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Suggest to me a SUV/Truck to buy
precisionk
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I currently drive a 04 Cavalier. While it is a great commuter car, I am looking for something a little more fun to drive. I am also looking for a vehicle with good storage room and enough power to tow say a fishing boat. So I guess I am in the market for a used SUV or a Truck. I haven't owned a SUV since my first car way back when I was 16.
After internet browsing it for quite some time, I am absolutely lost at what to look for. Gas mileage isn't really a concern as I know I couldn't do better then the Cavalier.
So here is my current checklist and would appreciate any input on what to look at for a vehicle:
-Cargo room, enough to say fit a sofa/treadmill in with no problem
-4WD of course
-At least a 6 cy, if not 8
-Be able to tow a fishing boat in the future
-MP3 Aux port (I really, REALLY hate mp3 fm transmitters)
-Prefer something newer, unless vehicle is unique for its year
Price range - No more then say 15k
Right now what I have been looking at is the Dodge Nitro, but I am unsure just yet.
Any suggestions?
After internet browsing it for quite some time, I am absolutely lost at what to look for. Gas mileage isn't really a concern as I know I couldn't do better then the Cavalier.
So here is my current checklist and would appreciate any input on what to look at for a vehicle:
-Cargo room, enough to say fit a sofa/treadmill in with no problem
-4WD of course
-At least a 6 cy, if not 8
-Be able to tow a fishing boat in the future
-MP3 Aux port (I really, REALLY hate mp3 fm transmitters)
-Prefer something newer, unless vehicle is unique for its year
Price range - No more then say 15k
Right now what I have been looking at is the Dodge Nitro, but I am unsure just yet.
Any suggestions?
precisionk on
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thread done.
What is the size of the 4Runner compared with the Rav4?
Was looking at the 4Runner and it looked a tad small.
Edit: also looks to be well over 15k for a used without 100k miles on it.
vs
176 inches
Size-wise a 4runner or Tacoma is like a narrow, short-bed F150/Bronco. Handles way better. I went ahead and peeked at the Minneapolis/St Paul Craigslist listings for 4runners and found these, they all look pretty good to me and in your price range: (I don't know where Rapetown is so I guessed :P)
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/ctd/1331787747.html
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/wsh/ctd/1330351232.html
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/cto/1329639840.html
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ram/ctd/1329185629.html
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/ctd/1325220033.html
4runners are heavier and thus get a bit worse gas mileage than a Tacoma. The Tacoma has a pickup bed so is much more usable for hauling things, but as far as trailering they are virtually identical. The powertrain is the same. (And super durable, there is a reason people pick these for offroading)
Unless you are looking to beat the shit out of a new 'used' truck by hauling a boat around with it? Can't say I recommend that but if that's what you want to do you're looking at something like an F150 or Silverado/Suburban. Downside is it's likely to cost a lot more money and it will definitely be less fun to drive. For this I'd say an F150 with a 4.6L V-8 would work for what you want, or for an SUV a Suburban or Yukon with a 5.3L V-8.
Although technically you could, if you're regularly towing a boat you should not be doing it with a Rav4. The Rav4 and the Honda CR-V are both essentially AWD station wagons with high ground clearance.
We're looking at a RAV4 if/when we ever spawn. Perfect (and even a little big) for 95% of any moving tasks, but yeah, I wouldn't haul a boat with it.
Keep in mind, if you get a bigger truck or SUV, you'll become the "guy with the big truck" as in, "Oh, I just bought a 2 ton entertainment center, let's call our friend with the big truck."
Good call, I will look into craigslist. My original looking was into used at dealerships for the sake of having that warranty. Didn't look into used as I thought perhaps warranty wouldn't transfer and or be tougher to get a loan.
that said, for less than taxes on a new car you can have a Cherokee that's very off-road capable and will meet most of your requirements. Just look for I6 engine in later one that's a 97 or newer model. Structurally the 4 doors are sturdier than the 2 doors.
Don't get the grand cherokee unless you need to be punished for war crimes or something.
As for upgrading them for going off-roading I'd say it's six of one half a dozen of the other. There are tons of resources available for both platforms, enough to do almost anything you could want.
used tacomas are hard to come across but that or a nissan frontier are good mid-size bets
No boat yet, but hope to once I have a SUV to pull it. ;-)
Possible to get a 4runner or something for 15k that has under 100k? Not sure how long those can go? Never owned a foreign car.
Toyotas last a long time, which is great, but it also means that for what you want (like the MP3 thing which is really only in newer cars) you're not going to find one without and ungodly amount of miles under $15k because you can charge more (especially for the bigger ones). Especially since you want to haul really large items that will only fit in a big pickup. You get what you pay for.
For goddamn ever. I do emissions testing in California and I regularly pass them at 300k+ miles.
Nissan and Toyota, you're usually look at a minimum lifespan of 300,000 miles, with most making past the half million point with proper service. 4WD SUVs and Trucks add a little bit of cost onto the regular maintenance, so be aware of that. Transmission and drivetrain repairs on a foreign SUV are a fuckton higher than your Cavalier, but luckily tend to not happen nearly as often (just replaced the original right forward CV joint in my Pathfinder, 200,000km).
In case you were waivering on the purchase, here's a little reminder about how tough these things are
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lrk6vsb77xk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Uc4Ksz3nHM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfZDtC9kjVk
This. I bought a 2006 about a month ago. Get's nearly 24mpg highway (which is all I do for the most part). I went with the V6 and it has plenty of power, plenty of room (I just bought a new kitchen table at Ikea and everything fit just fine), smooth ride, nice features. I'm very happy with it.