Used compact SUV search - input wanted

[surfstar]

I’m looking to buy a compact SUV mainly for camping/hiking/climbing trips. Want to spend less than $5k, less than $4k even better. It doesn’t need to be 4wd/AWD (just need a little bit of ground clearance for some roads) and I’d prefer a manual for mpg and reliability. It needs to get 25+ mpg highway, as most of my trips would be 600-700 miles round trip, so even though it’s a second vehicle and non-daily-driver, I really need a compact one that gets good mpg.
After research and pricing, I’ve started to narrow down to the following:

• ~99 Rav4 pros: best mpg in class w/ manual 2wd cons: holds value, so I need to buy older and/or higher mileage; small; underpowered moreso than others
• 01 CRV pros: larger than Rav4 cons: burnt valves? still can’t afford newer models with better mpg #s
• 01-03 Escape/Tribute (must be 2wd & manual) pros: newer cons: hard to find 4cyl manuals
• 99+ Forester pros: AWD and nearly same mpg as others cons: head gasket issues in my price range model years
• 03 Vue pros: newer cons: must be manual for reliability, might be hard to find; long term reliability?

Any insight on which ones I should avoid? Issues? I know the CRVs and Rav4s can go well into 200k miles with regular maintenance – how about the Vue and Escape/Tribute? I’m sure any engine will last with proper maintenance, but any other issues that pop up with any of these models? I think all of these have timing belts, which annoys me for maintenance $$. I will try to do most work myself, unless I can’t diagnose it.
Your thoughts/input greatly appreciated.

 

[ls1mike]

I have an 07 Equinox with 70,000 miles on it. Gas, oil,tires and brakes so far. Has been rock solid. The wife loves it.
You can get the earlier ones for that. They may have a few miles but the AWD is nice.

 

[AstroTurf]

I'd go Subie...

 

[eljefino]

Would you consider a van or truck with capper? Do you want to sleep in the back to stay away from bears?

A 2wd S10 4 cyl 2.2/ 5 spd can make about 29 MPG and will have a bit more ground clearance.

A caravan expresso (stripped) 4 cyl, 3 speed automatic is kind of reliable if the head gasket holds up.

I went through this (exactly!) looking for a kid mover. VUEs are priced at several times their value. You have to remember "cute utes" were just coming out in y2k and MANY MORE PEOPLE WANT THEM NOW. VUEs preceded Equinoxes which are selling like nuts. And everyone's broke trying to find a "good used car" that's good on gas and lets them sit up high.

You can get a early 2000s explorer with 4 liter v6 and 5 speed, probably 2wd, for $1500-2000. The extra you save will buy a lot of gas. Also consider Cherokee and Grand Cherokees. Many with XJ Cherokees get 23-24 MPG. Keep your foot out of it on the highway for better mileage-- they're lightweight but not aerodynamic. I had one I got at a work auction that held together quite well with abusive idiot coworkers.

 

[fdcg27]

In your price range, I'd look at a Forester or an Outback.
You are looking at 10+ yo machines, so if the 2.5 Subie were going to suffer a head gasket failure, it's probably already happened and been fixed with the upgraded HG.
Another possibility is to find a good 2.2 Subie, which had much less blown HG trouble.
The Subies have the best AWD system in this class, or maybe any class.
Still, since you don't seem to feel the need for AWD, given what you've written in your post, and cost being an issue, you might concentrate on an Escape.
Common, cheap, relaible and easy to find parts for and fix.
Don't worry too much about a 4 cyl.
The V-6 manual won't be much different in fuel consumption real world.

 

[greystone]

I'm gonna say Escape hands down. Been several in my family. last one was traded in with 267,000 miles. Only major repair was a new water pump.

 

[Errtt]

My full size 4WD truck was killing me in gas as I put a little over 2 hours drive time per day. So I went looking for a more economy. I ended up finding a 98 RAV with 71k from an older woman for $5k. I have 140K on it now. Have regular maintenance, and so far never a single issue. It starts and drives. Took me a bit to get used to it. FWD, ground clearance more than the newer. Getting 30mpg out on the road.
I would have never considered a Toyota, but I had bought a used Camry for my youngest to get to college. After a few years (3 or 4), no issues, so I ended up with the RAV. Nothing fancy, not as big as the wife's Escape, nothing in power, but it gets decent mpg for an SUV, gets me up & over the Sierra's in winter, everything works, cheap, so since MPG is better than the truck, I drive it as much as I can now. This one has the timing belt which I replaced, other than that, basic maintenance. Just don't have large cargo room, but I have made use of the roof racks. Its okay I guess.
Not sure what year they went to a little bigger 4-cylinder. I have 2.0, I think they bumped up to 2.2 a few years after. Some newest now have a 6.
Cheap, cheap, and been getting me there and back.

 

[Spazdog]

Why not 2005+ Suzuki Grand Vitara?

The V6 has been described as "an absolute jewel" in comparisons. It's similar in design to the Mazda K-engine.

It's based on the GM Theta chassis like the Vue and Equinox.

The bad is that a 5-speed was availiable but I have yet to see one. And the fuel economy isn't as good as competitors

I also like eljefino's suggestion. Driving a 2000 4.0 Grand Cherokee very conservatively, I was able to keep the mpg display between 19-20 mpg, ...let me emphasize conservatively. But it drove very nicely. The interior was nicely laid out and had more soft surfaces than most Chryslers.
Also liked the Trailblazer. If nothing more than I was shocked at how sharp a GM could turn in a parking lot. You couldn't do that with an earlier Blazer.

 

[meep]

1996 outback had the 2.2L engine. 5spd outbacks IMO are reliable and get mid 20's mpg. forester is shorter IIRC and a little more nimble on tight trails.

gen 1 CRV's are kind of ... unrefined. driveline angles seem weird under power. IDK... my ex had one and I was not very impressed. Subaru was much more solid, by a country mile.

the gen 1 rav 4's are small. very small. Great vehicles, run all day long and then some, but IMO too small for a camping/cargo vehicle on a 600 mile drive.

don't know much on early escapes. i heard the auto's get surprisingly thirsty at the pump with the v6. ???

M

 

[IndyIan]

The early RAV4's had some problem with 5th in their manual trans. Do some research on that before you buy.
If you're OK with 2wd, do some reading on ground clearance with common cars. Vibe/Matrix, Caliber, maybe a Focus wagon, Versa, even an Echo? I don't think many of the little SUV's really have that much more clearance than a car.
I've been on some pretty rough roads with a 91 Escort GT hatchback(stiff suspension, lots of clearance and no overhangs) where you had to straddle ruts but the narrowness of it compared to fullsize pickup made it pretty easy.

You could also add 02-04 4 cyl Tracker/Vitara's to your list. We get 29ish mpg with 4wd, and it has low range which is good for a manual vehicle used off road. Total unscheduled maintenance has been a front axle seal, two sway bar links, and an O2 sensor in 100k miles. Also it has a timing chain. It doesn't have alot of space with the rear seats up though, for 2 or 3 people its fine we find.
Also I'd get 4wd for vehicle like this, not that you are going to go mud bogging, but there might be an interesting road and one little section needs 4wd, its a shame to turn back.

 

[Hokiefyd]

I also like the Cherokee, and if you can find a rust-free one, a Nissan Pathfinder. Both have solid drivetrains and parts are cheap for them.

 

[kkreit01]

I don't think the Cherokee nor Pathfinder will come close to his MPG criteria. I'd vote for the Escape also. I doubt you can find a CRV or RAV in that price range (and still be 100% functional). The prices of used cars are quite high. Used CRVs have always been high to begin with.

 

[addyguy]

Just got the vehicle in my sig 3 months ago.

Wouldn't trade it for the world - perfect size, nice ground clearance, smooth, powerful V-6, decent mileage.....

I've heard the 4-cylinder versions are, good, they are just very noisy and over-worked. The small Duratec V-6 is the way to go.

 

[Scum_Frog]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
Why not 2005+ Suzuki Grand Vitara?


+1

 

[surfstar]

Jeeps and Vitaras are in the low 20s mpg wise - looking at cost of gas alone over 3-5 years and it really tilts the scales against, as I'd have to buy something with a lower initial cost which could mean a variety of ailments possibly.

Lots of HG issue reading late last night has really got me wary of a Forester, unless I found one that specifically had them replaced with the updated style and had no further signs of leakage.

A 4cyl 5sp Escape is high on the list for sure, as they seem to acheive good fwy economy, albiet a bit underpowerd compated to even a CRV. The CRV and Escape seem to be the roomier vehicles in my list as well. I can find newer Escapes for usually lower prices than CRVs, also. I just found a one owner 2005 Escape Hybrid with high miles, but in my price range. If its around this weekend, I may drive a ways to check it out. Seems like it could be a great fit...

 

[Kestas]

Small SUV? It sounds like you need a CUV (crossover utility vehicle), e.g., Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Soul. They're sweeping the market by storm. The problem is they're a recent phenomenon and I doubt the used market for them has matured enough lately.

 

[Spazdog]

Oh! I forgot about the Cube, Seoul, and xB.

If you can get used to the instrument cluster in the center, I would go with the 1.5 liter xB. If it's not as big as an Escape inside, it's not far off. Many report MPG figures in the low 30's. And it drove pretty well for a 1.5 liter. No dragster, that's for sure but I kept wondering if it really was a 1.5 or if Toyota snuck a Corolla 1.8 in it.

If not that, then a Chevrolet HHR LS 2.2 w/ manual should be availiable at a reasonable price.

I like my PT Cruiser but it gets abyssmal fuel economy. The plastic intaked models without the turbocharger get better gas mileage but seem to have more cooling system problems. And finally, the timing belt is a killer of an entire weekend. The HHR has a chain.

 

[rjundi]

My MIL owns a 2006 Saturn Vue FWD 4cyl with 43k purchased recently for $6k no issues except an easy electrical gremlin fixed. The interior is what gives poor GM a bad name. And its rather slow, I think a Cobalt/Cavalier motor?

But for the price my MIL is happy, it even has heated seats.

 

[kkreit01]

FWIW, I had a 2.3 fwd Mariner, and 3.0 4wd Mariner -- both mated to the dreadful CD4E. They got identical MPG on the highway (23-24). In city/mixed driving, the 3.0/4wd got about 2-3 MPG less. Like addyguy said, the V6 is well worth it in the older Escapes/Mariners/Tributes. The 4-banger could not pull itself up a small incline or against a strong wind. That's why the poor highway MPG. I couldn't even imagine driving a 2.0 in the earlier models. I'm sure a 5-sp mtx would be better -- if you found one.

 

[meep]

i don't know if i'd fret a used forester over HG problems that much. IF they failed, it was fairly early in life....60,000. I have owned 2 subies, as has my brother. he lost his HG right after 36000. the dealer bought the car back from him and he bought another OB which has been beaten, abused, flogged, rolled (dodging a moose), driven to alaska and back, and serves as his home and trail vehicle. the glass didn't even break when it was rolled (on it's side). they are generally very reliable vehicles. keep in mind the HG issues didn't show up until 2001 or 200 or something like that IIRC. not sure about it, but I'll bet you could find a manual 2.2L forester...'97 or so? the 2.2 was *bulletproof.*

Older gen 1 CRVs are plagued with stretched and scorched exh valves, even on gently driven ones (ex had a '97). I would personally scratch older crv's off the list.

my $0.02