Dare to be Different - I need your HONEST help!

[RealJon]

I have come to the point in my life where I need something that is cheap, VERY Efficient, moderately comfortable, easy to work on, and decent on offroad. (Basically I need a Suzuki SX4 but I dont want to spend 10k on a vehicle).

Back story, I drive a Trooper and I love it. I live now in Acworth, GA and the 15 mpg isnt working for me now that I am starting college again, have a girlfriend, and has to drive a distance to work (Back to minimum wage, half of what I have been making). The trooper is an amazing vehicle, but it doesn't fit what I need right now. We plan on taking trips up to Colorado during the summers as well as Texas and Pennsylvania.

I have 4 options that I am considering. Two have a great fallowing and I have talked to some experts on those and I seem to have the jist of what they offer. The other two I havent found anything on them.

First is the Sami, (Thanks zukrider)
- 25-32 Stock MPG
- Best offroad
- 6'4 300lbs might not be comfy without modifications

Second is the Legacy Wagon, (Thanks Superu)
- 24-28 Stock MPG
- Decent aftermarket


Heres where I need specialized help,

Mistubishi LRV EXPO / Dodge Colt Wagon / Eagle Summit Wagon
- 30+ MPG
- AWD
- Seemingly a ton of room
- So so so cheap.
- Unique
Dont laugh, let me explain. First the power plant (If I can find it) is the legendary 4G63 mitsu, if not I am sure I could find one and slide it in there cheap. This means there should be parts anywhere I ever take it. I feel I could possible put some blocks and decent AT tires and have a nice little daily / mild forest road car. If I got the Dodge / Eagle I would re-badge it back to a Mitsu

1987 Honda Civic Wagon 4wd
-40 MPG
-AWD WITH Low Range
-Ton of Room
-Unique
This is just cool, It is a honda so engines are so plentiful I can drop anything from a 1.5 to a 2.3VTEC in it and have amazing power and mileage. I am sure I can do some spacers and AT tires same as the Mitsu. I like this because it has the Low Range 4wd Gear so if I ever need it I have it.

I am looking to sell the trooper for 2500 and pick on of these vehicles up. I honestly need help on this guys!

Thanks in advance!

PS, If you want to laugh go ahead.

 

[97discosd]

My vote is for the Honda!

 

[02pathfinder]

i wondered about the expo/colt option..be different!

 

[double moo]

I'm 6' and 225lbs... I don't fit for crap while driving my buddy's Subaru Outback. At your size I think you should scratch the Suby from your list.

 

[bigreen505]

Skip the Subaru if you are planning to take it off pavement in Colorado. The gearing just doesn't work. If you can find an old Subaru Loyale (the wagon before the Legacy), that might be better. I would vote for a Suzuki Sidekick. If you do the math, I'm guessing it would be cheapest to keep the Trooper and get a used Honda Civic for daily driver duty. My wife's 92 Civic routinely got about 40 mpg on the highway. Wish we still had it.

A Samurai is a fun little truck and easy to build into rock crawler, but it's not the vehicle I would want to be driving cross country.

 

[RealJon]

Due to living conditions I can only have one vehicle, if I had a good job like I had previously I would be in a little civic or escort for DD and build the trooper but I cant afford that while college is going on. Our offroading would be limited to dirt roads and fire roads.

So I the Subi is off the list due to size.
Sami might be off due to comfort ( Could you swap seats from a different vehicle and redo mounting?)

I want to include the W123 or a Volvo Wagon in my options but I am not sure of the mileage (I looked at fuelly) and ease of repair. I know there is a member who has a 740 Wagon as well as Blurg(I think?) who runs his 300SD all over the damn world. Should these be considered in my options?

 

[Jay H]

Troopers are just not at home on the highway and feel like death traps on the freeway moving at 75. You seem to be well aware of this.

If your doing a lot of highway driving try to find something with an airbag. I know thats not fun advice but it could save your life. You might be able to find an awd Manual trans first gen Toyota rav4 with air bags. It will even come with a locking center diff. There are probably a few other cars were not thinking of that are awd fun cheap and safe.

 

[RealJon]

Well I generally am the fast guy on the highway so I travel around 80-85 when on long hauls so its even more of a death trap for me. I am not a fan of Airbags, my last wreck I ran my taco into a dirt mount at like 60 mph and it went end over end and the damn bags didnt deploy. I wear my seatbelt and that has saved me tons of times.

I like the volvo option because its; Safe, RWD, and has a Eaton locker option. Plus I would love to find a Turbo version.

 

[Jay H]

I was just about to recommend an older 2wd Tacoma 4cyl because it meets your criteria and could probably be had with an airbag. But then you bring up the Volvo. The Volvo sure seems like a rational choice cheap, safe and not too boring.

 

[Sebas]

The Subaru Loyale is a good option, we have a Subaru Loyale 1.8 DLX 4WD (part time, with low range) is great vehicule, good capable offroad and good consumption ( 25-32 MPG aprox), they have whith a 185/80 R14 tires Goodyear Wrangler AT/S ON A 14X6 Peugeot 505 evolution rims (140x4 lugs) , but need a lift, only 2", have the lift, but not instaled still.

A pics of the Loyale :smiley_drive:

Before

After

And a Video of the Loyale




This is the lift of 2", but not installed still.-

 

[haven]

Why do you think an 87 Honda wagon will get 40 mpg? I owned an 86 wagon and never saw mpg anywhere near 40 mpg, even driving downhill with a gale force tailwind.

 

[98dango]

I have volvos I love them but my mileage has never been that good is my norm. I have 3 87 740 turbo wagons in different ways of mods and am building a 79 toyota 4x4 with a 2.3 turbo and a lowderd datsun with a 740 2.3. I would not expect 20+ out of any of them I love the car its fast fun can drift like no other but as a camping rig I would trade one for a trooper.

 

[RealJon]

Why do you think an 87 Honda wagon will get 40 mpg? I owned an 86 wagon and never saw mpg anywhere near 40 mpg, even driving downhill with a gale force tailwind.

Previous owner, fuelly shows 32 mpg. I have never owned a 4cyl so I am going off of others input.

That Loyle looks pretty BA, that would be a cool option I am just worried about finding one!

Dango, whats your mileage you get from your volvos, I have seen plenty of people get good mileage out of their volvos, I assume yours are modified.

 

[bigreen505]

So I the Subi is off the list due to size.
Sami might be off due to comfort ( Could you swap seats from a different vehicle and redo mounting?)

The Subaru Legacy/Outback problem isn't size, it is that first gear is way too tall. Also the clutch is weak. If am I going places where I have a lot of graded dirt roads I'll take the Subaru, but in anything the slightest bit technical (i.e. where more speed isn't the answer) or uphill, it really has problems.

I like the idea of a first gen 4-cylinder Tacoma or early 90s Toyota Hilux pickup (pre-Tacoma). Look nationally as prices really depend on the region. Did the

 

[zukrider]

im a honda technician as well! the Wagovan will only net 30-32 empty. i personally have never seen one with low range. didnt even know it existed.

the mitsu will be neat. but i honestly think your better off with something that is actually 4x4. early mazda pick ups, early toyota truck, tacoma. they all get decent fuel mileage.

but, you can probably get a sidekick/tracker in your budget with some patience. a 2 door 16valve WILL get 30's fuel wise. has true 4x4.