Need vehicle suggestions for around $3000
- Thread starter Soviet Joy
- Start date
RealJon
Member
The Trooper has the 4l30E tranny. I personally have never had issue with the tranny itself but that is because previous owners had taken care of it. I looked for an auto because it offers the TOD option which I did like. You have to be very careful with the trannys and make sure they are in good working condition. At 5k you have alot of options, I would still suggest the Trooper because they can be had for 3000 Easy (Im selling mine at 2500), 500 for the OME Lift, Tires, and the rest on General Maintenance and you are set! This is the build that sold me on the Trooper over a monty. (Plus I liked how I felt in it)
http://www.expeditionswest.com/vehicles/ewvehicles/Isuzu_Trooper/index.html
Remember always check out www.Planetisuzoo.com for any isuzu questions and info!
scrubber3
Not really here
The Trooper is definitely a top notch rig. I saw that it and the Montero we very closely matched, but what got me on the Montero was the 9.5inch ring gear and 4.62 factory gear ratio. Plus they can be had with an air locker from the factory. I got the LS which didn't come with one stock, but I installed one out of an SR. Very easy and didn't cost squat. I wouldn't hesitate to get a well taken care of trooper though. Check out my build thread if you wanna know more.
PirateMcGee
Expedition Leader
for 5k my vote is a montero sr, 5k should get you into a one in great shape with money still left over for baselining and maybe even some tires/mods. I think they're the best value "expo" vehicle around. Plus they have decent power and mpg's.
RealJon
Member
Yeah we get 4.30 gears and a G80! I just didnt like the look of the monty or the interior feel.
To anyone looking for a vehicle, as you can see we ALL love our vehicles of choice. Find something you are comfortable with and want to travel in and go explore!
Trooper Owners, Monty Owners, we all the same inside !
Last edited:
reece146
Automotive Artist
Since your budget has gone up a little... if I was looking today my "complete" short list would include:
Xterra
FZJ80/LX450
UZJ100/LX470
Discovery II (I'm a masochist)
Range Rover Classic (solid trucks)
Fourrunner (2nd - 3rd gen - but I personally don't fit)
Montero
Trooper
LR3 (see Disco above)
full size Grand Wagoneer that's already been gone through "just because"
Various "baby" Jeeps
Ford Explorer
I'm seriously considering importing a GU/Y61 Nissan Patrol but the configuration I want doesn't seem to exist in LHD so I may fall back to one of the above (LX470 or Xterra likely) out of convenience for a turn-key truck. If only they were solid front axle rigs. I don't want to go down the conversion road yet again.
I love my XJ - it's the right size for wheeling and dealing with my family of four. The drivetrain is great, especially after the modifications I've made to the axles but the "Chryslerness" of the interior constantly pisses me off and I'm going to have to do some work to bring it up to my expectations going forward (sound deadening, address fit/shim, even more unibody stiffening).
The WJ is a bit better - at least the unibody is stiff enough out of the box (thanks Porsche!) but it still has a craptastic Chrysler interior. I almost bought one last fall for a winter vehicle but ended up with another XJ just out of a sense of... well... contempt/familiarity/value I guess.
That being said, I like being able to stop at a local store for most parts and being able to get them off the shelf for not a lot of money. It's borderline ridiculous compared to some vehicles.
Consider the safety aspects. To me front air bags on both sides of the vehicle are mandatory.
Also, fuel injection is mandatory.
After those two things the less electronics the vehicle has then the better (later Land Rovers can be a PITA because of that).
Some of the vehicles above don't match these criteria.
Also, keep in mind that old vehicles are just that: old.
2¢
Xterra
FZJ80/LX450
UZJ100/LX470
Discovery II (I'm a masochist)
Range Rover Classic (solid trucks)
Fourrunner (2nd - 3rd gen - but I personally don't fit)
Montero
Trooper
LR3 (see Disco above)
full size Grand Wagoneer that's already been gone through "just because"
Various "baby" Jeeps
Ford Explorer
I'm seriously considering importing a GU/Y61 Nissan Patrol but the configuration I want doesn't seem to exist in LHD so I may fall back to one of the above (LX470 or Xterra likely) out of convenience for a turn-key truck. If only they were solid front axle rigs. I don't want to go down the conversion road yet again.
I love my XJ - it's the right size for wheeling and dealing with my family of four. The drivetrain is great, especially after the modifications I've made to the axles but the "Chryslerness" of the interior constantly pisses me off and I'm going to have to do some work to bring it up to my expectations going forward (sound deadening, address fit/shim, even more unibody stiffening).
The WJ is a bit better - at least the unibody is stiff enough out of the box (thanks Porsche!) but it still has a craptastic Chrysler interior. I almost bought one last fall for a winter vehicle but ended up with another XJ just out of a sense of... well... contempt/familiarity/value I guess.
That being said, I like being able to stop at a local store for most parts and being able to get them off the shelf for not a lot of money. It's borderline ridiculous compared to some vehicles.
Consider the safety aspects. To me front air bags on both sides of the vehicle are mandatory.
Also, fuel injection is mandatory.
After those two things the less electronics the vehicle has then the better (later Land Rovers can be a PITA because of that).
Some of the vehicles above don't match these criteria.
Also, keep in mind that old vehicles are just that: old.
2¢
You absolutely hit the nail on the head on what I'm looking for. Definitely want something with both front airbags, decent safety ratings, and fuel injection. Any vehicle that I'm going to drive on a daily basis needs to be fuel injected.
Planning on looking at these in the next few days, to try to get a feel for each of them:
http://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/2870035362.html
http://kansascity.craigslist.org/ctd/2873289857.html
http://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/2874801746.html
Are the Land Rovers really that unreliable? There's a pretty sweet Disco II that just showed up in my neighborhood that I drool over every day. I used to be a mechanic so I'm not opposed to working on problems, but I don't want to be constantly wrenching on it just to keep it on the road. I've been pretty spoiled for Japanese reliability with most of my previous vehicles.
Also saw a coworker selling an Xterra, it was a little rough so I thought he'd be selling a deal. Wants near $10k for it, and it's only a 2wd!
reece146
Automotive Artist
If you can spin your own wrenches the Disco may not be that bad. I think a lot of the problems with them may be overstated but that said they have really low resale values for a reason. When they go wrong they really go wrong. FWIW, I think they were priced stupidly as a "prestige" vehicle when new and it just isn't. Stupid North American market BS.
I've on and off been looking at them with the thought that if the engine craps the bed I'd swap in a GM LS of some flavour... but the amount of messing around with electronics to get it fully integrated makes it more or a pipe dream than anything - I just don't have that kind of time.
Your co-worker with the Xterra must be dreaming in technicolour unless it is only a few years old or something.
Take a look at the 100 series Land Cruisers above as well. Once you drive one you might want to stretch your budget to make it fit. I think with decent amount of shopping you might be able to find one around $10k. It's the kind of vehicle you only have to buy once. I think they are kind of fugly but adding an ARB bar on the front takes care of that.
At this point it sounds like you've done enough mental gymnastics. Go drive stuff, even the stuff you have mentally side-lined. Some times you get really impressed with a vehicle as a whole instead of just looking at in on paper.
I've on and off been looking at them with the thought that if the engine craps the bed I'd swap in a GM LS of some flavour... but the amount of messing around with electronics to get it fully integrated makes it more or a pipe dream than anything - I just don't have that kind of time.
Your co-worker with the Xterra must be dreaming in technicolour unless it is only a few years old or something.
Take a look at the 100 series Land Cruisers above as well. Once you drive one you might want to stretch your budget to make it fit. I think with decent amount of shopping you might be able to find one around $10k. It's the kind of vehicle you only have to buy once. I think they are kind of fugly but adding an ARB bar on the front takes care of that.
At this point it sounds like you've done enough mental gymnastics. Go drive stuff, even the stuff you have mentally side-lined. Some times you get really impressed with a vehicle as a whole instead of just looking at in on paper.
I've considered the diesel Liberty, and you're exactly right they go for a lot more than I think they're worth. I really wish we had more diesel options in small trucks/SUVs here in the states.
The Xterra my coworker is selling is pretty overpriced. It's an 03 supercharged 2wd, with flat bald tires, faded paint, headliner hanging down, absolutely trashed inside. He can't figure out why in over a month of having it for sale he hasn't had any interest.
At this point you're exactly right, I just need to get out and drive everything I can. Hopefully a few test drives this weekend will help point me in a more certain direction. Thanks for everyone's input so far!
The Xterra my coworker is selling is pretty overpriced. It's an 03 supercharged 2wd, with flat bald tires, faded paint, headliner hanging down, absolutely trashed inside. He can't figure out why in over a month of having it for sale he hasn't had any interest.
At this point you're exactly right, I just need to get out and drive everything I can. Hopefully a few test drives this weekend will help point me in a more certain direction. Thanks for everyone's input so far!
PirateMcGee
Expedition Leader
might as well throw a montero sport into the mix too (look for one with a 3.5L...not that the 3.0 is bad, just mo powa)
scrubber3
Not really here
In 2006 I bought a 2002 Xterra 4wd for less than 10,000 bucks. It had new tires and only 60,000 miles. In all honesty your friend has what no one wants. I.e. the supercharged version(due to head/intake issues and premium fuel), a 2wd(nuff said), not to mention that it's in bad shape. He'd be lucky to get 4 grand out of that example. That's only if he finds a sucker... We need a first name for this guy, so we can have a reference point for people wanting too much for there vehicle.. Example- if his name was Rick it would go like this..... "wow, look at that beat up escalade, he put chrome 24s on it with some neon lights... 180,000 miles and he wants how much for it? What a RICK!"
It looks like most that have voted want you to get an XJ. :coffeedrink:
Last edited: