Looking for an SUV

Chuck33079 · 12-18-2013, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

Anything older than 2009 is going to be murder to finance, and I don't have the liquid cash to buy it outright considering the recent land purchase.

I'm also going to be very VERY reticent to get into any Japanese brands again. I've only owned Nissan and Infiniti, so far, but they are horrible and I would never own another one. I'm trading vehicles as much because I need to as to just get rid of this Nissan. Hate the cheap construction and poor reliability and all the issues they have.

Every Grand Cherokee owner I have talked to of the newer models LOVES theirs. All the Nissan owners I talk to in "real space" have been very displeased with poor quality/reliability, except for a few XTerra owners. The XTerra is a consideration, but it's not as refined as the jeep, or as capable, and costs a similar amount.

I'm just very leery of the Japanese brands. I'd consider a Toyota, but they seem very down on features/power compared to American vehicles of similar years, and they cost more to boot.

Making a blanket statement about Japanese vehicles based on your experience with one brand is asinine, especially considering you're taking the position that American vehicles, Chrysler products in particular are going to be more reliable.

The LX/Land Cruiser or 4runner would be the only Toyota SUV I'd recommend these days for any serious offroad work. Does it have to be a SUV, or can it be a truck? Throw a top on the back of a Tacoma and you've got a hell of a vehicle to beat up offroad. The problem with most SUVs these days is that they're really just tall station wagons. What kind of terrain are you dealing with?

ImportConvert · 12-18-2013, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

Making a blanket statement about Japanese vehicles based on your experience with one brand is asinine, especially considering you're taking the position that American vehicles, Chrysler products in particular are going to be more reliable.
Well, they can't be any worse than my 370Z has been.
The LX/Land Cruiser or 4runner would be the only Toyota SUV I'd recommend these days for any serious offroad work. Does it have to be a SUV, or can it be a truck? Throw a top on the back of a Tacoma and you've got a hell of a vehicle to beat up offroad. The problem with most SUVs these days is that they're really just tall station wagons. What kind of terrain are you dealing with?

I'm not so concerned with terrain as I am snow, gravel, and traction-limiting surfaces. I don't need a ton of articulation, just decent ground clearance and traction.

I want a moderate size space that is cliamate controlled. The Grand Jeep Cherokee/ Nissan XTerra/Trailblazer are about what I need. I don't want anything like an Escape, nor do I need a Tahoe sized vehicle.

All of the Lexus's my friends have had had issues. One was an RX400? Whatever that SUV is. Burned oil badly, suspension issues, etc. Very expensive to fix. Was not fixable for any reasonable cost.

You're actually the second person to make that EXACT suggestion about the Tacoma. I just want the extra seating, as well as the function of an SUV for that space is all. Also, trucks have never appealed to me. I don't own a boat, horse, or lawn-service.

Chuck33079 · 12-18-2013, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

I'm not so concerned with terrain as I am snow, gravel, and traction-limiting surfaces. I don't need a ton of articulation, just decent ground clearance and traction.

I want a moderate size space that is cliamate controlled. The Grand Jeep Cherokee/ Nissan XTerra/Trailblazer are about what I need. I don't want anything like an Escape, nor do I need a Tahoe sized vehicle.

All of the Lexus's my friends have had had issues. One was an RX400? Whatever that SUV is. Burned oil badly, suspension issues, etc. Very expensive to fix. Was not fixable for any reasonable cost.

So you could get away with one of the unibody SUVs as long as it was 4wd? Pass on the Trailblazer. My dad's was a complete POS. The Terrain I rented fell into that category too. Would a Forester have enough ground clearance for you?

The LX is a Land Cruiser. Land Cruisers cannot be killed with conventional weaponry. It's a moot point if it has to be 2009 or newer with a $20k budget, though. I never had a single issue with my Lexus. Not one. I've had less reliable hammers.

ImportConvert · 12-18-2013, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

So you could get away with one of the unibody SUVs as long as it was 4wd? Pass on the Trailblazer. My dad's was a complete POS. The Terrain I rented fell into that category too. Would a Forester have enough ground clearance for you?

The LX is a Land Cruiser. Land Cruisers cannot be killed with conventional weaponry. It's a moot point if it has to be 2009 or newer with a $20k budget, though. I never had a single issue with my Lexus. Not one. I've had less reliable hammers.

Yeah, the GM products from the late 2000's left a bit to be desired, I just used the TB as a size comparison.

Yes, a uni-body would be plenty fine. I don't need extreme stump-pulling or articulation, just loose-gravel, snow, mud traction, and the ability to cross 12-18" of water would be pure tits.

Chuck33079 · 12-18-2013, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

Yeah, the GM products from the late 2000's left a bit to be desired, I just used the TB as a size comparison.

Yes, a uni-body would be plenty fine. I don't need extreme stump-pulling or articulation, just loose-gravel, snow, mud traction, and the ability to cross 12-18" of water would be pure tits.

Do you need a low-range 4wd, or can you get by with awd?

ImportConvert · 12-18-2013, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

Do you need a low-range 4wd, or can you get by with awd?

AWD is fine. I don't think I would need low-range. Wouldn't turn it down, but I don't think it's necessary for my use.

DEpointfive0 · 12-20-2013, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

So you could get away with one of the unibody SUVs as long as it was 4wd? Pass on the Trailblazer. My dad's was a complete POS. The Terrain I rented fell into that category too. Would a Forester have enough ground clearance for you?

The LX is a Land Cruiser. Land Cruisers cannot be killed with conventional weaponry. It's a moot point if it has to be 2009 or newer with a $20k budget, though. I never had a single issue with my Lexus. Not one. I've had less reliable hammers.

Yes, my family has ONLY owned Toyota and Lexus until I bought 2 Nissans in a row, and they have been MUCH worse than the Toyotas. And we beat the shít out of them. My brother's Avalon did 160k miles before he totaled it, and he did oil changes MAYBE once a year. My Avalon did 145k miles before my gf totaled it, and I jumped that car, went hunting in it, plenty of desert off roading in it, went in the snow 19-15 times too. Dad had 2 Highlanders back to back, last one had 150k miles before getting totaled, and we REALLY beat that car. It was a 2WD 4 banger, went off roading in the desert MANY, MANY times barely got oil changes, just top offs. Mom's Lexus has 80k miles, barely gets oil changes, only problems, she blew out 2 speakers (because she's a moron) and she f'd a CV boot, lol. Grandma's RX300, at 121k miles, only problem was that it killed batteries... because she'd leave the lights on, lol. Grandfather's Camry had 135k miles before they sold it last month. I don't think it ever had maintenance done because it was the family whore, everyone took it for a ride, all it needed was an alignment once. Best friend's RX300 had 279k miles before they sold it, only problem was an exhaust leak because we of roaded in it... lol. His PryUs, 147k miles when it got totaled, used maybe a quart of oil between 10,000 mile oil changes, and he beat that bítch. His dad's 2005 Toyota Tacoma is at 137k miles without, looks the same as when they bought it. 2 problems... The front mud guard tore off... You guessed it, while off roading, lol. And the other problem is that his dad burns through tires because he is the angriest driver, lol. Last (that I'm willing to type) is our family friend/co-worker's Highlander, 320k miles on it when he sold it, base model 4 banger, that only started using oil after 200k I believe, and after 300k is when it used 1 quart per 3000 miles.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand done... Toyota FTW!!!

XiP · 12-20-2013, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEpointfive0

Yes, my family has ONLY owned Toyota and Lexus until I bought 2 Nissans in a row, and they have been MUCH worse than the Toyotas. And we beat the shít out of them. My brother's Avalon did 160k miles before he totaled it, and he did oil changes MAYBE once a year. My Avalon did 145k miles before my gf totaled it, and I jumped that car, went hunting in it, plenty of desert off roading in it, went in the snow 19-15 times too. Dad had 2 Highlanders back to back, last one had 150k miles before getting totaled, and we REALLY beat that car. It was a 2WD 4 banger, went off roading in the desert MANY, MANY times barely got oil changes, just top offs. Mom's Lexus has 80k miles, barely gets oil changes, only problems, she blew out 2 speakers (because she's a moron) and she f'd a CV boot, lol. Grandma's RX300, at 121k miles, only problem was that it killed batteries... because she'd leave the lights on, lol. Grandfather's Camry had 135k miles before they sold it last month. I don't think it ever had maintenance done because it was the family whore, everyone took it for a ride, all it needed was an alignment once. Best friend's RX300 had 279k miles before they sold it, only problem was an exhaust leak because we of roaded in it... lol. His PryUs, 147k miles when it got totaled, used maybe a quart of oil between 10,000 mile oil changes, and he beat that bítch. His dad's 2005 Toyota Tacoma is at 137k miles without, looks the same as when they bought it. 2 problems... The front mud guard tore off... You guessed it, while off roading, lol. And the other problem is that his dad burns through tires because he is the angriest driver, lol. Last (that I'm willing to type) is our family friend/co-worker's Highlander, 320k miles on it when he sold it, base model 4 banger, that only started using oil after 200k I believe, and after 300k is when it used 1 quart per 3000 miles.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand done... Toyota FTW!!!

we're never had any problems with any of our toyotas and we've owned camry, 4runner, land cruiser, 2 tacomas, 2 rav4s, highlander

alcheng · 12-20-2013, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEpointfive0

Yes, my family has ONLY owned Toyota and Lexus until I bought 2 Nissans in a row, and they have been MUCH worse than the Toyotas. And we beat the shít out of them. My brother's Avalon did 160k miles before he totaled it, and he did oil changes MAYBE once a year. My Avalon did 145k miles before my gf totaled it, and I jumped that car, went hunting in it, plenty of desert off roading in it, went in the snow 19-15 times too. Dad had 2 Highlanders back to back, last one had 150k miles before getting totaled, and we REALLY beat that car. It was a 2WD 4 banger, went off roading in the desert MANY, MANY times barely got oil changes, just top offs. Mom's Lexus has 80k miles, barely gets oil changes, only problems, she blew out 2 speakers (because she's a moron) and she f'd a CV boot, lol. Grandma's RX300, at 121k miles, only problem was that it killed batteries... because she'd leave the lights on, lol. Grandfather's Camry had 135k miles before they sold it last month. I don't think it ever had maintenance done because it was the family whore, everyone took it for a ride, all it needed was an alignment once. Best friend's RX300 had 279k miles before they sold it, only problem was an exhaust leak because we of roaded in it... lol. His PryUs, 147k miles when it got totaled, used maybe a quart of oil between 10,000 mile oil changes, and he beat that bítch. His dad's 2005 Toyota Tacoma is at 137k miles without, looks the same as when they bought it. 2 problems... The front mud guard tore off... You guessed it, while off roading, lol. And the other problem is that his dad burns through tires because he is the angriest driver, lol. Last (that I'm willing to type) is our family friend/co-worker's Highlander, 320k miles on it when he sold it, base model 4 banger, that only started using oil after 200k I believe, and after 300k is when it used 1 quart per 3000 miles.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand done... Toyota FTW!!!

you guys have totaled... quite some numvers of cars... eh..

Chuck33079 · 12-20-2013, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alcheng

you guys have totaled... quite some numvers of cars... eh..

And the other ones read like "why you don't buy used cars".

alcheng · 12-20-2013, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

And the other ones read like "why you don't buy used cars".

DEpointfive0 · 12-20-2013, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alcheng

you guys have totaled... quite some numvers of cars... eh..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

And the other ones read like "why you don't buy used cars".

LMAO!!! You know what, both of my dad's Highlanders got totaled! I WAS thinking that when I wrote it, LOL

The first one happens outside our house, I was unlocking my house and I heard a car crash. A woman feel asleep and hit my dad's parked car. The second one, he t-boned someone and he had the right of way, and he drove it home even though the airbag deployed, lol. He actually drove it for a few days before I made him get a rental, lol. My gf totaled my Avalon because she was drunk. My brother totaled his because he was texting. My friend's got totaled because someone making an unprotected left went into his lane, other guy's fault.