Reach

I've set myself a completely arbitrary budget of $2500 to buy a beater SUV for around-the-burbs hauling, and the occasional long-distance ski trip. It should be able to keep my hockey equipment in its rear all winter long, as well as fit a full set of race rims and tires for my BMW's track days. I've been scanning the Washington DC craigslist site for what kind of vehicle that would allow me.

Requirements are simple: 4x4, clean title, spacious interior, good running condition, reliability

Things I care less about: looks, paint, aftermarket parts (within reason), gas mileage.

I believe my choices are around the following:

* 96 - 98 Ford Explorer
* 94 - 96 Chevy Tahoe / Yukon
* 96 - 97 Chevy Blazer
* 92 - 95 Toyota 4Runner
* 95 - 97 Jeep Grand Cherokee

I need help picking something. My chief concern is: reliability. I have no idea which among these would be the most reliable over the long haul. Ideally I'd like the vehicle to last a good 3-4 years for me. Keep in mind that any one I purchase will likely have in excess of 120k miles on it, which is what drives the price down into the low budget I have set. I do need to keep it cheap to keep the Wife Approval factor in check, she's barely palletted the idea of a 3rd car that we don't have room for in the first place.

Initially, I was saddled with the thought that Chevy would be the most reliable of the bunch, but according to consumer reports, that assumption was dead wrong. They actually recommend the Fords of that age far above the Chevys, presumably thinking that they are both going to break, and the Fords are easier/cheaper to repair. Toyota obviously wins the quality / reliability hands down, but due to that rather value-building quality of theirs, I can't seem to afford a 'nice' one that hasn't been beaten all to absolute hell.

So Acurazine, I put it to you: which should I buy, and why? Is there anything I've left off the list that you'd rather have, keeping in mind the budget constraint and real-world availability.

chill_dog

I was going to suggest a 4Runner, and I see it's on your short list. It was arguably the best all-around SUV made in the 90's. Sure, it didn't have full-time four wheel drive (shift-on-the-fly), but was rock solid and got the best gas mileage you could get out of an SUV at the time. However, as you can see, it's going to be a few years older than a comparable domestic of the same price.

My second choice would be the Explorer. They were decent trucks, pretty solid, and one of Ford's more reliable products of the day. If I remember correctly, they could carry more than the 4Runner and had a slightly greater towing capacity.

The Jeep would be a distant third, and any Chevy wouldn't be on my list.

If you want true utility, look at Ford Bronco.

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

^^^



You can also look at the Pathfinders.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

You don't want anything that has a tailgate. PITA.(bronco & older Chevy) Get a hatch.
With that said get the Explorer. Cheap to insure, cheap to fix, & you can fit a ton into it. PM I can give you a great Explorer forum link.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

If you're looking for reliable, nothing beats the Toyota.

+1 vote for the 4Runner.

The Dougler

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I would go with the chebbie find a tahoe/burb with the 350 and your looking at a built proof truck. A jeep with the 4l 6 banger is a indestructible engine and 4wd system, it's everything else that will fall off or stop working. The 4runner would be nice, but I bet turning up an acceptable example of one would be pretty hard at that price point.
Keep in mind too for the chevy's, ford's, Jeeps there are piles of parts available in junk yards so repair costs will be lower.

JnC

iTrader: (12)

4runner or an old pathfinder , just ask sarlacc.

Trackruner228

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My uncle had a 4Runner that went to 166k when it was totalled. He said he never did anything to that car other basically oil and tires. I think his was an 98.

Moog-Type-S

4Runner

Reach

So far, its keep trying for a 4Runner, or settle for a good example of an Explorer for the price.

I did find a 1995 4Runner locally, but the owner wants closer to $3k so I'll have to see how flexible that is. Explorers are everywhere so those aren't the issue. The only downside about the 4Runner is there was a 96 redesign into the modern 'luxury' SUV so I'd have the knowledge that I missed out on that. On the other hand, luxury isn't in the necessary column here, but if given the choice obviously I'd take a dab of it.

Sclass88

I'd go for the Tahoe/Yukon/Suburban. My roommates uncle has a '93 Suburban with over 250K miles on it and each year, they all pile into it and drive down to Florida. I've ridden in it multiple times and the ride is comfortable. It's held up well for them and it is used daily as the owner is an electrician who works out of his car.

invisiblewar

im going with the tahoe. my bro has one and my mother has a 1500. they ride extremely well and theyve never had many problems with em, plus when problems do arise its easy to find the parts

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

Did you do a weighted decision analysis?

Sarlacc

You can do search.

I bought my 1995 4x4 stick shift Pathfinder 3 years ago for $2300 plus a new clutch. So, $2900.

Since then, all I have done is standard maintenance. New tires (BFG AT KO) Water pump and timing pump, and 2 belts for for power steering and AC.

The truck is a BEAST. I have literally tried to wreck it on off road trails and it will not bend, break, or bow. All it did was make me love it that much more.

Btw. I bought the truck with 167k, it now has 199k and still running like a champ, including driving distances for work, light to medium offroading for work, and a nice 6 hour trip up to the mountains at mammoth last dec for new years/skiing.

So, I say old pathfinder or 4runner.

I do have a friend with a 98ish V8 explorer that he loves, and it too has only had standard maintenance.

Myxomatosis

I'd try to get a toyota or nissan. The exploder might give you trouble, notorious 4 wheel drive(the older ones, circa 1993 or so) and they rot out pretty quick. However on the plus side, you might be able to find one real cheap, def. check the 4 wheel drive before purchasing an explorer, even then they sometimes are sporadic, like only doesnt work when you really need it. On that note, go japanese.

jupitersolo

I would put the 92 body style of a Landcruiser in the next. I love that body style.

Osamu

^I had a 91' land cruiser, that was ridiculously reliable. Nothing but basic maintenance until 200k when we sold it, and that's w/ two high school kids (me and my brother) driving it for a number of years.

Only issue with it was it got 10-12 mpg, and the 155hp I-6 was ridiculously slow. Not sure that would work for your road trips. I think in 93' or 94' it got a v6, I used to know a lot about the land cruisers, but I don't remember too much now.

We sold ours to a family friend for like $2500 or something.

sho_nuff1997

iTrader: (2)

I would say 4runner or 96 tahoe/yukon.

I had a 96 Suburban that I put 180K miles on it before I sold it. The only big expense/problem was the A/C went out and that you can deal without.

ggesq

iTrader: (1)

4Runner or Pathfinder

Reach

Well, its looking more and more like its gonna be an Explorer.

The prices on these trucks are ridiculously cheap. I can get a <10 yr old, <150k mile, leather, 4x4, good running one inside this price range.

Can anyone convince me otherwise? I have scoured the web and even called auto auction houses throughout my state, and 4Runners in my price range are simply trash.

Costco

Simply put though, for your list the 4Runner is the best SUV on the list. The problem with the 4Runner is that its sorta underpowered whether the 3VZ or the 22RE is in there. However, just ask the Toyota fanboys about the 22RE.... those trucks just don't die. My boss and some of my coworkers have/had Toyota trucks of those years, basically the same as the 4Runner. Most of them have over 150,000 miles and still run great.

Chevy trucks of that vintage have hit-or-miss reliability and they aren't that great compared to the other brands (early 90's). S10 Blazers are REALLY prone to rollovers too.

The 4.0 I6 Jeep GCs will run forever too.... my teacher has been a Chrysler guy his whole life, literally. He's worked on Chryslers/Jeeps his whole life and he bleeds Mopar. He said if you want a car that'll just run forever, the 4.0 GC is it.

Plus you have a couple people vouching for the Pathfinder too.... while I don't have too much experience with them, when I drove a 5-speed manual V6 Pathy it was really fun.

The Dougler

iTrader: (1)

Have you checked out a the forums of respective owners? I would probably make my decision based off that.

probmxstyle

What about the older Honda Passports?

The Dougler

iTrader: (1)

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

4 runners while nice are just too expensive used. I looked at them as well, & couldn't justify what a decent shape one was going for compared to others.

Lxcord

iTrader: (1)

GMC Typhoon

JTso

iTrader: (2)

I own a 94 Toyota pickup 4x4 which is basically the same platform as the 4-runner. It's extremely reliable and I haven't experienced any problems with it. However, I think certain year of the v6 tend to have head gasket problem. Other than that, just change oil, add gas and go.

Blazing GT

whats wrong with the passport?

The Dougler

iTrader: (1)

why not just buy the Izuzu and save even more money?

Gfaze

Fixed!

and

Myxomatosis

as I recall the Rodeos were complete rust buckets and in fact one could rule out that truck altogether by the utter lack of any of them surviving till today.

This thread should be "What SUV's shouldn't I buy" When talking about true beaters, the suv you end up buying might not be on that list at all. It's more of what's the best value among old suv's that happen to be for sale in your area.

So with my new thread title in mind, I wouldn't buy a
Rodeo/passport
Blazer/Bravada
Dakota
M-class
Aztec :theghey:

JediMindTricks

4runner.

03aspec

I've heard that those jeeps have horrible transmissions.. fact? or myth?

TommySalami

No doubt you've seen this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lrk6vsb77xk

asianspec

iTrader: (1)

Ever thought about the Isuzu Rodeo?

stright-(paint)balling

i'd go with a older (like 10-15 year old) Pathfinder. of course check everything over. but if everything checks out make an offer.

Reach

No dice so far. Last Saturday and Sunday I was hunting down the Exploder's on CL in my area ready to make cash offers, but either didn't get calls returned, or determined sellers were fraudulent or had title issues. This is what I get for trying to scrape the bottom of the barrel i guess.

Since I've had a reset of sorts on this initiative, I am setting my hopes high and I'm contacting all of the 96+ 4Runner's listed at $5k or less and going to see how low they will go.

I can't seem to find any Pathfinder's that I'd be willing to live with.
Oh, and I'd be curious about a reply to 03aspec: Do the Jeeps have bad trannys?

ZhenyaF

iTrader: (6)

Isuzu Trooper?

My dad had 2 '89 and a 96 and my uncle had a 93. They were all workhorses with minimal problems. They even have a locking differential and ability to switch from 4x4 to 4x2

Sarlacc

And horrible rollover rates. They just feel tipsy when you drive them.

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

i doubt it now cause the vid doesn't work.