help me buy an SUV

[.RJ]

Scotty what about a used Land Rover Discovery?

:?: :!: :?:

You've got to be shitting me.

[Dave]

I love Tacomas, 4 Runners, and Tundras. I'm also a big fan of the Xterra and Titan. Unfortuneately, all of these seem to keep their price very well. I wouldn't hesitate about higher mileage on the Tacos or 4Runners, though I don't know much about the Nissans and the Tundra just came out in 00 (though it has shown typical Toyota reliability so I wouldn't hesitate).
Lindsey's mom has a Cherokee and has had several problems with it in the past couple years, including multiple transmission problems and coolant seeping from the water pump, all of which took several visits EACH to the local DEALER to diagnose. Incompetence would be my excuse, but it doesn't make it okay.

Have you ruled out trucks completely? An extended cab can be a truly wonderful thing, giving you the utility of the truck and ability to accomodate some stuff inside. I'm not real big on SUVs, so this is definitely the option that I'd go with.

[Andy]

Okay, pardon me for being a lame ass but have you considered an Outback or a Forester? It doesn't get much gayer but it would serve most of your needs, gets better gas mileage and the ride would be better. Outbacks have pretty good ground clearance and the diffs have a steel protective cover so you can traverse some serious shit without much fear of destroying the diff housing.

From what I've seen of most SUV's, the body is real high but the overall ground clearance isn't that great due to the low hanging rear diff.

Back when Joan and I kayaked/rockclimbed a bunch, we could pretty much go anywhere and the strong majority of the outdoorsy folks we knew had Outbacks or Foresters including adventure racers and those folks go in some really remote places.

[Evan]

andy mentions a good point. Plus, you can get the outback and forrester with a turbo. Used 03 Forrester XT and you're in biznaasss

[Ryan T]

kia sorento or bust.

[Jeff]

I likes me a Durango w/ a 5.9L! But the 12mpg or whatever will get you in the ass every time. Rex has a 5.2L and the 18mpg is pretty good for the size of the V8 (trusty 318) and the size of the suv. Older ones are getting really cheap too. The newer you go (2000+) you get into the 4.7L V8, which is a retooled 318 in a smaller displacement.

[Apoc]

Okay, pardon me for being a lame ass but have you considered an Outback or a Forester? It doesn't get much gayer but it would serve most of your needs, gets better gas mileage and the ride would be better. Outbacks have pretty good ground clearance and the diffs have a steel protective cover so you can traverse some serious shit without much fear of destroying the diff housing.

From what I've seen of most SUV's, the body is real high but the overall ground clearance isn't that great due to the low hanging rear diff.

Back when Joan and I kayaked/rockclimbed a bunch, we could pretty much go anywhere and the strong majority of the outdoorsy folks we knew had Outbacks or Foresters including adventure racers and those folks go in some really remote places.

+1

Although my previous attempt earlier today didn't sound nearly as reasonable before I clicked back on my browser.

[ScottyB]

here is good site for toyota trucks: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.yotatech.com/">http://www.yotatech.com/</a><!-- m -->

this is exactly what i need to read up on....thanks

i know this is probably expected from me, but have you thought of full size blazers?
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/car/266572657.html">http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ ... 72657.html</a><!-- m -->

actually, i haven't. they're pretty big, but at the same time not that much bigger really. i'm not sure that we actually need something that monstrous. tempting though, i'll keep an eye out.

Scotty - If you are really serious about buying a cherokee I can ask my dad for his opinions. He's a master tech with almost 20 years experience at a Jeep/Subaru dealer.

i'm about as serious as you can be without taking a test drive...which is the next big step because with 2 live axles i'm hoping the on-road ride won't destroy me. i'm still in the info gathering stage so i'll keep your offer in mind....thanks. also, i had no idea about the tranny probs. shame, considering the 4.0 I-6 is such an icon of longevity.

Scotty what about a used Land Rover Discovery?

i want reliability and utility, NOT a mall-crawler :lol: they're cool, just too bad the parts counter guys know their customers by name.

truck > suv

tell me about it. thing is, Jen will drive this thing too and she has to carry more than 1 or 2 other people from time to time and a crew cab is getting to the point where if you want the room inside and room in the bed you're looking at a big vehicle. we also want to be able to throw stuff in the back and not worry about it being stolen/rained on when we leave the truck (i.e. expensive fishing gear, bikes, etc)

Okay, pardon me for being a lame ass but have you considered an Outback or a Forester?

don't even get me started. i'd do anything to get my hands on one instead of driving a canyonero but Jen wants nothing to do with them. i have faught tooth and nail, and risked nights on the couch trying to get her to come to her senses but i failed. at the very least i can say that we may be needing to tow things in the future and those cars probably aren't the best bet. also, i would hate doing routine maintainance on those engines outside of an oil change.


thanks guys! i'll see what else i can dig up.

[navin]

I'm more than satisfied with my new (to me) 4Runner. Plenty of power for a DD, and if I really needed to I could tow my car + trailer.

Although I wish i had got the limited (leather + fender flares), the regular ass SR5 is good enough for me, i just wanted to bling out.

I've been browsing through some toyota forums, the mainly the only problems I have been constantly seeing is getting the 90k service done, and warped rotors...

Another bad thing for buyers is that 4Runners re-sale value doesn't really seem to drop much, eventhough the 4Runner I picked up we got the seller to drop his price by $1,000.

Good luck Scotty - i'll throw in a vote for a 4Runner, plus the rear window is money if you have dogs

[ScottyB]

I've been browsing through some toyota forums, the mainly the only problems I have been constantly seeing is getting the 90k service done, and warped rotors...

what exactly does teh service entail? i can't find an accurate description. as for warpage, well...hopefully a nice set of pads can take care of that.

i love that power rear window 8)

[NTIman]

4 Runner all the way. I guess I am biased being a Toyota Tech. But yeah, the problem with the 3.0 Liter engines and headgaskets is that they put them on backwards or upside down or some shit at the factory. Most of them have been fixed already, usually under the recall, once they realized they screwed up. I wouldn't buy a 3.0Liter 4 runner or truck, simply because they are bitches to work on. you literall have to take everything apart to do anything. The 3.4 L though, is a great engine, and TRD also offers a supercharger for it that is easy to install, if you wanted a boosted SUV. Also, the 2.7 Liter 4 cylinder was offered for a while, and they actually have a shit ton of power for a 4 cylinder. I believe some of the older ones had the 22R, which is an engine that will literally run forever.

EDIT: Rotors are pretty much going to warp on anything that heavy anyway. We don't see a huge amount of complaints with them, but it does happen.

90K services are rather pricey, as with any service, but in all reality, you could do it yourself if you had a free weekend. The timing belts aren't hard to put on, as long as you give yourself time, and have the tool to hold the tensioner out.

We occasionally see 02 sensor problems, and sometimes MAF sensor problems, but nothing major

All in all, a very reliable vehicle.

[ScottyB]

I believe some of the older ones had the 22R, which is an engine that will literally run forever.

yeah i think that's the 22RE. all i ever hear is how people basically mistreat them for years on end and they will not die, ever. the 'runners with that engine are too old for me though.

if i was getting a V6 it would be the 3.4 most likely as those are 10 years old or less, which will put me at the milage i want.

[navin]

90k service mainly for what i have read is timing belt, but im planning on going ahead and doing waterpump, and drive belts while at it..

[JustinG]

i would go with the xterra, trucks are horrible for offroading unless they have a shorter wheel base. The cherokee, try and get in and out of the back of one of those things, im 6'3, my roomate has an older Cherokee, and i basically have to dive in headfirst to get in and out of the back seat. I have always wanted an xterra, and it may be my next vehicle when i get out of college. If i had to choose, xterra or older yota SUV.

[NTIman]

Yeah they are rather old at that point.
The 3.4 is a great choice.
90K services usually include:
Oil Change
Tire Rotation
timing belt replacement
Coolant replacement
Check all fluids
check most bolts on vehicle

You might as well figure on replacing the water pump as well, its not included, might or might not be leaking, but when its torn apart, you may as well go ahead and have it done.

[Mike]

my vote goes xterra.

[ScottyB]

hmm, i will have to be really particular about the 4runners i look at then, because i really can't factor in a huge job like a t-belt/water pump replacement after dropping a new block in the audi and buying the new truck in the first place. hrrrrmmm. where do you draw the line between "this is old" and "it's OK that it's old because it will run forever".... i know 'yotas are pretty beast but i just don't know what to expect i guess, since i KNOW i'll have to buy old to afford it.

Justin, i hear you on the rear seat of those cherokees. it's like you have to climb through the wheel well! it may be a deal breaker for us. they're so damn functional though, i love that!

so far the xterra seems promising because the early ones are not that pricey if they have over 50k on them. they aren't too luxo either, so i won't feel bad about getting it all muddy. can't go wrong with the weak, but bulletproof VG33E engine either.

[ViPER1313]

Any Chevrolet with the 4.3l is a tank - get something like this and save up for something nicer, or just fix the tranny on the Explorer and have 2 nice SUVs for cheap.

Hell, my cousin flipped his S10 on its side - engine still ran great (only changed oil after he flipped it back over.) Ran into a parked car at 40mph a month later, totaling the truck - engine was still running when it was smashed up .

[navin]

fwiw: I got quoted about $550ish for parts/labor for doing a timing belt/waterpump on the 4Runner.

Also Scotty, when i was looking i found a couple of 4Runners on craigslist with 90k service done already, and around the 10k price range which IMO is pretty decent.

[Ryan T]

Changing the timing belt and water pump on a 4runner is not difficult. My friend and I did it in a day, taking our time and screwing around. I believe he spent around $150 in parts.