Can you even get a new Mustang for $18K? The one thing that puts me off about the new Mustang is the interior - it looks extremely cheap and cliche. The outside styling is pretty good though.
Used SUV for about $15-18K?
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Going back a few months people with suvs were crying.
I wasn't crying. Haven't cried since I bought my Cherokee almost 9 years ago, and I won't be crying in the future until I finally have to kiss it goodbye, which I hope won't be for a long time. It gets 18-19 mpg around here and 23-24 on a long trip.
It replaced my Mustang, which was no longer practicle for me. The sticker on the Cherokee was $18,900, and since it was a late 1996 model that was still sitting on the lot in march 1997, I got it for $14,999.
Of course, there's not much luxury going on, and a lot of people won't like that. And it's not a big SUV.
But Pablo loves the color, just ask him.
It replaced my Mustang, which was no longer practicle for me. The sticker on the Cherokee was $18,900, and since it was a late 1996 model that was still sitting on the lot in march 1997, I got it for $14,999.
Of course, there's not much luxury going on, and a lot of people won't like that. And it's not a big SUV.
But Pablo loves the color, just ask him.
I really can spell 'practical'....
My wifes S-10 Blazer with the 4.3 gets 17-18 in mixed city/freeway driving. It'll hit 22 with a good highway run.
Performance comes in all sizes, bikes are really hard to beat, but luxury starts with room.
On a vacation trip I visited a friend that had a zippy BMW sporty car and for the family had a BMW wagon. The wife and kids really liked riding in the wagon while we stayed there. We needed to take two vehicles everywhere as his wife seemed to pretty much refuse to ride in my truck and we couldn't all fit in the wagon. He was really confused that the truck was my 'mid life crisis vehicle', as he knew me when I drove motorcycles full time :^) On the way back home I asked the family if they'd prefer travelling in the BMW wagon and they said no, the truck was more comfortable as it had a lot more room.
On a vacation trip I visited a friend that had a zippy BMW sporty car and for the family had a BMW wagon. The wife and kids really liked riding in the wagon while we stayed there. We needed to take two vehicles everywhere as his wife seemed to pretty much refuse to ride in my truck and we couldn't all fit in the wagon. He was really confused that the truck was my 'mid life crisis vehicle', as he knew me when I drove motorcycles full time :^) On the way back home I asked the family if they'd prefer travelling in the BMW wagon and they said no, the truck was more comfortable as it had a lot more room.
Avoid body on frame vehicles if you wish to have any hope of walking away from an accident. Nobody in this day of having crash and rollover reports readily available should still suffer the delusions of these truck-based SUVs being 'safe' in any regard.
You are not safe driving on the roads period! Defensive driving courses should be a requirement every 5 years to retain a license. The brain controls the vehicle and any lack thereof in any situation not limited to vehicles maintenance or engineering could induce any vehicle to "lose control".
"Avoid body on frame vehicles if you wish to have any hope of walking away from an accident."
Depends upon the accident. In general 4wd trucks do poorly in comparisons because of a high accident rate due to males in rural areas on weekends, which means alcohol is usually involved. A former coworker in a Dodge 1/2 ton was in a head-on accident, where the other driver in a car crossed the line. Her truck was totaled, but she was just pretty bruised up from the air bag. One of my brothers was able to talk to a state trooper in Alaska doing a survey of vehicle types in winter off road accidents; a lot of cars were just off road, pickups were often bass ackwards, while SUVs tended to roll.
Depends upon the accident. In general 4wd trucks do poorly in comparisons because of a high accident rate due to males in rural areas on weekends, which means alcohol is usually involved. A former coworker in a Dodge 1/2 ton was in a head-on accident, where the other driver in a car crossed the line. Her truck was totaled, but she was just pretty bruised up from the air bag. One of my brothers was able to talk to a state trooper in Alaska doing a survey of vehicle types in winter off road accidents; a lot of cars were just off road, pickups were often bass ackwards, while SUVs tended to roll.
If you really need a 4WD and want an SUV, look at Land Cruisers. You can get a nice ex-soccer mom '97 with under 120K (not many miles for these vehicles) for under $13K easily.
If you don't need 4wd or an SUV, don't get one. You only make all the other car drivers mad at those of us who have them and actualy use their features
If you don't need 4wd or an SUV, don't get one. You only make all the other car drivers mad at those of us who have them and actualy use their features
While I wouldn't recommend them as daily drivers, the often-overlooked Nissan Xterra is usually highly rated by its owners.
And in your price range, you can easily get a 2003 model ... or get a slightly older one and save even more cash:
http://www.edmunds.com/used/2003/nissan/xterra/index.html
If you are thinking of owning an SUV as a 2nd or 3rd or even 4th vehicle (a weekend toy) I can't think of a better choice.
It's a body-on-frame vehicle (a true truck-based SUV) which (as noted above) has its pluses and minuses. But, if you are ever going off-road with this thing, it's a definitely plus.
Unibody vehicles belong on pavement and smooth dirt roads only. Off-roading the cute-utes and other car-based SUVs is an invitation to bend the unibody and the thing will never be right again.
They are just not made for that kind of (ab)use.
--- Bror Jace
And in your price range, you can easily get a 2003 model ... or get a slightly older one and save even more cash:
http://www.edmunds.com/used/2003/nissan/xterra/index.html
If you are thinking of owning an SUV as a 2nd or 3rd or even 4th vehicle (a weekend toy) I can't think of a better choice.
It's a body-on-frame vehicle (a true truck-based SUV) which (as noted above) has its pluses and minuses. But, if you are ever going off-road with this thing, it's a definitely plus.
Unibody vehicles belong on pavement and smooth dirt roads only. Off-roading the cute-utes and other car-based SUVs is an invitation to bend the unibody and the thing will never be right again.
--- Bror Jace
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
You can easily get a 1-2yr old trailblazer or explorer for the mid to high teens if that's the way you want to go. I would not recommend a manual trans SUV for DD purposes. IMO- they are just NOT fun to drive. My SIL's 2003 5spd rodeo and BIL's 2000 pathfinder 5spd shifted like dump trucks. Awesome for offroad, fun for occasional use, horrible for daily use.
Joel
Joel
"Unibody vehicles belong on pavement and smooth dirt roads only. Off-roading the cute-utes and other car-based SUVs is an invitation to bend the unibody and the thing will never be right again. [Freak] They are just not made for that kind of (ab)use."
Maybe true in many cases, yet the XJ Cherokee is unibody and far more capable off-road than most other SUV's.
I agree about the Xterra. The only downside is gas mileage and a lack of power with the regular engines.
I like 'em, though.
Maybe true in many cases, yet the XJ Cherokee is unibody and far more capable off-road than most other SUV's.
I agree about the Xterra. The only downside is gas mileage and a lack of power with the regular engines.
I like 'em, though.
"Unibody vehicles belong on pavement and smooth dirt roads only. Off-roading the cute-utes and other car-based SUVs is an invitation to bend the unibody and the thing will never be right again. They are just not made for that kind of (ab)use."
If off roading is planned make sure that you a least look at the ground clearance. While stuck in traffic and comparing clearance on vehicles I swear that a lot of fancy SUVs don't have any more clearance than a Taurus, due to the suspension components hanging way below the tire centerline.
If off roading is planned make sure that you a least look at the ground clearance. While stuck in traffic and comparing clearance on vehicles I swear that a lot of fancy SUVs don't have any more clearance than a Taurus, due to the suspension components hanging way below the tire centerline.
Easy: Audi allroad.
JHZR2
Staff member
If you want a good SUV, Id say the trailblazer as well. Used in the very tough terrain and driving profile of the USVI, and seem to have a good lifecycle. Couple to that the great engine, and idiocy of American buyers with respect to the resale of Japanese anything, and it would make it a great deal.
if you want safety, buy a mercedes, end of story. Id rather be in a Mercedes than any other car or truck, at the time of an accident.
JMH
if you want safety, buy a mercedes, end of story. Id rather be in a Mercedes than any other car or truck, at the time of an accident.
JMH
You can pick up a fairly low mileage 2000 Nissan Xterra 4x4 5spd for slightly less than 10,000.
I had one and it was a very reliable SUV for the 4 years I owned it. the 3.3 L engine is very reliable but a little underpowered for this vehicle. If you don't mind the slightly less power, consider one.
I had one and it was a very reliable SUV for the 4 years I owned it. the 3.3 L engine is very reliable but a little underpowered for this vehicle. If you don't mind the slightly less power, consider one.
Article about off-roading in a new Xterra:
Yes, the new '05s and '06s have been 'foofed-up' a bit ... but some versions are still serious off-road machines:
http://members.ispwest.com/oldtrailmaster/xterra.htm
--- Bror Jace
Yes, the new '05s and '06s have been 'foofed-up' a bit ... but some versions are still serious off-road machines:
http://members.ispwest.com/oldtrailmaster/xterra.htm
--- Bror Jace
Interesting writeup.
I think I'm cured of my SUV craze. But I still don't know what I'm going to get. I do want to get out of the company Sentra though - the thing doesn't even have ABS (or it's not working), even though it's listed as standard equipment. :/
I think I'm cured of my SUV craze. But I still don't know what I'm going to get. I do want to get out of the company Sentra though - the thing doesn't even have ABS (or it's not working), even though it's listed as standard equipment. :/
"I do want to get out of the company Sentra though - the thing doesn't even have ABS ..."
That's part of the reason I chose my '03 SpecV over its contemporaries.
"Thanks R2, but I can drive this thing fine all by myself."
--- Bror Jace
That's part of the reason I chose my '03 SpecV over its contemporaries.
"Thanks R2, but I can drive this thing fine all by myself."
--- Bror Jace
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