• What is a better option for a cheap, somewhat reliable SUV
    35 replies, posted
Would I be better off, in terms of gas mileage and overall reliability, with an 87-95 Nissan Pathfinder or a 91-95 Toyota 4Runner? Also, if you've ever been the owner of such a vehicle, please share any advice you have for keeping it maintained.
4 Runners are pretty tanky as far as reliability goes, so I'd go with one of them.
I think you should be looking at a Jeep, the 4.0L and AW4 trans they have in the Cherokees are bulletproof. Mine just rolled 239k the other day, all original parts except for the compressor. But i agree with the above statement if you're just looking at those two.
What about a Subaru Forester? Gets better gas millage then the two SUV's you posted. Also has great reliability.
[I]Somewhat[/I] reliable you say? Sir I suggest you buy American.
[QUOTE=Bettler;35065046]I think you should be looking at a Jeep, the 4.0L and AW4 trans they have in the Cherokees are bulletproof. Mine just rolled 239k the other day, all original parts except for the compressor. But i agree with the above statement if you're just looking at those two.[/QUOTE] Jeeps are completely hit-and-miss with reliability. You see some owners go 200k miles with no problems, and other people having [I]constant[/I] problems. My uncle use to drive a company Jeep, and it went through half a dozen alternators and a few transmissions in just a few years.
[QUOTE=Dip;35067723][I]Somewhat[/I] reliable you say? Sir I suggest you buy American.[/QUOTE] I agree with this. But honestly, now it all depends on how you treat cars. No doubt something will go wrong since the cars are up there in age. But why "somewhat"? Wouldn't you want a completely reliable car? A somewhat reliable car will cost you more in the long run than a slightly more expensive reliable one.
Out of the 2, Toyota I would say. But.. dirt cheap and reliable.. Get a 90's Jeep. I see them over 200,000mi fairly often.
[QUOTE=Second-gear-of-mgear;35069413] But why "somewhat"? Wouldn't you want a completely reliable car? A somewhat reliable car will cost you more in the long run than a slightly more expensive reliable one.[/QUOTE] poor word choice on my part. okay so a 90's cherokee then? I only brought up the 2 Japanese makes because I wanted something with decent gas mileage
The Jeep will probably get around the same Mileage as the other two. Engines back then weren't very efficient in both power and mpg. It was one or the other. They all have roughly the same engine sizes. It's literally down to what you'd like more. Test drive them and find out if possible.
[QUOTE=blooregardo;35072927]poor word choice on my part. okay so a 90's cherokee then? I only brought up the 2 Japanese makes because I wanted something with decent gas mileage[/QUOTE] It's hard to find a 90's SUV with "good" mileage. It really is. Remember, in the 90's gas was under $2 a gallon. Fuel efficiency wasn't a top priority for auto makers.
dude chereokees get great mileage. mines gets an impressive 12
[QUOTE=Saber15;35067805]Jeeps are completely hit-and-miss with reliability. You see some owners go 200k miles with no problems, and other people having [I]constant[/I] problems. My uncle use to drive a company Jeep, and it went through half a dozen alternators and a few transmissions in just a few years.[/QUOTE] I mean, no car is perfectly built [i]every single time[/i]. Jeeps have historically been very reliable, and the 90s were no exception. I still see many mid to late 90s Jeep Cherokees on the road here in Iowa, and I know a friend who has a 95 or 96 Wrangler that he'd trust his life with. Just because you didn't have great results with them doesn't mean the majority shared your experience.
what about a Honda CR-V? or is that too pricey, even for a 1st gen?
[QUOTE=MrWhite;35074616]I mean, no car is perfectly built [i]every single time[/i]. Jeeps have historically been very reliable, and the 90s were no exception. I still see many mid to late 90s Jeep Cherokees on the road here in Iowa, and I know a friend who has a 95 or 96 Wrangler that he'd trust his life with. Just because you didn't have great results with them doesn't mean the majority shared your experience.[/QUOTE] I agree with him though. My jeep has been a nightmare up until the last couple months yet I have friends that have never ever had a single issue
Blazer maybe? Little 2-door blazers are gas-sippers.
[QUOTE=Penis Colada;35074644]what about a Honda CR-V? or is that too pricey, even for a 1st gen?[/QUOTE] [IMG]http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q213/C0nK3r_r3d/Screenshot2011-07-05at91437PM.png[/IMG] CRV- -good mpgs ~30 if you dont drive like a cunt -kinda gay looking but whatever -the awd is fucking crazy if you hammer down around cones in a dry parking lot -OK offroad if you consider offroad to be hard packed dirt
That's a pretty sweet action shot.
I was thinking 1st gen: [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/1st-Honda-CR-V_.jpg/800px-1st-Honda-CR-V_.jpg[/img]
My 1987 Bronco II gets ~18 city and 22 highway. Pretty nice for an 80s 2.9L V6.
[QUOTE=Second-gear-of-mgear;35081705]That's a pretty sweet action shot.[/QUOTE] [IMG]http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q213/C0nK3r_r3d/Screenshot2011-09-11at14659AM.png[/IMG] and then we landed
[QUOTE=Concur;35089078][IMG]http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q213/C0nK3r_r3d/Screenshot2011-09-11at14659AM.png[/IMG] and then we landed[/QUOTE] damage report?
Cracked to shit windshield Bent hood, sat crooked air dam shit got raped Radiator went from having horizontal lines to looking like a big frown Hurt the fuck out of my neck too :v: [editline]11th March 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Penis Colada;35085012]I was thinking 1st gen: [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/1st-Honda-CR-V_.jpg/800px-1st-Honda-CR-V_.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] [img]http://gyazo.breakpointservers.com/471dc6fedef7f80ae662bd387dead960.png[/img] I hate that little window thing in the back, you cant hang your arm out without sitting all retarded.
[QUOTE=Concur;35089301]Cracked to shit windshield Bent hood, sat crooked air dam shit got raped Radiator went from having horizontal lines to looking like a big frown Hurt the fuck out of my neck too :v: [editline]11th March 2012[/editline] [img]http://gyazo.breakpointservers.com/471dc6fedef7f80ae662bd387dead960.png[/img] I hate that little window thing in the back, you cant hang your arm out without sitting all retarded.[/QUOTE] sounds like you bent the frame too? also, the little window thing is so the big window can fit in the door when you roll it down
A mid-to-late 80s Cherokee with a 4.0L and 5-speed manual will average about 17MPG and be pretty reliable. The four liter six is bulletproof, and the transmission issues were all automatics, the manuals are pretty good. You can also acquire a 4-cyl Chevy Blazer with a manual. It will be gutless as all fuck, but it will get about 20MPG. A 4.3 Blazer will get about 17 average with a MT, 15 with an AT.
[QUOTE=TestECull;35092844]A mid-to-late 80s Cherokee with a 4.0L and 5-speed manual will average about 17MPG and be pretty reliable. The four liter six is bulletproof, and the transmission issues were all automatics, the manuals are pretty good. You can also acquire a 4-cyl Chevy Blazer with a manual. It will be gutless as all fuck, but it will get about 20MPG. A 4.3 Blazer will get about 17 average with a MT, 15 with an AT.[/QUOTE] What? I've never, ever heard of a Cherokee getting more than 14 mixed or a Blazer getting more than 14 mixed.
[QUOTE=q0q;35093515]What? I've never, ever heard of a Cherokee getting more than 14 mixed or a Blazer getting more than 14 mixed.[/QUOTE] That lines up with the automatic models, which are the majority. The manual ones get 2-3MPG better than the automatics because manuals don't have slip and parasitic drag built into them. The fluid pump, and any RPM slip in the torque converter(200-400RPM on average, lockup converters only solve this >45MPH), eat up fuel. It also doesn't help matter that people mash on the throttle all the time. Drive like that and even a civic or Prius is gonna get shit mileage.
[QUOTE=Penis Colada;35090784]sounds like you bent the frame too? also, the little window thing is so the big window can fit in the door when you roll it down[/QUOTE] doesn't seem bent :v: car has been through hell and back though, his evap system was dangling under the car and we got it stuck in water for hours and it sucked water in through the hoses the whole night. Got it unstuck, drove 20 feet, then the engine died.
Hilux Surf? Depends on your definition of SUV? I don't know. but fuck, I would love to own a Hilux Surf.
I have a 97 jeep gran Cherokee. Still chugging after 245k miles with almost all original parts.
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