ok, so here's the deal. i'm looking for a used SUV for my wife, we have about $15k to spend total.

What are your thoughts on SUVs these days? We're looking at the Ford Escape & Toyota Highlander. mid to small sized suvs is somewhat the target. what's the big thing to look out for when buying a used suv? (i've never bought a used car before from a dealership) i know they'll try and screw you every way possible, which is expected, but do SUVs need a big(expensive) maintenance due around 100k, kinda like Acura cars? there any tell tell signs to stay away from...
the cars we've look at have anywhere from 40-80k miles.

what are you opinions on good suvs? we are looking around 2005's/2006's/& 2007's models

 

Hyundai or Kia?

 

What are you going to use the "SUV" for?

What about the CRV or CX7

 

now really for towing anything, more for just toting around stuff, the dog + camping equipment quite often. we just need more room. it wont so much be used for off-road either.


what about maintenance stuff for used cars ? any ideas/opinions on that stuff when buying a used car around 50-70k miles?

 

2004 MDX Touring can be had with around 75K-80K miles.

 

no shit? for under $15k?

 

Pilot? Rav4 or is that too small?

My aunt just bought a 2007 Hyundai Tucson, but I'm not sure how much she paid.

 

I don't think maintenance would be any different on a car than an SUV.

 

My buddy was in the same spot. And he spent about seven months car shopping. Seriously, I wanted to smother him with a pillow by the fifth month of him bitching, LOL.

Anyway, he bought a CPO Ford Explorer and I think he paid $16k for it. Just FYI

 

thanks guys...

 

Always something to consider with SUV purchases.....

http://www.crashtest.com/

 

There's a 04 MDX for sale in Chicago 81K miles touring/nav $14,500 - Just an example.

I was just looking for one myself - ended up with a 02 RL.

 

I had an Escape (V6 4wd) and it drove great and was reliable, but really that (or a Highlander, or a Pilot, or a Santa Fe) is just a "tall car". Fine if you just need the space, but not ideal for towing or offroading.

I liked my "real truck" SUVs a lot more (Cherokee, Suburban, Navigator). For $15k you can get a nice Yukon or Tahoe that will be stone reliable, and they are great to drive. You won't be able to get into a new body style (2007) for that, but a very nice one just a couple years older. Before you say "too big", just test drive one.

 

Escape, Santa Fe, Highlander, Forester, Explorer

 

+ Murano...but they don't have much cargo room.

 

The Santa Fe is a great car but because it's a Hyundai it depreciates like a bag of rocks. You can pick up a good-condition '07 or '08 for a price that would almost constitute as theft.

 

yes, i really like those murano's, but they are surprisingly pretty expensive.

 

I would look at a Pilot. We have an 05 and still love it! Lots of room for a family of 4, reasonable space if you need to pop up the 3rd seat and tows pretty well. We tow a 3000lb trailer with ours and it does pretty well climbing hills under load. We have also taken ours on some trails that most SUVs would never venture. It's no jeep for offroad capabilities but is a good daily driver and very reliable. Pilots are around 17K-20K in my area, and all 05 and older ones are AWD that you might want to factor for price comparisons. Even living in Southern California, I would never buy a 2WD SUV but that's just me. I also get about 21MPG+ on the highway driving at 70+ MPH- about 15 around town. With any SUV, you best get one with stability control- that is also an option I wouldn't neglect buying.

 

+1 on a Pilot. I actually looked at a 06 1 owner with great maintenance history (EX-L w/out NAV or RES). It had 81K on it and the asking price was $15995.

 

pilot, mdx, 4runner

 

Honda Pilot. Hands down.

A second choice will probably be the Murano

 

 

lots of good choices in here.

really depends on what kind of SUV you want. so many choices.

 

i would get a sequoia before id get a tahoe. we have owned both and the toyota was much nicer overall. tahoe felt cheap on the inside and the yota had more room as well. but it only got like 13 mpg overall.

 

Here are my personal picks within your area...

2006 Nissan Pathfinder $16,995 31K Miles

Info here

2006 Honda CRV 4x4 71K miles $16,772

Info Here

2007 Mazda CX-7 @ Carmax only 16K miles! $16,995 (two of em at this store). Be wary of possible turbo problems, though...

Info Here

2007 Honda Pilot 55K miles $16,998

Info Here

2007 Nissan Murano S $16,998 62K miles (watch for possible CVT transmission issues)

Info Here

2006 Toyota Rav4 2wd 71K miles $16,995

Info Here

Just some examples of what ~$16K will buy nowadays...

 

4runners are the shiz

If the engine is a non-interference design I wouldnt worry about the timing belt service until 150k or so



4.6IS?

 

get the 4Runner Sport Edition. those look pretty badass, and you have the reliability of a toyota

 

Yep I like those too - in fact I went back n forth makin offers on a black one at the local BMW dealer before finding my Navigator that was so nice I had to buy it (speaking of crappy MPG suv's)

 

thanks again for all the replies guys... i ended up making a decision. we bought a 206 Nissan Pathfinder. it had a clean carfax + 1owner + maintenance records for oil changes - etc...which is a big thing for me

 

congrats!

i like how the pathfinders went old school with the rear door handles.

 

I'd go for the Toyota RAV4

But really, you can't go wrong with any of the SUV's mentioned above.

 

Muranos have an exceptional amount of storage for their size.

 

I like that Pathfinder - congrats!
Does it have 3rd row?

 

I like it! Congrats!

 

thanks
ya...has the pop-up/hideaway 3rd row.

 

Rav4 with V6 is surprisingly a QUICK vehicle! I was VERY close to buying one. If you look very hard you can find one with a third row...

 

Nice find.. how much did you score it for?