thoughts on a new ride

[jeepster]

My wife has a 2008 vw jetta, and its an awesome car, as far as "car-cars" go, however it does not fit our lifestyle. It's great for just getting around town, and is decent on fuel, but it has crappy ground clearance, its fwd, it gets stuck in the driveway, scrapes on anything bigger than a speed bump, and once you put a kid and my bird dog in the back, there isnt any room. Needless to say its gotta go.

We are looking for something with 4 doors, awd or 4wd, preferably a diesel, but not mandatory, with enough room...

I love my wrangler but that's a 2 seater, and I couldn't possibly do a kid a wife a big dog and gear, so I have a few ideas on a new ride, and thought I'd get some input, I figure we have about 6000$ and don't want a payment. Personally I'd opt for a dodge ram with the Cummins diesel but that's too big for her to drive.

The reasons why I have these on the list is we are looking for a vehicle that's just at home driving grocery's accross town as it is off grid back country camping 100 miles down some logging road, so, a light to mid.duty expedition vehicle

Jeep Cherokee/grand Cherokee
Subaru wagon
Toyota Tacoma 4 door
Mitsubishi delica (import from Canada)
Izuzu trooper
Land cruiser/4 runner

Do you guys have any suggestions, opinions, or vehicles to add to my list?

Much thanks

[Timberstalker]

Out of that list, I'd go with the Tacoma.  I've had two of them over the years, and you cannot top them for reliability.  They last forever and require simple maintenance.  Further, out of that list, they will hold their value best.

Hand downs, that's the best option.  Let the arguing begin.

[jackelope]

I'd buy the cleanest, nicest,  lowest mile'd Jeep Cherokee I could find.
Not a Grand Cherokee, but a regular Cherokee.
 

[M_ray]

4runner is not on the list but if you are considering a Tacoma then look at those too! 

[jeepster]

I'd buy the cleanest, nicest,  lowest mile'd Jeep Cherokee I could find.
Not a Grand Cherokee, but a regular Cherokee.
 

The 4.0 is a damn fine engine, just remember to put a zinc additive in the oil for the cam! I love my wrangler and the bullet proof straight 6, but not 14 mpg... Wife wants 20+ but that's probably a pipe dream, best I ever got out of a 4.0 was 17-18/maybe 19 down hill. It's the obvious choice for me, as it simplifies maintenance, but she isn't sold on the Cherokee yet...

[Fshnpole]

I would go tacoma or 4 runner, whichever one suites you better.  Really like the looks of the newer 4 runers. I have 3 toyotas and have no plans on straying from the brand.

[MADMAX]

4 door short box Tacoma
love mine

[bobcat]

You could get over 30 mpg with a Subaru, so I'm thinking that might be your best option.

[jackelope]

I've done the truck with the dog inside thing and I'm not a fan, especially if it's a hunting dog. If you're going to put the dog in the bed of the truck, then that's a non-issue. Hunting dogs trash the inside of trucks. I'd go SUV or wagon and wouldn't even consider a truck again unless you've got plans and/or the means to keep him outside.
My 

[full choke]

We got rid of a Jetta and went with a 4 runner. I have a 4dr tacoma as well. Definetely more room in the back seat of the 4 runner. I don't think you would go wrong with either. Would just come down to personal taste. Pro's and con's for both.

[Special T]

I'd buy the cleanest, nicest,  lowest mile'd Jeep Cherokee I could find.
Not a Grand Cherokee, but a regular Cherokee.
 

Ditto I have one I love it for all the kinds of things you talk about.. a cheep mild 2"lift some 31"tires and your good to go.there are lots of small projucts you can do that make it capable hunting/mild offroad rig that dont break the bank. The inline 6 wont get the nazi wagons milage but you cant hardly destroy them. The rigs can be had pretty reasonable also.

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[DJ_Mack]

I absolutely love my 4dr Tacoma. I have a 1yr old and it is our family vehicle also.


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[jackelope]

I absolutely love my 4dr Tacoma. I have a 1yr old and it is our family vehicle also.


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If you can find one of those for $6k I'll take 2.
 

[Timberstalker]

 

[deerhunter_98520]

I absolutely love my 4dr Tacoma. I have a 1yr old and it is our family vehicle also.


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If you can find one of those for $6k I'll take 2.
 

  he said $6k guys  you could find a 4runner for that price but not a 4door tacoma

[notellumcreek]

i think a lot of people saying tacoma are missing the 6k limit... Subaru is probably going to be the best way to go for 6k my cousin has a forester gets good gas packs his bird dog around with ski gear. He paid around 7k for his with under 100k miles on it.

[DJ_Mack]

I totally missed the $6000 part.  For that price range I would recommend a 96-99 4runner.  They will probably have high mileage but they run like tanks.  I have a 98 that has 230K and is strong.  My parents just sold their 97 that had 270K on it. 

[Curly]

I assume he meant $6k plus the whatever he gets for the Jetta? 

[Buzz2401]

I'd go Subaru.  Love Toyotas but gonna get a better deal on a subaru.

[ghosthunter]

I owned a trooper. I would take it off the list. Not much room with the dog crate in the back.
Check out used Nissan Frontiers . I have owned two and they are great little truks. And a little cheaper price than Toyota .

[BOWHUNTER45]

REALLY ...I Bought my daughter a jetta ..never ever would I recommend that to anyone ..and everyone I ever talked with would agree except you ...hahaha 

[jeepster]

I assume he meant $6k plus the whatever he gets for the Jetta? 

Nope, got a buddy who has said he'd give us 4500$ for the jetta, I assume I can get 1500$ saved up by spring, so 6000$ total. Jetta aint perfect, its got a few dings, honestly, its a deer magnet, blew out the front headlight aassembly after creaming a bambi on the way into Winthrop one evening, its too damn quiet, the deer don't hear or see this thing coming till its too late, almost got one the other day on my road..   Not like my Jeep, that 4.0 with a glasspack sends those buggers running!

[Special T]

Is it an auto or stick?

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[thinkingman]

Toyota is off my list forever after my conversation with their 'Customer Care' last week.

6 years after I pointed out the leaf springs on the 2006+ Tacomas were underengineered and sagging to the point the truck rode on the frame rails (Toyota: no, you're wrong, we make perfect vehicles), a TSB came out for the problem they told me didn't exist (no, you're screwed because you're out of warranty) then a full recall for the problem they told me didn't exist (No, you replaced those perfect springs yourself, we're not refunding anything but the cost of the springs and hardware kit.  We couldn't care less about your experience, cost or frustration).
I politely promised them I would tell anyone and everyone about their arrogance and substandard engineering.
Unless you're a 19yr old wanting to lift it and put a 'FOX MX' sticker on the rear window, I'd go in a different direction.
The Ford Ranger TD conversion in the classifieds would be WAYYYYYYY more appealing to me than a Toyota.
Only benefit of buying Toyota is the number of Koolaid drinkers and above-said 19yr olds willing to pay silly money for them on the used market.

[jeepster]

Is it an auto or stick?

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6 speed manu-matic, autostick with sport mode


So what about the supercharged Nissan frontier? The blower kinda puts me off, as its just another mechanical thing to go wrong, but I know they run low boost so there can't be to much extra wear and tear.... Never looked at the Nissans before, my buddy has an xtera and loves it, but I don't have any experience.....

[Curly]

Have you considered a Jeep Liberty? You could find one with a diesel motor....

[fillthefreezer]

Is it an auto or stick?

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6 speed manu-matic, autostick with sport mode


So what about the supercharged Nissan frontier? The blower kinda puts me off, as its just another mechanical thing to go wrong, but I know they run low boost so there can't be to much extra wear and tear.... Never looked at the Nissans before, my buddy has an xtera and loves it, but I don't have any experience.....

the frontiers get pretty bad mileage. probably 13. they and the xterra also lose tranny coolers and fill the engine with atf

if sticking to the budget, as said, cherokee. i believe its been said 98 or maybe 99 was the best ever made. ive seen a few with 120k or so in that price range. unmolested too.
but in all reality, if you can stomach it, i would deal with the payment and buy a brand new 4runner or tacoma. whichever suits you better. ya theres some sticker shock. but if you do the same research ive done, you'll see that on average for every 10k miles they lose about $1k off retail. 100k trucks are still $20k. 200k $10k. with 1k here for there for age. in september of 2014 we bought my wife a brand new 4runner. its got 52,000 on it now. averages 20-21 with mixed aggressive woman driving. i got 23 from the westside over to the methow. its a monster in the mountains. i come from lifted, locked front and rear toyotas and this thing on street tires just goes! anyway, my.02

[Firedogg]

 I would shop for the best Subaru or Forunner you could find, leaning a bit more to the Subaru.

  The suggestion of a Jeep Liberty is funny, even the guys in the shop at the dealership will tell you to avoid that heap no matter what year it is.