I need a hauler...

My Integra sold today... the guy said he wanted it before he even saw it in person (!). He checked it out, liked it, gave me the money, and took off...

So, I'm a little richer and looking for a new vehicle; if all goes to plan I'll be buying in about 3 weeks (knowing the way my plans usually turn out, though, I'm not betting on it :rolleyes:).

I'm looking to spend about $4000ish, maybe a little more if I get a GREAT deal on something.

Here's what I need:

1. Cargo space

This will be primarily my RC plane hauling vehicle, serving double duty as a daily driver until my Miata sells (if it does). I'll be pulling out everything but the front two seats.

2. Automatic

I'm tired of shifting my DD. I'd rather relax a bit.

3. Reasonable gas mileage

Biggie because I'm guessing the gas prices will go up once again fairly soon.

4. Reliable

Obviously.

Right now I'm leaning heavily toward a Mazda MPV in the 2000-2001 models, which can be found all day on Craigslist for <$4000.

I'm also looking at Subaru Foresters, but I don't know a while lot about their reliability.

Any other vehicles I should be looking at?

Thanks for any suggestions :D

The foresters have a good reputation for reliability. But they tend to hold their value so may be hard to find one in your price range.

Why not look at a 2wd jeep cherokee. They can be found cheap and are reliable.

BTW: Don't be afraid of a Jeep 4.0L with 150K miles on it. Those engines are stout.

I feel the integra will soon be back in his life... why not just wait for that? :D

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Originally Posted by HudsonHawk

The foresters have a good reputation for reliability. But they tend to hold their value so may be hard to find one in your price range.

Why not look at a 2wd jeep cherokee. They can be found cheap and are reliable.

BTW: Don't be afraid of a Jeep 4.0L with 150K miles on it. Those engines are stout.

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People keep telling me that but I didn't know they were reliable...

I've been seeing 99 (or thereabouts) Foresters for around $4k or slightly over... that's why I was curious about them.

I guess I'll look at a few Jeeps too :D What year is good?

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Originally Posted by Treibenschnell

I feel the integra will soon be back in his life... why not just wait for that? :D

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Nah, this time it was sold outside the family. I doubt I'll be seeing it again ::Banana::

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Originally Posted by MadMonkey

I guess I'll look at a few Jeeps too :D What year is good?

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FYI...MPG will suck.

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Originally Posted by MadMonkey

I guess I'll look at a few Jeeps too :D What year is good?

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94 and newer. They don't have the pertronics fuel injection systems which have proven to be problematic.

As far as MPG, I think you will be suprised. That is why I specifically said the 2wd not the 4wd version. They will get close to 20 MPG.

My wife's '98 2WD Cherokee gets 14MPG city with her driving, and low 20s highway with me driving. We've only had to do preventative maintenance (oil changes, plugs, etc) since we've had it, and it has over 200K on the odometer.

Hope this helps.

I've had 5 Jeeps over the years - 3 Cherokees and 2 Grand Cherokees.

If you change the transmission fluid every 50k they'll run and run and run. The only problem part on the 4.0L straight 6 is the Crank Position Sensor. I ran through one of those every 80k miles. They are cheap and not hard to install either.

RJ

Our 2000 MPV gets about 18 mpg around town and 21-22 on the hwy.

My mom had an '88 Cherokee 2WD with the 4.0L motor and an automatic. That sucker was stout and dead-nuts reliable. It was a basic strippo model with no power windows or door locks (problem areas on Jeeps, from what I've seen). If you can find one, it ought to be dirt-cheap and, IMHO, a good buy.

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Originally Posted by Sharpie

Our 2000 MPV gets about 18 mpg around town and 21-22 on the hwy.

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And it was Mrs Titus's before it was Mrs Sharpie's. :D It was a great van and could hall a TON. I pulled the seats out and loaded it up with a bunch of crap on several occasions. I would highly recommend it for hauling, but you can kiss any chance of getting laid goodbye if you are going to use it as a DD.

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Originally Posted by Titus

...but you can kiss any chance of getting laid goodbye if you are going to use it as a DD.

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That Sucks Titus. I can only assume you had a different vehicle before your daughter was born. The MPV hasn't hindered our sex lives. ::Naughty:

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Originally Posted by Titus

you can kiss any chance of getting laid goodbye if you are going to use it as a DD.

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Actually... I'm not so sure. One of my good friends and I borrowed my sister's Villager for the day when I visited up here. We had at least 2 cars full of girls flirting with us and acting stupid... and that's never happened in another vehicle ::Blink::

Either way I'm sure it's more attractive than a wrecked Integra ::EvilBana

Of course, I'm still a virgin and he's dating a fat (and ugly) chick.

How are Mitsubishi Monteros? I kinda like the look of them but I have no clue on reliability/mileage...

I found this one on CL. Good deal?

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/cto/974914362.html

Heck for that kind of money I would say go drive it. If you like it then buy it. I am curious why the engine was replaced at 117K miles though. But hey its a new engine.

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Originally Posted by HudsonHawk

Heck for that kind of money I would say go drive it. If you like it then buy it. I am curious why the engine was replaced at 117K miles though. But hey its a new engine.

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I seriously doubt $1300 bought a new engine. More likely a junkyard replacement. FWIW, a friend of my wife's had a '98 Montero Sport and had nothing but trouble with it. YMMV, and that's my only experience with them.

If it were my money and I was looking for an SUV of that vintage, I wouldn't look at anything other than a Toyota 4Runner. There's a reason you still see them everywhere on the road - they're absolutely bulletproof. You are going to pay a little more for a Toyota up front, but over a couple of years I can almost guarantee you it will cost less to own. Autotrader.com shows over a dozen within 200 miles for less than $5500.

My father has 150k+ on his '97 4Runner to date, and it has been the most reliable vehicle our family has ever owned. In 11 years, the only non-maintenance items we've replaced are the factory head unit (stopped playing CDs) and the shocks.

BTW, my dad hauls his RC planes around in the back of his. :wink:

BTW, none of the mid-size SUVs from that time are going to be particularly fuel efficient. Expect 16-18mpg in mixed driving from something like a 4Runner or Montero Sport.

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Originally Posted by altiain

BTW, none of the mid-size SUVs from that time are going to be particularly fuel efficient. Expect 16-18mpg in mixed driving from something like a 4Runner or Montero Sport.

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Actually my '06 V6 4Runner has averaged 21.35 MPG since we started logging it's mileage with about 400 miles on the odometer we are at 50,000 now ;).

I agree with Iain the 4Runner is a Tank!

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Originally Posted by altiain

BTW, none of the mid-size SUVs from that time are going to be particularly fuel efficient. Expect 16-18mpg in mixed driving from something like a 4Runner or Montero Sport.

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They're not that much better now. Looked at a new Forester sitting at the mall while Christmas shopping and was surprised at the EPA mileage estimates to be 20 city, 23 hwy IIRC.

However, it does have the BOXER engine which, according to the young lady from Teape Subaru, is based on aircraft engine design!::Banana:: When I asked what exactly that meant, she admitted this was her first day and that's all she had been programmed to say.

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Originally Posted by altiain

If it were my money and I was looking for an SUV of that vintage, I wouldn't look at anything other than a Toyota 4Runner.

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I like 4Runners.... have to look more closely at them. Honestly I'm not as worried about fuel efficiency with the hauler as I am with the DD, but better is obviously better ;)

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Originally Posted by cam76034

However, it does have the BOXER engine which, according to the young lady from Teape Subaru, is based on aircraft engine design!::Banana:: When I asked what exactly that meant, she admitted this was her first day and that's all she had been programmed to say.

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Hah, anything to make a sale. Although I doubt it's as reliable as the horizontally-opposed Lycoming engine in our old Mooney M20C.

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Originally Posted by HudsonHawk

I am curious why the engine was replaced at 117K miles though. But hey its a new engine.

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I think those have interference engines - possibly a timing belt gave up?

I have a '93 Cherokee 4X4 with the 4 litre. Apart from being a little bit of a gas hog, it never breaks and it will haul or tow just about anything I ask it to. It pulls my boat and my car trailer and still has the original transmission after about 150K miles.

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

Actually my '06 V6 4Runner has averaged 21.35 MPG since we started logging it's mileage with about 400 miles on the odometer we are at 50,000 now ;).

I agree with Iain the 4Runner is a Tank!

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The 4.0L engine in the new generation 4Runner is a bit more efficient (and more powerful) than the old 3.4L in the previous 4Runner and Tacoma. Still, I'm a big fan of the '95-'02 4runner. I've tried to talk my dad into selling me his '97 on several occasions (and I never miss an opportunity to take it off-roading when I visit the 'rents in Arizona :wink: ), but he won't let go of it.

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Originally Posted by altiain

The 4.0L engine in the new generation 4Runner is a bit more efficient (and more powerful) than the old 3.4L in the previous 4Runner and Tacoma. Still, I'm a big fan of the '95-'02 4runner. I've tried to talk my dad into selling me his '97 on several occasions (and I never miss an opportunity to take it off-roading when I visit the 'rents in Arizona :wink: ), but he won't let go of it.

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I think I'm narrowing it down to the 4Runner, Forester, and MPV... we'll see if a good deal pops up in a couple of weeks.

Unless, of course, there's another small imported SUV I'm missing.

I wish PT Cruisers were bigger :D

Thoughts on this?? Looks like a good deal!

Price is pretty decent. I called the guy and got his address... wonder if it's worth looking at. I haven't seen a red one for sale yet :D

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/cto/979412995.html

Maybe BR would check it out for me... naaaaah, he's not that nice ;)

The registration has been out since August according to those pics.

Caveat Emptor!

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Originally Posted by HudsonHawk

The registration has been out since August according to those pics.

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That's the inspection sticker. Monkey make sure you see the check engine light come before you start the car. When I bought my Civic it was throwing codes and the guy just took the lightbulb out. It was an easy fix, but a PITA to figure out at first.

Also, my o2 sensor was just replaced it's a bear to get to and so I had it done. Not cheap when it was all said and done.

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Originally Posted by Radio-Active

Caveat Emptor!

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......yeah, I just got more info... he's had the car for only a short time and never got it put into his own name. That coupled with the low price makes me nervous.

I think I'll wait for a better, cleaner deal. I do like that color though! :D

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Originally Posted by Sharpie

That's the inspection sticker. Monkey make sure you see the check engine light come before you start the car. When I bought my Civic it was throwing codes and the guy just took the lightbulb out. It was an easy fix, but a PITA to figure out at first.

Also, my o2 sensor was just replaced it's a bear to get to and so I had it done. Not cheap when it was all said and done.

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Thanks! I really need all the tips I can get... I'm not very experienced with buying cars (most of mine have been from friends or family).

Maybe somebody will come with me to check out a vehicle before I buy...?

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Originally Posted by madmonkey

......yeah, i just got more info... He's had the car for only a short time and never got it put into his own name. that coupled with the low price makes me nervous.

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run away! Run away!

+1

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Originally Posted by Sharpie

That's the inspection sticker. Monkey make sure you see the check engine light come before you start the car. When I bought my Civic it was throwing codes and the guy just took the lightbulb out.

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That's pretty shady.

Can I fit 14 people in it?

Hmmm... interesting... :D

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Originally Posted by Treibenschnell

Can I fit 14 people in it?

Hmmm... interesting... :D

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Starting your own coyote business? :wink:

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Originally Posted by altiain

Starting your own coyote business? :wink:

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Its good money... what can I say? :D

I recall an urban legend from my car stereo competition days of a guy with a van and a huge sealed box for 4 18" subs. The legend said he went south of the boarder, pulled out one of the subs, filled the box up with people, screwed the sub back in and headed north. He was stuck at the boarder for several hours do to drugs in cars ahead of him. once he got to San Diego, he removed the speaker and found that the people had suffocated. The moral of the story was that ported box subs are safer than sealed box subs.