Let's talk back country capable daily driver options - used SUV market in 2012

[College Kid]

Discovery 2. I would recommend an 04 vehicle. Tough to find in the 8-10k range but it can be done. You can definitely find 02 and 03s in the range. Just make sure you do some research on which vin numbers to avoid. Adding CDL to trucks that were not equipped with it is a simple job. Gas mileage is in that ballpark as well.

-Sam

X2

If you do your own work I would hands down say a D2. 04's are the ones you want but really they will all beat the pants off a Pilot off road. My 00' has over 320,000km and is still running strong. Luxury everything, and I find from a business/client perspecitive driving a bit of an older "classic" gives a much better impression than driving a "not so new" SUV.

If your comfortable doing your own PM then a D2 is a very cost effective DD.

 

[BIGdaddy]

Discovery 2. I would recommend an 04 vehicle. Tough to find in the 8-10k range but it can be done. You can definitely find 02 and 03s in the range. Just make sure you do some research on which vin numbers to avoid. Adding CDL to trucks that were not equipped with it is a simple job. Gas mileage is in that ballpark as well.

-Sam

Gas mileage on those is about 14-15mpgs at best, and you are required to run premium fuel.

I love, love, love the mystique of landies, but those two things are dealbreakers for me, simply due to high operating costs.

(That's totally just me, though, D2's are nice lookin' comfy rigs.)

 

[p nut]

I guess I can't wrap my head around the Land Rover suggestions. The guy's looking for something reliable, good MPG and $8-10k. No way I'd touch a Rover with a 10' pole that costs $8-10k. Most likely will have issues and will require $$ to bring it up to "reliable" status. I can't pick out one vehicle listed on the first page that has worst reliability and higher cost of ownership. Plus, like Bigdaddy said, not the greatest gas mileage. They are comfortable and do look very presentable for business usage. I would just never own one as a one-car daily driver.

I can't think of one car that hits all of the requirements. You'll have to settle. I'll put up my vote for a 100-series LC. You can pick up a 2000-2001 for ~$10k. It hits most of the requirements, except for the MPG (although with stock P-rated tires, I was at 17-18 mpg highway) and PT 4WD. But I've never ridden in a more comfortable vehicle. V8 power is awesome and it's one of the most reliable motors Toyota has produced. Mine's been very reliable, would be great for chaufeuring your business clients around in, and off-road capabilities---I don't think anyone needs to question.

 

[78Bronco]

We love our Ford Expedition so far. Low range, 4 hi, AWD, 2 Hi. Advance trac. Arb does make a rear locker. It can tow and haul. Seats 8 adults with comfort. LT265/70/R17 gives you tons of 32" tire options in various load range. Lots of ground clearance. Super nice road manners and half decent on rough stuff. Tough to find because people love them and hold on to them. You can outfit a small lift kit. Ford 5.4L is very reliable and proven.

 

[stioc]

I test drove a well maintained 2002 Montero this past weekend. He wants $9500 for it, has 82k miles on it. Two turn offs: too many gizmos (like the weird anti-theft system requiring the key-fob and the key) and the driving feel which was lathargic and the sloppy truck like handling. Of course, I don't expect it to be a sports car but it didn't have that buttoned-down feeling. It just felt heavy.

I'm now looking at the Montero Sports which are simpler/cheaper but essentially the same drivetrain? I'm still considering the Xterra, just hard to find the 4x4 models here- funny most people drive SUVs in SoCal and yet almost all are 2wd.

78Bronco, funny you mentioned the Expedition as I've looked at them and even though not a fan of the styling or the size they're workhorses based on the F150. Again my two concerns with them would be the size and manuverability offroading - will they get bogged down or stuck easier because of the weight? and two the MPGs.

 

[78Bronco]

78Bronco, funny you mentioned the Expedition as I've looked at them and even though not a fan of the styling or the size they're workhorses based on the F150. Again my two concerns with them would be the size and manuverability offroading - will they get bogged down or stuck easier because of the weight? and two the MPGs.

I have not run the truck over the scale fully laden but it has plenty of power even when towing. The Advance Trac is one of the best for stability control and has been tuned by Ford depending on the T-Case selection. City driving in 2 Hi is 16mpg, City/Hwy 18-ish and 19-20 on Hwy. We paid around $14k for an 2004 with 50k miles.

Turning radius is excellent, wheel base is great, independent suspension all around with good amount of wheel travel, precise road handling, factory 265/70/r17, third row seats that are functional and great comfort. Air suspension is optional and auto levels when towing. I think Ford did an excellent job with the Expeditions.

If I did have a complaint it is that there is a lot more plastic than I would prefer. The stock stereo is a little dated now but sound is still decent.

 

[stioc]

Whelp the search is over- i brought home a 2001 Pathfinder SE 4x4 tonight. It wasn't my first choice but so far I like it. One owner, 125k, leather, heated seats, premium Bose system with ipod connector, moonroof, 250hp, factory tow hitch, newer Toyo Open Country tires etc

 

[BIGdaddy]

Whelp the search is over- i brought home a 2001 Pathfinder SE 4x4 tonight. It wasn't my first choice but so far I like it. One owner, 125k, leather, heated seats, premium Bose system with ipod connector, moonroof, 250hp, factory tow hitch, newer Toyo Open Country tires etc

Congrats!

Nissan makes a solid platform, and their reliability is top notch, for sure.

Not much experience with the newer pathfinders, but I think they all have come with strong ladder frames, stout solid rear axles, and well-built drivelines/transfer boxes.

Check out shrockworks.com and ARB (sierra expeditions is a good vendor) for Nissan aftermarket stuff.

It's one of those rigs, though, that with a bit of thought on storage and recovery, could tackle most normal overland trips "as-is".

Cheers!

 

[stioc]

Thanks. Unlike the first gen Pathfinders these second gens aren't very popular with the off-road crowd. They have what they call a Mono Frame, which is basically a unibody welded to the frame rails. This gives it strong structural support. Unfortunately this also limits the body lift options (in the traditional way) and therefore the hardcore off-roaders go with the Xterras instead. As a result there's not a lot of aftermarket parts for them. But all I'll be doing is mild backcountry exploration, camping and road trips and even daily driving. Since most of the traveling will on the road I'll only be making minor upgrades: namely the Old Man Emu suspension lift kit (approx 2") and slightly taller tires.

Even in the stock form it's plently capable- with the right driver:

 

[p nut]

...I think they all have come with strong ladder frames, stout solid rear axles...

Unibody and IFS/IRS.

But it's got good ground clearance and a nice engine. No reason why it shouldn't do well off-road. It should be a good platform for you.

 

[stioc]

Unibody and IFS/IRS.

But it's got good ground clearance and a nice engine. No reason why it shouldn't do well off-road. It should be a good platform for you.

It's got IFS but solid rear axle. I think the old school thinking is that unibody and IFS/IRS are a bad thing. I always point to the Jeep Cherokees, they're unibody and look at the military Humvees- IFS/IRS. The Ridgeline I used to have would follow a 4Runner anywhere with less drama because the IRS gave it more traction. Now where it was limited was when you needed severe articulation but then I'm not into rock crawling- sorry I digress.

Back to the Pathfinder...I wish it had good ground clearance- in the stock form it's only 8.3". It needs another 2" or so for my taste. The undercarriage is decently protected from the factory and things are mostly tucked up out of the way in comparison with a Honda Pilot type of an SUV.

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

Xj unibodies are good for a couple years then toss the parts on different one cause they cant hold up like something with a frame.

 

[jeff parker]

Xj unibodies are good for a couple years then toss the parts on different one cause they cant hold up like something with a frame.

Is that personal experience or "internet wisdom"? Ever see JeepSpeed racing?

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

Is that personal experience or "internet wisdom"? Ever see JeepSpeed racing?

seeing the doors not close right and body gaps all jacked up in person. I like framed vehicles so have not owned one. The racing doesnt seem to show them lasting longterm...

 

[Buliwyf]

People think that the hardcore wheelers with XJ's remove the doors so theyy can be cool like Wrangler owners.......truth is they removed them cause they don't close anymore.

There's a reason why those SUV's are the first to get full roll cages installed, and it ain't safety.