Advice on potential first offroad/expedition vehicle

[5speed]

Hello all! This is my first post on this extremely interesting forum. I am currently a second year Mechanical Engineering student at the Illinois Institute of Technology, and have always had a passion for travelling and adventure, as well as a great interest in engines and cars in general. I am looking at possibly selling my 2003 Saab 9-3 and investing in some kind of small or midsize offroad vehicle. This would be the first 4x4 that I have owned. My requirements are that the vehicle must be reliable, MUST be MANUAL (hate the sluggishness of all the automatics I've driven), should have a decent amount of cargo capacity, and must be 4x4. Oh and it wouldn't hurt if it's good on gas, as I have an 80 mile commute into Chicago at least once a week. I am leaning more towards domestics as they seem to have a greater abundance of cheap parts, as well as more aftermarket parts (maybe with the exception of Toyota). The only things that fit the bill so far are:

-3.0 Ranger
-Explorer
-straight 6 F-150
-ZR2 Blazer/S10
-Isuzu Rodeo (I've driven a lifted one before and it was tons of fun)
-Isuzu Trooper (kind of leery of these after hearing that they are fairly top heavy)
-2.7 Tacoma/Pickup

Can you guys throw some opinions my way as to what would be the best vehicle out of the bunch? I don't live in the boondocks, but I do look forward to making some trips to either the Rockies, Northwoods, or Smokies in the next year or so, and would like something that won't leave me and my friends stranded in the middle of nowhere.

 

[Kaisen]

Any good reason you omitted all the Jeeps?

 

[pugslyyy]

Of those options I'd go with a Taco.

 

[4x4junkie]

I've had a Ranger since '94 and it's been nothing short of a great truck. No real problems with it to speak of (just the paint's kinda gone to hell now that it's close to 20 years old). The Explorer (pre-'02 models) is essentially the same truck, just in SUV form.
I'd look for one with the 4.0L V6 myself. The 3.0L feels like a dog unless you really let it wind out with each shift, which makes it more tiring to drive, I think. I get about 21 MPG hwy with mine, and that's with it lifted on 33s (before the lift, I recall it being around 24 MPG).

Tacomas are decent trucks also, but I don't think anywhere near good enough to justify the stupid-high prices people like to ask for them on the used market.

Any good reason you omitted all the Jeeps?

These seem like they would be two good reasons...

My requirements are that the vehicle ... have a decent amount of cargo capacity, .... Oh and it wouldn't hurt if it's good on gas, as I have an 80 mile commute into Chicago at least once a week.

 

[Kaisen]

I would think a Jeep Cherokee 4.0 I6 5 spd would meet his criteria quite well. It would have every bit as much cargo capacity as a Blazer ZR2, for example. And better fuel economy than several on the list. Lots of aftermarket. A lot less expensive than a Tacoma.

But maybe there's a reason. Just asking.

 

[shmabs]

Out of that list, I would pick a reg cab Tacoma first and if you decided to need or want 4 doors, the trooper would be my next choice. A reg cab Tacoma, with a camper shell on the back to sleep in and some slightly aggressive all terrains would be my vehicle of choice if I didn't need 4 doors. I love the 4cyl 5 speed combo in that truck, and if you keep the weight and tires reasonable it will return decent power and mpg. A shopped troopers for a while as well, and really liked them, but never got the chance to own one. I seem to remember 95 being the "best"
year to have.

Mike

 

[haven]

A quick look at Autotrader.com shows your 2003 Saab 9-3 is worth $3000 to $5000 depending on miles and rust damage. So you can forget about any Toyota 4x4 that is less than 25 years old and with fewer than 200,000 miles. Domestics sound like the way to go.

Here's one example: 1994 Ford Explorer 4x4, 4 door, 5 speed manual, V6, 89K miles, $2500. For sale by dealer in Fruita, CO. Photos look good.
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=340950128

 

[ol' scott]

People seem to love those Troopers (and Monteros for that matter). If I was selling my 4Runner I'd strongly consider one of them, especially after reading what people have said about them.

 

[5speed]

Any good reason you omitted all the Jeeps?

Not really, I guess I just forgot about them. I would never consider a Wrangler just because it's so small. An XJ I may consider, but it is kind of hard to find a 4.0 manual one around me, and it seems to have a small cargo capacity although I could be wrong about that.

I've had a Ranger since '94 and it's been nothing short of a great truck. No real problems with it to speak of (just the paint's kinda gone to hell now that it's close to 20 years old). The Explorer (pre-'02 models) is essentially the same truck, just in SUV form.
I'd look for one with the 4.0L V6 myself. The 3.0L feels like a dog unless you really let it wind out with each shift, which makes it more tiring to drive, I think. I get about 21 MPG hwy with mine, and that's with it lifted on 33s (before the lift, I recall it being around 24 MPG).

See what steered me away from the 4.0 is that I've heard reports of them getting the same gas mileage as small V8's, as well as being not so reliable. You just contradicted all my previous knowledge lol

A quick look at Autotrader.com shows your 2003 Saab 9-3 is worth $3000 to $5000 depending on miles and rust damage. So you can forget about any Toyota 4x4 that is less than 25 years old and with fewer than 200,000 miles. Domestics sound like the way to go.

I am actually hoping to get a little more for my Saab, as its really clean for its year, and it is modded quite a bit. I would say my budget would be $5500, but even if it is that high, I'd prefer to spend less and use the remainder as my budget for aftermarket or maintenance parts...

 

[daddyusmaximus]

I would say think of what you plan to do for the next few years. I'm one who is big on getting a vehicle, then keeping it. Get the most vehicle you can get with your budget at first, and just add to it as finances allow. Were I young and single, I'd go for a Jeep Cherokee with the 4.0L, even if it was an auto. The 4.0L is a great engine, they can be built to wheel like crazy, and even if you were to start a family, it would be several years before you would outgrow it. Me personally, I love a vehicle big enough to get a good nights sleep in, without having to unload your gear. (think bad weather)

 

[5speed]

I would say think of what you plan to do for the next few years. I'm one who is big on getting a vehicle, then keeping it. Get the most vehicle you can get with your budget at first, and just add to it as finances allow. Were I young and single, I'd go for a Jeep Cherokee with the 4.0L, even if it was an auto. The 4.0L is a great engine, they can be built to wheel like crazy, and even if you were to start a family, it would be several years before you would outgrow it. Me personally, I love a vehicle big enough to get a good nights sleep in, without having to unload your gear. (think bad weather)

Yeah I'd be looking for something that meets most of those goals. I love Cherokees, but they just look so damn small inside. I can't see myself fitting inside the back of one laying down, much less me and someone else... That's why a pickup or Trooper is higher up on my list

 

[shmabs]

I have slept in the back of an XJ Cherokee, and it wasn't terrible, but I'm a 3/4 scale human at 5'6" and 120 lbs. The 4.0 is an awesome, torquey, and durable motor. It is not however, very smooth or all that fuel efficient, my xj on 31's with an auto could still pull 19mpg on flat highway at 55, but I really had to work at it. When it was bone stock, I would see an average of about 16-17.

The trooper's on the other hand seem cavernous inside, I would venture a guess to say that with seats folded, its gotta be close to a first gen taco with a cap. I have driven a few troopers with the 3.2 and the later 3.5, and both seemed like a nice motors with a good usable power band, but the oil consumption issue is something to be aware of. It has likely been exaggerated, but still worth reading into if you are considering them.
Its also worth mentioning that out of the vehicles you have listed, I would imagine that the trooper is near or at the top when it comes to a stout drivetrain. The axles, t-case etc all seem very large considering the platform. That's one thing I think the Japanese certainly did better in 90's to early 2000's, comparing the size of the drivetrain on my 01 Mitsubishi Montero sport to that on my xj, made my xj look like it was constructed of tooth picks.

 

[enzo]

Of those options I'd go with a Taco.

^This

 

[redthies]

My gut instinct is to say "just get a Taco". That is what I would do, but if you want a SUV, or can't find a good Toyota in your price range, I think the other options you've mentioned are solid choices. I love the XJs, but like you, I think they are quite small inside.

 

[Jr_Explorer]

I had a '93 Explorer. They only came with a 4.0L and an automatic. IMHO the transmission was junk. This was the same time period Ford had the AEOD in the F-250's and that transmission was a 60k mile transmission at best. They went through a period there where all the Ford tranny guys must have retired and the kids straight out of college couldn't find their @$$ with both hands. And my Explorer got a lifetime average about 16 mpg (I kept track of every gallon of gas that I put in that vehicle so that is an average you can bank on). Now I don't drive like the little ol' lady from Pasadena but there is no way someone is going to get 30%-50% better mileage out of that vehicle.

The Jeep Cherokee with the straight six 4.0L is awesome reliable and a Taco is even better. And if you're talking off-road capable/buildable those two rule the roost.