

Faults:

Brakes - front disc, rear drum replaced just about every year.

One time items: main gasket seal (oil leak and smoking), rear window smashed out on New Years, Radiator, Left Manifold gasket, speedometer, gas tank, fuel pump.

General Comments:

At one time I averaged 18 mpg the highway - mostly down hill.

I was the 2nd owner and now sold, its being use to haul a stock car.

Family liked it for most of the 8 years. But it was a money pit.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 27th August, 2008

1987 Chevrolet Suburban Silverado 5.7 gas

Summary:

This vehicle is perfect for towing, hauling, and comfort

Faults:

The headliner adhesive has failed as a result of prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.

Axillary cooling components (e.g.- radiator cooling fans included with towing package) have worked intermittantly, as the truck has not been used regularly.

Black and red duo-tone finish has faded.

Tailgate has rusted near hinges, and is a bit tricky at times.

The fuel pump had to be replaced at 11 thousand miles, meaning that the entire fuel tank needed to be replaced.

Radiator was replaced at 65 thousand miles.

General Comments:

This 2wd truck can tow anything. It has faithfully moved our two and a half ton boat, in addition to hundreds of pounds of supplies, for the past fifteen years, for holidays.

It can easily and truly seat nine passengers.

Cruising at seventy-five miles per hour is possible.

Filling the gas tank can cost up wards of fifty dollars.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 12th May, 2005

1987 Chevrolet Suburban C2500 7.4

Summary:

The ultimate vehicle for towing and large volume transportation

Faults:

Master cylinder failed at 62,000 miles.

Original rear brakes replaced at 182,000 miles.

Original transmission failed at 192,000 miles.

4 Radiators replaced, each lasted about 50,000 miles.

Engine rod failure at 217,000 miles.

General Comments:

The 1987 Suburban reliability is extremely high. With a working horse farm, 4H kids, and equine competition across the Northeast, the vehicle has more than earned it's keep. With the 454 engine you can tow anything that you can hook to the vehicle, or wrap a chain around. The throttle body injection fuel system always managed to get 12 miles per gallon, running with a six horse trailer in tow, or just the family in the truck.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 29th March, 2002

27th May 2004, 16:28

The guy who got 34 MPG must be on a mo-pod, not a 1987 Suburban with a 454ci V8 that can tow anything and take 8 people along.

11th Sep 2006, 16:06

I have put over 80,000 miles on my 1987 Suburban 4 x 2 and basically, I love this truck. Mine has the 7.4 (454) engine, all the toys, and is equipped with the 4.10 rear.

The years have seen some repairs, like a new trans and 2 radiators, and the usual maintenance items, like brakes, batteries, and tires.

Other than the gas mileage (it gets around 10-11 in town and 12-14 on the road no matter if it's towing my trailer or I have the A/C on). But for a truck this heavy and with the engine, rear ratio combination, I wasn't expecting 25 mpg. She ain't a LUV truck, but a real SUV with a real man sized motor.

Overall, I am more than pleased with my Suburban and yes, it could have had a few things better designed from the factory (like my dash pad that cracked, as they all seem to do) and my headliner that is starting to sag, but this is in my opinion a great vehicle that does what it was designed to do. And it's a good looking truck that doesn't resemble today's plastic, egg shaped, and overpriced SUV's.

View 3 more comments