Dear Tom and Ray:

I am interested in buying a GMC or Chevy Suburban. What do you think? Because of two sons, all their friends, and two dogs, I need a vehicle this size. Because of our activities--winter skiing 90 miles away and seasonal camping 85 miles away--we need the four wheel drive. Everything I have read about these vehicles says they are gas hogs and have poor reliability. But all of the owners I have spoken to love their Suburbans and are repeat buyers. What do you think? Mary

Tom: I think you should get one, Mary. The truth is, there's nothing like a Suburban. And if you need a gigantic, covered-wagon that goes in the mud and snow, there really isn't any other choice.

Ray: Sure, they are gas hogs, and they're no more reliable than any other General Motors car, but there's nothing that gives you as much interior room and four-wheel-drive. And if you need the room, you'll learn to overlook those minor drawbacks, just like the other Suburban owners you spoke to have.

Tom: I would caution you that Suburbans are a real pain to maneuver in city (or even suburban) traffic, and a nightmare to park. I've mashed more than one Toyota trying to parallel park one of these babies. But if you live in a semi-rural or rural area, and you've got plenty of room, you'll do fine.

Ray: That's true. Suburbans are really almost too big for suburbia. They should consider renaming it the Chevy Rural.

Changing your oil is the cheapest insurance you can buy for your car, but how often should you change it? Find out by ordering Tom and Ray's pamphlet Ten Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car Without Even Knowing It! To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1994 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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