4x4 suv

boring

boring

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I need to replace my 1990 chevy s10 blazer 4x4. Looking for something up to 6 years old and less than 60k miles. I use a small to medium sized trailer to haul firewood. I drive about 15 to 20 miles one way to work. Ohio winters and such. Any recommendations on great ones to look for or bad ones to avoid.
 
If you have the money jeep grand cherokee srt8 i had one it was great. If you don't have the money for that model look at the other options
 
Do you want 4 wheel drive or all wheel drive?

AWD is always on and will be better suited for use in the snow and such.

True 4x4 is selectable and most units don't recommend being run at Highway speeds.

Also, how much weight do you need to pull, most AWD vehicles will have lower tow ratings that a 4x4 suv or truck.
 
My Ford explorer has worked very well for me and is a good option, but I also really like jeeps. You can find used Jeep Cherokees for not too bad of prices, I would look for one of the bigger models for you it seems right plus that is my taste as well.
 
I have a 2006 Chevy Silverado I'm getting ready to sell. Duramax Diesel, just over 100k so just getting broken in for a Duramax. Replaced the injectors at 95k, so you should be good to go for some years. These will go 500,000 miles easily. Always used Valvoline full suthetic. I bought it to haul my travel trailer, which I sold last year, so now I don't need the truck. It'll haul anything you have, with balls to spare. KBB.com has it listed at $22-24,000 as is. It will need tires in the spring or early sunmmer so I'd let it go for $22,000. Nice looking truck. I'm in Lansing, MI, probably not too far from you. Let me know if you want to see photos. Good luck in your search
 
thanks for the suggestions and the offer. I am trying to stay under $15k. I am looking at a 06 explorer currently. Anyone have any thoughts on jeep liberty?
 
Stay away from the Explorer of those years. They all have rear end problems at some point (I worked at a Ford dealership for a while)

The liberty is ok, not the best drive train, there are issues with the transmission and engine. They do have a true 4x4 system but it can't be run at Highway speeds I believe.

Look at a trailblazer, they aren't the best looking but they are built like tanks. The 4x4 system can be set to auto which is great for snowy roads and you can find them pretty cheap with good mileage.
 
raindog101 said:
Can't go wrong with a 4Runner.
Click to expand...

Bingo!! My 98tacoma is running strong with 150, xxx miles. Only had it in the shop twice in almost 7 years of owning it. Toyota all the way, plus I can still get almost what I paid for it all those years back. And my truck came stock with a rear diff lock. (Trd model) It'll crawl up almost anything you put in front of it.
 
why would it be bad on the liberty to run 4wd at highway speeds?
 
I've had a lot of SUVs all 4x4 and the one that NEVER gave me any problems was my 4runner, I loved that thing but it just came time for me to move on and I sold it like an idiot. I've had jeeps , pathfinders, and of course the 4runner and the 4runner us the only one I would buy again. Most bang for your buck if you will, I worked at a car lot as my first job so I got to see and drive a lot of cars , I also got to see which ones tore up and which ones would leave the lot and you'd never see again, trust me get a 4runner. You can easily stay within your budget and find a great vehicle if you shop around...
 
I have a 2011 4Runner and have to agree it is just about bullet proof, but it will be very difficult to find one for 15K or less without a ton of miles on it. However, they do run forever so high-ish miles might not be as much of a concern as with other models/manufacturers
 
I had a 1995 Nissan pickup V6 4x4 that never once gave me any trouble for the 130k miles I had it for. I sold it with 215k miles on it for $1000 less than I bought it for and had a clear conscience doing so (I put a lot of aftermarket parts on it). My current rig is a newer Tacoma, and it's been just as reliable and capable both in the snow and offroad. I also snagged it for considerably less than your price limit--if you are good at fixing things, you could find a "mechanic's special" like I did and save some serious cash. Either way, I think it's hard to go wrong with a Japanese 4x4 (the Pathfinder and 4Runner are built on the same platforms as the Nissan Pickup/Frontier and Tacoma). I think the 90's models are somewhat more reliable, but not by much. The A/C system on late model Toyota's can be problematic, but that's about it.
 
Gotta join the 4-Runner band wagon.
We have a 96 with about 140K miles on it.
Other than the usual stuff that wears out, it's been bullet proof.
I love that truck!
Lenny
 
Another for the 4Runner. The build quality is dramatically better than comparable models from the American manufacturers. Newer Nissans have gotten better as well. I know several people who own both the Xterra and Pathfinder and they are all very happy with them. The Pathfinder is the nicer of the two to live with day-to-day. The Land Cruiser is very nice as well, but I'm guessing you don't want to spend that much, and there aren't as many of them around. For what it's worth, I've used high-range 4WD at highway speeds (65MPH) on all of my vehicles for years without issue. They generally are rated for use up to those speeds, so you don't need to worry about getting something with full-time (AWD). Don't waste your money on a Liberty, for the love of God. The folks I know who owned (pay close attention to the past-tense use of the word) Trailblazers were not particularly happy with them, but they're better than Chrysler products by a long shot. I live in northern Wisconsin, and to this day the best vehicle I've ever owned or used for winter driving is my '89 Toyota Pickup.
 
I had an '86 Toyota pickup 4x4 out of high school and loved it. I lifted it, built the motor, and daily drove it for almost 10 years. I bought it with 200,000 miles on it and then I put 200,000 more on it.
I really enjoyed that truck, and would not hesitate to buy Toyota again. I did eventually blow the engine up in a mud hole, but it was a great truck to that point.

Recently I just bought my wife an Xterra to commute with and it is a very nice vehicle so far. Very nice ride, plenty of low end power for trail riding, and will run down the freeway with the best of them.
This is the first Nissan I have ever owned, but it will probably not be the last. We are looking at an Armada right now.
 
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