2002 Chevrolet suburban interior reupholstery worth it?
Posted by mitchellno@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 10 comments
I'm the first and only owner of this car. I've maintained it well, it still drives good, and it does eat up oil since it is a 24 year old car. It has 200K miles. Only bad thing is that interior is bad. Seats are worn, headliners are sagging, carpet is smelly. And of course, it is a gas guzzler. But I'm having hard time letting it go. It's got so much memories. So I got an estimate to get the whole car reupholster. New leather interior (including new foams), insulation, carpet ... The quote I got was $6600. My wife thinks it's time we let it go because $6600 is too much to spend on a 24 year old gas guzzling car that burns oil. But my mechanic has assured me that this car should last at least another 100K miles if well maintained - maybe longer. What would you do? Is $6600 worth it? Getting a new suv starts at $50K. Personally, I think $6600 is well worth an investment on a mechanically sound car because, new interior is going to make it feel "new".
rudbri93@reddit
Find a wrecked lower miles truck in a yard and use those seats.
1234-for-me@reddit
My brother did that with a Cadillac escalade, even bought the carpet. We swapped the seats and pressure cleaned the carpet. I think he spent a few hundred dollars. The only thing id reupholster would be the headliner. Funny thing in my brother’s case, the donor car was actually higher mileage (400k iirc), it was super clean.
Bulocoo@reddit
My buddy is getting a $3500 paint job on is 20 year old Honda Pilot.
If you get 5 years that's like $1100 a year for the devil you know. $100 a month...
Spyderbeast@reddit
I would say no
As long as you keep it clean, does it matter?
mitchellno@reddit (OP)
Actually, the main motivation is that my rear starts hurting during long drive. The seat and foams are really worn out and headliners are sagging - almost touching my head. Also, carpet is really gross from all the dogs. Maybe I can steam clean it and just redo the seats.
ProfessionalBee4228@reddit
If the transmission hasn't been replaced yet... that's another thing to think about.
I've had two GMT830s and both of them have had their transmissions blow at \~180-200k miles. They are dependable transmissions but they are relatively well-known for wearing out right around the 200k mark.
$6600 is a lot, especially if it is burning oil. You can probably get into a lower mileage (think \~100k) suburban/tahoe for a little bit more than that with a non-wrecked interior.
If the transmission is original though. I wouldn't spend 6600 to reupholster the interior. Keep driving and throw some seat covers on it or get rid of it.
mitchellno@reddit (OP)
I put in new transmission 5 years ago. $3K or so.
Joe_B_Likes_Tacos@reddit
I would look for a better deal on the reupholstery but I would still do it even at that price. That's nothing compared to the cost of buying another suburban.
My dad got 375,000 Miles on our 82 suburban that I grew up in. And that was from when GM quality was it's absolute worst. I've had two friends with 3/4 ton trucks that have done complete refurbishments because it made more sense than buying a new one.
Ok-Lavishness-7904@reddit
Seat covers. $6600 is wayyy too much; that can buy you two 02 Suburbans with 200k miles. Steam the rug and continue driving, guilt free
jvan03@reddit
I’d just let it be or buy seat covers. $6600 won’t get you anything reliable, and there is the unknown of how something else was maintained. Personally, if I know a vehicle is good, I’d keep it. Always cheaper.