New guy considering a 96 SR

[bstone]

Hi Folks-
Been considering a 96 SR that I saw recently, and have been doing a lot of reading/research about them (which is usually why cars get sold out from under me.. ) , but I'd like to get some quick opinions. I've been looking for a mountain vehicle for about 3 weeks now, and the SR is one of the first I looked at. Eventually stumbled on to a very pristine 2003 Jeep WJ for an exceptional price, so I bought it.. But it will probably be the wife's daily and not see much dirt. So I'm back where I started kind of, and I feel like I want to go back and grab the SR. I would use it for mountain fishing trips- definitely dirt and gravel but nothing too hairy- and probably also for my daily. Basically leave it mostly stock. My question is, based on that type of usage, how reasonable is the SR for me? Is it overkill? I know it has mad capabilities for hard core stuff, but I probably won't do too much of that.

It's a 96 SR, 3.5. Body is in excellent shape, doesn't seem to leak anything. Not sure if it smokes on startup, didn't know to look for that originally (valve seals?) 203K on the clock. Seems to run and shift pretty well. Thoughts?

Thanks-
Brady

 

[Salonika]

Do you like wrenching on stuff? If yes, I'd grab it.
Hey, you aren't related to Keith Stone are you?

 

[bstone]

Do you like wrenching on stuff? If yes, I'd grab it.
Hey, you aren't related to Keith Stone are you?

Well, I don't mind wrenching on stuff- been doing it all my life... but I guess I was looking for a bit more in terms of what Monteros are like in general- especially relating to how it would fit my needs...

Not related to Keith Stone that I know of...

 

[evomaki]

Do some searching on this site. I like the 96 SR. It should have a factory locker and 4.67 gearing. The big thing is the engine. That one is a DOHC, with vacuum actuated variable intake runners ("butterflies"). the technology is pretty cool, but had some propensity to drop a setscrew from said butterfly into the engine. Bad news. Fix is to replace the butterfly assembly or just remove altogether. That may have already been done by PO. DOHC timing belt more work than the SOHC. The DOHC heads look giant to me. They must flow well. i have two 2000 Monteros. Valve stem seals leaked but boy they both make good compression, and the oldest has 167,000 miles.

 

[bstone]

Thanks evomaki- I have done a bunch of reading on here and other sites already, and have found a bunch of info- including what you mentioned above with the butterfly assembly. I feel like I have some basic knowledge/understanding, just wanted to get some opinions of the vehicle as a whole. Both as a daily driver and a mountain rig. Seems like it's good for both, just don't want to get something that might be way overkill.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

If just cruising dirt roads and mild trails have you considered a Subaru? As someone who also loves to fish and drives a lot to do so I would suggest you look at your true needs, if the Subaru fits the bill you will get roughly twice the mpg as the Montero. I love our Montero, but if I wasn't taking it into some places I know the Subaru wouldn't make it I would be driving a Subaru.

 

[plh]

its a 20+ y.o. vehicle, ya takes your chances with any of them...

That being said, my '93 SR is my daily driver. Have had it for almost 4 years. Have not touched it beyond maintenance items. Probably the lowest cost of ownership vehicle I have had. 195k on the clock now.

 

[bstone]

If just cruising dirt roads and mild trails have you considered a Subaru? As someone who also loves to fish and drives a lot to do so I would suggest you look at your true needs, if the Subaru fits the bill you will get roughly twice the mpg as the Montero. I love our Montero, but if I wasn't taking it into some places I know the Subaru wouldn't make it I would be driving a Subaru.

So I guess what you are telling me is that the Montero might actually be overkill.... I appreciate the honesty. Have yet to see a Subie that looks as cool as the SR though... But I get your point..

 

[bstone]

Thanks, plh. Appreciate the feedback.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

So I guess what you are telling me is that the Montero might actually be overkill.... I appreciate the honesty. Have yet to see a Subie that looks as cool as the SR though... But I get your point..

Plus I know how much I tend to spend on fishing alone in a year(more than I paid for the Montero but don't tell my wife), and if I could save money with a more efficient vehicle that could still get me where I needed to go I would do so, not to mention most Subaru's are dead reliable. Oh, and they sell lifts for Subaru's....

 

[bstone]

So just out of curiosity, and not trying to get too much off topic, but what model Subie would you suggest? Forester?

 

[jeep-N-montero]

So just out of curiosity, and not trying to get too much off topic, but what model Subie would you suggest? Forester?

Some great Subaru threads in here http://forum.expeditionportal.com/forums/25-Expedition-Vehicles-Other

 

[coffeegoat]

Bstone - Seeing you're in Colorado I would look into a Forester for one reason: Price.

We had a Crosstrek for a while (didn't end up liking how it drove, MPG, interior space, etc) and the thing we saw at every single subaru dealership we went to was 2 and even 3 year old new foresters. They couldn't keep the imprezas and crosstreks on the lot, but there were always lots of older Foresters that they'd probably let go for a song just to clear their lot. I'm sure it's not an advertised special but based on what we saw the supply is huge with minimal demand so you could probably pick one up for cheap. My parents love theirs (they've had 2).

Also, the perk of a Subie in Colorado is they hold ridiculous resale value, in my opinion Toyotas and Subies are way overpriced used here, so you can always try it for a couple of years and sell it off easy if you don't like it.

Though to be clear we ended up selling the crosstrek because it wasn't a good enough car nor offroader for us, so now we have a manual honda fit (which we love) and Gen III which I'm thoroughly enjoying.

 

[Bottomfeeder]

So I guess what you are telling me is that the Montero might actually be overkill.... I appreciate the honesty. Have yet to see a Subie that looks as cool as the SR though... But I get your point..

The SR is not overkill. You will love that vehicle. The SR has all the bells and whistles any outdoors man or woman would need. What is the price on the 96 you are considering? I think the 96 SR is the one to purchase as far as SR's go. It's just like the 95 except for OBDII electronics. (I have a 95) There are issues you will need to take care of. Butterfly Valves, crank bolt and timing belt. 3.5 DOHC is an interference engine.

 

[cr4x4cruiser]

A Montero in Colorado will never be overkill...

I do not give priority to fuel mileage for my vehicles... I will gladly take the lesser fuel mileage of my Monteros.

My surviving a crash is far more important... living in L.A., cars are typically head-level with most any trucks' bumpers.

Living in L.A., we are the hit & run capital of the world... no matter the number of airbags, the outcome is not typically in your favor - when in a car.

Comfort? Lifted... 10-ply truck tires... steel wheels... still, the Montero rides like a Cadillac - with the "bouncy seats" installed [no joke].

Then again, the author needs to assess their own priorities... a Montero is very much a reliable tool, when given proper maintenance.

All vehicles have their quirks... all vehicles are tools.

While I do love Subaru's [give me a really clean Brat, one day, just for fun], they would definitely cramp my needs on a daily basis.

Honestly, I do not see how a Subaru will be any less expensive to maintain - mechanically - than a Montero [any generation]...

I look at that boxer engine and wonder if I would ever deign to educate myself regarding the layout/ design of another engine platform.

In closing, I can only recommend the author do his research... cull these forums... and pick the absolute cleanest ride he can find for fair money.

No matter the choice, he'll be farther ahead with one that is original and clean, with little stories to be told.

Good luck, no matter the path chosen.