LT vs. LS? The extras that come with the LT package such as leather and heated seats are well worth it and for a vehicle in this age range, won’t cost much more.

1500 vs. 2500? The 1500 provides plenty of hauling and towing capabilities and the beefier 2500 is just going to reduce your gas mileage further.

2WD vs. 4WD? You probably won’t use 4WD a lot, but you know when you need it and don’t have it, you will regret not going with 4WD.

Z71? - This is the off-road package that gives you a few more features such as a skid plate and beefed up suspension. It is a “nice to have”, but not something you need to seek out.

Stock vs. custom? I always prefer to buy a vehicle as close to stock as possible. It is how the manufacturer designed the vehicle to perform safely and efficiently and if it is stock, there will be plenty of resources to get repairs done at a reasonable price..

Lifted & big wheels and tires? I know it’s a thing, but per above, I prefer to buy a stock vehicle. Lifting and changing wheel and tire size changes the vehicle handling, likely in a negative way, and it will probably cause suspension parts to wear out faster.

Narrow your search. Establish your budget and decide how far you are willing to drive to purchase a Suburban and then search accordingly.

Do your research. Even though you are focused on the 9th generation, there are differences in model years, so once you identify a Suburban, focus your research on that model year. Be sure to review the Common Repairs page, so you know what to look for during the inspection.

Follow your first impression. The 9th generation Suburban will be 15 to 21 years old, so don’t expect like new condition, but if your first impression is the Suburban has not been well maintained, you should walk away.

Inspect before driving. Utilize the Suburban Inspection Checklist and politely review issues with the seller to try and gain consensus and determine if they have factored the issue into the price. If there is significant pushback, then the seller is probably not willing to negotiate and it is probably a waste of time to take a test drive.

King of the road! When you are behind the wheel, you should feel like you are in command of the road. The ride should be quiet and smooth and your should feel a strong sense of control with regard to cornering and stopping and the steering should be easy. Keep in mind it requires a lot of pedal to access the power.

Wikipedia - It is a great source for general information, but also the specifics of a vehicle such as engine specs, trim levels, and model year variations. Here is the main Suburban page.

NICB - Don’t buy a Suburban without doing a VIN check at this site to determine if it has been reported stolen or salvaged.

Chevrolet Forum - Here is the link to get you directly to the Suburban page. Use this to research specific questions or issues.

The Truth About Cars - I love their very frank approach to reviews. There are many articles about the Suburban. Here is one to get you started.

iseecars - Yes, they have for sale listings, but also a ton of information about used cars. Here is some info on the Suburban.

CARSPECS - Get the facts on the specifications of the year and model you are checking out. Here is the page on the 2000 Suburban 1500 LT.

New Car Test Drive - I don’t always use this site, but when you do find info on the vehicle you are considering, their reviews are very thorough. Here is their review of the 2001 Suburban.

DriverSide - Yes, they are trying to link you to something to buy, but they have very good information. For example, here are the technical specification for a 2000 Suburban.

Jalopnik - If nothing else, you will get some good laughs, but they really do know what they are talking about. Here is an example.