in the market for a new rig

[uplandhunter870]

just in advance half of this is a rant and the other half is a question for opinions

i have a (now deceased) 2000 ranger, yesterday while on my way to the trap range it started smoking real bad. at first i thought i was dripping oil onto the exhaust. got pulled off the freeway and smoke is billowing like a son of a gun from under the hood. first though oh crap im on fire. cautiously pop the hood to be greeted with a real foul smelling smoke, definitely not oil oh man. let the engine cool down and start poking around and notice a sizeable poddle of anit freeze on the ground. im praying i popped or burst a hose, simple fix, older gent stops by and we start looking around and he suggests maybe my heater core went bad. so not wanting to drive it due to the smoke trail that would put an old time steam engine to shame i call up AAA and get towed home. so today after classes i poke around some more, its leaking anti freeze like a sieve. find out that is leaking from the back side of the block next to the fire wall, i dont have the tools time or space to fix this so re enter AAA tow truck, on down to ford it goes.  i doubt it was there more than 45 mins and the head service guy calls me and tells me that its going to cost more to fix it than its worth, great, says the block is cracked need a new engine, theres no oil pressure what so ever (new engine wont solve this), guy that installed my tranny totally fubared the cooling system and it would have to be redone and my ac needs a complete overhaul. so its dead in its tracks. of course this had to happen with six weeks left in the school year when im getting down to the bottom of my money and am out of emergency cash.

so i'll be headed back to wenatchee (somehow) this weekend to pick up my grandmothers mini van, shes in assisted living and said i could barrow her van until school is out and i get back to the valley for work this summer.

so heres my question:
i got a job lined up in wenatchee for the summer that i can make some decent scratch. i wont be able to seriously look at buying anything until late june or early july.

if you were in the market for a good used truck/suv what would you be looking for or what are your experiences with various makes and models. ive only owned two rigs in my life, the old family van when i got my license and my now deceased ranger that i bought for a song and dance at the long fibre winton mill surplus auction when they moth balled the mill in late 05

id love to walk down to bozeman ford tomorrow and say give me what ya can for my dead rig and papers for a new ranger/F-150 but i cant afford payments just yet

Thanks
Uplander

[SemperFidelis97]

I personally would find a little Toyota pickup preferebly with the 22RE in it that has to be one of the most bulletproof rigs out there, and they are great off road to boot.  I used to have a 95 Tacoma that was one of the best trucks I have owned unfortunately it couldn't survive getting rear ended on I-5 by a guy who didn't see we were stopped when he was doing 70 on his cell phone.

[bobcat]

I'd look for the same truck as what you had, maybe just a couple years newer, hopefully with the 4.0 V6 and a manual transmission, 4 wheel drive of course. Toyotas are great but I don't like the high resale. If you can find a good deal that would be fine but as popular as they are, good deals can be few and far between. If I were to buy a Toyota I would almost rather buy new. And obviously you can't afford new right now.

[fish vacuum]

I personally would find a little Toyota pickup preferebly with the 22RE in it that has to be one of the most bulletproof rigs out there, and they are great off road to boot. 

This, but I'd prefer the 2.7 over the 2.4 (22re). One major drawback is that the seats are uncomfortable if you're tall. Without more info on your specific needs and budget it's hard to say.

[C-Money]

Another vote for an older Toyota. I run a 87 4x2 4 speed with the 22R engine. I drive that little truck all over the place! It was beat up by an airline, which was the original owner. It looks rough, but rides, runs and drives great! 33MPG! The VP of the small airline was calling to have the pickup towed to the junk yard when I offered to buy it. He said $10 and its yours! Best ten bucks I ever spent! I put it on a car dolly and towed it home. Plugs, wires, cap, rotor, fuel pump, fuel filter, Ran like a top!

Another Ranger would also be a great option, I would buy a manual in either a Ranger or a Toyota.

[netcoyote]

I haven't owned Toyotas or Rangers but I have friends who have and found them very reliable. Personally I have a '97 Nissan truck, 2.4 liter, 4x4 that I bought new and still use as a daily driver (160k miles). The truck is bullet-proof and I prefer it over all my bigger rigs for mountain travel on rough roads. I'd stay away from the V-6 engine on the older Nissans (pre-98 "Hard body), they used timing belts. The 4 cyl is chain drive. Avoid the auto trans also.
Sometimes you can find Nissans to be cheaper than Toyotas. I think there are more aftermarket off-road parts for Toys which makes them attractive but if you are not going to spend a ton of money on hopping it up, Nissan may be worth looking at.

[swanny]

I'd look at an older Toyota too. It's on my list to purchase as a daily driver/mountain rig. Something reliable, gets okay mileage, has parts everywhere, and can go anywhere you need it to. Throw a canopy on it and your set.

I know I might get some flack, but a Subara Outback is also a great vehicle that will get you to most places you may need or want to go. They get mid 20's for mileage and you can pack a weekends worth of gear in them no problem.

[washingtonwillie88]

looks like the all mighty yota is the choice. i LOVE the, i have had 2 different toyotas and i love them they are amazing and bullet proof with proper maintenance they will fun forever 22R for life

[threedwizard]

If you need a truck, I'll chime in with the Toyota or the Nissan, both good rigs and tough. In laws had a Nissan that went 175,000 and I had a Toyota that did the same.

If you don't need a truck, I would look to an older Jeep? The Wranglers are great off road, tons of aftermarket parts. My friend I hunt with has a 04' Jeef and we beat it every year elk hunting. Never left us on the mountain and still gets around everywhere. Also plenty of them out there foe a good price.

[Bofire]

  In that price range, budget, I would forget about brand and look for a rig you know has been maintained. Maybe a private party or someone you know. The more bells and whistles you get the more it costs BUT is not any more dependable, I am talking big tires, fancy paint, wheels, stereos, 4X4 etc.
Carl

[bobcat]

In that price range, budget, I would forget about brand and look for a rig you know has been maintained. Maybe a private party or someone you know. The more bells and whistles you get the more it costs BUT is not any more dependable, I am talking big tires, fancy paint, wheels, stereos, 4X4 etc.
Carl

 

You don't want one that's already been lifted, and has monster size tires on it, that has been off roaded hard. Get one that is stock and has never left the pavement if you can find one like that.  And preferably no electric windows, power door locks, or any of that kind of thing that will cost you money when it quits working.

[uplandhunter870]

thanks for the comments everyone

im not particularly dead set on a truck, although i would prefer one, basically i need a good dependable reliable set of wheels that can handle going out in the woods and the make shift roads of the norther great plains that i hunt and be good in snow/winter conditions.

immediate budget is "not happening" eventual budget once i get some summer paychecks cashed will most likely be under 10k, parents said they would help and could possibly chip in a grand or two later in the summer.

i know subarus are a good go anywhere a truck can rig, but after living in bozeman for almost 2 years now general perception of subaru drivers is to say the least not a group i want to be associated with  and the few ive ridden in i find the seats to be ungodly uncomfortable.

thanks again everyone
Uplander

[bobcat]

I guess you could also look at a standard cab F150. Gas mileage probably won't be that much different than a smaller truck. Well, with the exception of the 4 cylinder Toyota, I think they are pretty good bad on gas. But Nissan's are terrible for a small truck. I think full size trucks go for dirt cheap prices now due to the high cost of gas so you might find a bargain on one. Heck my full size Chevy Silverado does almost as good as my little Ford Bronco 2 on gas. Truck gets about 15, Bronco gets around 17.

[Cylvertip]

Nissan with a V-6  has prooven to be fairly bomb proof - currently running a 96 Pathfinder as a DD with no issues other than routine  and 170K.  Had an 88 Hardbody that I sold with 230K on it in 2000.  I still saw it driving around in 2009. I wheeled the heck out of it ,towed boats all over the state, and the hammer was down most of the time.  Never had any engine issues with it that were not routine.  It didn't even burn or leak any oil.  A bit less coin than a comparable yota.

Those Ford V-6's in the Rangers seem pretty bomb proof too. 

All of these are going to get you some where between 15 and 18 mpg with 4x4.

The Toyota  4 bangers last, but the v-6's seem to puke around 150K - at least up until the late 90's models they did- not sure about the 00's.   low to mid 20's mpg with 4x4

Maybe a Yota Rav4 or a suby for better milage.  25ish  rav4 ,  and 30+ on the suby with 4x4

[huntinhick]

after researching for cars for my soon to be 16 yo daughter and setting myself for a budget of no more than 6,000 I found that IMO the jeep Cherokees (not grand Cherokees), Nissan pathfinders, and Suzuki sidekicks to be the best buys for the price.  We ended up going with a 96 Cherokee that we got for 3700 that came with brand new tires.  I love my 05 liberty CRD (diesel) and you can pick those up for around 10,000 to 12,000.  One thing about an older Cherokee besides getting it for a good price is that there are a ton of parts on the market which makes it cheaper to mod or work on than most.

carl