Help with a future winter car.

[FieroBoy95]

Hey everyone , Im looking for a future winter car / truck that's affordable,tough,reliable,etc and below 4 grand, also im curious to see what other members recommend and I have a list of a couple of vehicles. Tell me what you think.

-1979 to 1988 Eagle lineup including the wagon.

-1984 to 1995 Jeep Cherokees / 1963-1993 Jeep Wagoneers

-1991 to 2001 Ford Explorer / Mercury Mountaineer / Mazda Navajo

-1984 to 2004 Chevrolet S-10

-1966 to 1996 Ford Bronco / Bronco II

-1984 to 1995 Toyota 4runner

-1983 to present Ford Ranger / Mazda B-series

-1981 to present Dodge Ram / Ramcharger

-Any kind of Subaru that's AWD

-1989 to 1998 Isuzu Rodeo / Honda Passport / Isuzu Amigo / Isuzu Trooper

the list can go on guys , but I want to know what YOU recommend and what vehicles you like/drove/hate on the short list.

thanks!

 

[Sniffs]

your asking about SUV's...on Staten Island? i hope that's a "rural" part of NYC. (looks it up) redneck NYC?! heh.

you poor kid, stuck with the beaters i had to drive 10 years ago

GMT-350's (S-10/Blazer/Sonoma/Jimmy): watch for extra body rot (they're thin up to the mid ninties), and avoid the Vortec V6. if you end up with a 4wd version, you'll be stuck with the V6. check the transfer case, I had the vacumn switch go out on mine (electronic version)

4runner: the 4wd is actualy decent, and I got nice mileage out of it, but the 2nd gen ones are even thinner than the old S10's (and early rangers) in the body department. if you find one with any time on it, check for rotten wiring, give the alternator a once over, and beware of the wheels. they stick like glue to the steel hubs, and have to be beaten off with a sledgehammer. you can steal the steelies off a full sized GMC product or another Japanese maker. if it has automatic hubs in 4wd, you may have to stay with the default alloys.

Explorer and Co: make dang sure it's not still on Firestone tires if it's a 2nd gen, and watch the lights. since explorers were one of the first ones with composite headlights, they go opaque pretty quick. it's also kinda hard to change light bulbs when they blow (dangit, ford!)

WHY you'd need a full size pickup in the vicinity of New York City, I'm trying to figure out.

generally, stick with a 4 banger if possible unless you need the4wd. if it's the AWD, pounce on the suby.

a little tip with your first car in your sig: for heavan's sake, give it a general once over. you'll have to replace every fluid and filter, the plugs and wires, about half the lightbulbs, and probably the entire exhaust and the brakes (pads and rotors/drums and all)

 

[Joey D]

What's wrong with the Vortec V6? It's the only thing that worked well on my Blazer. It's vastly underpowered but it's not a bad engine.

 

[TheCracker]

Hey everyone , Im looking for a future winter car / truck that's affordable,tough,reliable,etc and below 4 grand, also im curious to see what other members recommend and I have a list of a couple of vehicles. Tell me what you think.

-Any kind of Subaru that's AWD

I think they all are. I've got a Forester and would certainly recommend it for what your needs appear to be.

Pros:
• Solid and reliable.
• Built and drives more like a regular car than most of the others you've posted, which are generally body-on-frames.
• Plenty of space inside considering its foot print.
• Extra ground clearance over similar Imprezas and Legacys.
• Great in snow, predictable in the wet.

Cons:
• You don't get great fuel milage for the size of engine.
• Non-turbos are a little gutless.
• Interiors are solid but basic.
• Not the best looking car ever made.

 

[Sniffs]

Joey: i had the W version, still in the detuned 80's mode...and it drank 9 MPG! and it had less than 100 K...the first car I ever HAD with less than 130 on it.

caution: i was looking at a forrester, when I was informed it had holed a piston. this was a 99, and they still wanted 5 grand (the guy went out of business...he was asking too much)

 

[buickgnx88]

I have an '89 Wrangler, but I know that you won't be able to find most for under 4 grand (maybe a 4 banger). However, I would think that Cherokees are still abundant, and you should be able to find a decent one for that price. Look for one with the 4.0 I6, and stay away from any with the GM V6. They have a large aftermarket, good power (4.0), great drivetrain, easy to work on, and easy to modify. Mileage would be in the mid to high teens, depending how you drive of course.

Edit: Forgot about the Grand Cherokee, which is also a great vehicle. Again, the 4.0 is a great engine, and the 5.2 V8 is nice also, but of course drinks more fuel. Also has good aftermarket, first gen (ZJ) easy to work on, and fairly easy to modify. Of course, also tough and reliable thanks to the good drivetrain. Stay away from the quadra-trac though.

http://newyork.craigslist.org/search/cta?query=cherokee&catAbb=cto&srchType=T&minAsk=min&maxAsk=5000

 

[FieroBoy95]

hey everyone thanks for the info ,

@Sniffs thanks for the info , I live in Rockland county which is like 50 minutes away , I only put S.I because that's my hometown.

@Thecracker , the Forester info was great thanks.

@buickGNX88 , I look into that link thanks alot.

 

[Cale]

I've got an Outback sedan and it's great for winter, even fun. It acts like a RWD car but with the security and traction of the AWD. I had 1.5-2ft snow drifts across my driveway and it made it up with out a problem.

 

[BrutherSuperior]

What's wrong with the Vortec V6? It's the only thing that worked well on my Blazer. It's vastly underpowered but it's not a bad engine.

Oh no...that's a **** engine.

Many have issues with intake manifolds leaking turning the coolant into mud. The electronics are also quite picky as things like ignition switch harnesses, misc relays, and even the battery cables go bad in a lot of them when they reach 100k miles.

Also at 100k miles? Figure on spending $1000-1500 on the front suspension. Idler arm, pitman arm, all tie rods, and possibly the swaybar end links will be shot to hell. Awesome huh? Then there's the fuel pump which squeals like a pig and instrument cluster than has a mind of its own.

I've bought a couple of these...never again. They're absolute garbage.

Hey everyone , Im looking for a future winter car / truck that's affordable,tough,reliable,etc and below 4 grand, also im curious to see what other members recommend and I have a list of a couple of vehicles. Tell me what you think.

Pre-OBDII VW Passat VR6. (1995 & older)

You can pick these things up for a song, they're built like tanks, and if someone hits you...you win. Find a wagon w/a 5spd and you'll have a great 'beater with a heater' and spend about 1/2 of your budget. Very reliable cars and very easy to work on.

 

[Crash]

Any Subarus will work fine, and I think older Outbacks are more typically driven by middle age and older people, so you'll be less likely to have one that's been abused (as compared to say like a WRX).

What about an E30 3 series? Say a 325ix? Those have 4 wheel drive, are pretty decent in snow/winter, you can pick them up for relatively cheap, if maintained, will last forever and they are still pretty good to drive. If you are a DIY type of person, there's a lot of parts out there too.

 

[Eric.]

You sure they had AWD E30s?

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

Yes, there were AWD E30's, but at this point they're probably beaten to hell or sold for spares or junk..

 

[Azuremen]

Yes, there were AWD E30's, but at this point they're probably beaten to hell or sold for spares or junk..

Um, no? I see quite a few 325Xi in decent shape around all the time. The real trick is finding them for a reasonable price if they are in half decent shape.