Thinking of getting a new vehicle, suggestions?

saskatchewanian · 2012-02-29, 06:57 AM

My current 4 wheeled contraption is getting to the point where I think it would make sense to replace it this summer. I am getting sick of fixing it all the time.

My ideal vehicle would have:
4x4 with limited slip/locking differentials (or at least AWD)
Hold 4 adults comfortably with equipment/luggage
Have at least 6' of flat cargo room in the back with seats folded/removed
Hold a 36" unicycle in the back with the wheel vertical
Rated to tow moderate loads (16" boat, trailer with two snowmobiles, etc)
Comfortable for driver (and hopefully the passengers too) on *long* rides
Decent fuel economy
Tough enough that I can drive on northern "roads" without it falling apart.
start well in the cold
Not cost an arm and a leg

Anyone know any vehicles that fit that description?

I currently have a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport. I bought it in New Brunswick in Dec 2008 with 112000km on it.

It is now over 300000km, the tailpipe fell off last year (but the cat/muffler are still there so I am not worrying about it, thought the muffler is starting to go) The back end is sagged out (I lifted the back 1.5" and it is still lower than it is supposed to be) I put new struts in in 2009 but they are gone as well. It has lingering vibration and alignment issues. I spent $1800 on a full alignment with new cams etc before my last road-trip and it is starting to pull again. The transmission wines in 4th, and leaks fluid. It will randomly stall when stopped. The driver seat is pretty much collapsed and sometimes falls backwards if I put my weight back or hit a bump hard... and a bunch of other little things.

knoxuni · 2012-02-29, 11:59 AM

I am going to recoment a 96-2001 4runner or a 2003-2006 runner. two different body styles. or you could try a subaru wagon...

harper · 2012-02-29, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saskatchewanian

Rated to tow moderate loads (16" boat, ... etc)

You can tow a 16 inch boat with your unicycle. Karen and I had a brown car once. It was the best one we ever owned. Our red cars haven't been too good.

Into the blue · 2012-02-29, 06:58 PM

You may have a problem getting the 36 in the back.

skilewis74 · 2012-02-29, 08:55 PM

Wasn't that one of the Bat-mobiles?

You can fit a 36 virtically in a SUV? I would have thought you'd need a van to get the vertical clearance.

Budget?

How about a newer Subaru Forester 2009 or later for something more economical (you would have to slant the 36 or flat w/ the seats down.

Ereksonj · 2012-03-01, 05:03 AM

Check out the 4 door Chevy s10 blazer / GMC Jimmy. They are cheap and have that 4.3L vortech v6 that is incredibly reliable. They also have 4wd with positraction. They stopped making them in 2004 I think, but there was a ton of the made, so parts are easy and cheap to find.

saskatchewanian · 2012-03-01, 07:35 AM

I am thinking of getting something new/newish. I have always bought my vehicles outright but thinking of financing this one. I figure I could comfortably afford something in the $20-30,000 range. Depending how the summer goes I might be able to go a bit higher.

I just punched some numbers and it is ridiculous how much money goes into keeping a vehicle going. looks like in the last 3 years I spent something like $53,000 keeping my current vehicle going (including gas, oil, maintenance, insurance). That is a lot of money to spend on something I never really liked in the first place.

Knox: I had a 97 Limited Edition 4Runner for a while and loved it. If it didn't go off a little cliff in Quebec all those years ago I might not have started this thread. It had over 400,000km and rock solid. If I could afford a new one I would be very tempted to get another.

Harper: good point, and I have carried a unicycle on a snowmobile in the past...

I had a white truck once, it pretty fun. I have had good results with green. My current vehicle is red. Maybe I will go for a brown one this time.

Blue: I guess I should have added: under 8'6" width to my preferences, but I didn't think it was going to be an issue.

Skilewis: a 36er fit upright in a 97 4Runner and my current 01 Explorer but I had to angle it in a 93 Jeep Grand Caravan.

Eriksonj: I wish there were more of that style SUV made today with a more efficient engines and lower price tags. I like the idea of a SUV body on a 1/4 ton frame.

larajane · 2012-03-12, 07:50 AM

Sounds like you have had a fun summer. I was car shopping last summer and explored every option from SUV's to sedans. I had my heart set on a Toyota Tundra but I didn't want to fork out a ton of cash at the gas pump. The vehicle I really liked was the Chevy HHR. It has a cool retro look. Gets good gas mileage and had plenty of room for my family of four. I could drop down the back seats and fit a longboard on the inside. I really wanted to buy one. I made the mistake of taking my wife with me to look at them and she ended up with a new mini van and I still have the same 11 year old Nissan Pathfinder thats pushing 200K miles. Oh well.........check out the Chevy HHR they can be had for less than 10 grand

_____________________________
anatomy of the human body

saskatchewanian · 2012-03-12, 01:25 PM

Just had a look at the HHR, looks like it would be a great roadtrip vehicle, but maybe not such a great "up north" vehicle. I also wouldn't be able to tow anything.

Travelling right now in a F350, hauling 2000lbs of gear in a custom wide box and getting better fuel economy than I do with my little explorer. It seems crazy but it makes the fuel efficiency numbers for some full sized trucks more believable.

I still have a hard time believing 9.5 L/100km on a full sized truck with 4x4.

Harley · 2012-03-12, 03:15 PM

Hey Eric.

Did some measuring on the wife's CRV.

It should have enough height to handle the 36 but with the seats folded up you only get about 4.5' of length. Which might make for tight sleeping quarters. Even with the rear seats removed you would be hard pressed to get 6'.

aarons · 2012-03-12, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saskatchewanian

I still have a hard time believing 9.5 L/100km on a full sized truck with 4x4.

<off topic>
I wish we would measure fuel economy in gallons / 100 miles in the US. It would make comparing much easier. mpg makes no sense.
</off topic>

maestro8 · 2012-03-12, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saskatchewanian

Travelling right now in a F350, hauling 2000lbs of gear in a custom wide box and getting better fuel economy than I do with my little explorer. It seems crazy but it makes the fuel efficiency numbers for some full sized trucks more believable.

If efficiency is your thing, why not look at diesel? Is that off the table?

Really, I don't think you can have your cake and eat it too. Either you get a vehicle that can haul or a vehicle that can save gas.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aarons

mpg makes no sense

Wishing for something as whimsical as mpg vs. gpm makes no sense.

aarons · 2012-03-13, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maestro8

Wishing for something as whimsical as mpg vs. gpm makes no sense.

Blah blah. Snark snark

Nurse Ben · 2012-03-12, 05:57 PM

After seeing the load of stuff in Eric's Explorer and hearing about how he likes to drive on heavilly rutted and potholed dirt roads, a lightweight SUV is not going to cut it. CRV is a nice car that has sorta all wheel drive. I have an Element, same running gear, not a bad little car for paved roads, but they are not off road compatible on the scale needed in the great white north

Eric, a truck or a full sized SUV would be your best bet, a good AWD van would be nice but they are scarce these days. I'm holding out for the new Ford van set to replace the Econoline:

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2012/03...-ecoboost.html

Ecoboost, rear wheel drive, and possibility of TDI and AWD in the future

Samstoney · 2012-03-12, 06:18 PM

These go anywhere and get reasonable mileage too:

http://www.imz-ural.com/gearup/

Sam

2012-02-29, 06:57 AM	#1
saskatchewanian ERIC P Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Denare Beach, Saskatchewan, Canada Age: 27 Posts: 5,244	Thinking of getting a new vehicle, suggestions? My current 4 wheeled contraption is getting to the point where I think it would make sense to replace it this summer. I am getting sick of fixing it all the time. My ideal vehicle would have: 4x4 with limited slip/locking differentials (or at least AWD) Hold 4 adults comfortably with equipment/luggage Have at least 6' of flat cargo room in the back with seats folded/removed Hold a 36" unicycle in the back with the wheel vertical Rated to tow moderate loads (16" boat, trailer with two snowmobiles, etc) Comfortable for driver (and hopefully the passengers too) on long rides Decent fuel economy Tough enough that I can drive on northern "roads" without it falling apart. start well in the cold Not cost an arm and a leg Anyone know any vehicles that fit that description? I currently have a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport. I bought it in New Brunswick in Dec 2008 with 112000km on it. It is now over 300000km, the tailpipe fell off last year (but the cat/muffler are still there so I am not worrying about it, thought the muffler is starting to go) The back end is sagged out (I lifted the back 1.5" and it is still lower than it is supposed to be) I put new struts in in 2009 but they are gone as well. It has lingering vibration and alignment issues. I spent $1800 on a full alignment with new cams etc before my last road-trip and it is starting to pull again. The transmission wines in 4th, and leaks fluid. It will randomly stall when stopped. The driver seat is pretty much collapsed and sometimes falls backwards if I put my weight back or hit a bump hard... and a bunch of other little things. __________________ My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world. - Jack Layton Last edited by saskatchewanian; 2012-02-29 at 06:59 AM.

2012-02-29, 11:59 AM	#2
knoxuni wes style!! Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: central ohio Age: 18 Posts: 4,681	I am going to recoment a 96-2001 4runner or a 2003-2006 runner. two different body styles. or you could try a subaru wagon... __________________ Be a dumbass experience dumbass consequences its full circle of dumbass And then, do it again. That makes it an infinite loop!

2012-02-29, 08:55 PM	#5
skilewis74 Stupidity gets you 2 of these: Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Santa Rosa, Ca. Age: 38 Posts: 3,825	Wasn't that one of the Bat-mobiles? You can fit a 36 virtically in a SUV? I would have thought you'd need a van to get the vertical clearance. Budget? How about a newer Subaru Forester 2009 or later for something more economical (you would have to slant the 36 or flat w/ the seats down. __________________ Ride everywhere and never just ride anywhere. If you can ride where you are going within a hour, do it, and if you can do a trick 50-75% of the time do it along the way.- Bob Burnquist What's next? Learn2Ride&doTricks TrialsClasses&Building Last edited by skilewis74; 2012-02-29 at 08:58 PM.

2012-03-01, 05:03 AM	#6
Ereksonj Registered User Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Ogden, Utah Age: 19 Posts: 256	Check out the 4 door Chevy s10 blazer / GMC Jimmy. They are cheap and have that 4.3L vortech v6 that is incredibly reliable. They also have 4wd with positraction. They stopped making them in 2004 I think, but there was a ton of the made, so parts are easy and cheap to find. __________________ "Cobra on my left, leopard on my right!" -Jim Morrison

2012-03-01, 07:35 AM	#7
saskatchewanian ERIC P Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Denare Beach, Saskatchewan, Canada Age: 27 Posts: 5,244	I am thinking of getting something new/newish. I have always bought my vehicles outright but thinking of financing this one. I figure I could comfortably afford something in the $20-30,000 range. Depending how the summer goes I might be able to go a bit higher. I just punched some numbers and it is ridiculous how much money goes into keeping a vehicle going. looks like in the last 3 years I spent something like $53,000 keeping my current vehicle going (including gas, oil, maintenance, insurance). That is a lot of money to spend on something I never really liked in the first place. Knox: I had a 97 Limited Edition 4Runner for a while and loved it. If it didn't go off a little cliff in Quebec all those years ago I might not have started this thread. It had over 400,000km and rock solid. If I could afford a new one I would be very tempted to get another. Harper: good point, and I have carried a unicycle on a snowmobile in the past... I had a white truck once, it pretty fun. I have had good results with green. My current vehicle is red. Maybe I will go for a brown one this time. Blue: I guess I should have added: under 8'6" width to my preferences, but I didn't think it was going to be an issue. Skilewis: a 36er fit upright in a 97 4Runner and my current 01 Explorer but I had to angle it in a 93 Jeep Grand Caravan. Eriksonj: I wish there were more of that style SUV made today with a more efficient engines and lower price tags. I like the idea of a SUV body on a 1/4 ton frame. __________________ My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world. - Jack Layton

2012-03-12, 07:50 AM	#8
larajane Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 1	Sounds like you have had a fun summer. I was car shopping last summer and explored every option from SUV's to sedans. I had my heart set on a Toyota Tundra but I didn't want to fork out a ton of cash at the gas pump. The vehicle I really liked was the Chevy HHR. It has a cool retro look. Gets good gas mileage and had plenty of room for my family of four. I could drop down the back seats and fit a longboard on the inside. I really wanted to buy one. I made the mistake of taking my wife with me to look at them and she ended up with a new mini van and I still have the same 11 year old Nissan Pathfinder thats pushing 200K miles. Oh well.........check out the Chevy HHR they can be had for less than 10 grand _____________________________ anatomy of the human body

2012-03-12, 01:25 PM	#9
saskatchewanian ERIC P Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Denare Beach, Saskatchewan, Canada Age: 27 Posts: 5,244	Just had a look at the HHR, looks like it would be a great roadtrip vehicle, but maybe not such a great "up north" vehicle. I also wouldn't be able to tow anything. Travelling right now in a F350, hauling 2000lbs of gear in a custom wide box and getting better fuel economy than I do with my little explorer. It seems crazy but it makes the fuel efficiency numbers for some full sized trucks more believable. I still have a hard time believing 9.5 L/100km on a full sized truck with 4x4. __________________ My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world. - Jack Layton

2012-03-12, 03:15 PM	#10
Harley Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 886	Hey Eric. Did some measuring on the wife's CRV. It should have enough height to handle the 36 but with the seats folded up you only get about 4.5' of length. Which might make for tight sleeping quarters. Even with the rear seats removed you would be hard pressed to get 6'. __________________ Always remember: With patience and perseverance you can piss a hole through a rock.

2012-03-12, 05:57 PM	#14
Nurse Ben XC Muni Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Southeast USA Age: 47 Posts: 3,964	After seeing the load of stuff in Eric's Explorer and hearing about how he likes to drive on heavilly rutted and potholed dirt roads, a lightweight SUV is not going to cut it. CRV is a nice car that has sorta all wheel drive. I have an Element, same running gear, not a bad little car for paved roads, but they are not off road compatible on the scale needed in the great white north Eric, a truck or a full sized SUV would be your best bet, a good AWD van would be nice but they are scarce these days. I'm holding out for the new Ford van set to replace the Econoline: http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2012/03...-ecoboost.html Ecoboost, rear wheel drive, and possibility of TDI and AWD in the future

2012-03-12, 06:18 PM	#15
Samstoney semi-skilled laborer Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Littleton, MA Age: 51 Posts: 109	These go anywhere and get reasonable mileage too: http://www.imz-ural.com/gearup/ Sam

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