What vehicle to purchase?

[Topgun514]

Hey guys,

This is an extremely vague question I am sure, and there is probably no correct answer, but I would love some assistance.

I currently drive an 88 XJ, that gets me everywhere and anywhere I would like to go. It has never left me stranded (though a tad vapor locked in the woods, whatever). Popping it into 4Lo has gotten me to amazing sunset views, and I have never been stuck. It gets great gas mileage and is a pleasure to drive besides a major factor... it is not a pleasure to recreate in. A 6 hour trip out west is 8 hours, highway is impossible when there is an uphill, 65 mph is only attainable downhill or unloaded and flat terrain. I know I can downgrade tires from 31's to 30's however. But also, when it is 107 in salt lake, a black vehicle without AC, and the transmission pushing heat through the floor is tiring. It is a great vehicle, the miles are low, but it is 26 years old and shows.

That in mind, the size has been good for me, I do not need to pack that much besides food, RTT, sleeping bags, and hiking supplies. Bikes fit poorly, and trying to take 3 people skiing is stressful with seats folding or not.

Looking into getting a newer vehicle (2012 the earliest I'd go probably). I think I have narrowed my options down however but I do not know what to look at, or if there are other options for someone like myself, again, highly vague.

I have mentally narrowed down my choices to the Nissan Frontier, Tacoma (both would be double cab versions, and short bed) the Wrangler, and recently this week I saw the Jeep Patriot with a small lift and see they are done with the CVT.

Tacoma and Frontier: I could do a 2 inch lift, bumpers, winch, Flippac, and have more room with the bed, reliability, but the backseats are small and vertical. I want this vehicle to be with me for 10-15 years, I cant imagine going on a long trip with someone in the back and having them not complain. Then there is flippacs, that medal rod failure makes me nervous.

Patriot: 2 inch lift, 31's on 15's, looks fun, excellent gas mileage which is important, the 4x4 looks mediocre, it would NOT take me places my current cherokee could probably, and is much less reliable, could get rattles, tie rod issues offroad. But, it would most likely get a RTT, maybe some bumpers, and would be treated like a subaru. There are just more limitations with the patriot, so I am getting your opinions. But the patriot is almost half the price of the other options, which is a major plus though. But it is half the vehicle.

Wrangler: I would get any 4 door, I do not need lockers. The highest I would need is rubicon/ teraflex 2 inch springs, toss a winch plate on, maybe a j30 tent option, and be done, skinny 32 inch tires are all I need, lots of snow driving. As I think about it, it is EVERYTHING I want, but more than I need. Reliability is probably a tad less than the Japanese trucks, road comfort would be less than them as well, but offroad, nothing beats it.

Sorry about my verbal diarrhea, but I would love some help on this, as unbiased as possible. Maybe there is another truck I should look into?

Thanks guys! I really appreciate it.

 

[BBailey]

Find a solid 2012 JKU Rubicon with a hard top (it's far cheaper to buy one with a hard top and add a soft top later than to buy one with a soft top and add a hard top later). It's the best option by far, especially when compared to the other vehicles in your list.

33's on stock wheels. 1.5" Rock Krawler Max Travel or X-Factor lift with the RK Shocks. Add a front and rear bumper to improve approach and departure angles (not bad from the factory but can be improved substantially with very little work versus the stock bumper) and a combo side step/slider as well as a decent winch and you've got a very capable overland rig and haven't wasted any money on parts you'll throw out one day if/when you decide to upgrade further. You'll still get 17.5mpg or more (I got 17mph in mine this past weekend on a 5 hr drive from DFW to the Ozark National Forest in Arkansas on 37's with a 3.5" lift with the cruise set at 75 and loaded down with camping gear for a long weekend in the backcountry) on the highway and will be able to go far more places than your XJ would ever think of taking you. And you'll get there in far more comfort.

Rear tire carrier is more than capable of holding a 33" tire without modifications. Plenty of reasonably priced accessories to improve the overlanding capability of the rig from rear basket systems to Rotopax mounts, Hi-Lift Jack Mounts, and the like.

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: You've already sold yourself--

Getta 2012/2013 Wrangler Sport, used probably $20K/22K--make sure applicable TSBs have been done and your world opens up

There are more aftermkt options for the Wranglers than there are for home furnishings--

Stock, you'll get the best off-road/mileage/power and great cargo area-and long range comfort, you can't lose !

Good luck

:costumed-smiley-007:bike_rider: JIMBO

 

[Septu]

Before reading the vehicle list you provided, I was thinking Grand Cherokee. Reasoning is: Storage space and back seat comfort, while still being able to tackle some trails (although I'm not sure exactly how it fits with your trail requirement). I've been in the back seat of a 2010 JKU for 400/500 km? It wasn't pleasant. It wasn't unbearable, but it'll be a while before I volunteer to do it again. [Edit: I should also note that I had the whole back seat to myself, and really stretched out. If it hadn't been for that, it would have been brutal. Reading this again... also need to note that I had already been in a vehicle (drove a friends new f150 down for him) for 8-10 hours before getting in the JK]

The JK will do everything you've listed, and despite the issues I've had I do love my JK. But the space issues that are there with the Cherokee are still there with the Wrangler. I've owned both (99 XJ, 07/12 JKU).

Found this:
Jeep Wrangler: Interior Cargo Volume: 31.5 cu.ft. interior cargo volume, Interior Cargo Volume w/Seats Folded: 70.6 cu.ft. interior cargo volume w/seats folded
Jeep Cherokee: Interior Cargo Volume: 32.9 cu.ft. interior cargo volume, Interior Cargo Volume w/Seats Folded: 69.0 cu.ft. interior cargo volume w/seats folded
Grand Cherokee: Interior Cargo Volume: 35.1 cu.ft. interior cargo volume, Interior Cargo Volume w/Seats Folded: 68.7 cu.ft. interior cargo volume w/seats folded

 

[kf4zht]

I would add the GC to your list. Good cargo area, comfortable and you can get them with better out of the box 4wd than the wranglers (factory ELSD and locking center)

 

[CRolandLJ]

I'd love to see a 2012/2013 wrangler unlimited for sale in the low 20s. There's not a buy-it-now on ebay under 28 right now and the KBB value is mid 20's - and KBB tends to be low compared to real world values on wranglers. Perhaps later this year you'll start seeing some 2012s with decently low miles sneak down into the low 20's.

You'll likely find the cheapest price in the patriot and frontier...perhaps the most reliability and overal quality in a tacoma (and you'll pay for it) and best offroad capability by a long shot in a wrangler unlimited.

For me it would come down to budget and then whether or not you wanted/needed the utility of a truck bed or if the interior storage of a wrangler unlimited was good enough for you. Having sat in both the back seat of a Tacoma, Frontier, and Wrangler unlimited i found all 3 livable around town, etc but not comfortable for a long trip. In fact the driver seat in a frontier leaves room to be desired... however I am 6'3". I'd say anyone under 6' would be find in the front of a frontier. Anyone under about 5'10" would probably be ok for a long trip in all the back seats.

Hope this helps.

 

[SSF556]

My WK works well....plus it is diesel. :costumed-smiley-007

 

[brianjwilson]

Shameless plug here, but check out my 2012 jk with j30 tent for sale. Link in my signature.

Very well put together and solid. Extremely capable but comfortable daily driver. Pretty much everything you could want or need installed. I would also be willing to sell without the top possibly. Hell I might even drive to Utah again to deliver it!


The back seat of the wrangler unlimited is way better than a tacoma double cab for adults too. I'm considering a double cab tacoma because I'm having a kid and thinking about a four wheel camper now. But I'm 6' with size 12 shoes, and when I setup the front seat of the tacoma comfortably I cannot physically it in the back seat. In the tacoma I cannot even slide my shoe under the seat, my feet have to wedge in there at a 45 degree angle. The jk is much roomier. Many times we have taken longer trips with our friends and their toddler in a car seat in the back, plenty comfortable. Not going to happen in the tacoma in the same way. All of my friends have at least two kids now, and with one on the way for us, we all have to rid in separate cars now anyway.

 

[Topgun514]

Thanks everyone, and brian...

Brian, I have checked yours out, but it is a bit more expensive, and a lot more than I would need in a vehicle. But it is immaculate and incredible looking, thank you.

I am aiming for 30K maximum purchase for a vehicle and the lower the better, which is why the patriot and frontier interest me (frontier more, and wrangler maybe a tad above that). The grand cherokee would be pushing my price limit.

Any other vehicles that could fit my need, or help narrowing down choices would be great too. I really appreciate everyones responses.

 

[duckhunter71]

I had a 2007 Frontier Nismo Crew Cab 4x4 for a while. Let me tell you.. I loved it. I had to upgrade because of towing needs, but I regret selling it so much to this day. I outfitted it with a 2.5 front/1.5 rear lift on stock 265/75s and an ARB bumper with winch. Slick little truck. Gobs of power and built like a tank! I usually got 18-21 highway and 14-16 mixed driving. I'm not a tall guy (5'8"), but I found the interior to be plenty comfortable. I drove 8 hours round trip 1-2 weekends a month and also drove it 7 hours each way to Iowa and back to see my sister, so I had plenty of highway time. I used it to pull my boat as well as a fully loaded 6x12 Uhaul without any issue. I drooled over Tacomas for years, but honestly I think the Nissan is the better truck in the end. I will say that the Tacoma's interior is better, BUT the later model Frontiers have a lot of really nice features to make up for the fantastic plastic dash. I've seen brand new Pro-4X models on cars.com for around $30k with leather, sunroof, back up cam, etc. Lightly used models should be $25-30k. I don't think you can go wrong with one, but I do also understand the appeal of a Wrangler. It's taking all I have to not say whatever and sell my Silverado for another Frontier!

 

[BBailey]

Oh, mines clearly overkill for what you're looking for which is why I made the recommendations I did. You should be able to pick up a 2012, the RK lift, and tires for sub $30k without too much difficulty.

What that route does is give you a lot more options for the future than any of the other mentioned vehicles. It also gives you substantially more capability day 1.

Think of mine as an example of where it might evolve to if you wanted to spend another $40k. But it's clearly overkill for what you're looking for at this point.

Good luck in your search.


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